The Happy Prince

14. Unpredectable

"He's my younger brother, and I don't know him well, Sylvi. We have boundaries, and we don't intend to go overboard." He shrugged his shoulder and smiled while looking at the golf field.

That night ended, and Edward invited me for an early golf play. And this is why I'm sitting across him while having my bitter, warm coffee.

I'm not a big fan of coffee, but it sometimes helps me release my stress as I feel now. I was confused, and I hadn't seen Alessandro since last night.

I might see him early today, but I was disappointed knowing he flew early to the other side of the country. But later, he will be back.

"Yes, we have the same father but different mothers." Kindat niya at inom sa kape niya.

The session ended early. That's why we have our late coffees. I don't particularly appreciate drinking tea or cold drinks, so I choose the latter.

"Pero nakakapagsalita ka ng tagalog. In fairness, hindi halata sa mukha mo. Mestiso ka kasi," ngiti ko.

"Is that a compliment?" He looks at me with a confident smile.

"Think of it that way. It's better than the other way." I stated, laughing and shaking my head.

"I travel around with Papa, and I need to be multi-lingual, Sylvi."

I nodded and took a deep breath. Kunot-noo pa ang pagtitig ko sa mini golf club set na nasa tabi niya. Sandaling natahimik kami at tumayo siya dahil nag vibrate ang cellphone niya. May tumatawag sa kanya.

Sumenyas lang din siya at tumango na ako. Hinayaan ko na siya at tahimik lang din akong nakatitig sa likod niya.

He was talking in Chinese, and I couldn't understand a single word. I finish my coffee and grab the golf stick I borrowed from Uncle Estefan.

Ito lang din ang bitbit ko dahil wala naman talaga akong equipment dito. Kung hindi lang ako naabutan ni Edward kagabi ay hindi rin ako sasama sa kanya ngayon. Pero kasi nahihiya ako, kaya wala akong choice at sumama na.

I stood up and stretched both of my arms in the air. I put my hands on my hips and inhaled freely.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa mini golf club set niya na sa tabi ng upuan niya. Nangunot ulit ang noo ko nang mapansin na may markang pula ang gilid ng bahagi ng isa sa mga golf stick niya rito.

Imbes na hawakan, akmang napayuko ako para matitigan ito nang husto.

Stain? Red stain? No, it's blood. . . It is blood. My mind speaks in silence.

"Sylvi, I need to - "

Nahinto agad siya nang makita ang ginagawa ko. Kaya mabilis kong inayos ang sarili. Humakbang siya at ngayon nasa gilid ko na. Napayuko siya at tiningnan ang bagay na ito.

"Is that some sort of blood stain?"

He cleared his throat and then bent his body to reach for it.

"Uhm, I took one golf stick with me last night. And probably hit some rabbits wandering around."

May dinukot agad siya sa bulsa at ang puting panyo niya ito.

"Pinag-praktisan mo ang rabbit? Kawawa naman," nguso ko. Napansin ko rin ito kagabi. Maraming wild rabbits sa labas ng palasyo.

"We haunt and coo them, Sylvi. . . I remember when we hunted wild rabbits, and Alessandro couldn't even shoot one. I got two dozen while he got one rabbit and was still alive." He smirked and laughed a little bit while wiping the stain on it.

I smile a little bit, feeling uneasy. If I were in Alessandro's shoes, I would do the same. I couldn't kill a pet, not even a pest.

I look a rabbit as a pet and will never eat it. Sabihin man nila na wild rabbit ito ay cute pa rin at mukhang pet ito sa paningin ko. Hindi ko magagawang kainin ito.

"Ugh," I shrugged my shoulder as I imagined it.

"Hindi ka pa nakakain ng rabbit ano?" pilyong ngiti niya. Tapos na siya.

"Hindi pa, at wala akong balak na kumain nito."

Natawa agad siya at hinila na ang set golf niya. Kinuha ko na ang isang golf stick na hiniram ko kay Tiyo Estefan. Ibabalik ko na ito sa kanya.

"I love your gold golf stick. That's from Estefan, right?"

"Oo. Hiniram ko lang."

Sabay kaming humakbang at napangisi siya. Kitang-kita ko ang kakaibang ekspresyon nang mukha niya.

"I remember something on that stick. . . and that was b****y awesome."

Una siyang humakbang at binuksan na ang pasaherong pinto ng sasakyan. Ipinasok na din niya ang gamit sa likurang bahagi.

"I'll drop you home. But I couldn't stay long. I need to go back to the office." He formally said. There was this sudden expression on his face as he looked at me seriously.

"No, it's okay. . . I can walk." Turo ko sa palasyon nila. Malapit lang ito rito, mga isang kilometro.

"Sylvi. . ." He smiled, face down and shook his head. He's a gentleman, after all, and I don't think he would love my idea.

"I will not let you walk on your own, Sylvi."

"But it's broad day light, Edward. Walang mangyayaring masama sa akin."

Namaywang na ako at ngumiti lang din siya. Agad siyang napatitig sa mamahaling relo na suot at nangunot ang noo.

"I will only have five minutes, Sylvi. Please don't make it hard for me, love." Pa-cute na ngiti niya pabalik sa akin.

I pressed my lips together, and we stared. I don't think he will let me anyway. So, I better be quick.

"Okay. You win!" I said and slid myself inside the leather seat.

.

As he drove quietly, I had a minute of smelling and looking at what was inside his car. Edward's smell is luxurious. It's clean, frigid and fresh.

Ni guhit ng alikabok ay natatakot na dumapo sa loob ng kotseng ito. May iilang bagay ang nandito at namangha ako sa kakaibang desenyo ng isang puno sa dashboard, sa mismong harapan ko.

"Is this bonsai?"

"Yes." He answered without glancing at me. He was serious.

"Ang cute. . . Ilang taon na? Mabuti na lang at okay ito rito sa loob ng kotse mo," ngiti ko habang nakatitig nito.

Isang bonsai nga naman. Maliit at nasa mga six inches ang haba. Matambok ang hugis at malaki ang korteng tiyan na gitna ng halaman. Makapal ang dahon at nakamamangha ang uri.

Parang nakita ko na ang punong ito at hindi ko lang maalala kung saan nga ba.

"Saan mo nabili? Ilang taon na?" Ulit na tanong ko at titig sa kanya. Hindi niya kasi ako sinagot at napaigting lang ang panga niya. Mukhang may iniisip siyang iba at hindi niya yata narinig ang tanong ko.

Nahinto ang sasakyan sa mismong tapat ng mansyon ni Alessandro at hinawakan ko na ang gintong golf stick ni Tiyo.

"I will see you tonight?" Tipid na ngiti niya at kumurap na ako.

"H-ha? O-okay. . ." I said, and opened the car door for me to get out.

"Salamat nga pala," tugon ko. Nakatayo na ako ngayon sa gilid at nakababa na ang bintana sa bahagi ko.

"Dinner at seven?" Pahabol niya.

"Oh? D-dinner?"

He smiled and nodded. "See ya."

Napaatras ako at tulalang nakatitig sa sasakyan niya habang papalayo ito rito. Naging blanko ang utak ko ng iilang segundo at hindi ako komportable.

There's something off about him. He's got unpredictable behaviour which I don't like for a man. And it's turning me off.

.

C.M. LOUDEN