ROSES AND CURTAINS [A BOY LOVE NOVEL]

VII

Dec. 24

Tantan's days were fast ever since natapos ang school days nila. They tried looking for Paloma's secret admirer, si Ben Zayb but to no avail ay hindi nila nahanap dahil sa mga tambak na school projects. Isa pa ay part sila ng team na nag-organize ng Christmas Party which took most of their time.

Nang dumating ang christmas holiday ay nasanay na si Tantan to wake up every 7am in the morning and cook breakfast for his family. Kasunod nito ang paglilinis ng bahay at palagiang paglalaba as every adult in their house goes to work. He is also tasked to take care of his nephew, si Julius na anak ng ikalawa niyang kuya.

Clock strikes 12 in the afternoon. He just finished feeding Julius who is now sleeping sa crib just beside him. Door opens as he washed the dishes. A woman in her early 20's enters habang bitbit ang tatlong grocery plastic bags.

Tantan watches her as she scrambles her way getting through the thin opening. The woman looks at her habang naka-kunot ang balat sa noo. ''Jonathan tulungan mo kaya ako'' Sinara ni Tantan ang gripo at dali-daling sumaklolo.

Si Jennifer, ang nanay ni Julius, kinakasama ng kuya niya. She works at a grocery store. ''Bat ang aga mo? Wala kang trabaho?'' tanong ni Tantan placing the things on the table. Hindi sumagot ang babae, parang ahas na nag-babalat ay isa-isa nitong tinanggal ang sapatos, medyas at jacket tapos kung saan-saan tinapon. This time noo na ni Tantan ang naka-kunot seeing her clothes scattered everywhere. He picks all of it quickly, halos padabog at tinapon sa timba.

''Puntahan mo daw si Mama kailangan ng tulong sa bakery para maaga mag-sara. Ako na muna magluluto pang-handa mamaya.'' Julius starts crying and the woman picks her up para patahanin. ''Yung gatas natimpla ko na. Tapos sabi ni Kuya yung 1,500 nandun sa cabinet mo sa taas. Pambili daw diapers''

''1500 lang? Napaka-walang silbi talaga ng kuya mo na yan. Nasan na naman siya?'' Jennifer scoffs. ''Ewan, may raket daw''

''Raket-raket? Subukan naman niya maghanap ng matinong trabaho. Paskong-pasko 1,500? Ngalay na ngalay na puke ko kakayod oh. Pag ako napikon hihiwalayan ko yan...'' dire-diretso ito sa pagsasalita. Tantan gets his sling bag without even trying to listen to her and gets out of the house. He's usually in the middle of every conflict at home and he's used to it. Baka role na talaga niya maging shock absorber. Pasok sa isang tenga labas sa kabila. That's how you do it.

The bakery is located just in front of the church and is one tricycle away from their house. As he arrives her mother waives and shouts behind the glass containers of different breads. ''Tantan pasok bilis. Bilangin mo lahat ng piso dito. Dalian mo.'' The bakery is owned by her mother's cousin. Dahil walang ibang trabaho ang nanay ay tumutulong na lang ito doon for extra money. Tantan enters and sets himself up a table. He began counting the coins one by one.

''Nag-iwan ba kuya mo ng pera?'' her mother asks as she goes to the back-door para kumuha ng mga bagong lutong tinapay. ''Kay Jennifer nag-iwan siya ng 1,500''. The woman raised her voice ''1,500?? Putang ina non. Bakit 1,500?? Para kay Julius lang yun ah. Walang iniwan satin?'' ''Hindi ko po alam eh sabi niya kay Jennifer lang yung 1,500''

Her mother gets out of the back door bitbit ang mga tinapay sa tray. Tantan stood up and helped her. They put the breads on the glass containers. ''Nasan daw siya?''

''Raket daw''

''Telepono mo?''

Tantan points to his sling bag at agad na tumayo ang nanay at dire-diretsong pumunta dito. She unzips it and gets his phone. ''May load ba to pang-tawag?'' ''Meron po. Pero wag mo ubusin ma kasi pang bati ko yan mamaya. Mahirap na mag-register eh'' Still her mother dials his kuya's number and makes a call.

''Ilagay mo lang lahat ng tinapay diyan. Tang ina niyang kuya mo. Kupal. Hindi ko na nga sila sinisingil sa tubig, kuryente at pagkain pati ba naman itong handa sa Noche Buena wala siyang iiwan? Tapos mamaya siya itong maraming iinuming Red Horse at yayayaing bisita. Aba hindi naman ata pwedeng ganun. Naki-sabit na nga lang sila sa atin sa pag-tira. Siksikan na tayo't lahat....'' Tantan can hear the ringing and then the sound of his kuya's voice.

''Hello. Sander. Putang ina ka ba? Sabi ko mag-iwan ka pangdag-dag para sa handa mamaya. Bakit wala kang iniwan? Mahiya ka naman sa tatay mo saka sa Kuya Dante mo na mag-o over time sa ospital mamaya para lang may maibigay. Ay lintek na mga raket yan.''

''Pabili po'' a calm voice from up above.

Tantan stood up from his kneeling position right after carefully placing the breads and then he was welcomed by a bursting light from the sun the hit directly his face. ''Magkano yung pudding saka spanish bread?'' and then slowly the light dissolved as the face of the buyer reveals itself. Tantan recognizes him and then his lungs began to swell. He found himself locked in his position gently staring at the person in front of him as sunspots touch both of their faces.

It was the boy who gave him roses in front of the altar. This time he is wearing a black fitted shirt na may number ''sixty'' sa harapan.

''Yung pudding saka Spanish bread magkano?'' the voice became firm. ''Ah....ano yung pudding dos tapos yung Spanish bread, kwatro, ay tres pala, tres, tama tres.''  ''Tig sampu, paki-bilis na lang kasi para kay Padre yan'' Binilisan ni Tantan ang pag-balot sa mga tinapay.

''Magkano lahat?''

He looks at the boy's figure. His shirt perfectly hugs his body accentuating his shoulder blades and chest. ''Ah ano sixty'' the boy gave him an exact amount and left quickly pagkatapos kunin ang binili.

Tantan watches him run. He can't take away his eyes from him. What just happened? It was such a blissful and warm feeling. He opens his hands holding the money. There's sixty pesos. Teka? Sobra and binayad niya. He counted wrong. It should be fifty pesos. Kailangan niyang ibalik ang sobra but more than that he wants to see him again.