Kain at Abel

Kabanata Anim (ii)

Tahimik na ang bahay ng mga Villaflor ng umuwi si Seth. Dumiretso na ito sa kanyang silid at pabagsak na humiga sa kanyang kama. Ilang minuto lang ay bumukas ang pinto, napabangon si Seth.

"So how was your date?" Magiliw na banggit ni Alicia habang naglalakad papalapit kay Seth.

Napasimangot naman si Seth, "I'm not going to date her. I like someone else." Seryosong tugon nito.

Napataas ang kilay ni Alicia at tinignan maigi ang anak, "Sino? Ipakilala mo sa akin." Matigas na wika nito.

"Ma, the reason why I wanted to take you out earlier is because I have something to tell you." Mahinahong wika ni Seth, kinakabahan ito.

"What are you going to tell me? Is it about Paolo?" Usisa nito.

Nabigla si Seth at halos mamula ang kanyang mukha sa kaba. "Seth, NO!" Biglang bulalas ni Alicia at naupo sa tabi ni Seth. "I have noticed that you are becoming too close with Pao and that's all it. Nasanay ka lang na lagi mo syang kasama. But you are not gay, you can't be gay." Mahinahong wika ni Alicia.

"No Ma. I love Paolo more than just a friend. I tried not to pero hindi ko kaya, he's the person I want to be with." Seryosong tugon ni Seth.

Nabigla si Alicia at tila nakaramdam ito ng matinding galit, "No Seth, I can't accept that. You are just curious, period. You will date Isabella, I will make sure of that." May kalakasan nitong wika.

"No Ma, this is my life. Ako ang pipili ng taong gusto kong makasama habang buhay." Galit ngunit mahinahong tugon ni Seth.

Tumayo si Alicia mula sa pagkakaupo at humarap kay Seth, "You can choose whoever you want but not Paolo or any other guy. Kung magpupumilit ka, I will be forced to break Paolo into pieces. You will be the reason why he will be suffering in the future. Kilala mo ako Seth, you know I can do that." Banta nito.

"C'mon Ma. What can you possibly do to Paolo? Ipapa-kidnap mo? He belongs with one of the elite families." Pilit na biro ni Seth upang humupa ang emosyon ni Alicia.

"You think nagbibiro ako? Well for one, I can drag their stocks to the ground. Their corp is in a financial shakedown right now. I'm not kidding Seth, I will use all my connections just to show you that I am serious about this." Seryoso pa rin si Alicia.

Hindi na tumugon pa si Seth at padapang nahiga. Hindi na rin naman nagsalita pa si Alicia at lumabas na ng silid. Bahagyang nagmuni-muni ito sa mga sinabi ng kanyang ina. Alam rin nya sa kanyang sarili na kaya itong gawin ng kanyang ina. Kaysa masiraan sya ng bait ay minabuti na lamang nyang kamustahin si Paolo.

Pao, I just got home. Are you alright? Sorry talaga.

I am out with Wesley. Pero pauwi na rin kami. It's ok Seth. I understand.

What the... di ba sabi ko sa'yo iwasan mo yan.

I was caught up in the moment. He was there when I left the resto kanina.

What!? Did he tell you?

Tell me what?

Wala. Just go home safely. And do not trust Wesley.

Why? He's my brother. I can't just ignore him.

He is not your brother. Trust me, you can't turn his life around.

He is not what you think he is. He's a lost soul, he needs guidance.

Paolo pls. Listen to me just this once, hirap na hirap na ako dito sa bahay. You will just keep me worrying about you.

Ok Seth. I will try, don't worry na. I love you.

I love you too. Text me when you got home, ok?

Pabagsak na humiga si Paolo sa kama habang kasunod nya si Wesley. Nanatiling nakatayo si Wesley at nakatingin kay Paolo, "I thought you were ok, why do you look upset?" Nag-aalala nitong sambit.

Nagbitiw ng pilit na ngiti si Paolo sabay ang iling. "I'm not Wes. I guess I'm just tired, it's been a long day." Magiliw nitong tugon.

Naupo si Wesley sa tabi ni Paolo habang nakapako ang tingin nito dito. "Do you want to talk about it? Your day?" Alinlangang tanong ni Wesley.

Tumitig saglit si Paolo sa mukha ni Wesley sabay ang ngiti, "I thought you're not going to ask anything." Biro nito.

Napangiti naman si Wesley at napakamot sa ulo, "Yeah, I just want to make sure you're okay." Malambing nitong sambit. "About earlier, when you said we are going to be real brothers. I just want to come clean, I have something to tell you." Bakas ang alinlangan sa kanyang mukha.

Nabigla si Paolo at kinabahan, "What is it?" Hindi naitago ni Paolo ang pagkailang sa kanyang boses.

Bahagyang napahinto si Wesley, naramdaman nya ang pagkailang ni Paolo. Magsasalita na sana sya nang may kumatok at nagbukas ng pinto.

Nang pumasok ng silid si Armando ay napatayo si Wesley, "Hey." Masiglang bati nito sa ama.

Bahagyang nagulat si Armando at ngumiti na lamang kay Wesley bilang tugon. "Kamusta ang lakad nyo kanina?" Magiliw na tugon ni Armando.

Napabangon naman si Paolo, "Okay naman po. Nagpunta po kami ni Wes sa Ayala Triangle." Mabilis na sagot nito.

Nakapinta sa mukha ni Armando ang pagkabigla at napalingon ito kay Wesley. Mabilis namang umiwas ng tingin ang binata, "Wes." Tanging nasambit ng ama.

"I decided to attend the same school as Pao, is that ok?" May alinlangan sa pagsasalita ni Wesley.

Mabilis namang tumango si Armando bilang pagsang-ayon. Tatapikin sana ni Armando ang balikat ni Wesley ngunit mabilis na iniiwas ni Wesley ang sarili. Bahagyang napahiya si Armando ngunit binalewala na lamang nya ito. "Do you have any plans for tomorrow?" Baling nito kay Paolo.

Umiling lamang si Paolo at nilingon si Wesley. "Wala naman po." Mahinahong sagot nito.

"I was thinking to bring you two sa office, I want to introduce Wesley to the company. Wear something smart." Alinlangang tugon ni Armando sabay ang lingon kay Wesley.

"You don't have to." Matipid na sagot ni Wesley at pilit iniiiwas ang tingin sa ama.

Bahagya namang sinipa ni Paolo ang binti ni Wesley, nabigla si Wesley at napatingin ng masama kay Paolo. "Sige po." Magiliw na sagot ni Paolo.

"And right after my meeting, we'll buy you both your own cars." Masiglang sambit ni Armando sabay ang ngiti sa dalawa.

Napatungo naman sa hiya si Paolo samantalang biglang nagka-buhay sa mukha ni Wesley. "Now that's something." Masayang sambit ni Wesley, tila ba'y isang batang sabik na sabik na maglaro.

Napangiti naman si Armando at maging si Paolo, "Ok. We'll be leaving early tomorrow. Magpahinga na kayo." Paalam ni Armando at tuluyan ng lumabas ng silid ito.