OBSIDIAN ISSUE #1: PUSHED

THIRTEEN

"So you've received the gift."

I know exactly what he is talking about. The calls are possibly wiretapped by the officials hunting for him so we have to talk in codes. An infinitesimal slip up will disgrace his name if we let it be the threat of the business.

"I thought you're trying to fight shy of phone calls, father."

Tinungo ko ang maliit na cabinet laman ang aking mga damit.

"My trusted man has told you about what to do, perhaps?" His inquisitory tone is always full of meaning. This one isn't different.

"We haven't discussed further. He only gave me the idea."

"Hm, then we'll talk nothing about it over this line. How are you? Gain some friends?"

Naging kabado ako sa tanong niya. His spontaneity is nothing but a sham. Ang mga ganitong tawag ay alam kong hindi para akin. Having known each other at the back of our hands since time immemorial, I can easily tell when he's trying to probe.

"I don't do friends," malamig kong tugon.

"Took you so long to respond..." he hummed with suspicion.

I bit my lip. Agad kong hinatid ang sarili sa kasalukuyang ginagawa. Nakaipit ang kamay ko sa gabundok na mga nakatuping damit sa cabinet.

"Sorry about that," I laughed a little. "May kinukuha kasi akong pantulog. I couldn' t pull it out."

"Where did you put your clothes?"

Shit. Does he know? Did Kier tell him? Umikot ang sikmurang kong binaha ng lamig. Saan ba niluwal itong mga tanong niya?

Well, telling him the truth that my clothes are in a cabinet is a pregnant mother that would give birth to a heap of questions.

"Sa luggage po," agap ko.

"Hm," he hummed again, tila kinukulangan o may gusto pang marinig. "Anyway, how's vacation? Nag enjoy ka ba?"

Pabigla at inisang hila ko ang nakaipit na pajama. Natigilan ako nang madala ang mga nakatupi sa ibabaw nito at nagsibagsakan sa sahig. The clothes covered my wet and bare feet.

I almost utter a curse. Kung hindi ko lang naalala na may kausap pa pala ako.

"Okay naman. Kayo po, kamusta?" I felt guilty for the bland concern I tasted far from how I sounded. Or maybe it was fear and not guilt.

Natigil ako sa pagpulot ng mga damit sa narinig na pagingit sa kabilang linya. I can imagine him in his dim lighted office, leaning against the leather seat. A scotch in crystal glass on the table and a smoking ashtray beside it as he put a rest on his tobacco before pulling another fill of smoke in his lungs, the reason of his old but dangerous rasp.

"Dad..." Dumaan ang nagaatubiling sambit ko sa ruta ng katahimikan niya.

His silence only means one thing for me. Madali kong niligpit ang mga damit at hindi na inayos ang tupi nang binalik sa cabinet. Humawak ako sa pinto, handa nang isara ngunit tumigil ako. I stared at my hand and pulled my memory back from a while ago. Kaunting hila nito ay dumadaing na sa kalumaan.

I did pull the cabinet's door a while ago while he's on the line. My neck and my ears warmed at the sudden heatwave of realization. Ang kalabog ng puso ko ay binibingi ako ng pagbabanta.

What lie would be of proper use to save me?

"You know we're a team, right?"

I knew it. I want him to carry on asking me about the vacation even if it means nothing to him. I want him to talk about next week, anything but this! Pahiwatig lamang ito na may nagawa ako na naging dahilan sa pagkatok ng kanyang suspetsa. But then, my father can always tell. This time, how? Unless Kier really told him!