Ears and Rhymes

Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3: Siomai

"Good morning, Mr. Cosford." Bungad ko sa mag-amang Cosford.

"Oh yes, Dad. Si Cruxi Jimenez nga po pala."

"What a small world! You and my unica ija knew each other... by the way, how are you, Crux?" Natuwa ito nang malaman na kilala ko ang anak niya. "Hmm Crux, are you good friends with my daughter, too?"

"Pardon, Sir?" Nang hindi ko narinig ang sinabi ng tatay niya dahil distracted ako.

"I was asking if you and my daughter are good friends, too?"

"Pa!?" Napakaarteng pag-react ni Mema sa tanong ng papa niya.

"Sir, not that good... but we were." I implied. "And sir, I'm fine, too."

"Hala, Crux... pagpasensyahan mo na 'tong si Papa. Andami-dami ba naman ng tanong sa'yo." Mema apologized after what his father said. It's a bit awkward pero okay lang.

Bumulong nalang din ako, "No. It's fine. It's not too much compared to the number of questions I've answered while studying my course."

"Maisle, iwanan ko muna kayo rito ni Mr. Jimenez. May pag-uusapan lang kami ng mga shareholders ng kompanya about the company itself...." His father excused to go.

"Okay, Crux. Ikaw na bahala rito sa unica ija ko. My eyes are watching you! Hahaha." Mr. Aiden Cosford spoke that in front of her.

"Your father knows that you have, right? Bakit gano'n nalang siya magbiro about us?"

"Yes he knows. But Crux, look at me. I'm just so pretty that even my father knows I would be surrounded by guys like you. And he meant for 'friends' is he's hoping na mafafall ka din sa'kin.

Binulong ko na lamang sa sarili ko, "Don't you even know 'bout that? Matagal na kitang gusto but you already have yours now. Ayaw ko nang sumiksik pa do'n."

That made her ask me a question,

"What was that, Crux? May sinasabi ka?"

"Wala... wala." My excuse.

"Wala? Then ano nalang 'yung narinig ko ha?"

"Sabi ko nga, wala." I implied for the second time.

"Oh, edi okay? Hmmm..." I look like I lied to her, the way I gazed to her eyes.

"Hahahaha."

"Why are you laughing?" Tanong ko.

"I just remembered my pet..."

"What kind of pet it is?" Isa ko pang tanong.

"A koala." What the actual fuck? Why would she remember her pet to me?

"A koala?! Do I look like one?" Pangatlo kong tanong habang naiinis na ako.

"Believe it or not, pero hawig na hawig kayo." Kinuha ni Mema sa bag niya ang cellphone and in just few minutes like she scrolled to her gallery and showed me a photo of her pet.

"See. I told you, Cruxi. Tignan mo oh, sa tenga pa lang... hawig na hawig talaga." Maybe she's just trying her best to piss me off, but I guess she'll fail. Nilingon ko si Mema at tinitigan,

"Now, look at me again. Do I really look like a koala to you?" My jaw clenched and I bit my lip while gazing at her sharply. I was about to hold her wrist next when her Dad's secretary showed up...

Tinulak niya ako at umarteng parang wala lang.

"Uhm, excuse me, Ma'am. Pinapabigay po sa inyo ni Sir." Then she gave her a folder. I can sense from it, that must be a proposal from their old, or maybe a new investor.