Lost in the City

8

Kabanata 8

continue.....

[Pero anak...] he sighed. Alam kong nagiging bastos na ako pero wala akong magagawa, hindi ko mapigilan.

"Please dad, don't spoil this day for us. Nasa mall ako ngayon at kasama ko si Emman... and mommy." I heard him sigh again, for the nth time.

Gosh! Ang sama ko! I wanna punch myself for being rude with my dad but I can't help it. Naiinis ako at hindi ko maiwasang hindi magalit sa kanya. Over the years, I still can't forgive him about what happen to my mama.

[I wish... I was there... with you all.] he said in a low voice.

"Gusto mong makausap si Emman, dad?" pag-iiba ko ng usapan. Napalingon naman si Emman sa akin dahil sa sinabi ko.

Emman was a bit distant with dad too, just like me. He was a daddy's boy before, but everything has change when mommy and daddy broke up. Hindi niya sinabi kung anong nararamdaman niya para kay dad pero alam kong hindi siya galit dito. He was just.... hurt.

[Oh my! Talaga? He was there? With you? Can I talk to him? Please.] I can hear his excitement in his old yet deep voice.

Binigay ko kay Emman ang cellphone ko at pailing-iling pa itong tinanggap na para bang napipilitan lang siya.

"Hey, Dad." he said in his deep manly voice. "Yes... I will... I am... Okay... Bye, dad." pagkatapos ay binalik na sa akin ang cellphone.

"Yes, Dad?" ako.

[I have gifts for the both of you... and your mom. Pinadala ko na kahapon sa LBC, I hope you like it. Nasabi ko na rin sa kapatid mo.]

"Hindi na kailangan but thank you." I smiled.

[Always, honey. Nakaka-istorbo ba ako sa lakad niyo?]

"Uhmm no, it's okay, Dad."

[Kung ganon ay sige, ibababa ko na 'to para maenjoy niyo ang araw niyo. Take good care of your brother and your mom okay? And ofcourse yourself, honey.] he said in a very sad voice.

Nakunsensya tuloy ako. He's been coping up with us but we are the one who's being very distant to him. I sighed.

"Yes, daddy. Ingat din po kayo."

Pagkatapos ng tawag ay nilingon ko ang kapatid ko. Naglalakad parin kami hanggang ngayon patungo sa Yellow Cab.

"Don't you think we're being rude to daddy kanina?" I asked him. Nagkibit lang siya ng balikat.

Nasa gitna kami ng pag-uusap ng may biglang humarang sa dinaraanan namin. Nagulat ako sa presensya ng isang batang babae. Maganda, maputi at makinis ang balat. Halatang anak mayaman. She's wearing a maong skirt and shirt with her designer sling bag. Her straight black hair was in ponytail. She looks like a cute Koreana but with a bigger and chingky eyes na naka thin eyeliner. And she's tall but I am taller than her in inches or so.

Napasinghap ako. Nakita kong nadala ang mga mata niya sa kamay kong nakakapit sa braso ng kapatid ko. What's wrong with this young girl? Napansin ko ang pag-igting ng panga ng kapatid ko. Pabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa dalawa. Yung babae naman ay pabalik-balik rin ang tingin sa amin ng kapatid ko.

"So, you are busy huh?" pagtataray ng babae, emphasizing the word busy. Nakatingin siya sa kapatid ko pagkatapos ay timingin sa akin.

Ano? Payt me?

Hindi sumagot si Emman kaya nagpatuloy ang babae. "Kaya pala busy ka kasi busy ka sa babaeng to?" tinuro ako nung babae.

Wait? What is happening? Tinuro ko rin ang sarili ko. Bakit ako? Wala akong kasalanan dito!