Chapter 14. Condition!
1702 Words
“Saan ka natulog kagabi?” galit na tanong sa ‘kin ni daddy pagdating na pagdating ko. “What's your problem, Zairyle? Did we teach you not to inform us of where you're going or where you're going to sleep?”
“I'm sorry, Dad,” paghingi ko ng pasensiya. “I didn't call you because my phone is dead. I forgot to charge my phone last night. I'm so sorry, Dad, Mom. I promised that it will never happen again."
“It's okay,” malumanay na wika ng mommy ko. “I understand, my princess.”
“Thank you, mommy,” sagot ko habang tipid na nakangiti.
“I don't want this to happen again, Zairyle!” saad ni dad na halatang galit pa rin. “Kapag naulit pa ‘to ay baka hindi mo magustuhan ang gagawin ko sa iyo!”
Hindi naman ako lowbat talaga.
Sadyang in-off ko lang ang cellphone ko dahil sa sama ng loob ko kay daddy ninong nang makita ko ito na may kasamang babae habang kumakain sa restaurant kahapon.
Sana pala ay tinawagan ko muna ang mga magulang ko bago ko man lang in-off ang cellphone ko, eh, ‘di sana hindi ako umaani ng sermon ngayon.
“Who was with you last night? Where did you sleep?” tanong ulit ni dad.
“She slept in her friend's house.” Nakagat ko ang ibaba kong labi dahil sa pag-rescue ni daddy ninong sa ‘kin. I thought he had already left. “She called me last night to say that she was at her friend's house.”
“She called you?” tanong ni daddy.
“Yes.”
“She informed you but didn't bother to inform us where she was last night?”
“Oh, come on. Are we going to argue about this matter, Bernardo?” tanong ni daddy ninong sa ama ko. “Zairyle is safe and fine and that's what matters. Besides, she didn't even finish her call because her phone was already dead.”
“Fine. I will let it pass this time but don't want this to happen again, Zairyle. Understood?”
“Yes, daddy. I'm sorry.”
Napabuga ng hangin si Daddy. “I'm tired. I'll go ahead first. I want to rest in my room.”
“Okay, dad. I'm sorry again,” wika ko.
Tinanguan muna ni dad si daddy ninong at pagkatapos ay tumalikod na ito at naglakad na papunta sa kuwarto nila ni mommy.
“Magpapahinga na rin ako,” paalam ni mommy sa amin pag-alis ni dad. “Zairyle, kumain ka na lang diyan. Isama mo na rin si Vhinzhel kung gusto niyang kumain. Pasensiya ka na sa daddy mo, ha?”
“It's okay, Mom. I'm at fault, that's why dad is mad at me. I'll understand him. Don't worry, I'm fine,” ani ko sa mommy ko.
“Pagkatapos ninyong kumain ay magpahinga ka na rin, ha?”
“Yes, mommy. I love you.”
“I love you too, my princess.” Tinapik nang bahagya ni mommy ang balikat ni daddy ninong bago nito sinundan si dad.
Nang mawala si mommy sa paningin namin ay saka ko hinarap si daddy ninong.
“Daddy Ninong, kain po tayo?”
“Uuwi na ako.”
“Ha? Mamaya na. Kumain ka po muna.”
“I came here because I heard your dad is lecturing you. Now, that he's going to rest, there's no reason to stay here that long.”
“P'wede bang dito ka na lang kumain?” tanong ko na may halong pakiusap. “Wala po kasi akong kasabay kumain. Actually, madalas naman akong walang kasabay talaga. Since you're here, can we eat together, Daddy Ninong?”
“Okay, baby.”
“Thank you, Daddy Ninong,” wika ko. Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni daddy ninong at iginiya ko siya papunta sa kusina.
There's already food on the table. I think, katatapos lang nina mom and dad na kumain no'ng pagdating ko.
Ni hindi na nga nila nagawang takpan ang mga pagkain, eh.
Siguro nang marinig nila ang ugong ng sasakyan ni daddy ninong ay inabangan na kaagad nila ako.
“Sit down, Daddy Ninong,” utos ko. Kumuha ako ng dalawang plato, dalawang baso at saka kutsara’t tinidor.
Ako na mismo ang naglagay ng kanin sa plato ni daddy ninong. “Ano po ang gusto ninyong ulam, Daddy Ninong?”
“Don't worry about me,” anito. “I can take care of myself. Sit down and start to eat.”
“Sige po.”
I sat beside him. Kinuha niya ang plato ko at nilagyan niya iyon ng kanin at ulam. Nilagyan na rin niya ng tubig ang baso ko. “Than you, Daddy Ninong.”
“You're welcome, baby. Now eat.”
“Opo.” He kissed my forehead so I smiled at him widely. I'm so blessed to have a godfather like him. “I love you always, Daddy Ninong.”
“I love you too,” aniya sabay haplos sa pisngi ko. Kaunti lang ang kinain ko dahil gabi na. Isa pa, matutulog lang naman kaya hindi ko kailangan kumain ng marami. “Are you done?”
“Opo,” sagot ko. Nang may maalala ako ay nagtungo ako sa refrigerator para kunin ang cake na binili namin ni daddy ninong kasabay nang cake na binili namin para kay Anton.
Ang sabi ko sa sarili ko, kakainin ko lang ang cake kapag kasama ko si daddy ninong dahil gusto kong matikman niya ang cake na binili namin lalo na’t card niya ang ginamit ko sa pagbabayad niyon.
“Daddy Ninong.” Eksakto naman na wala ng laman ang plato ni daddy ninong kaya p'wede na kaming kumain ng dessert.
“Do we have something to celebrate?” tanong ni daddy ninong sa ‘kin nang makita niya na may hawak akong cake. “Did I forget something?”
“I just want to eat this with you, Daddy Ninong.”
“Why? What's going on?”
“Wala naman pong okasyon ngayon,” ani ko. Halata kasi sa mukha niya na may inaalala siya. Iniisip niya siguro na may nakalimutan siya ngayong araw. “This is the cake we bought last time. I just want to eat this with you.”
“Bakit ngayon mo lang kakainin ‘yan?”
“Gusto ko rin kasing matikman mo ‘tong binili natin,” sabi ko. I sliced the cake. I put one slice on his plate. “Kain na po.”
“Thank you, baby.”
“You're welcome, daddy ninong.” Habang kumakain kami ng tahimik ay bigla niyang inayos ang buhok ko.
Ang ilang hibla ng buhok ko na bahagyang tumikwas ay inilagay niya sa tainga ko kaya napabaling ang atensiyon ko sa daddy ninong ko.
"Are you okay?” malumanay na tanong niya sa ‘kin. “Are you upset that your daddy scolded you earlier?”
“Hindi naman po.”
“I think he's tired, that's why he scolded you. Don't worry, he didn't mean it. He loves you more than anything because you're his only child.”
“Alam ko naman po ‘yon.”
“Next time, don't do it again. If your phone is dead, borrow a cell phone from a friend or acquaintance first so we don't have to worry about you.”
“I put that in my mind.”
“Good.”
“Daddy Ninong.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just answer me. Meron na po ba?”
“I'll answer your question tomorrow,” pambibitin nito.
“Bakit bukas pa?” nakasimangot kong tanong. “Meron o wala lang naman ang sagot, eh.”
“Why do you want to know?” salubong ang mga kilay na tanong ni daddy ninong sa ‘kin. “Answer me.”
Napaisip ako bigla. Oo nga naman! Ba’t ba gusto kong malaman?
“Masama po ba?”
“Not really.”
“Hindi naman pala, eh. So, ano nga? Positive na ba?”
“Why are you so curious about my love life, Zairyle?”
Gusto ko sanang sabihin na naiinis ako nang makita ko siya na may kasamang babae sa restaurant kaya ayaw kong magkaroon siya ng girlfriend.
“Ano kasi…kapag nalaman ko na may girlfriend ka na, magbo-boyfriend na rin siguro ako,” sa halip ay sabi ko.
“What? What did you just say, Zairyle Anne?!” Sa sobrang lakas ng boses ni daddy ninong ay halos mabingi ako. “Can you repeat what you have said right now?”
“Alam kong narinig mo ‘yong sinabi ko dahil magkatabi lang naman tayo,” saad ko. “At saka, p'wede naman na talaga akong may-boyfriend, ‘di ba? Hindi na kaya ako minor–”
“I don't care if you're not a minor anymore!” putol ni daddy ninong sa akin. “If I saw someone talking to you or courting to you, I will shoot them in their f*****g head and it's your fault because you entertained them.”
“Ba’t kasalanan ko?”
Hindi ako sinagot ni daddy ninong. Sa halip ay inismiran niya lang ako. “Kung ganoon, bawal ka ring magkaroon ng girlfriend para pareho lang tayo,” ani ko. “Unfair naman kung ikaw lang ang mayroon tapos ako bawal.”
“You're still studying yet you want to have a boyfriend?”
“Hindi pa naman ako mag-aasawa, eh," katuwiran ko kunwari. "Boyfriend-boyfriend pa lang para may nahahalikan at nayayakap ako.”
“You can have a boyfriend but I think he will last for only one day because the next day, he will be in his own grave.”
"Bakit? Talaga bang papatayin mo ang magiging boyfriend ko kung sakali?"
"You can say that."
"Malaking kasalanan kaya 'yon. Hindi niyo po ba alam na kasama 'yon sa sampung utos, Daddy Ninong?"
"Then stop thinking about having a boyfriend, Zairyle," pagbabanta ni daddy ninong. "Just focus on your studies."
"Kapag graduate na ako, p'wede na?"
"Hindi pa rin."
"Bakit naman po?"
"Just do what I said and we're good."
- Writer
