The Witch and the Playboy (Filipino) (Published under Lifebooks)

Chapter 16- Suppressed Emotions

JACE

Kakauwi ko lang at agad-agad akong nagshower at nagbihis ng malinis at komportableng T-shirt dahil nagsisimula na naman akong mangati.

Maya-maya't pa'y tinawag na ako ni Yaya Mia, ang pinakamatandang katulong namin para mag-dinner sa baba.

Nang bumaba ako ay nagulat nalang ako at nakaupo na si papa sa dinner table looking so kempt and...normal.

Himala at hindi ata siya uminom ngayon?

Minsan napapaisip ako kung papano nito magawang magduty sa hospital at iligtas ang buhay ng mga may sakit na wala sa tamang huwisyo ang utak dahil sa kalasingan.

Kaning umaga din ay nadatnan ko sila ni mommy na nag-aaway, and a lot of broken vases and bottles of wine and beers littered on the floor in the living room. Kaya na late ako dahil sa pag-aawat sa kanilang dalawa na tila mga aso't pusa.

"Jason, son, come join me for dinner." Ngitian niya ako. "Kamusta ka na?"

"Okay naman ako, dad."

"Bagay sa'yo ang bagong hairstyle mo." sambit nito nang magsimula na kaming kumain.

Napangiti nalang ako nang mapait.

He's so not updated with his own son. He's a doctor for fuck's sake pero hindi man lang ba nito nanotice kung bakit ganun kabilis humaba ang buhok ko?

Hindi nalang ako umimik. We continued to eat in silence, and after a while ay nagsalita ulit ito.

"Listen, son. I was wondering how does San Francisco sound to you?"

Napatigil ako.

"Why?"

He leaned in closer to me and put his hand on mine.

"Right after ka mag graduate, let's migrate to the US. Sumama ka sa'kin. We'll start a new life there..."

What?

Hindi muna ako umimik. I tried to digest what he had just said.

"P-papano si mommy?" tanong ko pagkatapos ng ilang segundo.

"We have already decided to file an annulment. This is the best option for us. And you...I hope you'll come with me."

Hindi ako nagulat sa mga sinabi niya, but the look of pain in his eyes was breaking my heart.

Alam kong mahirap sa kanya ito.
Alam ko kung gaano niya pinaghirapan na masungkit ang puso ni mommy nung college palang sila...
Alam ko kung gano niya kamahal ang babaeng iyon...

But she doesn't deserve him. She's probably in another man's house right now, doing some...unacceptable things.

I hate to admit it but my mother is kind of a slut. Sorry not sorry, but dating different guys every week? Acting like she's single and doesn't have a son?

What kind of a mother is that?

Papayag naman ako sa sinabi ni dad na mag migrate na sa US, but I'm feeling numb right now kaya hindi ito ang tamang oras para mag desisyon.

"I'll be thinking about it, dad."

He just bowed his head down and sighed before meeting my eyes again.

"I'll be waiting for your answer, son."

******

I can't freaking sleep. These hairs on my chest and whole body were making me so damn uncomfortable.

Gabi-gabi nalang ba dapat ganito?

Hinubad ko ang tshirt ko at nagpabaling-baling sa kama. Hindi ako mapakali. Maraming bumagabag sa isip ko at hindi ko na alam kung ano'ng gagawin ko.