CHAPTER 3

"KUMAIN ka naba?" kapagkuwan ay tanong ni Keiran na ikinataas ng dalawang kilay ni Raiven. They were still in the living room, in the same position, and Raiven was still feeling self-conscious for a reason unknown to him.

Pasimpleng huminga nang malalim si Raiven. "Bakit?"

"I can cook if you haven't." Keiran offered like they were close friends. It baffled Raiven how Keiran could act like they had been buddies for a long time when they certainly were not, and the only reason why they knew each other was because of what happened two years ago that Raiven considered a stain in his memory.

"Suit yourself." Raiven replied while pretending to 'read' the Revised Penal Code book. "Just don't waste my food."

"Got it." Keiran said with utmost confidence before going to the kitchen.

Raiven was still weirded out that there was someone other than him and his brother in his condo, but he couldn't help it. A Scout Ranger sent by the government, huh? Just how important am I and the SD card to them to actually send a Ranger?

Wala sa sariling nilingon ni Raiven ang kusina na kitang-kita niya mula sa sofa na kinauupuan. Keiran was already preparing the ingredients on the kitchen counter and Raiven couldn't help sizing the guy up.

When he first 'met' Keiran, it was at a bar. He never thought that he was a Scout Ranger....was he already a Scout Ranger at that time? Keiran did say his job might get him killed and he might not be able to come back alive, so maybe he already was at that time.

To be a Scout Ranger, one had to undergo very strict and rigorous training that could even kill them. And Keiran passed that.

But what they hell is a skilled Scout Ranger doing in my kitchen, cooking? Raiven's mind couldn't wrap around it. He looks chill for a Ranger who has a classified mission to protect someone.

Ibinalik ni Raiven ang atensyon sa binabasang Revised Penal Code. Raiven was supposed to focus on reading, but he didn't know why he couldn't get past the section he was staring at. Parang hindi pumapasok sa isip niya ang binabasa kaya paulit-ulit niyang binabasa iyon....pero wala namang nangyayari. Halos wala siyang maintindihan sa totoo lang. Parang lumilipad ang isip niya na kahit siya nafu-frustrate na. Hanggang sa marinig niya ang boses ni Keiran, halos nasa kaparehong pahina parin siya.

"Dinner's ready."

Might as well eat. With the book in his hand. Raiven went to the dining table and sat, his eyes glued to the food on the table.

"Ano yan?" hindi mapigilang tanong ni Raiven nang makita ang isang pinggan na parang may pinaghalo-halong damo. It looked so unpleasant that he lost his appetite.

"Greek salad," Keiran answered. "You look fit and all you have inside your refrigerator are vegetables, so I assume you like this kind of food."

Hindi maitago ni Raiven ang disgusto sa mukha niya. The vegetables were Raizen's fault. Ito palagi ang nagdadala sa kanya ng mga gulay para raw sa karagdagang nutrisyon. Hinahayaan naman niya ito dahil alam niyang ikabubuti niya iyon, pero wala siyang balak kainin ang mga 'yon.

But here it was, cooked by the blue-eyed dashing Scout Ranger.

"You don't like it?" Keiran could tell just by looking at Raiven's face that he didn't like what he cooked. "Isipin mo nalang na maraming batang nagugutom ngayon," ani niya. 'Yon palagi ang sinasabi niya sa kapatid kapag nagiging mapili ito sa pagkain.

Raiven looked at Keiran indifferently. "Kapag kinain ko ba 'yan, may makakain na sila?"

"That's not what I meant," kaagad na depensa ni Keiran sa pagiging pilosopo ni Raiven.

"Then eat it yourself," Raiven said with a professional smile that he always used when dealing with his clients. "Para sa mga bata na walang makain. I'll order takeout."

"You can't," kaagad na pigil ni Keiran kay Raiven na akmang tatayo para kunin ang cellphone para um-order ng pagkain. "It's not healthy, and you do realize some nasty pieces of shits are out there after you, right? And you're just going to order food like you're not in danger?"

"I can protect myself," Raiven reasoned.

Keiran sigh in resignation. I'll buy you food...Just stay here and read or do whatever you feel like doing. Uuwi rin naman ako sa bahay para kumuha ng damit. I was excited to see you so I immediately came here."

Keiran already left the kitchen, but Raiven was still sitting there, dumbfounded. Excited? To see me? Why the fuck would he be excited? It's not like we're close or have a close relationship. The only thing that connected them was that thing that happened at the bar a few years ago.

Hinilot ni Raiven ang sentido saka pinagalitan ang sarili. Why the fuck are you feeling nervous all of the sudden?

KEIRAN PARKED his car outside his family's house, but he didn't stop the engine nor step out. He just stayed inside, resting his head on the steering wheel. If someone saw him like that, they would think he had a big-ass problem, but the truth is, he was just thinking about how to treat a certain person so he'd be in his good graces.

When he couldn't think of anything, he finally stepped out from his car and entered his family's house. Ang ama kaagad niya na nasa sala ang sumalubong sa kanya, kapagkuwan ay pumasok sa sala ang ina niya na mukhang kumuha ng isang basong tubig para sa ama niya.

"Buti nandito ka na," kaagad na sabi ng ina niya nang makita siya sa sala. "Kumain ka na ba? Nakapag-pahinga ka na? Huwag mong sabihing dumiretso ka na naman kaagad sa trabaho mo? Keiran, take care of yourself, will you? Ayokong mauna ang anak ko keysa sa'kin."

Sa halip na sumagot sa tanong ng ina, binati niya ang dalawa. "Hey, Ma. Hey Dad, how you 'doin?"

"Hey, Son." sagot naman ng ama niya matapos itong uminom ng tubig. "Why do you look like the world is in your shoulders? You look like shit, by the way."

Keiran just sighed, not answering, while his mother continued asking him random questions about his private life until his love life was brought up again. Sanay na si Keiran na palaging nauungkat ang love life niya kapag umuuwi siya. Marami siyang ka-edad na nagsipag-asawa na, pero siya, heto, single parin, kaya ang ina niya, kung puwede lang siyang ibenta online, ginawa na nito. Kung puwede nga lang siya nitong ipamigay, ginawa na rin nito nang walang pagaalinlangan.

"Kailan ka ba mag-aasawa, Keiran?" Hindi alam ni Keiran kung ilang beses na niya iyong narinig sa ina niya kaya sanay na siya. "Yong mga ka-edad mo, may asawa at anak na. May mga apo na halos lahat ng kapitbahay natin. Ipapaalala ko lang sa'yo, Keiran sa sunod na taon, wala ka na sa kalendaryo. Kailan mo ko bibigyan ng daughter-in-law at apo, ha? May balak ka naman siguro 'di ba?"

Pabagsak na umupo si Keiran sa pang-isahang sofa sa ka sinagot ang ina. "Ma, ilang ulit ko bang sasabihin sa'yo na baka hindi daughter-in-law ang ipapakilala ko sa inyo?"

Bigla siyang binato ng ina ng throw pillow. "Stop saying that! Isang taon mo nang sinasabi 'yan, hindi ka nakakatuwa, Keiran!"

"I'm telling the truth," ani ni Keiran saka sumandal sa likod ng sofa. "I haven't dated these past two years because I've been trying to ascertain my orientation."

"Keiran!" Halos lumabas ang ugat ng ina niya sa leeg saka bumaling sa ama niya at humingi ng tulong. "Naririnig mo ba 'yang anak mo, ha, Johan?! Disiplinahin mo 'yan ngayon din!"

His father just shrugged at his mom and said. "Come on, Stella. There's nothing wrong with that. Leave Keiran be and let just support him. That's what he needs the most."

"Johan!" sa pagkakataong 'yon, sa ama naman niya galit ang ina niya kapagkuwan ay pinanlisikan siya ng ina niya. "What orientation? You've only liked women all your life, so how can I just accept it, huh? Are you going crazy because of your job?!"

"Nope." Keiran answered with a smile and a calm voice. "I'm perfectly fine, Mom."

"Then what?!" His mother was shouting in anger.

But his father was the opposite of his mother. He was relaxed as he spoke, "A friend of mine said that it's hard liking the same gender, and that they'd be judged and criticized often because of it, so I'm worried about you, son. Can you handle it? That's my only concern, actually."

"Johan!" it was his mother again and she looked angrier."How can you be so calm about this, huh?!"

"Well, what can we do? Stella, Keiran is old enough to decide for himself, don't you think? Whatever his decision is, isn't it better for him to have a strong support system?" his father said with a shrug. "And I have another son. I know he hates me, but he will always be my son and I think I can expect great things from him...like a grandson. Don't you think so, Keiran?"

Tumango si Keiran, "Don't worry, Dad, Khai will definitely continue the bloodline even though he hates you to the core."

Nag thumbs up ang ama niya sa kanya. "That's good enough for me."

Parang nanghihinang napaupo ang ina ni Keiran sa sofa sa tabi ni Johan habang nakikinig sa usapan ng mag-ama niya. "Paano ako?" may pagmamakaawa nitong tanong na parang naiiyak na. "Paano ako, ha? Anong mangyayari sa'kin? Mamamatay na lang akong walang apo?"

"Nandiyan naman si Sandy." Si Sandy ay ang kapatid niyang babae na katatapos lang ng kolehiyo. "Siguradong bibigyan niya kayo ng apo---"

"Kuya, don't even continue that. It makes me vomit," pigil ni Sandy na kapapasok lang sa sala sa iba pang sasabihin ni Keiran. "Men are useless pieces of shits and the only good thing about them are their dicks. Other than that, nothing." Then Sandy faced their mother. "Ma wala kang aasahang apo sa'kin. Hindi ako mag-aasawa!"

"Bakit ba kayo ganyan?" naiiyak na ang ina nila. "Pinaparusahan n'yo ba ako?"

Hindi pinansin ng magkakapatid ang ina nila sa halip ay nag-usap ang dalawa habang inaalo naman ni Johan ang asawa.

"So kauri mo rin ang gusto mo, Kuya?" tanong ni Sandy sa nakatatandang kapatid. "When did that happen?" Alam ni Sandy na babae ang gusto ng kapatid niya kaya nagtataka siya sa biglang pagbabago ng gusto nito.

Keiran just shrugged slightly.

"You like men or just one man?" Sandy asked again.

Keiran smiled while thinking of a certain someone. "Who knows..."

Sandy clicked her tongue. "Gusto ka rin ba niya?"

Napangiwi si Keiran. "I don't think so."

"Ouch," Sandy looked like she was enjoying his misery. "Buti nga sa'yo."

Tumayo si Keiran mula sa pagkakaupo saka ginulo sa buhok ng kapatid. "Bata ka pa, may posibilidad pa na magbago ang isip mo sa mga lalaki. Kapag nangyari 'yon, bigyan mo kaagad ng apo si Mama."

"Hindi ako mag-aasawa!" sigaw ni Sandy pero nasa hagdanan na ang kuya niya, kaya napasimangot nalang siya.

Si Keiran naman ay kaagad na naglagay ng damit sa backpack niya nang makapasok sa kuwarto at kaagad ding umalis. Nang makababa siya sa sala, nagpaalam siya sa kapatid at sa magulang niya.

"May misyon ka na naman?" tanong ni Sandy.

"Confidential, little sis." sagot ni Keiran na ikinasimangot lang ni Sandy.

"Huwag mong kalilimutan ang sinabi ko, anak. Bigyan mo ako ng apo," ani naman ng ina niya na sinagot lang ni Keiran ng, "I love you, Ma."

Habang ang ama naman niya pinalakas ang loob niya, "You can do it, son. Use your charm to woo him, okay? Don't be a loser."

Mahinang tumawa lang si Keiran sa pinagsasabi ng pamilya niya saka lumabas na siya ng bahay at tinungo ang nakaparadang sasakyan. Kailangan niyang magmadali. Kailangan pa niyang bumili ng pagkain. Hindi puwedeng magutom ang binabantayan niya.

Keiran wouldn't want his target to think badly of him now, would he?

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