Mnemosyne's Youth

Chapter 21

"But I will always come back." He said to me sincerely. Natameme ako, babalik raw s'ya...

Parang sirang plaka sa loob nang isipan ko iyon. Aalis s'ya pero babalik parin.

Kaya kong maghintay? pero bakit ako maghihintay?

Lumapit s'ya sa akin, sinalo ang mukha ko at kaunti nalang maglalapat na ang noo naming dalawa.

"I'm sorry, I can't say anything about my job. But I'll come back, always. For you." and he kissed my forehead.

"Wala kang ibang jowa?" turan ko kasi nababagabag talaga ako. Ang ganda ganda nung anak noong Prime Minister na kasama n'ya. Maganda rin iyong mga babae na kasama nila sa resort noon, malay ko kung anong ginawa nila nung nag-bakasyon sila doon.

Malay ko pa kung nakipag sex s'ya nun. He's a man! he has need and clearly, any women would offer themselves to them.

At bakit pala kasama n'ya sa party 'yung babae kung babantayan lang n'ya?

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang humalakhak s'ya.  He's shaking his head as if what I said was  something that is ridiculous.

Sinapak ko nga nang matigil.
"Damn, you hit like a man." He said while chuckling.
Iniinsulto n'ya ba ako?!
"Nakakainis ka kamo! sagot kasi!"
"Mnemo, I only have you. Hmm?"

I pursed my lip with what he said, I tried hiding my smile but I couldn't so I just hugged him.

I felt him sighed and he caress my back.

"Pero hindi parin kita Boyfriend." Mahina kong sabi at tumawa s'ya.
"Okay, but you're my girl." Sumimangot ako, hindi 'yon ang gusto kong marinig! napaka slow naman ng taong 'to! hindi n'ya ba ako liligawan? marunong ba 'tong manligaw?

Rayburn scoop me up so my hug around his neck tightened. Pumulupot din ang paa ko sa tyan niya. I rested my  head on his shoulder.

Na miss ko 'to.

"I'll cook for you, what do you want to eat?" tanong n'ya habang kalong parin ako.

"Binagoongan, kaso paubos na ulit ang stocks ko."

"Do you want to shop?" He asked me. Liningon ko ang wall clock na nakasabit sa taas ng TV.

It's quarter to six. Pwede pa naman, kung sasamahan n'ya ako.

"Will you drive?"

He nodded. "Of course."

Tinapik ko ang braso n'ya at sinensyas na ibaba ako, ginawa naman n'ya nang walang pag-aalinlangan.

"Change your clothes first and I'll take you to the supermarket."

"Okay, mabilis lang ako." Turan ko at tumalikod na.

I took a quick half bath tapos sinoot ko ang lose V-neck shirt ko at cotton short bago lumabas sa kwarto.

Nadatnan ko s'yang may kausap sa telepono. I waited for him to end his conversation so I sat on my sofa bed.

"Shut the fuck up and pull your shits together Claude. You're disturbing as fuck." His low baritone voice echoed. Hindi naman malakas, sadyang buo lang talaga ang boses n'ya. Napangiwi nga lang ako sa mura n'ya. I didn't know he could curse like that. Sure, I hear Kuya Yelo or my other cousins cuss, but they're moderate about it.

Kasi kapag narinig ng Parents namin, sigurado hindi lang kurot sa singit ang makukuha namin.

I remember when I said “putangina”, napagalitan ako kay Papa. He just called me out pero sobrang kaba ko na ‘non.