The Neglected

Episode 2: I'll call you Melty

“Hello pres” Daniel uttered with a lively voice. “How was your morning?” His voice sounds soothing like a glimpse of sunshine in my shady morning.

“Busy as usual, by the way, be ready for our meeting later after calculus we’re going to talk about the union”

“Yes, but speaking of the union CHS is where Monica studies aren’t you worried about that?

I let out a sigh “Hindi naman siguro, she’s busy with her friends so she doesn’t care as long as she doesn’t bother me I don’t see any problem”

“But pres, suki sya sa guidance” Daniel jokingly said.

“Her school will handle her” “Is everything ready for the meeting?”

“Yes pres everything’s ready” but…

“What?”

“Uuhmmm… are you available after class?”

“Ahhh no, magbabayad pa ako ng electric bill”

“Yeah…” He was expecting my answer as I barely go to places to wander and when I do, I’m usually alone, but barely Daniel still asked me and it flustered me.

“…so hindi ka sasabay sa paguwe?”

“Hmmm sasabay pa din uuwe muna ako sa bahay to get what I need” After hearing this, he smiled, his eyes also smiled no wonder he gives off a ray of sun energy for me.

“Bell ringing”

See you later Melly! I subconsciously smile every time he calls me Melly, though to think about it, it sounds smelly maybe that is the reason because it sounds funny and I do not know why I let him call me that name.

I remember the first time he called me Melly we were 11 years old and my family were just new in the area we’re currently living in. He was the first person I’ve known, we were at the playground and he approached me while sitting on the swing alone.

“Hello! Bago ka lang dito?” Daniel asked

“Oo” I answered. I was a shy kid I’m usually alone and quiet, just observing the people around me so when someone asked me I panicked a little bit and I’ll answer just a single word or a few words without eye contact just like what I did when Daniel approached me.

“Ano pala ang pangalan mo?”

“Melinda”

“Melinda?!” He exclaimed, he got closer as he was stunned by my name. “Hahahhaha, bakit melinda pang matanda na at kapangalan mo pa yung ale na nagdadala ng sampaguita sa bahay namin” He added.

“Oh, talaga?” That’s what I had in mind as I am also stunned by how friendly he was but I didn’t say a word but rather smile in his seeming joke.

“Ako naman si Daniel!” He put his hands on his chest, he looked sincere that I was infected by his lively vibe.

“Hello!” I said it with energy this time

“Hi, Melly! Yan na ang pangalan mo ah para bagay sayo cute pakinggan” I wasn’t able to say a word after hearing that, I couldn’t describe what I felt with that request oh not even a request it’s more of a command, I wasn’t angry rather shocked and somehow impressed I didn’t know but what he uttered tingled me. I still feel the same until now.

Our class was dismissed earlier than usual apart from approaching semestral break teachers and the rest of the faculty are preparing for the incoming High school union. The Student Council presented the list of activities and practiced our speeches then study the topics to be discussed in the union everything is well planned all we need to prepare is the execution. The class finally ended, Daniel was waiting at the gate, we usually commute together because our houses are on a similar route, we were classmates since elementary and he was my playmate and my friend. Along the way, we often talk about different topics or just share how our days went, and sometimes we were just silent he is the only person with whom silence doesn’t feel awkward, to me.

When I got home I already knew that something was going on because I saw my sister in the house her work supposedly ends at night. I just walked straight to my cabinet then went to the comfort room to change, they saw me but they didn’t mind.

“Ano na naman ba ang nagawa ni Monica?” My mama asked

“I don’t know what it is this time, pero I can handle it” said by Maricris

“ How sure are you? Napapadalas na ang pagbisita mo sa guidance, isa pang pagkakamali nya at maeexpell na sya and you know it’s not the first school that she had bad records from at pag naexpell pa s’ya there are no other schools na malapit sa tinitirahan natin.”

“Eh di lilipat tayo, Is that even a problem?” Maricrissaysg it with a louder tone as it implies that she doesn’t want to hear any more complaints.

I frown after hearing what my sister said as it makes me upset. How come we are always adjusting every time Monica messes up and she doesn’t receive even a single punishment? But as usual,l I keep it by myself and don’t say a word. Monica just stays in her room and I’m pretty sure that she heard everything, after that, the day goes ahead quiet and no one is bringing up the argument as this is how my family handles confrontation. But the whole day I can feel the tension I always wonder why they are afraid of confrontations based on what I’ve read in books or what I’ve watched on TV soap operas and commercials where the parents are scolding their children even if they are teens, young adults or even adults which is very common in the Philippines it is their way to discipline their children and their children respect them where they all talk and eat together and have a meaningful discussion on the table that is the image of a family that I know but in my family it’s different there is no scolding, our house is always quiet and every time there is a problem they just deal with it without confrontation and neglect what had happened feels like there is something they are avoiding that they don’t want to talk about ever.