Category Archives: Short Story
ANG KAPALIT NG LIHIM – Part 3
(Maikling Kuwento)
“Teka, teka misis. Hinahon lang po nang kaunti. Nandito tayo para pag-usapan ito nang maayos.” “Paano kami hihinahon kapitan eh kapag hindi nila inilabas ang relong iyon ay kami ang malilintikan kay mayora. Nakakahiya kami.”
“Naiintindihan ko, Sir Nestor, kaya lang hindi natin mareresolba ito kung magsisigawan at mag-aaway kayo dito. Pakiusap, igalang n’yo ang opisina ko.”
Hinila ng nanay si Junior. Hinawakan sa magkabilaang balikat. “Bunso, please lang, sabihin mo na kung ano ang napulot mo.”
Umiling-iling si Junior. “Hi…hindi k…ko sa…sabihin…se…secret.” “Ang galing! Parang scripted ah,” ang patutyada ni Aling Cora.
“Anak, please. Good boy ka ‘di ba? Ano ang napulot mo? Nasaan iyon? Nakita kong medyo humihigpit ang pisil ng nanay sa mga balikat ni Junior. Kinabahan ako sa susunod na mangyayari.
“A..aray… na…nanay. Ma…masakit…
“Junior!!! Parang awa mo na, anak, sabihin mo na.” Se…secret na..namin n..ni Gir…Girlie i…iyon.
“Aba, at pati nananahimik kong anak eh idinadamay ng abnormal na ‘yan!” Binitawan ng nanay si Junior. Lumapit kay aling Cora. Sinampal niya ito.
“Sobra ka na!!! Matagal na akong nagtitimpi sa lahat ng ginagawa mong panglalait sa akin at sa pamilya ko.”
Mabilis ang pangyayari. Napasalampak si Aling Cora sa sahig sa sobrang lakas ng pagkakasampal ng nanay. Mabilis na pumagitna sina kapitan at mga tanod. Akmang susugurin pa ng nanay si Aling Cora, ngunit naitulak itong palayo ni Mang Nestor. Parang nagdilim ang paningin ko. Hinawakan ko ang isang monoblock. Talagang ihahampas ko na ito kay Mang Nestor ngunit inilabas niya ang kanyang baril mula sa clutch bag at itinutok sa akin.
“Sige!!! Sige!!! Subukan mo nang malintikan ka na.” Nakita ni Junior ang hawak na baril ni Mang Nestor. “Ba…baril…ba…baril…ba…ril!!!”
Kitang-kita kong takot na takot si Junior. Tumakbong palabas ng barangay hall. Mabilis.
Hinabol ko s’ya. Patawid siya sa kalsada.
“Junior, Junior. Wala na ang baril. Huwag ka nang tumakbo. Juniorrrr! Junniiioorrr!
Huli na ako.
Nabundol ng paparating na kotse si Junior. Kitang-kita kong tumilapon siya at pagkatapos ay bumagsak sa mismong harapan ko. Duguan si Junior. Nagkikikisay.
Natulala ako. Hindi ako kaagad nakakakilos. Maya-maya pa’y dumating si Nanay at si Jeng. “Anak ko, JUNNIOOORR. Diyos ko po! JUNNIORRRRR!” Diyos ko po! Tulungan n’yo
kami. Parang awa n’yo na!!!!
Pinangko ng nanay si Junior. Hysterical na silang pareho ni Jeng. Nandoon na rin sina Kapitan, Aling Cora at Mang Nestor. Walang makapagsalita. Lahat ay nabigla.
Bumaba ang driver ng kotse. Si mang Caloy, kasama si Girlie. Kotse nina Aling Cora ang nakabundol sa kapatid ko.
“Best friend, best friend…huhuhu. Salbahe ka mang Caloy. Bakit binundol mo ang best friend ko?” Duguan man, niyakap ni Girlie si Junior na pangko ng nanay. Hindi nakuhang pigilan ni Aling Cora ang kanyang anak.
“Hindi ko sinasadya. Bigla na lang siyang tumawid. Dalhin natin sa hospital ang kapatid mo, dali.”
Nagmulat ng mata si Junior. Buhay s’ya. Si Girlie ang unang napansin nito. “Gi…Girlie…Se…secret na…natin. Hi…hindi k…ko si…sinabi.”
“Anak, Junior! Buhay ang anak ko! Tumawag ka ng tricycle, Sean. Dali. Dalhin natin sa hospital si Junior.”
“Nanay, dadalhin daw ni Mang Caloy si Junior sa hospital.”
“Sige na, Tessie. Sumakay na kayo sa kotse namin,” ang alok ni Mang Nestor.
“Hindi namin kailangan ng tulong n’yo! Ano ba Sean!!! Tumawag ka, kako ng tricycle!!!” “H’wag na Sean. Heto na ang patrol ng barangay. Sumakay na kayo. Dalian n’yo,” wika ni kapitan.
Ang nanay na ang bumuhat kay Junior papasok sa patrol ng barangay.
**********
Habang tumatakbo ang patrol papuntang hospital, ay iyak nang iyak sina Nanay at Jeng.
Maraming lumalabas na dugo mula sa mga sugat ni Junior. “Na…nanay…love mo a…ako?”
“Oo anak. Mahal na mahal kita. Mahal ka ng kuya at ate mo.”
Matapos sabihin ng nanay ‘yon ay ipinikit ni Junior ang mga mata niya.
Hindi na umabot nang buhay sa ospital si Junior. Matindi ang head injuries na natamo nito.
**********
Bago sumapit ang gabi’y naibalik na sa bahay ang bangkay ni Junior. Nakalagay na ito sa ataol. Sa tulong ni kapitan at ng mga kamag-anak at mga kaibigan namin ay naiayos na sa aming bakuran ang mga tolda na s’yang sisilungan ng mga makikiramay. Pinahiram kami ni kapitan ng mga lamesa at mga upuan.
Nakatayo sina Nanay at Jeng sa tabi ng ataol ni Junior. Pinagmamasdan nila ang namayapa kong kapatid. Hindi na sila umiiyak. Naubos na marahil ang luha o kaya’y natanggap na nila ang naging kapalaran ng bunso namin.
Isa-isang nagdadatingan ang aming mga kamag-anak, mga kaklase namin ni Jeng, at mga kasamahan ni Nanay sa palengke.
Maya-maya pa’y dumating din sina Mang Nestor at Aling Cora. Natuon sa kanila ang atensyon ng mga nakikaramay na malamang ay nabalitaan na kung ano ang nangyari. Pakiwari ko’y nag-aabang sila kung ano ang mangyari sa pagdating ng mag-asawa.
“Anong ginagawa n’yo dito ha!” ang pasigaw na salubong sa kanila ni Jeng.
“Anak, kumalma ka lang.”
“Kayo ang pumatay sa kapatid ko!!!”
“Sabing tumahimki ka Jeng! Ano ba!!!” ang sigaw ng nanay.
“Tessie, nakikiramay kami.” Iniabot ni Mang Nestor sa nanay ang kanyang kamay. “Salamat!” ang malamig na tugon ng nanay. Hindi nito inabot ang kamay ni Mang Nestor. “Ah, Tessie, puwede ba kitang makausap sandali sa labas.”
“Kung kakakausapin mo ako upang piliting paaminin kung nasaan ang lintek na iPhone na ‘yan ay huwag na. Sobra ngang mahal ng cellphone na ‘yon. Ang buhay ng bunso ko ang naging kapalit. Siguro naman ay sapat ng kabayaran ang pagkamatay ng anak ko sa inaalala ninyong kahihiyang tatanggapin n’yo kapag hindi n’yo nahanap ang cellphone ni mayora.”
Halatang nagtitimpi ang nanay. Kita kong umaagos ang luha sa pisngi niya. Kung ako ang nasa kalagayan niya ay baka masaktan ko’t palayasin ang mag-asawa.
“Tessie, hindi kita pipigain tungkol doon. Sa katunayan, gusto kong magpaliwanag at humingi ng tawad.”
“Oh, si Ma’am Cora ang magpapaliwanag sa isang walang pinag-aralang katulad ko. Baka naman masayang lang ang panahon mo sa akin. Sino ba naman ako para pagpaliwanagan mo pa.”
“Please, lang Tessie. Pagbigyan mo naman ako.”
“Kita mo nga naman, ang isang Ma’am Cora pala’y marunong ding magsalita ng please. O, sige puwede tayong mag-usap, pero gusto ko dito tayo sa harap ni Junior, ni Jeng, at ni Sean. Gusto kong marinig ng mga anak ko ang ano man ang sasabihin mo sa akin.”
“Salamat, Tessie. Ah…kinausap ko kanina si Girlie kung ano ang secret nila ni Junior. Totoo nga, may napulot ang anak mo sa bakuran namin. Pero hindi iyong cellphone. Iyong nalaglag kong isang kahong Choc Nut ang napulot niya.”
Nagulat kaming lahat nang narinig namin ang sinabi ni Aling Cora. “CHOC NUT! HINDI IPHONE!” ang sigaw ng nanay.
“Oo, Tessie. Sorry. Ibinigay daw ni Junior kay Girlie iyong Choc Nut na napulot niya nang maglaro sila kahapon. Kaya sinabi ni Girlie kay Junior na secret dahil nga pinagbawalan kong kumain ng chocolates ang anak ko dahil overweight na siya. Nangako daw sa kanya si Junior na hindi sasabihin kahit kanino ang tungkol sa Choc Nut.”
Napasalampak sa upuan si Nanay. Impit ang pag-iyak. “Diyos ko, nang dahil sa Choc Nut nawala si Junior ko.”
Tahimik lamang kami ni Jeng. Hinagod-hagod niya ang likuran ng nanay. Ang hirap tanggapin ng mga pangyayari.
“Patawarin n’yo kami, Tessie, Jeng, Sean…” ang samo ni Mang Nestor.
“Ganun na lang ba ‘yon, Sir Nestor? Sa lahat ng nangyari, gusto n’yong patawarin namin kayo. Ganun ba kasimple iyon? Ang kapal ng mga pagmumukha n’yo!!! Matapos n’yo kaming insultuhin, pagbintangan. Matapos na mabunggo ng driver n’yo si Junior dahil natakot sa baril mo…matapos mamatay ang kapatid ko eh hihingin n’yo ang patawad namin,” ang gigil na gigil na sabi ni Jeng.
“Alam kong mahirap sa ngayon na hingin ang patawad ninyo. Pero sana in due time ay mapatawad n’yo kami. Sasagutin naming lahat ang gastusin sa pagpapalibing kay Junior. Pati pag-aaral n’yo ni Sean ay kami na ang bahala.”
“Ano ‘yan, Mang Nestor? Suhol? Sinusuhulan n’yo kami!!! Hindi maibabalik ng kahit ilang milyong meron kayo ang buhay ng anak ko. Hindi mabubura ng kahit magkano ang lahat ng mga pang-iinsultong ginawa ng asawa mo sa akin at sa mga anak ko mula pa noon. Isaksak mo sa baga mo ang pera mong alam naman nating lahat kung saan nanggagaling. Hindi namin kailangan ang tulong n’yo. Kahit isang kusing ay wala kaming tatanggapin mula sa inyo.”
Natahimik ang lahat. Natitiyak kong dinig hanggang sa labas ang sinabi ng nanay.
Hindi na kumibo at nagsalita pa sina Mang Nestor at Aling Cora.
Lumabas ng bakuran namin si Mang Nestor. Nakayuko. Marahil ay hindi nakayanan ang mga mapang-usig na titig ng mga taong nandoon.
Nanatili sa harapan ng kabaong ni Junior si Aling Cora. Nakayuko.
Mula sa tarangkahan ng bahay namin ay nakita kong paparating si Kapitan, kasama si mayora. Sinalubong ni Nanay ang mga paparating.
Tila biglang nabuhayan ng dugo si Aling Cora. Halos makipagunahan sa pagsalubong kina kapitan at mayora
“Magangdang gabi aling Tessie. Condolences ha. Aba’y ngayon ko lang nalaman na namatay pala ang bunso mo. Ipapadala ko na lang mamaya sa driver namin ang mga bulaklak ha. O heto, pagdamutan mo ang kaunting tulong namin.” Isinilid ni mayora sa bulsa ng pantalon ni
nanay ang isang kumpol ng pera. “Papunta kasi ako kina Cora, eh sabi ng mga katulong niya na nandito nga daw sila’t maglalamay nga.”
“Maraming salamat po, mayora.” Ang wika ni Nanay.
“Ano bang nangyari sa anak mo? May sakit ba? Kakarating ko lang kasi. Galing ako ng airport at dumiretso na ako kina Cora. Nagulat na lang ako na may lamay pala dito.”
Bago pa man makasagot si Nanay ay may mga taong lumapit kay Mayora upang batiin siya.
“Maupo po muna kayo mayora. Jeng, anak, ikuha mo ng kape si mayora at si kapitan.”
Marahil ay minabuti ng nanay na huwag na lamang sagutin ang tanong ni mayora. Tingin ko naman ay malalaman at malalaman din nito kalaunan kung ano ang nangyari.
“Ay salamat, Tessie. O Cora. Nasaan ang ipinatago kong iPhone sa iyo.”
Nakita kong namutlang bigla si Aling Cora nang mabanggit ni mayora ang cellphone. Dali-dali itong naupo sa tabi ni mayora.
“Naku mayora, ganito po kasi…”
Hindi pa man natatapos ni Aling Cora ang sinasabi’y humahangos na dumating ang isang katulong nila.
“Ma’am Cora, heto na po ang cellphone. Nakita ko po na nasingit sa gilid ng upuan n’yo sa kwarto.”
Napatayo si Aling Cora. Tuwang-tuwa. Halos magtatalon. Nakalimutan yatang nasa lamay s’ya.
“Ha, hay salamat, Manang. Inihagis ko nga pala doon kahapon ang bag ko bago ako pumasok sa CR. Doon pala nalaglag. Sige na, Manang, balik ka na sa bahay.”
Nang makaalis ang katulong nila’y saka pa lamang napansin ni Aling Cora na lahat kami’y nakatingin sa kanya at sa hawak n’yang iPhone. Ang cellphone na naging sanhi ng matinding pangiinsulto sa pamilya ko. Ang cellphone na naging mitsa ng buhay ng kapatid kong si Junior. Ang cellphone pala’y nasa bahay lamang nila. Abswelto na sina Aling Cora at Mang Nestor sa problema nila at ang kapatid ko nama’y tahimik nang nakahimlay sa kanyang ataol.
Nang napatingin sa akin si Aling Cora, napailing na lamang ako. “Ahh…mayora. Heto na po ang iPhone n’yo.”
“So, namisplace mo ang cellphone na ito ha, Cora?”
“Yes, ma’am, mabuti na lang po at nahanap ng katulong ko.”
At dinig na dinig ko ang halos pabulong na sinabi ni mayora ka Aling Cora, “Hay naku, kung nawala mo man ito ay okay lang. Ano ka ba! Hindi ito orig. Isang libo lang ang bili ko nito sa suki kong Muslim. Akala ko naman marunong kang kumilatis ng mga ganito. Si mayor hindi. Hoy, ’wag mong sasabihin sa kanya ito ha. Se…se…secret natin ito. Wa… walang clue.”
ANG KAPALIT NG LIHIM – Part 2
(Maikling Kuwento)
Bago kami nagsimulang kumain ay lumapit sa akin si Junior. Kalmado na s’ya. Niyakap niya ako’t sinabing, “So..sssorri ku…kuya ha. Gu…good boy na ako…pa…promise.”
Nilapitan din ni Junior ang nanay at nag-sorry.
“Gu…good boy na ako na..nanay! L…love m…mo n…na u…ulit a…ako?”
Tumango lamang ang nanay. Buong higpit na niyakap si Junior at hinalikan sa pisngi. Nakita kong nangilid ang luha niya. Nakaramdam ako ng awa sa aming ina. Hindi ko siya puwedeng husgahan sa biglaang pag-init ng ulo niya nang komprontahin ang bunso namin kanina. Paminsan-minsan na ang tao’y panandaliang nawawala sa katwiran dala ng pagod, inis o galit. Pressured lang din siguro ang nanay dahil nga nililigalig nanaman kami ni Aling Cora.
**********
Nadatnan na namin sa barangay hall sina Aling Cora at ang asawa niyang pulis na si Mang Nestor. Na-late kami dahil pinilit pa naming kumbinsihin si Junior na sumama sa amin. Ayaw nitong lumabas ng bahay dahil madalas lamang siyang tuksuhin ng mga bata sa lugar namin. Tanging kay Girlie lamang siya nakaramdam ng pagtanggap mula sa isang kababata.
“Nakakahiya naman sa inyo, pa-VIP ba? Aba’y halos kalahating oras na kaming naghihintay dito ah,” bungad sa amin ni Aling Cora.
Yumuko lamang ang nanay. Ako ang sumagot.
“Pasensya na po, ma’am, ayaw kasing sumama kanina si Junior, hinintay pa naming mawala ang tantrums niya.”
“Ay! Ganun? May tantrums. OMG!!! Ang pangtutuya ni Aling Cora.
“Ay s’ya, simulan na natin ang pag-uusap para maaga tayong makatapos,” ang mungkahi ni Mr. De Villa, ang aming punong barangay. “Magsiupo kayong lahat.”
Nagsi-upo nga kami. Si Junior ay kumandong kay Nanay. Tumabi sa kanila si Jeng at ako nama’y tumayo na lamang sa kanilang likuran. Pinagmasdan ko sina Aling Cora at Mang Nestor na nakaupo sa katapat namin. Namumutiktik sa alahas ang mag-asawa at sa magkabilang kamay nila’y puro smartphones ang hawak. May nakasingit na clutch bag sa kili-kili ni Mang Nestor. T’yak kong baril ‘yun.
Pumwesto na rin si kapitan sa lamesa niya. Katabi niya ang secretary ng barangay na may hawak na logbook. May dalawang tanod sa bandang likuran nila at isa sa may pintuan.
“Eh, Kapitan, ano po ba ang dahilan kung bakit ipinatawag n’yo kami? Ano po ba ang problema kay Junior?” ang tanong ni Nanay.
“Ganun! Nagmamaang-maangan ka! As in hindi mo talaga alam kung ano ang ginawa ng anak mo,” ang pasarkastikong sabi ni Aling Cora.
“Eh, hindi nga talaga namin alam, eh. Sa palagay mo, magtatanong ba ang nanay kung alam na niya ang dahilan?”
Nabigla ako sa sagot ni Jeng. Natingin sa kanya ang lahat ng taong nasa loob ng opisina ni kapitan. Parang ready for war ang kapatid ko.
“Jeng, cool ka lang ha!!!” ang bulong ko sa kanya.
“Hindi, kuya. Hindi ako papayag na babastusin ng gagang ‘yan si Nanay,” ang pabulong ding tugon ng kapatid ko.
“O sige, straight to the point na ako, Aling Tessie,” ang deklarasyon ng punong barangay namin. “Nawawala ang bagong cellphone ni Ma’am Cora. At may nakakita na pinulot ito ni Junior.”
“Bago ang cellphone. Nakalagay pa sa box. Nalaglag siguro ito ni misis nang bumaba ng kotse namin pag-uwi niya sa bahay kahapon,” ang dagdag ni Mang Nestor.
“Kapitan, tiningnan ko pa ito bago ako bumaba ng kotse. Akala ko siguro ay naibalik ko nang maayos sa aking bag. Ramdam kong may ilang bagay akong nalaglag. Hindi ko na pinansin kasi nagmadali akong pumasok. Ihing-ihi na kasi ako at that time. Nadaanan kong nasa sakop ng bakuran namin ‘yang si Junior.”
“Ah, mawalang-galang na po, Ma’am Cora,” ang sabi ko. “Sino po ba ang nakakita na pinulot ni Junior ang nawawala ninyong relo?”
“Si Josie!!! Maghintay ka lang at paparating na iyon. Akala mo ba nag-iimbento lang ako ng kuwento, ha, Sean?”
“Hindi po, ma’am, nagtatanong lang po ako.”
“Eh sana nga hindi ka lang nag-iimbento, Aling Cora.” ang buwelta sa kanya ni Jeng. “Binabastos mo ba ako, ha Jeng?” Tumayo si Aling Cora at balak niyang lapitan ang kapatid ko.
Pinigilan s’ya ni mang Nestor.
“Tumahimik ka ha! Kapag nagsalita ka pa ulit, eh papauwiin na kita,” ang pagbabanta ni Nanay kay Jeng.
“Bitter ka lang, Jeng, dahil ayaw namin sa iyo para kay Alfred. Bitter ka lang dahil hiniwalayan ka ng anak namin. Magaling ka kasing pumili ng BF. Siyempre, iyong gwapo na at marami pang laging allowance. O, di ba?”
Nanggigigil ang kapatid ko. Gustong-gustong niyang sumagot, pero pinisil ko ang braso niya upang pigilan ito.
“Kahit kailan ay hindi ka namin magugustuhan para kay Alfred. Tandaan mo ‘yan. Wala kang breeding.”
“Ba…bad ka, ba…bad ka…ba bad ka!” pasigaw na sabi ni Junior habang nakaturo kay Aling Cora. Sa ganun mang kalagayan ng kapatid ko ay ramdam niya na parang may masamang ginagawa sa amin si Aling Cora at gusto n’yang ipagtanggol ang mga mahal n’ya sa buhay.
“Ba…bad ka, ba..baadddd. Pa…pangit mo.!”
Napuwersa ang nanay na takpan ang bibig ni Junior. Kinagat ng kapatid ko ang kamay ni Nanay. Kitang-kita kong nasaktan ang aming ina ngunit hindi niya inalis ang kamay dahil agitated na ang kapatid ko. Magsisigaw siyang tiyak kapag nawala ang kamay sa bibig nito.
Umalalay ako sa nanay. Tinanggal ko ang kamay niya sa bibig ni Junior at ipinalit ko ang sa akin. Kinagat din ito ng kapatid ko. Gigili na gigil na siya. Ramdam ko ang diin ng ngipin nito sa aking palad. Tiniis ko ‘yon.
“Good boy ka, Junior, ‘di ba? Doon tayo sa likod ni Nanay. Kainin natin itong cupcake o.”
Pagkakita ng kapatid ko sa inilabas kong pagkain ay bumitaw ito sa pagkakakagat sa kamay ko at sumama papunta sa likod ng nanay. Habang kinakain niya ang cupcake, nakatingin ito kay Aling Cora. Matalim.
“Ano ba ito? Freak show!” ang patudyada ni Aling Cora.
“Tumigil ka na, Cora! Nakakahiya kay Kapitan, ano ba!” Hinila paupo ni Mang Nestor si Aling Cora pagkasabi n’yon.
“Pasensya na po kayo, Ma’am Cora… Sir Nestor sa mga anak ko,” wika ni Nanay.
“Nanay, wala kang dapat ihingi ng pasen…” hindi natapos ni Jeng ang sasabihin, marahang tinampal ni Nanay ang kanyang bibig.
“Sinabi nang manahimik ka lang! Gusto mo bang mapauwi, ha? Hindi na umimik si Jeng. Yumuko na lamang ito.
Nakakita ako ng pagkakataon upang magtanong kay Junior.
“Ahh Junior. Masarap ba cupcake?” “Sa…sarap ku…kuya. Sa…sarap!”
“Mamaya, bili ulit tayo ha.”
“Si…sige ku…kuya…Bi…bili m…mo a…ako u…ulit ha.” “Promise! Pero sagutin mo muna ang tanong ko.”
Tumango si Junior.
“May napulot ka ba kahapon sa bakuran nila, Ma’am Cora?” Tumango ulit si Junior.
“O kitam kapitan. May napulot daw s’ya. Ilabas n’yo na,” ang bulalas ni Aling Cora.
“Teka po, misis, hayaan n’yo munang tapusin ni Sean ang pagtatanong sa kapatid n’ya,” ang sagot ni Mr. De Villa.
“Bunso, ano naman ang napulot mo?” ang pagpapatuloy ko sa pagtatanong kay Junior.
Tumingin sa akin si Junior at sinabing, “Se…secret. Se…secret. Wa… walang clue. Hi…hindi k… ko sa…sabihin.”
“Dali na bunso. Good boy ka ‘di ba? Ano napulot mo?
Hindi na sumagot si Junior. Tumalikod ito sa akin at ipinagpatuloy lang ang pagkain ng cupcake.
“Se…secret…se…secret! Wa… walang clue.”
Iyon ang paulit-ulit na sinasabi ni Junior. Ang nanay naman ang lumapit kay Junior.
“Bunso, sabi mo good boy ka ‘di ba? Sige na naman, oh, sabihin mo na sa amin kung ano ba ang napulot mo. Saan mo inilagay?”
“Sa…sabi ng se…secret eh! Se…secrettttt!!! Wa… wala ngang clue.
Alam ng nanay na hindi niya mapapaamin si Junior kahit ano pa ang gawin niya.
“O, paano kapitan ayaw sabihin ng bata. Baka naman naturuan na na huwag sasabihin para alam mo na. Puwede kasing ipagbili ang cellphone para magkapera.”
Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko.
“Mam Cora, h’wag n’yo naman kaming insultuhin ng ganyan. Hindi po namin pag-iinteresan ang cellphone n’yo. Kung iyon ay napulot ni Junior at dinala sa bahay ay titiyakin ko sa inyo na hahanapin namin ang may-ari para isauli ito.”
“Hoy!!! Huwag kang magtaas ng boses. Kilalanin mo kung sino ang mga kausap mo.” “Opo, Mang Nestor, kilala ko si Aling Cora!!! Kilala kita. Kilalang-kilala!!! Alam kong…” Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko. Ang bibig ko naman ang tinampal nang marahan ni Nanay. “Naku, Sir Nestor, pasensya na talaga, pasensya na po. Ganito na lang po kapitan, kung
papayag po si mam Cora ay bibili na lamang ako ng bagong cellphone katulad nang nawala n’ya. “Ha, ha, ha. Talaga lang ha!!!” ang parang nang-iinsultong sabi ni Aling Cora. “Sigurado
ka ‘ba dyan sa sinasabi mo?”
“Opo mam Cora. May naitabi naman akong pera. Pang-tuition sana ng mga anak ko sa pasukan. Para lang po matapos na ang usapan. Baka nga kasi napulot ni Junior ang relo n’yo at naitapon na kung saan.”
“iPhone 17 Pro ang cellphone na iyon. Halos isang daang libong piso ang halaga. Hindi kasya ang naitabi mong tuition fee ng mga anak mo,” ang bulalas ni Mang Nestor.
Natahimik si Nanay. Nagkatinginan kami. Kitang-kita ko ang pamumutla niya. Marahil ay napahiya siya. Akala niya siguro, ako man, na isang mumurahing cellphone lamang ang nawawala.
Ganun kabigat ang napasukan naming problema. Niyakap ni Jeng si Nanay. Nilapitan ko naman si Junior. Bumulong ito sa akin,“Ku…kuya, pa…pahingi p…pang c…cup c…cake.”
“O natahimik kayong mag-anak. Akala n’yo ba tig-isa o dalawang libong pisong cellphone lang ang nawawala?” ang pangangatyaw ni Aling Cora. “At hindi sa amin ang cellphone na nawawala. Ipinatago lang sa akin ni Mayora matapos niyang bilhin ito kahapon. Ireregalo n’ya kay mayor bukas sa birthday n’ya. Siguro naman alam n’yo na kung ano ang mangyayari kapag nakarating pa kay mayor ang usaping ito.”
“Anong gusto mong gawin ko mam Cora. ‘Di ba sinabi ko naman sa inyo na walang iniuwing cellphone si Junior sa bahay. Walang ibinigay sa akin, o kay Jeng o kay Sean na cellphone ang batang ‘yan.”
“Pero nadinig n’yo naman na umamin ang Junior na ‘yan na may napulot s’ya.” Ang dagdag ni Aling Cora.
“Ilabas n’yo na kasi. Pinagiinit n’yo ulo ko ah. Hindi ako papayag na mapahiya kay mayor dahil sa kagagawan n’yo.” Tumayo na si Mang Nestor sabay akmang bubuksan ang clutch bag na dala nito.
“Mawalang galang na po mam Cora…sir Nestor.” ang sabat ni kapitan. “Ako’y walang kakampihan sa isyung ito, ano. Pareho ko kayong kababaryo. Ang sa akin lang ay kailangang mapatunayan beyond reasonable doubt na napulot nga ni Junior ang nawawala ninyong relo.”
“Okay, okay. Paparating na si Josie. S’ya ang magpapatunay na napulot ni Junior ang cellphone.” Pagkasabi n’yo ay matalim kaming tinitigan ni Aling Cora.
Mula sa labas ay may narinig kaming wang-wang. Nakita ko mula sa bintana ng barangay hall na bumaba si Josie mula sa isang police patrol.
“O kapitan ayan na si Josie, ang witness namin.” ani mang Nestor.
Pumasok si Josie. Isang matandang dalaga na nakatira malapit sa amin. May dala pang plastic bag na malaki. Mukhang nag-shopping bago pumunta sa barangay. Binigyan siya ng tanod ng mauupuan. Nang makita ni Josie si Nanay ay umismid ito. Minsan kasi ay ipinabarangay siya ng nanay dahil sa pagkakalat ng tsismis na kabit daw ng kung sino-sino ang aming ina.
“Aling Josie! Alam mo na siguro kung bakit ka ipinatawag dito,” ang tanong ni Mr. De Villa.
“Opo kapitan.” ang tugon ni aling Tessie “Kahapon po kasi ay nagkataong nagawi ako sa lugar nila aling Cora. Nakita ko ‘yang si Junior na nasa loob ng bakuran nina Aling Cora. Kitang-kita ko na may pinulot s’yang parang ano ba…iyong parang rectangle ang hugis…pahaba s’ya. Nang mapansin niyang nakatingin ako ay bigla niyang itinago sa likuran ang napulot niya.”
Tumingin si Josie kay Junior. “Junior, ‘di ba nakita mo ako kahapon?”
Pinagmasdang mabuti ni Junior si Josie. Lahat kami’y nag-abang sa isasagot ng kapatid ko.
Tumango ito.
“Junior, ‘di ba may napulot ka kahapon sa bakuran nina Ma’am Cora?” Tumangong muli si Junior.
“Ano ba napulot mo. Cellphone ba iyon?”
“Se…secret nga eh. Se…secret!. Wa… walang clue.”
“Kita ko eh, relo napulot mo.”
“SE…SECRET NGAA! KU…KULIT N…N’YO…
“Tama na aling Josie, nagagalit na kapatid ko, baka po mag-tantrums ito dito.” Ang pakiusap ko.
“Anong tantrums tantrums. Pilitin mong magsalita ang kapatid mo. Ilabas n’yo ang iPhone ni mayora. Ilabas n’yo!!!” Galit na sabi ni Aling Cora.
“Ilang beses ba naming sasabihin sa inyo na wala sa amin ang cellphone? Walang iniuwing cellphone si Junior sa amin. At nakakasigurado ba kayo na iyon nga ang napulot ng kapatid ko? Sobra na kayo, Aling Cora,” ang bwelta ni Jeng na halatang hindi na kayang magtimpi.
“Bastos ka talagang bata ka! Manang-mana ka sa nanay mong walang pinag-aralan.”
Pasugod na si Aling Cora kung hindi nakapagitna ang isang tanod. Nakita kong tumayo na ang nanay. Medyo nangigigil na rin. Hindi siya papayag na masaktan ang aking kapatid.
ANG KAPALIT NG LIHIM – Part 1
(Maikling Kuwento)
Pinapapunta kami ni Mr. De Villa, ang aming punong barangay, sa kanyang opisina. May reklamo daw kay Junior. Ang kapitbahay naming si Aling Cora ang nag-file ng complaint. Pinilit kong alamin sa nagdala ng notice kung bakit, pero ayaw nitong sabihin. Basta pumunta na lamang daw kami doon bandang ala-una ng hapon.
Inisip ko kung ano nanaman ang isyu ni aling Cora sa pamilya namin. Kinarir na yata ang pamimwisit sa amin. Sa dinami-dami naman kasi ng puwedeng maging kapitbahay, bakit siya pa at bakit nagkataon pa na magkatapatan ang aming bakuran na ang nakapagitan ay isang lamang makipot na eskinita.
Walang mapagsidlan ng kayabangan si Aling Cora at lalo pang naging mapagmataas nang maging personal assistant ng asawa ng mayor sa bayan namin.
Dati’y inaway nito si Nanay. Sumunod ang kapatid kong si Jeng. Ngayon naman ang puntirya niya ay ang bunso namin. Marahil ako na ang susunod.
Kung ano man sana ang problema tungkol kay Junior ay puwede naman sigurong pag-usapan na lang namin bilang magkapitbahay. Bakit kailangang dalhin pa niya sa barangay. Hindi makakatulong sa kalagayan ng kapatid ko ang ginawa niyang iyon.
Nagpasya akong tanungin si Junior kung ano ba ang ginawa niya, kaya’t pinapatawag kami ng aming kapitan sa barangay. Hindi siya sumagot. Umiling-iling lamang siya.
“Sige na, Junior! Good boy ka naman, ‘di ba? Sabihin mo naman sa akin, o. Ano ba ang nangyari? Bakit inirereklamo ka ni Aling Cora?” Ang hiling ko sa aking bunsong kapatid. “Kapag sinabi mo sa akin ay ibibili kita mamaya ng paborito mong cheese cupcake.”
Tiningnan lamang ako ni Junior, ngunit hindi pa rin ito nagsalita. Sinimangutan pa ako. Halatang wala nanaman s’ya sa mood. Gusto kong mainis ngunit pilit ko na lamang siyang
inunawa. Hindi ko na siya pinilit at baka umiyak siya at magwala. Ganun siya kapag naiinis o nasasaktan. Iiyak, magsisigaw at minsa’y naninira ng mga gamit na mahawakan.
Special child ang kapatid ko. Meron siyang Down syndrome. May pagka-moody. Dapat ay Grade 4 na siya, pero dahil nga sa kanyang kalagayan ay mabagal ang kanyang mental development. Parang sa isang 3-taong bata pa lamang ang kanyang pag-iisip. Maliit kumpara sa normal ang kanyang ulo. Maging ang kanyang mga tenga at labi man ay may kaliitan din. Hindi proporsyonal ang sukat ng kanyang mga paa’t kamay sa kanyang katawan. Utal din siyang magsalita. Laging inuulit ang unang pantig ng bawat salitang bibigkasin.
Hindi siya makapag-aral dahil sa kanyang kalagayan. Walang provision for special education sa mga public schools sa lugar namin. Sinubukan noong i-integrate siya sa regular classes, pero hindi naging maganda ang resulta. Natakot ang ibang classmates niya sa kanya at ang iba nama’y madalas siyang pagtawanan dahil sa kanyang kakaibang anyo. Hindi naman siya mabigyan ng sapat na atensyon ng teacher noon dahil mahigit limampu ang bilang ng mga estudyante sa klase. Tumigil na sa pagpasok si Junior nang minsan ay may classmate na nanakit sa kanya. Lumaban siya, nagwala sa klase at ipinagbabato ang kahit anong mahawakan. Maraming nasaktan sa mga kaklase niya noon at natural na magreklamo ang mga magulang ng mga ito.
Hindi na nga pumasok si Junior mula noon. Wala naman kaming sapat na pera para pag-aralin siya sa isang school for children with special needs. Ganun pa man, kapag may pagkakataon, ay tinuturuan ko ang aking kapatid ng basic reading, writing at math.
Hindi rin namin kayang ipagamot si Junior. Patay na ang aming ama, limang taon na, at tanging ang nanay ko lamang ang nagtataguyod sa aming magkakapatid. Nagtitinda siya ng damit sa isang maliit na puwesto sa palengke. Kapag walang pasok ay halinhinan kami ni Jeng na tumutulong sa pagtitinda. Iyong lamang ang source of income ng aming pamilya. Ganun pa man
ay pilit na iginagapang ni Nanay ang pag-aaral namin. Si Jeng ay nasa high school at ako nama’y nasa kolehiyo. Education ang kurso ko at dahil kay Junior ay magme-major ako sa Special Education. First year pa lamang ako pero nagbabasa na ako ng literature tungkol sa mga batang may special needs, lalo na ang may Down syndrome. Nanonood din ako sa YouTube ng mga documentaries tungkol sa kalagayan ng aming bunso. Gusto kong kahit papaano ay matulungan ko ang nanay sa pag-aalaga kay Junior.
Bagama’t bata pa’t maganda ang nanay at maraming nanliligaw, ay hindi na ito muling nag-asawa. Inilaan na ng aking ina ang buhay niya para kay Junior at sa amin ni Jeng. Madalas na nababalita sa amin na kabit daw ang nanay ng kung sino-sino. Tinatawanan lamang niya ang mga ganoong tsismis. Hindi ko pinaniniwalaan iyon. Kilala ko ang aking ina. Hindi siya kailanman gagawa ng bagay na ikasisira niya at ng aming pamilya. Hindi niya dudungisan ang pangalan ng pumanaw kong ama.
Napabalita rin noon na niligawan si nanay ni Mang Nestor, ang asawang pulis ni Aling Cora. Kilalang babaero si Mang Nestor at sinubukan niyang makascore sa aking ina. Nire-regaluhan ng kung anu-ano ang nanay. Pero hindi siya pinatulan nito. Alam ni Aling Cora iyon. Kaya nga’t mainit ang dugo nito sa nanay at sa amin. Minsan ay tinapatan niya ang bahay namin at sinabihan ang nanay na tigilan ang kanyang asawa. Hindi pumatol sa pang-aaway na iyon ang aking ina.
Nagkagustuhan din ang anak niyang si Alfred at ang kapatid ko. Magkakalase sila at madalas magkasama. Galit na galit si Aling Cora nang malaman niya ang tungkol doon. Tumapat nanaman naman siya sa bahay namin at nagtatalak. Napilitang i-break ni Alfred ang kapatid ko at pagkatapos ay inilipat siya sa isang school sa Maynila upang tuluyan nang makaiwas kay Jeng.
Ayaw na ayaw din niyang nakikipaglaro ang limang taong anak niyang si Girlie kay Junior.
Madalas na itinataboy ni Aling Cora ang kapatid ko kapag ito’y nagpupunta sa kanilang bahay.
Sinubukan ding bilhin ni Aling Cora ang lupa’t bahay na ipinundar para sa amin ni Tatay. Hindi pumayag ang aking ina. Iyon daw ay alaala ng aking yumaong ama at walang halagang puwedeng itumbas doon.
**********
Halos tanghali na nang dumating sa bahay ang nanay at si Jeng mula sa palengke. “Nasaan si Junior!” ang nanggagalaiting tanong ni Nanay. Nakakunot ang noo ng aking ina at hindi mangiti.
Nilapitan ng nanay si Junior na nakaupo sa sahig habang nanonod ng TV sa salas. “Ano bang kabalbalan ang nagawa mo at ipinapatawag tayo sa barangay ha?” ang tanong ni Nanay habang hawak ang magkabilang balikat ni Junior. “Junior naman, hirap na hirap na kami sa pag-aalaga sa’yo tapos problema pa ang idudulot mo.”
Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak ng nanay sa mga balikat ni Junior kaya’t halatang namimilipit ito sa sakit habang nakapikit. “Magsalita ka, ano ba ang nangyari at inirereklamo ka ni Aling Cora ha…ano?”
Sa halip na sumagot ay bumunghalit ng malakas na iyak ang aking kapatid. Tinabig ang mga kamay ni Nanay at nagpagulong-gulong ito sa sahig. Umiyak nang umiyak si Junior, malakas, nakakabingi. Nang tumigil ito sa paggulong ay sinimulang pagsisipain ang mga upuan sa salas habang ito’y nakahiga.
Natigilan ang nanay. Nahimasmasan. Nakita kong nangilid ang luha. Marahil ay nagsisisi sa pamamaraang ginamit sa pagtatanong kay Junior.
Lumapit si Jeng kay Junior. Nais sigurong pigilan ang huli sa ginagawa. Ngunit siya manay nasipa.
Nang tumayo na ang bunso naming kapatid ay nilapitan ko na ito. Ang susunod na gagawin niya ay maghahanap ng alinmang bagay na ibabalibag. Niyakap ko siya.
“Tama na bunso. Good boy ka ‘di ba.”
Pilit na kumakawala si Junior mula sa pagkakayakap ko. “Bb…bad ka…kayo! Bb…bad!!!” Pautal na sabi ni Junior habang umiyak pa rin siya at isinusuntok sa likod ko ang kanyang mga kamay. Paulit-ulit ang suntok niyang iyon sa aking likod. Hinayaan ko lamang. Masakit, pero pilit kong tiniis.
“Sorry na bunso! Sorry na! Tama na!”
Habang nagtatagal ay naramdaman kong humihina na ang suntok ni Junior sa likod ko.
Tumigil na rin siya sa pag-iyak.
Ganun ang role ko kapag may tantrums si Junior. Kapag umiyak at nagwala ang bunso namin at akma nang maghahanap ng ibabalibag ay kailangang yakapin ko na siya upang huwag makapanira at makapanakit. Titiisin ko ang sakit ng suntok o sipa niya hanggang siya ay kumalma.
Nang maayos na si Junior ay nilapitan kami ng nanay.
“Junior, anak. Sorry ha. Nabigla lang ang nanay. Pagod lang kasi ako.”
“Bbb…badd kk…ka na…nanay. Hi…hindi mm…mo n…na a…ako ll…love” ang sagot ni Junior. Humulagpos sa pagkakayakap ko si Junor. Nahiga ito sa ilalim ng upuan. Hinayaan na lang namin s’ya doon.
Iyon ang laging huling stage ng tantrums ni Junior. Pupunta ito sa ilalim ng upuan, mahihiga doon nang ilang minuto at kapag okay na siya ay kusang aalis doon. Paminsan-minsan naman na kapag gusto kong umayos kaagad si Junior ay sinasabi kong may dumarating na pulis at may dalang baril. Kaagad na tatakbo sa akin ito at yayakap. Takot na takot sa baril si Junior. Kapag bukas ang TV at may nakitang baril sa pinapanood, ay tatakbo ito sa akin. May mga pagkakataon na lalampasan niya ako’t sa labas ng bahay tatakbo. Kapag ganoon ay kailangan ko siyang sundan. Minsan kasi ay muntik na siyang mabundol ng traysikel nang tumakbo siya
Palabas ng bahay.
“Nanay, alam n’yo na pala ang tungkol sa complaint ni Aling Cora.” Tumango lamang si
nanay.
“May nagbulong sa kanya kanina sa palengke, kapatid nung secretary sa barangay. Sinabi ngang inirereklamo ng mahaderang kapitbahay natin si Junior,” ani Jeng.
“Ganun ba?” sagot ko kay Jeng. “Teka, nakita ko nga pala naglalaro kahapon sina Girlie at Junior sa harap ng bahay nila.”
“Hindi ba kabilin-bilinan ko kasi sa inyong dalawa na huwag ninyong hahayaang makipaglaro si Junior sa anak na iyon ni Aling Cora!!!”
“Nanay, tanging si Girlie lang ang batang gustong makipaglaro kay Junior. Best friends sila. Kaya hayaan lang natin s’ya. Masaya si bunso kapag magkasama sila ni Girlie. At kapag pinipigilan kong pumunta doon ay nag-iiyak at gumulong sa sahig,” sagot ko sa nanay.
“Nandoon na ako pero laging itinataboy ni Aling Cora na parang aso ang kapatid n’yo kapag nakikita s’ya d’yan sa kabila. At kaya takot sa baril ‘yan eh minsang tinutukan na siya ng baril ni Mang Nestor para umalis sa bakuran nila.”
“Mas madalas namang wala doon sina Aling Cora at Mang Nestor.” tugon ni Jeng. “Hay naku, nakahanap na naman ng dahilan ang Aling Cora na iyan para idikdik tayo. Si Nanay kasi. Sana pumayag ka na lang na bilhin nila ang lupa’t bahay na ito, magpakalayo-layo tayo sa kanila para tahimik na buhay natin.”
“Jeng, alam mo na ang isasagot diyan ng nanay.” Tinignan lang kami ni nanay. Wala itong sinabi.
“Oo na. Oo na!!! Kuya… hindi kaya nasaktan ni Junior si Girlie kaya ganun?”
“Hindi gagawin ni Junior iyon. Napakaamo’t napakabait niya kay Girlie. Minsan nga tinatawag pa natin iyong bata para siya ang magpatigil sa tantrums ni Junior.”
“Malalaman natin mamaya. Hala, Jeng, Sean…maghain na kayo nang tayo’y makakain na.
Bago mag ala-una kaylangang nasa barangay tayo.
FATHER’S PORTRAIT (3)
(Last of Three Parts)
It was hard to believe what I was seeing. His expression kept changing. The emotions on his face shifted again and again. I knew what I was seeing. I wasn’t crazy. Maybe my eyes were just tired. Maybe my mind had been filled too much with the stories my aunts used to tell about this portrait. I even thought I saw him wink when he liked what I said.
Too bad my siblings weren’t there yet. The youngest would probably scream. She was always the frightened one.
If it was true that once the mourning period ended, the soul of the dead finally moved on, then I wanted to make the most of this night. Even if it was frightening, at least I could feel that he was with me.
“Pa, thanks for pushing me to teach overseas. I should have done it a long time ago.”
It was really my father who pushed me to pursue teaching abroad. I just laughed the idea off before because I insisted I did not need to do it. I had a wonderful career as an educator here, and the pay was not bad. I was satisfied. Until I felt job burnout and the need to slay some personal demons, which made me leave the country for a while.
It was supposed to be just for a year.
But when I saw what one year of teaching overseas did for me personally and professionally, I realized my father had been right.
The liquor and my longing for my father drowned whatever fear I had left.
I raised my glass again.
“Another toast, Papa. I can drink now. I can keep up with you. My liver’s strong these days.”
I stared at the portrait again. It felt as if he were staring back.
“Pa, I didn’t bring my wife. There’s a storm coming. Kuya and our youngest will arrive tomorrow. Hay naku, Pa… those two are still the same. Life is hard for them. They did not take their studies seriously, that’s why. I help them sometimes, but it can’t always be like that. They have to find their own way.”
I raised my glass once more, then paused and looked at his portrait again, as if waiting for him to respond.
“I asked Mama to come, just this once, but she refused. But you know what, Pa? Even if she won’t admit it, she still loves you very much. She’s just too proud. I’m sure she’s praying for you right now, asking the Lord to take you to Him and not to the Devil. Haha… just kidding, Pa. If the lifting of mourning weren’t being held here, she might have come. You know how she never got along with the aunts.”
For a while, I just sat there, looking at his face, as if he were really listening.
“That’s life. Nothing we can do. I love them all… but of course, I love Mama more. She’s my mother. And they understand that. They know that in front of me, no one is allowed to speak badly about her. We’d end up fighting. She’s not perfect… but no one gets to disrespect her in front of me.”
I took another drink and looked at the portrait.
“You understand that, don’t you, Pa?”
It seemed that my father’s head in the portrait slowly lowered.
I must have been drunk.
I was seeing things again.
“It’s really a shame you and Mama separated. Maybe if you were together that day… maybe you would’ve made it to the hospital. And Ate Lea… when you started getting sick, that’s when she left you alone.”
Unbelievable, but I think my father was nodding his head.
“Wait… wait… this is getting too sad. Change topic. Ah… okay… time for a photo. Let’s have a twofie pa.”
I took out my phone, stood beside the portrait, and kept pressing the camera.
For a moment, I felt something cold resting on my shoulder.
Either it was the wind…
or it was him.
“One more toast, Papa. This bottle’s almost empty. See? Because you laughed at me that time, I practiced drinking in Japan. Whisky now, Papa. You can be proud of me.”
I glanced at his glass.
It was empty.
I frowned.
Maybe I drank it myself. Maybe I knocked it over. But the table wasn’t wet.
I couldn’t remember anymore.
I filled it again.
“But Pa… why was it always like that? You and Mama were never together at my important moments. Elementary graduation — neither of you. High school and college — only you. Graduate school — neither of you. My wedding — Mama wasn’t there again. I’m not complaining… I’m just saying.”
I knew I was drunk now. I couldn’t stop talking.
“Papa… thank you. For everything you and Mama did. Especially for putting me through college. I wouldn’t be where I am now without you two. Not bad, huh? My English. I got that from you. Especially when I’m drunk.”
I stood up and took the portrait in my hands.
“You’re the greatest father on earth, Papa. The greatest.”
I kissed the picture and set it back on the table.
“Even if you and Mama separated… you’re still the best parents in the world for me. No one can match what you did for us. I love you both. So much.”
After that, everything blurred.
My head spun.
The last thing I remembered was looking at the portrait.
The frame was there.
But his face…
was gone.
Blank.
Impossible.
I must have been too drunk. My vision must have failed.
Then I heard something from the bathroom.
A rustling sound.
Like someone urinating.
I laughed weakly.
“So that’s where you went, Papa… to the bathroom… that’s why you disappeared from the picture.”
I tried to lift my glass again.
Too heavy.
My eyelids felt heavier.
I wanted to stand up and go to the bedroom, but my body wouldn’t move.
Everything slowly went dark.
Before I completely lost consciousness, I felt cold arms rest on my shoulders…
as if someone was trying to help me stand.
Or maybe…
I only imagined it.
**********
“Marco… Marco! Wake up!”
I opened my eyes.
The room was spinning.
“Marco! Get up! It’s almost noon!”
It was Aunt Cecille.
My head hurt, but I forced myself to sit up.
“Wake up. The people for the prayers will be here soon. We still have to fix the living room.”
“Yes, Auntie…”
She looked at me and shook her head.
“There you go. Hangover again. Just like your father. Both of you are intelligent, both handsome, both smooth talkers… and both drunkards.”
She walked into the kitchen. I followed.
“Auntie… who carried me to the bed? I remember falling asleep at the table.”
“How would I know? No one came here last night. It was raining. Boyet said he might come, but he got lazy because of the weather.”
I scratched my head.
Then I looked for the portrait.
“Auntie… where’s Papa’s picture? I left it here.”
“Good Lord. It’s right there. Hanging on the wall. You were so drunk you don’t remember what you did.”
I stared at it.
“I didn’t put that back there.”
“Oh sure. Maybe the picture walked by itself. Crawled up the wall and hung itself. STOP IT, MARCO. Don’t scare me.”
She lifted two empty bottles of Chivas.
“You finished two.”
“No… I only opened one…”
She just shook her head and went to the living room.
She looked up at the portrait.
“Kuya… even with your own son, you’re still playing tricks. Make the most of it. It’s your last day here on earth. But not with me anymore, ha. With Marco only. You’ve already used up all my fear.”
I just listened as my aunt said those.
“Wait… your smile… that’s different. You look happy today. You weren’t smiling like that yesterday. You did another miracle, didn’t you? Don’t change that smile anymore. Keep it like that. Later, you depart in peace, ha. Go up to heaven. With all the prayers we offered, you might even pass heaven. Say hello to Saint Peter for us.”
I suddenly remembered the photo on my phone.
I searched for that photo.
I looked closely.
It was true.
The smile on my father’s face in the portrait on the wall was different from the smile in the twofie that I took the previous night.
FATHER’S PORTRAIT (2)
(Second of Three Parts)
There were many other stories—things that sounded almost supernatural—connected to my father’s portrait. I brushed them all aside. I was used to hearing stories like that whenever someone had died, and the family had not yet formally ended the mourning period.
“I just got back, Pa. I won’t be returning to Japan until next month. I’ve missed you so much.”
That was what I usually did whenever I visited my father’s house. I would take his portrait down, hold it in my hands, and talk to him. I made sure no one else could hear me, or they might think I was losing my mind. My aunts probably knew I did it. I even kept the picture beside me while I slept and carried it into the kitchen whenever I ate. I only hung it back on the wall when I was about to leave.
“Your house is terribly dirty, Pa. Cleaning it wore me out. Now I’m hungry. Come on, let’s go to the kitchen. I’m going to boil some water. We’ll have coffee, and I’ll let you taste these super spicy noodles I brought home.”
My father’s expression in the portrait seemed to brighten after I said that. I shrugged it off, thinking that maybe I was only tired and hungry, and that was why it looked as if the face in the picture had changed.
It was also possible that my mind had been influenced by all the stories they kept telling about the portrait, so I imagined things even when nothing had really changed.
“You’re all show, Pa. You keep making your presence felt, but you don’t actually want to appear. Come on, let’s go to the kitchen.”
I set the portrait on the table and propped it upright against the wall, facing the chair I sat in.
“Now just relax there, Pa. I’ll do the cooking. You’re a bit unfair, you know. Back then, you were always the one who cooked whenever I came here. So what now? You won’t get to taste the longganisa I brought. Sorry about that. But I suppose you can still smell it.”
It was already dark, so I turned on the kitchen light. Outside, the rain and the wind grew stronger.
A sudden gust of wind rushed through the house. Something slammed hard, and the light went out. When I turned toward the table, I saw in the dim light that the portrait of my father that I had placed there was now lying facedown.
The bulb must have blown out.
I went to the living room. Luckily, there was a spare bulb in the toolbox my older brother had left behind. When I returned to the kitchen, I replaced the bulb. As soon as the light came back on, I froze.
The portrait of my father—which had fallen face down just moments ago—was standing upright again.
The chill that ran through me this time was much stronger.
It was unsettling to see the portrait standing there as if nothing had happened. I took a deep breath, the way I always did when I was flustered and couldn’t think straight. I looked to my left, then to my right. Even behind me.
No one was there.
Slowly, I forced myself to walk toward the portrait.
The smile on my father’s face had vanished. He seemed to be staring at me with a serious expression. Was he annoyed that I had challenged him to appear, and now that he was only making his presence known, I was already getting scared?
Suddenly, I remembered something my grandmother used to say — that until the mourning period had been formally ended, the soul of the dead lingered around the house and made its presence felt to the people they loved.
“Oh, come on, Papa. You’re scaring me. Keep that up, and I’ll go home. You’ll be left here all alone.”
I said it jokingly, just to ease the fear that was beginning to creep over me. For a moment, I even thought of calling someone to come over. I wanted to call my cousin Boyet and ask him to keep me company.
“You must really want coffee, huh? That’s why you’re frowning. All right, just wait a bit, Pa. I’m fixing things up now.”
The gas tank and stove my father used to cook with were no longer there, so I boiled water using the old clay stove instead. Luckily, there was still firewood stacked underneath, and the rain hadn’t soaked it.
I washed the glasses and plates that had probably been sitting in the rack for a long time. Everything in my father’s kitchen had grown old.
Every now and then, I glanced back at the portrait while I worked. I kept waiting for something to happen. Maybe one of my cousins was playing a prank on me. Some of them loved fooling around just as much as I did. One of them must have stood the portrait back up. I even thought it might be Boyet.
“Boyet!… Boyet!… Cousin, come out now. Join Papa and me here.”
I waited.
No one came.
I made coffee — one cup for me, one for my father.
“Here you go, Papa. Your coffee. Good thing there was still some coffee and sugar left in your cabinet. The noodles are cooking too. Oh, wait, Pa — I need to get something from inside.”
I hurried to my bag and came back to the kitchen.
“Here, Pa. This is my gift for you. Chivas Regal. I bought it at the Duty Free. Two bottles. One for each of us. It’s eighteen years old, Pa — not twelve — so no complaints. Hehe.”
I was no longer as nervous when I noticed that the smile seemed to return to my father’s lips in the portrait. Again, I told myself my eyes were just playing tricks on me.
“Did you like the coffee, Pa? Oops… there’s a leak here too. I’m embarrassed I still haven’t had your house repaired. I don’t want my older brother and his drinking buddies turning this place into their hangout.”
At once, my father’s expression changed again. His forehead seemed to wrinkle, and the smile disappeared the moment I mentioned my brother. Our father had always hated it whenever my brother came here just to drink with his friends.
There really was something strange about that portrait.
His brow looked genuinely furrowed. Maybe those lines had always been there, and I just never noticed them before.
A few minutes more passed, and I just felt my fear had begun to fade. I was almost getting used to whatever was unusual I noticed in my father’s portrait.
“Aha, you cannot scare me anymore, alligator.” I jokingly said while glancing at the portrait.
When the noodles were done, I fried the Spam I had brought.
“Let’s eat first, Pa, before we start drinking. We’ve got a long conversation ahead of us tonight.”
“Marco… Marco… Is that you in there?… Marco.”
“Yes, Auntie. I’m here in the kitchen.”
It was Aunt Cecille.
She came in, and I took her hand, kissed it, then kissed her on the cheek.
“I thought it was your older brother again.”
My aunt wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
“Well, look at this — Chivas Regal, and two bottles at that. What about us?”
“Of course, I brought something for you too, Auntie — red wine. It’s inside.”
“But who were you talking to? I could hear you talking to someone.”
“There he is behind you, Auntie. Say hello to Papa.”
“Hah!”
She turned toward the table, then suddenly straightened up.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! You startled me. You know how easily frightened I am. Now I won’t be able to go home by myself. You’ll have to walk me back.”
“Really?” I laughed.
“Go on, laugh.”
“There, have Papa escort you.”
“Oh, Marco, now you’re scaring me even more. I might not be able to sleep well. Just make sure you walk me home.”
I was still laughing. When I glanced at my father’s portrait, it looked as though he was smiling too.
“So you can also take the ginataang tulingan I cooked for you.”
“Wow! All right then, Auntie, I’ll walk you home. By the way, could you get the gifts I brought for all of you? They’re in the bedroom, inside the red plastic bag. Just divide them among yourselves. Are Aunt Claire and Aunt Carol there too?”
“Yes. They’ve been waiting for you for quite a while.”
Aunt Cecille went inside to get the gifts. I placed some of the cooked noodles into a bowl.
“You brought us a lot, Marco. Thank you.”
“Here, Auntie, try some of these Japanese noodles too.”
“Oh no, I can’t handle anything that spicy. Your aunt may be greedy when it comes to food, but not that greedy.”
“Auntie, I read your message earlier. Why don’t you want us to prepare something for tomorrow’s “babaang luksa”? I have a budget for it.”
“No need. Pancit palabok and bread will be enough. Let’s be practical. Besides, it’s rainy, people are busy, and no one wants to cook. There might not even be many visitors tomorrow with the storm coming. The food will only go to waste.”
“All right then. Just tell everyone that after the prayers tomorrow, we’ll have lunch at your favorite restaurant before I leave.”
“That’s exactly what we were hoping you’d say. Hehe.”
“Come on, Auntie, I’ll walk you home first. Papa, just wait for me, all right?”
“Oh, all right. Sorry for interrupting your father-and-son bonding. Hehe. Bye, Kuya.”
I noticed that Aunt Cecille didn’t look at my father’s portrait, which my father probably didn’t like, because in the picture, he seemed to be frowning again.
When I came back, I brought the ginataang tulingan my aunt had cooked, along with some rice.
“There we go — noodles, rice, ginataang tulingan… and Spam too.”
I poured Chivas into two glasses.
“This is for you, Papa… and this one’s for me. Cheers.”
After finishing my first shot, I took a bite of the ginataang tulingan and some rice. It tasted wonderful. It had been almost a year since I last ate that kind of fish.
I picked up a slice of the Spam I had fried.
“Here, Pa. You always told me to bring you Spam whenever I came home.”
I let myself pretend that my father was alive, sitting there with me, happy that I had come. He used to be like that whenever I visited him — lively, talkative, full of jokes. I placed a small saucer with tulingan and Spam beside his portrait.
Only then did I realize that tears were already welling from my eyes.
“You see, Pa? I’m still a crybaby, even now. It’s your fault. You left us too soon. All right… another shot. Finish yours, too.”
After more than an hour, half the bottle was gone.
“Papa, do you remember the time you visited us? I couldn’t find San Mig Light, so I only bought Red Horse. Four bottles. One for me, three for you. Damn… you laughed so hard at me that night. I hadn’t even finished one bottle when I ended up vomiting and shitting my guts out. After that, I never touched Red Horse again. That thing kicks like a horse.”
I looked at my father’s portrait.
I could see the happiness on his face — or at least it seemed that way — as I drank. As we drank. He looked as though he was smiling, almost teasing me, every time I spoke, every time tears slipped from my eyes.
What Matters (6)
(A Short Story – Last of 6 Parts)
My wife knew we were meeting up and had cooked dinner, inviting us to eat at our place.
“Wow, that’s fantastic!” Jay exclaimed when I shared the news. “This is a perfect opportunity to meet your family as well!”
“Okay,” I said. “Jay, Chris, you shouldn’t drive. You’re pretty drunk. Just join me in my Jeep instead.” Chris protested but eventually agreed. As for Mario, he seemed fine to drive himself, so I allowed him to take his car. This way, I wouldn’t have to worry about moving their cars back after dinner. When I returned the case of beer to the store, I entrusted Chris and Jay’s cars to the owner, and they just needed to pick them up before closing time that evening.
The drive to my house was smooth, with Mario trailing behind us. I noticed that Chris and Jay were nodding off as we drove. Less than 20 minutes later, we arrived home to find our gate already open.
Once we parked, Jay and Chris hopped out of the Jeep. As soon as Mario arrived, we moved deeper into our yard. It felt like the perfect evening was just beginning.
Our front yard features a neatly tended garden where my partner and our children cultivate various kinds of flowers and soft green shrubs that add life and brightness to the space. Our house is partially hidden behind the trees of chico and mango.
“Is that a Toyota Hi-Ace van yours?” Chris asked, eyeing the vehicle parked in a separate garage on the left side of our front yard.”
It is. We bought it two years ago. My wife relies on it for her business, and it’s our go-to for family trips,” I replied.
“Have you ever considered turning it into a rent-a-van business?” Jay suggested.
“Actually, that’s exactly what I’m doing! It’s become a valuable source of income for me, and I receive inquiries at least twice a week,” I explained with enthusiasm.
“Wow, your house is impressive,” Jay observed.
“It’s a big house, and you have a spacious yard. I thought this was still the old house we visited when we were in high school,” Mario added.
“This is nothing compared to Jay’s house. I had the old one demolished, and with every good harvest of rice and vegetables, my wife and I built this new one gradually,” I shared proudly.
At that moment, the door to our house opened.
“Come on in!
Maxene opened the door. She greeted me and kissed me on the cheek.
“Brothers, this is Maxene, our youngest.”
She greeted all three of my friends and kissed their hands as a sign of respect.
“How old is she, bro?” Mario asked.
“She’s in Grade 12. Next year, she’ll be in college. Where’s your mom, sweetheart?”
“They’re in the hut at the back. They’re preparing the food.”
“Let’s go to the back, guys.”
“Your house’s interior is nice, Mon,” Chris commented.
“My sister designed it. She graduated in Fine Arts.”
“And Mon,” Mario whispered to me, “You have everything here.”
“Your TV is bigger than mine. This is what you call a fully-furnished house.” Jay mused.
“My wife invested in all of this, bro. She does well with her small grocery in the market.”
“You have a desktop computer here, Mon. And a laptop and a tablet. Why don’t you try using them?” Chris asked.
“My kids and my wife use those. I never get a chance to use them. Besides, I am not a techie.”
We exited our house through the back door.
“Front yard, flowers and trees… backyard vegetables. You’re not wasting any space Mon.” Mario quipped.
“I am a farmer. I think planting is my life.”
By the time we reached the hut behind our house, the food was ready. It was already late afternoon, and darkness was beginning to settle in, so the lights were on.
“Wow, is it your birthday, Mon? There’s so much food—adobo, fried bangus, salted eggs, chop suey,” Jay remarked.
“By the way, everyone, this is my one and only, Eliza,” I said.
My wife kissed me on the cheek as she greeted my friends. Marco, my son, did the same.
“Wow, your wife is absolutely stunning, bro,” Mario exclaimed.
“Definitely, she’s gorgeous,” both Chris and Jay chimed in.
“I don’t see it that way, but oh, Mon… your friends know how to flatter,” my wife joked, a playful smile on her face.
“Madame, we’re just telling the truth. And please accept our apologies if we’ve caused any trouble,” Mario said with genuine respect.
“Oh, it’s nothing at all! You don’t need to worry,” she replied warmly.
“By the way, Mommy, let me introduce you to my amazing classmates: Jay, Chris, and Mario. They are all successful and well-known.”
“Well-known? Are we celebrities? Mario said.
“Successful… and maybe a touch arrogant,” Jay quipped with a smirk.
“This is my eldest son, Marco. He’s set to graduate next year.”
“What are you majoring in, Marco?” Mario inquired.
“Chemical Engineering, sir.”
“Please, don’t call me, or any of us, sir. We are your uncles. So call us tito, okay.”
My son nodded in agreement.
“And, Mon, when Marco graduates, please reach out. I can easily connect him with great job opportunities in Saudi Arabia.”
“Wow, I truly appreciate that, bro,” I said, excitement bubbling within me.”
Before we started eating, my wife invited us to say grace. My friends seemed surprised and hesitated before bowing their heads to pray.
That’s just how my wife is. She has taught me and our children the importance of prayer and faith in the Lord, and we go to church every Sunday.
After the prayer, Maxene served the rice, and a quiet calm fell over the hut. I noticed that my friends took turns glancing at my family.
“Well, there goes an angel,” I said, breaking the silence.
“Okay, since I’m the shyest in the group, I’ll take the first bite,” Chris suggested.
“Eliza, kids, come join us,” Jay invited.
“Sure… we’ll join you in a bit,” both my children replied.
Eliza sat beside me, and my kids sat behind us. As I ate, Maxene gently massaged my back.
“Dad, doesn’t your back hurt?” Maxene asked.
“No, sweetheart. I’m fine.”
I noticed how my friends kept staring at our family as they ate. I didn’t know what they were thinking, but I could tell from the subtle smiles on their faces and their gentle nods that they were happy with what they saw. It reminded me of how my teachers used to look at me when I’d answer questions correctly in class.
We finished our dinner, and my family helped with the cleanup while my friends remained alone in the hut.
“Maxene, could you please make your uncles some coffee and me some green tea?” I asked.
“Oh, hija, please make mine green tea also.” That was Mario.
My friends were quiet after the meal. Even when we started drinking our coffee and tea, the silence lingered. I wasn’t sure why—perhaps the drinks had an effect, or maybe they were just tired after spending nearly six hours together. Eventually, they all turned to look at me at the same time.
“Hey, guys. What’s up? Do I have something on my face?” I asked.
Jay smiled and replied, “I’m so happy for you.”
“Why is that?” I wondered.
“Just keep it up, bro,” he said.
I understood what Jay meant.
“Do you remember back in high school when we discussed our dreams and goals in life?” Chris asked. “While we all talked about cars, houses, money, jobs, and whatnot, I remember Mon saying he just wanted to be happy and live a good life.”
A brief silence followed.
“Chris… am I right? You scoffed at Mon when he said those things,” Jay asked.
Chris vehemently denied it.
“I just happened to marry a good woman. She has strong faith in God. And, ah…”
“…and she just happened to marry a good man,” Jay cut in.
“That’s Mon for you. He never brags. He’s always the quiet one, just listening to everything we say,” Mario added.
“Why is it that all the women I meet are rejects? They’re only good in bed. Does your wife have a sister, bro? Introduce me to her,” Chris said.
“Come on, Chris. She does… but I don’t want their lives to go astray.”
“You’re something else, bro,” Chris laughed.
“I envy you, Mon,” Mario said. “If I hadn’t gone abroad, maybe my family would still be intact.”
“You wouldn’t have gotten rich if you only worked here in the Philippines.”
We fell silent for a moment.
“What is the price of my wealth? What good is my money?” I looked at Mario, who suddenly seemed serious.
“I don’t know either. I don’t want to think about it,” Chris replied.
Jay added, “What is the actual value of wealth and success? I have been thinking lately, with what I have been going through, what does matter in life?
“Come on, Jay. We’re tough dudes. You’ll be fine. You’ll get past that and live long. The four of us will live long. Together we’ll celebrate our 100th birthday.” Chris replied.
The hut fell silent after Chris made that statement. I broke the silence again.
“Wait… wait… enough with the serious talk. The important thing, guys, is that we’re still alive. We still have time to fix what needs fixing. As long as we’re alive, we can still pursue our dreams and create new ones.”
Jay nodded while Chris bowed his head. Mario went outside for some fresh air.
“Mon, find me some land for sale around here,” Mario said. “There’s something about this place that feels different. It feels like my chest is lighter. I don’t know why.”
“Sure, bro. I know of some farmers who want to sell their land nearby.”
“Okay, I want to have a farm. I am interested in organic farming. It is what I want to do after my stint in Saudi. I hope you can help me develop it if it happens.”
“Why not?” I replied.
As the evening came to a close, my friends finished their coffee and prepared to leave. The warmth of the gathering lingered, but it was time for them to head home. We promised to meet again the next time Mario was in town. Jay joked about ensuring he’d still be alive when Mario returned, while Chris eagerly mentioned introducing us to the woman he hoped to marry.
From our terrace, I watched as my friends climbed into Mario’s car. The light from the post near our gate bathed them in a soft glow, casting long shadows across the yard. Jay pulled out a cigarette, but instead of lighting it, he tossed both the cigarette and the lighter into the night.
In that moment, I felt a sense of peace. I looked over at my family, gathered in their favorite nook on the terrace. I realized how much my life and that of my friends had changed. From the dreams we shared in high school to the lives we’re living now, we’ve come full circle. And though our paths had diverged, there was still time—time to grow, to repair what needed fixing, and to continue chasing the dreams that kept us going.
Life, I thought, is about the moments we share, the people we love, and the time we still have.
>END<
What Matters (5)
(A Short Story – Fifth of 6 Parts)
“Why are you talking like that, bro? You’ve been acting strange all day,” I said to Jay.
Jay lowered his head and sighed deeply. We all waited anxiously for him to respond. It felt like an eternity before he finally spoke again.
“Guys, I have prostate cancer. Stage 1.”
Chris shook his head in disbelief while Mario placed an arm around Jay’s shoulders. I wasn’t too surprised by this revelation; I had a feeling Jay was struggling with something like this because he had hinted at health issues before.
“That’s why, Mario, when I saw your Facebook post about your vacation and we just happened to run into each other, I asked if we could all get together. I thought… I thought maybe…”
Jay’s voice trailed off, tears brimming in his eyes, raw and vulnerable.
“Well, it turns out Mario’s not the most dramatic among us… It’s you, Jay. But it’s not the end of the world. There’s a cure for that.”
Chris expressed his thoughts bluntly, and while I almost wanted to chastise him for it, he did have a valid point. Hearing about Jay’s struggles was disheartening, but he had no choice but to confront the situation head-on.
“I’m terrified because my dad lost his battle with prostate cancer. I fear I might have inherited it,” Jay confessed.
We fell silent, absorbing Jay’s vulnerable admission. Mario and Chris chimed in, revealing their own health challenges. Both struggled with high blood pressure and kidney issues that required significant medication. Chris even shared that if his treatment didn’t clear his kidney stone, surgery could be on the horizon.
One thing I am grateful for is that I don’t have any health problems that require doctor visits or medication. Since I’ve been driving for a living, I’ve been following a health program on the radio and adhering to all the advice I hear. The only issues I face are occasional knee and back pain after working on the farm.
“Don’t worry, bro. I’ll take you to a great urologist I know at St. Luke’s. We’ll find a way to fix this. I’ll help you,” Mario assured Jay.
“Thanks, Mario. Thanks, guys. I feel a little better now that I’ve shared this with you. You’re the only ones who know about my condition.”
“Wait, your wife and kids aren’t aware of this yet?” Chris asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
“Mon… Jay’s still single,” Mario chimed in, a hint of concern in his voice.
It struck me how little I really knew about my friends. If I were more connected on social media, perhaps I’d be more in tune with their lives.
“Jay, you can do this. I know you’re strong. You’ll be better by the time we meet again on Mario’s next trip home,” Chris said as he opened more bottles of beer and offered me one.
“I’ll pass, Chris. I still have some left in mine,” I replied.
“Oh, come on, Mon, don’t cheat again,” he teased.
Their laughter filled the room, but they respected my limits when it came to drinking. They understood that while they could down three beers in the time it took me to finish one, I didn’t handle hard liquor well.
“Next week, we’re going to address your issue, Jay,” Mario declared, his tone a blend of seriousness and support. “But right now, I need to concentrate on something else…” He suddenly hesitated, as if grappling with whether to share more. I could sense that he was carrying an emotional weight. Could it be time for Mario to reveal his own struggles?
“Sorry… I need to focus on wrapping up the case I filed against my wife.” Just as I anticipated.
“Yes, I filed for adultery against her three years ago, and the judgment is coming next week. That woman and her lover are about to face the consequences,” Mario explained with palpable intensity.
He recounted the entire saga: the man who betrayed him was their business partner, and his wife had been unfaithful for nearly a decade before he uncovered the truth. A mutual friend had stepped up, alerting him to the betrayal through a Facebook message.
“Do you have kids? What did they say about it?” Jay asked.
“They’re furious with their mother. They couldn’t care less if she goes to jail. We have two sons, both college graduates and engineers. They work alongside me in Saudi Arabia, and my employers have recognized their talents as well.”
The conversation shifted into deeper territory as we focused on the topic of family. I wasn’t surprised by the struggles Mario and his wife faced; it’s a reality many couples encounter when one partner works abroad. While the opportunity for a better future exists through such arrangements, they can also lead to complications if the spouse left at home cannot resist temptation.
“By the way, Mon… Chris… do either of you have families?” Mario inquired, genuinely curious.
I nodded in response, eager to share about my family, but Chris jumped in before I could.
“I have two kids… but no wife.”
Chris seemed to be beaming in confidence when he said that. He stopped abruptly and looked at us.
“Why? Did you guys not even react? I said I have two kids… but no wife.”
“Come on, Chris, we’re not surprised by that anymore. I was even thinking that you have more than 5 children from different women.” Jay retorted. “We know you chase women for a living.”
“Actually, I’m in hot water again. Another woman is demanding child support from me. She says she’s going to sue if I don’t step up. I told her it’s time for a DNA test; she needs to prove I’m the father,” Chris replied, a hint of annoyance coloring his voice.
“Suit yourself, bro. Just be careful—you might end up with more than you bargained for, like HIV, hopping from one ‘hole’ to another,” Jay cautioned, his tone tinged with genuine concern.
“Mario, I’m a wise guy. I always use protection when I’m not sure of the ‘owner’ of the hole I’m entering,” Chris shot back, grinning cheekily.
“What about the two kids you’ve already recognized as yours?” Jay asked.
“They’re with me. Their mothers don’t want to take care of them, so my live-in partner is helping me raise them.”
Chris didn’t seem fazed by the complexity of his life. It seemed as though he was okay with the messiness of things. I didn’t want to judge him, but I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of life his two kids would have with two different mothers. And now, there was a possibility that it might be three kids. What if his live-in partner got pregnant? If Chris were my brother, I’d probably have slapped him back to his senses.
I didn’t get a chance to talk about my family because the conversation shifted to Chris’s chaotic love life. We advised him to straighten up, especially for the sake of his kids.
The drinking continued, and conversations flowed easily. By around six in the evening, we were surrounded by empty beer bottles, and Mario’s Chivas was nearly finished too. Jay and Chris seemed a bit tipsy, while Chris eventually grew quiet and appeared close to nodding off. Every time he started to snore, Jay would nudge him to wake him up. Surprisingly, Mario seemed unaffected; he was clearly used to drinking. I had only managed to finish three bottles of beer, with half a bottle still remaining, so I was doing fine. Eventually, it was just Mario and me left talking.
Jay and Chris got out of the jeep. While Jay went to a nearby tree to relieve himself, Chris ended up throwing up. I went over to rub Chris’s back to help him. At that moment, my phone rang—it was my wife calling.
“Excuse me, guys. My wife’s calling,” I said.
“Uh-oh, trouble’s coming. The commander’s on a roll call,” Chris joked.
To be continued…
M.A.D. LIGAYA
M.A.D. L I G A Y A 