“Dad! I got accepted sa SMU!”

“SMU? The S-M-U?! Magtuturo ka sa college?”

“Yes. I received the email today at magsisimula na agad akong magturo in 2 weeks! Pero papasok na ako sa Monday, Dad. Magstart yung 1 week faculty orientation bago ang start ng class. Pero hindi ko talaga akalaing matatanggap ako kasi 2nd sem na ng mga universities diba? Akala ko next school year pa.

“Wow anak! I’m so proud of you! Professor na agad ang anak ko. Baka mapagkamalan ka nilang estudyante.”

“Correction. College Instructor not yet professor dad kasi wala pa akong doctorate. Pero darating tayo dyan. ALSO! yan nga plano ko Dad. Pangarap kong mangprank ng students. Sa una, magpapanggap akong kaklase nila, tapos magugulat sila na ako pala teacher nila. Diba ang saya?”

“You’re telling me, nagtake ka agad ng Master’s degree pagkagraduate para lang makapagturo ka sa college at makapangprank ng students mo?”

“Yes! Well, hindi naman magwowork yung prank kung sa elementary or high school ako magpapanggap na student diba? Pero pangarap ko talagang magawa yun”

“Congratulations, nak. Love ko yang pagkaweirdo mo. Never change.”

“Also, dad. Isasabay ko na PhD ko ha para may doctor ka na ring anak in 3-4 years. At matawag na talaga akong Professor.”

“Kakatapos mo lang Master’s mo tapos doctorate agad?”

“Don’t worry about the tuition, Dad. Nag-apply din ako for scholarship.”

“Nak, hindi ko yun iniisip. I’m just worried mawawalan ka na naman ng time for your social life, for your friends, your loved ones, ganyan. Nagtatrabaho ka din nung nagtake ka ng masters mo diba and you barely had time for anyone. Nasabi mo na ba kay Jeno? Bihira ko na nga syang makita with you. 

“Dad, diba nga nasa SG sya para sa 1 year training nila. Also, nope, hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanya. I’m sure okay lang to sa kanya.”

“How many years have you been together?”

“Hmm.. almost 4 years? 3 years face-to-face + 6 months online”

“Haha anak. Okay napatawa mo ako don. Normally, they call it LDR not “online”. Kumusta naman kayo? Sa tingin mo sya na ba?”

“I think? He’s the best, dad. He takes care of me. He loves me. At engineer sya, gaya ng gusto mo for me. I could never ask for more.”

“Okay. Okay. But you gotta start sharing your life with him, you know. Yung mga big decisions dapat pinag-uusapan nyo like a real couple.”

“Dad, are you saying we are not a real couple?”

“I’m not saying that. Okay. Let’s forget what I said. Basta tandaan mo kung saan ka masaya, susuportahan kita, okay?” niyakap nya akong mahigpit and I can feel his love for me.

 “I wish your mom-”

“Don’t.” I cut him off before he could finish his sentence. “Don’t ruin the moment, Dad.”

“Okay, okay. Love you, nak. Magpahinga ka na.”

Next naman, iinform ang beshy ko.

My