Straight as Guitar Strings

Chapter 4

After namin mag-video call ni Papa, saglitan lang din 'yon. Siyempre, he checked everything. He asked everything about me, about my studies especially. Pinag-house tour niya rin ako to see kung inaalagaan ko bang mabuti ang bahay pero ang totoo chine-check niya lang 'yong progress saka ang bunga ng pagbabanat niya ng buto ro'n sa Canada. Masaya naman kasing makita na 'yong pinaghihirapan mo ay may magandang kinalalabasan.

"Make sure lang na hindi ka nag-uuwi ng kung sino-sino r'yan sa bahay, ha? Baka nagpapa-party ka na." His usual strictness na naman po ang panghimagas ko after kumain, I've just had my dinner a while ago.

I answered playfully just to mess with him a little bit, "Hindi, a... hindi pa naman tapos 'yong swimming pool natin, mga two weeks pa siguro bago ako magpa-pool party."

His aura changed so swiftly, "Liam, loko-loko ka talagang bata ka! Hindi mo ba alam ga'no ka-delikado 'yon? Tigilan mo 'yang naiisip mo na 'yan, hindi uubra 'yang gusto mo na 'yan. Wala namang okasyon."

I don't like that side of him na super strict and parang walang trust sa'kin so I cut him off and said, "Papa, easy... para ka namang si mama niyan, e."

"..."

Oops, I should've not said that. I've never heard silence this loud. Breaking the dead air, I cleared my throat and said,"Sorry, 'Pa."

He seemed affected about the last thing I said, that's too evident in his eyes right now. "No, sorry Liam. Kung hanggang ngayon nababanggit mo pa rin mama mo kahit na pinagpalit niya tayo sa ibang lalaki. Trust me son, I'm doing my best to be the best father for you and the best mother at the same time."

"No, don't think it that way. You're fine. You're so fine." I said and I also just want to make sure that I'm still able to calm and ease the heavy kind of feeling he has at this moment. "You're doing good and it was already beyond what I need. Just so you know, I don't expect something more. Everything you do is enough for me to love you."

Natahimik siya saglit pero napalitan nang saya 'yong mukha niya. Pabiro pa niyang pakli, "Hoy! Ubos na ba allowance mo? Bakit ang sobrang drama mo? Mas malambing ka pa sa baby, a!"

"Medyo paubos na... joke!" saad ko sabay tawa.

Matapos ang ilang segundo niyang pagsabay sa tawa ko, "Anak ha, baka may baby ka na?" aniya. "A 'yun e, naku nangiti... okay lang naman mag-girlfriend ka basta kaya mong pagsabayin ang pag-aaral at lovelife."

I just couldn't believe that I've heard those words coming from him for the first time. "Wow! Ikaw ba 'yan, 'Pa?" I laughed and almost asked like is this the beginning ng pagkakalag niya sa tanikala sa leeg ko? Freedom is waving, gano'n?

After ng ilan pang tawanan at kwentuhan, nagpaalam na si Papa and need niya na mag-work. Ako naman, I need to sleep na. Papasok pang maaga and then mag-review dahil may quiz.

Pagpasok ko kinabukasan, natanaw ko si Leo na nag-aabang sa mga bench na may lilim na nasa pathways papasok sa entrance ng Libertians. Maraming students sa bench pero I easily recognized him dahil standout talaga siya sa lahat ng nando'n.

Paano niya nagagawa 'yon? Life's unfair. I wish I have the same attractiveness that he has. I would absolutely be getting the most confident award if that happens.

Nang matapos sa mahabang paglalakad, I asked him na busy sa panonood sa phone niya. "'Uy, Leo! May inaabangan ka yata? Are you really waiting for someone? It's almost late, look."

"You," he replied soon as he looked up at me. Playing dumb, huh? Obvious namang natanaw niya na rin akong papalapit sa kanya kanina.

"Me, what?" I asked, buffled.