BUENAVISTA BROTHERS 3: Cruel Buenavista (COMPLETED)

FIVE

"Cruel, anak... Umamin ka nga sa'kin. Are you gay?"

Kamuntikan nang mabali ni Cruel ang lapis niya nang marinig ang tanong na iyon ng kaniyang ina. "The hell?" Napasimangot niyang sabi.

Kasalukuyan siyang nasa loob ng kaniyang opisina, at nagbabasa ng mga mahahalagang dokumento, nang dumating ang kaniyang ina. Ngayon ay prente itong nakaupo sa sofa at nakataas pa ang mga paa sa maliit na lamesa. Parang at home na at home ito sa kaniyang opisina.

"What?" Bahagyang umangat ang isang kilay nito. "I'm just asking, son. Because you never brought any girl home before. Hindi namin alam kung may girlfriend ka ba, or even flings. If you are gay, that's more than okay pa rin naman e. Tanggap naman kita, and I still love you. Kahit boyfriend ang dalhin mo, baka mag-celebrate pa ako. Isa pa, I've always wanted a daughter. Buti na nga lang at nag-asawa na ang Kuya Trail. Now, I have two daughters, you, and your Ate Pursue."

Hinubad niya ang reading glasses at naihilamos na lamang ang sariling palad sa mukha. "Mom, shut it, please," he frustratedly said. Masisiraan siya ng bait sa pinagsasabi ng sariling ina. Mabuti na lamang talaga at soundproof ang opisina niyang iyon, at hindi naririnig ng mga empleyado at customer sa labas ang pinag-uusapan nila.

"I am not a gay, okay?" May diin sa bawat salita niya. "Why are you here, anyway? Don't you have any work in the office?"

"No, I don't have. It's my day off, and I am here because I am freaking bored. Chase isn't here anymore to lessen my boredom, while you and your Kuya are no fun."

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang siya. Parang kasalanan pa niya na bored ito. "Then why don't you bother Dad instead?"

"He's currently in a business trip. Kung nandito lamang siya, e hindi sana kita pinagtyatyagaang bwisitin. Anyway, when will you get married? You are already thirty, son. Pawala na ang edad mo sa kalendaryo." Nakita niyang naghalukaykay ito ng mga magazine na nasa ilalim ng maliit na mesa.

"Does my age matters, Mom? I am not yet married because I do not want to. I don't see myself getting married at all." Prangka niyang sagot. He was always like that. He is blunt. He is not afraid to tell anyone his honest thoughts, even though he often hurt the feelings of other people. He does not give any goddamn care anyway. "I don't like having any girlfriends or flings, because they are so damn loud and clingy. I don't want anyone to invade my personal space."

Natigilan sa paghahalukaykay ng mga magazine ang ginang. Nakita niya kung paano lumungkot ang mukha ng Mommy Tinah niya. "I just want to see you settled down. I want to see you happy with your own family. You know, I'm not getting any younger. Your Dad and I." Natahimik na lamang siya sa sinabi ng ina.

Yeah, he may be heartless, but he always have that soft place in his heart for his mother. Hindi niya gustong nalulungkot ito. His mom is always bright and vibrant. Masayahin ito at halos bilang lamang ang beses na nalungkot o sumimangot. Kaya naman kapag nalungkot ito, maging silang magkakapatid ay nalulungkot din, kahit pa pare-pareho silang magkakapatid na may masasamang ugali.

"I don't want you to regret not having your own family to love you and to take care of you. Can you atleast try? For me?"

He heaved a deep sigh. "Okay, I'll try. But I will not promise anything. Please don't be disappointed if nothing happens after I tried."

Lumapit sa kaniya ang ina at niyakap ang kaniyang leeg. "I won't. Thanks, son!"

"You are welcome, Mom." Bumalik na ito sa prenteng bumalik sa pagkakaupo sa sofa.

Eksakto namang may kumatok sa pintuan ng kaniyang opisina. Sunud-sunod iyon. "Come in." Si Danilo ang nagbukas ng pintuan, ang kanang kamay niya sa pagpapatakbo ng restaurant na iyon. "What's the problem, Dan?" May kunot sa kaniyang noo.