Temptation Island: Broken Ties

Kabanata 28

Ngumiti lang ito kay Katie at sinabihang pumunta sa likod pero hindi ito sumunod. Lumapit siya rito at sinabihan.

"You must fall in line and wait for your turn, Katie."

"But I am hungry!" 

"And your classmates too."

"I don't care!" Aba! Hinahamon talaga ni Katie ang pasensya niya! Kanino kaya ito nagmana? Walang compassion. 

"But I do care. You have to learn to wait for your turn, or else some kids will always want to go first instead of you. Do you want that?"

"I'll fight them!" Umangat pa ang kamao nito na parang si Manny Pa-cute!

"Do you think it is right to hurt people?"

Nag-isip ito na mas lalong lumalim ang gatla sa noo.

"Do you want your classmates to push you too?" Tanong niya muli. Katie's lips went downturned, namula ang mukha nito at bigla na lang sumalampak sa rubbermat pagkatapos ay umiyak ng malakas. It is so loud that the kids turned their heads to Katie.

"Katie! Diyos ko kang bata ka!" Nataranta ang yaya pero sinenyasan niya ito na huwag makialam. Pinanood niya si Katie na humiga sa rubbermat at sumipa-sipa.

"Kids, Katie is having an unpleasant day. Go to your tables and start eating your snacks. Katie will eat when she's ready."

Sumalampak siya sa rubbermat at pinanood ang breakdown ni Katie.

"Why are you crying?" Kalmado pero may awtoridad niyang tanong.

"Because I am upset!"

"What makes you upset?" Mahinahong tanong niya. She's teaching Katie to digest her emotions. Madalas ay hindi ito naituturo sa mga bata kaya maraming mga adult ang emotionally unavailable at nagkakaroon ng anxiety o depression. 

"Because I am hungry, and I want to eat."

"I told you, you can eat if you fall in line. The line is short, and you could be eating snacks now if you just listened."

"I don't like it!" Muli itong pumalahaw ng iyak kaya hinayaan na muna niya. Tiningnan niya lang itong umiiyak at nagwawala.

"Do you want a hug?" She asked her.

"No!" Umiiyak na wika nito.

"Okay. Teacher Thea will be here when you are ready to get your hug." Naghintay siya ng ilang minuto at humina na ang iyak ni Katie. Then she stood up and immediately hugged her. Masuyo niyang hinaplos ang likod nito. She sighed; she didn't imagine she'd be hugging Saint's child.

"Do you want to eat now?" She asked Katie. Tumango ito. Siya na mismo ang kumuha ng pagkain nito at pinaupo ito katabi ng kaklase. Someone shared her apple to Katie and she nudged her to say 'Thank you'.

Pinanood niya ang mga bata habang masayang kumakain. Little Archers teaches kids life skills. Interaction with other kids is their priority. May mga bata talagang brat sa umpisa kagaya ni Katie pero nagbabago naman kalaunan.

"Are you going to be prettier tomorrow?" Tanong ni Katie sa kanya habang naglalakad sila sa may hallway. Ewan niya lang kung kelan magbabago ang anak ni Saint dahil talagang hindi sanay mamlastik ang bata.

"Katie, Teacher Thea is pretty!" Sita ng Yaya Emily nito. 

"Okay lang, Yaya. Si Chuckie yata ang standards of beauty niyang alaga mo." Mahina siyang natawa, "Joke lang, baka maganda ang Nanay niya kaysa sa akin."

"Wala namang Nanay yan." Bulong ng Yaya. "Dumating yan galing Amerika mag-isa."

"N-nasa Amerika ang Mommy niya?" Umiral na naman ang pagiging chismosa niya.