The Bad Boy's Property (TAGALOG)

Ep.1: Chapter 1: Persuading Mom

Chapter 1

"Please, mama bear! Don't persist in doing this. Hindi makatarungan ito para sa 'kin. I want compassion! Kukuha ako ng abogado, gagamitin ko ang aking karapatan, at magrereklamo ako. Hustisya para sa mga batang nakararanas ng hindi magandang pagtrato ng mga magulang nila!" I raised my right hand with a solid fist. I am almost shouting while complaining to my mom.

"Anong arte 'yan, Jelaine? Do you feel like you're in the spotlight where cameras are around, shooting? Ano? Artista ka? You have so much of a show. Umayos ka nga! And what mama bear do you keep on saying? Did you forget that your call to me is mama? Ma-ma! At h'wag nang paulit-ulit, Jelaine! You are going to transfer to another school whether you like it or not because that's what I want, and you can't do anything to change my mind!" My mom answered me. 'Yong boses niya ay mas malakas kaysa sa boses ko kanina.

Narito kami sa bahay namin, at hindi ako pumasok sa klase ko ngayon sa kasalukuyan kong paaralan. It was because my mom suddenly decided on something crazy. She went to my room early in the morning before I ever woke up and got ready for school. She told me about her crazy decision. She told me that she was planning to get me transferred to a new school. By which seems to be just like that. Like it was simple. Napakadali sa kaniyang sabihin sa 'kin iyong desisyon na ginawa niya nang walang opinyon o permiso ko. She decided on something that I was involved in without having a word from me. When she spoke to me about her decision, it was final. She said that I do not have a say in it anymore, which is not fair! Dapat ay inisip niya rin ang mararamdaman ko tungkol dito, lalong-lalo na at tungkol ito sa akin.

That's why I am here, complaining to her about it. I'm telling her that I oppose this decision she's about to make. That is against the law and my human rights. I am very unwilling! So, I will stand and fight for my rights!

Simula pa noong kindergarten, ang paaralan ko na ngayon ang kung saan ako nag-aaral at pakiramdam ko nga ay bahay ko na rin ito. I don't want to transfer to another school, especially since the school I am about to go to is the worst school I've ever heard of in my life.

"That school is a big mistake! Big mistake, 'ma! Naririnig mo ba ako? Why suddenly did you decide to transfer me to a new school? Bakit naman sa dinami-rami ng school sa Pilipinas ay iyon pa ang pinili ninyo? Listen to me, 'ma. My friends are here at my current school! Why are you doing this to me? My grades are good, and I maintain them well. Hindi ko naman kayo binibigyan ng problema, mabait naman akong anak. I'm a goddess, I'm so cool, and after all that, you're doing this to me? Is this what you're going to pay for all the sacrifices that I am doing as your daughter? For all the good things that I'm doing? But then, when I ask you for a valid reason, you can't give any. Hindi mo ako sinasagot ng maayos, 'ma! Ano 'to? Laro lang ba 'to para sa'yo? You are bored, and you chose to play with me? Is that it?" I sulked.

Kunwari ay umiiyak ako para ipakita kay mama para sana ay maawa siya sa akin. I was trying so hard for a tear to drop from my eyes to make it believable and realistic, but no matter how hard I tried pressing my eyes close to make some tears down, no tear came out from them. Oh, my veggies! My beautiful eyes, can you do me a favor just this once? Please naman, maglabas na kayo ng mga luha! It is a simple favor I'm asking! "You're right, 'ma. I feel like I'm in a drama show, and I feel like you are the antagonist!" I covered my face with my palms. "How I wish this is just a tv drama that's happening right now. How I wish this is not real!"

I slumped on the floor while showing that I was crying. I was acting like I am an actress who was shooting for a dramatic scene. Oh, my veggies! She might find it obvious that I was faking a cry because of my silly eyes that couldn't once give me a favor and cooperate! Sana lang talaga ay hindi niya mahalata. But this is no joke at all. I want to show her that I am crying so that she would give me some sympathy. Ayaw lang makisama ng mga matang kong ito! Oh, my veggies! Ano na ang gagawin ko ngayon?

"Alam mo, may kulang d'yan, eh. Just one little detail." My mom said, nodding her head, pouting, while she kept looking at me. Both of us know that she's fooling around.

I seemed to know what was going to happen.

Tumayo siya sa kinauupuan niyang sofa. Nagsimula siyang maglakad at nakita ko siyang papunta sa kusina. When she returned, she was already holding a glass of water in her right hand. "Here!" Sabi niya. She put down the glass of water on the center table with heavy gravity that the water spilled out. I got startled by the sound it created. "That's for the tears. That's the only one thing left that you're missing, and you are going to perfect this drama scene you are making."

Pakiramdam ko ay may nagbuhos ng malamig na tubig sa akin. I have already awakened from this dream that my mom is going to believe me in this drama. It's depressing because my acting has gone to waste. Binigyan niya ako ng naghihinalang mukha. Umirap siya sa akin at bumuntong-hininga na parang paubos na ang lakas niya at pasensya.

"I already told you the reason why I am deciding to transfer you to another school is that I just wanted to. Don't be repetitive, Jelaine. Alright? Could you?" She strictly uttered in a low and calm voice.

"You just wanted to? Really, 'ma? Is that it? You just wanted to? Right! You just wanted to make my life miserable! That's it, right, 'ma? What about my friends? I will leave them behind! What about me? I never want this! I won't do this. I am unwilling to leave my current school and go to another. I don't like the idea of leaving my school to go to the school you want for me!" I paused and breathed deep. "You just wanted to? What about what I want, 'ma? What about what I want for myself? For my life? Won't you ask me? Don't you have a better reason for doing this? Something that I could understand you for doing this?" I am exploding because of a lot of emotions coming out of my chest right now. Sa totoo lang ay naiinis talaga ako kay mama. Hindi siya ganito dati. She's acting weird.

It's all because she just wanted me to do this? She must be kidding me. It must be a big joke of a lifetime.

"Oh, yeah? You still don't understand me? Can't you understand those simple words? Uulitin ko. You are going to transfer to Eco High because I want to! Hindi mo pa rin naiintindihan? Napakasimple lang na intindihin n'on, Jelaine." Like me, she's also acting like she doesn't have much patience left. She inhaled deep and exhaled. Her facial expression became a little gentle. "Okay. I just thought that you've stayed in your old school almost all your life and I already found that school boring for you. Don't you think it's good to experience new things? See new places and people. Meet and interact with new people? Experience those things that you don't yet experienced? Color your life brighter colors than you ever have? I think that you deserve to have better and awesome chapters in your life. Why not try, right?" She carefully said.

I knew her last sentence was sarcasm. Inaamin ko. There are just the same things for me every day at my current school. Ang lahat ay parang nangyari na kahapon, a routine, pero ayos lang naman ako roon. I don't even mind that. I am not asking for any new stuff or breathtaking chapters to come.

She's chilling like none of this is a big deal. Maybe, for her, but I am driving crazy because of this sudden decision she's making. Seriously, what is happening to my mother? Is she driving crazy for real? Oh, my veggies! No. I don't think she is.

"What? Did you say try? Hwoa!" I snorted in disbelief. "Seriously, ma? Do you hear yourself? Susubukan kong ma-bully at gawing laruan ng mga estudyante roon? Iyon ba ang gusto mo, 'ma? Do you think that my life is going to last when I get there yet? Sigurado ka ba talagang papapasukin mo ako sa nakakatakot na iskwelahan na iyon? Pakiusap, pag-isipan mo ulit, 'ma! Pag-isipan mong mabuti! Please! Gusto ko pang mabuhay ng matagal. I don't belong in that scary school. Masiyado akong mabait para ihalo sa mga estudyante roon." My school right now is the best school for me. It's where I am fit. I have an ordinary life with regular students.

And what's important I will not perish while staying where I am right now.

"Enough! I am enough of you, Jelaine! Stop that act right now! Let's stop this discussion! Nakapagdesisyon na ako. Wala nang makapagbabago ro'n. I see no bad reason for you not to transfer. You can't guarantee that the rumors you hear about that school are real. You have not been there all your life. So, cut your wide imaginations, okay? Now, go to your room!" She's looking at me with a sense of authority, and her voice also has it. So, she's that serious about this? Ililipat niya ako ng paaralan na parang nagtatapon lang ng basura.

Talaga bang lilipat ako sa iskwelahan na iyon? I can't imagine. Sana ay masamang panaginip na lang ito. How I wish this is just a huge joke. I hope I am an actual actress shooting this scene!

Right! Why can't I become an actress and not attend school anymore? So that I could escape this thing like a ninja? Gosh! I know. That's not the best idea to do. Not a solution.

"Do I still need to prove a fact? 'Ma... Please! Don't do this. I haven't done anything wrong for you to do this. Why in all schools did you choose Eco High? Students there have bad reputations. There are no students there but badasses. Bad girls and boys! Do you hear me, 'ma? Bad girls and boys! Bad girls and b--"

"Okay, stop! Just stop it now. You are telling me that multiple times. I told you not to be so repetitive! You are repeating over and over!" She said with extreme annoyance and disgust.

"Then, tell me why there? Ang unang araw ko roon ay p'wedeng maging huling araw na ng buhay ko. I have a strong feeling that the first step I take inside that school could be my end. Baka hindi na ako makauwi pa ng bahay. So, think carefully, 'ma! Pag-isipan mo ulit. But if you are already decided, okay, go on. It's your choice to lose a perfect goddess of all daughters in the world that no one could ever have and had."

A valid reason, that's all I need. To be able to understand this. That's enough for me.

Mabait akong anak.. I'm not the kind who takes home a trophy or a medal, but I am doing everything I can to make them proud. I'm doing and taking all my responsibility as a child and student seriously. I'm doing my very best to study and be a good student for all sake. I don't get low grades or marks because I'm putting my most excellent work on every task I'm doing. I see no reason for her to do this to me.

Ano ba ang ginawa kong mali para ilagay niya ako sa paaralang katulad n'on? I swear I don't think that I have done anything for her to do this.

"Don't say that! You are a good girl. Alam ko iyon. Kilala kita. Anak kita, eh! Don't worry about anything and just trust me, okay? All is well. Malalaman mo rin kung bakit ko ginagawa ito. For now, just do what I say and don't ask questions. You're not going to die or something. I know. Trust me. Okay?" She smiled gently and tapped my shoulder before she stood up from her seat again. "Pumunta ka na sa kuwarto mo at maghanda. You're coming with me to process all we need to process so that you can go to school tomorrow."

I looked at her helplessly and hopelessly as she was walking away.

•••

Note:

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