Ang Multo sa Manhole - Under revision

Bogart says 40.2

Eiji's Point of View

Hindi ko alam kung paano at kung anong oras na ako nakatulog kagabi. Bumangon ako, suot suot pa rin ang uniform ko kahapon. Kaya pala nangangati ako at ang lagkit lagkit ko. Dahil dyan, napag-isipan kong maligo nang makapasok na sa school. Gusto ko makita si Buknoy at yakapin  ng mahigpit. Gusto ko iparamdam sa kanya na natatakot ako sa ideya nilang paghiwalayin kami.

Pagkatapos ko makapagbihis ng pampasok, binuksan ko ang pintuan ng room, aktong lalabas nang may nakita akong pagkain sa lapag. Feeling ko kagabi pa ito nandito, nung may kumakatok sa kwarto ko ngunit di ko lang pinansin. Inignore ko lang yun at bumaba na papunta sa dining room.

Akala ko nakaalis na sila mama't papa. Hindi pa pala. Ayun, nandun sila nagpreprepare ng pagkain if I'm not mistaken, para sa akin. Oh they don't really have to...unless they have reason for that action. Ganun naman parati e. Pag may intention lang magaling. Pag may intention lang parang nagiging parents - parents, hindi parents - businessman/woman.

"You didn't eat your dinner." sabi ni papa as usual in monotone. "I've been knocking there like an idiot. You didn't even bother -"

"I fell asleep Pa. You tired me out, remember?" sabi ko naman pagkapunta ko dun sa may table but not looking at them. He tired me with his words that stung like a bitch.

"And I wasn't expecting an intelligent person would walked out in the middle of conversation." reply nya.

"I'm sorry." I said. "I'm sorry if I can't do it. I just love Buknoy to let him go."

"You don't have to let him go..." sabi ni papa before gulping his tea. Parang maganda ang dating sa akin nun ha? Did Papa finally made up his mind not to let us break up? Ibinaba nya yung cup nya sa may table and finished his sentence, "He let you go."

Slowly, inangat ko ang aking ulo sa pagkakayuko at tinignan si papa. The way he said it was like a stainless knife. Ruthlessly stabbed me there.

"You're just kidding Dad. Hindi magagawa ni Buknoy sakin yun!" sabi ko, withholding my emotions as best as I could.

"Do I look like kidding?" Tinignan ko si papa. There was no sign that it was just a joke or a prank. Para syang nagsasabi ng totoo pero ayoko maniwala.

"Excuse me." tumayo na ako mula sa aking pagkakaupo upang umalis. Wala na akong balak pakinggan ang sasabihin ni papa. After all, asa kanya ang side ni mama, ni Manang, ni Kuya Pedro. I'm outnumbered. At kahit pa siguro kampihan ako ni Bogart, [I'm] still outnumbered.

"You stay here!" Natakot ako sa literal na pagka- "like a boss" na sigaw ni papa na agad akong napabalik sa aking pagkakaupo.

"Honey, wag kang sumigaw." pati si mama na tense sa lakas ng boses ni papa.

"I don't tolerate that disrespectful gesture, Ma." sabi nya kay mama, his hands on his waist. Madalas ko makita yan sa mga bossy na boss sa mga kompanya. I'm his son and yet I feel like an employee, a subordinate of him.  " I'm the FATHER here." He looked into me as he emphasized the word 'father'.

"Pa, why are you doing this to me?" tanong ko sa kanya habang walang patid ang pagluha.

"No, Eiji. Why are you doing this to yourself - that's the question. Usap-usapan sa isang column other than that of your school's publication ang tungkol sa Gazebo scandal. And you think we don't know about the feud you were with with Buknoy's ex-girlfriend? All these mishaps resulted in moral damages - much on my part."

"Pero Pa, you said it yourself. It's just a mishap. It won't happen again -"

"And it really won't. Because, Buknoy and you are through. End of mishap. Back to normal life."