Hindi talaga nagpadaig si Adam. Ako ang may birthday pero siya ang may pa-surprise. If not from Brix, baka ano na ang nangyari kay Daddy because of that leech. Lumabas din ang tunay na ugali. Sa party ko pa talaga.
"Dad, are you okay?"
"Continue," sabi ni Daddy.
Darla tried to make everyone seat again. Dad excused himself and went outside the room.
I don't know what to do so I looked at Brix. He nods at me, silently saying to follow my dad. I followed my dad outside. He is on the phone talking to someone. I heard our lawyer's name.
"Make sure he will not get bail."
"Dad?"
Napatingin sa akin Daddy. "Advise me on the situation later."
Dad ended the call and said, "Go back inside."
"I am worried—"
"You don't have to," he replied. "I was expecting it from Adam."
"What?" naguguluhang tanong ko.
"Money can change a lot of people, Mitch. Even relatives can be a viper when money is involved. Hindi pa ako nakakakita ng tao na hindi nagbago ang prinsipyo dahil sa pera."
I felt a little sadder about what he said. "Oh, daddy. That's not true. You only meet the wrong people in your life."
"Perhaps. Perhaps not." Dad took a deep breath. "Go back inside, Mitch."
"Let's go back inside, Dad," I countered.
Natapos ang small gathering namin without another incident. Hindi ko mabasa ang iniisip ni Daddy. I always find him staring at Brix lalo na kapag hindi alam ni Brix na nakatingin siya. If only I can read his mind.
Kinabukasan, tinawagan ko agad ang lawyer ng grandparents ko to get my money. My bank accounts are not in freeze na. I can have my own life na but my dad wanted me to take up a master's.
"Sa tingin mo, I can do both?" I asked Brix as we are walking around the mall.
"You can try. Pwede mo naman bitawan ang isa kung hindi mo talaga kaya." he replied. "Maiba ako, ano ang balita kay Adam?"
"Oh that? I heard daddy talking to his lawyers. Sabi niya ayaw niyang mag-bail si Adam."
Tumango si Brix.
"I can't believe he tried to kill my dad. The audacity!"
"Brix! Boss, papicture!" I secretly smiled as a few people gather to have Brix's autograph and picture. Minsan pa nga, ako pa ang nagpipicture sa kanila. Nahihiya naman si Brix sa akin after siya ma-ambush ng fans niya.
"Sorry about that," he said as we started to walk around again.
"It's fine. I am enjoying seeing you this popular."
"Sira," natatawang sagot ni Brix. "Hindi ako popular."
I didn't reply. We already had these conversations too many times. He is being polite to admit Overdrive is sikat and he is sikat.
"Hon, I need to go. I promised to meet Rose in an hour. Kyla's parents want to meet her again."
"Okay. Hatid n akita. Saan kayo magkikita?"
"My car is in Ateneo. Can you drop me there?"
Brix drives me to Ateneo. But before we parted, nagnakaw muna ako ng kiss. I am smiling I think too wide when I meet Rose.
"Are you ready?" I asked Rose.
Rose exhale loudly. "I don't want to do this pero paano ko tatanggihan ang nagluluksang ina?"
"I know you can't turn down Kyla's parents that's why I am here."
Ever since Kyla's mom meet Rose, she always makes this schedule to meet Rose just to hear her daughter's heart and Rose is too kind to turn her down. Parati sa restaurant nagkikita sila Rose. They always meet halfway.
May dalang stethoscope ang mommy ni Kyla ngayon. Nakaupo si Rose na parang statue habang pinapakinggan ang puso niya.
"Kumusta na si Lego?" tanong ng mommy ni Kyla after niyang mapakinggan ang puso ni Rose.
"Excuse me?" I asked loudly. Rose was too stunned to reply.
"Si Lego..."
"He is still in America," I replied and didn't elaborate further.
"I hope he can forgive us," Kyla's mom said.
"So, how are you? How's life so far?" pag-iiba ko sa usapan. I manipulated the conversation which made Rose smile a little.
"I got you," I mouthed to her. I made sure hindi na mababanggit ang pangalan ni Lego sa araw na ito.
We are in the last part of our humanity program for our school project. I missed Sir Blaze and our excursion before. It made me smile whenever I remember those moments. Right now, I am listening to children's debating habang nakapila sila sa pa-hamburger giving namin. Nalilito nga ako sa topic nila.
"Tingnan mo ah... tingnan mo ah!" one kid said. Curious akong huminto sa pag-aayos ng drinks at nakinig. "Mas marami ang sayaw niya."
"Hindi, tanga! Pareho lang 'yon," sagot ng isang bata.
"Bobo! Ang sabi kasi, I dance. You dance. He dances. Eh di mas marami ang sayaw niya. Plural ang dance na ginamit."
Natawa kami nila Rose, Ken at Raiden sa batang may pinaglalaban.
Natahimik ang mga batang nasa pila. Napaisip sila. Kami naman ay tawa nang tawa.
"Kulang kayo sa nutrients, mga bata. Sinasabi kasi huwag panay kalapati ang kinakain," pangaral ni Rose sa kanila. Nangangaral ba or pinagti-tripan ang mga batang nakapila.
"Ate, matagal pa ba?" tanong ng batang may galit sa 'I dance! You dance! He dances!' "Kanina pa kami nagugutom. Angel's burger lang yata 'yan."
"Hoy!!!" wika ni Rose at namewang. "Kung Angel's Burger nga ito, hindi kayo magpapasalamat?"
"Ate, puro tinapay lang 'yon!" angal ng mga bata.
"This is Jollibee," I said.
"'Oy, Jollibee daw!" sigaw ng mga bata. Oh, they look happy.
"Ay, teka. Unfair 'yan kung I eat, you eat tapos he eats... Madami ang burger niya," turo ng isang bata sa isa pang bata.
The debate continues. Natahimik lang sila nang makitang tig-isang burger ang nakuha nila at walang nakalamang.
BINABASA MO ANG
Ears and Rhymes
RomanceMichelle Salvacio is a typical 'anak-mayaman'. Nag-iisa siyang tagapagmana ng pamilya niya kaya lahat ng luho ay nasusunod. Although you can see her as a 'maarte' and spoiled brat, she has a heart of gold that everyone doesn't know. Brix Gonzales is...
