beauty series: Not Beauty's Type

18

18

"What the hell is this?!"

"Ma, stop it. Let's just go."

"Oh wow! Nice meeting you here, Edmundo. I thought you were already in hell?"

"Ma, stop it!"

"Satan won't take me. He doesn't want a competitor in his chair."

"Funny you said that. I just had a talk with him last night, and he wants you there."

"Ma!"

""Or maybe you are already in hell. Just a few years earlier than me.".

Wala akong nakita kundi puro likod. Ang batuhan ulit ng insulto ang naghari sa loob ng parlor shop. Ang kaibahan lang sa mga oras na ito ay ang Nanay na ni Ryom ang kabatuhan ni Edmundo.

Mukhang sanay na sanay na silang mayayaman sa larangan na iyon.

Kaya ayoko talaga sa mundo nila. Ang daming problema. Ang daming kaaway.

"Why are you here, Edmundo? Bakit hindi ka nalang namatay?

Narinig ko ang pangsinghap ni Nanay sa aking tabi. Humigpit ang hawak nito sa kamay ko.

"Don't be stupid, Amelia. My men are everywhere, they could shoot you any minute now. They don't like it when someone insults their boss." 

Pagkatapos sabihin iyon, narinig ko agad ang pagkasa ng mga baril. Syet! Magpapatayan sila dito?!

"Then let them shoot me. I have my men outside too. Let's see who's going to win."

"Ma, I said stop it! Let's just go!"

Halakhak ni Edmundo ang sumakop sa paligid.

"Edmundo," tawag ni Nanay. Pero mukhang ako lang yata ang nakarinig no'n.

"Be careful what you fucking wish for. I might give it to you."

"Don't be ridiculous, Edmundo. We both know you're only good with your words. You kinda suck at the actions."

"Is that so? Last time I remember, your family's company filed bankruptcy in the middle of its peak. Or have you forgotten about it?"

Isang tawa ulit. Hindi ko alam kung paano hindi natakot ang Nanay ni Ryom sa tawang iyon. Kasi ako nagsimula ng matakot para sa kanila.

"I can help you remember, Amelia. You know I'm a generous person. Where do you want me to start? Hmm?"

"What about the newly built factory, sir?"

At talagang sumawsaw pa si Rigor.

Hampasin ko kaya ito ng plantsa at ng tumigil. Dinagdagan lang nito ang nag-aalab na sagutan.

"I can start with that one. You know, it's not that hard, especially since it just opened a month ago. Hindi iyon gaano kasakit."

"Go to hell, Edmundo."

"You can try." Boses ni Ryom ang narinig ko. Hindi ko man siya nakikita pero alam kong galit siya.

"Just don't fucking forget you're the one who started. And don't be fucking surprised if I fucking do the same to your company."

Yumanig ulit ang halakhak ni Edmundo. "Really now, boy?"

Gusto ko silang patigilin pero alam kong hindi sila makikinig sa boses ko. Para silang mga matatayog na puno. Nagpapaligsahan sa kung sino ang matatag. At kung sino ang unang matutumba, siya ang talo. Habang ako ay isang ligaw lang na damo na nasa kanilang pagitan. Hindi pinapansin, walang karapatang sumingit.