The Fifth Son

Jyunana

~17~

"Sand, gusto mong mamasyal?" tanong ni Kuya Jei sa akin habang nagbabasa ako ng isang book about Ancient Egypt na nakita sa library ng bahay ni Oji-sama. I'm quiet interested with that civilization. Mysterious and grand kasi but, apparently, the book that I am reading was not showing ancient Egypt as how many other books and movies almost always showed it. It was showing the civilization with all of its flaws and the sexual nature of its religion- quite disappointing, actually. It was an alien, hypersexed, ancient Egypt.

I looked at Kuya Jei with a can't-you-see-I'm-reading look. Mukhang naintindihan naman n'ya agad.

"Aww. Sayang naman. I heard masarap ang okonomiyaki sa may Gion. Ang dami pang pagkain dun," parinig n'ya. Nagpantig naman ang tenga ko.

No. Must resist. Must not appear weak. Hindi ako mate-tempt!

"Sayang talaga, Sand. Sige. Si Jyu at Kyu nalang ang isasama ko," sabi n'ya sabay alis after making a very audible tsk. "Masarap din ang mitarashi dango," huling hirit n'ya bago isinara ang pinto ng room ko.

May ilang minutes rin akong parang timang na nakatangalang at nag-e-internal debate ng matindi. Kailangan ko nang magdesisyon at baka maiwan na ako ni Kuya Jei! Mukhang masarap nga rin talaga ang mitarashi dango.

Mitarashi dango? Mukhang masarap nga yun. Sarap mag-food trip. Ay oo! Food trip! Bahala na. Sasama ako!

Hinabol ko si Kuya Jei kaya lang hindi ko na s'ya nakita sa labas ng room. I immediately went downstairs and searched for him but he was nowhere to be found. Mukhang nakaalis na s'ya!

Down-hearted, I made my way back to my room but a familiar guy passed my way. "Yuto!" I called, excited. He looked at me with a rather surprised expression. "Are you busy?" tanong ko as I approached him.

"Um. Not really, Shinra-sama," he answered in his very respectful voice while doing his respectful bow. Feeling ko talaga ang bait ni Yuto. Madaling naging palagay ang loob ko sa kanya. Tapos para siyang bata- yung aura n'ya, I mean.

"Cool. Let's go to the city! I want to go food tripping," yaya ko with a wide smile. Sana magoyo ko s'ya. "And quite the 'sama' part already!"pahabol na reklamo habang nagsasalubong ang mga kilay ko.

Nag-isip muna s'ya. Hindi ko alam kung ang iniisip n'ya eh yung pag-yayaya ko o yung pagsabi ko sa kanya na tigilan na yung O.A. sa formal n'yang honorific. "O-Okay, but please do ask your parents and the Chairman first, Shinra-sama." I could see a worried expression plastered on his face. At mukhang hindi n'ya pinansin yung sabi ko na tigilan na ang honorific. KJ naman nito.

I pouted at what he said but, oh well, wala naman akong magagawa. Tumango nalang ako in agreement.

"I'll prepare the car while you're asking permission, Shinra-sama," paalam n'ya at umalis.

"I said quite the 'sama' part already!" medyo naiinis ko nang sabi habang papalayo s'ya pero hindi n'ya ulit ako pinansin. Ang tigas ng ulo!

Padabog akong dumiretso sa kwarto nina Oka-sama only to find it empty. Tinanong ko nalang ang isa sa mga maids if alam nila kung saan ang parents. She directed me to Oji-sama's office.

I knocked several times before entering so that hindi naman ako rude. Matindi ang binibigay nilang pagpapahalaga sa conducts sa bahay na ito. Nakakasakal tuloy minsan.

"What is it, Sand?" tanong sa akin ni Oto-sama. He was sitting on a blue couch in front of Oji-sama who was sitting behind an intricately-carved desk, bearing the mon of the clan in front of it. Sobrang European ang design ng room which contrasted sharply with the strong, traditional Japanese architure of the house. Oka-sama was sitting beside Oto-sama.