Wicker's standing at his room's window, looking outside. Salubong ang kilay niya at naiinis. He's talking to his mom over the phone.
"No, Wicker!"
"But mom! Ang sabi mo noon, kapag nakatagal ako rito you'll give me my car! I stayed here for almost a couple of weeks," he whined and reminded his mom over what they'd talked about.
"I didn't say anything like that. I said if you can give me results that you're changing even if it's a little . . . that's the time I'll give you your car as your reward. Understood?"
His tongue clicked, throw his head back and sighed. "I'm getting a triple punishment than what I have expected," he murmured.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, mom. What results do you wanna see so I could give it to you immediately?" He wanted to rush it, means that his car is everything to him.
"A good grade, no trouble and spend time with your dad," his mom listed. She doesn't want to be unfair, may karapatan pa rin ang ama ni Wicker sa kanya kahit pa gusto nitong ipagdamot siya mula rito.
"What? I can't do the third one! Mom, pinahihirapan mo naman ako," reklamo niya.
"Then no car. Madali lang akong kausap, big guy!" He rolled his eyes in annoyance. "At isa pa, kailan ka pa naging mareklamo ng ganyan, ha?"
May isang salita ang ina niya, kapag may sinabi itong mga bagay para sa kanya ay iyon ang masusunod. Para na rin naman sa kapakanan niya ang ginagawa niyang paghihigpit dito.
"How about Selyo? I need him here!"
Matagal nang naninilbihan si Selyo sa kanila. Mas tinuturing pa niya itong malapit na kapamilya kumpara sa kanyang ama. Kahit pa minsan ay tinatakasan at pinaghihintay niya ito sa wala.
"No Selyo," sagot nito. "Naalala mo kung ano ang ginawa mo sa tao noong nakaraan? He'd waited for you the whole day at the downtown! Malaking probinsya ang Fawnbrook alam mo ba 'yon? Nakakahiya na kay Selyo ang mga pinaggagagawa mo," dagdag na sermon nito.
"Okay, okay. I'll do everything but I can't promise the third one." He snorted. He raked his fingers through his hair and massage his temples. Bakit ba siya pinarurusahan ng ganito?
Her mom ended the call. She had given him enough allowance than she used to gave him before. Kaya hindi alam ni Wicker kung saan siya kukuha ng panggastos sa mga gusto niyang bilhin. His dad also giving him extra allowance and he just declining it. If it is anything coming from his dad . . . he will never take it.
He lit up his cigarette. He open the wide window in front of him and exhaled deeply.
Hindi pa rin sumusuko ang ama niya na kausapin siya at pagsilbihan sa t'wing nasa bahay ito. Ang gusto lang naman nito ay bumawi sa kanya. Siya lang naman itong walang kapaki-pakialam mula rito. He doesn't care about his dad even if he had a hard time winning his heart.
"Wicker, are you busy?"
Napalingon siya mula sa saradong pintuan. He heard his dad outside his room.
He sipped his cigarette. "I'm tired dad. I don't wanna talk!"
"Olly is here! He's waiting for you down the living room."
Kumunot ang noo nito at nagtaka. "Ano'ng ginagawa ng kupal na 'yon dito?" bulong niya sa sarili at dinikdik ang sigarilyo mula sa ashtray nito.
He opened the door and go downstairs. Nakita niya roon si Olly na nakaupo sa couch at naghihintay na may dalang maliit na box, nakasupot pa ito. Balot na balot ito ng mahabang coat, makapal na pantalon at boots.
BINABASA MO ANG
Strange Voices of the Dead
Mystery / Thriller"I feel more than infinite with you." When Adrian died, Annara, a student library assistant, began hearing ghostly voices. Later in life, she meets Wicker, who resembles him, and this changes everything, making her realize that those strange voices...
