Since I was a kid, the time before I reached puberty, I have always wondered how will Papa Clody will react if someone actually have the guts to court me. It made me wonder this, because I was a witness of how Papa protects his sister, my aunt Ayie, whose very young, feminine and pretty, from all those "unwanted" and "unnecessary" suitors.
Nasaksihan ko kung paano ni Papa sinisigurado na walang babastos kay Ate Ayie sa kanyang pag-labas ng bahay noong panahong may event siya sa opisina and she had to wear a cocktail dress. Well, back then, naiintindihan ko na kung bakit. Siyempre, we live in Sampaloc, Manila, then, kung saan maraming tambay at naglipana ang mga yagit at pervert na mga lalaki at maganda si Ate Ayie.
Papa Clody was not strict, I would say, or at least I could speak for myself, that really he was not. Pero, alam mo yun. Si Papa Clody kasi iyong tipo ng tatay na kahit through implied messages niya sabihin, ramdam naming mga anak niyang babae, na siya iyong tipo ng tatay na pwedeng dumating sa point na papatay ng lalaking ,manloloko sa anak niya. Kasi, siguro, it takes one to know one.
It's just unfortunate na nga lang that I wasn't able to experience that kind of protective gesture, for I was just grade three then. Mananatili na lang sa akin na isang malaking misteryo ang karanasan na ganon.
Pero, hindi rin pala. After five years na pagkamatay ni Papa, ay parang nagreincarnate naman siya sa katauhan ni Jim, my only youngest brother. Sumagi pa nga sa isip ko na si Kuya Jake ang magpoprotekta sa akin eh, pero hindi pala, si Jim pala iyon.
There was this one time, I was already working at St. Mary's. It was a Saturday half-day class. I scheduled myself to go to Bulacan. I arrived there around four in the afternoon. Jim was outside and saw me coming. Sabi niya, "San ka galing, teh?" Sagot ko naman, "Sa school.?!" Sabi ni Jim, "Pagkatapos ng school, san ka pa nagpunta?" sagot ko naman, "wala!?!" sabi niya, "eh, bakit ganyan?!' tanong ko naman, with matching confused facial expression, "anong ganyan?!?!?" at inulit niya pa, "ganyan!!!"
And it took me a few seconds to realize that he was pertaining to the remaining blush-on I had put on my face during the morning of that Saturday class.
Okay, I got the message. Although, confusing din pala ang ma-protektahan. Hindi ko kasi alam kung ayaw niya ba na nakikipagdate ako or what. But, I'm very happy and very fortunate that I have a brother like Jim.
I may not be able to experience that protective gesture with Papa and Kuya Jake, but at least, Jim is here to fulfill that mystery.
* Jim, love na love ka ni Ate Red
Aaay.. Sweet! <3
TumugonBurahin