The Coffee Brothers #1: Do Not Tell Me Your Name

Episode 5

"Kurt? What are you doing---" Hindi ako pinatapos ni Kurt at hinablot lang ako na parang batang nawawala palabas ng bakeshop. Pinilit kong tanggalin ang kamay niya sa braso ko pero sobrang higpit ng hawak niya.

"What's your problem Kurt!" Sa pang-ilang beses kong attempt na alisin ang aking braso mula sa kanya ay sa wakas nakuha ko na ang kalayaan ko mula sa kanya.

Hindi ko namalayan na nasa harap na kami ng kotse niya. I looked at my arm and saw how red it was mula sa paghawak niya. Ano bang problema nito?! I looked at him and saw how serious he was. Para bang kakainin niya ako ng buhay sa galit na nakikita ko sa mga mata niya.

"Soph..." Napailing siya at para bang he is hesitating to say what he wants to tell me. Hinayaan ko lang siya. Since awkward na nga ang huli naming pag-uusap kanina.

"Do you know that person?" I just looked at him at nag-iisip ng sagot na aakma sa mood niya. Mukhang galit na galit siya kay Mister. I wonder why...

I just shook my head and I was surprised kung gaano kalalim ang buntong hiningang nilabas niya. Para bang natanggalan siya ng malaking karayom at nakahinga siya ng mabuti.

I don't like what I am feeling...

"Good. If ever he attempts to see you again. Please don't hesitate to call me." I just nodded and stared at him as he walked towards his car.

Magkakilala ba sila ni Mister? Kasi sa totoo lang I don't know who he is and I am really curious sa identity niya to think na we have this kind of agreement not to stalk each other. Well sa totoo lang, nagwowork ang mystery na ginawa namin sa isa't-isa lalo na sa expression na binigay sa akin ni Kurt. Everything is like a mystery now.

Even Kurt...

"Soph..." Nagising ako sa reality na nasa harapan ko. I shook my head. I must focus first on seeing daddy and having dinner. This is not an important matter. I smiled at Kurt and went inside the car.

The dinner was held in Kurt's house. Mas lalo ko tuloy namiss ang pag-uwi dahil literal na nasa village na ako at kasama ko na din si daddy. I have never felt this happy ulit after months! Tama si Kurt, daddy really worries about me everyday. Hindi niya lang pinapahalata sa video calls namin kasi ayaw na niya daw makidagdag sa akin. My heart...

"I miss you so much, daddy..." sabi ko sabay paghug sa kanya to which he reciprocated. Tita Kristina and Tito Steve smiled. Alam nila ang lahat ng nangyayari sa bahay naming since they are just blocks away. Rinig na rinig ang mga pag-aaway namin ni mommy but still the respect is there. They never judged me, daddy or mommy to whatever we are experiencing.

"How's school?" sabi ni daddy while smiling. I saw how the wrinkles in his face crumble as he smiled. Matanda na nga talaga ang daddy ko.

Siguro I must come home. Ayoko mamuhay ng regrets of not spending time with them as much as possible. But then...

"Okay naman daddy. Puro assignments and all pero kaya naman. Ikaw may commission painting ka daw sabi ni Kurt..." Kumawala siya sa pagyakap ko and stared at tita Kristina.

"I commissioned your dad to make me a portrait of my son." Tita Kristina smiled.

"Si Kurt po, tita?" Nagtaka ako sa biglaang pa commission painting ni Tita kay Kurt eh hindi naman niya birthday. I looked at Kurt at umiwas lang siya ng tingin.

The table was filled with silence. An awkward one which I don't like. Bihira magkaroon ng ganitong atmosphere sa kainan naming families kahit na may alitan nga sina mommy and daddy hindi nila nadadala dito. I can sense a serious underlying problem.