WINSTON AND RINGO (Montana Series 3 | BXB)

14: Nerine

˖ ๋࣪⸙˖

The kind of love I longed to feel was the kind of love that made me seen. Ringo saw everything about me, including the invisible to the naked eye.

"Mom, where's Lolo and Dad?" I asked as we sat for breakfast. We had our breakfast at the veranda since there's only the three of us.

"May nilakad ang Dad mo. Ang Lolo mo naman ay naglalaro ng golf."

"May kasama ba siyang maglaro?" nagaalala kong tanong.

"Nagpasama siya sa mga staff ng resort," sagot ni Mom.

Austin giggled like an insult, taking my attention. "Will you please drop the act? Wala si Lolo sa harapan natin kaya huwag ka ng umasta na ikaw ang pinakamabait na apo."

Mabilis kumunot ang aking noo. "Huwag mo akong itulad sa'yo na nagiging maamong tupa lang kapag nandyan si Lolo."

Rage flashed on his face. "Say one more thing and I'll crush your face!"

Sinigawan naman siya ni Mom. "Pwede bang tumigil ka na Austin? It's too early for your childish behavior!"

He sniffed like a bull. "Childish? Sabagay, hindi na ako magtataka kung lagi mong kinakampihan ang lalaking 'yan. Wala na akong mamanahin kaya naman siya na lang ang pag-asa mo para malimas ang pera ni Lolo."

Mom leaped from her position going to Austin and slapped him so hard. Sa lakas ng kanyang sampal ay napatayo ako sa pagkagulat. Austin slowly turned his head and glared at Mom. Halos maluha siya sa sobrang galit. After seconds of darting his eyes, he turned around and left the veranda. Lumabas siya sa suite at hindi ko alam kung saan siya nagpunta.

Mom also left the place after wiping her lips with a napkin and dropped it on the table. The speed of event made me lose my breath for a moment. Nakahinga lang ako ng maluwag nang wala na sila sa harapan ko. I couldn't finish my food anymore, so I decided to clean the table and leave the suite.

The constant fight in our family wasn't new to me, but I couldn't get used to it. I always had a sinking feeling every time I heared them arguing and shouting. Nag-desisyon na lamang akong magpahangin sa labas.

Of course, the only person that could make me calm was Ringo, so I tried calling him. He didn't answer at first, but when I was about to call him again, I saw him. He came out of the resort's cafe. Lalapitan ko sana siya, ngunit napansin ko ang taong sumunod na lumabas sa cafe. It was my dad.

Tumango si Ringo kay dad na tila nagpapaalam. Maya-maya ay naglakad muli si Ringo paalis. There's something about his aura that made me feel worried. His face was blank, which made me confuse. Si Dad naman ay pinagmasdan si Ringo habang papalayo. He flashed his usual empty expression.

 Naalarma ako at napaisip kung ano ang pinagusapan nila. When my dad returned inside the cafe, I ran towards Ringo.

"Hey!" I called.

He threw me a surprised look. "Winston, what are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you. How about you? Bakit mo kasama si Dad sa cafe?"

He tore his eyes away. "It's nothing. Nagkataon lang na nasa cafe siya nang pumunta ako doon."

He was fidgetting, and I could totally see there's something going on. Mukhang hindi rin siya mapakali dahil kung saan-saan siya lumilingon. It was as if he was hiding from someone.

"Ringo, are you alright?" I asked.

He nodded quickly. "Of course I am. Anyway, I have to go. May inutos kasi sa'kin si Kuya Maynard."