DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 9: Khol

Kabanata 9

Chandria

Sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay napatawag na naman ang mga magulang ni Khol sa school dahil sa akin. I was so embarrassed because of what happened but Khol kept on insisting to the guidance counselor that I have nothing to do with his actions and behavior during our PE class.

Nanatili akong nakayuko, pigil ang luha dahil pakiramdam ko ay wala na talaga akong mukhang maihaharap sa mga magulang niya dahil pangalawa na ito.

"Like I told you, Sir, Ria was the victim here. They were trying to hurt her during our PE class, and what did Mr. Favier did? Wala po. He's a teacher. He's supposed to make sure everyone in class was safe during the game," galit na paliwanag ni Khol.

I pursed my lips when I heard his mother sighed. "That's enough, Khol."

"No, Dad. I'm trying to make them understand--"

"I said that's enough. When will you ever listen?"

Malungkot at nahihiya kong tiningnan si Khol nang madama ko ang iritasyon sa tinig ng kanyang ama. I'm sure they hate me more now. Baka iniisip nilang nagiging masama ang ugali ni Khol ngayong magkaibigan na kami.

Mrs. Ducani took in a sharp breath. "I apologize for my son's behavior during their PE class."

Sumikip ang dibdib ko nang madama ko ang pagiging istrikta ni Mrs. Ducani. Tila ba sa mga sandaling ito ay nagagalit na rin siya ngunit pinipigilan niyang mawala sa postura.

"Thank you, Attorney. I hope you will teach your son some manners . . . and I hope you will help him understand the importance of having the . . . right circle of friends," sagot ng guidance counselor dahilan para lalo akong manliit.

Nagkatinginan ang mag-asawang Ducani. Maya-maya ay makahulugang ngumiti si Mrs. Ducani bago muling nagsalita.

"Don't worry, Mr. Clavio. We do not tolerate bad behaviors at home . . . as much as we do not allow our kids to stay blind when someone needs their help."

Napaangat ako ng tingin kay Mrs. Ducani. She felt me staring, and when she turned her gaze towards me, I nearly bawled my eyes out when she flashed a motherly smile at me as if she's giving me the assurance that she's got my back.

Muli niyang ibinalik ang tingin sa guidance counselor. "Mr. Clavio, are you familiar with Republic Act No. 10627? Oh, silly me. You're a guidance counselor. I'm sure you're very much aware of that. Let me ask you something else." She smiled. The kind of smile that silently says you're about to go down a nasty road once you push me to my limits. "How about the Republic Act No. 386, hmm?"

Kitang-kita ko kung papaanong nawalan ng kulay ang mukha ng guidance counselor pati na ng PE teacher naming nakatayo sa tabi ng desk niya. They looked at each other for a moment before Mr. Clavio cleared his throat and answered Mrs. Ducani.

"I . . . heard about it."

Mrs. Ducani's lips curved for a more meaningful smile. "Should I . . . elaborate? Or instead of putting the blame on my son's reaction, you will assess this situation thoroughly like you're expected to do, see the real cause of the problem, and deal with it?"

Alanganing ngumiti si Mr. Clavio. "Y-You're right. I forgot that . . . reactions are triggered by certain actions." His adam's apple bobbed up and down. "R-Rest assured that I will let the Principal know about this matter as well."

Mrs. Ducani sighed. "Thank you. But don't worry. I will take care of my son later. I do not like seeing him lose his cool anyway. Nakakahiya," tila sarkastikong sabi ni Mrs. Ducani.

Tumangu-tango ang guidance counselor. Nang tuluyan kaming pinayagang lumabas ay para akong tuta na bumuntot sa pamilya Ducani. I waited for the door to shut before I finally gathered my courage and apologize.

"M-Mr. and Mrs. Ducani?"

Tumingin sila sa akin. Ngumiti naman si Mrs. Ducani sa akin. "Yes, sweetie?"

Sweetie. Her endearment nearly made me tear up but I controlled myself.

"P-Pasensya na po sa nangyari."

Nagkatinginan ang mag-asawang Ducani. Maya-maya ay bumuntonghininga si Mr. Ducani saka siya ang nagsalita.

"It wasn't your fault, young lady. Khol saved you and stood up for you because he knew there was something wrong. Yes, it's not nice to see someone young speak that way and it will never be acceptable but . . . in some circumstances when older people do not show respect to the younger generations just because they're older, people may hate me for all I care but I want to see the young ones show that respect is earned, not asked." Ngumiti siya at tinapik ang aking balikat. "I'd be more disappointed if my son just stood there and did nothing. We're not raising cowards, just so you know."

Mrs. Ducani took a sharp breath then spoke. "Is your mom home, Ria?"

I pursed my lips and shook my head. "Wala po siya ngayon. Three days po siya sa hotel."

"So you have no one to have dinner with?" she asked.

Alanganin akong ngumisi. "Palagi naman po, eh. Kahit na . . . nasa bahay si Mama, hindi po kami kailanman nagsabay na . . . kumain."

Gumuhit ang awa sa mukha ni Mrs. Ducani. Sandali rin muna siyang tumingin sa kanyang asawa, at nang tumango si Mr. Ducani ay roon lamang siya nagpatuloy.

"Can we invite you in our home? I'll be making the Ducani family's special dish."

Napakurap ako. "P-Po? Ay huwag na po. Nakakahiya po--"

"Sumama ka na," putol ni Khol sa sinasabi ko habang umiiwas ng tingin. Tumikhim din siya habang bahagyang namumula ang pisngi. "Sumama ka na sa bahay. Ihahatid kita pauwi mamaya. Mag . . . papatulong din ako sa isang subject."

Napakunot ako ng noo. Magpapatulong siya? Eh, matalino kaya siya?

"Don't be shy, Ria. We'd love to have dinner with you. Lalo na at ako lang ang babae sa pamilya. I would love to chitchat with another girl while my boys are talking about boy stuff," pangungumbinsi ni Mrs. Ducani.

Dala ng hiya ay hindi na rin ako nakatanggi, ngunit dahil hindi pa naman tapos ang school hours namin ay naunang umalis ng eskwelahan ang mag-asawa. Nang makapagpaalam sila sa amin ni Khol ay sabay na kaming naglakad patungo sa Senior's building, ngunit pagliko namin sa walang katau-taong pasilyo ay hinawakan ni Khol ang aking braso para patigilin ako.

My heart pounced when I met his gaze. Tila napakarami niyang gustong sabihin habang hawak ang braso ko, ngunit sa huli ay bumuntonghininga na lamang siya saka ako binitiwan.

"I'll ask my advisor to transfer me to your class," he said.

Napakurap ako. "Bakit naman? Nasa star section ka."

"Why wouldn't I? Ikaw nga ang taas ng IQ mo pero wala ka naman sa section ko?"

Ngumuso ako. "Sikreto lang nga 'yon, eh."

"Well, you're still smart yet you're not in the star section so I have the right to be in your class, too."

I sighed. "Bakit mo gagawin 'yon? Dahil naiinis ka kina Loli? Sa akin naman sila galit."

Nagkamot siya ng sintido at binasa ang ibabang labi bago ako seryosong tinitigan. "Basta. Kung magkaklase tayo, mas mababantayan kita kaya huwag ka nang umalma. Tuwing tapos din ng klase, didiretso tayo sa bahay. I'll teach you how to be stronger physically so in case I'm not around and someone will try to hurt you, alam mo ang gagawin mo."

"Pero--"

"No buts, Ria."

Ngumuso ako. "Pero--"

"I said no buts." Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. "Isang pero pa habang nakasimangot ka, may lalapat na halik diyan sa nakausli mong labi. Huwag mo kong subukan, sinasabi ko sa'yo—"

His eyes widened when he realized what he just said. Namula nang husto ang kanyang mukha at halos talikuran niya ako para lamang maitago iyon sa akin.

"H-Hahalikan mo ko, Khol?" nagwawala ang dibdib kong tanong.

His adam's apple bobbed up and down. "H-Hindi, ah! Mali ka lang ng rinig." Kunwari ay iritable niya akong tiningnan kahit pulang-pula pa rin hanggang tainga. "Bilisan mong maglakad. Last subject na lang mali-late pa tayo," tila nagsusungit na lamang niyang sabi.

Lihim akong napangiti habang nakabuntot sa kanya.

Naku, Ducani. Malinaw pa ang pandinig ko . . .