Her Solace

Chapter 9: A Tiny Voice

Von Azrael Sy's POV

"I missed you so much, Dad!" Masayang sambit ko habang kayakap si Dad. God, how I missed him! Ang tagal na rin kasi no'ng last time na nagkita kami. Sa Manila pa 'yon no'ng last birthday niya.

Napawi 'yong ngiti ko at agad napangiwi nang maramdaman ko 'yong pananakit ng kamay ko dahil sa ginawa niyang pambabaluktot dito.

"Aray! Dad! Aray! Sorry na po!" Sigaw ko sa sakit. Malakas pa naman ang Dad ko! So this is the reason for his devilish smile earlier! Walang'ya ka Titus!

"Ano? Ha? Magpapa-umaga ka pa ulit? Pag-aalalahanin mo pa ulit kami? 'Wag ka nang uulit ha!" Nakangisi niyang sabi sa'kin habang patuloy na pinipilipit 'yong braso ko.

Nadistort naman 'yong mukha ko sa sakit at agad na napa-tango sa kaniya. "Opo! Opo! Hindi na po ako uulit! Waaaah! Sorry na Dad!"

He then released me of my misery after I surrendered to him. Hays. Why did my Dad become such a strong man?! Talong-talo ako kahit nag-g-gym ako eh!

I stretched my arms and rubbed my arm. Wooh! Ang sakit no'n ah. Ang tagal na rin since the last time I felt that. Lagi niya akong pinaparusahan ng gano'n tuwing may nagagawa akong kapalpakan.

"Saan ka ba kasi galing? You're not even answering your phone. We were so worried." Malumanay niyang sabi sa'kin. Nakonsensya naman ako't napatingin sa paa ko. Okay, I'm guilty.

"Sorry, Dad. I fell asleep, and the next thing I knew, it was already dawn." I hesitantly told him and he looked at me as if I grew two heads.

He kept staring at me and I can say that it was really awkward. Nanlalaki 'yong mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa'kin and I have no idea why.

He then sighed and slowly walked towards me and I grew tensed for some reason. He had this very serious look on his face.

I flinched after feeling his arms touch me no'ng inakbayan niya ako. Kinakabahan ako! What is this feeling?! May mali ba sa sinabi ko?!

"Anak... I'm so proud of you." Sabi niya sa'kin ng nakangiti.

"Ha? Proud saan?" Nagtataka at nalilito kong tanong sa kaniya. Ikinaka-proud ba ang pagtulog?

"I'm not getting any younger, son. You know that, right?" Sabi niya sa'kin nang may hint ng kalungkutan. Teka, bakit ba nagiging ganito siya? What did I do?!

I felt a lump in my throat, and my heart started to beat fast and loud. A-Ano bang pinupunto ni Dad?

"A-And..?" Kinakabahan kong tanong. I even stuttered! What the hell is Dad even talking about?!

"Which base did you reach, son? Magiging Lolo na ba ako?"

Base.

Base.

Base.

Base.

"H-Ha?" Napatanga ako kay Dad ng mga five seconds. Base? Hindi ba sa baseball 'yon? Anong connect ng baseball sa pagtulog ko?

"Magiging Lolo na ba ako?"

"Magiging Lolo na ba ako?"

"Magiging Lolo na ba ako?"

"Basketball ang nilalaro ko, Dad! What are you—  "

Napatigil naman ako sa pananalita after realizing what he meant. He was talking about that base!

Agad naman akong napalayo sa kanya't napasuntok sa braso niya as I felt my ears getting hot. What the heck is Dad thinking?!

"Hahahaha! Bakit ka pa nahihiya? Yuck, virgin. Ewww. Mahina ka talaga. Anak ba talaga kita? No'ng panahon ko-" Pang-aasar niya pa sa'kin na talaga namang nakapagpa-pula sa'kin. Well, good boy ako 'no!