10: Zab Approves

ZAB

I can only grip hard on my utensils as I listened to Dearil talk to my dad with so much confidence. On the way here, I briefed him with things he needs to say to them.

1. Dati ko siyang kasamahan sa trabaho. Dati—that's because my parents knew that as of the moment, I am working as a freelance article writer online.

2. Nag-sleepover lang siya sa bahay. That he's gay or may asawa na or whatever basta huwag lang nilang isipin na ka-live in ko siya or else, baka muling umakyat ang altapresyon ni mommy—and that's something I don't want to happen.

Kaya minsan, parang gusto ko talagang balatan nang buhay si Diana eh. She does things that may cause their sudden death!

3. Huwag kabahan.

And shit, it's something I don't have to tell him. Dearil has so much confidence. In fact, he's oozing with it. And yeah, I dragged him here in his human physical form. I cannot just walk out of the taxi alone tapos may kasama na kapag papasok sa bahay.

I was feeling triumphant when I saw Diana's expression upon seeing him.

Diana literally drooled over him. But red hair is a mean guy. He's mean to me and even meaner to Diana so I have to remind him again that.

4. He has to be respectful to my parents.

So far, he didn't say anything rude to my parents but he told Diana to move her foamed-ass off the way. Huh, hindi maipinta ang mukha nito nang marinig ang sinabi niyang iyon. And yeah, natuwa ako sa kanya dahil doon. It made Diana lose the colors on her face. She and her foamed-ass deserved that.

"So Dearil, anong pinagkaaabalahan mo ngayon?" tanong ni daddy sa kanya. I know they're a bit uncomfortable with his vibrant red hair, which makes him looks like a thug. Thankfully, wala naman siyang tattoo sa braso o sa kung saan mang bahagi ng kanyang katawan na nakikita.

"I reap souls," he replied which made me choke on my dessert.

Agad namang nag-abot ng tissue paper sa akin si mommy, slightly scolding me to eat only bite-size so that I won't choke. Yea, mom. Even if I'm not eating, I will still choke!

Surprisingly, dad laughed. "You have good sense of humor. Eat more, son."

And he did. He ate the food served on the table. In fairness, red hair has manners and he ate kahit na sinasabi niya sa akin na hindi niya kailangan ang mga ganoong pagkain. Tama nga siya. They won't buy the grim reaper crap.

"So you're not really in relationship with Zab?" tanong ni Diana.

Umiling si Dearil. "Nope."

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

He shook his head again. "Don't need one."

"Why?"

Red hair shrugged. "I've got so much things to do."

But Diana is really inquisitive. "Like?"

"Like reaping souls, make reports and things like that," sagot ni Dearil na nagpatawa ulit kay daddy na tila ba kinikiliti ito. And man, Alexander Cruiz is a retired military general! He seldom smiles, let alone laugh!

When dinner was over, my dad spent time with Dearil at the terrace over a cup of coffee. Uh-uh. Looks like red hair got my old man. Kasama ko naman si mommy sa sala at nanunood ng paborito niyang cooking show. She asked me questions like how was I doing or kung may mga problema ba ako. I told her everything is fine and there's no need to worry about me. She also asked me to come visit them often or better come back to the house.

Maybe soon but not now.

If there's someone I'm very thankful for, it's the Cruiz family. I was so lucky to carry their name despite how tight they were when it comes to values and discipline. And it made me feel sad for them. They're good parents but they were not blessed with biological children.

Bakit kung sino pa ang magiging mabuting magulang, sila pa ang hindi biniyayaan? While people who have the guts to leave a child anywhere whose umbilical cord is still attached, and wrapped in bloody cloth didn't get the faulty organs?

I sat beside mom, my head on her shoulder while she caressed my hair.

"Alexis?"

"Mom?"

"You sure that guy is not your boyfriend?"

I slightly laughed. "No, mom. You know I wouldn't lie to you right?"

Well, yeah. Lying is different from keeping things, right? Like if she will ask me 'Hey, Alexis. Did you have sex already?', I'll say yes. Thank God, mom doesn't ask weird questions like that.

"Yes. The guy's good looking even with that red hair."

Yea, mom. I know. I'm not blind.

"But he's weird, mom. So nah, wouldn't even wish to be his girlfriend." Like yeah. I'm a bad ass but red hair is someone like... a murderer, right? I mean he reaps souls. Ayaw ko ngang magka-boyfriend ng embalsamador, soul reaper pa kaya?

"He got Alexander," sabi ni mommy, referring to dad. I can only wish he got him to enjoy his company, not to get his soul sooner. If he will, I swear, I will kill him.

"Hmm... He make my blood boil but I'll give him merit for his connection with dad."

My dad is young at heart, kaya na rin siguro magaan ang loob niya sa mga mas nakababata sa kanya. Eh—but wait, I'm sure Dearil is way way way way older than him. He could even be older than dead Einstein. Maybe, he's friends with Adam and Eve.

Uh, ew that makes him so old.

Nang medyo malalim na ang gabi ay naghanda na kami para umuwi. Mom insisted to spend the night at the house but I told her I have things to do. Bago umuwi ay dumaan muna ako sa silid ko, only to find Diana standing by the doorway.

"You know you're really not welcome here," wika niya sa akin. I walked past her and like a dog, she entered my room without approval.

"You know you really have to pass your subjects. Like, Diana, statistics and basic finance are just minors. How could you retake that three times?"

She rose a brow. "Is that a saint dress? We both know you wear shorter ones."

"Is that a dick inside your skull instead of a brain? No wonder you're stupid." It made her shut up for a while and she just meanly rolled her eyes. No more mean comebacks.

She scowled at me. "Can you just disappear and not come back here?"

"This is not your home, Diana, so you don't get to decide kung babalik ako rito o hindi."

She leaned on the door. "Mom and dad doesn't need you."

"They don't need you, too."

She shut up again. Ganoon si Diana. She attacks me first with words but forgets that I don't only have a smart mind but a smart mouth as well. That's why she resorts to lies and frames me up. Like all the time.

"I think I like your red-haired friend." Oh Dearil? Totally understandable. Maliban sa gusto niya akong inisin, imposible rin namang hindi siya maa-attract kay Dearil. Hello, Dearil si totally good looking, bruh.

"Yea? He likes to burn things."

She smirked. "Hot."

"Excuse me, foamed-ass. Hey, human, let's go?" tanong ng kararating lang na si Dearil.

Diana made a face and stormed out of the room. Oh. Sa tingin ko ay gusto ko na si red hair. Like, man. He can shut my darn sister with a simple word. Foamed-ass. I thought he's just a weird emo guy who's silent all the time.

Turns out, he isn't. He's talkative when he's human.

Didn't think Death is this cool. Zab approves.

"Dearil?"

"Hmm?"

"You're so cool."

He shrugged, his forehead furrowed. "I thought I'm hot as hell?"

I giggled. "And that, too. You deserve a treat!"