Something That Glitters

14 // Champions of the Grump

Champions of the Grump

"Rock, paper, scissors! Again..."

"Rock, paper, scissors!"

Oh, yeah! Bumelat ako kay Jerry habang may pang-inis na kilay. Bumuga siya ng malakas na hininga, or shall I say, a loser sigh.

"I won," I sang. Mas nalukot ang mukha niya, lalo na noong maayos akong umupo sa bar stool sa tapat niya. "Now that means you'll have to eat lunch with me."

Nasa kabilang parte ng bar table si Grumpy Jerry at katapat ko pa rin. Hinila niya ang dala kong lunch na nakalagay sa pink na container habang nakakunot ang noo niya at pinanliliitan ako ng mata.

I beamed at him and took a spoonful of rice. Napuno ang pisngi ko pero nagsalita pa rin ako, "That Adobo will change your life, I promise!"

"Tss!"

"Tss!" panggagaya ko sa kanya kaya't may lumipad tuloy na butil ng kanin. "Oops! Hehe!"

Napatakip ako ng bibig at nag-peace sign sa kabilang kamay. Umiling si Jerry at nagsimula na siyang kumain. Hinanap ko naman kung saan lumipad iyon, ano!

Itong mga tropa ko rito, mga matatandang masungit, ano? Si Uncle Benj lang ang always cool and collected. So, I definitely won't tell this to Tonette, but right now, Uncle Benj was clearly my favorite! Sama na rin natin iyong pamangkin niyang nakakagigil.

"Why are you pestering me here, kid? Where's Tonette? Does she know you're out of leash?" asked Jerry. Nakakunot pa rin ang noo niya.

"Oh my god, the sassiness?" I grumbled and silently hissed. "Akala mo naman 'di nae-enjoy ang niluto ko." Nabawasan ang kunot sa noo niya ng isang crease or something. Siguro ay dahil sa sarap ng Adobo ko.

"She's out on a lunch with Uncle Benj. It's an old love kinda thing." I shrugged, sabay kain.

Nagkukuyakoy ako habang kumakain. Si Jerry naman ay nakatayo lamang at hindi na umupo. Ayaw niya yata kasing magkabilbil. You know, para diretso baba sa tiyan ang kinain niya and all. Kasi 'di ba nga, gusto niya na cool uncle lang siya, kaya ayan. Naiintindihan ko naman.

"The store?" He bobbed his head once to the direction of Daily Bloom.

Nilingon ko iyon sandali. I only shrugged, then I turned back to my food. "Nah, don't worry. Cornelia is there."

"Oh. About time she got some help," he commented, nodding in approval.

Nagtago ako ng hagikhik. Sure, it's Cornelia's shift now at the shop.

But really, Julio was miraculously there, for some reason.

"I know. I fought with Cornelia as employee of the day every day. It's a tough competition, but each day, I win," I bragged about my nonexistent badge.

Dahil gutom ako ay mabilis kong naubos ang lunch ko. I could eat my lunch alone but I saw this morning that he was elated, smiling from ear to ear, that I just had to come visit and pester him. Now, his beam was gone and traveled the way to my own mouth, as anticipated.

Ipinasantabi ko ang lunch containers ko para makalapit nang maayos kay Jerry.

"Why don't you like me, Uncle? Like, this is a legit question."

Nilakasan niya ang pagnguya. Iyong mata niya ay kulang na lang sumara dahil sa panliliit nitong tingin sa akin.

"Aw, man? Tell me. Have I done something terrible to you? I'm basically made out of sunshine and daisies, so whatever the hell's happened that transformed you to a top-tier grump was not at all my fault. I'm sure of it!"