Stone

Chapter XXXIX: Acts of Service

Kahel

I was stunned by what Uncle Sebastian had said.

Mahal ko? Was he referring to Papa?

Marahan ko siyang itinulak. When I finally got the chance to see his face up close, he was ugly crying.

"Sorry, did I scare you, Kahel?" He pulled out a hankie from his side pocket at sinumulang patuyin ang mga mata niya.

"Uncle Sebastian, did you just call my father as—"

"Oo, minahal ko siya, Kahel," walang pag-aatubili niyang dugtong bago ko pa matapos ang tanong ko.

I am so confused. Nakatayo lang ako habang siya ay marahang bumabalik sa upuan niya.

"Come, take a seat," he said while pointing at the sofa in front of his desk.

I politely followed.

"I know you're looking for some answers, and I'm sorry if I'm giving you more questions instead," dugtong pa niya.

Inalog ko ang ulo. Ipinatong ko ang aking kamay sa lamesa niya. Tanging liwanag ng buwan ang nasa pagitan naming dalawa.

I was about to open my mouth nang mapansin naming nagsisimula nang magkagulo sa labas.

"Wait lang po, si Drake..."

He immediately grabbed his phone at tinawagan ang mga tauhan niya sa labas.

"Let them in," he said.

Mabilis akong napatingin sa likod nang biglang bumukas ang malaking pinto papasok sa kuwarto.

Mabilis silang tumakbo sa loob na tila hinihingal pa.

I could see Drake panting. Then Uncle Sebastian whispered in my ear, "If you want answers, you need to make sure na hindi sila makakalapit sa atin."

As I was about to process his thoughts, I saw how Drake was about to sprint towards us.

"Stop!" sigaw ko. My voice echoed around the room like the sonar of a bat.

Drake froze there, feet wide apart. Matthew and Lance too.

"So, you can control it, good." I could feel Uncle Sebastian smile behind me.

"Control? What do you mean?" sunud-sunod na tanong ko. "Teka lang po, tsaka ano iyong tungkol sa inyo ni Papa?"

He laughed. Nakaliyad pa siya dahil sa lakas ng kanyang halakhak.

"Relax, Kahel. Umupo ka muna, we can talk all day."

"Uncle Sebastian, how can I relax? Ang mga kaibigan ko ay naninigas na roon at baka maging bato pa. Your son included!"

"That's not my—" Hindi niya itinuloy ang sasabihin niya. His reaction went from a jest to a sinister look. "Kahel, sit down. They will be fine. I promise."

"Pero..."

"Sit!"

Ramdam ko ang malalim na hiningang pinakawalan ko habang mabilis na umupo.

I was staring at him. Wala siyang suot na harang sa mata. When he saw me glaring, he slightly moved his head to the shadows para hindi masinagan ng buwan ang mukha niya.

"Three questions," panimula niya. He lifted his fingers in front of me. "That's all you can ask, three."

At that moment, isang bagay lang ang umiikot sa ulo ko.

At iyon ay ang ipinunta namin dito.

"Saan ko po makikita si Mr. Pegasus?"

"O, wow. You guys did your research. Perhaps my exwife told you about him." Uncle Sebastian turned around. He is now facing the window.