He Loves Red (A short story)

Epilogue: Part 1

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo para pagbintangan ako na may kabit"

"Ako pa talaga? May I remind you Jessica, Wala akong pinupuntahan maliban sa opisina!"

"Oo talaga! Kase kabit mo yung secretary mo!"

"Wag mong ibalik sa akin ang kasalanan mo!"

"Wag mo akong pinagbibintangan!"

We're at the dining table and my parents are screaming at each other. Halos diko malunok ang kinakain kong fried chicken dahil sa sigawan nila.

Ano bang pinag uusapan nila? Kabit? What's that?

Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa kutsara at tinidor habang seryosong tinititigan sina mom and dad. Napatingin sa akin si Mom na bahagya pang humihingal dahil sa pag sigaw. Kumunot ang noo nya sa akin.

"Why are you crying?" she asked

I'm crying?

I touched my cheeks and it's wet. I was unconsciously crying.

"I'm crying mom!" masigla kong sabi sakanya at tumawa pa ng bahagya. Kumunot naman lalo ang noo nya.

"Just eat your food son" mahinahong baling naman sa akin ni Dad

I looked at my plate again. Hinihimay ko ang manok gamit ang spoon and fork nang may nakita ako sa loob nito. Umiyak ako ng malakas.

"Anong problema Red?" tanong ng katulong namin

"T-There's blood in my c-chicken yaya!" I said while sobbing

Yaya looked at the chicken carefully "Hala meron pa nga" she sound embarrassed "S-Sorry po ma'am, sir di kopo ata naprito ng maayos" she's talking to my mom and dad but can't event look at them straight in the eyes.

"What the hell do you mean na di naluto ng maayos?! Can't you fry?!" my mom shouted at her

"Fry them again! Jesus Christ!" my father added and threw his spoon and fork beside his plate

"S-Sige po. Pero meron naman pong menudo dito—" di na natapos ni Yaya ang sasabihin

"We know! We're eating menudo nga oh! But chicken is Red's favorite kaya iluto mo uli ang sakanya" sabi ni Mom

My favorite is beef steak, not chicken

Even my own mother doesn't know it

I smiled bitterly while tears from earlier are still on my cheeks. A smile turned into a loud laugh.

"Yes it's my favorite. I'm fine to eat it with blood" I stated while smiling wide. I eat the chicken with blood and then laugh while food is in my mouth "I feel live a vampire! I'm eating blood!" then giggled .

"I think something's wrong with your son Eddy" I heard mom's voice. Nadaanan ko ang room nila and the door was slightly opened I so moved closer.

"What do you mean?" my dad asked

"Paiba iba yung emotions and facial expressions nya. Minsan tatawa kahit wala namang nakakatawa o kaya naman iiyak kahit wala namang nakakaiyak. Hindi akma sa mga situations ang mga kilos nya" mom explained

"You're overacting Jess. He's eleven years old, too young. Baka nagpapapansin lang o nakikipag lokohan. You know how weird kids nowadays" my dad replied

Wala na akong narinig na sagot galing kay mom kaya dumiretso na ako sa room ko.

"Hey weirdo!" here comes Evan. The biggest kid in our classroom who always bullies me.