Restricted Island (Island Trilogy #2)

Isla Singko

THE MORNING of Josiah filled with happiness... a happiness that he finally felt after years of longing. Gazchela is sleeping peacefully in a room beside his. Hindi ito tumabi sakanya and he didn't demanded kasi bakit pa?

Gazchela wanted to sleep alone so why would he forced her na tabihan siya kahit may ehem sila na?

Nanatili siyang nakasandal sa frame ng pintuan habang naka-krus ang braso at deretso lang ang tingin sakanya. Josiah sighed seeing her bruises. Kahit saan talaga ito mapunta hindi mawawalang may nakaka-bugbugan ito, babae man o lalaki.

Trvi is now approaching Josiah with confusion, it was clear that Josiah told him to close the door whenever the aircon is on, but here he is, not doing his words. "Dad, are you done staring at my mom?" namewang ito sa tabi ng itinuturing na ama.

Napalingon si Josiah kay Trvi, gulo gulo pa ang buhok nito. Sabado ngayon at wala siyang pasok. But si Josiah, meron. Nagtataka nga si Trvi kung bakit hindi pa bihis ang papa niya.

"Not yet." umiling si Josiah at sinuklay ang buhok. He just woke up and the first thing he always do is to read books and afterwards check up on Trvi but now, ang inuna niya ang buksan ang pintuan ng kwarto ni Igloria at titigan siya mula sa malayo para hindi ito mabulabog.

He don't want to wake her up dahil halatang pagod na pagod. 

"Dad, you told me to always close the door, so why are you opening it now?" pinagtaasan siya ni Trvi ng kilay. Josiah is about to defend himself when Trvi motioned him to shut his mouth off kasi hindi pa siya tapos magsalita. "You're not sticking to your words."

"I'm staring at your mommy, i'm exempted kaya."

"So why are you exempted if you're living in the house too?" Trvi asked him. "Cut it out that you're the one payin the bills cause i can't pay it now cause i don't have any money so wait till i grow up and i'll treat you in any expensive restaurants you want or travel everywhere."

Josiah was lost with words. Hindi nga siya natatalo sa korte pero natatalo naman siya sa anak niyang may bunganga ni Mirich at wais na pag-iisip ni Troy.

But of course, EJ is EJ, hindi magpapatalo. All he do is to reverse what Trvi is saying hanggang sa magsagutan nga sila. Sagutan na mag-amang nag-ba-bonding lang naman and it freshen both of their minds. Especially pareho silang may binabasang libro tuwing umaga, at paminsan minsan tuwing umaga inaaya ni Trvi si Josiah na mag-chess.

Little did the two know, Gazchela was awake and watching them answering each other. Umusli pa ang ngisi nito dahil kung mag-usap sila ay parang mga bibe, parehong nakanguso ang mga labi.

"Daddy naman kasi! The meralco will putol our kuryente, i won't be able to see my ka-gwapuhan kapag nangyari iyon. Yari ka kapag hindi makita ni mommy ang mukha mo."

"I'll have a candle."

"It will melt."

Natigil naman ang dalawa ng tumikhim si Gazi, parang ayaw kasi tumigil ng dalawa. If that continues, sure Gazchela will cry seeing Mirich on Trvi. Sa kanilang magkakaibigang babae kasi, iyon ang hindi nagpapatalo, lalo na pagdating sa bungangaan.