Paper Planes

Kabanata 14

KABANATA 14

The following week, I was finally able to convince Gene that I was well enough to go to school. Paos pa kasi ako ng konti kaya medyo nag-aalangan siyang payagan akong pumasok.

Pagkapasok ko pa lang sa gate, puna ko ang kakaibang kinikilos ng mga tao sa aking paligid. They were glancing over me while whispering to their peers. They weren't even shy about being discovered staring at my direction. When I tried asking one student, he jumped from his seat and bolted away before I could even utter a word.

Ganoon din ang kalagayan sa loob ng aming silid-aralan. Iyong mga lalaki ay panay ng tingin sa akin habang may binubulong sa isa't isa. Iyong grupo naman ni Melissa, iyong kumuha sa akin sa harapan ng Clinic at nagdala roon sa isa pang grupo, ay hindi makatingin sa akin. Tanging si Desiree lang walang pagbabago ang turing sa akin, tila walang alam sa naganap noong nakaraang linggo.

It was our last subject in the morning when someone from the Dean's office came to our room.

"Is Miss Moritake here?" She asked and I hesitantly raised my hand, "You are called by the Dean. Please come with me," she said and the room was quickly filled with whispering from my classmates.

Tahimik akong tumayo at sumunod sa babae. Mabilis namang nagsitayuan ang magkapatid na Yazaki. I could easily see the concern etched on their faces.

"Aya-chan..." Narinig ko pang tawag ni Kou.

Saglit ko silang nilingon at nginitian, ensuring them that I will be alright, bago ko sinundan sa labas iyong babae. I didn't know what to expect being called to the highest officer in our department so I was a bit nervous when we got to the door with a metal plate glued on the wall beside it which read 'DEAN'S OFFICE'.

The woman with me told me to wait for a while before disappearing behind the door. I was pacing back and forth thinking of things the Dean would need from me.

Should I call Mimi? No, that would be embarrassing. I was having a small debate inside my head when the door slightly opened and another woman came out from it.

"They're ready to receive you, Miss Moritake," marahang sabi nito bago muling nawala sa likod ng pintuan.

Mabilis kong pinunasan ang namamasang kamay sa gilid ng aking saya bago ko pinihit ang knob ng pinto. Pagkabukas ko, sumalubong ang ingay ng mga taong sabay-sabay na nagsasalita. When I finally saw them, I quickly recognized the boy with a sling on his right arm.

Kaagad silang natahimik nang nakita ako. Bahagyang namilog ang mga mata noong lalaki bago nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Good morning," I greeted in a small voice as I approached them. I could clearly see the anger from the adults who were standing behind the boy.

"Good morning, Miss Moritake. Please have a seat," said an old man sitting behind a large desk. I presumed he was the Dean.

Tumango ako at tsaka umupo sa kaharap na upuan noong lalaki. Kita ko kung papaano nito kinuyom ang kanyang nakabendaheng kamay. Nakataas ang kilay kong tiningnan ang kanyang nakaiwas na mukha.

"I have heard that you were admitted to a hospital due to a high fever?" Tanong ng Dean na pinagsalikop ang mga daliri sa kanyang harapan.

Sandali ko pang sinilip ang mga nanggigilaiting mukha ng mga kasama noong lalaki, na tantiya ko ay kanyang mga magulang, bago dahan-dahang tumango.

"Nakalabas na po kami noong Martes kaya lang hindi pa ako pinayagan ng Papa kong pumasok dahil may konting ubo pa ako noon. That's why I only got back to school this morning," sagot ko.

"I see. It's good to hear that you're feeling better," anito habang tinatango ang ulo, "By the way, have you met Eng'r. Dumdum and his wife?" Dagdag nito habang nakalahad ang kamay sa direksyon ng aking kaharap.

Muli ko silang tiningnan bago bahagyang tumango. Mabilis akong inirapan noong matandang babaeng nakahawak sa balikat noong lalaking nakaupo.

"They're here because they wanted to file a complaint against you. You, uh, allegedly fought with their son, Derek Dumdum, a third year student from School of Business, last Friday and ultimately broke his right elbow—"

"How dare you do this to our boy?! He's the future of kyuudou! How dare you?!" Yelled Mrs. Dumdum, cutting off the Dean, with so much anger that her index finger trembled while pointing it at me,

"Mrs. Dumdum, let's stay calm."

"Calm?! Look at my boy! She broke his elbow while he was unconscious! His dominant elbow, Mr. Dean. And while he was unconscious?! Anong klaseng tao ang batang iyan?! No proper human could ever do such a thing! Hayop lang ang may kayang gawin iyon!"

I bit my lip as I lowered my gaze, iniiwasan ang kanilang mapanghusgang titig. But even from where I was sitting, I could still make out that faint smile on the boy's lips.

"That's enough, Mrs. Dumdum. We haven't heard Miss Moritake's side of the story yet."

"Eto na nga, Mr. Dean. Nakikita niyo naman siguro kung anong nangyari sa anak ko, hindi ba? Ano pa bang ebidensiya ang kailangan niyo para malamang demonyo ang batang iyan?!"

Tahimik kong kinuyom ang mga palad ko.

"I'd like to speak with her father, Mr. Dean."

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa biglang sinabi ni Eng'r. Dumdum.

"Kailangang may managot sa nangyari sa aking anak. Hindi pwedeng i-settle lang natin dito. If we must, we will take this to court. I don't care if that girl is still a minor or not. I will make sure she will pay for every opportunity that my son has lost because of what she's done to him!"

"Eng'r. Dumdum, please be reasonable. Hindi naman po natin kailangang dalhin ito sa korte. Mga bata pa naman sila. Your son's elbow will be fixed and soon he will be able to hold a bow again. For sure, Miss Moritake has already thought things through and is regretting what she did to your son. Let's not ruin the child's future because of this."

Nanikip ang dibdib ko sa hinayag nito. It's like he's already concluding that I really did cripple the boy. And that I did it outside the bounds of reason.

"We will not accept that! I will speak with her father! Sisiguraduhin kong matatanggap niya ang karampatang parusa. I don't care if her future will be ruined or not. She trampled with my son's future. I will not let her get away with it," mariing tugon ni Eng'r. Dumdum.

I heard the Dean sighed in defeat. I took a peek and saw that the boy's parents wouldn't back down so easily.

"Miss Moritake?"

Nilingon ko ang Dean at nakita ang pagod nitong hitsura.

"Can you call your father for us?"

"P-po? K-kailangan po ba talaga?" I asked, worried that I might cause more trouble for Gene.

"Insolente! Call your father or would you rather I punish you on his behalf instead?!"

"Calm down, Mrs. Dumdum. We won't be tolerating you hurting a child inside our premises. There's no need for violence here," sabi ng Dean.

Mrs. Dumdum gave me a look that obviously stated her current thoughts on me.

"Miss Moritake? Please?" I heard the Dean asked.

I sighed as I took my phone out and fast dialed Gene's number.

I just hope that he isn't busy right now.

He answered on the second ring.

"Hello, my beautiful, sweet, precious daughter! Daddy misses you, too! Are you doing alright? Or maybe you're not feeling well? Gusto mong sunduin ka ni Daddy? Pupuntahan kita agad in a jiffy!" He spontaneously mumbled.

Hindi ko na lang iyon pinansin.

"Um, are you busy right now?" I asked, carefully picking my words, as the adults in the room anxiously waited for their expected response.

"For you I will clear up my schedule! May kailangan ba ang anak ko?" Sabi nitong may bahid pa ng tuwa.

"Um..." I was trying to think of ways to tell him about my situation without igniting his fire when I heard what Mrs. Dumdum mumbled in her place.

"Siguro ay salbahe rin ang mga magulang niyan. Kung ano ang puno, siya rin ang bunga!"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa narinig. Nawala na ang hiyang naramdam at napalitan ng inis.

"Nasa Dean's office ako ngayon. Gusto ka raw'ng makausap ng mga magulang ng lalaking nagdala ng mga kasama niyang may bitbit na shinai at pinagtulungan ako noong Biyernes. You know, the same day I went to school still with a high fever?"

I heard gasps around me after I said that but what I was pleased to hear the most was Gene's concised reply.

"Papunta na ako."

Ibinaba ko ang telepono at saka itinago sa aking bulsa bago hinarap ang mga naroon.

"Papunta na po rito ang Papa ko," I said to the Dean, smiling.

Tumikhim ito bago binalingan iyong lalaking namumutla na ngayon sa harap ko.

"Is that true, Mr. Dumdum?" He asked.

Nagbaba naman ng tingin iyong lalaki.

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Dean? Hindi porke't sinabi ng batang iyan na ganoon ang nangyari ay paniniwalaan niyo na agad! Ni wala man lang siyang galos sa katawan para patunayan iyong paratang niyang pinagtulungan siya! Pero ang anak ko. Itong anak ko ay binalian niya ng siko! Nasaan ang katarungan doon!" Asik ni Mrs. Dumdum.

"Mrs. Dumdum, hindi naman sa pinapanigan ko iyong bata. Gusto ko lang marinig sa parehong panig ang kani-kanilang mga pahayag tungkol sa nangyari. Pareho tayong wala roon noong naganap ang pag-aaway nila. Who else could tell us the details of what happened but the ones involved."

"Basta naniniwala akong walang ibang may kasalanan dito kung hindi ang batang iyan! Hindi namin pinalaking salbahe ang aming anak. Derek's a sweet, gentle, and responsible boy! Imposible ang mga paratang ng batang iyan sa anak namin!" Giit pa ng ina nito.

I could almost laugh at how she described her son. Malayong-malayo sa taong binalak na basagin ang bungo ko.

"Ganyan ba ang pagpapalaki sa iyo ng iyong mga magulang, ha? Ang maging isang sinungaling?" Biglang utas ni Eng'r.

Hindi ko inatrasan ang kanyang naghahamong titig.

"See?! See that, Mr. Dean! See how she stares at me? Iyan ang mga mata ng isang bayolenteng tao! Bakit, iha, gusto mo rin ba akong upakan? Ha? Gusto mo rin akong balian gaya ng ginawa mo sa anak ko?"

Nagbaba ako tingin at kinalma ang sarili. Walang mangyayari kung sasabayan ko ang galit nila. Sarado na ang isip nila tungkol sa paksang ito. Kumbinsedo silang walang pagkakasala ang kanilang anak.

"Nasaan na ba ang magulang nito at nang mapagsabihan ko! Sa pinapakitang ugali niya nasisiguro kong mababa ang uri ng pamumuhay nila," asik pa ni Eng'r.

I bit my lip to stop myself from arguing back. Alam ko na ngayong hindi iyon maganda para sa imahe nina Gene at Mimi.

"Ano bang mga hanap-buhay ng iyong mga magulang? Hmm? Office staff? Driver?"

Mariin kong ikinuyom ang mga kamao sa narinig. Nag-angat ako ng tingin para sana sumagot nang biglang bumukas ang pinto. Iniluwa nito si Gene na suot pa ang kanyang kulay abong three-piece suit at nakaayos ang porma ng karaniwang ay magulong buhok nito.

One of the female staffs approached him for which he immediately dismissed as he urgently strode towards me. Gently, he placed his hands on top of my shoulders, squaring them as I faced the persons who dared insult our family.

"Good morning, everyone. I am Atty. Yuujin Moritake, Ayana Moritake's father," he said in a clear, precise manner.

Ilang sandaling walang nagsalita sa kanila. I even saw how Eng'r. Dumdum's face slowly lost its luster while the facts he heard from Gene finally dawned on him.

"My daughter told me you wanted to talk to me. May I inquire on your reasons for such urgency?"

"A...um... I'm sorry, Atty. Moritake. I'm Mr. Erwin Serenio, the Dean of the Middle School Department. This is Eng'r. Gregory Dumdum, his wife, Letecia, and their son, Derek Dumdum," pakilala ng Dean sa aming kaharap.

Marahang yumuko si Gene bilang pagbati. Ganoon din ang ginawa ni Eng'r. but not as graceful. Agad naman siyang pinanlakihan ng mata ng kanyang asawa.

"Ano pong gusto niyong pag-usapan natin?" Gene asked still in a polite manner while keeping his eyes on the Dumdum patriarch.

"K-kasi Atty., i-iyong a-anak..." Nagkanda-utal-utal na sagot nito.

"Oh please, Dear, what's wrong with you?" Puna ng asawa nito bago matapang na hinarap ang aking magulang, "That daughter of yours broke my son's elbow. And my son is supposed to be the Vice-Captain of this school's Kyuudou team. Dahil sa ginawa ng anak mo, napurnada ang tsansa niyang makasali sa National Tournament! And this is something we can't accept! Hindi namin papalagpasin ito!"

Ilang sandaling natahimik si Gene. Isang marahang pisil pa ang ginawa nito bago muling nagsalita.

"Ano nga ulit ang pangalan mo?" He asked, pertaining to the younger Dumdum.

Nag-alangan pa itong nag-angat ng tingin bago sumagot.

"Derek Dumdum."

"So Derek, saan ka nga uli binalian ng buto ng anak ko?"

"S-sa likod po ng gym."

"At mga anong oras iyon?"

"U-um... Hindi ko matandaan, e. Mga pasado alas quatro?"

"Excuse me lang. Why are you asking my son these questions? Kitang-kita sa kalagayan ng aking anak na nadehado siya ng anak mo! Now, we want your daughter to take responsibility for what she's done."

Gene slightly moved at the woman's words but he kept his hands on my shoulders.

"Mukha ka namang matinong tao. Hindi ko maintindihan kung papaano niyo pinalaking sutil at salbahe iyang anak mo. Kababaeng tao— Ano ba Greg? Kanina mo pa ako kinakalabit diyan! Patapusin mo nga akong magsalita!"

"Pardon me, Madame."

Muling humarap ang mag-asawa nang tawagin ni Gene.

"Setting aside my daughter's above the charts intellect and natural talents, Ayana is a strong and independent girl who always choose to do everything on her own rather than trouble someone by asking for help even when she badly needed one. She's fourteen now and I still haven't heard one bit of complain from her. Kahit na noong nilalagnat siya, hindi niya ako tinawagan para sunduin siya sa paaralan. Tiniis niya iyon at pumasok pa rin nang walang inaabalang tao."

"Well that's your fault for being easy on her! Inakala niyong matino siyang bata pero ang totoo, pumapasok siya sa paaralan para manakit ng iba! Just look at what she did to my son! Did you know that she broke his elbow while he was unconscious?! That just shows how evil your daughter is inside! And you didn't know that because that's what she's making you believe! That she's an innocent, little angel when she's really a fanged minion of the devil himself!"

Nakagat ko ang aking labi sa huli nitong sinabi. Magbababa na sana ako ng tingin nang maramdaman ang pagdiin ng hawak ni Gene sa aking mga balikat.

"That would be the last time you call my daughter improper names, Mrs. Dumdum," matigas na sabi nitong nagpaawang ng bibig ng babae, "Dumdum, right? From Dumdum Constructions?"

Mabilis na tumango si Eng'r. na dumukot ng isang panyo at pinunasan ang pinagpapawisang noo.

"How many times do you follow up your son's activities?"

"I beg your pardon?!" Asik ni Mrs. Dumdum sa tanong ni Gene na hindi man lang natinag sa galit nito.

"Tinatanong ko kung ilang beses niyong pina-follow up ang mga ginagawa ng anak niyo," pag-uulit nito.

"We've brought up our son to be independent and responsible. Tiwala kaming walang ginagawang hindi maganda ang aming anak," sagot nito, "Why are we even explaining ourselves when the issue is about your daughter hurting our son?! Just look at this!"

"Sa tingin niyo hindi namin nakita ang mga pasa sa katawan ng anak namin noong mga araw na nasa ospital siya? Sa tingin niyo wala kaming ginawa para alamin kung saan nanggaling ang mga pasang iyon?"

I swallowed the invisible lump on my throat at this new information.

"Hindi lang isa, kundi walong kalalakihang kasama ng anak mo ang walang-awang pinagtulungang hampasin ng shinai ang katawan ng may sakit kong anak. At nasaan ang anak mo sa mga oras na iyon? Tumatawa ang magaling niyong anak habang pinapanood na mangyari iyon sa anak ko. Sa tingin niyo hindi namin malalaman?"

Natahimik ang mag-asawa habang may pag-aalalang tiningnan ang isa't isa.

"T-that's absurd! Hindi magagawa ng anak ko iyan!" Nagawa pa ring sabihin ni Mrs. Dumdum na humakbang ng isang beses at tumayo sa harap ng kanyang anak.

The Dean opened his mouth to say something when the door flew open and all of a sudden eight men were thrown inside, followed by five screaming girls.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Asik ni Mr. Serenio pagkatapos pumasok ng tatlo pang lalaki.

Namilog ang mga mata ko nang makilala ang mga iyon at agad na napatayo.

"Mr. Dean, listen to us. Aya-chan didn't do anything wrong! Sila po iyong totoong may sala rito!"

"What is going on here, Mr. Himura?" The dean demanded as he stood up and approached them.

Bahagyang umawang ang bibig ni Himura nang makilala ang aking katabi. Ilang beses pa itong kumurap bago ibinaling sa naghihintay na dean ang paningin. He cleared his throat before finally speaking.

"Good morning, Mr. Serenio, Eng'r. Dumdum, Mrs. Dumdum and..." He paused as he acknowledged my father's presence with a nod, "Atty. Moritake. I am Shun Himura, the current SGO President of our school, and I'm here to report about the incident last Friday involving your son and his friends."

Nang marinig ang huling sinabi ni Himura, agad na nagbaba ng tingin ang batang Dumdum.

Tumagal ng isang oras ang naging pag-uusap sa pagitan ng mga magulang namin at ng Dean. Nang matapos, mabilis na nagsilikas ang mag-inang Dumdum nang hindi ako tinitingnan. Ilang beses pang humingi ng paumanhin kay Gene ang haligi ng kanilang tahanan bago sinundan ang kanyang mag-anak.

"Salamat sa tulong mo, Himura-iinchou," narinig kong sabi ni Gene nang lapitan si Himura at nakipagkamay.

"Wala pong problema, Atty. Anything for Arianne," nakangiti naman nitong tugon.

Hindi nakawala ang bahagyang pagsimangot ng aking magulang sa huling sinabi ng aking kaibigan. Tumikhim ito at inayos ang kanyang ekspresyon.

"Well, send my hopes of good health and warm regards to your parents then," anito bago isang beses na tinapik ang balikat ng aking kaibigan at pagkatapos ay iniwan na ito para ako'y lapitan.

Nagbaba ako ng tingin nang nasa harapan ko na siya.

"I'm very sorry for this, Gene. I know how busy you are with your cases. I should have been more careful," mahinang sabi ko habang pinagmamasdan ang itim kong sapatos.

Isang marahang haplos sa aking buhok ang muling nagpaangat sa akin ng aking tingin. Sumalubong ang isang masuyong ngiti mula sa aking magulang.

"You don't have to worry about that. As a lawyer, it is my job to save my clients from all sorts of legal battles. But before this, I am both a husband and a father. It is only natural that I put my family first above all else," he said while patting my head, "Tsaka sa loob ng anim na taon, ngayon ka lang nagsumbong sa akin kaya bakit kita bibiguin? I'm actually happy that you're finally giving me a chance to be a proper father to you."

I felt my blood rushed to my face and burned my cheeks at his words.

"Besides, it is my pleasure defending my beautiful, precious daughter from people who wants to harm her," he added as he gave me a wink.