He was 18, I was 11.
He was with his friends boys and girls come sing with me, now I know my ABC. Nagtatawanan sila at ako naman busy naglalaro ng I love you Judy Ann, Judy Ann love Wawi stop- pwede ring I love you Teleber teleber, iba iba kasi ang version pero mas gusto ko yung Judy Ann love Wawi marami kasing nakakakilig na kwento ang mama tungkol sa kanila- nang mag-isa. Tumalim ang paningin ko doon sa babaeng nakahawak sa may braso niya at magiliw na tumatawa tas siya naman ang tinitigan ko nang masama, nakatingin lang siya sa akin, pero parang tumatagos yung tingin niya kaya napatingin ako sa may likuran ko at nakita ko si Marco na nandoon sa may gilid ng bakuran namin. Tumigil ako sa pagtalon sa jumping rope at nginitian siya.
"Anong ginagawa mo diyan?", I asked him. Ngumiti lang siya tas umalis na.
Ano yun?
The next thing I knew someone pulled me by the wrist. His jaw clenched. Eyes dark.
"Sa loob", he commanded tas hinila niya ako papasok ng bahay.
"Masakit yung wrist ko", I pleaded. Niluwagan niya ang pagkakahawak sa akin pero hindi niya ako pinakawalan. Kita ko pa yung mga ugat niya sa panga. Why is he mad? Ako dapat ang galit kasi may lumalandi na naman sa kanya tas hinahayaan niya lang. Lumingon ako sa kinaroroonan nila kanina pero wala na doon ang mga kaibigan niya.
"Asan si Tita Ann?", he asked referring to my mom. His voice deep and dangerous.
"Ha.. ha?" I stammered a bit because of how he opened the door of our house with just one hand and slammed it loud.
"Si Tita Ann? Where is she?!", napakislot ako sa gulat, kasi ito ang unang beses na sinigawan niya ako. Natakot ako. My tears were slowly forming.
"Bakit mo ako sinisigawan?", I asked, my voice shaking and my body trembling. I am used to him being the sweet kind of man I admire the most even at my young age. Hindi ko na maalala kung kailan ko siya hinangaan. Maybe when I was three when he helped me caught a butterfly. O hindi naman siguro. Masiyado naman akong malandi kung noon pa lang hinangaan ko na siya. Maybe when I was five when he taught me how to write my name properly. I don't know. Naalala ko medyo istrikto siya nun, I also remembered he did not go with his friends to play basketball because I still can't write my name right at hindi naman ako matutukan ni Mama dahil busy sa business nila ni Daddy. O siguro when I was 9 when he hugged me very tight and when he wiped my tears the moment my mother and father broke up. Naalala ko habang umaalis si Daddy hinabol ko pa siya, my Mom was crying on our doorway, dinadama ang sariling sakit habang ako pinipigilan ang Daddy na umalis. He ran through me and hugged me tight and assured me that everything's going to be fine. At kumalma ako. I hugged him back and everything seemed fine. The next day my parents talked and decided to be civil. O baka naman nung 11th birthday ko, when he gave me a guitar as a gift and taught me how to play it. All of him is admirable. Ni minsan kahit sobrang likot at kulit ko he never raised a tone to me, ngayon lang.
"Asan ba kasi?", his voice a bit low, but still dangerous. I can see it on his eyes. Nag-aapoy ang mga ito.
"Namamalengke"
"Bakit ka iniwang mag-isa dito?", his voice was irritated.
"Ha? Marami daw kasing bibilhin?"
"Sana nagpunta ka sa bahay"
"Sana nandon ka"
He cursed quietly, then looked at me. His features softened except his eyes.
"Sorry, wag mong gagayahin yong sinabi ko. Masama 'yon"
I nodded. He crouched then held both of my shoulders.
"Sorry din, kung wala ako sa bahay. Sa susunod na mamamalengke si Tita Ann at hindi ka sasama sa kanya, sabihin mo sa akin. Sasamahan kita dito sa bahay. Okay?"
