To Parker

Chapter 5

When I was younger

I saw my daddy cry

And curse at the wind

He broke his own heart

And I watched

As he tried to reassemble it

A girl is singing one of Paramore's song nang makapasok kami sa isang bistro to get some dinner and a few drinks. Nagkaayaan kasi ang barkada and I can't refuse. Miminsan na lang daw kasi kami nagkakasama-sama.

"We miss you bro." Maemosyonal pa na sabi ni Inno. Bakit kasi hindi nalang nila sabihin na magpapalibre na naman. Yun ang motto nang frat nila: ang bankrupt-in ako. Ewan ko nga ba sa mga to. Ang tataba ng mga pitaka pero ang kukuripot.

"Kaya ka napagkakamalang bakla dahil diyan sa ugali mo Inno."

"Wag naman ganun Parks! Pag ganung approach bakla agad?"

"Oo na. Alam ko na yang itsura na yan. Kulang nalang magdikit ka ng karatulang LIBRE dyan sa ulo mo."

"Ang sakit mong magsalita Parks. Parang di ka kaibigan." He clutches his chest to add more drama.

"Hindi na talaga ako magdududa isang araw maglaladlad ka na Inno." I shuddered in the thought.

"G*go. Hindi ka man lang ba inambunan ni Imogen ng kahit konting bait?"

You are, the only exception

You are, the only exception

You are, the only exception

You are, the only exception
    

"Oy, si Imogen oh." Turo ni Dominique sa likod. Taranta naman akong napatingin doon at nagtawanan tuloy ang mga g*go.

"Halos isang araw mo na ngang kasama kahapon e. Atat na atat lang bro? Give it a break!" Sumabay na rin sa asaran si Hane at nagkatawanan ulit ang mga kasama because of that retort.

"Ayos ng diskarte mo bro."-Inno.

"Iba na talaga basta kursunada ang dinidiskartehan."-Hane.

Maybe I know, somewhere

Deep in my soul

That love never lasts

And we've got to find other ways

To make it alone

But keep a straight face
    

"Alam na ba niya Pad?"- Seryosong tanong naman ni Dominique.

Nilingon ko muna ang iba pa naming kasama. Sina Ino at Hane nag-uusap about random chick at ang pinakatahimik sa grupo namin na si Chris ay in his usual self habang nakatingin sa babaeng kumakanta dito sa bistro.

Umiling ako. "Hindi pa."

"It will be hard for you when the time comes Pad."

"She'll understand it soon Nique." rason ko sa tinitukoy niya. Hindi nalang niya tinuloy pa ang pag-uusisa tungkol doon.

Lumapit sa amin ang isang crew ng bistro at kinuha ang order namin. Mayamaya din ay dumating na ang mga order at nagsimula na ang kainan kasabay ang panaka-nakang usapan.

***

"Are we going home?" boses nang isang bata na nasa kabilang table.

"I'll just sing one last song then we will head home. Behave here okay?" sagot ng kasama nitong babae.

"Okay" Napalingon ako doon sa kabilang table. Nakatalikod naman ang babae sa pwesto namin. Tumango-tango yun bata and then she patted his head.

"Janicelle." A woman approaches the girl.

"Ma'am, tapusin ko lang po yung isang kanta aalis na po kami."

"Okay, punta ka na doon, ako nang bahala kay Shawn." The woman patted her shoulders and on que, the girl step her way to the mini stage.

Adjusting the strap of her guitar, she made a few strum of it and taps the microphone.

Np. Enchanted

There I was again tonight forcing laughter, faking smiles

Same old tired, lonely place

Walls of insincerity

Shifting eyes and vacancy vanished when I saw your face

All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you
    

My jaw drops in all of a sudden when I clearly look at the girl. Remember that pang-shampoo commercial haired girl? I don't expect her to have a good voice.

Your eyes whispered "have we met?"

Across the room your silhouette starts to make it's way to me

The playful conversation starts

Counter all your quick remarks, like passing notes in secrecy

And it was enchanting to meet you

All I can say is I was enchanted to meet you

Nagpaalam muna ako sa mga kasama at pumunta sa CR. Hindi pa naman marami ang nainom ko at hindi pa din naman ako tipsy. I can tolerate too much drink but I still limit my self.

"Excuse me, can I pee?" A small voice coming from someone in my side said. Napatagal siguro ang pagkakatitig ko sa kanya dahil he started poking me.

"Oh. Sorry kid." After I zipped my pants, gumilid na ako and the little kid went to urinate.

While wiping my hands dry, the said kid went to the sink and attempted to grip the faucet for some water to wash his hands.

"Take me up here, please." The kid decided to get some help after the attempt.

Bihuhat ko naman siya papunta sa sink. Hinintay ko munang matapos siyang maghugas at ibinaba uli.

"Thank you." Inabutan ko naman siya ng tissue para pamunas.

"Asan ang mama mo bata?" the kid frown. Hindi ba to nakakaintindi ng tagalog?

"I mean, who are you with and what are you doing here? Is it supposed to be your bedtime?"

"Shawn! There you are. I thought you went somewhere else. Let's go home." Napatingin na man ako sa biglang sumigaw. Aba, may ilalakas pa pala ang boses nito?

"I went to pee. Thanks to this guy. He helped me." Tinuro naman ako nung bata. Napaangat naman ng tingin si Miss Shamps (Miss Shampoo commercial) at siguro ay nagulat na rin.

"Thank y-you."Mabilis niyang sabi at binitbit ang bubwit.

"Bye." The kid waved at me and I waved back.

Bumalik ako sa mga kasama ko na patuloy parin sa pag-inom. Tumayo naman si bigla si Chris at nagpaalam na mauuna na raw umuwi. Hinintay niya lang daw ako dahil ayaw niyang maghatid ng mga lasing na kasama.

Sakit sa ulo talaga itong mga frat na to. Ginawa na kong banker, gagawin din akong driver!

I notice Miss Shamps exited the bistro with the kid. Kanina pa pumapasok sa isip ang mga possibleng dahilan kung bakit may kasama itong bata. Is she a single parent? But she is still young to be one.

Kaano-ano niya ang bata?