Dealing With The Elite Four

XXIX : The Simple Conversation

MATT

"You mean, you like this kind of place more than those elegant ones?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

Sumandal naman sa upuan niya si Liam bago siya nagsalita, "yes, I do. I like it here." Sabi niya.

Unusual.

"Would you mind if I ask you why?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

Umiling naman siya, "of course I wouldn't." Sagot niya sa akin, "I like it in here because I get to see people." Dagdag niya.

"I get to see emotions, true emotions." Dugtong niya.

"Why is that?" Tanong ko na naman sa kanya.

"Sorry to say this, Matt but you don't know many things about me. I might be a rich and spoiled son but I don't enjoy being one at all." Sadness was written all over his expression as he was saying those.

I couldn't even bring my self to talk.

"There are good and bad things in being rich, Matt and most of what I felt, experienced and still are experiencing are bad." He continued.

"Akala siguro nila porque mayaman ako, I'm happy but no. I am not. It's not about my wealth. No, it's definitely not about it." Tila puno ng hinanakit na sabi niya sa akin, "I am not happy." Dagdag niya na mas nakapagpa tahimik sa akin.

He is not happy.

"Liam..." Was all that I could utter. I don't have any words to say.

Liam smiled, isang ngiting puno ng lungkot. Ngiti na pilit. "That's why I like it here, Matt." Sabi niya.

"Gusto ko dito kasi... dito, totoo ang lahat ng nakikita mo. Totoo ang mga tao at hindi nagpapanggap." He said as he looked at the karinderya, "they don't need to act so cool and elegant, they do and say what they want." Dagdag niya.

"It almost felt that they're my family more than the real family I have." Mga katagang nagsimulang makapag palungkot sa akin. "Here, I see genuine smiles, good hearts and humane treatment."

"Here, in this place, I can feel the warmth and I can have the welcoming embrace." Patuloy niya, "that's the reason why I like places like this more than those fucking fancy restaurants and whatever they call them." Dagdag niya bago kami may narinig na tumatawag sa kanya.

Pareho kaming napa lingon sa direksyon pabalik sa karinderya. Doon namin nakita si Nanay Pet at si Malou na kapwa may mga dala.

"Sandali lang, Matt. I'll help them." Paalam sa akin ni Liam bago siya tumayo at bumaba papunta sa kanila. Napa tango naman ako sa kanya at sinundan siya ng tingin habang papunta siya sa mag-ina.

Ilang saglit pa ay nakadating din sila sa pwesto namin, matapos ay isa-isa nilang inilapag ang nga trays na dala nila.

The trays are filled with the foods we ordered. "Thank you po." Magalang na sabi ko kay Nanay Pet. Nginitian ko naman si Malou na kakatapos lang ilagay ang softdrinks namin sa ice box na dala-dala din niya.

"Hay, you're welcome, ganda." Naka ngiting sabi sa akin ni Nanay Malou. Napa face palm naman ako sa isipan ko.

Oh, come on!

"Osige na, Kuya Li. Iwan ka muna namin at baka maistorbo pa namin kayo nitong si Miss ganda." Dagdag pa ni Malou.

I'm not a girl!

Pilit man ay ngumiti ako sa kanilang dalawa. Gaya naman nang sinabi ni Malou ay umalis din sila habang dala ang nga trays.

"I'm gonna tell them later." Naka ismid na sabi ko kay Liam.