Tell Me Where It Hurts

Kabanata Lima

Kabanata Lima —Tell Me Where It Hurts

Tahimik lang ako sa kotse. Hindi pa nakatulong ang pananahimik ni Lionel at hindi nila pag-uusap ng dad niya. I wanted to start a conversation, pero baka magkamali ako ng masabi.

Thankfully, his dad spoke. Mababaliw na ata ako sa sobrang katahimikan at awkwardness na bumabalot sa buong kotse.

“Your mother is a well known prosecutor. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali…Prosecutor Labreja? Francheska Labreja?”

“Yes po,” I nodded.

“Aba!” humalkhak ito.

“Dad, stop being weird.”

Agaran kong siniko si Lionel at sinamaan siya ng tingin. How can he say that to his father? Obviously hindi siya nagmana dito.

“I’ve seen some of your games. Last year, you brought home another medal for our country. This year din ba?”

Kinakabahan akong natawa. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng pressure. “Susubukan ko ho.”

“Don’t put too much pressure on him dad. You don’t know what that feels like.”

“Oh! Which reminds me. Sa Baguio ka rin pupunta for NSPC, diba?”

“Hhm. Sabay kaming aalis ni Rhys.”

“Aba! Dapat ikaw rin, manalo ng gold.”

“Dad, please.”

“Para lang may maidagdag ulit tayo sa wall mo.”

“Enough with the wall.”

“What’s the wall?” kuryos na tanong ko.

“It’s a wall filled with my certificates and medals from all of my achievements in school. Wala ka no’n?”

“I don’t preserve the medals nor the certificates. It’s not that important.”

Mom used to keep it before. May folder siya no’n na lagayan niya ng mga certificates ko sa tuwing mananalo ako sa mga fencing competitions. Ang mga medal ko naman ay tinatago niya sa cabinet.

Now, binabati niya na lang ako at dinadala sa kung saan saan. Pagkauwi sa bahay, kanya kanya ng punta sa mga kwarto namin. So much has changed ever since…puberty.

“I know the material things won’t matter…it’s the memories we want to preserve, ijo.”

Napatango na lang ako, sumasang-ayon sa daddy ni Lionel. Tiningnan ko naman si Lionel na tahimik ng nakasandal at nakapilit ang mata. Is he asleep?

Pinatawad ko na siya sa ginawa niyang pang-j-judge sa akin kanina. Total hinahatid nila ako pauwi. Nakatipid pa ako.

“How’s your mother? Hindi madaling maging prosecutor. It’s like everyday…death is knocking on your doorstep.”

“Wala naman hong natatanggap na kung ano ano si mom…sa tingin ko. We don’t really interact. Madalas rin ho kasi akong wala sa bahay. With the light atmosphere…I guess she’s doing good after the divorce.”

“Divorce?”

“My parents failed to keep their love for each other, sir. Even with me, hindi nila ito napanatili.”

“I’m sorry for asking ijo.”

“This is why you should let Ada to fetch me instead,” nagsalita si Lionel.

Ng tumingin ako sa kanya, he was already awake. Nakakunot ang noo at nakatingin sa akin.

“Sorry, my father is a bit talkative since his a journalist. It’s in his nature.”