Moth to a Flame

Tredici| In-laws

AVIATRICE

I squeezed my eyes shut and crossed my legs, settling in like I was about to binge-watch my favorite comedy show, except the stars of this latest episode were Papá and Dad, live in their natural habitat: the Great Father and Son Bicker-fest. It was a scene I knew all too well, a comforting routine in our family dynamics.

"Pops! I told you not to kill the poor rat!" Rinig kong reklamo ng tatay ko habang paakyat ito ng hagdan papuntang second floor ng bahay.

"Are you insane, Apollo? That's a rat! It carried germs and bacteria!" Panenermon sa kanya ni papá. "What if it came in contact with clean clothes? Food? Personal things? You know how dangerous that is?" Napahinga na lang ako nang maluwag dahil kahit ako ay hindi ko alam kung paanong pati yun ay pinagtataluhan pa nilang dalawa.

"Still! You could have just trapped it and thrown it outside!" Paglalaban pa ni dad.

"And what? Let it march inside the house again? Good God, Apollo! It's a pest!" Nangungunsimeng palatak ni papá.

"What if may pamilya ang dagang yun? Pops, you just killed a—" Narinig ko ang mga yapak na parang patakbong umaakyat ng hagdan kaya paniguradong hinahabol na ni papá ng baston si dad.

"You brat! You must've come from my left nut because you don't do anything right!" Pagmulat ko ng mata ko ay naabutan ko silang naghahabulan paikot sa sofa na nasa harapan ko.

Just look at them acting like kids. Their way of flaunting their 'incredible' bond is just so... unique.

"Jesus died for you, and this how this motherfucker grows up!" Tumama ang dulo ng baston ni papá sa pwet ni dad kaya napaaray ito. Tumakbo si dad sa sofang kinauupuan ko at dinuro si papá.

"First, you said I came from your nut, gaslighting me that I don't do things right! Now you're dragging the name of God to reprimand me! So what if Jesus died for me? That's manipulative!" Saglit na inayos ni papá ang glasses niya, at kitang-kita ko ang pangungunot ng noo niya.

"That's mockery! Who taught you that manners?"

"Who else? Of course, you! Children learn from their parents!"

"Go to hell, Apollo Coronia!"

"Oh, yeah? You'll go there before me, Afabian Coronia!"

My eyes almost formed thin lines, a silent testament to the strain of their relentless bickering, like toddlers fighting over a toy echoing behind me.

I pulled out my phone when it vibrated. I licked my slightly dried lips when I noticed it was from Distaunce.

have u seen my phone? i can't find it

Parang tinubuan ng sungay dahil sa walang kwenta niyang message. Looking at my father and grandfather, and now my brother. Seriously, when will I have a normal family?

Just as I was about to switch off my phone, a text from an unknown number lit up the screen.

Good morning, my lovely wife. Can you send me the coordinates of your exact location? Don't worry, I'm on my way ;)

Nanguyamis ang mukha ko dahil sa nabasa ko. Why the heck does he need my coordinates?

Napatingin ako sa labas kung saan tanaw ang white sand ng beach. After our house was decorated with raining bullets, we decided to settle in our rest house in Palawan.

I went to my GPS app and sent him my coordinates before throwing my phone in the sofa. Paglingon ko sa gawi nila papá ay pikon na pikon itong nakatingin kay dad na may maliit na bukol sa ulo. Napailing na lang ako dahil sa kakulitan nilang dalawa.