Napailing na ibinulsa niya ang cellphone niya at buksan ang pinto. He left the door ajar and went downstairs. Hindi niya nakita ang parents niya sa sala. His cell phone vibrated. He checked it, it was the delivery guy. Nasa labas na raw ito ng gate nila at hinihintay siya.
His parents weren’t in the kitchen. Hindi niya alam kung nasaan ang mga ito. That was a relief. Lumabas siya at kinuha’t binayad ang in-order niya. Nang muli siyang pumasok sa loob ng bahay ay dumiretso siya sa dining room.
He filled the goblet with grappa, a liquor consisting of grape pomace. Tahimik siyang kumain at uminom. Hindi niya alam kung bakit ang tahimik ng bahay. Naalala niya sa tuwing kasabay niyang kumain ang parents niya. The arguments and utensil clasp are like in one, an earsplitting. Napailing na tinapos niya ang natirang pagkain sa plato niya.
Lumabas siya at pumunta sa likod ng bahay. Wala namang rason na magmamadali siya dahil mismong si Tristan na rin ang nagsuhetisyong susunduin siya nito.
Mayroon din siyang sasakyan. At ang suhetisyon ni Tristan ay mas maganda kasi ‘pag siya ang susundo sa huli or magkita sila sa isang lugar either na siya ang unang makarating or binago nito ang meeting place.
Malawak ang bakuran ng kanilang bahay. Maraming bulaklak doon. At paboritong tambayan ng parents niya. Bigla niyang narinig ang boses ng Mommy at Daddy niya. Nag-uusap ang dalawa. On the chair surrounded by orchids, his parents were seated as is customary for them. Ayaw niyang pakinggan ang pinag-usapan ng parents niya. He heard his name, nevertheless.
“Hindi ko alam kung saan nagmana si, Cairo.” Pailing na sambit ni Carlos, ang Daddy niya. “Wala naman akong bisyo.”
“Nagulat ka pa, Carlos, malamang iniimpluwensyahan ‘yon ng mga kaibigan niya,” Mom said. “He even disagrees with the beautiful plan you have prepared. Paano kasi ay mas gusto niyang makasama ang mga masamang kaibigan niya kaysa mag-aral nang mabuti.”
Again, there it is. An accusatory statement. How refreshing. Should he appear right away and face them? But he was unable to move. Nakatayo siya roon sa dilim at naghintay ng higit pa sa kanilang pag-uusap.
“He is comparable to other guys of his generation. However, it’s excessive. He gradually became the kind of son he isn’t supposed to be.” Nagpakawala nang malalim na buntong hininga si Carlos at nagpatuloy. “Sakit ng ulo ang ibinigay ni Cairo, as always. He was involved in school, pub, and street fights.”
Incredulous, Cairo stood still.
“I’m worried, Cecilia. What if sooner or later, ay gagamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot si Cairo? I couldn’t shoulder shame.”
“Neither me, Carlos. We should ship Cairo to Australia.” Mrs. Cecilia proposed.
That was never new to Cairo. And never did he concur. Illicit substances? His parents wanted to ship him abroad for that reason. What a thought. May bisyo nga siya pero kailaman ay hindi siya sang-ayon na gamitin o makita man ng personal ang tinatawag nilang ipinagbabawal na gamot na iyon.
“What does that fellow know about the world?” Carlos asked.
“He’s a hipster. He perceived the world through the prism of alcohol, He loved the rush of adrenaline that came with driving fast, the burn of the alcohol as it slid down his throat, and the unbridled passion of his conquests. How long have we been pleading with him to refrain from going out with his pals? smoking, drinking, and that female addiction? Iniwan ba niya ang mga ‘yon? Nakinig ba siya? Hindi kailanman.” Nagpapahiwatig ng pagkadismaya ang mukha ni Cecilia.
Carlos nodded. “Well, it is not, other parents have a stupid son too. But Cairo, though, is too much.”
Cairo shook his head and turned his back. He went inside and slammed the door. He checked his cell phone. He received a message from Tristan. Nagmumura ito. Nasa labas na raw ito ng gate nila. What’s wrong? It wasn’t a call time yet. Naisip na naman niya muli na may problema si Tristan. He felt it in his bones. Nararamdaman niya iyon sa tono ng pananalita nito.
He went upstairs to his room. Nagbibihis siya. He wore simple shorts and a T-shirt. Pagkatapos magbihis ay lumabas na siya. Hindi pa rin nakapasok sa loob ang parents niya.
Kaagad niyang nakikita ang nakaparadang sasakyan ni Tristan. Kaagad din siyang pumasok sa passenger side ng sasakyan nito. Napatingin siya sa buong mukha nito. Hindi maamo ang histura ni Tristan. Ibig sabihin niyon ay may problema talaga ito. Perhaps Tristan has just been in a breakup. He didn’t understand why a player like Tristan was feeling broken. Unbelievable.
Cairo heard Tristan’s profound sigh. Tahimik ang naghari sa loob ng sasakyan nito. Cairo felt uncomfortable. His chest pounding and it hammered in his ears. “Are you alright?”
“Alright? Kanina pa ako rito sa labas.”
“Thought you were jerking off,” jests Cairo.
Tristan started the engine of his car. Parang mali ang desisyon niyang sumakay sa kaibigan. Nararamdaman niyang parang may masamang mangyayari. He felt nervous while looking at Tristan’s hands on the steering wheel.
“If you aren’t okay, please stop this car at ako mag-drive.”
Hindi siya nito pinansin kaya tumahimik na rin siya. Paglipas ng isang minuto ay naging mabilis ang pagpatakbo nito. Wala naman masyadong sasakyan sa daan na iyon dahil hindi iyon ang main road papunta sa Aces bar ang paborito nilang tambayan.
“Would you please slow down, Trist?”
He glanced at Cairo. “What’s wrong with you? Ikaw itong parang lumilipad ‘pag nagpapatakbo ng sasakyan. And you even ask me to stop? Eff.”
Cairo shook his head hard. His fingers began trembling. Sa tanang buhay niya ay noon lang siya nakaramdam ng takot lalo na’t pabilis nang pabilis ang pagpatakbo ni Tristan. “Please, alam kong may problema ka. But this isn’t good. Slow down, please.”
“I said shut the eff up. I’m enjoying this ride. Besides ano bang nakakatakot?”
“Okay, then focus.” Cairo gasped.
Tristan gave a long profound sigh.
“Trist, ano bang nangyari? May problema ka ba talaga?”
“My Mom...” Hinigpitan nito ang pagkahawak sa manibela. “I think she’ll leave us soon... May lalaki si Mommy. I and Dad just found it out.” Halos pabulong na dagdag nito.
Cairo silent. Hindi niya alam kung nagbibiro lang ito. But he did see the disappointment in Tristan’s eyes. The sadness shadowed his face. Iyon ba ang rason kung bakit siya nito niyayang lumabas at uminom. Kailangan nito ang kausap.
May gustong itanong si Cairo pero hindi niya inaasahan ang sumusunod na nangyari nang biglang sumalpok ang sasakyan ni Tristan sa isang sasakyan na biglang tumawid. Hindi kasi nagpabagal ng takbo si Tristan at biglang pumasok sa main road.
Walang gumagalaw. The area is chaotic with cries for aid, at ang tunog ng pagbasag ng salamin na nahulog sa semento. Ang inalam ng lahat kung may nakaligtas o patay ang lahat ng sangkot sa aksidente.