A PRANK TO REMEMBER

APTR – 6

"What did you do?" salubong ni Daddy.

Why he's here?

"Hindi po ba dapat welcome home muna ang sasabihin niyo?" I asked him at nilampasan siya. "Ate Lily, pahingi pong pagkain!" sigaw ko naman at saka ibinagsak ang katawan sa sofa. "O kaya naman, kumusta? Matagal din tayong hindi nagkita. Kumusta ang school? Ang grades mo? Teka, kumain ka na ba? Hindi ba ganun dapat ang mga tanong na sinasalubong ng magulang sa anak niya?" turan ko pa.

"Look Stelle.. "

"Who's Stelle?" I snapped. "Wait, don't tell me may anak kayo sa labas at hindi talaga business ang pinagkakaabalahan niyo?" saad ko pa, although alam ko namang masyado siyang frustrated dahil hindi Stelle ang naging pangalan ko. Hindi siya makamove-on na hindi napagbigyan ang gusto niya that's why she's calling me Stelle occasionally.

"Renaissance Florentine.." matalim nitong turan.

"Montiveros Valdez." I continued while rolling my eyes. I stared at my Dad whose staring back intently. "Kailan nga ba tayo huling nagkita Dad, I can't remember the exact date."

He sighed at bahagyang minasahe ang noo niya.

"Pinasasakit ko na naman ba ang ulo niyo like what I always did everytime you came home with your wife?"

"She's your mother."

"Okay." I asked while smirking.

"Look Renaissance, it's about Clinton Joseph. What did you---"

"Wow, so it's all about your favorite son." putol ko sa kanya. "Where is he anyway?"

"He's upstairs, nagpapahinga. Kaaalis lang ni Dr. Lopez, what did you do to your brother?" seryosong saad nito. "Are you planning to kill him?" asik pa nito.

Hindi ako sumagot. I just stared at our carpet, mukhang maalikabok na ito. Hindi ba naglinis ng bahay sina Ate Lily?

"A laxative really? Pampapurga ng aso? Paano kung may masamang nangyari sa kapatid mo? What will you do?!" singhal nito at nagpalakad-lakad sa harap ko.

Si Ate Lily na may dalang pagkain ay muling bumalik sa kusina ng makitang nag-uusap kami ni Daddy. Pagkain na sana, naging bato pa.

"I know, hindi kami perpektong magulang Stelle, marami kaming pagkukulang. But it doesn't mean na we didn't love you. We're doing this for your future. Yes, we're busy. Hindi na nga tayo nagkikitang madalas pero hindi mo naman kailangang magrebelde just for you to get notice. Hindi mo kailangang manakit ng kapwa mo para lang magpapansin, para lang umuwi kami. It's a childish act." Childish act?  "Hindi mo alam kung gaano kalaking responsibilidad ang kinakaharap namin ng Mommy mo. While we're talking here, libo-libong tao ang maaaring maapektuhan. Sa halip na inaayos ko ang problema sa kompanya, andito ako sa harap mo. Talking to you like an idiot while you're not even listening. You're smart, so please be responsible. Renaissance Florentine, grow up. You're not a baby anymore." mahabang sermon nito saka sinagot ang nagwawalang cellphone. "Yes Mr. Lee? Alright, I'll be there."

Tiningnan lang ako nito saka balewalang tumalikod at lumabas ng bahay. Maya-maya pa'y narinig ko na ang papaalis nitong sasakyan.

Just like the old times.

--

"You're sick?" I asked Clinton matapos kong umupo sa tabi niya. Nakahiga ito sa kama niya while holding a book. "If you're sick you can finish that book later, magpahinga ka na."

"Where's Dad?" tanong nito habang pinagpapatuloy pa rin ang pagbabasa.

"He's gone." I told him at nahiga sa tabi niya. Sumiksik pa ako rito at niyakap siya ng mahigpit.

"You're sorry? Nagi-guilty ka ba that's why you're hugging me like that?" he teased at binitiwan na ang hawak na libro at tinapik-tapik ang braso kong nakayakap sa kanya. "You're not clingy, right? You hate hugging and being close like this."

I closed my eyes and nodded.

"I'am really sorry Clinton. I didn't meant to hurt you. Hindi ko sinasadyang ilagay sa pagkain mo ang pampurga kay Chuck. I'am just pissed that's why I did it. I'am really sorry." I confessed. "Do you have diarrhea, gases, rashes on the rectum, nausea and stomach cramps? That's the side effects of that laxative." I stared at him concerned and he's smiling like an idiot.

"Did you just said that you're sorry?" I nodded. "That's new."

"I really am." tugon ko at muling pumikit. "I don't want you to get hurt."

Naramdaman ko namang niyakap din ako nito.

"I'am fine now, pero nagkaroon na ata ako ng phobia sa toilet bowl." tumatawang turan nito. "I'am sorry too for being a jerk yesterday and for shouting at you earlier." he sighed. "As your older brother.."

"You're my only brother and 5 seconds lang ang tanda mo sa'kin."

"As your older brother.. " pagpapatuloy nito, ignoring my remarks. "I just want you to understand Renaissance that our parents, they really love us. Hindi man sila tulad ng ibang mga magulang, kapakanan pa rin natin ang nasa isip nila. Kaya't hanggat maaari, wag na natin silang bigyan ng problema. Wag na nating dagdagan ang mga bagay na pinoproblema nila."

"Hindi ko naman sinabing problemahin nila ako. I can stand on my own."

He chuckled then kissed my forehead.

"Then, bakit ka umiiyak?" he asked while wiping my cheeks. "Did Dad scold you? Just don't mind him Renaissance, masyado lang stress 'yun dahil sa problema ng kompanya."

Umiling ako.

"It's because of our carpet.. it's full of dust."