South Boys #4: Troublemaker

Chapter 48

"And she's right." Nagulat ako nang tumingala sa akin si Hugo sa veranda.

Mabilis ako na nagbawi ng tingin na kunwari ay hindi nakikinig sa kanila. Ibinalik ko ang atensyon sa ginagawa sa pad.

"Daddy, am I bad because I do that thing every day? You know I do it in my bed and the bathroom. But, don't worry because I don't do it in school."

"Just don't overdo it. Baka hindi na lang mamaga 'yan, mangamatis pa."

Tumango-tango si Hyde. "So, it's okay to do it as long as I do it in moderation."

Nang mag-angat ulit ng paningin sa akin si Hugo ay huling-huli niya ako na nakatingin na naman sa kanila. Hindi na para magpanggap ako na hindi ako nakikinig. I wanted him to know that I was listening, and that I was curious as to what they were talking about.

Na-gets naman ako ni Hugo. When our son wasn't looking he put his hand in the front of his pants, then he acted like he was masturbating. I was dumbfounded.

They were talking about that?! Namilog ang mga mata ko habang si Hugo naman ay ngingiti-ngiti na bumalik na sa pagkukuskos ng kotse niya.

Shocked pa rin ako. Ang bagay na iyon ay never na in-open sa akin ni Hyde. Naiintindihan ko naman iyong tinatawag na 'boys talk', but still, hindi ako mapakali. I was no't used to my son keeping secrets from me.

DINNER. Hindi ako makakain nang maayos dahil sa na-research ko kanina. Nag-aalala kasi ako para kay Hyde. Talagang hinalughog ko ang internet, inalam ko kung normal ba sa mga batang lalaki ang pag-e-explore sa sarili.

From what I read on the internet, children are very curious beings. It was normal for them to touch themselves, and it was also normal for them not to.

Some of them could start at a very young age. Genital stimulation or childhood masturbation, especially in young boys, was a natural part of exploring their bodies. Hindi ko pa rin maiwasang hindi mag-alala. Namaga lang naman kasi ang private part ni Hyde noong nakaraan. Mukhang nasobrahan.

Parang puputok ang ulo ko nang marinig pa ang sagot ni Hyde kanina sa tanong ni Hugo, kung ilang beses ba nitong ginagawa. Four times! My son was doing it four times a day!

Sinenyasan ako ni Hugo na 'wag mag-panic at magpahalata dahil mahihiya si Hyde. Talagang inipon ko ang aking pasensiya para lang hindi sila sugurin sa ibaba.

Kung pagmamasdan si Hyde ay hindi mo maiisip na ginagawa iyon ng bata. Mukha itong inosente at pagkabait-bait. Pero inosente pa rin naman talaga ito. From what I heard earlier in their conversation, Hyde was still not sure about what exactly he was doing.

Hyde told Hugo that he was only playing with himself because he discovered it was fun. He said it was relaxing, so he did it whenever bored or tired.

Kinausap naman ni Hugo si Hyde. Pero hindi pa rin talaga matahimik ang kaluluwa ko. Pinaplano ko na lang kung paanong kakausapin si Hyde nang hindi ito maiilang sa akin. Hindi kasi puwedeng hindi ko alam ang nangyayari dito.