Ears and Rhymes

Kabanata 1

Kabanata 1: Happy Birthday Engr!

As I had my senses and excitement to go to work early, I did all of my morning routine. I stretched a bit, ironed the clothes I'll be wearing, 

When suddenly, a voice came outside the door. It was heard unfamilliar at first but later on I figured out that was Mema's. 

"Happy birthday, sir!" Mukhang nagulat ko yata siya nang papasukin ko siya sa loob without wearing my top.

She cheerfully shouted as she smiled at me, right after she winked. Her cheerful energy doubtingly changed my morning mood. 

"Hala sorry, Sir! I've should've knocked the door first. Sorry po! Magbihis na kayo, ipipikit ko nalang po mga mata ko. Kunwari ay wala ho akong nakita." My internal reaction was both flattered and shocked, thank God she will never see it through my naughty stare. 

"Sige na ialis mo na yang kamay mo sa mga mata mo at idilat mo na." Tiningnan ko nang mariin ang mga mata n'ya. "Sir? Bakit po kayo gan'yan makatingin? May hindi po ba kayo nagustuhan sa itsura ng cupcake na gawa ko?" 

Pinuna ko na lamang iyong suot niya para naman maiwasan ko din siyang magtaka. "Anong party ba ang pupuntahan mo at kaaga-aga ay gan'yan ang suot mo?" 

As I stared again in her shining red velvet dress. "Sir, ano po bang pake n'yo sa susuotin ko at ang wagas n'yo kung mag-react? Boyfriend po ba kita?" Mapagmataray niyang tugon.

"Teka nga lang. Bakit kanina mo pa kong sini-sir d'yan? Wala pa tayo sa trabaho kaya ibahin mo ang tawag mo sa'kin." I clarified while rubbing my head while being confused on what's going on to Mema. 

"Sige masusunod po Mr. Mahangin."

"Mahangin? Kailan pa ako naging bentilador para mahanginan ka sa'kin?"

"Ha...ha....ha. Joke mo na 'yon? 'Yon na 'yon, Crux?" And she teased me and acted as if my joke was really that corny. "By the way, birthday mo kaya umayos ka. Shall we cancel all the meetings and projects we'll be working for now, Sir?" "Crux? Sir? Hoy!?" As her voice awoke me in my daydreaming of her.

"Oh yes... yes. What is it again, Ms. Cosford? Teka, what I was saying kanina is you should practice not calling me Sir when we are not working. Nakakasawa nang pakinggan."

"Sir, happy birthday ulit! Alam ko kahit 'di mo masabi sa'kin na hindi ka masaya ngayon sa araw na 'to, na parang itong araw na ang pinakamalas sa bawat taon na dadaan sa buhay mo."

"Wait, do you have any substancial proofs para masabi mo sa'kin 'yan? As far as I can remember no one knew how hard my life was before. Even you did not know how I struggled hard to take me where I am before." I emotionally spit out those words that left Mema in awe.

"Sir? Sorry ha? Sorry if I'm too jolly and talkative kahit na halata namang tinitiis mo lang 'yon. I'm really, Sir."

 When Mema's cheerfulness was suddenly changed into her awfulness. "DIto ko nalang ilalagay itong mga dala ko kasama na itong cake. Sige, Sir. Aalis nalang ho ako." 

Mema looked too embarrassed nang masabi ko sa kanya ang mga salitang 'yon. Masyado ata akong namersonal.

Sumunod ang kalabog sa pinto paglabas ni Mema. Napalakas ba or sadyang nilakasan niya para malaman ko na nagtatampo siya? Kahit naman hindi na niya gawin iyon, I already knew how she behaves emotionally.

 Makalipas ang tatlong segundo ay kaagad rin namang akong sumunod, habang nakatalikod siya ay lumapit ako, pinaikot ko siya para maiharap ko siya sa akin. Niyakap ko siya nang maramdaman ko ang kabog ng kinakabahan niyang dibdib."