"Did you cry?"
"I didn't."
"Then that's what matters."
"Rebecca!" pagalit na singhal ni tito kay mommy habang nilalagyan ng Triderm ang scalp ng aking ulo. It's an ointment effective for wounds. "Tinusok nila ng lapis ang ulo ng anak mo, iyong pag-iyak niya lang talaga ang inisip mo?"
"Siyempre hindi," sagot naman agad ni mommy. "I worry about the wound, too. But it's already there, and you're treating it now. Then the only thing left for me to worry is how she behaved after getting stabbed with a pencil."
"Kung mas malalim at mas mahaba pa 'to, papatahi na natin sa doctor," tito continued, he didn't pay attention to my mom's response. "Isang buwan ka pa lang sa school, Ria, may kaaway ka na agad? What did I tell you about manners?"
"You're asking as if you're so sure that it's her fault." Mom tsk-tsked. "Are you in your usual behavior again of concluding without knowing the whole story?"
"Said by the one who only asked her daughter whether she cried or not."
"Ria," tawag sa'kin ni mommy. Finally. Finally they noticed me. Did they just realize how things might have been easier if they listened to me first? "What happened?"
Took them long enough to ask, but alright. "Our English teacher conducted a game this afternoon, the two of us won and we were given sling bags as a prize. Kaso, hindi kasi kami pareho ng style. Hers is a bunny and mine is a cat. She wanted the cat."
"I guess I already know what happened," tito sighed. "You should have just let her take it. Your safety is the top priority."
Iniangat ko ang sling bag na nakasabit na sa aking balikat at saka ito ipinakita sa kanila. "Why would I? The cat design looks like Neko."
"You're too obsessed with that freaking stuffed toy that you don't even care about the danger anymore! Alam mo, konti na lang ako na mismo sisira sa Neko Neko na 'yan," diin ni tito, tunog-seryoso ang babalang binitawan niya, dahilan para malukot ang mukha ko.
"Not my Neko!"
"Well, it's bad that it became her weakness," mom rejoined the conversation, "but it also became her strength. Siguro nga tama sila. Your biggest weakness is also your biggest source of strength. But you know what, you only need strengths not weaknesses. Get rid of the fear of losing Neko starting now."
I pouted and just played with the bag. Bahala sila riyan.
"Wait a minute. How did it become her strength again?" tito sarcastically asked to mom.
"She had the courage to keep it in her hands even after getting stabbed."
"And you consider that a good thing?!" Hindi makapaniwalang napahilot si tito sa kanyang sentido. "Didn't you teach her that she should recognize her limitations?"
"That is, if she's fighting for something that isn't hers, something that she wants to have. But that ugly sling bag," itinuro niya ang nasa kamay ko, "is hers to begin with."
Tito exhaled tiredly. "So, you're not gonna tell your daughter to avoid getting hurt at all cost?"
Mom's lips quivered a little as if she's tempted to say it but can't. "Alright. You should avoid getting hurt at all cost, unless your pride is sacrificed and your honor is tarnished."
"Rebecca!"
"I'm sorry, I can't," nakataas ang dalawang kamay na tugon ni mommy. "Ayaw ko siyang turuan ng mga bagay na ako mismo ay hindi ginagawa."
"Puwes, huwag mo rin siyang turuan ng mga bagay na ginagawa mo," angil ni tito at saka inayos ang buhok ko sa dating hitsura nito. Mukhang tapos na niyang lagyan ng ointment ang sugat ko. "Rebecca, what you're doing right now, I'm telling you, there's no good that comes to it."

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