The Rebel Slam 5: MACKEY

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

"MARK."

Napahinto si Mackey. Kababalik niya nang mga oras na iyon galing sa date nila ni Allyza. Lumipad ang paningin niya sa nag-iisang tao sa living room. Himala at narito ito ngayon at may oras na uminom ng kape. Kadalasan ay nasa opisina ito o kasama ang Pangulo ng bansa at mga tauhan nito.

He rarely seen his father sit on their sofa and drink coffee like he was doing right now. Ang tanging nagdidikta na hindi ito magtatagal sa ganoong sitwasyon ay ang pananamit nito. AFP Chief General Abraham Lubigan was still wearing his camouflage outfit and army boots. Kung titingnan ito ng normal na tao ay talaga namang nakaka-intimidate ang presensya nito. Even himself was intimidated and scared in this man when he was a kid. But he found the courage and guts to disobey him. Intimidating pa rin ang presensya nito sa kanya pero hindi na ganoon kalala.

"Dad," bati niya rito. Tinanguan niya ito.

"'Care to join me?" Itinaas nito ang kape.

Lumapit siya rito at naupo sa kaibayong sofa nito. He felt his father wanted to discuss something with him. Kung ano man iyon, siguradong mahalaga iyon.

"Si mommy?" usisa niya para kahit paano ay mabawasan ang namumuong tensyon sa paligid nila.

"May emergency ang mommy mo sa ospital." Ibinaba nito ang tasa ng kape sa platito niyon. Then he looked at him. "Your mother told me about this girlfriend of yours."

Napakunot ang noo niya. Si Allyza? "What about it?"

"I want to see her. Maybe you could invite her this Saturday evening for dinner."

Why is he suddenly became interested at his love affairs?

"Why do you want to see her? Mom met her and she's fine with my girlfriend..."

"That's the reason."

Lalong lumalim ang gatla sa noo niya. "What are you talking about?"

"Many things. One of those was because your mother met her, I also wanted to. Another is the way you possessively talk about her. I can tell that you are serious about your relationship with her."

"I am."

Tumango ang heneral. "Siya lang ang babaeng hindi mo itinago sa mommy mo pagkatapos ni Rhianne. Your mother likes your current girlfriend as much as she liked Rhianne."

"But you didn't bother to meet Rhi. So, what's the difference now?" mapait na sabi niya. Remembering Rhi was still painful.

"Nasira ang buhay mo dahil sa babaeng iyon. That's the difference. Or maybe it's not a difference afterall. I don't like assuming about things. So, I wanted to meet your current girlfriend to know--"

Hindi niya nagustuhan ang pagtukoy nito sa dating kasintahan.

"You don't know Rhianne! Hindi niya sinira ang buhay ko!" Hindi makapaniwalang tumingin siya sa ama. Hindi niya akalaing uungkatin nito ang bagay na iyon. "Rhi saved me!"

Tumiim ang tingin nito sa kanya. "That girl put you in prison and left a criminal record under your name. You are a Lubigan and everyone knew you as my son! Kung hindi dahil sa connections ko, matagal nang may bahid ang pangalan natin. I did everything I can to cover that mess!"

Yeah. This is his father. Reputation was all to him. Parang gusto niya na lang tumawa ng malakas kesa ang ma-bad trip rito. He always hates it when his father was talking about how precious their name is.

"She's not the one to blame, dad. What I did that time, that's my choice. Wala siyang kasalanan!"

"She pushed you to do what you had done. At kung hindi mo siya nakilala, hindi magiging miserable ang buhay mo. Her death ruined you! That love you had for her wrecked you. What's the assurance that that won't ever happen again?"