Paradox [BoybandPH]

t w e n t y - f o u r

"Oh, 'musta? Buhay ka pa pala?"

Bungad saken ng magaling kong pinsan, pero tinignan ko lang siya at dire-diretso na 'ko sa locker room. Itatanong ko na sana kung bakit siya andito, pero nabanggit nga pala ni Daddy kagabi na siya ang naka-assign sa branch namin this week.

"Ano? Di ka ba magsasalita?"

Napabuntong-hininga ako bago ko siya hinarap, nakasunod pa rin pala siya saken. "Problema mo, Tristan?"

"Tinatanong ko lang kung buhay ka pa." He answered back in the same quick tone, at nakapameywang pa. Aba.

"Pwede ba? Bilog na naman ba ang buwan? Topak mo na naman?"

"Psh." He just made a face at me as I wore my apron. "So wala kang balak sabihin saken? Ganon?"

"Sabihin ba ang alin?"

"San ka galing kahapon?" He asked.

"Kila Niel, dad."

"Dad mo mukha mo. Hindi ka nagpaalam sa daddy mo." I winced, dahil ang lakas ng boses niya. I was about to tell him to keep his voice down, but he started talking again. "At ang sabi ni Niel, pagkatapos niyong maghapunan umalis na kayo. And news flash! Kasama mo si Oppa!"

"First of all, hindi siya koreano! Stop calling him oppa dahil mas matanda ka sa kanya." I quickly defended.

"First, second, third! Lakompake! So sa'n kayo nagpunta? Ha?" Tristan interrogates me like the protective cousin that he is.

"Apartment, somewhere sa-"

"APA-" He pinched the bridge of his nose, calming himself, before talking again. "Apartment? Kanino? May ginawa ba siya sa'yo? Nako, sinasabi ko sa'yo Stephanie ha. Malilintikan samen yang Joao na yan."

Inirapan ko na lang siya. Sa ganitong pagkakataon ko naiintindihan kung bakit siya walang girlfriend eh.

"Calm down, Tan. Pwede?" God knows how much I tried to be calm but he's really testing my patience.

"Wow. Tan? Kuya mo 'ko. Ku-ya-Tris-tan."

"Oh, Lord. Can you give me more reasons not to hate Mondays?" Tumingala ako at napapikit ng mariin bago ko siya tinignan ulit, "Seriously? Anong point ng lahat ng 'to?"

Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay, like the mature kuya that he is.

"First of all, dad knows everything. Duh. Hinatid ako ng buo ni Joao kagabi." His face scrunched in confusion and disbelief, "Second, hindi niya apartment yun. Kila Niel siya nakatira, remember? Sa kaibigan niya yun at wala kami sa loob ng unit, we were at the roof deck. You know, sight-seeing, stargazing, heart-to-heart talks and shits like that. Maybe you should try it sometimes. Loosen up, dad."

Tristan fell silent after that.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay to provoke him to speak up, pero nanahimik lang siya at napailing. Kaya naman hinayaan ko na lang siya at nag-ayos na 'ko, aktong lalabas na 'ko ng locker room nang biglang tumunog naman ang phone ko.

It's a message from Russell, just a selfie of him pulling a goofy face.

I just groaned, tossing my phone back to my pocket without even bothering to reply and get going.

It's gonna be a long day!

▪▪▪

"'Nak, are you coming with me?" My Dad asked as he was wearing his coat, ready to leave.

"Uhm, Dad, I wanna have dinner with Dee and Pat sana if okay lang. You know, bonding."

It's still halfway through the week but we never felt more exhausted. Kaya naisipan naming lumabas, maybe grabbed a few drinks. Niyaya namin yung ibang crew but they have their own plans.