Light Across the Sea

Chapter 6

A kick in the Pants 

" What we've got here is a failure to communicate!" I snapped.

He looked at me puzzled and then adjusted his fishing rod.

"I already told you . . . delikado ang pumalaot ngayon. And you said you just want to go fishing — nangingisda tayo ngayon Ellie."

" Not in a fishpond! Akala ko sa dagat!"

"Delikado nga . . . at tsaka pareho lang naman itong mga isda. Iihawin natin toh at kakain mamaya." he said, letting me know what he is planning.

Kinabahan ako sa sinabi nito. Wait? kakainin?

"Who said we're gonna eat fish?"

He looked at me even more puzzled now. "Eh . . . anong gagawin natin sa nakuha nating isda?"

"Ibabalik"

"What?"

"Gusto ko lang naman makahuli ng isang isda at gawing pet."

Disbelief was in his face when he looked at me.

Now what?! Sunod-sunod itong nag-buntong hininga. Mukhang magagalit pa ito.

"Ano bang pet ang gusto mo?" maya maya ay tanong nito.

"Si Nemo or si Dory."

"Isda ba ang mga yan?" nalilitong saad nito.

Huwag mong sabihin na hindi niya kilala si Nemo at si Dory?

"Malamang."

Galit itong tumingin sa akin. His anger didn't turn to words dahil ilang beses itong nagbuntong hininga at pinipigilan ang sarili na magalit sa akin. Hindi na ito muling nagsalita pa at niligpit na lang ang mga gamit.

I find him confusing, sometimes he's kind to me at minsan naman ay galit sa akin. I didn't do anything wrong. It's all misunderstandings and misconceptions.

OUR FISHING HAD BEEN UNEVENTFUL. Pagkatapos naming mag-usap ay inuwi niya na ako. And ofcourse . . . he gives some advice or shall we say . . . lessons like I shouldn't get a pet through fishing, and it takes dedication and time to take care of an animal ... that I should keep my words ... and don't let my pets go astray.

As if a fish can walk duh?!

I suddenly remembered Alyanna — who will sneak out when she have time. Mabuti nga these days ay mukhang wala ito sa mood lumabas . . . palagi na lang itong natutulog sa kanyang dog house.

Baka akala ni Gray pinabayaan ko ang asong iyon. It's just that . . . gustong gusto talaga non na nasa labas siya. Gusto yatang maging stray dog.

"Maam. . . nandiyan na ang mga parents mo at mga kapatid mo at hinahanap ka nila," salubong ni Eka, isa sa mga nagtatrabaho sa amin.

Dahan-dahan akong pumasok. I don't know if I'll be glad or not dahil hinahanap ako. Pero sa boses pa lang ni Eka . . . who I am fooling. . . of course it's a bad news.

" Have a seat, Ellie," salubong ni mommy sa akin. Inimwestra nito ang upuan sa tabi ng kapatid ko. " Where have you been? Kanina kapa hinahanap ng daddy mo."

I looked at dad who had a strict look on his face. His brows frowned as he looked at me. He was sitting at the head of the table. Mom was on the right side at katabi nito si Ate Franceska. In front of Mom is Kuya. Katabi ni kuya ang kambal and then I seated on the last chair on the left. Medyo malayo-layo na ako kina papa. But this has always been where I sit when eating. Kapag malayo ako kina papa at mama mas panatag ako. This is better especially if you are left-out.