Three Steps To You ✔︎

Chapter 21

DONʼT WORRY

Two days passed since—that embarrassing moment of mine—happened.

Kakauwi ko lang galing klase. Napahiga na lang ako sa sofa sa sala nang makapasok ako sa loob ng mansion. Hay! Sa wakas Sabado na bukas... It means, itʼs rest day for me. Hindi ako sigurado kung rest day din ba ng mga kapatid ko.

“Anak, mukhang pagod na pagod ka.” narinig ko ang boses ni Dad. Kakarating lang din niya siguro.

“Medyo po hehe.” malapad akong ngumiti kahit medyo nahihiya akong makipag-usap.

Napabangon ako mula sa sofa. Tumabi naman si Dad sa akin kaya inayos ko ang pag-upo. Alam ko namang sinabihan niya kami na maging kaswal lang kapag nandito sa mansion. Pero minsan, hindi ko talaga maiwasan maging pormal—sa salita, sa pag-upo, sa pananamit—kapag nandito si Dad. Tinatawanan na lamang namin iyon. Hindi naman iyon big deal.

“Howʼs your studies?” tanong ni Dad.

“Doing good.” sagot ko.

“Howʼs your health?” he asked. That suddenly gave me peace of mind. Kapag nagtatanong si Dad, randomly, kinakabahan ako, hindi ako napapalagay.

“Always better.”

“What about love life?”

“I have someone I like.” I hid my soft smile. Baka isipin ni Dad, malambot ako.

“ʼYung anak ni Laureano?”

“Yeah.”

“Speaking of Mr. Lopez, hindi pa nakukumpleto ang bayad niya sa akin.”

“Hindi pa kami nakakapag-usap pero noong pinapunta mo ako sa kanila, I told him to complete the payment within two weeks. ” I reported.

“Hmm, okay. Iʼll wait for that.” he uttered. “Tell him, if he donʼt pay, he will die.” he smiled as if a life of a person doesnʼt matter. Yep. Thatʼs him. Thatʼs my father.

“I have already told him that.”

“Thatʼs my son.” he tapped my shoulder, proudly. I just smiled in return.

He stood up and said, “Iʼll leave you here, I have things to do upstairs so if you need something, just knock.” inakbayan niya ako upang tapikin muli ang balikat ko saka tuluyan nang umalis sa harap ko.

I was left here alone in the living room not until my two brothers showed up.

“Mukha kang lantang gulay dʼyan.” sabi ni Calvin. Heʼs really a different person outside the mansion and I donʼt mind it.

“So?” I replied, showing an uninterested face to him.

“Nothing hehe!” he said before grinning at me.

“You talked to Dad just now. What have you talked about?” tanong ni Adrian.

“About Mr. Lopez.”

“ʼYon ba ʼyung pumunta ka sa bahay ng mga Lopez para maningil ng utang?” paniniguro ni Calvin. Mabuti at naalala niya pa iyon. Hindi na ako mahihirapan magpaliwanag pa.