Kabanata 14
ONE THING that Linus realized about Ivler is that he's such a big baby who loves to be taken care of as if he's always the one doing all the work before and he somehow enjoys being the one getting pampared now.
Nasa kusina sila ng clubhouse at nakaupo sa stool si Ivler habang niluluto niya ang almusal. Ivler is on his phone watching some replay of his last game as if he's trying to figure out how he actually plays in the field. His hair is still messy and his tongue keeps on making tick sounds as if it's his mannerism when he's focusing on something.
As if Ivler noticed that he's looking at him, tumingin ito sa kanya matapos i-pause ang pinanonood upang ipakita ang nasa video. "Look how hot I am?" Kunwari ay bumuntong hininga ito habang nakatitig sa phone. "God, you're so lucky Ivler Beckham is all yours."
Umismid siya at binato ito ng kamatis na kaagad ding sinalag saka tatawa-tawang dinampot.
"You better stop flexing those abs or I might end up bombing a whole stadium, Ivler," he joked that made Ivler chuckle softly.
Nang matapos makapagluto ng fried rice at tapa na request nito, nilapag ni Linus ang pagkain sa island counter saka naupo sa katabi nitong stool.
Nagkamot naman ng patilya si Ivler saka kinunot ang noo. "I really think I didn't play well last season. Baka kung wala si Keison sa field, talagang mahihirapan akong maka-score. I don't wanna be dependent on him, though. What if he suddenly quits?"
Linus lifted the spoon and started feeding his big baby. Sumubo naman ito at binalik ang tingin sa screen ng phone.
"Maybe you should try to switch roles with Ducani during trainings. Imbes ikaw ang magpasa ng bola ay ikaw ang dumiskarte para sa goal. That way, your opponents would have a hard time interpreting your play," he commented.
Ivler smirked then swallowed the food in his mouth. "Maybe you should quit your job and be a coach instead."
Umismid siya at sinubuan itong muli. "Nah, you'll act like a total baby if I'll be your coach."
Tinaasan siya nito ng kilay. "Should I take that as an insult?" Ivler asked while resting his hand on Linus' thigh. Pabiro pa nitong tinaas-baba ang palad sa kanyang hita kaya nang pumasok si Gui at Yvez ay parang nakakita ng multo.
Sabay silang napatingin ni Ivler sa dalawa na kaagad namula at umiwas ng tingin. Palibhasa ay madalas tuksuhin ang mga ito mula nang maamin nila ni Ivler ang nararamdaman para sa isa't isa.
"K—Kape lang ako," nahihiyang ani ni Yvez.
"Beer. I need a beer," Gui said in a breathy way.
Nang nagsimulang magbangayan ang dalawa dahil imbes na sa fridge magtungo si Gui ay sa coffee maker, hindi napigilan ni Linus ang mapailing.
"You said you want beer so why the fuck are you here?" asik ni Yvez.
"Gago, sabi ko kape."
"No, you didn't."
Inirapan ito ni Gui. "Bingi ka lang."
Mapang-asar na umismid si Ivler. "I remember how many curses and punches we threw at each other. It's fine, guys if, you know, gonna follow our footsteps—"
"Oh, hell no!"
"No fucking way!"
Sabay na napatingin ang dalawa sa isa't isa saka nag-irapan kaya bumuhanglit ng tawa si Ivler. Natatawa na lang na kumutsara ng pagkain si Linus saka ito sinubuan nang manahimik dahil mukhang aasarin pa lalo ang dalawa.
"Enough, love," he uttered in a low but warning tone.
Ivler tried to breathe deeply to control his laughter. "Okay, sorry. Can't help it."
Nginuya nito ang pagkain saka sumubo ulit. Mayamaya ay inilapag nina Gui at Yvez ang mugs sa counter top saka sila pinanood. Ngumuso naman si Gui saka kinunot ang noo. "Kailan pa nawalan ng kamay 'yang si Ivler, Shault?"
Mapang-inis na ngumisi si Ivler. "Why? Missed being pampered, too? Lagi ka namang pinagluluto ni Yvez."
"That's a different thing, asshole," asik nito saka sumimsim sa kape. Nang makitang nagpigil ng tawa si Yvez ay mangani-ngani itong tadyakan ni Gui. "Tangina mo hindi tayo talo."
Umismid ito at tinaasan ng kilay si Gui. "If I'd go gay, I'd pick someone like Ivler or Linus. I won't give up pussies for someone like you."
Inirapan ito ni Gui saka bumulong-bulong na parang bubuyog habang paalis dala ang kape nito. Natatawa na lang na nagtinginan ang tatlo dahil sa pagkapikon ni Gui.
"Meron pa ba? Nagugutom na ko," ani Yvez saka hinimas ang sariling tiyan.
Tinuro ni Linus ang kawali. "Huwag mo lang laitin."
Yvez smirked. "Malalait ko pa ba sa lakas sumipa niyang partner mo? May catering pa ko sa Sabado, gusto kong magtrabaho nang maayos."
Natatawa na lang na umiling si Linus bago siya uminom ng kape. Kumilos naman si Yvez at pinagsandok ang sarili habang nagpatuloy sa panonood ng video si Ivler.
They were in total peace for the next couple minutes until Sandro's irritating singing voice echoed as he stormed inside the kitchen. Nang makita ang nayayamot nilang mga tingin ay ngingisi-ngisi pa itong bumati.
"Good morning, boys." Lumapit ito kay Linus at humalik sa kanyang pisngi para bwisitin ang ubod ng selosong si Ivler na mangani-nganing batuhin ng kutsara ang kaibigan.
Humagalpak ng tawa si Sandro. "Come on, bro. We're partners, too."
"At your job, dumbass," asik ni Ivler na halos magdugtong ang masungit na kilay.
Natatawang sinaway ni Linus ang kaibigan. "Tigilan mo, Sandro alam mo nang pikon." He gently squeezed Ivler's knee. "Just eat so we can go."
"Why? Where are you going?" usyoso ng hindi pa aminadong chismosong si Yvez.
"He's needed in Bayou," sagot niya.
"Sama ko," singit ng mapambwisit na si Sandro.
"Nah, you're not welcome in Bayou anymore, Lankova," ani Ivler.
"Ayaw mo? Mas mabilis kung naka-helicopter," si Sandro.
Linus smirked. "Oo nga. Kaya nga gagamitin namin ang helicopter mo."
"See? Helicopter is more—what the fuck tapos ako ang hindi pwedeng sumama?"
"Linus can fly it. We don't need your existence, bro," pang-aasar ni Ivler.
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Sandro. "Mga walang utang na loob. Sana hindi ko na lang chinismis sa MCB na trip ninyo ang isa't isa kung tatraydurin niyo lang ako nang ganito," asik nito habang nagmamartsa palabas na akala mo ay nalugi nang husto.
Mayamaya ay bumuntong hininga na lamang si Yvez saka nito binuhat ang tasa nito. "I'll leave you guys alone now. Thanks for the food. It's a little salty—" Natigil ang sasabihin nito nang biglang magpatunog ng leeg at knuckles si Ivler. Yvez even swallowed hard then looked at Linus again with a pale face. "It's good, oo it's good. Pwede ka nang mag-asawa."
Napakamot na lang ng batok si Linus nang lumayas ito nang tuluyan. Looks like despite being the youngest member of MCB, Ivler is somehow one of those whom the other bachelors don't wanna mess with. Hindi niya naman masisisi ang mga ito. He had firsthand experience of how hard Ivler can punch and kick anyway.
Nang mapabaling siyang muli kay Ivler, tinuwid niya sandali ang kanyang likod saka ito pinanood na uminom ng kape.
"We can't tell your parents yet, Ivler. Your dad will surely have a heart attack."
Napansin niyang lumamlam ang mga mata nito. Mayamaya ay sandali itong humugot ng malalim na hininga saka hinilamos ang palad sa mukha.
"Would that be fine with you? Lahat ng ex ko nag-demand na ipakilala ko."
Ngumisi siya at sinuklay ang mga daliri sa magulo nitong buhok. "We're both men. We know how to adjust. Maybe that's the benefit of this relationship."
Tumaba ang puso niya nang sumilip ang munting ngiti sa mga labi nito, ngunit nang tila may naalala, sandali itong napabuntong hininga at niyuko ang ulo.
"About... your goal to have a family, especially kids, sorry if I ruined it." Lumunok ito. "If you will soon change your mind about us because you'll realize that you really want a family, I will understand, love. I don't wanna be selfish with you—"
"You didn't ruin my dream and I won't change my mind." He angled his body to face Ivler. "There are so many ways for couples like us to have kids, Ivler. We'll figure out everything, don't worry."
Tinitigan siya nito sa mga mata saka muling huminga nang malalim. "But that's a long-time dream and wouldn't it be weird for kids to grow up with two dads and there's no momma?"
Kinuha niya ang kamay nito at marahang hinaplos ang likod gamit ang kanyang hinlalaki. "Nasa upbringing 'yan. If someday we'll take things in a different level, then we'll do everything we can to raise kids in a way that they'll understand that love has no gender so stop telling me that you ruined my dream." He lifted Ivler's hand and let it rest on his left chest while he's locking eyes with Ivler. "This is more important to me. I know it's rare and once I lose it, it's gonna take me a hundred lifetimes just to feel this again..."
Ivler swallowed then flashed a ghost of a smile. "If that's your way of saying you love me then I love you too, Shault. I love you, too..."