Against the Tides

CHAPTER 5

I’m relieved knowing my Uncle and I are on good terms, kahit ilang araw ko palang siyang nakakasama. Mama said Uncle Elias is always busy due to his business and needs. Gets ko naman agad yun, lalo na't bata pa pala siya. For sure, a man like him will spend all his days pursuing a woman's touch. Ganyan ba naman kayaman tapos walang problemang iniisip? I mean, his personal problems, I don’t know. Pero kasi sa aura niya, he's living his life with no stress at all.

I also don’t know what kind of business he has. Well, as long as it’s legal. Ayoko magkaroon ng kamag-anak na galing sa illegal ang pera. Kadiri.

At this moment, I’m reading in my room, doing advance reading for one of my major subjects. Kaso, nung hahanapin ko na yung iPad ko, I forgot na naiwan ko pala sa kotse ng Uncle ko na yun.

It might be crazy, pero madalas siya ang sumusundo sa akin, kesyo busy daw ang driver ni Dad kasi palagi raw naaalis ang parents ko. Nagmamagandang loob naman daw siya, total galing din naman siya sa company niya kaya nadadaanan niya ako sa school every uwian.

I was about to message him but I forgot I don’t know his social media. Bumuntong-hininga ako at lumabas ng kwarto. Maybe I’ll just look for him nalang. It's still early pa naman, 9 PM. For sure, gising pa yun. Pero paglampas ko sa hagdan, may narinig akong maingay na sigawan at musika.

What the hell? I even noticed na medyo madilim ang bahay, pero there are still some small lights on.

Baka nag-eenjoy sila Mama at Dad? Without thinking twice, I went downstairs and walked towards the left side of the house kung nasan ang swimming pool. Wearing a large black shirt and short cycling shorts, I opened the sliding door and was shocked to the core by the sight of a few people.

I’m in our house, am I? Hindi naman siguro ako napunta sa ibang portal?

Mahigit sampu sila at mga nakasuot ng bikini, same with the boys in swimwear attire. There was loud music and lots of alcohol. Nilibot ko ang tingin ko para hanapin ang magulang ko since hindi pa naman napapansin ng mga tao ang presensya ko.

And ang inaasahan kong parents ko, nang makita ko lang naman ang magaling kong Uncle na may katabing dalawang sexy na babae sa kaliwa’t kanan niya, habang may hawak na inumin sa kamay. They were talking and also laughing. I glanced at his well-toned body; kitang-kita ko ang abs niya. I rolled my eyes at the sight.

Paano ko kukunin ang iPad ko neto?

“Oh, hey. Beautiful. Damn, Elias. Hindi mo naman sinabi na may tinatago kang maganda.” Nagulat ako ng may isang lalake na nagsalita sa gilid ko. He eyed me as if gusto niyang hubaran.

Agad ko namang tinignan ang magaling kong Uncle na ngayon ay umiigting ang panga na papalapit sa akin. Now, what? I destroy the party?

“Watch your distance, Michael.” Sabi niya nang makalapit sa amin ng lalaki.

“Madami ka na namang babae, Elias. Give her to me.”

Pero tinignan lang niya ang lalaki, more on tinitigan lang niya ito ng malamig, kaya natatawang umalis ang lalaki sa tabi ko.

I watched him as he sighed and held me on my waist and gently guided me inside the house. At nang maisarado niya ang sliding door, he faced me with his usual cold expression. Tsk, akala mo hindi nangbababae kanina. Serious mode 'yan?

“What do you want?” he asked softly and messed with his hair.

“My iPad.”

“That’s all? And you wore this…” he said while looking at my outfit.

“Hindi ko naman kasi alam na may party na may ganapan.” I said sarcastically.

He rolled his eyes.

“I’ll get your iPad and you go back to your room.” He said in his serious voice and I just made a face.

“Don’t piss me off.”

I looked at him and laughed a little.

“Bakit? Nainis ka ba kasi naistorbo ko ang womanizer momentum mo?”

Tinignan niya lang ako ng naiinis at nagsimulang maglakad. Siguro para kunin ang iPad ko. Hindi ko na siya sinundan at naupo sa sofa.

Ngayon lang nag-sink in sa akin ang lahat. How dare he throw a party sa bahay ng Dad ko? And besides, nasan naman ba ang magaling kong magulang? Tsk, basta. Once Dad is here, sasabihin ko talaga ang ginawa ng magaling niyang kapatid. Ang kapal lang talaga ng pagmumukha.

Bahay niya? Bahay niya?! Damn him. Tapos siya pa may ganang mainis na bigla akong sumulpot.

“Here, now go upstairs and behave.” Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Ayoko ng pumatol at gustong payapa lang ang meron kaming dalawa, pero hindi ko mapigilan ang inis na nararamdaman ko.

“Behave? In my Dad’s house? Baka sa iyo ko dapat sabihin 'yan. At tsaka nasan pala ang magulang ko? Kaya ba nagagawa mo ang gusto mo, kasi wala sila?” Masungit na sagot ko.

He just chuckled and sat on the couch in front of me.

“Poor little baby doesn’t know anything,” he said and smirked. Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. Anong doesn't know anything?

“Don’t little baby me,” naiinis na sagot ko.

“Go back to your room now, don’t worry. I’ll behave, the party will finish after one hour.” Nakangiti niyang sabi at nagsimulang tumayo at tumalikod.

“After f*****g one of your women?” sabi ko at tumayo na rin.

He stopped walking and faced me. Akala ko maiinis siya at papatulan pa ako, pero ngumiti lang siya ng malaki at kumindat sa akin bago tuluyang naglakad palayo.

“Dickhead.”

Us in good terms? Feel ko hindi.