Blood Menace

7- Not His Type

Magkaibigan. She liked that.

—-
Agad na binawi ni Kam ang sinabi n'ya kaninang madaling-araw na pwede silang maging magkaibigan ni Cole Bloodworth.

Pinapasakit nanaman kasi nito ang ulo niya, unang klase pa lang sa araw na 'yun.

"Eh hindi mo naman kaanu-ano ang bata so bakit mo s'ya unang sasagipin? 'Yung Lola mo hindi mo uunahin? Eh pamilya mo 'yun," nanggagalaiti si Kam nang sabihin n'ya 'yun.

Nasa harapan ng klase sila ni Cole at kasalukuyang nagde-debate kung sino ang uunahin nilang iligtas sa pagkalunod.

The scenario was, lahat sila mortal. Nalulunod ang kanilang ninety-eight-year old na Lola at isang six-year-old na bata na hindi nila kakilala. Sino ang uunahin nilang sagipin?

Cole feigned a fake shock. "You sound so calloused, Caedis. That kid had not even lived his life. Hayaan mo namang maka-experience ng first kiss."

The whole class erupted in laughter. Well, except Kam. Halos umusok na ang ilong niya.

"Besides, my grandmother has lived a long life. The kid barely lived tapos matatapos agad? That is so unfair."

"Life is unfair, Bloodworth. I know that firsthand. We just can't do everything we want to do. Sometimes, we are forced to do things we don't want," hindi niya namalayang humuhugot na pala s'ya kaya ipinilig n'ya ang kanyang ulo. "You have a valid point about the kid not having a chance to live but I firmly believe that family comes first above anything else."

Hindi agad nakasagot si Cole sa sinabi n'ya. O baka naman sadyang hindi lang ito agad sumagot at inaarok siya. Nakatitig kasi ito sa kanya nang sobrang intense kaya nakaramdam siya ng pagkabalisa.

She talked too much. Hindi naman niya intensyon na makahugot ng kanyang personal na saloobin.

Sadyang lumabas lang dahil sa inis n'ya.

"I understand," sabi nito pagkaraan ng ilang saglit. "Family comes first but my family taught me better. My grandmother would understand if I saved the kid first. She would want the same because what I am is a result of their teachings. Besides, the scenario didn't mention that I can't save her. The scenario asked who I will save first. My answer is the kid, then I will go back as fast I could to save my grandmother."

Natulala si Kam. May mga tao pala talagang may mataas na paninindigan.

Growing up, Kam was not surrounded by many people. Tanging mga taong nagtatrabaho lang para sa kanila at mga magulang n'ya. Heck, they weren't even there all the time. She was left with employees.

She was not taught how to have principles.

She didn't have friends either. Her parents didn't want her to mingle with people who are lower than them.

And most of all, she was forced to follow everything her parents tell her. Itinanim ng mga ito sa utak n'ya that only family matters. Walang value ang ibang tao. Only the three of them should matter to each other.

She learned about the world through her readings, movies, and documentaries.

She didn't have real experiences outside her expensive schools and their mansion.

Until Kray Hayes found her five years ago. He waited for her outside her school one day and to her surprise, Smit, her personal driver, let him talk to her.

She was fourteen then. Kray taught her how to live outside her comfort zone.

But Kray still didn't teach her to choose other people over family.