DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 10: Kahel

Kabanata 8

Eloisa

I inhaled a sharp breath and prepared myself before I finally knocked on the door. Hindi ko na hinintay pa ang sasabihin ni Kahel. I pushed the large door open and walked in with my head held high.

"Boss," tawag ko kay Kahel habang nasa harap siya ng malaking canvas.

He was staring at Kanoa's drawing as if he was thinking. Wala siyang hawak na palette o paint brush ngunit sapat na ang pagkunot ng noo niya para malaman kong malalim ang iniisip niya.

I know that look. I've grown familiar with all of his expressions already. He's trying to figure out how to start his painting. Hindi ko lang sigurado kung balak ba niyang takpan ang unfinished painting ni Noa o may gagawin siyang karugtong noon.

Kahel inhaled a sharp breath then lifted a finger. "I need gold flakes." Nilingon niya ako. "Lots of gold flakes."

"Ibibili kita ng gold flakes. But first—" I golded my arms in front of my chest. "—You need to tell me why you picked me as your person to contact to in case of emergency."

He scoffed. "Uh, because you can always put up with me and you're my assistant?" Lumakad siya ng ilang hakbang patungo sa kanyang mesa upang damputin ang kanyang kape. He then leaned on his desk and sipped on his coffee while his gaze darted back to the canvas. "I really need some gold flakes."

I sighed. "Boss, dapat sina Ma'am Lila ang inilagay mo as emergency contact person."

"Nah. It's such a waste of time to bother them with some silly medical emergencies. Wala rin namang mangyayari sa'kin." He smirked. "Ang masamang damo, matagal mamatay."

I rolled my eyes. "Is that your excuse for all of your silly behavior? Akala mo ay kung puro katarantaduhan ang gagawin mo ay hahaba ang buhay mo?"

"This is why I love you, Isa." He sipped on his coffee while hiding his smirk. "You always get me."

Muli lamang umikot ang mga mata ko. I am well aware that my boss is a genius in art. Pero sa reasonings? Siraulo talaga ang isang 'to.

I sighed. "They called me because you're not answering your phone."

"And what did they say, hmm?" he asked without glancing at me.

Bahagya akong napakunot ng noo. Bakit pakiramdam ko ay takot siya? I mean, he's trying to act cool about it but his eyes are telling me that he's somehow worried that the doctor will deliver him a bad news about his health.

"They said there's been some errors in your last tests so they need you to come over—"

"I want my strawberry taho. They should wait." He forced a grin. "Taho is more important."

"You seriously don't know your priorities," I murmured under my breath. "Kailan ang sasabihin kong punta mo?"

Ngumuso siya na tila nais ipakitang nag-iisip pa siya. "I don't know. Maybe next week. Busy ako."

Tumaas na nang tuluyan ang kilay ko. "Busy ka pero may oras ka para mag-Baguio dahil lang sa strawberry taho mo? Wow. I can't believe that you'd rather make time for your silk tofu—"

"Silken tofu," pagtatama niya.

"Yeah, whatever but my point is, you can make time for that but not for your schedule with your doctor." Nagpamaywang ako't umiling-iling. "I am impressed with how to choose your priorities."

He grinned. "That's so kind of you, love. Thank you for appreciating me."

My eyes twitched. "Ibig kong sabihin, inuuna mo pa 'yang taho mo kaysa sa pagbalik sa doktor! Diyos ko, nanggigigil ako sa'yo, Boss!"

"Hey, it's not my fault that they made some errors. I made time for those stupid tests." He made a click sound using his tongue. "Saka iwas-iwasan mong manggigil sa'kin. Baka patulan kita, mag-maternity leave ka bigla."

"Ewan ko talaga sayo, Boss," asik ko habang nagkakamot ng ulo. Nakaka-stress talaga ang mokong na ito!

Nilayasan ko na lamang siya. I went back to my office and tried to do the rest of the tasks I have to take care of today. Nang oras na para sunduin si Noa ay saka lamang ako bumalik sa opisina ni Kahel.

"Boss, sunduin ko na si Noa," paalam ko.

He yawned. "I'm bored. Let's pick him up."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Sasama ka?"

"Yeah. Like I said, I'm bored."

Wala na akong nagawa nang humakbang siya palapit sa akin. He even held me by my arm and dragged me to the elevator. Naiisip ko pa lang na maririndi na naman ako sa bangayan nilang mag-ama ay nai-stress na ako. Ang sarap pag-umpugin!

Kahel and I took the easiest route to Kahel's school. Nang mapadaan sa simbahan ay napansin ko ang pag-sign of the cross niya.

"I didn't know you're religious," kumento ko.

"I'm not." He threw me a glance as he made a swift turn to the next street. "Just have some faith in Him despite me knowing that I'd probably end up down below."

Napahugot ako ng hininga. "That's weird. Karamihan ng tao, naniniwala sa Diyos dahil gusto nilang maligtas mula sa impyerno."

"Then their faith is bounded by fear, not by their devotion. That's pretty common since the society is programmed with the idea of hell." He scoffed. "Parang sa relasyon lang 'yan. Imagine your partner getting scared of cheating on you because your dad will kill him. He's not cheating because he loves you, but because of his fear of your dad."

"Ang weird mo talaga lately," pasimple kong kumento.

He pinched my chin. "Maybe you're just not used to this side of me because you always view me as the man who can always make you raise your brow." Humikab siya. "Gusto ko talaga ng taho."

Napailing-iling na lamang ako. "Sa susunod na street ang school ni Noa. Huwag mong awayin. He's having a hard time at school."

Kumunot ang noo ni Kahel. "Why?"

"He's dyslexic. Kids make fun of him. The teacher is doing her best to prevent that from happening pero syempre, may mga bata pa ring hindi nasusuway."

Hindi na siya nagkumento. Akala ko tuloy ay wala siyang pakialam ngunit pagdating namin sa school ay pinasadahan kaagad niya ng tingin ang loob ng classroom. Naabutan namin na nagpupunas ng luha si Noa kaya parang kinurot ang puso ko. Maya-maya ay bigla na lamang pumasok si Kahel sa loob ng classroom at pinagdadadampot ang mga gamit ni Noa.

My lips parted when I saw how Kahel carried Noa's bag before he bent down to pick him up. Buhat si Noa ay inis siyang lumabas ng classroom. His eyes screams anger as if he's affected by Noa's emotions.

Hinaplos ko ang ulo ni Noa. "Bakit, anak? Anong nangyari?"

Noa sniffed while trying to hold back his tears. "Isabi ng kwasmeyt po endi na dapat magpapasok po, eh kisi endi malunong magsulag miayos po. Isabi bobo po." Humikbi siya. "Mommy, Noa bobo po?"

Umigting ang panga ni Kahel. "Do not send this little devil here again," may riin niyang sabi.

"Pero matatapos na ang klase—"

"I don't care." Kumislap ang galit sa mga mata niya. "If I have to pay you more just so you can send him to a better school then I'll do it. Kami lang pwedeng mag-asaran. I don't like this, Eloisa. I don't want other kids to tell him things like that."

Tila may kumurot sa aking puso. Maybe I just didn't notice it early, but it looks like Kahel can feel their bond. Parang masyado siyang apektado ngayong iba ang umaasar kay Noa. Siguro kasi sa loob-loob niya, naroroon ang lukso ng dugo.

Hinaplos niya ang likod ni Noa. "Sino diyan nang-away sa'yo? Pipitikin ko lang sa tenga."

"Boss! Ikaw talaga. Tara na nga!" Muli kong hinagod ang ulo ni Noa. "Huwag ka nang umiyak, ha? Hindi bale, ililipat na kita next year—"

"Hindi na siya maghihintay pa next year." Umigting ang panga ni Kahel. "Transfer him as soon as possible."

I sighed. "Boss, kahit gustuhin ko, hindi na pwede dahil patapos na ang school year—"

"Then do not send him to this school anymore. Let him retake kinder."

"Mahuhuli siya, Boss—"

"Sino ang nagsabing karera ang pag-aaral? Kung ako ang tatay ng bubwit na 'to, mas gugustuhin ko pang makita siyang mahuli sa pag-aaral kaysa panoorin siyang apihin palagi dahil lang kailangan niyang makasabay sa mga kaedaran niya. I don't care if you prioritize timeline more but what I do know is that childhood trauma can haunt you forever. Hindi 'yon magagamot ng diplomang nakuha mo sa tamang oras." I saw how he protectively locked Noa in his arm. "No kid deserves this kind of memory, no matter how annoying he is."

Lumamlam ang aking mga mata nang tuluyan akong tinalikuran ni Kahel. He walked towards his car with Noa leaning his head on Kahel's shoulder as if he's seeking comfort in his father's arms.

Hindi ko alam pero humapdi ang mga mata ko. Hindi pa alam ni Kahel na anak niya si Noa pero ganito na siya kaapektado. I wonder what he could do once he finds out that Noa is his.

Suminghot ako. Looks like there's really a side of Kahel that I still have yet to discover.

The side of him that would probably make me reconsider how I view him as a man . . .