Gangster Leader

Chapter 30: Dad

HAERONE'S P.O.V

Tahimik sa buong bahay nang iparada ko ang kotse sa garahe rito. Mom and Dad must be busy with their work again— it's not that it's unusual. May kalakihan nga ang bahay namin pero it's close to being literally empty.

"Manong, nandito na si Eziell?" tanong ko sa hardinero na papalabas ng house gate. Hindi siya nakatira sa bahay namin at on-call lang due to Eziell's mischievous gun escapade during the night; also, ayaw niya na may ibang tao sa bahay bukod sa'min.

"Hindi siya pumasok sa eskwelahan, ijo. Kaninang umaga pa kami ni Jose at nariyan pa rin siya sa loob ng bahay niyo," sagot niya sa'kin bago sumenyas na aalis na siya.

"Kumain na ba kayo?" agarang tanong ko nang matignan ang orasan.

"Pinakain ko na, ikaw ang dapat kumain," sabat ng kapatid ko na sumakto sa pagtango ni Manong bago tuluyang umalis.

Tinignan ko ang kapatid ko at nakitang nasa pintuan siya ng dirty kitchen's access door rito sa garage. Her eyes is squinting at me with her upright posture. Dinagdagan pa ng nakatali niyang buhok ang striktang pang-anyo niya.

"Kumain ka na?" kaswal na tanong ko habang naglalakad papasok sa pintuan. Umusog siya patagilid para makapasok ako.

Eziell did not answer me, instead, she walked past me to prepare my food and have me seated in our dining table. Isang bacon with oatmeal and vegetable salad ang inilagay niya sa plato ko bago ako ipinaglagay ng gatas sa baso.

Masarap ang nasa harapan ko pero hindi ako makakilos para kumain. Can she stop glaring at me? Can she not sit infront of me?

Of course, I do not have the guts to tell her to get lost of my sight.

"Kailan ka pa sumali?" diretsong tanong niya nang matapos akong kumain.

Huminto ako sa pag-inom ng gatas at inilapag iyon sa mesa. So she knew what I am up to. She knew that I am in a gang.

"Almost... three years ago," sagot ko. The look on her face screamed how unbelievable I am.

"You're nuts," natatawang panimula niya. "Our school won't let it pass if you got caught. Bakit ka sumali?" galit na tanong niya at tumingin sa paligid ng bahay. She looked like she had something to confirm.

Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi ko. Paniguradong mas magagalit siya sa akin.

"Dahil sa'yo," kagat-labing sagot ko. Pinaningkitan niya'ko ng mga mata. "Ever since you saw someone got killed...in front of you, you are always with your gun. Mas lumala ka after that night! I get that you love guns, but it suddenly became to the point na parang karugtong na ng buhay mo. It is still haunting you? Are you anxious na baka nakita ka nila? Just why, Eziell?! You're secretive that it's making me nuts," mahaba-habang ani ko sa kaniya habang inaalala ang nangyari noon. Years ago, she came home soaking wet with rain. She was thirteen when that happened. Naalala ko pa noon kung paano siya manginig. Mom and Dad were not around as they were both busy with their work. Ako ang nag-alaga sa pagiging wala sa sarili niya ng halos limang buwan hanggang sa hindi na niya mabitawan ang mga baril niya. She became hypervigilant too and it took her two months to overcome it.

I tried forgetting it by being my usual self; I tried to always sing and as if I am not serious in life just to keep myself sane.

I was worried and blamed myself why I was not there when she saw what happened.

Niligpit ng kapatid ko ang pinagkainan ko at tumayo para ilagay iyon sa sink. Wala akong mabasa mula sa kaniya matapos kong sabihin iyon. She went again with their usual secretive self. How can she be so deep and well compose when I can easily lose myself?