Us Happened

Next Level

Kiefer

It was Dad who told me to do it. Bago ko pa nakausap si Billie and Thirdy about our trip to Indonesia, nakausap ko si Dad.

...

"Ang tagal niyo na din ni Mika no?" I was leaning on the ledge outside our house kakababa ko lang ng phone pinatulog ko na si Mika kasi maaga pa siya mamaya.

"Pa, oo nga eh." I told him. He handed me a bottle of beer, napangiti ako.

"Mukhang, chill night Pa ah." I willingly accepted the beer and drinks from it.

"Wala, feeling ko lang you and Thirdy are growing way too fast. Pero let's not get there, hayaan na natin si Mama na magsentimyento tungkol dun." Parehas kasi napatawa at umiling ni Papa.

"How's your team doing?" He asked.

"Ayos naman Pa, mejo gamay ko na mga kasama. Sabi mo nga noon bilog ang bola ang mga kalaban mo noon posibleng kakampi mo na ngayon." I answered, tumango-tango si Dad.

"Anong balak mo ngayon?" We, Thirdy, Dani and me, grew up like this. Yung tipong in dinner or lunch or kapag magkakasama lang kami our parents would ask us, what's your plan? Or what's next for you? Hinahayaan nila kasi kami to decide on our own but with their guidance.

"Basketball, tapos yung business venture Dad! Naeexcite din ako kasi patapos na yung bagong project ng fast break eh." Happily I answered my Dad, I checked his reaction and I could see he approves.

"Good. Alam mo nung panahong ganyan ako, kami ni Mama mo. Nakalimutan ko siya, I almost lost her." Dad said, tumungga siya sa bote niya na para bang hinding hindi na ulit mangyayari yun. I know the story, a bit, Mom told me about it. Na naghiwalay sila ni Papa before they got married.

"Masyado akong kampante na kung may isang bagay na impossibleng mawala sakin, siya yun." Dad's baring it all now. Never saw nor hear him this open.

"Although, ginagawa ko naman lahat for her. Para sa future naming dalawa pero katulad ng sabi nila hindi lahat nakukuha sa mga bagay na ginagawa mo, your actions doesn't always give assurance to your partner sometimes you have to tell her also." Dad's looking at the starry night.

"Nagulat ako noon ng biglang tinanong ako ni Mama mo what's my plan and when I told her everything went into pieces. Next thing I know wala na siya, wala na kami." I bet that'll be terrorizing, hinding hindi ko rin siguro kakayanin kapag nawala si Mika sakin.

"Noong una hindi ko siya naintindihan. Nababanas ako kasi bakit siya makikipagbreak? Di naman ako nambababae, lahat naman ng free time ko binibigay ko sa kanya, kahit hindi niya hingin ang isang bagay I'll give it to her. So bakit?" Dad continued. Napapaisip tuloy ako, with Dad's story masyado na din ba akong kampante at focused sa trabaho to the point na di ko na napapansin si Mika? Does she ever feel like that?

"Your Mama needed assurance that time, na kasama siya sa mga plano ko sa buhay and she needed to hear it pero hindi ko sinabi. Kasi akala ko, dapat unahin muna ang stability. Akala ko gets niya na na wala ng ibang babae para sa akin." Ngayon napapaisip ako lalo. Am I really ready?

"I'm telling you this son kasi, I could see us in the both of you. Kung ako ang tatanungin tama na ang edad mo to get married, nakagraduate naman na kayo parehas. Ayos naman ang kinikita mo at may business ka naman na. Or if both of you aren't ready for the next level yet, make her feel assured. Iba kasi ang isip ng mga babae." Napailing kami parehas ni Papa, kasi apparently we both fell for women with sayad. Love you Mom and Miks.

"Iba ang level of growing up ng mga utak nila. Iniisip pa lang natin, naisip na nila. Because they are into details, we're after the big things kaya kadalasan may namimiss out tayo." I couldn't agree more.