DUCANI LEGACY SERIES #2: KONNAR

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

Konnar

"What the hell is he doing back there?" naiinis na tanong ni Keios nang makita niya mula sa balkonahe ang makapal na usok na nagmumula sa likod ng bahay. I heard he went home late last night dahil sinundan si Khalila. Siguro nabulabog ang tulog dahil sa usok na pumasok sa kwarto niya.

I took a big bite on my pancake. "He's roasting something. A turkey, I think?"

"For what?" tanong niya habang papalabas kami ng bahay para puntahan si Kreige. "It's seven in the morning for fuck's sake."

"Pagkain yata ni Bully."

Keios groaned. "He's roasting a goddamn turkey for a dog? Hindi ba niya alam kung ano ang dog food? Puro usok na sa loob ng bahay!"

Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako. Nang marating namin si Kreige ay nagbangayan na naman ang dalawa, pero dahil ka-text ko si Sadie, hindi ko na namalayang naghahabulan na ang mga kapatid ko.

"Get back here! Babalian kita ng buto! Tignan ko lang kung makalaro ka pa next season!" Kreige shouted when Keios poured a bucket of water on the fire that took him hours to lit up.

Stressed na stressed na lumabas ng bahay si daddy nang marinig ang bangayan ng dalawa.

"What are you?! Kindergarten boys?!" his voice thundered.

Nagpigil ako ng ngisi. They don't actually fear Dad. Ang kinakatakot nila ay 'yong isusumbong sila ni Daddy kay Mama pagkauwi ni Mama galing ng cancer survivor's conference sa US.

I heard Keeno's footsteps. Nang tumabi siya sa akin habang may dalang tasa ng kape, ngumisi pa ako. "Look at them? I bet their fans don't expect them to behave this way." I sighed. "Ang weird talaga ng mga kapatid ko. Mabuti na lang sinwerte si Daddy sa akin."

Umismid si Keeno. "Sinwerte sayo? Do you have any idea how much of a pain in the ass you are?"

"Sa office lang naman."

He shook his head and looked at our brothers. "Ang kulit din ni Kreige. I already told him to just bake it. May oven naman. Mapilit. Ayaw daw ng girlfriend niya ng baked."

My brows furrowed. "Kreige is dating Bully?"

Nayayamot akong tinignan ni Keeno. "You know what, kuya? Sometimes I question how your brain really works. Of course he's not dating Bully!"

"Oh, right. Because Bully is a boy, right?"

Keeno groaned. "It's not for Bully, for goodness' sake! Babae at tao ang girlfriend niya!"

"Oh, highblood 'yan? Kakakape mo 'yan, bro."

Inis na inis niya akong tinalikuran saka siya bubulong-bulong na umalis. Hindi ko na lang pinansin. Nang mag-text si Sadie na maliligo na siya, naghanda na rin ako para pumasok.

I was about to leave when Dad called me. Naupo ako sa stool at tinignan ang ipad niya.

"What do you think?" he asked.

I tapped my fingers on the island counter. "Very similar to Hotel Khallisa."

"Exactly. I think Eiji Takishima is really pressing your button so you will reveal yourself, son. I heard that guy loves destroying his competition."

Umismid ako. "Hayaan mo lang siya, Dad. Hindi ko naman siya tinuturing na kakumpitensya. Let him compete with himself."

Daddy sighed. "What if he's the reason why your ex keeps on insisting that the boy is yours?"

"We've done the test countless of times already, Daddy. Hindi naman ako tatakbo sa responsibilidad kung akin talaga. Let them do what they want." I tapped him on his shoulder. "You don't have to worry about me, Dad. I'm living my best life."