Ears and Rhymes

Kabanata 7

Kabanata 7: Roses

"Good morning Ion, hinahanap mo ba anak ko? She might still sleeping in her room pero maiwan na muna namin siya sa'yo ng mama niya. We'll be out for the whole day at baka gabihin na. Good luck, son." Nanigas ako nang bumungad sa akin si Tito Henrik. I had my tongued twisted at paunti-unting lumakas ang kaba sa aking dibdib.

"Yes Tito, ako na ang bahala sa kanya. Sige Tito, aakyat na 'ko do'n."

"Sure, Iho. Ikaw nalang magsabing kakaalis lang namin ng Mama niya.

"I will."

Sabay pasok nito sa sasakyan, habang nauna namang sumakay ang mommy ni Hestia. Pumasok na ko sa loob at tumingin-tingin sa paligid. The house has many framed artworks and landscapes that caught my attention. A few seconds later, I stepped up the stairs para puntahan na siya sa kwarto.

"Who's there?" Hindi ako nagsalita, nagtago at iniwang bukas ang pinto, "Hey who's there?" I stomped loud footsteps para takutin siya, "Ano ba? Natatakot na 'ko...."

Bigla niyang kinalabog ang pinto at binuksan, "OMG! Ikaw lang pala!" Sabay bahagya nitong pagsabunot sa akin. "Puro ka talaga kalokohan! Natakot ako..." She jumped back to her bed as her annoyance is slowly disappearing.

"I'm sorry, mahal. I didn't mean to..."

Anong I don't mean to-I don't mean to? Tinakot mo na nga ako..." Kunot-noo niyang sabi. She was about to sit down there nang hilahin ko siya bigla. I embraced her and kissed her on the neck.

"I'm.... sorry. I really don't mean to.... Mahal please..."

"Oo na. You might say na napakapakipot ko..." Pagmamataray niya.

"What's with that face, hmmm?" I uttered while fixing her hair.

"Wala... wala. Umuwi ka na! Maliligo pa 'ko." Nanatili itong masungit.

"That's not how your mood went nung do'n tayo natulog sa bahay ko..."

"So how do you want me to react ba... do'n sa ginawa mo kanina ha?" Naiinis na.

"I already said sorry."

"Okay. Come closer." Aniya habang mukhang may iniisip ito. Hinila niya ako sa balikat papalapit sa kanya at kinurot niya ako sa tagiliran. "This suits you..."

"Aray, aray! Sorry na... sorry na nga!"

"Okay, I'm just kidding. Kumain ka na ba, mahal?" Aniya habang ako naman ay umaaray pa rin.

"Aray, aray. Parang namaga yata 'yung kinurot mo, ang sakit." I can't endure the pain well, ang lakas-lakas talaga nitong babaeng ito.

"Well, let me give you a kiss..." As she gave me a kiss that lasted for 30 seconds. The emotions caught her nang mapahawak na ito sa batok ko. "The next time, don't ever try seducing me again, hindi na kasi kita natitiis after."

"Hindi ko na kailangang gawin 'yan. Consider me as a rhyme to your ear, you could always get attached to it."

"I love you..." She whispered and smiled.

"I love you more, mahal. Pauuwiin mo pa rin ba ako?"

"I guess hindi na, dito nalang tayo sa bahay the whole day. I want my time spent with you...." While pinching both of my cheeks.

"I knew I was right. The moment I was writing my poem I've always thought that it was for you." As I whispered.

"But please... stop being an asshole the next time, ha?"

"What?" Napakunot-noo ako.

"Wala, wala. Napakagwapo nga, bingi naman." Pinagtatarayan uli ako.

"Nagagwapuhan ka pala sa'kin? Thank you."