DUCANI LEGACY SERIES #2: KONNAR

Kabanata 4

Kabanata 4

Konnar

"Pahingi ng sahod ko."

Keeno lifted his gaze. Napakunot siya ng noo na tila iyon na ang pinakawirdong bagay na narinig niya mula sa bibig ko.

"Come again?" he asked before he continued chatting someone.

"Sabi ko pahingi ng sahod ko."

Keeno shut his eyes and rubbed his palm on his face as if I just gave him the biggest problem of all time. "May I remind you, bro that you don't earn salary nor wage. You gain income. Those are two very different things in case you forgot."

Pabagsak akong naupo sa sofa. "Then give me salary. Kailangan ko ng two five bukas."

"You have your cards. Bakit kailangan pa kitang pasahurin? Besides, employees get paid every fifth and twenty fifth of the month. Seventeen pa lang ngayon."

"Hindi ko dinadala cards ko, and you know I don't use them, but I really need two five tomorrow."

Napabuntong hininga siya. "Kuya, ipapaalala ko lang na hindi lang two five ang laman ng bank accounts mo. Why is this even a problem? Para saan ba 'yang two five na 'yan?"

I grinned. "Kukuha ako ng insurance. May kasamang investment."

He groaned. "That's it. No more exposing yourself to bleach and other cleaning solutions. Iba ang nagiging takbo ng utak mo."

"Hey, I'm just being wiser in life. I need that."

Nayamot ang ekspresyon niya. "Why the hell do you need a goddamn insurance when you can sleep for the rest of your life and still have enough money to feed ten more generations? At investments? Should I list down all your million-dollar investments, hmm? Tapos ngayon pasasakitin mo ang ulo ko sa halagang dalawang libo?"

"Two five," I corrected him.

"Fine. Two five. Jesus." He pulled his wallet out and gave me three thousand. "There. Problem solved."

I whistled. "Wala ka bang barya?"

Keeno groaned. Nang tila naubusan na ng pasensya ay tinawag na niya ang sekretarya niya.

"Yes, Sir?" bungad ni Cielle nang makapasok.

"Please help me keep my sanity and give my brother five-hundred peso bill. Kunin mo 'yang isang libo sa kanya bago mamuti lahat ng buhok ko." He shook his head. "Deserve kong umuwi nang maaga at makakain ng luto ni Mama."

"Hindi na tayo papapasukin ni Daddy sa bahay nila ngayong nakalipat na tayo sa kanya-kanya nating bahay. Did you forget that part, hmm?"

"Dad will hangout with Tito Lee and Tito Jigo tonight. I'm sure Ma will let us in. Baka si Daddy pa ang hindi niya pagbuksan ng pinto."

I smirked. "Panigurado."

Nahiga ako sa sofa at nagtipa ng text kay Sadie. Mayamaya ay nagtanong si Keeno habang nagta-type ako.

"The interior designer suggests using square tables."

"Para saan?" tanong ko nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa maliit na screen ng cellphone ko.

"Sa café ng hotels."

"Don't approve it. Tell them to use round ones. Square tables are traditional, but round tables will make guests feel less anxious about being alone in a sea of strangers."

Kumunot ang noo ni Keeno. "Says who?"

I pressed the send button, but when I got an error message, I pulled myself up and cursed. "Damn, ubos na twenty pesos na unli text ko." I sighed and looked at my brother. "Starbucks. They chose round tables so customers will not feel alone when inside their cafe."

"Sir Kon, bakit kasi hindi ka na lang mag-plan para hindi ka nauubusan ng load? Auto-pay naman 'yon," Cielle suggested.

"Nah. Mas trip kong magpa-load." I stood up and walked towards my brother. "Pahinging twenty five."

Keeno sighed. "Why do you keep on making my life so hard, hmm?"

I smirked. "Love you, too brother."

He shook his head and looked at Cielle. "Maglabas ka na nga ng ten thousand sa card ko at ipabarya mo na nang hindi ko araw-araw pinoproblema 'tong kapatid ko." He sighed. "Makakita lang ulit si Klinn, I'm gonna drag his ass here so he can take this position. Tatanda ako kaagad sa ganitong problema."

Natawa ako nang mahina. Klinn may be the most patient one among us, but he'd definitely get board easily in here. Lalo na kung compulsory pa ang pagsusuot niya ng business suit. That brother of mine would rather get himself dirty for getting under classic and sports cars than look so fly in a three-layer suit.

Cielle pursed her lips and tried not to laugh. "Bibilihan na lang kita ng load cards, Sir Kon para tuwing mauubusan ka ng load, hindi ka na maglalakad nang malayo para magpa-load."

"It's fine. I like the elderly owner of the store where I buy my load. Bigyan mo na lang ako ng twenty five kada tatlong araw. That will be enough."

Napakamot siya ng patilya. "Grabe ka talaga, Sir Kon."

Ngumisi na lang ako at hinintay siyang makapag-withdraw at makapagpapalit sa bangko. She then put everything in a box and just handed me twenty five pesos. Nang makuha ko ang pang-load ko ay nagpaalam na muna ako sa kanila.

I went to buy load and then returned to the building. Naabutan ko si Tatay Ferdi na mukhang problemado habang nagpupunas ng salamin.

Imbes na umakyat ulit sa top floor, nagpamulsa ako at nilapitan siya.

"'Tay Ferdi, kumusta na si Lori?"

Bumuntong hininga ang pinakamatandang janitor namin. "Dinala na naman namin sa ospital kahapon, Kanor. Sumumpong na naman ang sakit niya sa puso. Sandamakmak na naman ang panibagong gamot tapos kailangan pa raw magpaopera. Malaki-laking halaga na naman ang kailangan."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. This is why I like blending in with our lower-ranked employees. I get to see the version of me who used to have nothing but my willingness to give Mama ang Lila a comfortable life.

Hindi naman kayamanan ang totoong hangad ng mga taong kagaya ni Tatay Ferdi. What they want is security. Iyong hindi na kakailanganing mamroblema kapag may biglaang gastusin o kaya ay sumakit ang ulo dahil hindi alam kung papaano pagkakasyahin ang sinasahod.

This is why I can't blame those people who bet on lottery. They just want to wake up each morning knowing that their bills will always be paid on time.

I sighed and tapped him on his back. "Kaya mo 'yan, 'Tay Ferdi. Malay mo bukas o sa makalawa, may swerte nang ibibigay ang langit sayo."

Pagod niya akong nginitian. "Magdilang anghel ka sana, Kanor."

I smiled and told him I'll do over-time work upstairs. Nang makabalik ako sa opisina ay tinawag ko si Cielle.

"Arrange a get-together party for the maintenance department. Do a raffle and make sure Tatay Ferdi will win."

Kumunot ang noo ni Cielle. "Bakit, Sir?"

"He needs cash for his daughter's operation and medical needs." I slouched on the sofa. "Update mo ko kung okay na."

"Sige, Sir. Magkano po ang ilalagay kong premyo?"

"Kahit maliit lang para hindi masyadong obvious. Maybe a million will do."

Napatikhim si Cielle. "Ikaw talaga, Sir Kon. Wala kang pang-load pero kung mamigay ka ng milyon parang nag-aabot ka lang ng barya. 'Yang mga problema mo, kakaiba, Sir."

"May isa pa akong problema."

"Ano 'yon, Sir?"

I sighed and stared at her.

"I need a certificate of employment, police clearance, and a valid ID na Kanor Baltazar lahat ang pangalan. I need it by tomorrow afternoon."

Cielle flashed a meaningful smirk.

"I got you, Sir Kon..."