˖✴︎˚
Dad was holding a box of cake that surely came from Tita Alice. She's our supplier of cake every occasion since she put up her own bakeshop, the AA Bakeshop. Nag-uwi rin si Dad ng mga paborito kong pagkain, tulad ng carbonara, garlic shrimps at chicken wings.
"Dad? Did you have a salary raise?" I asked.
Napatingin siya sa'kin habang inihahanda ang mga pagkaing inuwi niya. "I got an early bonus. We reached our quota for this month, kaya maaga kaming binigyan ng bonus ng boss ko," he explained. Dad was smiling, but something deep was lurking in his eyes.
"Is there something wrong?" I asked.
Dad shook his head. "Nothing. I'm just glad because we could celebrate your birthday today. Matagal na tayong hindi naghahanda para sa birthday mo simula nang..." Napahinto siya, pero alam ko ang kasunod no'n, ...simula nang iwan tayo ng mom mo.
Saglit kaming natahimik bago inagaw ni Andres ang aming atensyon. "Nakakagutom! Can we eat now?"
Tita Alice stared at him. "Lead the prayer then."
"Okay," he said like an excited kid.
Our parents were both aware of our hate-and-hate relationship, ngunit iniiwasan namin ang mag-away tuwing kaharap namin sila. Childish kami ni Andres kung minsan, ngunit alam rin namin na maraming pinagdadaanan ang aming mga magulang. We didn't want to add more stressor to them.
Nang matapos magdasal si Andres ay kinantahan naman nila ako. We celebrated my birthday as if Andres and I shared a harmonious relationship. Pinipigilan naming magtalo sa harapan ni Tita Alice at ni Dad ngunit sa tuwing sila'y nalilingap ay muling tumatalim ang tinginan namin sa isat't-isa.
"This is mine," I whispered while grabbing the last piece of chicken with a fork from Andres.
"Ako ang unang nakatusok," bulong rin niya.
"Gusto mong ikaw ang tusukin ko?" I uttered in a soft voice.
He glared with a smile. "I believe I should be the one doing that to you."
I was shaken by his words, making me want to throw up. He might be angelic for other people, but I knew how evil his mind was.
"Nag-aaway ba kayo?" sabay na tanong nina Dad at Tita Alice.
Saglit kaming nagkatinginan ni Andres at sabay na pinakawalan ang kawawang piraso ng manok na nadurog sa katutusok.
"No, Tito Peter," said Andres. "I'm just offering him the last piece of chicken."
"No, Tita Alice," I said with a fake smile. "Makulit kasi 'tong si Andres. Sabi ko ay sa kanya na dahil busog naman na ako."
"Alam kong favorite mo ang chicken wings kaya sa'yo na 'yan," nakangiting sabi ni Andres ngunit kitang-kita ko ang matalas niyang tingin.
"Bisita ka dito sa bahay, kaya dapat lang na ikaw na ang umubos niyan," sagot ko, sabay labas ng mapuputi kong ngipin.
Napangiti naman sina Tita Alice at Dad, ngunit bakas rin sa mukha nila ang pagdududa. As my birthday celebration went on, my dad brought out his homemade organic wine. He learned the process of winemaking from the factory where he was working, so he tried practicing and making his own.
Nang magsara ang kanyang jewelry store na minana pa niya sa aking lolo, nagsimula na siyang magtrabaho sa isa sa mga factory ng Ruby Wine. Since I just turned eighteen and Andres already reached the legal age last August 31, our parents allowed us to drink for the first time. Hindi lang nila alam, matagal ng umiinom si Andres lalo na nang maging kaibigan niya sina Bullet at Winston.
BINABASA MO ANG
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