Prince's Downfall

Paul Shalem           “Aw!” touching my forehead, I winced, maintaining my balance because I giddied. Kapa ko ang pader o ang matigas na bagay kung saan sumalpok ang bao ng ulo ko. Darn! I’m so pissed. I’m so drunk. Mas matigas ang hayop na ito kaysa sa ulo ko. Akala ko ako na ang may pinakamatigas na ulo sa buong mundo. I ended up in a nice and elite bar where I drowned myself in Vodka. Masakit ang kalooban ko dahil naapakan ang pagkalalaki ko, nagago ako. Nagago ako sa pangalawang pagkakataon sa buhay ko and I’m such a stupid asshole for not trusting Nissy’s words. Binalaan na ako ng baby namin na huwag ng bumalik sa ex-girlfriend kong si Fatimah pero matigas talaga ang ulo ko. If I were you I will never ever take that woman seriously. She ruined our relationship once and don’t let her ruin your life this time. Wow! Galing iyon sa bibig ng bini-baby namin na si Nissy. Bente-tres na ngayon ang babaeng ‘yon. She has twins with my twin brother, Paige and Zayn. Medyo matured na si Nissy kumpara sa dati at mas mature na nga yata siya kaysa sa akin kahit na thirty-five na ako. That’s insane, right? Well, Dad says it oftentimes that I am the most immature Grande he had ever seen so far and even told me that Zayn, my nephew no wonder will definitely be more mature than I am. I don’t care being compared to that small guy. He’s my nephew and I love him. Who I hate is that old man. Si Don Rocco Leviste ang matandang kalabaw na umagaw kay Fatimah. Ang basahan na ‘yon ay 65 years old na pero naagaw pa ang girlfriend ko. I never had an idea that all was settled and planned. Fatimah’s parents arranged a marriage for her and Rocco. Mayaman din naman ako, mas mayaman ako kumpara sa Leviste na ‘yon pero hindi ako nagustuhan ng magulang ni Fatimah. Nainsulto pa ako ng Rocco na ‘yon dahil wala naman daw akong maipagmamalaki kung hindi ang kargada ko. Hell, I make every woman scream but it’s no use. Still, the woman I was planning to marry next to Nissy slipped away.  “Donatella! Open this fucking door!” singhal ko sa Mayordoma na kahuthutan ni Nissy ng bagang. I can’t even find the buzzer due to my insobriety. I can’t vividly see. Everything seems blurry. Lahat may kakambal sa paningin ko o triplet pa nga.   I heard the door creaking and immediately pushed it but it couldn’t be pushed. Shit! Why is it immovable? Seems like the door is fixed. But I already heard it. I pushed one more time but a tiny thing is also dabbing my butt. Tinutusok ni Donatella ang pisngi ng pwet ko.  “Fuck you Donatella!” singhal ko sa matandang babae.  “Futt you, too you altoholit guy. Where’ve you been? I’ve been waiting for you and still never slept betause you promised to give me tendy.” Candy. Si Paige. Bulol ang bata at ang letter c at k ay ginagawa niyang letter t pero para sa apat na taon ay matatas na nga itong magsalita. Si Zayn naman ay ginagawang d ang letter g. Ngumisi ako at hinanap ang anghel ko. “Ssshhh. Quiet. Your tigress mom might hear us. She’ll scold me because you were cursing.” Lambing ko kahit halos hindi ko naman makita ang babae kong pamangkin. “Paige?” fuck! She’s missing! “I’m here.” Dutdot nito pero sa bukol ko na sa harap kaya halos mapaitlag ako. “Terry me.” God I can’t carry her. I’m so drunk. I’m afraid she might fell and it would be the end of my career. Zed will probably kill me or perhaps rip my limb if Paige’s got damaged. Baka ipalit ng kakambal ko ang braso ko sa braso ng anak niya sa oras na mabalian ito ng buto. “Sorry baby I can’t. Come on, walk Papa inside… I’m b-blind.” Sabi ko habang kapa ang pinto pero ayaw talagang bumukas. “Tom’on. Here is the door. You’re fating the wall. That’s not a door.” Hagikhik ng maliit na boses kaya lalo akong ngumisi. She’s really like her mom, so sweet. Mahal ko pa rin si Nissy pero bilang kapatid ko na lang. I already accepted the truth that she was not meant for me and she’s really born for Zed. But Fatimah is for me and I will take her back even if I have to be the black prince of the Grande clan again. I’m used to my father’s sermons but not used to be mashed and fooled. Never again! “Thank you my little crouch. I’ll buy you another car tomorrow.” I told my niece when she slowly walked me in. I’m not really sure if she’s really accompanying me or I am accompanying her but I could feel her little arm around my thigh. “All I want is tendy. You liar old Papa! I’ll tell Daddy you drant too much altohol if you won’t give me pisos this time.” Agad akong dumukot sa buksa kahit umiikot na ang paligid kasi ramdam ko na bwisit na ang bata. Malaki ang takot ko sa pamangkin ko dahil mana ito sa nanay niyang bungangera. Lahat nito idinadaldal at wala itong filter. She said she needs one peso. Iniabot ko ang nakapa kong plastik sa loob ng bulsa ng pantalon ko. Thank hell I have candy. “Go and sleep. Ask your Dad…to… to help you open the candy, okay? I have to drink one gallon of coffee. Kiss Papa.” Duro ko sa nguso at agad naman na may lumapat doon na malambot at maliit na bagay. I smiled. Paige is really my happiness and so as her twin.  “Yehey! Thant you! Love you, Papa. Hindi na tita isusumbong tay Daddy at tay Daddy lolo tasi may tendy ka. What’s this tendy? It’s squawwre… batit may x…x…l natalagay sa plastit? That's the name of my tendy? Nevah mind. I’ll just show Daddy tomorrow and ast him to buy me more. Night night.” Matunog na halik ang ibinigay niya sa akin dahil wala na sa isip ko ang mga sinasabi niya pero nang marinig ko ang yabag ng maliliit niyang paa sa hagdan papaalis ay saka naman ako tumimbuang. Holy hell! Sinalo ako ng malambot na sahig. Thank you the floor is so soft. Hindi ko na talaga kaya ang kalasingan ko.  “Shut the door, Papa! Bata may thief tunin ta.”  “Uh!” tango ko pero wala na akong pakialam. Shut that little mouth, sweetie! I’m going to sleep!