Chapter 5

Sinabihan ko na siyang pumwesto sa loob ng linyang tinuro ko. Agad naman siyang sumunod. I also went to position myself in the actual line that I just made.

He's now wearing one of the tshirts that I bought just for him. Isang Nike lang naman 'yon, at naka-short din siya na black with the same brand. Bagay na bagay para sa lalaruin namin ngayon.

On the other hand, I'm still in my racerback sando, na ngayon ko lang napansin na wala pala akong bra sa ilalim. Kaya nga minabuti ko na lang kaninang isipin na dagdagan pa ang thrill sa larong 'to. Hindi ko naman kasi talaga naisip na magpa-blindfold pa. Pero nang maramdamang wala nga pala akong suot na bra mula pa kaninang umaga, at tinamad nang magsuot pa ng isa, mabuti at naisipan ko itong naisip ko ngayon.

Hindi naman yata nalagyan ng kung anong kamunduhan ang isip nitong lalaking 'to. Being isolated his whole life, I doubt he ever encountered someone that can let him experience or just know those kinds of things.

Pero mas mabuti nang sigurado. Kaya pinag-igihan ko na nga lang ang naisip kong idea dahil tatakbo-takbo pa naman kami mamaya, at baka makita pang umaalog-alog ang cup B kong boobs.

"I can sense it if you touched the red lines. That indicates that you have passed the line, and will conclude that you lose the round."

Mas lalo lang kumunot ang noo niya. His face has been looking like he really isn't liking anything that I came up with, pero mas lumala lang ang tingin niya sa 'kin ngayon.

"I even have no idea how to play this game! But you're already giving so many twists to it! How am I supposed to win now?!"

I smiled playfully. "Makapagdabog ka naman d'yan. Hindi mo pa nga alam ang mangyayari kung sakaling matalo ka nga."

His face just showed how he got annoyed even more.

"Bakit? Ano bang gagawin mo sa 'kin kapag natalo nga ako?"

"Hmm," I put my finger on my chin. "You'll know it later."

His eyes just got even angrier at me. Mas lalo lang akong natawa sa galit na mukha niya. para nga siyang batang magdadabog.

If he starts to throw a literal tantrum now, I might be convinced to throw him out of this house, too. Hindi pa naman ako sanay na nagtitimpi kapag may nagwawala sa harap ko.

Hindi naman na siya nagsalita pa pagkatapos no'n. Klaro nga lang ang panghihimutok at pagdadabog niya, pero hindi ko na lang pinansin pa.

I gave him the other blindfold in my hands, and gestured him to wear it. Pero bigla ko na lang din itong binawi. Napangisi na lang ako ulit sa kanya.

"Ikot ka na lang. Ako na magsusuot sa 'yo para sure."

Hindi na siya umimik at sinunod na lang agad ang sinabi ko. Medyo nahirapan pa ako sa pagsuot no'n sa kanya dahil sa tangkad niya kaya tumingkayad pa ako. Hindi pa man umaabot ang isang minuto, all set na ang golden boy niyo.

"Now how will I know if you're also blindfolding yourself?"

"I could be anything in this world, boy. But I'm never a cheater."

Natahimik na naman siya. I put my blindfold on and secured it properly on my head, then finally focused on my surroundings to place myself in my right position.

Not long after, I bent my knees to gesture that I am already ready for this game. With the dark fabric covering my sight, I literally have no idea what the Delgado kid is doing. Basta, nang maramdaman kong ayos naman din yata ang posisyon niya, saka na ako nagsalita ulit.

"We'll start in three," I said with authority. Now I felt the surroundings getting even tensed than never before.

"I literally have no idea about this, but whatever." I heard him mumble to himself, but it still reached my ears.

"Two," I counted again. "One."

"Let's get this started, Delgado." I whispered as if he can hear me.

I bent my knees even more, but not to the point in where I am already kneeling on the ground. Both my hands stretched on both sides of me, just like how the game actually is played. Hindi ko pa rin makita o mahulaan man lang ang ginagawa ng kalaro ko. But I sure am hearing his every step with the sharpness of my sense of hearing.

I heard him going to the right, so I also got that way to prevent him from passing through me. When he then went to the left side, I also went that way.

Those moves continued and replayed for a few times, and I am actually... not getting bored.

No'ng nilalaro ko ito no'ng bata pa ako, kanina pa ako napikon kasi ang b*bo naman maglaro ng mga kalaro ko. Masasabihan ka ngang magaling kasi hindi mo nga napapalusot ang kalaban sa bantay ko, pero maiinip ka naman kasi ang tagal nga niyang makausad.

Pero bahala na at kailangan ko ngang pagtimpihan ang isang 'to. Wala nga rin naman akong ibang magagawa. Ayoko lang din naman tumunganga at titigan lang siya para makuha ang gusto ko sa kanya.

"Tsk," I heard him hiss for a second. I smirked knowing that he probably is having a hard time playing.

"Just feel me, boy. Then you'll know what to do." I said that in an almost flirtatious voice.

"F*ck,"

Napatigil ako sa paggalaw sa posisyon ko at kahit naka-blindfold, nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Did he just curse?

"Sh*t,"

Mas lalo lang akong natigilan sa muli niyang pagmura. Really?! I can't believe this!

At baka nga dahil naramdaman niya ang pagtigil ko sa paglaro, agad siyang nakalusot sa 'kin. I concluded that when a sudden rush of wind was felt on my right side. Hindi na ako nag-reklamo pa at umikot na naman sa likod ko para doon na naman magbantay sa kanya.

"Nice one, boy. You got me there," I said in a teasing but sarcastic tone, too.

Narinig kong tumawa siya. "Yeah. You just heard me curse and your world literally stopped, huh?"

My forehead contracted a bit. "Yeah? And when you felt me stopped, you took it to your advantage, eh? Thank me for being such a surprised kitty, then."

"Thank you."

I smirked at his answer. "But you're still not going to win for another time, Delgado."

"I thought you'll be calling me Sid now, hmm?"

"If that's where you're comfortable with, Sid," I smirked even wider. "Baby boy also sounds good, hmm?"

I don't even know if we're still playing this game right. Talagang walang thrill dahil isang beses niya lang naman akong lulusutan, at balik na naman. Pero ano namang magagawa ko? Alangan naman kunin ko ang mga standees ko ng mga anime characters para samahan kaming maglaro dito?

Umiling-iling na lang ako. Bahala na. Wala nga rin palang alam ang isang 'to sa mga ganito. Hindi 'to makakapag-judge.

"Now." I said to initiate the start of another round.

Ang plano, hindi talaga muna siya palalabasin hanggang sa makalampas siya sa 'kin ng limang beses. Kung sa original pa na laro 'to, mas masaya nga kasi madami ka pang guards na lalampasan para lang makapunta sa pinakadulo ng kahon at saka pa makaka-score. Pero dahil nga dadalawa lang kami, ako nga lang ang lalampasan niya. at kapag ma-distract lang ako ng kaonti, pwede siyang manalo agad.

So I really need to focus. Excited na akong ipagawa sa kanya mamaya ang parusang hinanda ko kapag natalo nga siya. I can't wait to see the look in his face once I...

Hindi na natuloy pa ang mga pinag-iisip ko nang maramdaman ko na naman ang paggalaw niya. I felt him swiftly move to the right side, kaya doon din ako nagtungo. It's not a very windy weather, so with the rush of wind I feel in his every movement, signals me effectively on what he's doing.

Apat na square nga ang ginuhit ko kanina, pero hindi ko na lang pinansin pa ang nakahati pang dalawang square sa pagitan ng dalawa pang square. Habang nasa linya ko, kapag nakalusot na naman siya sa 'kin, ayos na. Makakapuntos na siya.

Kaya naman pinag-igihan ko sa pagkakataong ito. Kailangan ko talaga siyang matalo. Excited na akong matalo siya.

Sa bandang kaliwa na naman siya kumilos, at agad naman akong sumunod sa kung nas'an na siya, nakaabang ang dalawang kamay ko sa gilid para mahuli siya kung sakaling bigla siyang lumiko sa kanan.

Pero nang maramdaman kong medyo napalapit siya sa 'kin, I extended my left arm to try to catch him. Pero agad siyang nakailag at nakatakbo sa kanan, at pasimpleng nakalusot!

Padabog akong tumalikod para harapin siya. Now I can feel his arrogant air. G*go. Hindi ko inaasahan agad siyang makakalusot!

I was an expert in this game when I was young. Pero bakit bigla na lang akong nalulusutan nitong lalaking 'to?! Kainis!

"Yeah? Happy because you won again, Delgado? You're not going to win this time,"

I heard him chuckle, and the air even became even more tensed. "Guess I'm a fast learner, huh?"

"G*go ka." Inis kong tugon.

Mas tumawa lang siya. "Now threatened, hmm?"

"Asa ka."

He chuckled again for a few moments, before I finally felt him positioning himself on his preferred position inside the box that I drew on the ground, to start another round of the game.

I readied myself, too. So, I slowly bent my knees again. At nang maramdaman kong kumilos na siya, I convinced myself to be even more attentive this time. Dalawang beses pa lang siyang nakalusot sa 'kin pero parang pagod na agad ko dahil sa inis.

I have to get this thing done, fast.

Mabilis niyang tinakbo ang sa kanan ko, kaya mabilis din akong tumakbo d'on para habulin siya. Hahablutin ko na sana siya dahil naramdaman kong medyo napalapit siya sa 'kin pero agad siyang nakailag!

Pinakiramdaman ko ang remote na nasa bulsa ng pantalon ko pero hindi naman 'yon nag-vibrate, signaling that he might've touched the laser lines on the sides of the square where we're playing. Pero wala. Napamura ako sa isip ko.

"What will I get when I win, then?" he suddenly asked.

Binalik ko sa bawat gilid ko ang mga braso ko, hindi na papayag na makalusot na naman siya sa 'kin gaya kanina.

"It's up to you. I can do whatever you want, if you want."

"Hmm-kay,"

Naalerto ako nang maramdaman kong sa kaliwa na naman siya nagtungo, kaya mabilis ko siyang hinarangan d'on. Pero nagulat na lang ako nang bigla ko siyang naramdamang mabilis na tumakbo sa kabilang direksyon.

I was about to get mad again when I felt the fabric of his shirt on the tip of my fingers.

I then started to smile wickedly, pagkatapos ay hinubad na nga ang suot kong blindfold. I then turned to him with that same smile, and extended my arms to show to him the finger that touched his shirt a while ago.

"Nahuli kita!" I then laughed in victory.

Hindi pa nga pala yata niya alam kung paano kunin ang blindfold na sinuot ko sa kanya kanina. Kaya napairap muna ako bago pumunta sa kanya at tinulungan siyang tanggalin 'yon.

And when I successfully help him to get rid of his blindfold, it took him a few seconds to adjust to the light, then finally turned to me with a confused look.

"Ha?"

"Nahuli kita kanina,"

He seem to not get it quickly.

"Ha?" tanong niya ulit.

"Nahuli kita kanina,"

"Ha?"

"Nahuli kita- Kanina pa tayo pabalik-balik, ah!"

Hindi naman talaga ko nainis sa pabalik-balik namin sa mga pinagsasabi. Natawa pa nga ako pagkatapos. He still has a very disappointed look.

"P-Paano?"

"'Yong damit mo, naabot ko kanina," malaki pa rin ang ngiti sa labi ko. "Ibig sabihin, nahuli na kita. Talo ka na."

Mas lalo lang akong napangiti sa panlulumo sa mukha niya.

"N-No..."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makitang nagsimulang kumulubot ang mga labi niya at parang maiiyak pa nga habang nakayuko at nakatitig lang sa lupa. His shoulders are now so down and not long after, I already heard him sobbing.

I gasped and covered my mouth in disbelief. Why so vulnerable, my big boy?

Umawang ang labi ko sa gulat, hindi inaasahan na... ganito agad ang magiging reaksyon niya.

I placed my hand on his back, then gently crouched down to see his face. And yeah, he is indeed crying.

Hindi ko naman alam kung anong gagawin. Aaluin ko ba 'to? Sasabihing hindi pa naman tapos ang laro, at pwedeng maglaro pa kami ulit? O baka pwedeng itapon ko na nga lang talaga 'to sa dagat?

"H-Hoy," inalo ko na lang ang bata. "'Wag ka namang u-umiyak agad. Shh,"

Narinig ko na naman ang pagsinghot niya. Napabuntonghininga ako.

"H-Hindi naman gano'n kalala ang sinabi kong parusa, eh. Hindi naman kita papahirapan talaga." Hinimas-himas ko na ang likod niya para kumalma.

"But I still lost..." he said devastatingly.

I sighed again. "Sid, hindi naman masamang matalo, ah? Tahan na. Tara, inom tayo tubig."

Hindi na siya umimik pa. In-off ko muna ang mga laser lights kanina, saka tuluyan siyang iginiya sa gilid ng bakuran, kung saan may isang lamesa na nilagyan ko kanina ng tubig, juice at snacks para makain namin pagkatapos na maglaro.

Nasa likod niya pa rin ang kamay ko, at hanggang sa makaupo na kami ay umiiyak pa rin siya. I then started to wonder if what made him feel this way for such a very petty reason.

He was raised alone, with no one else besides his parents for support. Wala siyang kapatid, hindi siya nakapag-aral, at buong buhay niya, sa kanya lang nakatuon ang atensyon ng mga magulang niya.

So, I doubt that he's ever been in a competition before. I mean, there's probably no one that can challenge his insights or experiences about life for his whole life, kaya nakakapagtataka na bigla na lang siyang umiiyak dahil lang natalo siya.

If he's never been compared to anyone before, and he's never been in a competition with anyone, he must've never lost in anything. Pero bakit parang ngayon, grabe na lang ang panlulumo niya?

I doubt it's because it's his first time losing. Because of the shivering of his lips, he looks like he's been traumatized in something in the past. Like he really is expecting something horrible after he knew that he lost.

"A-Ayos ka na?" I asked him after I let him drink a glass of orange juice.

Nakatulala lang siya sa harap, nang dali-dali na lang siyang tumango sa tanong ko.

I really am starting to notice that something is going on. But on the other hand, I also felt assured that this boy... is indeed childish like what everyone has been telling me about.

Maybe in that game, he seemed a bit arrogant and playful. He even cursed. But there's just something inside me telling me that that's not all he is.

I see it now in every single action he makes. Hindi naman yata nadadala ng pag-arte ang bawat panginginig ng katawan niya at ang ngayo'y naninindig na niya mga balahibo sa braso, na bahagya niyang hinihimas para pakalmahin ang sarili.

With his arms around himself, just staring at the sight in front of him like he's afraid of even the slightest touch of wind on his skin, he really looks like he's not faking it.

His actions are now real, as I can see, but I still have to find out soon why the hell is he acting like this. Why he looks like he really is traumatized.

Kasi kung gan'on nga ang ipinipakita niya ngayon, then there's no one else to blame. His parents must've been hiding something. And was probably doing something horrible to their only child, which maybe is the reason why they chose to keep him only for themselves.

"T-That's all for the day na lang. We can rest na after this. You can go to your room,"

He turned his head to face me, still with a disappointed face, but now fear is also evident in his eyes.

"How about the punishment you just said?"

"'Wag mo nang isipin pa 'yon," pang-aalo ko sa kanya, para mawala na ang takot at pangamba sa mga mata niya.

"No. You said there will be a punishment if I lose. I want to know, what should it be, then?"

"'Wag mo na sabing isipin pa-"

"I want to know! What is it supposed to be, then? Were you about to let me do some very hard stuff? Like, getting myself into the dark room?"

Natigilan ako sa bigla niyang pinagsasabi. His eyes were wide like he's so terrified to talk about what he's been stammering about, like he just experienced all those things. Being... in a dark room?

What could be the connection of that to our situation?

Or worse, what could be the connection of that to his life? If he's the beloved heir of the Delagados, how can they let him be in danger? How can they let their one and only successor experience such a torture, if it did happen, in their own hands?

This family really is getting more interesting as I spend more time with this boy. But at the same time, I felt a hint of pity in me, after knowing and realizing that maybe... this boy must've also been in suffering for all the years he spent with just his parents.

Hindi ko na siya sinagot at tinapik na lang ang balikat niya para senyasan na pumasok na kami sa bahay. Hindi pa muna siya natinag n'ong una, pero ilang sandali ay natauhan na din naman siya at sabay na nga kaming pumasok sa bahay.

He was still silent when we reached his room. His shoulders still show how sulky he is at the moment, while also bowing his head.

Magkaharap kami ngayon sa tapat ng pintuan ng kwarto niya. Ilang sandali muna kaming natahimik, saka ko tinapik muli ang balikat niya para magpaalam na.

"Hapon na rin naman, at dumidilim na rin. You better wash up now, and I'll just call you here again for dinner. Alright?" I tried to sound friendly, to somehow calm the still evident nervousness and disappointment in him.

"Okay," he agreed in a small voice. Napabuntonghininga ako.

"Don't think too much about what I said before the game, Sid. It won't matter now. We'll just have another game or any form of leisure activity tomorrow. Don't expect some punishments from now on. Wala na lang tayong magiging competition para mapanatag ka."

"Okay," he said again lowly.

I sighed heavily again, before taking small steps back to able out of the place. Leaving him there, still in deep thoughts about something I still have yet to find out.