DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 11: Kali

Kabanata 17

KALI and Eldritch have been exchanging messages while Eldritch is on his way to Infanta. Kasama niya ang kapatid niyang si Eloisa, ang pamangkin niyang si Kanoa, at ang kapatid ni Kali na si Kahel.

Eldritch's phone vibrated. Kaagad na gumuhit ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi nang makita ang chat ni Kali.

Kali: Don't mind my brother. He's a different kind of breed.

Alam naman ni Eldritch na pinasasaya lamang siya ni Kali para mawala ang kaba niya. Nag-aalala kasi siya para sa kanyang kapatid. Eloisa had never returned to Infanta since their father had found out that she was pregnant.

Sinulyapan siya ng kapatid niya ngunit huli na bago niya naitago ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. Medyo kinabahan tuloy si Eldritch. Baka mamaya ay kanina pa siya napapansin ni Eloisa.

His phone vibrated again after receiving another chat from Kali. Meanwhile, Kahel, Eloisa, and Noa started talking about the characters Noa wanted Kahel and Eloisa to play during Noa's birthday party.

Kali: How's the trip so far?

Eldritch typed a reply.

Eldritch: Entertaining. Noa wants your brother to play Shrek on his party.

Kali sent a lot of laughing emojis. Nagpalitan pa sila ng chat hanggang sa napansin ni Eldritch na malapit na sila sa kanilang barangay.

He glanced at Eloisa. Naramdaman kaagad niya ang kaba at takot na nito. Hindi niya naman ito masisisi. Eloisa was deeply hurt when their father kicked her out just when she needed her family the most.

He informed Kali that they're about to reach their family's house. Maya-maya ay nakatanggap siya ng chat mula sa kapatid niyang si Elona.

Elona: Don't come. This is a setup to draw drama and sympathy.

Kumunot ang noo ni Eldritch. Mabilis siyang nagtipa ng reply sa kapatid para sabihing nasa kanto na sila at malapit na.

Elona typed another reply: Dad will just make a scene for the neighbors to see. If things get out of hand, tell Dad you got my message. Don't let Isa find out it's a setup. Make it look like it's my fault. Tutal gano'n din naman, 'di ba? Aalis na rin ako at hindi na magpapakita pa.

Sumikip ang dibdib ni Eldritch. Why? Why do they have to do this to save each other? This act alone is a clear sign that Elona loves Isa, but why can't they just genuinely show that love to each other?

Bakit kailangang ang pagiging problematic ng pamilya nila ang humadlang para maipakita nila kung gaano talaga nila kamahal ang isa't isa?

It was too late for Eldritch to make a good alibi so they could just cancel their visit to their parents' home. Pati tuloy siya ay kinabahan noong tuluyang pumarada ang sasakyan sa harap ng kanilang tahanan. They all went out of the car, and just like what Elona had warned him about, their Dad made it seem as if he wasn't the one who requested Eloisa to be there.

"Ang kapal din ng mukha mong magpakita pa rito!" singhal ni Daddy.

"Daddy--"

"Huwag mo kong matawag-tawag na daddy! Wala akong anak na disgrasyada!"

Eldritch froze on hisspot. Itinago ni Kahel sa likod nito si Eloisa. Nag-vibrate naman ang phone ni Eldritch nang muling mag-chat si Elona sa kanya.

Elona: Just do it, damn it!

Eldritch shut his eyes for a moment. Humugot siya ng matalim na hininga bago niya tuluyang ginawa ang inuutos ng nakababatang kapatid.

He stepped forward and tried to talk to their dad without his voice shaking. "I got Elona's message, daddy. Kaya isinama ko sila. Please don't make a scene--"

"Hindi kasama ang malandi at makasalanang 'yan sa ipinatawag ko!" their Daddy's voice thundered.

Ilang masasakit na salita pa ang binitiwan ng kanilang ama. Sinubukan itong pakalmahin ni Eldritch ngunit talagang nagwawala ang matandang lalake na animo'y hindi nito pakana ang lahat.

"Eldritch," tawag ni Kahel sa kanya.

He knows Kahel is about to lose his temper. Kitang-kita niya ang galit sa mga mata nito kaya hangga't maaari ay ayaw niya itong hayaang mangialam.

"I got this--"

"I'll bring them home. I'm sorry, but I won't let Noa have this kind of memory," madilim ang ekspresyong sabi ni Kahel.

Umismid ang matandang lalake. "At sino naman itong nakikisawsaw na ito? Ikaw ba ang bagong inuuto ng lintik na 'yan? Pinalaki ko iyan sa simbahan. Ginagalang akong pastor, pero hindi ko tatanggapin ang isang makasalanang tulad niyan!"

Eldritch felt like he had a moment of awakening as he listened to Kahel and his father. It was like his rose-colored glasses fell off, making him realize what kind of man their father truly is.

A narcissist who will do everything to draw drama into their lives because everybody's pain is his form of entertainment.

Para siyang nanghina. Nabalot ng awa at galit ang kanyang dibdib dahil hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit kailangang mangyari ang lahat ng ito.

Do they deserve this? Masasamang tao ba sila?

"Bunso," tawag niya sa kapatid.

Basag itong ngumiti. "Okay lang, kuya. Kilala naman natin si ate Elona. I should've known."

Lalong nanikip ang dibdib ni Eldritch. No. No, it wasn't Elona's fault. God, it wasn't Elona's fault . . .

Sinenyasan niya si Kahel na ialis na ang mag-ina roon. Nagkatinginan pa sila nang makapasok sina Eloisa at Noa sa kotse. It was as if Kahel was waiting for him to get in the car, too but Eldritch just shook his head, silently telling Kahel that he was going to stay.

Hinintay niyang makaalis ang mga ito bago niya hinarap ang kanyang ama. Eldritch tried to take a deep breath, hoping that he would be able to talk some senses in his father.

"Dad," he called in a breathy way. "Let's get inside, please. We've already drawn enough drama-"

"Drama? Tinatawag mo iyong drama?!"

Kinwelyuhan siya ng kanyang ama. Kung hindi lumabas si Elona upang umawat sa kanila ay baka nakatikim siya ng suntok mula sa sarili niyang ama.

"Tama na! Umalis ka na rin!" sigaw ni Elona.

His tears made his vision blurry. "Tara na, Elona-"

"Maiiwan ako," may paninindigan nitong sabi.

"You don't have to-"

Elona held him by his arms then spoke in a low voice. "Just leave. Please. Para na lang kay Mommy."

Pumatak ang luha ni Eldritch lalo na nang ipagtulakan na siya ng kapatid paalis. He had no choice but to walk away. Pinagtitinginan siya ng mga kapitbahay kaya nakayuko niyang tinahak ang daan patungo sa labasan.

His tears didn't want to stop. Awang-awa siya sa kanilang magkakapatid kasi bakit ganoon? Hindi ba dapat ang mga magulang ang nagbubuklod sa mga anak? Bakit hindi iyon ang nangyayari sa pamilya niya? Kailangan ba talagang palaging magulo? Hindi ba pwedeng magkaroon din ng kapayapaan ang samahan nila?

Eldritch was about to reach the intersection when a familiar car pulled up by the side of the street. Ibinaba ng driver ang bintana kaya nagtama ang kanilang mga tingin.

"K-Kali . . ." nanlalaki ang luhaang mga mata niyang tawag.

Kali's eyes flickered with worry and concern. Bumaba ito ng sasakyan saka siya inakay patungo sa shotgun seat. Dahil nanghihina sa sakit na lumulukob sa kanyang dibdib ay sumunod na lamang siya sa nais nito. He also waited for Kali to get inside the car before he finally asked the question bugging his mind.

"Bakit . . . nandirito ka?"

Nakita niya ang pagtaas-baba ng adam's apple nito. "I . . . had a bad feeling about your trip so . . ." Bumuntonghininga ito saka siya tiningnan gamit ang malungkot nitong mga mata. "I'm sorry if I tailed kuya's car. Nag-alala lang ako. Hindi mo ko papayagan kapag sinabi ko sa'yo."

Tuluyang kumapal ang mga luha ni Eldritch. Nang hindi niya na napigilan ay yumakap na siya rito.

As if Kali could really understand him even when he's not saying anything at all, Kali rubbed his back and let him cry on his shoulder.

"It's all gonna be okay someday, E." Kali inhaled a sharp breath. "Mapasama man ng buong mundo ang loob mo, palagi mong masasandalan ang mga balikat ko . . ."