LPS: Wild Obssession (Completed)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

"SO, kamusta ang holdings?" tanong ni Cloud na nakaupo sa right side niya habang nakapagkrus ang mga binti at tumutungga ng beer. Kasalukuyan silang nasa Diner Bar na tambayan nila noong mga college students pa lamang sila. Kakauwi lang nito sa Pilipinas kahapon galing Michigan.

"It's doing great," sagot niya at nilagok ang hawak-hawak na beer. "Ikaw? Kamusta ang restaurant mo?"

"Well, I did some innovation and expansion, as you know, a tradition of business and service."

Tumango-tango naman siya. "That's good. Alam kung magiging successful ang negosyo mo. You're a fine chief, so there is no doubt about it." Tumawa naman ito sa sinabi niya.

Almost 5 years ng naninirahan sa Michigan, si Seven kasama ang anak nitong si Micey matapos mamatay sa bone cancer ang asawa nitong si Brenda. The couple were both good at cooking. Sayang ngalang dahil kung saan naplano na nila ang lahat regarding building their own first-class restaurant na pareho nilang pangarap na dalawa ay doon naman nagkasakit si Brenda hanggang sa halos sa hospital na ito manirahan dahil sa biglaang paglala ng kondisyon nito.

Then after a year, she was all gone. Hindi na kinaya pa ng katawan nito ang chemo at hindi na rin umi-epekto ang kahit anong gamot na pini-prescribe ng doktor para malaban ang mga cancer cells nito. Grabe ang sakit na dinulot nito sa kaibigan niya. He almost gave up because of the pain and sorrow brought by his wife's death. Mabuti na lamang at nandiyan si Micey na siyang naging sandigan nito. Then, in order to forget the hurtful memory, ay nagdesisyon itong mangibang bansa na lamang kasama ang anak to start a new life.

"Darating pa ba si Seven?" tanong nito habang nakatingin sa sariling wristwatch. "Past nine na ah."

"Practicing husband duty for sure and it sucks," aniya sabay iling. Cloud turned to him and laughed.

"I guess you're right, but wait until you have kids. For sure, it will change what you believed in," he said, smiling.

"That what? Is being a father a burden in the ass?"

"Nope. Being a father is the best of all," agap nito na ikinataas lamang ng kilay niya. Tanda na hindi siya sang-ayon sa sinabi ng kaibigan. "I'm already a father Treece that's why. Kahit mag-isa kong pinalaki si Micey, kaylan man hindi naging burden sa akin ang mga responsibilities ng pagiging ama sa kanya. Yes, I had experienced a lot of difficulties raising her alone, but I took all those as the best memories that I will keep in my treasure box, so when the time comes that I become gray and old, I have something to look up to one day about her. My sacrifices, the laughter we both share, and everything, including the pain she brought me, telling me she had a boyfriend already! And of course, the best part is that, finally! She walks beautifully on stage. Getting her own, lovely diploma is the ultimate reason why you should need to be a father," anito habang nakatitig sa kawalan. Tila ba may kinakausap ito doon na ito lang din naman ang nakakakita.

Tapos bigla na lamang itong bumaling sa kanya na ikinaigtad naman niya sa kinauupuan. Nagulat siya sa emosyong nakikita niya sa mukha ng kaibigan. He was staring at him in a crazy way. Nanlalaki ang mga mata nito habang nakangiti na parang baliw sa kanya.

"Ahmm... What?" takang tanong niya rito na ikinalaglag naman ng dalawang balikat nito. He saw a great amount of disappointment on his weird-looking face a few seconds ago. "You're terrible man! Hindi ka manlang nag-react sa mga sinabi ko sayo kanina."

"D-do I need to say something about what you shared? Is it necessary?" he asked him in a sardonic tone.

"Now, you're being rude," anito at isinandal ang likuran sa headboard ng couch at tinungga ulit ang hawak-hawak na beer. Siya naman ay ganun rin ang ginawa.