DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 11: Kali

Kabanata 14

ELDRITCH couldn't sit still while staring at his phone. Ilang araw na silang hindi nagpapansinan ni Kali magmula noong nangyari ang pagtatalo nila sa roof top. Not that he's still mad at him. It's just that, he couldn't accept the fact that Kali had a point.

Hindi naman sa ayaw niyang magpatalo. Sadyang mahirap lamang para sa kanya na tanggaping naging collateral damage nga siya sa mga maling desisyon at pag-uugali ng mga magulang niya.

He sighed and was about to put his phone away when he received a call from Barren. Umayos siya ng upo saka niya sinagot ang tawag nito.

"Hey," bungad niya.

"Are you free right now?" Barren asked.

"Uhm, yeah. Nasa apartment lang."

"Can I come over? I . . . had a bad day. I wanna relax and spend some time with you."

Napalunok siya. Barren is becoming more and more obvious lately. A part of him is terrified to entertain his display of interest but his people pleaser ass just couldn't say no. Kaya kahit wala naman sana siyang balak na payagan itong dumalaw ay um-oo pa rin siya nang hindi sumama ang loob nito.

It took Barren thirty minutes to get to his apartment. Pagkarating nito ay bumungad kaagad sa kanya ang tila pagod nitong ngiti.

"Hi," bati nito.

"Hey." Mas ibinukas pa niya ang pinto. "Pasok ka."

Barren walked in. Pinasadahan nito ng tingin ang apartment niya saka ito ngumiti. "Ang kalmadong tingnan ng apartment mo. Ang sarap sa mata ng puti."

He smiled back. "White creates an illusion that the place is bigger than it really is. Iyong positioning ng mga gamit, ibinase ko rin sa kung paano magmumukha maluwang ang lugar."

"Maybe I should hire you to give my place a makeover," biro nito.

Natawa silang pareho nang mahina. They then talked about other stuff until their conversation finally led to the reason why Barren had a bad day.

"My mom is kind'a hard to please. I don't think there is anything I could do that would change the way she views me." Barren forced a smile. "Being a first-born is both a blessing and a curse, don't you think?"

"I couldn't agree more," hindi niya napigilang sabihin.

Bumuntonghininga ito. Ang mga mata ay nananatiling nakatutok sa bukas na TV kahit na hindi na nila nabibigyan ng atensyon ang pinanonood nila.

"How's life treating you lately, Eldritch? You know, as a first born as well," Barren asked.

Sumandal si Eldritch sa sofa. His eyes were focusing on the TV as well. "I don't think I could sugar-coat my situation." Nalunok niya ang namuong bara sa kanyang lalamunan. "Para bang oras na nasimulan mo nang tumulong sa pamilya, it slowly becomes a life-long responsibility. Don't get me wrong. I feel blessed that I have the ability to help my parents, but sometimes . . ." He sighed. Hindi na magawang ituloy ang nais sabihin.

"Sometimes your responsibilities are already limiting you from living the life you truly want for yourself?" dugtong ni Barren sa sinasabi niya.

Marahang napatango si Kali. Nagtama ang kanilang mga tingin nang mayroon siyang napagtanto.

Barren understands him on a deeper level . . . just like Kali.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga saka niya pilit na nginitian si Barren. "I'll make us something to eat. Tikman mo muna ang luto ko bago mo ko turuan para alam mo kung saan magsisimula," pag-iiba niya ng usapan.

Barren smirked. "I'd love to be pampered first. Thank you."

Nginitian na lamang niya ito saka siya tumayo. Dahil may kaliitan lang naman ang apartment ay tanaw pa rin siya ni Barren kahit na nasa kusina na siya.

Barren watched the movie but they continued to engage in conversations. They talked about each other's childhood, how their teenage lives were, if they had girlfriends back then, etc. Pati nga ang mga nakatatawang bagay na napagdaanan nila ay napagkwentuhan na rin nila. It was like they're trying to get to know each other better. Mas nagiging kumportable tuloy siya rito dahil marami silang experience na nagkakahawig.

"Oh, I really wanna learn how to surf. You better teach me," ani Barren nang makwento niyang mahilig siyang mag-surfing noong high school.

"Maganda ang alon sa hometown ko. Basta huwag ka lang magpapadaig sa takot, matututo ka," aniya habang abalang maghiwa ng patatas.

Barren smirked. "You should take me to your hometown soon."

He was about to answer Barren when they heard a couple of knocks on the door. Nagpresinta ito na ito na ang magbubukas ng pinto dahil abala pa siya sa ginagawa.

Nagpunas ng kamay si Kali. "Do you want some juice? Naalala kong gumawa nga pala ako kanina."

"Sure," sagot ni Barren habang patayo ito sa sofa.

Eldritch took out the pitcher from the fridge then grabbed a couple of glasses. Wala siyang inaasahang bisita ngayon kaya akala niya ay iyong kapitbahay lamang niya iyon na mahilig mag-abot ng ulam. He didn't pay attention to the one knocking until he finally heard Barren.

"Nandito si Kali!"

Napaangat siya ng tingin. Kali's gaze met his. Bigla siyang tinamaan ng hiya dahil inabutan nito si Barren sa apartment niya. Baka mamaya ay iba ang isipin nito lalo na at alam na nito ang kasarian niya. Napaiwas tuloy siya ng tingin dala ng hiya na naramdaman. s**t! What if Kali thinks he and Barren are already dating?

He tried to listen to Barren and Kali's conversation. Nakita niya rin sa peripheral vision niya na may iniabot si Kali na paperbag kay Barren bago ito umalis. Barren tried to call Kali but the latter rushed to his car as if he was upset or something. Halos hindi tuloy alam ni Kali ang gagawin nang isara na ni Barren ang pinto saka ito lumapit sa kanya.

"He wants to give you this." Barren smirked. "Nagseselos yata 'yon, eh," biro ni Barren.

Eldritch sighed. "He's straight, Barren."

Umismid lamang ito saka na dinampot ang baso ng juice. "I'd pretend I didn't hear you say that with a hint of disappointment." Kumindat ito sa kanya.

His lips parted. "I am not disappointed," he said after he got his composure back.

"Don't worry. I don't get jealous easily," sagot nito saka na bumalik sa sofa.

Napabuntonghininga na lamang si Eldritch. Dinampot niya ang paperbag saka niya inilabas ang tupperware na laman ngunit nang mabasa ang sticky note na nakadikit sa ibabaw ay tila mayroong pumiga sa kanyang puso.

'Sorry na '

Eldritch pursed his lips to suppress the smile that wanted to make its way to his lips. Tumalikod siya mula sa pwesto ni Barren saka niya inilabas ang kanyang phone upang padalahan ng chat si Kali.

Eldritch: Oo na. Isasakop na kita ulit ng dinner bukas. See you at work.

It didn't take long before Kali replied.

Kali: Gusto ko bumalik diyan. Naiinis ako.

He was about to respond to Kali's chat but Kali immediately deleted his message. Napakunot tuloy ng noo si Eldritch. Ano ba ang nangyayari rito?

His phone vibrated after Kali sent him another chat.

Kali: Ako nagluto ng kare-kare. Bati na tayo, E. Please?

"Parang bata," he murmured to himself as he typed a response to Kali's silly chat. Nang maipadala ang chat ay ibinaba na niya ang phone niya saka na ulit hinawakan ang kutsilyo.

Eldritch sighed then shook his head as the sticky note caught his attention again.

Kali's soft side is definitely something he could never resist . . . no matter how hard he'd try to convince himself that his new best friend is straight . . .