Slowing Down from the Carousel's Ride

Kabanata 3

"It was jealous that I felt, not anything else."

As if I won because of our deal.

Malaki ang kumpiyansa ko na hindi pa mag-i-isang buwan, my suspicion will surface, and it shall reveal that that hampaslupa is really after something! I hold onto my personal agreement so hard because my basis is all from experiences since I was a child.

Kaya alam kong, ang deal namin ni Papa ay pabor sa akin. Malapad ang aking ngiti habang tahimik na kumakain. The hampaslupa also came back at the dining table. Kaagad siyang pinuna ni Papa at sinabihang kumain na rin. My father actually waited for him before he finally ate.

In the midst of thinking, naalala ko ang batis, bigla.

Tumigil ako sa pagsubo. The hampaslupa's eyes darted on me, in a split second. He took it back and continued eating slowly. Ang pagsubo niya ng pagkain ay sa paraang nahihiya. I smirked.

But then because Papa and I just had a deal, I'll give him some freedom.

Ibinaling ko ang atensyon kay Papa na nakaupo sa gitna ng hapag.

"Papa, can I go with my friends this Saturday sa batis?" Opening up the topic, I confidently asked Papa. I know papayagan niya ako, for sure.

Tumigil rin siya sa pagkain. Ibinaba ang kubyertos bago tumingin sa akin.

"Batis?" Tanong niya na para bang mali ang pagkakarinig niya.

"Yes, Papa. I had a hectic weeks dahil sa school. Kaya I am hoping to unwind for a little while, of course, with my friends."

"At sa batis niyo gustong mag unwind?"

Marahan akong tumango. Ang hampaslupa ay tahimik na kumakain sa harapan ko. Nakayuko siya pero nakikita ko ang ilan sa mga facial expression niya. I guessed I saw some amusement in his lips. Bigla akong nairita.

Malakas rin talaga ang kutob ko na kahit tahimik, he's thinking about some evil things. After all, I cannot read his mind.

And in time, everything will fall into place, including his evil plans.

"Bakit Papa? What's wrong with our batis? Our chilling method is eco-friendly. Hindi ko pa kailangan gumasto dahil nasa kabilang barangay lang naman. We'll go swimming lang naman. And I think, the environment can really help in our unwinding trip. Isa pa, madalas naman kami doon nung mga bata pa."

"Baka nakakalimutan mo rin, anak, na muntikan ka nang malunod noon sa batis?"

Ang buong akala ko, hindi iyon matatandaan ni Papa. That's why I asked permission aggressively. I pouted. Natatandaan niya pala.