A few more days passed before Simmy finally calmed down. During that time, I stayed at home. For the past few days, I frequently invited Japen to go to the boardwalk to get some fresh air. Since he didn’t have any classes yet, I made the most of it. During the daytime, I was at the university, except on weekends, so Simmy wasn’t a problem. But on Saturday, I invited Japen to Sayaw River in Lutac, and on Sunday, we visited Gravhizfarm Secret Garden in Barangay Pangdan.
The two tourist spots were spectacular. I brought an extra dress when we went to Sayaw River. The river had pristine flowing water, and the temperature varied from the surface to the bottom. It was fun, and I knew Japen enjoyed it too.
“Aren’t you going to answer that?” Simmy asked.
I turned to her, surprised by the question, and sighed, looking away.
My phone had been ringing for hours, and I had no intention of answering it. I let it ring since my ringtone was my favorite song.
“Azora,” Simmy called.
I frowned. “Just go, Sim. Don’t bother me.”
“They’ve been calling non-stop. It might be important, so answer it, Azora.”
I made a face. Simmy could be so nosy sometimes, more so than Mom when she was alive. And since she became my guardian, I didn’t scold her, knowing she was looking out for my best interests.
“Let them be,” I said.
Maybe it was important to the caller, but not to me. They were calling to interview me. The family of the deceased had finished mourning their lost son and now wanted to interview me to get my statement. They wanted to know why Anthony had committed suicide, suspecting there might be another motive.
It was all Anthony’s father’s will. He wanted an investigation into Anthony’s death, refusing to believe his son had committed suicide. Talk about a guilty conscience. He wouldn’t admit he was one of the reasons Anthony killed himself.
Well, I was done being afraid of a crime I didn’t commit. For several days, there had been no news about Anthony’s case, and I even had fun with Japen, so my fear had dissipated.
The only fear left in me was for my father. I didn’t know what I would do if everyone found out about Dad’s actions. Of course, he wouldn’t do something without being accountable… in that case, he’d cover it up.
The mystery that puzzled me was how Dad covered up his crime. Anthony’s family was well-known and ran the top-rated food business in the country. They weren’t just any family, so how did Dad hide it from the public?
“Azora.”
I straightened up when I heard Dad’s voice. He’s here? I quickly turned and saw him staring at me seriously. He was in his suit and tie, and I was sure he had just come home from work. I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost one in the afternoon, and he should be at work now.
“Dad,” I greeted him.
He just nodded at me and walked closer to the table. He sat in his spot and signaled to the maid standing nearby. “My coffee,” he said tiredly.
I raised an eyebrow at his request. Coffee at noon?
“What happened?” I asked, sitting back in my chair, opposite Dad.
“Nothing,” he answered.
Then silence followed. This was how we communicated when we saw each other at home. A brief exchange, then silence. Things only got lively when my noisy guardian arrived.
And speaking of her, I saw her approaching us. She had a wide smile on her face, and I wasn’t sure if she was looking at me or Dad. But it must be Dad. She only smiled like that at him.
“Ali,” she sweetly called Dad’s name.
I rolled my eyes. Every time I heard her say Dad’s name that way, I wanted to pull her hair. It was cringe-worthy and weird. Simmy was a serious woman who had taken care of me for years, and yet she had never smiled or been sweet to me. Well, except during her period every month. That was when she acted childishly, which I didn’t like either, so it was better if she didn’t act cute around me during her red days.
“Hmm?” Dad hummed.
I took a sip of my tea, quietly listening to their conversation.
“The vacuum cleaner is fixed,” Simmy said, smiling. “I just wanted to thank you.”
Dad laughed. “I can’t count how many times you’ve thanked me, Simmy.”
She probably didn’t catch Dad’s sarcastic tone and smiled even wider. I pouted and rested my chin on the table.
In normal circumstances, I would compose myself and walk out of the room. But I was too lazy to get up and leave the kitchen, so I let Simmy have her moment and let Dad soak in the vinegar. The two had different personalities, and it was still a mystery to me how Dad handled Simmy. I mean, Dad didn’t like dealing with annoying people, and Simmy was… annoying sometimes.
I still remember Mom’s story. Simmy and she had been good friends since childhood. Maybe that’s why Mom trusted Simmy so much that she entrusted us to her. Well, Simmy did a good job when Mom passed away, so she made the right decision.
Simmy took out a cake from the fridge. She sliced two pieces for Dad and me. Dad smiled at her and said, “Thank you.”
As for me, I just nodded and said nothing. Simmy knew I was thankful for her presence and gesture. I wasn’t vocal, but I appreciated things.
After that little chat with Simmy, Dad left me alone in the kitchen. He said he was going to the study room and wanted Simmy to follow him there, so I was left alone. Well, not really. The maid who had been standing by the side was still there, waiting for my orders. I didn’t know her name, but I smiled at her, and she smiled back at me.