CHAPTER 23
1040 Words
HERNOLD
"Do you know why we call you here?" dad asked me seriously now that we finally eating our foods.
Actually, hindi ko alam. Hindi ko naman malalaman dahil madalas pinapapunta lang nila ko rito pagkatapos nila kong bantaan at kapag nandito na ko, malalaman ko lang na pinapunta niya ko dahil gusto lang nilang makita si Kleo. Tsk. I knew it!
"What is it again, Dad?" I asked him back while yawning.
Oops. I didn't mean to yawn while eating. I'm just really sleepy right now.
"Of course! Ano ba pa? To tell you again that you need to have a good wife for your son. You can't let him grow without a mother. He is old enough to know such things. You think he doesn't have the mouth to ask you where is his mother?"
Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Muntikan pa kong mabilaukan sa kinakain kong meat dahil hindi ko inaasahan ang sasabihin ni dad.
"Huh? Mother? I don't need such a thing for my child. I could let him live on my own."
"You, stupid, son of mine. Don't be so selfish. Your wants don't meet his wants. He needs to have a mother and only you can provide it. Unless you want your child to be a rebel."
"Enough talking about this. Clark Jem Hernold, this is just a serious warning for you. If you didn't follow what we are telling you right now, consider it as a big problem for your company."
Hindi na ko nakapagsalita dahil mismong si mom na ang nagsalita sa pagitan namin ni dad ngayon.
Tsk. Wala rin namang patutunguhan ang usapan na 'to dahil alam ko naman na gusto lang nila kong humanap ng babae at pakasalan 'yon. They just want to have a daughter-in-law. Tsk!
Hindi na ko nagsalita at kumain na lang ako. Hawak din naman nila si Kleo na busy din kumain habang nakatingin sa akin. Parang may gusto nga siyang sabihin sa mga magulang ko pero tinitigan ko siya ng masama palihim dahil baka banggitin pa ni Kleo ang tungkol kay Mariel. Baka imbes na marami akong time para hanapin ang babae na sinasabi ng magulang ko ay mas mapaaga pa ang pagpunta ko ulit dito dahil sa madaldal na dila ng anak ko.
"We will go home after eating the foods." I announced.
Kaya lang, napunta agad sa akin ang attention ng lahat nang marinig nila ang sinabi ko.
"What? You are not going to sleep here? Why? Do you have someone waiting for you at your mansion?"
"Ofcourse, there's nothing! I just—"
"Mommy!"
"It's nothing."
Mas lalong sumama ang tingin ko sa direksiyon ni Kleo.
What the hell?! I trained him for nothing! He is really talkative and loud!
May gana pa siyang magtakip ng bibig ngayon na sinabi na niya ang tungkol kay Mariel. She is just a babysitter. Tsk.
"Oh. Really? Who's this mommy?"
Napabuntong hininga na lang ako ng malalim nang makita ang pagbabalik ng ngiti sa labi ng magulang ko. Maging 'yong mga kapatid ko ay nakatingin din sa akin na parang may gana pang tuksuin ako. Tsk!
Hindi nagsalita si Kleo at nakatingin lang siya sa akin. Alam naman pala niyang pagagalitan ko siya kung mag-iingay siya pero nagsalita pa rin siya.
"Don't worry about your dad, Kleo, my dear. He can't do anything here and I will ensure your safety when you go back home so tell us. Who's this mommy are you talking about?"
Hindi pa rin nagsalita si Kleo. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin habang hawak niya ang sarili niyang bibig.
Bumuntong hininga na lang ako ng malalim habang nakatingin sa ibang direksiyon. Ayo'ko nang tumingin pa kay Kleo dahil baka may ibang bagay na naman siyang maisip na gawin habang nakatingin ako sa kanya.
"Okay, fine. If Kleo doesn't want to talk right now. We can't help it. I still want to bring a lot of gifts to Kleo but I think, Kleo doesn't want them at all so I will just give them to someone else. I guess, Kleo also doesn't want to come with us go in another country."
Tsk. They are blackmailing him again and that's not fair!
"Mommy. . . home."
Napatingin ulit ako sa direksiyon ni Kleo nang marinig ko ang dalawang salitang 'yon mula sa kanya.
"You! What the—"
"Shut up, Jem. Don't curse your son."
Damn! Hindi ako makapagsalita ng maayos dahil sa presensiya ng magulang ko pero kung kami lang dalawa ang nandito ay baka kanina ko pa pinagalitan ang anak ko.
Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ko para pakalmahin ang aking sarili. I need to keep calm right now before I will lost myself.
"Clark Jem Hernold."
"What, mom?"
Naiinis na ko sa nangyayari. Gusto ko na lang umuwi at matulog.
"Who's that woman you're hiding from us?"
"It's nothing," walang gana kong sagot sa kanya.
"Really?"
"It's really nothing. She is just a babysitter for my son."
"Really?"
"Mom! I'm telling the truth, okay? Don't ask me again if you can't believe my words."
Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanila pagkatapos magsalita. Totoo naman ang sinasabi ko. Wala naman talaga si Mariel kundi taga-alaga lang ni Kleo at minsan, siya rin ang pinupuntahan ko kapag gusto kong matulog.
Tsk. Now, I remember what happened last night. I already kissed her by accident before but while the hell did I hug her just because I wanted to sleep?
There's something wrong in my system that night because I have a nightmare about someone and that's it. There's no hidden intention.
"Alright. Bring her here this month."
"What? Why do I need to bring her here?" nagtataka kong tanong kay mom.
Hindi ko na maiwasan tumingin ng nakakainis sa kanya dahil sa gusto niyang mangyari ngayon.
"What? We also need to know her. You said she's the babysitter of your son. What if she's not good enough to handle our dear?"
Hindi ako nakasagot kay mom dahil hindi ko na alam kung ano pang sasabihin ko. Napatingin na lang ako sa direksiyon ng isang kapatid kong lalaki na may kakaiba nang ngiti sa kanyang labi habang nakatingin siya sa ibang direksiyon.
Damn! There's no way I will bring her here!
- Writer
