MEN OF HONOR SERIES #1: SCARRED (Complete Ver. Is Exclusive In The VIP)

Kabanata 9

Kabanata 9

"You have a green thumb," hindi ko napigilang puna nang makita ang napakaraming halamang nasa rooftop garden ng penthouse ni Coal.

"My mom taught me. It's relaxing and mas healthy since I grow it. I know if it has chemicals or don't," he said while touching the leafy lettuce he's growing through hydrophonic planting.

Ngumiti ako at sumama na sa kanya na maupo sa dalawang silyang naroroon. Mula sa aming pwesto ay tanaw namin ang buong syudad. The starry night matched the view below, making me want to take photographs of it.

Nang hindi ako nakatiis ay inilabas ko ang cellphone ko upang kumuha ng litrato. I saw him watching me, and when I showed him the photo I took, a proud smile made its way to his lips.

"You're good. What more if you're using a professional cam?"

I felt my confidence went up. "Thanks."

"Why not pursue photography instead?" he asked while opening my beer. He said he only drinks whiskey so we stopped at a convenience store earlier for my beers.

"Wala naman maipagmamalaki ro'n. Tatawanan lang ako ng mga kamag-anak ko," sagot ko bago kinuha ang bote.

His brows furrowed. "How come? I have a friend who earns five figures by doing photography."

"Alam mo kasi, sa pamilya namin, kung hindi bachelor's degree sa mga sikat na propesyon o kaya ay corporate job ang meron ka, wala kang kwenta."

"What kind of mindset is that?" He shook his head. Mayamaya ay dumekwatro siyang panlalake. "Wanna talk about your family situation?"

I sighed as I stared at the city lights. "Mahal ko naman sila, kaya lang tuwing naiisip ko ang pamilya, mas marami 'yong alaala na ayaw kong balikan, kaysa sa memories na makakapagbigay ng saya. Alam mo 'yon? 'Yong parang mas matimbang ang masasakit?"

I continued ranting about my life while he just listens to me. Wala akong narinig ni isang side comment tungkol sa pamilya ko. He just tapped my back when the alcohol started lording over me, making me emotional. Tila ba gusto niya lamang mailabas ko lahat ng nagpapabigat sa dibdib ko. I didn't feel any judgement no matter how fucked up my life is.

Suminghot ako at nagpunas ng luha. "Tama na nga ang tungkol sa akin." I hit him with my elbow. "Kwentuhan mo rin ako. Tell me why you decided to end your fifteen long years of relationship with your wife."

Sandali siyang humugot ng hininga at tinitigan ang kanyang baso habang prenteng nakasandal sa usupan. "Let's just say my trust has already been broken."

Kumunot ang aking noo. "She cheated?"

He nodded. "With my best friend." Tumikhim siya. "I don't usually talk about this even to my family but I'm so compelled to speak up right now." Mahina siyang natawa at sinuklay ang mga daliri sa buhok na tila tinatamaan na rin ng alak. "What magic do you have?"

I smirked. "Maybe you found your new bestie in me."

Ngumisi siya at itinulak ang ilang hibla ng aking buhok patungo sa likod ng tainga. "I guess so." He drew in a sharp breath. "Maggie, my uh, my daughter's mom, we met before we finished college. She went to med school while I studied law. We were each other's anchor when things get tough. We got married after we both got our licenses. Okay naman kami. We had Coleen a year after we got married, but after she gave birth to Coleen, ang laki ng pinagbago. She said Coleen and I ruined her career and her body. Plastic surgeon siya kaya sobrang conscious sa katawan. Okay lang sana kung ako lang ang sinasabihan nang gano'n. Matitiis ko dahil asawa niya ko, pero kapag si Coleen na..." He sighed. "I love my daughter so much, Steph. Sa kanya na lang umikot ang buhay ko kaya masakit na parang hindi siya mahal ni Maggie. Then I found out that she kept ditching her dates with our daughter because she's seeing my best friend."