It had been weeks already since I had last seen Beatus. Inaamin kong medyo lumambot ang puso ko sa itsura niya. He’s wearing his white long sleeves and slacks but it wasn’t crisp and pressed anymore. Parang ilang gabi na niyang sinuot at mukhang iyon na rin ang pantulog. Medyo kumapal rin ang bigote niya at humaba ang buhok.
Beatus was playing a mobile game in his phone while my brothers were having a smoke in the terrace. Nagpasya na akong bumaba.
“Anong ulam natin, Aling Norma?” tanong ko nang matanaw ang matanda sa kusina.
“Gising ka na pala,” aniya. “Tinola ang ulam natin, anak. Kakain ka na?”
“Mamaya na lang po. Si Asia, kumain na?” Nakatingin man ako kay Aling Norma pero nahalata ko ang pagkakatigil ni Beatus. He almost dropped his phone, but he immediately sat up straight. “So
