JOAN let out a cry as she lifted her arms to cover her face. Wala siyang makita maliban sa nakasisilaw na puting liwanag, nagliliparang mga alikabok, at pagaspas ng puti at itim na mga pakpak.
Naramdaman pa niyang may dumaplis sa kaniyang mga kuko ng tandang habang tumatakbo palagpas sa mga ito.
Dahil nakatakip ang mga braso niya sa mukha, wala siyang makita sa kaniyang paanan. At dahil wala siyang makita roon, napatid siya ng nakaunat na isang paa ni Señor Ernesto.
Inalis ni Joan mula sa pagkakatakip sa kaniyang mukha ang mga braso. Wide-eyed, she stretched her arms forward. Inihanda niya ang sarili sa pagbagsak sa pamamagitan ng pagbabalak na itukod ang mga kamay sa lupa. But she had to blink before completely seeing that she was about to fall on top of Señor Ernesto!
Gulat namang nagtaas ng mga kamay ang lalaki. Out of impulse, out of reflexes, he aimed to catch her mid-air so that she wouldn't fall on him.
But quicker hands from behind grabbed Joan's arms.
Pigil niya ang paghinga nag may sumambot sa kaniyang baywang. She slowly regained a balanced and equal footing without any effort at all. As her feet stood firm on the ground, her body straightened up. Nalingonan niya sa kaniyang likuran ang nag-aalalang si Kyle.
Ibinalik ni Joan ang tingin sa kaniyang harapan nang makaramdam ng presensiya rito. Mabilis na tumama ang mga mata niya sa mga mata ni Señor Ernesto.
"Bakit binitawan mo ka'gad?" mabalasik na tanong ng honcho sa kaniya.
Hindi malaman ni Joan kung saan titingin. Paano niya aaminin na kasalanan niya kaya nagkagulo?
She felt Kyle's firm squeeze on her shoulder and in an instant, she felt that there was nothing to be afraid of. Nanumbalik ang pagkabuo ng kaniyang loob nang salubungin ang tingin ni Señor Ernesto.
"Dumulas si Kapitan—"
Hindi na itinuloy ni Joan ang pagpapaliwanag dahil kumilos na si Señor Ernesto. Seemed like the honcho just wanted to leave a commentary, not demand for an answer from her. He simply stepped aside and walked past them. Pinanood nito ang patuloy na pagsasabong ng dalawang manok.
Pumihit si Joan dahil sumunod ang kaniyang tingin sa lalaki. Umusod naman si Kyle para pumuwesto sa kaniyang tabi habang nakatanaw na rin kina SiKi at Kapitan.
Umatras ang dalawang manok ng ilang ulit para bumuwelo at ilang ulit na sugurin ang isa't isa. Kapwa pumutak ang mga ito—minsan matinis, minsan mahina at sunod-sunod. Both had beaks and talons mainly conditioned to aim for dominance and damage each other's necks, and heads, and napes.
Señor Ernesto nonchalantly circled the two gamefowls, treading at the sides of the cockpit. His intent eyes gleamed, watching the two with intense suspense. His lips were firm and his hands crossed on his lower back.
Eventually, SiKi was already ducking. First, at Kapitan's lunging attack. Then it ducked and winced at the second assault. Kapitan hopped with ease, as if gliding down from mid-air at every blow of attack it delivered to its opponent. On the other hand, SiKi was left with nothing else to do but hop backwards, wings stretched to maintain it balance.
Joan watched Señor Ernesto's confidence diffuse. Sternness brewed visibly in his narrowing eyes and furrowing eyebrows.
But the black rooster timed Kapitan's landing.
Pagkabagsak na pagkabagsak ng mga paa ni Kapitan sa lupa ay biglang sumugod si SiKi rito. Halos lumipad si SiKi habang sunod-sunod na palo ang ibinibigay kay Kapitan na pumagaspas naman ang mga pakpak habang sinasalubong ang mga tira nito.
BINABASA MO ANG
Pinagsoltada
General FictionErnesto Dela Fuente did everything to please the people around him, particularly his father. He even tied himself into a marriage that was purely for their business' convenience. Eventually, he was already fathering a child. He became this responsib...
