KABANATA PITO
1260 Words
Shun Gray Williams
I stepped closer, voice still low. “Tell me.”
Selena’s eyes became watery. “Not… like… sobra. Pero… he cornered me before. Tapos he said kung ayaw ko mapahiya, sumunod ako.”
My vision sharpened—like the world turned into a target.
But I controlled my breathing.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.
Selena looked down. “Kasi… ayoko maging burden. And… I thought kaya ko.”
My chest tightened.
“No,” I said softly. “You’re not a burden.”
Selena’s lips trembled. “Kuya… please. Wag ka gagawa ng gulo.”
I looked at her. “I will not fight.”
Selena blinked. “Promise?”
“I promise,” I said. “But you will not meet him anywhere alone. Ever.”
Selena nodded quickly. “Okay.”
I wanted to ask more, but a sudden commotion echoed from the side.
A group of seniors walked by—Jairo’s group.
He saw Selena.
He grinned.
Then he looked at me.
His grin faded a little.
He mouthed something: Mamaya.
Selena went pale.
I stepped forward, blocking Selena from his view. I kept my face blank.
Jairo laughed and continued walking, but I saw his hand gesture—two fingers pointing at his eyes then at me.
A threat.
Selena whispered, “Kuya… we should go back.”
I nodded. “Stay with your friends. Don’t go anywhere alone.”
“Kuya—”
I cut her off gently. “Please.”
Selena nodded.
She left with her friends, glancing back at me like she was afraid I’d disappear or explode.
I watched her go, then turned my gaze to the back building.
Afternoon came.
Classes blurred. Teachers talking. Notes. Students laughing.
My mind was elsewhere.
I didn’t want to fight. I didn’t. Not here.
But I also refused to be powerless.
When dismissal finally happened, students flooded out.
I found Selena near the gate again. She looked relieved when she saw me.
“Kuya,” she said, “uwi na tayo.”
“Wait,” I replied.
Her eyebrows furrowed. “Wait? Bakit?”
I scanned the crowd. “We’ll leave when it’s safe.”
Selena’s eyes widened. “Kuya… you’re scaring me.”
I softened my voice. “Trust me.”
Selena swallowed and nodded.
We waited near a small store across the gate—pretending to browse snacks. I stood near the corner where I could see the side path leading to the back building.
Minutes passed.
Then I saw Jairo.
He was walking with two guys, laughing.
He glanced around, looking for Selena.
When he didn’t see her alone, his expression darkened.
His eyes landed on me.
He smirked and started walking toward us.
Selena stiffened. “Kuya…”
I stepped slightly in front of her again.
Jairo stopped a meter away. “Uy,” he said, casual. “Kapatid mo ba talaga ’to?”
Selena tried to speak, but her voice died.
I answered, “Yes.”
Jairo chuckled. “Protective. Cute.” Then he lowered his voice. “Pero bro… wala kang magagawa. Dito ako.”
I held his gaze. “You can’t do anything either.”
His smile twitched. “Talaga?”
I leaned closer—still calm. “Touch her again, and you’ll regret it.”
Jairo’s eyes flashed. “Oh? Threat?”
“No,” I said. “Warning.”
He laughed, but it was thin. He looked around, maybe expecting people to back him up. But most students were leaving. Teachers were inside. Guards were far.
Selena whispered, “Kuya, please…”
I took a breath.
Don’t fight.
So instead of hitting him, I did something else.
I reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and turned on the camera—record mode.
Jairo blinked. “Ano ’yan?”
“Evidence,” I replied.
His face hardened. “Bastos ka ha.”
“Say what you said again,” I told him. “Louder.”
Jairo’s friends shifted uncomfortably.
He clicked his tongue. “Tsk. Feeling matalino.”
I kept recording. “You just admitted you harass girls. Do you want to repeat it?”
Jairo’s eyes narrowed. He looked like he wanted to punch me.
But he didn’t.
Because he knew.
If he hits me while being recorded… it’s not just school trouble. It’s legal.
Selena stared at me, shocked.
Jairo leaned in and hissed, “Akala mo panalo ka?”
I didn’t flinch. “Leave.”
For a second, his eyes burned with hate.
Then he backed away, trying to save face. “Sige,” he said loudly to his friends, forcing a laugh. “Tara na. May kupal dito.”
They walked off.
Selena exhaled like she had been holding her breath for hours.
“Kuya…” she whispered. “Hindi ka nakipag-away…”
“I said I’d try,” I replied, pocketing my phone.
Selena looked at me like she didn’t know whether to be happy or scared. “Pero… ang tapang mo.”
I didn’t answer.
Because bravery wasn’t what I felt.
I felt anger.
I felt restraint.
And restraint hurts more than fighting.
On the way home, Selena kept glancing at me.
“Kuya,” she said eventually, “paano mo naisip mag-record?”
I shrugged. “I adapt.”
Selena smiled slightly. “Captain Limuel taught you?”
I blinked—she remembered the name I accidentally mentioned before.
“Yeah,” I answered.
Selena’s face became curious. “Sino si Captain Limuel?”
I stared ahead. “Someone who tried to teach me how to be human.”
Selena laughed softly. “Kuya naman.”
But then her laughter faded. “Kuya… thank you.”
I looked at her. “For what?”
“For… protecting me,” she said, voice small. “And… doing it without… violence.”
I nodded slowly. “I said I’ll try.”
Selena hugged her bag closer. “Kuya… do you think titigil na si Jairo?”
I didn’t want to lie.
“No,” I answered honestly. “Not yet.”
Selena’s face fell.
“But,” I continued, “he knows now that he can’t do it quietly.”
Selena swallowed. “Kuya… what if he does something worse?”
I stopped walking for a second. Selena stopped too.
I looked down at her. “Then I will stop it.”
Selena’s eyes widened. “Kuya…”
I softened my voice again. “Your way first. Always.”
Selena nodded slowly.
We walked again.
But deep inside, I knew something.
People like Jairo don’t stop because of warnings.
They stop because of consequences.
And if the world refuses to give him consequences…
Then someone will.
That night, while Selena was doing homework, I sat on my bed and stared at my phone.
I watched the recording again.
Jairo’s face. His voice. His confidence.
I saved it in a hidden folder.
Then I opened my contacts list.
Empty. New number. New life.
But there was one number I still remembered in my head—by memory, not by contact.
A number from my past.
A number that Captain Limuel told me to erase.
I hovered my finger over the keypad.
Then I stopped.
No. Not yet.
I turned off the phone.
Because I promised Selena I’ll do it her way.
But as I lay down, I heard the same echo again.
“Don’t ever fight.”
And for the first time, I answered it in my head.
I won’t.
Unless they force me.
- Writer
