Tune of Rapture (Echoes #2)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Good luck

Natawa ako. I looked into his eyes, and even through the cellphone, I could clearly see the amusement. His eyes were getting heavy with sleep, but he still tried to keep them open to see me.

"Walang mayaman sa bukid, paano ka nakahanap?" nakangisi kong tanong.

He closed one eye while stretching his lips into a smile.

"Hindi mayaman kasi sobrang yaman. Kayang bumili ng lupa."

Kumunot ang noo ko. May iba pa bang lupain sa Laguna? Sino naman ang nakabili? Matalim akong tumingin sa kanya kahit na pikit naman ang mata niya. Pinagmasdan ko ang tulog niyang mukha. Walang bakas na galit ang itsura niya.

But when he's awake, he looks like a fierce beast on the forest. Hindi ko namalayan na wala nang nag sasalita sa amin. Nag mulat siya at diretso ang tingin sa mata ko.

"Kailan ka uuwi rito?" tanong niya.

"Does Manuel miss me?" I smirked.

Umismid siya. "Tsk. Kailan nga?"

I shrugged. If I get tired of leaving, I won't come back there anymore. After my basketball game, of course, I'll bond with my friends. Hang out at a bar or something.

"At least wish me luck for my basketball game?" I said, realizing he didn't even say good luck to me.

Maybe this call will end without any good luck wishes from him, huh?

Umangat ang kilay niya.

"Good luck. Baka matalo kayo kapag hindi ako nag good luck." humalakhak siya.

"May agimat ba 'yang good luck mo?" tanong ko, natatawa.

"Pampagana, Leroy." he smirked at me.

Whew. Baka wala pang laban nag d-dribble na ako.

Pinatay ko ang tawag nang makatulog siya. Hindi man lang nag sabi na tutulog na at pumikit na lang. Akala niya ang gwapo niya kapag tulog.

Hindi ko sinave ang number niya sa cellphone ni mommy.

Dinelete ko iyon bago ibalik ang cellphone. Malay ko bang nag sisinungaling sa akin si Sergo? Kuting pa ang gagawing daan pero ang sadya gusto lang talagang pormahan si mommy!

Maaga akong nagising kinabukasan. I caught Daddy having breakfast, so I joined him. The maid poured water into my glass while I was eating. The long table was quiet, with no one speaking between the two of us.

Tumingin sa akin si daddy. Nakipag titigan ako sa kanya.

"Kailan ang laban n'yo?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Bukas."

I took a sip of water and didn't touch the food anymore. I was already full even though I hadn't finished half of it.

I put down the glass and looked at Daddy. His face was serious, but I could see the tiredness in it. He wore glasses, but I could see the eye bags.

I suddenly worried about his health. We're not close, but he's my parent, so it's natural for me to be concerned.

"Try to take a vacation, Dad," bigla kong sabi.

Tumingin siya sa akin. "Why?"

"Your... face," tinuro ko ang mukha niya.

"Anong mayroon?" kunot-noong tanong niya.

Ngumuso ako. "Stress na, dad."

"It's normal to have company. And I'm old," he gave me a stern look.