Behind That Mellifluous Melody

15

Tahimik akong kumakain nang biglang nagsalita si Dad.

"Did you bought that dog, Elle?" tanong niya. Agad akong napailing bilang sagot.

"Someone gave it to you, then. Who? Is it your boyfriend?" pagtuloy pa niya. Bigla akong nabulunan dahil sa gulat.

"Here," abot sa akin ni Dad ng tubig. Ininom ko naman agad ito. Mom, Dad, and Kuya looked at me with curiosity. Yeah, kompleto kaming kumain ngayon, this happens once in a blue moon.

"No," tanggi ko. "I don't even have a boyfriend."

I heard kuya murmured something but I just ignored it.

"So, who bought it?" pagpilit ni Dad. Why is he so eager to know?

"Are we making this a big deal?" singit ni Mom. Binigyan ko ng ngiti si Mom. "By the way, where's Carmen?" she asked suddenly.

"Sleeping," maikling sagot ko. She prepared her stuffs early in the morning, she'll stay with that blonde for weekdays. Linggo ngayon and she'll leave after she woke up.

"Is it okay to her for you to have a dog in your room? Maybe she's allergic pala," may halong pag-aalala na sabi ni Mom.

"She's the one who bought Melian," I informed.

"Ganda ng breed na binili, palahi ka kaya sa bumili," bulong ni kuya.

Muntik ulit akong mabulunan sa binulong niya. Masama ko siyang tinignan. Buti na lang ay hindi narinig nila Mom and Dad.

"Joke lang HAHAHA!" tumawa muna siya bago ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

Patago ko pa siyang siniko pero binigyan lang niya ako ng nakakalokong ngiti.

"How is she?" binaling ko agad ang atensyon kay Mom.

"She's doing fine," I replied.

"Okay, that's good to hear. I'll tell that to Cathryn," masayang sambit ni Mom.

"When was the last time she visited here?" Dad questioned.

They're close to each other pala or -maybe just they just know them.

"I think we should just continue eating," pag-iwas ni Mom sa tanong ni Dad.

-

Tumigil siya sa pakikipaglaro sa akin para lang isiksik ang sarili niya kay Valentin na tahimik na natutulog. I was betrayed by my own son.

"Melian!" pagtawag ko. "Come here," I said with a gentle tone. Unfortunately, hindi pa rin niya ako pinansin at mas lalo pang isiniksik ang sarili. Melian even closed his eyes!

I just stared at them.

Okay, I hate to admit it but... they look adorable. Val's sleeping in fetal position habang si Melian ay nakatagilid.

Kinuha ko ang sketchpad sa study table ko at mga pencils. I'll just do a quick sketch.

Inumpisahan kong iguhit ang guidelines. After that I added the details and such. I erased some errors at tinapos na ito, I don't wanna get caught.

Narinig na nay kumatok sa pinto kaya niligpit ko na ang mga ginamit ko at itinago.

Binuksan ko ito at si kuya lang pala. He was smiling ear to ear. It was creeping me out a little bit.

"Tulungan mo ako," he uttered. My instincts are right, may mali nga sa mga ngiti niya. "I want to give a special gift to Cal. Dahil hindi ako pinagpalad sa creativity at arts, lahat ng 'yon ay napunta sa'yo," he continued.