SAME COURSE [COMPLETED]

XVIII. BETWEEN FATHER AND SON

Jinn asked me to cook for them since walang food sa bahay nila. So, andito kami sa bahay ko and they're talking while I'm cooking. It feels so weird. I don't know what to say to his dad.

I was cutting veggies when his dad..

"Pao" I looked at him "right?" he asked

"Ah, yes po" pinunas ko yung kamay ko sa apron and lumapit sa kanya "do you need something po?" I looked at Jinn too. I'm super nervous.

"I just want to thank you for doing this to us. I cannot believe na ipagluluto mo kami. Napaka irresponsible ni Jinn sa mga bagay na to"

"Hindi lang po ata nakapag grocery si Jinn, don't worry, magluluto rin naman po talaga ako" I smiled then I looked at Jinn and he said thank you. Bumalik na agad ako sa ginagawa ko for them to talk again.

"Where's your mom?" His dad asked

"Nasa province"

"You're graduating, is she coming back?"

"Who knows" Ang kulit, kahit magkachat sila ng mom niya kanina? "why are you here?"

"bec you're graduating"

"Yun lang? After all these months babalik ka just bec I'm graduating? I'm so touched"

"Do you really need to talk to me like that Jinn? I am your father!"

"Are you kidding me?" Jinn asked. This time, napatingin na ako and nakatayo na si Jinn and ready to punch his dad

"Jinn?" I called his name and he looked at me. Kumalma siya pero nakatayo pa rin.

"I'm sorry Pao if you're seeing this. Kailangan na siguro naming bumalik ni Jinn sa bahay". Tumayo na yung dad niya "we need to talk outside" he calmly said and naglakad na papalabas ng bahay.

Jinn hurriedly followed his dad and sa sobrang scary nung face niya, I have to follow him dahil baka masaktan niya dad niya.

"Jinn, kalma" I said. Nakita namin yung dad niya na nasa labas nagsmoke ng cigarette.

"Stay here, don't follow" he said tapos napatigil na lang ako.

He looked at me and sinarhan niya yung pinto. Umupo na lang ako sa sofa and I tried to eavesdropp not because I want to know yung pinaguusapan nila but because baka masaktan ni Jinn yung dad niya and I don't want that to happen. I'm just here to stop him just in case.

"You have to marry someone" his dad said. Marry?

"What?"

"Malulugi ang company Jinn, I need to make a deal sa top investor"

"WTF? Baliw kaba? You have to make a deal at ako ang ginamit mo?"

"You just have to marry his daughter. I met his daughter, you will like her"

"SHUT UP WITH THIS NONSENSE! You left us tapos what? Now, you're asking me to marry someone I don't know? Are you serious?"

"I'm serious Jinn. Please meet her tomorrow. She'll be here"

"What if kung ayaw ko? You also need to suffer dad, just like what you did sa family and kay mom"

"It's a favour Jinn, you just need to meet her then if ayaw mo we can make another deal out of it"

"Meet her? Sigurado ka bang anak yon ng investor mo or your mistress?"

Then I heard a punch then tunog ng nabasag na flower pot. Napatayo na lang ako sa may pinto. I want to open it immediately pero kinakabahan ako. I don't want to meddle since usapang family to. Ano bang dapat kong gawin?

"Wala kang alam Jinn. Anak lang kita, you need to at least follow me and try meeting her. It's for the company. It's for your future"

Then I heard someone walking away, sumilip ako sa bintana and I can see his dad starting the engine of the car. I immediately opened the door and saw Jinn lying sa patio with his mouth bleeding.

"OMG Jinn.." he looked at me and umupo siya

"I'm okay" he said then tumayo. "Do you have ice?" he smiled.

"Tsk. Halika" I pulled him inside bec he's bleeding so much I have to help.

I put a piece of ice sa small cloth and binigay kay Jinn. He just looked at it. We're currently at the sofa and he looks like contemplating about life in general.

"Ano? Ako pa ba?" I asked. He smiled pero kinuha rin niya yung clothed ice.

"Minsan hindi ko na alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isip ni dad"

"Maybe he's stressed and wala na siyang naisip na ibang way?"

"You eavesdropped?"

"I can't help it. Kala ko kasi susuntukin mo siya or something. It's the other way around pala" napatingin lang siya sa akin "So, are you going to meet her?"

"Baliw ka ba? Isa ka pa e"

"Buh? I was just asking, I want to know your plans. It's your dad after all"

"Can you just marry me already?" He asked. Suddenly.

We looked at each other. Seryoso yung face niya, masasapak ko to si Jinn.

"Can you not? Wag mo nga akong idamay"

"I was just kidding" He laughed. "I'm so frustrated, akala ko he'll going to come back to us and we're going to get mom dun sa goddamn province and magiging one big happy family. But, I was wrong"

"I'm sorry" I said and he just smiled

"I can't believe na nakita mo yung mess ng family ko and kung paano ako sinaktan ni dad"

"Ahh, hindi ko naman actually nakita kung paano ka niya binigyan ng straight punch!" I laughed and he pinched me "awwwww.."

"Tuwang tuwa ka naman?" pinalo ko yung kamay niya and he let me go.

"Okay ng ikaw ang sinuntok ng dad mo kesa naman ikaw manuntok. Gets mo ba? I don't want you to feel na nagkamali ka sa nagawa mo"

"I know" he looked at me "And I thank you for that. Paano na lang kung wala ka"

"Shut it! I'm your friend and I think it's my job to be with you?" Pinitik niya yung ilong ko.

"I don't want to meet her. Bahala sila ni dad" nilapag niya yung clothed iced sa iced tray. "Can I sleep here? I want to sleep here" he said tapos bigla niyang ginawang unan yung lap ko.

"Wow. Mr? Can you please?" I was looking at him tapos minulat niya yung mata niya and eye to eye contact kami.

"Can I sleep? Please?" kinuha niya yung right hand ko and holds it. "I'll just take a nap. Okay?" he asked with his eyes closed.

"Okay"