Chapter 9 | Act

When you less expected on things, you wouldn't be disappointed when it really didn't happen.

Danica, on the other hand, expected her kuya Marcus to show out anytime soon... yet no one distracted my peace.

My classes for the week ended and my issue around the campus somehow lessened. One day, the judgemental eyes weren't staring at me anymore... I wasn't sure how it happened, their sudden change of mood quite felt suspicious.

I didn't bother on that part anymore, the exam week was about to come and I needed to prepare for the major subjects.

"Hindi ka uuwi ngayong weekend?" my mother called me, five in the Saturday morning.

"Hindi, ma," I answered with my morning voice.

"Sabagay, next week na ang exams ninyo, tama? Tapos Christmas break... saka ka na lang uuwi?" she asked me.

I nodded even she wasn't in front of me and answered over the phone, "Oo, ma, ganyan na lang sana."

"Ngayon kayo kukuha ng pork barbeque kay tita Feyan mo, hindi ba?"

"Ha? Dumating na kahapon 'yong mga meats for the month of December... they delivered it last night," sagot ko sa aking ina.

Tita Feyan was my mother's friend who supplied meats. Sa kanya kami kumukuha monthly ng pangkarindirya dahil bukod sa masasarap at malinis ang tinda, sakto rin sa budget o kita ng karindirya.

Our food business was only small yet the services, from the menus up to the actual store, were all organized and well-handled. Nagbukas lamang ito noong unang sabak ko sa college. We needed a source of income when I was away from home, so my mother decided to look for a place near the university and let me look out for it daily.

Everything wasn't easy at first but... I got used to it as time passed. After all, growing up meant adapting, as Olaf said.

"O siya, sige. Ipapadala ko na lang ang suweldo ni Kurt bukas kamo. Siya dapat ang kauusapin ko pero hindi sumasagot," mom told me.

"Okay, baka busy kay Nemo or naghahanda na... maghahanda na rin ako, ma," sabi ko.

"Sige, mag-iingat, ha," paalala ng aking ina bago binaba ang tawag.

I didn't really get up as soon as the call ended. I read some of my notes last night, I couldn't exactly remember if I finished all but I felt. I decided to take a nap, hintayin ko muna si Kurt magsisisigaw sa labas bago ako kumilos.

I kind of had the habit of pissing Kurt in simplest ways. He seriously hated lazy people and I considered myself lazy in some times. Just when my eyes were slowly going back to sleep, someone loudly knocked.

"Hoy, Mercian!" Kurt called.

My lips curved hearing him shouting my name in annoyance. He probably thought I was still sleeping, well I was partly.

"Mercian Ara Adriano Bueno!" full name pa nga, "ano? Hindi ka si princess Aurora para mag-ala Sleeping Beauty! Gumising ka na, Sabado ngayon!"

"Gising na ako, kalma!" I shouted back, enough for him to hear.

He sounded so annoyed, I didn't want to ruin his day that much. Baka mamaya ay maapektuhan pa ang aming trabaho.

"Gaga ka, mag-ayos ka na, papunta na si aling Feran sa karindirya, ikaw nakahilatay pa rin. Five minutes dapat tapos ka na, ha!"

"Hoy! Anong five minutes? Parang kinakausap ko pa ang tubig sa gano'ng oras—"

"Bakit mo kasi kinakausap ang tubig, si Snow White ka ba?" he fired back.

I laughed and immediately said, "Gaga, sa wishing well si Snow White nagsasalita—"

"May tubig pa rin!"

"Oo na, daming alam, Kurt!" I surrendered, "sige na, ito na, huwag ka ng magwala!"

"Siguraduhin mo lang, Mercian, nako! Namomoblema pa ako kung kanino iiwan si Nemo," he frustratingly said.

"Isama mo na lang," I suggested.

"Girl? Seryoso?"

"Oo nga, kapag natapos naman si aling Feran sa pagluluto wala na siyang ginagawa. She can look out for Nemo after..." I answered him.

"Sige, I'll prepare Nemo too. Kita na lang tayo sa baba," he immediately said.

That was how my morning started. I prepared for the long day ahead and waited for Kurt outside their place.

"Oh, Ian, ang aga, ah?" a rough voice almost made me jump on my place.

I quickly turned around to see the man who talked to me. He wasn't wearing any shirt above and his upper brown skin exposed. I seriously didn't like men half naked in public... even outside their houses. His face looked oily, mukhang hindi pa naghilamos paggising.

I didn't want to speak with him yet I didn't want to look rude either.

I hesitantly smiled at Kurt's uncle, tito Kozar, "Opo... tuwing Sabado kasi ang matao sa karindirya kaya... pinaghahandaan namin lagi."

He laughed even what I said had no joke, "Kayong mga bata talaga, masyadong pursigido sa buhay, ano?"

What was wrong with that?

"Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan kayo magiging ganyan ni Kurt, masyadong mataas ang mga pangarap ninyo para sa isang mababang klase ng tao," he chuckled.

Wala sa sarili akong napakunot. Anong nais niyang ipahiwatig, na walang pagtutunguhan ang ginagawa namin ni Kurt?

"Mapapagod din kayo at... mas pipiliin na lang mamuhay sa kung hanggang saan mo lang kaya—"

"I think there's nothing wrong with being ambitious," I cut in, "Hindi po ba'y mas nakahihiya kung agad ka na lang sumuko dahil sa paningin ng lahat ay hindi mo kaya?"

Tito Kozar went silent and the way he gazed at me was so awkward, I wanted to run.

"Ang nais ko lang namang ipunto, Ian, hindi ninyo kailangang magpakahirap para lang mabuhay. Tingnan mo si Roah, kumikita sa paganon-ganon pero hindi nakatapos—"

"Oh, that's what you're trying to say? Na ang pagkapit sa illegal at hindi permanenteng trabaho ay mas maganda? Maybe that works for some people but my dream is higher than that," I pointed out.

"And isa pa, napakikinabangan ba ang kinikita ni Roah? She's using her money to supply for herself—"

"Oo, nabili nga niya ang gustong tricycle ng papa nila," tito Korzar chuckled, "e si Kurt, ano? Salot na nga sa lipunan, hindi pa makatulong sa magulang."

What? I was about to defend Kurt when Kurt himself went out, carrying Nemo on his left arm.

"Oh, Kurt! Nanay na nanay ang dating," he teased my friend.

God, I swore! If Nemo wasn't around, I'd talk back to this old pathetic man. I sharply gazed at him for the last time before Kurt pulled me away.

"Ang epal talaga ng tito mo," I told him when we got meters away.

Wala pa aking nakitang tricycle at halos limang minuto na kaming naghintay.

"Hayaan mo 'yon, gano'n talaga kapag sarado ang utak," he calmly said.

"He said you're useless, nahiya naman ako sa kanyang lasinggero't walang maipakain sa anak," I hissed, "just give me this moment, I want to release my anger."

Kurt chuckled, "Gora lang, sis. Kahit noong bata pa ako ay galit na rin ako sa kanya... ayaw ko na lang magpa-apekto dahil ikapapangit ko lang iyon!"

"Right!" I agreed, "I shall not make it a big deal. We know ourselves better anyway."

"Mismo," Kurt said and played Nemo's cotton-like hands.

Because of Kurt's movement, my eyes adored Nemo's innocent face. His eyes were partly opened and his toothless smile flustered, seemed brighter than the sun.

It was warming seeing a child smile with no worries. A kid had this ability to send such pure feeling to your soul. I wondered if I was this cute back in the days and if I ever made the people around me warm too?

Roah seriously needed to pay attention to her sweet little angel before he grew up.

"May... balak ka ba para kay Nemo? I mean, parang ikaw lang kasi ang totally may paki sa kanya," I asked Kurt.

"S'yempre, mayroon... hindi ako nauubusan ng solusyon, alam mo 'yan," he confidently answered.

I unconsciously nodded, proud of Kurt. His positivity was too motivating, the reason why I chose him as a friend.

"Kailan ka babalik sa pag-aaral?" tanong ko.

Kurt gazed at me as he answered, "Sana ay next year na."

Hindi ko na iyon nasundan pa sapagkat nakakita na kami ng tricycle sa umagang ito. Tahimik kami ni Kurt sa biyahe patungong karindirya at inisip ko na lamang ang mga gagawin pagdating.

"Nay Feran, kanina pa kayo?" I asked when we arrived.

Aling Feran smiled at us as a greeting and answered, "Hindi, kadadating ko lang din, Ian."

"Nay Feran!" tili ni Kurt na akala mo'y ngayon lang sila nagkita.

Nemo let out his light baby laugh and aling Feran was amused of Nemo's cuteness, I mean, who wouldn't, right?

"Nandito pala si Nemo," puna ni nay Feran, "buti na lang at sinama mo! Na-miss ko na ring mag-alaga ng bata."

"Nay, puwedeng puwede mong alagaan si Nemo ngayong araw... kahit kami na ni Mercian ang magluto," biro ni Kurt.

We opened the store and did tasks individually. Aling Feran went inside the kitchen to start her job. Kurt was doing something to Nemo for him to sit comfortable.

I was sweeping the floor when Kurt called me.

"Ayos ba?" he asked and laughed afterward.

"Oh my, what did you do?" natatawa ko ring tanong.

Nemo laughed with us too, I wished he really knew what Kurt did to him.

"Para hindi mahulog si Nemo, ayos ba?" natatawang tanong ni Kurt.

He made a baby chair, enough space for Nemo to sit on using a clean box.

"Okay na rin, mukhang nagustuhan ni Nemo," I answered, "teka! Picture-an ko si Nemo para paglaki niya ay makita na 'to!"

I ran inside the store's little room, dito kami madalas mamahinga o tumambay kapag walang ginagawa sa labas. It wasn't that small but just enough for like five people. Kinuha ko ang aking phone at muling binalikan ang mag-tito.

"Tumabi ka kay Nemo, dali!" utos ko.

I clicked the camera icon of my phone and effortlessly took photos of the two. I could now imagine Nemo's future reaction and Kurt trying to defend his craziness.

My phone slid inside my pocket after that mini laughter. I continued cleaning the place while Kurt arranged the tables and chairs. After settling, aling Feran called us.

"Bakit po?" ako ang nagtanong.

"Simulan mo ng itusok sa stick 'yong mga barbeque," paki-usap ni nanay sa akin.

"Sige po. Kurt," I looked at my friend.

"Isasabit ko 'yong mga pinadalang Christmas lights ni tito Cion kahapon," Kurt informed me.

"Right!" I even snapped my fingers, "Ilang lights ba 'yong dinala ni papa?" I asked him while I was getting the sticks out of the plastic.

"Hindi ko binilang pero puno 'yong box. May naisip na akong designs para bongga!" he excitingly said.

"Siguraduhin mong bongga 'yan kung hindi ikaw ang isasabit ko," I joked.

So we did that next, Kurt hanging the Christmas lights while I helped nanay Feran on cooking.

"Hindi po ba uuwi ang panganay ninyo sa pasko?" I asked nay Feran when she mentioned her son working abroad.

"Sana nga ay umuwi, mahirap daw kasing kumuha ng leave dahil maraming may gusto..." malungkot niyang sagot.

I pouted and let her continue, "Saka 'yong pangalawa ko naman, busy din sa pag-aaral abroad."

She was mixing the soup when I spoke, "E 'di sumama na lang po kayo sa amin sa pasko kung wala sila. Alam ninyo namang sobrang malapit na rin kayo sa amin."

Her wrinkles smiled along with her lips at my statement. It was kind of amusing thinking... when we were kids, small things made us happy... and when we finally reached our ages, small things became precious.

"Iihawin ko na po ito sa labas," I informed nanay Feran when she came back from outside.

She already cooked some dishes for breakfast and the store gained early customers.

"Sige, roon ka mag-ihaw sa hindi nakad-distorbo, ha," she reminded me.

Gamit ang aking dalawang kamay ay hawak ko ang isang malapad na parihabang tray, puno ng unang set ng barbeque.

"Oy! Grabe! Lulutuin mo na 'yan, Ian?" a loyal customer asked me when he noticed.

I chuckled, "Opo! Hintayin ninyo mamaya!"

"Babiyahe muna ako, pa-reserve agad ng bente! Iuuwi ko sa mga anak ko mamayang tanghali," he told me happily.

"Sige po, ingat sa biyahe!"

I gently put the tray above the mini table beside the barbeque grill. I silently set up the charcoal and lit up a match to produce enough fire. I was fanning the grill when I partly turned my head at Kurt.

He was testing the mini step ladder while the lights were in his left hand.

"Sa taas mo 'yan ilalagay?" tanong ko.

"Oo, ito kasi 'yong parang sumasayaw ang ilaw sa gabi kaya bagay dito sa harap. Bayota, kapag ako nahulog ikaw na ang bahala kay Nemo. Salamat sa lahat—"

"Ang OA mo! Hindi ka pa nga mapipilayan sa distansyang 'yan," I laughed.

"Tawa ka riyan, sabagay, ayos na ring dito mahulog kaysa naman—"

"Ano? Sa maling tao na naman?" I mocked, he was going to tease me about it again.

"Ang punto ko lang, mas tanga ka," he snapped and finally took steps on the ladder.

Sasagot pa sana ako nang bigla na lamang tumilapon sa ere ang tray ng barbeque. The food landed on the street, a motorcycle even tried avoiding the sticks yet some got squashed of the tires. Kahit naman iwasan ay madumi na ang mga iyon.

It was then I noticed the group of college students a meter away from me.

"Oops! Natamaan, sorry!"

"Nagp-practice lang siyang mag-spike, bet kasi niyang mag-try out sa Volleyball!" her friend sarcastically added.

Oh god. This was too much!

Then one of their gay friends played with the ball again and purposely hit the ladder Kurt was on!

I was torn between helping my friend, beating the shit out of the students or cleaning the street! I was close on bursting when someone yelled at the students.

His thunder-like tone had so much authority that even someone higher could bow down to him. The students almost lost their bloods as their faces turned white, seeing the man they seemed to be frightened of.

I saw how the girl, who spiked the tray, tried running away from him yet two men effortlessly blocked the way.

"Is this really how you mess up with someone?" Marcus asked, almost like a growl.

"Nagt-trabaho ng maayos ang mga tao tapos gagaguhin ninyo. Exams are coming, I bet you all want to restart the semester—"

"Sorry, Lucre—"

"Why are you apologizing to me?" he thickly chuckled, "I don't forgive idiots."

I seriously couldn't react on it. The men who I assumed were his friends talked to the group and even convinced them to pay for the foods!

"H-Huwag na," I declared, enough for them to hear.

They all turned to me.

"Anong nangyari, Mercian?" nag-aalalang tanong ni nanay Feran.

"At Kurt! Nako!"

A guy from Marcus' friends volunteered to help Kurt to stand. He seriously could stand the fuck up, he just acted in pain so the guy would accompany him.

Mga galawan ni Kurt! May nangyari na nga, paglalandi pa rin ang unang priority!

"Anong masakit?" the guy asked Kurt in such a soft manner.

"Dito," Kurt acted and even pointed at his butt!

"Kurt!" suway ko.

For heaven's sake! Everyone was watching us!

"Anyway, huwag niyo ng bayaran 'yan. Umalis na lang kayo at ipahiya pa ang mga sarili," I hissed to the group.

"Sorry—"

"Nags-sorry kayo ngayon dahil nahuli kayo. Umalis na nga kayo, hindi ko kailangan ng perang galing sa mga taong tulad ninyo," I interjected.

I didn't wait for them to leave, I immediately went to Kurt who was secretly hugging and admiring the guy's arm.

"Kami na lang po ang maglilinis dito," I heard Marcus saying that to aling Feran.

"Nako, hijo, kami na," nanay Feran told him.

"No, it's alright po," a guy assured nanay.

"Tara nga muna," I whispered at Kurt and didn't wait for him to talk.

"Uh, magiging okay ba 'yang kaibigan mo, miss?" the guy who helped Kurt asked.

"Okay lang siya!"

"I need a massage—"

"Mamaya ka na lumandi!" I hissed on his ears.

Diretso kaming pumasok sa free spaced room kung na saan si Nemo natutulog at nakatambak ang aming mga gamit.

I locked the door so no one would come in.

"Gaga, epal ka! Guwapo na nga 'yong tumulong sa akin—"

"Gaga ka rin! Siya 'yon!" I exclaimed.

"Sinong siya?"

"Siya! Si BJ!" I exaggerated.

Halos lumabas ang mga mata ni Kurt sa aking sinabi. Ang nakakunot niyang noo ay sumabay sa pagkagulat.

"Yong tumulong sa akin?" he asked.

"Gaga, hindi! 'yong sinigawan 'yong mga students kanina!"

"Ay malandi ka! 'yong pinakamatangkad na maputi pero maskulado—"

"Oo nga!"

"Gaga ka, Mercian!" he cussed, "ang guwapo nga!" kinikilig niyang sabi.

I slapped my forehead, I knew this would be his reaction! I knew it!

"Gaga, Kurt! Sinabi ko 'to sa 'yo kasi nagulat ako, hindi para kiligin! Ano ba? The food got wasted, hindi ko kayang ngumiti!" I fumed.

"Tapos kunwari ka pang masakit ang p'wet para lang mamasahe ng lalaking kaibigan niya, Kurt naman!" I added.

He only bursted a laugh as if what happened was too wonderful.

"Let's act natural!" I cheered.

"And professional!" he replied.

"Walang lalandi!" I declared.

"Kahit pasimple, bawal?" subok pa niya.

I groaned in so much frustration and he only took it as a joke.

"Kurt, makisama ka!" I commanded.

"Oh, sige na nga! Gaga ka talaga, Mercian, kaya pala guwapong guwapo ka sa kanya—"

"Sabi mo duda ka," I cut in.

"Mukhang natuto ka na ngayong mamili," he babbled.

"Let's not talk about Marcus, okay—"

"Aba! Kilala na!"

"Can you please stop putting meaning in it like some kind of dictionary?" I grunted.

I only knew him when he said his name, I didn't even bother memorizing it.

"Talaga naman, Mercian. Saan ka ba galit? Sa natapong pagkain o dahil nagkita kayo muli?" he teased me.

"Sa nasayang na pagkain," I immediately answered.

"Oh siya, sige. For sure they'll go eventually after cleaning the street. Huwag kang iiyak kung umalis sila—"

"Baka nga ikaw pa ang umiyak," I snorted.

Kurt's mouth hanged open when aling Feran knocked from outside.

"Mercian! Kauusapin daw sana nila kayo, may sasabihing importante," she called me.

Jusko.

"Tungkol saan daw po?" si Kurt ang nagtanong.

"May project yata silang gagawin tapos kailangan nila ng tulong ninyo. Kayo na lang ang mag-usap, patapos na silang maglinis!"

Kurt's lips slowly rose and all I could do was to wash my face with my hands. We heard Nemo's cry so Kurt immediately assisted the baby.

"Kurt, please act natural," paki-usap ko.