Teodomero was feeling sick, early in the morning, after receiving his Father's explicit delight. Alam niyang hindi normal ang nananalaytay sa ugat ng Ama at alam niyang wala siyang masamang ginawa noong huli niyang buhay para sapitin ang ganitong paghihirap. Walang araw ang hindi lumipas na hindi siya kinukulit ng Ama, pero ngayon ay nasa ibang lebel ng kabaliwan ang matanda.
His Father was swaying his hips and butt while harrowing the soil. He would sang a song in high notes even though he was not blessed to have the voice for that. Mabuti na lang at medyo may kalayuan ang mga bahay sa palayan nila. Maliban kasi sa kaniya ay nabubulabog na rin ng Ama ang mga kalabaw na katu-katulong nila sa farm. Maski ang aso nila ay natatakot na tumakbo sa likuran niya nang subukang abutin ng Ama ang mataas na nota ng "My Way".
The old man cleared his throat, readying his vocal to hit the note. He would not want to risk his vocal chord so he conditioned himself.
"I—ulit." He cleared his throat. He even did a lip buzz vocal warm-up. Unang subok pa lang naman kaya okay lang kahit may sabit. Muli siyang tumikhim at saka ipinikit ang mga mata para mas dama niya ang kanta. "I did it—goddamn it... Lucha, Hernan! Lucha! .... I did it ... my way—"
"Pa! Please! Stop!" Singhal ng binata sa Ama habang nakatakip ang dalawang palad sa tainga. "For god's sake! Baka kung anong mangyari sa'yo kapag naputol 'yang vocal chord mo!"
"Huwag kang mag-alala 'nak, no'ng araw naabot namin ng Mama mo ang mga ga'nong kataas na nota."
Teodomero frowned. There's no one in their family who was bestowed with a good voice. So... "How?"
The old man smugly snickered, "I did it my way."
"Oh god," he groaned in annoyance. Why did I even asked? "Just stop, Pa. Pangit ng boses mo."
His Father looked at him, offended.
"Hindi pangit ang boses ko! Sadyang mali 'yong kantang kinakanta ko. Gusto mo subukan pa ulit natin? Let's compete! Tingnan natin kung kanino talaga ang mas pangit ang boses!" Hamon pa sa kaniya ng Ama.
Naiiling na inihagis ng binata ang salakot sa isang tabi at saka nag-warm-up ng boses bagay na ikinangiti ng Ama niya. He mimicked a motor sound with his lips vibrating and even tried to harmonize his voice into random songs he could hum.
"Let's try Versace on the floor by Bruno Mars. Simulan natin d'on sa second verse."
"Ah, 'yong 'so baby'?" Tanong pa ni Teodomero na tinanguan naman ng Ama niya.
Thus, their competition on who has the greater voice between them started. But to no avail neither one of them has won. Their dog even expressed its disapproval on their vocals. Mas maganda at harmonize pa nga ang tunog ng mga cricket keysa sa boses nila.
"I think ... we sang the wrong song, Pa." Ani Teodomero.
"Yeah, right?" Hernan heave a deep sigh. "Shall we try again? This time, 'yong tamang kanta na ang gawin natin."
Teodomero nodded at his Father's suggestion, pero bago pa mandin sila muling makapang-bulabog ay nagsalita na si Lea na kanina pa pigil ang sariling tumawa.
"Akala ko kung kaninong aso 'yong umaalulong, kayong mag-ama lang pala." Nilapitan niya ang mag-ama at saka binigyan ang mga ito ng tig-isang kurot sa tainga.
"Ouch, mi amour! That hurts!" Ungot ng asawa.
"It's Papa's idea," pagtatakwil ng anak sa ama.
"Hey! How dare you betray your Papa? We're men! We don't laglag anyone in our league!"
"Who says I'm in your league? And please stop being conyo, Pa."
"I'm not conyo kaya, that's how I speak. It's normal!"
![✓ Forbidden Sweetness of Eden [COMPLETED]](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/358728288-64-k56269.jpg)