Work Text:
Dumaan na naman ang panibagong nakakapagod na araw para sa pamilyang Sim-Lee. It has been another normal daily routine for them — unang gumising si Jaeyun upang ayusin ang sarili nya at maghanda ng umagahan nila; spam, sunny side up eggs, at fried rice ang niluto nya _kanina. Sunod naman nyang ginawa ay ang gisingin na sila Heeseung at Riki para kumain at simulan na rin ang araw nila. They would eat their breakfast together before the couple sends Riki off to his school and go to work. Riki would attend his classes and wait for their dismissal as his parents attend their shift and then leave their workplace. Madalas ay hindi nasusundo ng dalawa si Riki dahil sa late ng uwi nila, but today's different. Magkasama nilang sinundo si Riki bago dumaan ng market at nag-ikot sa mall.
Now, Heeseung and Riki are seated on the couch, both focused on the 55-inch TV in front of them that's flashing the game they're playing. Sa kabilang banda naman ay si Jaeyun na nasa kusina na inihahanda na ang hapunan nila. The mouthwatering smell of Jaeyun's dish reached the two's nostrils which made them quit their game to check what Jaeyun was cooking.
"Wow, sinigang!" Riki beamed. It was, well, his most favorite dish that his dada cooks. Masarap magluto si Jaeyun, hindi niya maipagkakaila 'yon. But there was something in the way he cooked sinigang that sent warmth in Riki's body. Just like how Jaeyun would tuck him into his bed. Or whenever his dada would give him warm hugs that felt like a mother's love.
Growing up in an orphanage, Riki had never felt love from his biological mother, or his father. Bata palang, gumigising na sya araw-araw seeing the same cream ceiling. He was five months old when his mother left him in an orphanage where he grew up. 'Yung mga madre na doon ang kumbaga'y tumayo bilang nanay nya. But even if there were a lot of people around him, taking care of him, and providing for his needs as a kid, he had never felt the love a parent has for their children.
And then Jaeyun came. He visited the orphanage for a charity work his parents held. Jaeyun was the one who distributed the toys to the kids, at isa na roon sa nabigyan nya ay ang batang si Riki. Kada bigay nya ng laruan ay binibigyan nya ng yakap ang mga bata. Riki, as soon as he came in contact with Jaeyun, felt something that he has been longing for since he had been aware of the world—a family.
Kaya naman Riki was thankful to Jaeyun, and of course Heeseung, because they stood as his parents and made him feel the love he had been longing for for years.
"Ayusin mo na 'yong lamesa, Riki. Malapit nang maluto ito." Jaeyun said, which, Riki enthusiastically followed.
Maya-maya rin ay naghain na ng pagkain si Jaeyun sa lamesa at sinimulan na nilang kumain. They quietly ate together, hence the silence roaming around the house was comfortable. However, the silence was then soon broken by Jaeyun asking a question.
"Kumusta na nga pala si Sunghoon, Ki? 'Di na yata kayo lumalabas nang magkasama, ah?"
"Busy lang po kami sa schoolworks, da. Malapit na naman po kasi 'yong hell week." Riki answers politely.
"Sus! Baka naman natakot na sa akin 'yun, 'nak, kaya 'di na nagpupunta rito." Heeseung jokes.
"Ikaw naman kasi, dy! Bakit mo naman kasi pinagbantaan 'yung bata na ibibitin mo patiwarik kapag sinaktan ang Riki natin?!" Jaeyun rolled his eyes on his husband that's laughing uncontrollably from remembering that certain memory from the last two weeks kung saan nagpaalam si Sunghoon na aakyat ng ligaw kay Riki.
"Eh, syempre! Alagang-alaga natin 'tong si Riki simula bata sya, tapos sasaktan nya lang?" He defended.
Jaeyun shook his head, disappointed. "Pwede mo namang pagsabihan sa maayos na paraan. Bakit mo pa kailangang takutin?"
"Pa, da, 'wag na po kayong mag-away. " Riki chuckles. "Alam mo ba, papa, Sunghoon finds you cool nga po, eh. 'Tsaka da, Sunghoon was unfazed with papa's threats. Alam naman daw nya kung ano ang pinasok nya kaya alam nya na rin ang consequences kapag nagkamali sya."
"Weh? Pinagtatakpan mo lang yata 'yong manliligaw mo, eh." Heeseung, was once again, teasing his son. Hindi naman nakatakas sa mga mata nya ang masamang tingin ni Jaeyun sa kanya.
"Legit nga po, pa! Hindi nga lang daw po ako ang nililigawan nya kundi—"
"Aba'y loko naman pala 'yang Sunghoon na 'yan, eh! Hindi porket gwapo sya ay sabay-sabay na syang manliligaw—"
"Papa, hindi pa po ako tapos!" Riki laughs, throwing his head back and holding his stomach because of the way Heeseung bursts out.
"Ang sabi nya, hindi lang daw po ako ang nililigawan nya kundi kayo rin." Riki covered his face to stop himself from laughing again. "Si papa kasi inunahan ako, eh!"
"Eh, how's your study naman, love? Are you doing well?" Jaeyun shifts the topic bago pa man makapagsalita si Heeseung. All he knows is that the man would speak nonsense and would continue teasing their son kung magsasalita pa ito.
"Opo, da. Malapit na rin matapos ang second semester kaya medyo easy nalang. Although, marami parin sila magbigay ng projects and activities kaya hassle pa rin. But I'm doing great, da! May surprise nga po ako sa inyo, eh."
"Really? What is it?"
"Surprise nga, mahal, eh." Heeseung facepalms.
"Eh, surprise naman pala, bakit mo pa sinabi?"
Riki giggles. "Nadulas lang po."
"Alright, love. Whatever your surprise is, me and your papa are looking forward to it. I know you did well and exerted a lot of effort for that sur—"
Hindi pa man natatapos ni Jaeyun ang sasabihin nya ay biglang may tumugtog ng gitara sa labas ng bahay nila. It was then followed by a familiar voice singing.
"Sino naman 'yun?" Heeseung furrows his brows, never leaving his gaze onto the entrance of their house. "Mga kabataan talaga ngayon. Ngayon pa naisipan magtugtugan, eh, gabi na."
Tumayo si Heeseung at nagpunta sa pintuan na syang sinundan naman ng dalawa. Pagkabukas ng pinto ay nasilayan nila ang pigura ng isang lalaking may hawak ng gitara at kumakanta. Riki remains standing behind his dada, tiptoeing to see whoever the guy was.
"Anak ka ng tipaklong—hoy, Riki! Manliligaw mo pala 'to!" Heeseung shouts after opening the gate.
Gago, anong ginagawa nito sa harapan ng bahay namin ngayong gabi na? Riki thought before following his papa and dada's steps. There he saw a nearer view of Sunghoon strumming the guitar. Talagang damang-dama nya pa ang pagkanta sa isa sa mga kanta ng Parokya ni Edgar— gitara.
Simple lang naman ang suot nito, isang puting hoodie lang at pantalon, ngunit hindi maipagkakaila kung paano pa rin sya nagmukhang malinis at gwapo kahit na napakasimple lang ng suot nya. Ang buhok nya ay nakababa lang din at walang kahit anong ayos, mukhang pinadaanan lang nya ng suklay.
Idadaan na lang kita sa awitin kong ito. Sabay ang tugtog ng gitara.
Kinanta ni Sunghoon ang linya ng kantang ito na may papikit-pikit pa. Habang iniistrum ang gitara ay nakangiti syang tumingin kay Riki na syang nakatayo na parang estatwa sa tabi ng dada nya na napakalawak ng ngiti at ng papa nya na nakatiklop ang parehong braso sa ibabaw ng dibdib, inoobserbahan at sinusuri ang bawat kilos ni Sunghoon.
"Ang galing pala kumanta nitong batang 'to," Jaeyun whispers that caused Heeseung to turn his head to the smaller guy.
"'Di hamak na mas maganda naman boses ko dyan sa Sunghoon na 'yan." Heeseung rolled his eyes.
"Dy! Pati ba naman sa manliligaw ng anak mo?" Hinampas ni Jaeyun ang braso ng asawa.
Sa kabilang banda naman ay pilit na pinipigilan ni Riki ang ngumiti at pinanatili ang kalmado nyang hitsura kahit na nagwawala na ang puso nya sa kaloob-looban.
Mapapagod lang sa kakatingin kung marami namang nakaharang.
Aawit na lang at magpaparinig ng lahat ng aking nadarama.
Riki lost it when Sunghoon stared and smiled at him again for the umpteenth time. Hinayaan nya ang sariling magpaanod sa agos ng nararamdaman nya at ngumiti nang pagkalaki-laki, halos mangawit na ang panga nya. Sumandal sya sa gate habang pinaglalaruan ang sariling mga daliri, hindi na mapakali sa kilig na nararamdaman.
"Tignan mo ang Riki natin, ang lawak ng ngiti." Jaeyun whispers, pointing at Riki who seems to unhear everything they say at nakapokus lang sa boses at pagtugtog ng binata sa harapan nila.
"Hoy, Riki! 'Wag kang masyadong halata. 'Di kita pinalaking ganyan." Kunwari'y saway ni Heeseung dito. Kadalasan ay magjojoke pa pabalik si Riki sa kanya, pero ngayon ay tinawanan nya lang ito at ibinalik ang tingin kay Sunghoon.
"Binata na ang anak natin." Jaeyun said, with a slight teary-eye.
Pagbibigyan na lang silang magkandarapa na manligaw sayo.
Idadaan na lang kita sa awitin kong ito.
Sabay ang tugtog ng gitara.
Patuloy lang sa pagkanta at pag-strum ng gitara si Sunghoon, hindi inaalis ang titig kay Riki. Paminsan-minsan ay pumipikit-pikit ito, dinadama ang kanta. Minsan din ay tumitingin ito kila Jaeyun at Heeseung at ngumingiti bago ibalik ang tingin kay Riki.
Riki subconsciously clapped his hands nang tugtugin ni Sunghoon ang instrumental sa bandang dulo ng kanta.
"Idadaan nalang.." Sunghoon opened his eyes and looked directly at Riki's eyes. "Sa gitara." He gave him a soft smile before ending his song with a final strum.
"Magandang gabi po, tito Jae, tito Hee." Magalang na bati ni Sunghoon sa dalawa. Jaeyun gave him a hi and clapped.
While Heeseung.. well, "anong ginagawa mo dito? Alas otso na ng gabi, ah? 'Di ka ba hinahanap sa inyo?"
"Dy!", "Pa!" Sabay pang tawag ng dalawa sa kanya.
"Ah, masyado na po kasi kaming na-busy ni Riki sa pag-aaral namin kaya hindi na po kami madalas nag-uusap at nakakalabas. Kaya naisip ko pong haranahin ang anak ninyo, tito. Para na rin po magkita kaming dalawa.. hehe." Sunghoon shyly explains.
"Ay, 'tsaka nagpaalam din po ako kila papa bago pumunta dito. Kasama ko rin naman po kuya ko kaya 'wag po kayong mag-alala." Dagdag nya pa.
"Let's go inside na, Hee. Bigyan natin ng alone time ang anak natin kasama ang manliligaw nya." Jaeyun pulls Heeseung inside. Nagmatigas pa ito at sinabi na umuwi na si Sunghoon ngunit sinamaan sya ng tingin ni Jaeyun kaya naman parang tuta syang sumunod sa asawa.
"Hi, Ki." Sunghoon greeted. He tapped his fingers on his guitar out of shyness, causing it to create a faint wood noise.
"Hello!" Riki bit his lower lip as he stepped forward. "Galing mo mag-gitara, ah? Saan mo natutunan 'yun?"
"Tinuruan lang ako ni kuya." He scratched the back of his neck. "Nagustuhan mo ba?"
The younger pursed his lips to stifle a smile before nodding his head thrice. "I loved it."
Nanaig ang katahimikan sa pagitan nila. Tanging ang mga kuliglig na lamang ang naririnig na tunog sa paligid. Hindi naman naging awkward ang katahimikan. Madalas naman kasi ay katahimikan ang pumapagitan sa kanila, lalo na kapag sabay silang nag-aaral.
"'Yun lang ba ang pinunta mo rito?" Riki asks, breaking the silence.
"Actually, hindi." The older chuckled. "Gusto sana kitang yayain lumabas sa Sabado kung wala kang schedule sa araw na 'yon. Pero kung meron, ayos lang naman. Pwede naman nating i-move kung kailan ka libre."
"Wala naman akong masyadong gagawin dahil natapos ko na 'yong iba. Ikaw ba?"
"Libre naman ako palagi 'pag ikaw."
"Bola!" Riki giggles like a teenager.
"Nasaan na ba sila tito? Ipapaalam sana kita."
"Pumasok na, eh. Tara, pasok ka muna." Riki pulls Sunghoon inside their house bago tawagin ang mga magulang nya.
"Tito Jae, tito Hee, okay lang po ba sa inyo kung ilalabas 'yung anak nyo ngayong Sabado?"
Heeseung furrows his brows. "Saan mo naman dadalhin ang anak ko?"
"Uh, manonood lang po sana kami ng sine tapos kakain. Ihahatid sundo ko po si Riki, pangako. Safe po sya sa akin." Riki cups his own face and turned away para itago ang kilig na nararamdaman.
"Basta iuwi mo nang buo ang anak namin. 'Pag 'yan may sugat pag-uwi, yari ka sa— aray! Bakit ka naman nangungurot, mahal?"
"Stop threatening the kid!" Jaeyun rolls his eyes. "Just be safe you two, okay?" He smiled at the two while glaring at Heeseung who was caressing his own arm.
"Sige na, uwi ka na, 'nak. Gabi na rin." Sambit ni Jaeyun habang tinatapik ang balikat ni Sunghoon.
"Pa, da, iwan nyo po muna kami. Last na 'to, promise!" Marahan na tinulak ni Riki ang dalawa papasok sa bahay nila. Sinamaan pa sya ng tingin ni Heeseung bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob.
"May sasabihin ka?" Sunghoon softly asks, reaching for Riki's left hand and caressing it using his thumb.
"Thank you for making my night wonderful, kuya." He sincerely said, looking intently at Sunghoon's orbs. "I'd love to hear you sing again."
"I'll gladly do it whenever you ask." Nakangiti nitong tugon bago hilain si Riki para sa isang mahigpit na yakap. Riki then rests his head on the crook of the older's neck, inhaling his manly scent.
"I'll get going na." Tinapik nya ang balikat ni Riki para senyasan itong bumitaw na sa yakap.
"Good night, Riki." He ruffled Riki's hair before planting a soft kiss on his forehead.
"Ingat, kuya!"
Riki watches Sunghoon drift away from his sight. It was yet one of the best nights he had. Mukhang matutulog na naman syang may ngiti sa labi ngayong gabi.