The Badass Babysitter [The Final Kick]

Chapter 17: Abuelo & Abuela

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

 
  
No one speaks as Genesis and I sit on the couch with silence. The room is quiet, only the monitors beside my father's bed made a beeping sound that reverberates around the room like a cymbal. Adding tension around.

I glance at my Mother, her face rigid with tension, belied her youthfulness, she seemed to have aged a decade in the past few hours. Dad is sitting beside her with same expression, but with a cold sweat glistening on his furrowed brow. Sunod kong nilipat ang tingin sa dalawang bisita ni Daddy na napagkaalaman kong mga magulang ni Mommy. I haven't met them before, not even once. Mom never talks about them as we grow up, so, I only know bits about them—like they are a Mafia. A notorious one.

Alam ko rin na hindi nila gusto si Daddy para kay Mommy, at mukhang hanggang ngayon ay hindi nagbago ang tingin nila kaya siguro ganito nalang ang kaba sa mukha ng mga magulang ko.

"We missed your eldest wedding. We should have take our flight earlier if you just send us an invitation," pagsasalita ng Lola ko. Her voice were stern and tight, so was her face. At her age, hindi mo agad iisipin na may mga apo na ito. She's young looking than my Nanang. Ganoon din ang asawa na nasa tabi niya. My Lolo's face were cold and his eyes shows cruelty, kaya kanina ko pa iniiwasan na mapatingin sa direksyon niya baka bigla nalang akong bumulagta.

"Lo siento, Mamà. It was a rush wedding, I wasn't able to send you one since—"

"Está bien. Wedding or not, we already plan to visit you and meet our grandchildren," It's okay. Tumingin sa akin ang Lola ko at ngumiti.

Hindi ko alam kung ngi-ngitian ko rin ito pero ayoko naman siyang mapahiya kaya ngumiti ako ng pilit. Nag-angat nang tingin sa akin ang asawa niya kaya agad akong yumuko.

"It's nearly a two decades since we set foot here in Philippines. I'm sure there's a lot of changes and I cannot wait to tour around with my nietos. I want to have the chance to be with them and get to know them very well," my grandmother continued with an excited glint on her eyes.

Kimi akong ngumiti, hindi ko lang maipaliwanag pero kakaiba ang nararamdaman ko sakanila. Siguro dahil alam kong mga Mafia sila kaya medyo iba ang pakiramdam ko.

"I'm sorry, Mama, but my children are busy with their school. Their examination is coming, and I does not like them going around instead of studying," pagsasalita ni Daddy. His face is stoic and his voice were firm. Nag-angat siya nang tingin sa mga magulang ni Mommy saka muling nagsalita, "As you see, I have quite standard when it comes to their academic grades. I am strict, yes, but only when necessary. I want my kids to be always on top, so I do not allow them hanging around when their examination is nearing."

Mas lalong bumigat ang tension sa paligid. Mas umusod pa ako palapit kay Genesis para makaramdam ng comfort sa init niya ngunit napansin iyon ni Lolo kaya umiwas ako agad nang tingin at tumikhim. Si Genesis nalang ang nag-adjust papalapit sa akin, wala man lang siyang pakialam na nakatingin sakanya si Lolo. Ang loko, hindi pa nakuntento na magkadikit na kami at niyakap pa ang isang braso sa bewang ko.

Halos pagpawisan ako nang ibaling doon ni Lolo ang tingin niya. Then, he lift his gaze at me and our eyes met. Lumunok ako bago kiming ngumiti at pasimpleng siniko si Genesis. This man has no shame. Hindi ba niya nararamdaman ang tension sa hangin? Mamaya nga sa akin 'to.

"I want to have time with my grandchildren," my grandmother demanded.

Binalik ko sakanya ang tingin at nakita ang nakakamatay nitong mga mata kay Daddy. Tahimik maman si Lolo sa tabi niya, nagmamasid lang.