Kabanata 6
1080 Words
ELDRITCH heaved another sigh before he opened another can of beer. Nasa roof top sila ng isa sa hotels na pagmamay-ari nina Kali. Hindi na sila bumalik pa sa VIP table kung saan naiwan ang mga kaibigan nito. Kali must have sensed that he needed some peace and quiet so he brought him here.
Kali tilted his head to look at him. Ang mga siko nito ay nakakalso sa magkabilang hita. "This is my favorite among all of our hotels."
"Bakit ito?" Eldritch asked.
"Because this is where my grandparents had their first wedding." Kali moistened his lower lip. "Kapag kinasal ako, dito rin ang una."
Eldritch smirked. Medyo tinatamaan na rin ng alak. "Hopeless romantic ka ba? Hindi kasi halata dahil ang hilig mo sa babae."
"Sort of. But hey, I'm just out there exploring so I could find the right one for me. Paano mo mahahanap kung hindi ka mangingisda, right?" nakangisi nitong tanong bago nito tinungga ang hawak na can ng alak.
He sighed. "Hinahanap ba talaga 'yon? Hindi ba kusang binibigay ng Diyos?"
Kali fell silent for a few moments. Tila nag-iisip. "Baka nga. Minsan." Umismid ito. "Why? Would you rather be found than be the one looking?"
Napangisi si Eldritch. "Nakakapagod maghanap, Sir Kali. Isa pa ay . . . hindi na rin naman ako umaasa sa ganyan. May pamangkin naman na ko. Ayos na sa'kin si Noa."
Kali whistled. "Man, who hurt you, hmm?"
Umiling siya. "Buhay." He laughed. Napansin naman niyang napatitig sa kanyang mga labi at mapuputing ngipin si Kali. Tila ba sandali itong nawala sa sarili dahil sa kanyang pagtawa.
Eldritch felt anxious. Napawi ang kurba sa kanyang mga labi dahil sa pagtitig ni Kali.
"May problema ba, Sir?" he couldn't help but ask.
Tila biglang natauhan si Kali. Namula ang mukha nito at halos hindi nagawang tumingin nang diretso sa kanya. "Nothing." Tinungga nito ang hawak na beer saka ito tumikhim. "Tungkol pala sa birthday party ni Noa . . ."
They discussed about his nephew's birthday party. Nagpalitan sila ng opinyon. Tila bumibilib naman sa kanya si Kali dahil maging ang diperensya ng mga materyales ay kabisado niya.
"I still wonder why you had a hard time looking for a job when international companies would definitely fight over you. Man, I think you're underpaid in my department!" ani Kali.
Nahihiyang ngumiti si Kali. "Maraming magagaling na inhinyero sa bansa, Sir Kali."
"But I've never seen someone as passionate as you. Ultimo pinakamaliliit na detalye ay kabisado mo. It's like you can always taylor an entire plan specifically for certain projects. Tapos wala kang bilib sa sarili mo? Tsk tsk."
Napakamot ng sentido si Eldritch dahil nahihiya. One thing he noticed about Kali is he's really good at lifting someone's spirit. Mukhang love language nito ang words of affirmation kaya ganito ang lalake.
"S-Salamat," aniya.
Kali smirked. "You really aren't used to compliments, hmm?"
"My body rejects it."
"Probably because you were only noticed by your parents before whenever you're doing something wrong," Kali said. Nang tila napagtanto nito ang nasabi ay biglang napaayos ng upo. "Sorry. It's the psychologist side of me talking."
Napakunot ng noo si Eldritch. "Psychologist ka?"
"Yeah. Studied it for fun. I finished my first bachelor's degree when I was eighteen so I had the chance to take up another course."
Napakurap si Eldritch. Double degree holder pala ito. Mukha lamang loko-loko ngunit totoo nga siguro ang chismis tungkol sa pamilya Ducani. Pamilya ito ng matatalinong tao.
Eldritch suddenly realized something. Napawi ang pagkamangha sa mga mata niya at halos tumigil ang t***k ng kanyang puso.
"You can read people . . ." wala sa sarili niyang sabi.
Kali licked his lower lip after sipping his beer. "Correction, I read people's behavior and body language. I'm not a psychic." Tumawa ito nang mahina. Halatang lasing na.
Lalong kinabahan si Eldritch. "H-Hindi mo ba ano . . . hindi mo ba ako nababasa?"
Tumaas ang kilay nito. "In what way, hmm?"
Dumoble ang kabog ng dibdib ni Eldritch. What if Kali is just testing him? What if Kali had already figured out that he's gay?
Sandali siyang nag-isip. He breathed in a sharp breath then acted relaxed. "What can you say about me, Sir?"
Kali mirrored his body's position. Pinakatitigan siya nito habang tila nag-iisip. Maya-maya ay ngumisi ito saka nito isinuklay sa buhok ang mga daliri.
Fuck, he looked so hot while doing it. Napalunok tuloy si Eldritch nang hindi niya sinasadya!
Kali's lips stretched for a sweet smile. "You wanna know what I think about you? What I've noticed?"
Kinakabahang tumango si Eldritch. "Y-Yeah."
Kali sighed. "Your actions and behaviors speak so much about your childhood, E. You over-analyze things because your parents never allowed you to make mistakes. You were probably punished pretty badly whenever you're making mistakes. You're scared because deep down inside, your inner child never had the chance to understand why your caregivers made you feel bad for making mistakes instead of helping you fix it and learn from it."
Napalunok siya. "W-What about . . . my uhm, my gender? Have you . . . noticed anything?"
Kali's eyes softened. "That's something I should let you talk about."
Kumabog nang husto ang dibdib ni Eldritch. Is that a hint that Kali had already noticed his real gender?
Pumikit siya at sandaling inipon ang lakas ng loob habang may alak pa sa kanyang sistema. "K-Kali . . ." He opened his eyes then met his gaze. "What if I'm . . . not straight?"
Kali stared at him dead in the eye for several seconds. Naging anxious tuloy siya dahil sa pagtitig nito nang hindi kumikibo.
Mayamaya ay bumuntonghininga ito saka tumingala sa madilim na kalangitan. "Do you hate yourself, E?" Muli itong tumitig sa kanya. "For not being straight?"
Kumirot ang dibdib ni Eldritch. "Y-Yes."
"If I'd tell you that I still wanna be friends with you even if you're not straight, would it change how you view yourself? Will you stop hating yourself?"
He sighed. "Hindi ko alam."
Naihilamos ni Kali ang palad nito sa sariling mukha. "Gusto kitang suntukin dahil hindi mo makita ang nakikita ko sa'yo."
Napalunok si Eldritch. "K-Kali . . ."
Kali's jaw clenched. "You're an awesome person, smart, caring, and a whole damn package, Eldritch so I hate you." Tumalim ang tingin nito sa kanya. "I f*****g hate you right now for hating this great man in front of me . . ."
- Writer
