Hell Section 2.0

3. Uncle No. 2

RHYGEL

I rolled down the car's window to enjoy the city view. Being here excites me. I'm sure na marami akong pwedeng i-explore dito.

I also heard from Jacee, ang chickboy ng grupo, that girls in the city are really hot and pretty. Siguro naman ay maraming magagandang chicks doon sa Patterson High School. Sayang naman ang kapogihang taglay ko kung wala.

My daydreaming was interrupted when my phone started to ring. Unregistered ang numero na tumatawag. I don't receive calls from unregistered numbers kaya hindi ko ito sinagot. Ilang minuto lang ay muli itong tumawag. I decided to answer it dahil baka importante.

"Hello Rhygel. Have you arrived?"

Si uncle number 2 pala. I'll be staying in his house. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang second quarter lang o hanggang matapos na ang school year. It's all up to my powerful and almighty mom.

"Nasa city proper na kami uncle."

Dahil malapit na ring mag-lunch time, we arranged to meet in a restaurant.

Ilang taon ko na ring hindi nakikita si uncle number 2 at maging si uncle number 1. I was still in grade 7 the last time they came for a visit.

My uncles, I learned from mom, are still bachelors. Pareho pa silang walang asawa. Hindi na ako magtataka dahil maloko at chickboy ang mga 'yon.

Balita ko nga na mga basag-ulo daw sila noong high school. Sa kanila yata ako nagmana. It runs in the blood ika nga nila.

We stopped in front of an Italian restaurant. I heard my stomach grumbling. I'm starving kaya dali-dali akong pumasok doon at hinanap siya.

I saw a guy talking to a girl in the counter. He is obviously flirting with her. He handed his phone to her. Mukhang kinukuha niya ang number nito.

"If I knew that a beautiful lady like you works here, sana ay hindi ako lagi doon sa Chinese restaurant. Starting today, Italian is my new favorite."

Pigil ang tawa ko sa galawan at linyahan niya. Old school pero kilig na kilig naman iyong babae.

I walked towards the guy and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Wala ka pa ring kupas uncle number 2. Ang tindi mo pa rin sa mga chicks."

Uncle laughed at my words and later gave me a tight hug.

"Syempre! Alam mo namang girl magnet ang uncle mo. Huwag kang mag-alala. I'll be teaching you some moves."

After getting her number, he winked and signaled that he'll call later.

We sat in a table for two. Tapos na kaming mag-order ng pagkain. Nag-uusap kami habang naghihintay.

"How are you?" pangangamusta niya sa akin.

"I'm good uncle. Poging-pogi pa rin." I jokingly said to him.

"Claudette told me that you got expelled." He suddenly became serious.

Ngayon lang yata siya naging ganito kaseryoso. Bigla tuloy akong kinabahan. I don't know how to answer him. Napakamot na lang ako ng ulo.

Out of the blue, uncle gave out a loud laugh. Napahawak pa ito sa tiyan niya.

"I'm a troublemaker when I was a teen like you, but I never got expelled. Mahina ka pala eh!"

Hay naku. Minsan talaga mahirap magets itong si uncle number 2. I know it's lame, but I rolled my eyes. Buti na lang at hindi niya napansin.

I remember na marami siyang naikukwento sa akin noon, stories about his high school life. Honestly, I didn't believe everything he said to me kasi naman parang imposible ang mga 'yon.

Storytelling strategy lang siguro 'yon kung baga. He just exaggerated things para iba ang impact.

Who would believe that he and his classmates had an encounter with a gang called Bulldogs while they were in a vacation? The encounter was not only a fist fight. It involved guns. Sabi pa niya noon ay nakidnap daw ang dalawa sa mga kaklase niya.

Impossible, right? My uncle has a wild imagination.

"Sabi ni mom nasa U.S. daw si uncle number 1? What's his business there?"

The waiter came to finally serve our food. Nakakatakam ang amoy ng pasta at pizza.

"May sinundang babae. You know your uncle number 1. He is so naive when it comes to love." Napailing na lang ako sa sinabi niya.

Nasa kalagitnaan kami nang pagkain when a woman approached our table.

She stood in front of us with hands on her waist. She looks angry, really angry. Hindi ko tuloy nasubo ang pizza na nasa kamay ko.

Si uncle number 2 ay dedma lang. He continued eating as if someone is not giving him dagger looks.

"Quit it! Tigilan mo ang pangdededma sa akin! I sent you tons of messages. I called you a hundred times. Hindi kita mahagilap. Dito lang pala kita makikita!"

Sinulyapan lang siya saglit ni uncle. The people inside the restaurant are looking at us now. Nakaramdam na ako ng hiya.

"Uncle." I tried to get his attention pero tuloy-tuloy lang siya sa pagkain.

"My goodness! Ganito na lang ang gagawin mo sa akin after everything that happened to us?! Am I now a latest addition to your list of women?"

Patay. Lagot si uncle. I'm feeling uncomfortable now. Awkward na talaga itong nangyayari.

Tumigil saglit sa pagkain si uncle. He put down his fork, grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth.

He turned to face the woman. Blangko ang mukha nito.

"You're barking at the wrong tree."

The woman raised her eyebrow. Mas lalo yata itong nainis kay uncle.

"Stop fooling around De Leon! Ano? Do you have a new woman now? Answer me!"

Dapat ay si uncle ang pinagpapawisan pero bakit ako? It's getting intense. Mukhang any moment ay makakatikim ng sampal si uncle. Parang eksena lang sa pelikula 'to.

"I'm not fooling you lady. You're really barking at the wrong tree. I'm not the De Leon you're looking for." Cool lang si uncle sa pagsagot.

"Axe De Leon! I'm not stupid!"

The people around us started to whisper.

"No wonder my brother lost interest on you. Uulitin ko. I'm not Axe. My name is Ace. A-C-E."

Tumayo na si uncle at kahit hindi pa ako tapos sa pagkain ay tumayo na rin ako para sundan siya.

We left the woman and I saw her confused face.

"Tsk. That was the fourth woman. Apat na beses na akong napagkakamalang siya. Maybe he flew to the U.S. para takasan ang mga babae niya."

I silently laughed. So si uncle number 1 pala talaga ang target ng babae. Unfortunately ay napagkamalan niya si uncle number 2.

I can't blame the woman. My uncles are twins. They are identical. It's hard to distinguish them sometimes. Maging ang boses nila ay parang magkapareho rin.

"Bakit ba hindi niya magets kaagad na maling tao ang kausap niya? I'm more good-looking than Axe. Tsk."

Hay naku. Old habits die hard nga talaga. Chickboy talaga ang magkapatid.

"Tara! Sa Chinese restaurant na lang tayo."

Sakto. I'm craving for Chinese fried chicken.

I like my first day in the city. Mukhang magiging masaya ang buhay ko dito kasama si uncle number 2.

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