FLIRTY HABITS • THE FUCKBOY ERA

CHAPTER 8

♣ flirty viii ♣

Lumakas ang kabog sa dibdib ni Mule. He didn't expect that his aunt would say such thing but he didn't believe it. Maybe she was just playing some pranks on him. That's what he had in mind.

"Tita, anong joke ba 'yan? Hindi naman nakakatawa," natatawa ngunit naguguluhan niyang tugon, "Nandito lang si Mom ko, 'di ba?" nilingon at tiningnan niya ang dad niya, "Dad...'di ba magkasama kayo? Nasa'n siya?" pang-uurirat niya habang niliglig ang ama, "A, nasa kwarto!" hindi niya pinansin ang dalawa at nilampasan pa, "Mom, lumabas ka na r'yan!" sigaw niya sa taas, tinatawag ang kanyang mama at pinabababa.

"Mule... believe me, that's the truth," Lisa said that made Mule to turned back to them, "your Mom died in a car accident. Nabundol siya at napuruhan. Your Mom couldn't take it, she lost so much blood and she was declared dead on arrival at the hospital," Lisa whimpered straightforwardly, slowly and emphasizing every words she said.

Mule tried not to believe but why he seemed to do nothing but accept what his aunt said? Suddenly, what he dreamed of last month got into his mind. The woman in her strange dream was none other than her mother. Everything is clear to him now but it's really hard to accept the truth.

He looked at his Dad who had been in tears for a while; tears of sadness and sorrow came from his eyes. He didn't notice it for his mind had just wandered for a while ago.

"Dad? Totoo ba?" tanong niya pero mas lalong lumakas ang paghagulgol nito at hindi niya namalayang may tumutulong luha na pala sa kanyang mga mata.

"She passed away last week. Hindi namin ipinaalam sa 'yo nang wala pa ang Dad mo rito dahil baka kung ano kasing gawin mo at ikapahamak mo pa... 'pag nalaman mo." Si Lisa na ang sumagot dahil iyak lang nang iyak ang dad ni Mule. Ngayon niya lang nakita ang Dad niyang gan'to.

Nasasaktan siya. Ang sakit sobra. Bakit Mom? Ba't mo kami iniwan? Ang bigat-bigat nang pakiramdam niya. 'Di niya alam kung may katumbas pa ba ang nararamdaman niya.

"Hindi! Hindi totoo 'yan!" sigaw ni Mule, halos mapiyok sa sobrang garalgal ng boses at sinusubukan pa ring h'wag maniwala sa mga sinasabi nila.

"Dad, sabihin mong hindi. 'Di ba hindi naman totoo? Buhay si Mom..." pangungumbinsi niya sa dalawa na umiiyak pa rin.

"Anak... totoo ang sinabi ng tita mo. Wala na ang Mom mo," tugon ng kanyang dad at mas lalong lumakas ang pagyugyog ng balikat.

Tuluyan na silang umiyak gayundin si Lisa na sumasabay sa pag-iyak ng mag-ama. Bigla naman nakaramdam ng tampo at galit si Mule dahil sa ginawa nilang paglilihim. Umalis siya't iniwan ang dalawa. Tumakbo siya nang mabilis paakyat sa kwarto niya. Naupo siya sa kama niya at ang kaunti niyang luha ay muling bumalong na naman at wala na siyang magawa kundi hayaan ang sarili.

Tears streamed down his eyes slowly like rain and dripped freely; accompanying the sadness he feels. It was heartbreaking to know that one of the most important people in his life had died and she, his mom, would never return; neither shall he see and behold it any more. Her Mom was gone. It was really hurtful and very painful for him.

His tears continued to fall down his eyes until he stood up and shouted in anger. He was mad because he didn't know why this had to happen to them. Yes, everybody dies but he doesn't know that this is how it hurts.

Memories in his mind that he would never forget. He remembers the times when her mom made fun of him when his stupidity hit him. Her care was incomparable and nothing more. She smiles when he tells of the happy days that happened to him. It was her mom, giving him the comfort when he was crying. Now, who is going to put him up at this time that he's so down? None. She's gone.

"HAAAH!" sigaw niya at biglang sinuntok ang pader.

Pinagsusuntok niya iyon hanggang sa dumugo ang kamao niya. Nagwawala siya at halos lahat ng gamit na mahawakan niya ay inihahagis kung saan man maibalibag ng kamay niya hanggang sa naging magulo ang kwarto niya. Sa bawat pagluha niya ay naaalala niya ang Mom niya. Hindi niya nararamdaman ang sakit sa kamao dahil mas masakit ang nararamdaman ng puso niya.

He saw his dad coming into his room. It looks like his dad was done crying while him, Mule, still in the middle of his grief. When his dad approached, he hugged him tightly. He never stopped crying and he poured it all on his father's shoulder. His dad was crying too and they couldn't hold back. He let go and free himself from his dad's hug and thought to stop crying. Nothing would happen if he just cried. He realized that his mom would never come back even though he cried forever. He'll just admit that his mom's gone.

Napatingin siya sa Dad niya at nakatanggap ng ngiti mula rito na parang sinasabi sa kanya na huwag na malungkot dahil mas malulungkot siya. Muling niyakap ni Mule nang mahigpit ang kanyang dad. Si Dad at si tita Lisa na lang pala ang aking makakasama. Mahal na mahal ko ang Mom ko kaya gano'n na lang ang sakit na naramdaman ko nang malaman ang masamang balita. Huminga si Mule nang malalim matapos makapag-isip-isip.

Tumayo ang Dad niya, hinawakan sa ulo ang anak at hinaplos ang buhok nito. Napatingin naman siya sa dad niya at masasabing itinatago lang nito ang lungkot sa loob niya. He noticed his son's bleeding fist so he hurried down to get the first-aid kit. When he was up again, he was with Lisa. They treated the wound on Mule's hand. Lisa also organized the troubled room of his nephew.

Nakahiga lang si Mule habang ginagamot ng Dad niya ang sugat sa kamay, tinitiis lang ang hapding ngayon ay nararamdaman na niya.

"Bababa na 'ko anak, iiwan na muna kita rito. Magpahinga ka... alam kong pagod ka," wika ng Dad niya matapos gamutin ang sugat.

"Tama ang sinabi ng Dad mo, Mule," ani Lisa na sinegundahan naman ang sinabi ng kapatid.

Hindi na nagawang sumagot pa ni Mule sa dalawa. Tanging mga titig sa mata lang ang naibalik ng binata; malungkot na titig ng mga matang nasasaktan sa pagkawala ng ina.