april fool

It was a Wednesday morning.

Per usual, just before I left the house, I stood in front of the mirror to check if I was good to go. I was about to start my daiy litany of questions with my mom ("Okay na ba?", "Ayos na ba buhok ko?", "Okay na ba?", "Naamoy mo ba pabango ko?", "Okay na ba?", etc.) when my grandfather, who walked by at the most opportune time, stopped by our door way and said, like how he occasionally does, "Ang guwapo ng apo ko ah...".

However this time, he said, "Ang guwapo ng apo ko ah! Nakaka-bakla." He repeated it thrice. He was about to repeat it for the fourth when I acknowledged him.

Despite it being the most cringe-worthy I have ever heard, ever, I laughed it off and said, "Labo na talaga ng mata niyo, Lo! Alis na po ako." I was all smiles as I left for the office.

That's what I should have done but instead:

"Ang guwapo ng apo ko ah! Nakaka-bakla," my grandfather said.

I turned my head to look at him and with a tone of exasperation I snapped, "Tama na yang kasinungalingan na yan! Kung totoo yan at guwapo ako, matagal at marami na akong naipakilala sa inyo..." (I might have forgotten the direct object in that statement.)

Then I left.

I spent the entire day wondering about the possible repercussions of what I did. It wasn't so much of his comment and his remarkable choice of words. It was just badly timed. I missed breakfast, the one meal that is sacred to me. Of course, I will be slightly grumpy.

Anyway, it was a little troubling - to have hurt one of the few persons who see me as special. Ngayon, nabawasan pa ata yung nagsasabi na guwapo ako.