After many more weeks of procrastination, Angel has truly reached a bottleneck, unable to write her light novel from burnout and laziness. And games feeling like a chore.
Angel was at her wits' end.
Then one morning, as Angel was doomscrolling on Facebook.
"Angel, kailangan natin mag-usap."
It could be said that a daughter's fear was three things.
Having no WiFi and being unable to play games or surf the net.
Mama and Papa being angry.
And lastly, the most feared one.
The talk.
Now, talking to people isn't usually a problem. But a talk with your parents can mean one of two things depending on the tone.
You did satisfactory.
Or
You are in big trouble.
So right now, in front of her mother, Angel squirmed around, fidgeting with her hands as her blue eyes averted away from her mama's face.
"U-uhm..."
A cold sweat ran down Angel's face.
「How did it get to this point?」
She wondered.
She was just playing games as normal.
But suddenly she got called by her mother; she thought it was a chore until now, now that she's in front of her own mother.
Face to face.
At the sala.
"Angel, will you really not go to school?"
Angel's eyes widened hearing those words, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
"T-that..."
Angel's hands fidgeted faster.
"No matter what, I will tell you this... mas importante pa rin ang magka-diploma."
Angel's mama's words were gentle, yet they hit her heart like a pang of sharp fangs.
"If you keep running away, if you keep choosing to delay your education, you'll graduate old and frail. Where will you find a job then?"
Angel could not find the answer, no matter how hard she searched in her heart. Usually at times like these, she would be ready to fight back with guns blazing.
But somehow,
Today is different.
"I... don't know."
Angel kept her head down, her voice soft and trembling.
"I'm not sure anymore, Mama..."
Angel's blue eyes lifted towards her mother's face.
"That's why... I think I'll try... going to university again."
"Angel..."
Angel's mother couldn't help but look at the trembling girl in front of her.
"I'm already tired, Ma... of fighting... of hearing that I'll have no future... so this time... I'll try it out... see if I pass."
「If I am at least worthy of being your daughter.」
Angel forced a smile at her own mother.
"Alright."
Angel's eyes widened as she felt her mother's warm embrace, her mouth opened, unable to process what was happening. Before she leaned into the embrace, embracing her mother back.
Right...
This was just a talk.
It wasn't an interrogation...
The decision might be hasty...
But...
Angel's tired of fighting her parents.
She surrenders...
This...
Seeing her mother happy again...
It isn't so bad...
Because at the end, her mother had always loved her, and had been by her side. Isn't it time to give back?
Angel began tearing up, then she saw her papa arriving at the sala...
While relationships can be quite complex, and while they were indifferent to each other...
Seeing her papa nod at her, it made her heart warmer as she cried to her heart's content.
Next time, she'll try to get closer to her father.
Man to man.
Now, daughter to father.