DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 9: Khol (Exclusive In The VIP Group)

Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3

Khol

"Dad, I need to borrow your car. Mine has a flat tire," bungad ko kay Daddy nang maabutan kong ikinakabit niya ang bagong punching bag. Kuya Khalis probably destroyed the last one. Again.

Dad turned to me for a moment. "Why? Saan ka na naman pupunta, hmm? Your Mom said you're grounded."

"She's not home so I'm no longer grounded."

Bumuntonghininga si Daddy bago ako tuluyang hinarap. "Have you seen your mom angry?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Nope?"

"Exactly. If she says you're grounded, you're grounded," aniya.

I groaned. "But she's not home and I won't be out for too long. Huwag mo na lang sabihin, Dad."

"You don't get it, Khol." He sighed. "If I will let you go out and your Mom finds out? I'm gonna be grounded, too."

I scoffed. "Dad, you're bigger than Mom."

"Yeah, but she's more scary." Dinampot niya ang ikakabit na punching bag saka iyon isinabit sa hook. "Once you get married, you'll understand the struggles me and your uncles face every single day."

"Fine."

Tumalikod na ako't lumabas ng home gym. Nang maisara ang pinto ay tinawagan ko ang taong alam kong hinding-hindi matatanggihan ni Mommy.

I dialed grandpa's number. Wala pang tatlong ring ay sinagot kaagad niya.

"What's my favorite grandchild calling for, hmm?" he asked.

I instantly smirked. Favorite? Everyone's his favorite?

I licked my lower lip. "Lo, grounded daw ako."

"Sino ang nagsabi?"

"Si Mommy. Si Daddy takot naman kay Mommy."

"At bakit ka grounded? What did you do?"

I sighed. "It wasn't my fault. There's this girl at school who has a huge crush on me. I got into trouble because of her."

Narinig ko ang pag-ismid ni Lolo Khalil. "Apo, hindi na bago sa'kin 'yang mga ganyan. When your Lola Khallisa and I were in college? She had a huge crush on me, too. Inaasar akong bakla dahil ayaw ko raw siyang halikan. She even offered to carry my bag," pagyayabang niya.

My forehead creased. "I'm pretty sure that's not what really happened?" I murmured. "Anyway, good for you, Lo but I need help. I have to bring Nimbus to a chiropractor."

I could imagine his thick brows almost meeting. "Nimbus? Your American Bully?"

"Yeah. Can you come pick me up so we can bring him to a doctor?"

"Apo, hindi tao si Nimbus para dalhin mo sa chiropractor."

"But I have to. Hirap siyang tumingin sa kaliwa, Lo. If he dies, I swear I'm never gonna visit again—"

"Fine, fine. Wait for me."

Halos mapasuntok ako sa ere. "Have I told you that you're the best grandpa in the world?"

"All the time." He scoffed. "Tuwing nakukunsinti ka."

We both laughed. Nang maputol ang tawag ay umakyat na ako sa kwarto para buhatin si Nimbus. Saktong dumating ang kotse ni Lolo nang bumaba kami ni Nimbus ng hagdan. Daddy saw me but I immediately ran outside, laughing while my grandpa gestures his hand as if telling me to run faster.

"Dad? Seriously?" dismayadong tanong ni Daddy nang makapasok ako sa kotse ni Lolo.

"Why? Pinagdadamot mo na ngayon ang apo ko? Palibhasa tumatanda na ko hinahayaan n'yo na kong malungkot—"

"Jesus, that's not what I mean, Dad. He's grounded. Pati ako pagagalitan ni Basha kapag nalamang nakalabas 'to."

Lolo smirked. "Well, that's your problem." He patted my dad's shoulder. "You better start trying if you'll fit on the couch."

Natawa na lamang kami ni Lolo nang paandarin na niya ang kotse niya. Sumigaw pa si Daddy bago kami nakalayo sa harap ng bahay.

"I swear I'm gonna tell Mama about this so you'll sleep on the couch, too old man!"

Nilingon ako ni Lolo. "Don't worry. Your grandma will never sleep in the bed without me by her side." Kinindatan niya ako kaya pati ako ay ngumisi.

That's not a secret. I know how sweet they are. Tuwing naroon ako sa family house ay madalas kong nahuhuli si Lolo na nilalambing si Mama-La. They would dance and giggle and just basically act like teenagers who are madly in love with each other.

Hindi ko pa maintindihan ngayon. I mean, who stays in love with the same person this long? Iniisip ko pa lang na iisang babae lang ang makaka-date ko habambuhay, parang . . . ang boring na.

"Lo, dito tayo pupunta, ah," I said while showing the map on my phone. "He's a veterinarian and an animal chiropractor."

"Huh. I didn't know there's even a thing called animal chiropractor?" salubong ang mga kilay na tanong ni Lolo.

"Hindi ko rin po alam noong una, but a friend of mine recommended him."

Tumango si Lolo. "Let's drop by at a flower shop before we go home later. I'll buy your grandma a bunch of flowers."

"It's not her birthday nor your anniversary, Lo," paalala ko.

He sighed. "Khol, you don't have to wait for a special occasion to come before you give your woman something that can make her feel extra special. Noong naghihirap pa kami ng Lola mo, tinitiis ko ang gutom ko sa trabaho para lang iyong ibibili ko ng pananghalian ay maibili ko ng lugaw niya. She loves porridge, lalo noong ipinagbubuntis ang tito Konnar mo."

"Pero hindi ba parang mawawala na ang pagiging special ng ginagawa, Lo kung napapadalas?"

"Not to people who are deeply in love, Khol. In fact, the more you make them feel special, the deeper the connection becomes. Besides, it's not just about material things, apo. Sometimes making them feel special means . . . making them meals without them asking, giving them a massage when you think they need it, or simply offering a big hug when they're having a bad day." He smiled at me. "You'll understand someday. I thought your father was a hopeless case but look at him now?"

I sighed. "He's terrified of Mom."

"I doubt that." Ngumisi si Lolo. "He's not scared of Basha, Khol. He's only terrified to do things that will upset your mom. Because when she's not happy, he feels bad as a husband. Dahil ang lalakeng nagmamahal nang husto, apo, walang ibang gawin kung hindi ang siguraduhing masaya palagi ang kanyang asawa."

Hindi na lang ako nagkumento. I'm too young for this talk anyway. Isa pa, hindi pa naman ako nai-in love. Nagkaka-girlfriend ako, oo, but that's because I can have the girls I want.

"Tell me about this girl you like," ani Lolo nang tumahimik na ako.

I groaned. "I don't like her. Siya ang may gusto sa'kin, Lo."

"And why don't you like her?"

Naiirita akong nagkamot ng patilya. "She's so annoying. She waves at me all the time, follows me around, gives me random gifts, and chooses to daydream about me instead of focusing on her studies." I sighed. "She's far from my ideal girl."

Umismid si Lolo. "The mind sets the standards, Khol, but the heart dictates whom it wants to beat for. Sa mga sinabi mo, wala akong narinig tungkol sa ugali niya. Get to know her first before you tell me that she's not ideal."

Bumuntonghininga na lamang ako. Ah, basta. I will never like that annoying girl.

Itaga ko man sa bato.