SHADDEN...
"I have never been so disappointed in my life." Pabagsak na ibinaba ni Shadden ang hawak na handbook sa lamesa. Listahan iyun ng mga students na nasangkot sa gulo kanina.
"Same thing with this committee. Anong nangyari sa inyo ngayun? Why let such a chaos happened? Ngayun pa talaga na nag visit ang ating former head principal!? What a disgraced." Napapailing pa nyang komento. May bahid ng di pag ka gusto sa nangyari ang gwapong mukha.
As he instructed ay andito silang lahat ngayun sa conference room ng office nya. Exact 3pm ay kompleto na sila. All head officers per departments are present with few representatives tagging a long.
Tahimik ang buong silid. The air was too think and stagnant. The tension was to die for. Apakabigat ng atmosphere sa paligid. Iyung tipong feeling mo na mahihirapan kang huminga kahit naman di ka hinihika.
Tuloy at halos lahat ng asa kwarto nayun ay nakakaramdam ng kaba.Takot even, sa kung ano ang kaya ni Shadden na gawin.Napakadilim kase ng anyo nya, kaya hindi nya masisi ang mga ito.
Sinusubukan naman nyang kumalma pero mainit lang talaga ang ulo nya. No matter what he do para kalmahin ay sarili ay hindi mga gumagana. Lalo na ngayun na kaharap nya ang lahat ng mga officer.
He was mad cause they couldn't do their job properly out there earlier. Tuloy at napanuod pa ng ina nya ang buong nangyari.
Though, hindi nya sinisisi ang mga ito. Talagang nakakaramdam lang sya ng inis. Kung tutuosin kase ay kasalanan nya ang lahat. Masyado syang abala sa ibang bagay this past few weeks. Hindi nya ganung natutukan ang sariling responsibilidad.
Mariin syang napapikit. Nagagalit lang lalo sya sarali nya.
Almost 100plus students are involve. Pero ni isa ay walang nag tangkang tumulong kay Celeste. Hindi sya aware na apaka walang pake halos karamihan ng mga estudyante sa paaralan nya. Ang alam lang ng mga ito ay chismis sa social media.
Just thinking it that way, Shadden was beyond mad.
He sighed. Kailangan nyang kumalma. Wala syang matatapos ngayung arae kung galit ang paiiralin nya.
"We apologize, Pres. No one really expecting it to happened." It was Frost.
"Of course, Mr. McLuhan. No one expected it. That's the main purpose of your team. Correct me if I'm wrong, but your team, the security and disciplinary committee is in charge on handling the school ground violations and student activities that may violate the school rules and law. Responsibilidad ninyong ayusin at tugunan ang ano mang kaguluhan sa school nato."
"Your team was design for unexpected things, Mr. McLuhan. If not then why would i let such committee run my school with me in the first place? Huwag mo akong rasonan ng mga bagay na dapat ay alam nyo nang mangyayari. Expected or not. You all should be on guard all the time. Responsibilidad nyo iyun. Nangako kayo na punan ang posisyon na yan." Mahabang pahayag ni Shadden kay Frost.
Seryoso. May diin ang bawat salita. Nag papaalala sa lahat, hindi lang kay Frost.
Nagbaba ng tingin si Frost.
"Again, I apologize as the behalf of my team. We let you down this time, Pres."
Shadden nodded for encouragement.
"This is a reminder not only for Mr. McLuhan. This is for everyone that's here. Take your responsibility seriously officers. Hindi kayo nalagay sa posisyon nayan para maging display. The blame will not fall into your shoulders, but to the one who's in charge. At hindi ako nag aalaga ng nga estudyanteng takot masisi kaya nag tanga tangahan. That kind of students are good for nothing in my school. Ako mismo ang mag papatalsik sa kanila sa school nato."
"Did i make myself clear to everyone? Take your job seriously. Panindigan nyo ang posisyon nyo as an officer. Kayo ang modelo ng school. Understood? I want this issue dealt with as much as possible." Walang emosyong tanong ni Shadden sa lahat.
They all nodded and answered yes.
"Good. Make sure this failure is a one time thing only. Ayoko nang mauulit pa ulit ang bagay nato. Specially if we have important guess coming around. What happened today is such a mess. But for now, I will handle the further damage with the Augosto's University." Bumubuntong hiningang turan pa ni Shadden.
He felt his head throbbing already dahil sa stress at sakit ng ulo dahil sa nangyari.
"Everyone are dismissed. Pwede na kayong bumalik sa mga klase nyo, if not ay sa nga respected area kung asan dapat kayo as an officer. Mr. McLuhan and Steger please stay." Anonsyo nya pa sa lahat. Pinapaalis na ang lahat except kay Frost at Leviticus. Agad din namang nag si alisan ang mga ito.
Some are still apologizing dahil sa nangyari, na tinatanguan lang naman ni Shadden.
Nang makaalis ang karamihan sa mga officer at naiwan silang tatlo nila Frost sa office ay, mabilis na nag buntong hininga sya.
Shadden felt so drain already. Pakiramdam nya ay apakarami nang nangyari sa araw na yun.
Naupo sya sa swivel chair nya at napasandal duon. Frost and Leviticus get to their seats too.
"Frost, make sure to handle your team well, next time. I know your capable of doing that. And please decide on your own next time too, when such emergency happened."
Binalingan nya ng tingin si Frost.
"Alam mong hindi sa lahat ng oras ay andito ako sa school to give instructions and decide things on time. Inilagay kita sa posisyon nayan for a reason. Hope you know that very well, by now." Pagdugtong pa nya.
"I will. Sisiguraduhin kong hindi na ulit ito mangyayari sa sunod."
"Alright. I won't push it. I was just reminding you. You don't need to rely on me so much. Your capable of doing great things in your own. Don't see me as a hindrance for your capabilities."
"I will remember that."
"Ok, enough of this already. Nag submit ka na ba ng appeal sa Augusto's University? Any respond yet? And how about the students? Our students?" Pag babago na ni Shadden ng topic. Not lingering any longer in such uncrucial matter.
Nag papaalala lang naman sya.
"About that, yes. Nag submit na ako ng appeal. No respond just yet pero sinigurado kong nanotify sila sa nangyari. I let Leviticus handle the students for such matter earlier."
Napatingin sila kay Leviticus. Di talaga ito pala salita. Katulad rin nila. No wonder kung bakit mag kasundo silang tatlo.
"Our students are left standing in the ground as instructed, Pres. Under monitoring, of course. Ang mga estudyante naman from the other university were all reported directly. Just with few adjusment since iyun ang pinangako mo sa mga ito. They will remain in the school. Just banned for few days with a record of harassment in their life time record." Paliwanag ni Leviticus. So formal as he is.
"How about, Yudo? What happened to him?" Pag uusisa pa nya.
Shadden know na sooner and later ay mag haharap ulit sila ng binata dahil sa nangyari.
"Hospitalized. The school was informed about it. So his parents. Baka personally ka nilang kausapin tungkol duon, Pres." Sagot nito sa kanya. Tinanguan nya lang ito.
His not bother about it. Mad gusto nga nya na ganuon ang mangyari.
"That's good. He deserve to be hospitalize. And about his parent, i don't mind meeting and talking to them." Tila kontentong komento ni Shadded.
Tuloy at nangunot ang nuo ng dalawa. Saglit pag nag katinginan dahil sa inaakto ng President nila.
Nang mga oras nayun ay iisa lang ang nasa isip ni Frost at Leviticus. Iyun ay na that girl Celeste. The infamous trouble maker in their university have something to do with how their President is acting now.
Frost can garantee that. Makailang beses na nyang naencouter ang President nila with that girl. And to actually make their President act like this is a bit shocking. Its as if his freaking in love.
But then again. He wouldn't say that thing for sure now. Frost know him. He wouldn't just like that kind of girl, better yet fall in love with the likes of her. And even if he does, well, wala naman syang magagawa duon.
His just a bit surprise na makitang ganito ang President nila. Silang dalawa ni Leviticus.
"By the way Frost. Have you coordinate with Endrix further bago pa ito makaalis kanina? About the whereabouts ng babaeng sinasabi nito na nag utos sa kanila?" Muli ay pag tatanong ni Shadden.
Napapaisip talaga sya kung sino ang babaeng asa likod ng mga nangyari ngayun. He wouldn't jus see through it dahil sa babae ito. Sobrang lakjng kaguluhan ang naidulot nito ngayung araw sa school nya. Nasaksihan pa iyun ng Mom nya, from most of people.
Aside from that ay gusto nyang malaman ang dahilan nito kung bakit nito iyun ginawa. Bakit ito nag utos na mang gulo sa school nya, and even targeted Celeste. Gusto nyang malaman kung anong koneksyon at kinalaman nito kay Celeste to hurt her like that.
"Yes. I don't specifically know what happened in details since i was in charge with the students earlier, but yes. I did. Kasama ko si Leviticus kanina. Pinasketch na namin. Maybe tomorrow ay andito. We will just notify you once we recieve it." Paliwanag ni Frost.
"And about sa mga guards na bantay sa gate. Nakausap ko na sila. Apparently ay sumama pala ang mga tiyan ng mga nito while on duty. They made sure na tumawag sila sa papalit, but apparently no one came. I have look on to it at nag sasabi ng totoo ang mga guards. Around and between 8:30 to 10:02 na walang nag bantay sa gate..." Frost mentioned. Tila nag aalangan din dahil alam nyang ikaiinit na naman ng ulo yun ni Shadden.
"Your telling me na halos tatlong oras na walang nag babantay sa gate? And no one even notice that? How come na walang pumalit sa mga guards?" Tila hindi makapaniwalang komento ni Shadden.
Napaayos ng upo sa swivel chair nya. Confused. Marami silang available guards around the school. Kailangan lang na tumawag sa security head quarters for assistance.
How come na walang pumalit..? Damn... Sumasakit na talaga ang ulo nya sa nangyayari.
"Unfortunately yes... 8:30am ang tapos ng ronda ng mga naka assign na officers sa lugar nayun ng school. The guards probably left just after the rounds are done kaya walang nakapansin... And we're still coordinating with the head quarters." Si Leviticus ang sumagot. Who's currently handling the matter.
Napasintido si Shadden. May kutob na sya sa nangyayari.
"Pres, don't you think this is a bit, i don't know? Planed? Wala akong maisip na ibang rason kung bakit nag kakasabay sabay ang mga problema ngayun." Komento ni Frost. Tuloy ay nahulog sila sa saglit sa malalim na pag iisip.
"It definitely is. Naisip ko narin yan. But wala pa tayong mapang hahawakan sa ngayun, since we're still waiting for all the response we needed. But kung sino man ang taong asalikod ng kagukuhan nato, know the school very well..."
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"Didn't we plan to talk? At san ka pupunta? Kararating mo lang dito sa bahay." Iyan agad ang bungad sa kanya ng ina nya.
Kararating lang ni Shadden sa mansion nila. Kumuha lang sya ng ilang pirasong damit para dalhin sa condo nya kung asan si Celeste ngayun. After kase ng nangyari kaninang tanghali ay ipinauwi nya na ang dalaga kay Hector.
Shadden sighed. Inaasahan nya na ito sa ina nya. But his just a but busy right now. His going to make their talk short.
"Mom, again. I apologized about what happened earlier. I'm still looking into it. It won't happened again." Sagot nya sa ina.
"Hindi yan ang gusto kong pag usapan. It's about you. Kung bakit naging ganun ang reaksyon mo. You never lost your temper like that Shadden. What has gotten into you earlier?" Pag tatanong sa kanya ng ina nya.
"At saan ka ba pupunta? Ano yang mga dala mo? Alam kong hindi ka rin umuwi dito kagabi, Shadden. Saan ka natulog?"
"I'm sorry about that too Mom. Nakita mo pa talaga ako sa ganung situation. I just lost my temper. You know that I'm somewhat stress this past few weeks. I just probably lost it... Hindi ko na ulit yun gagawin, so trust me on this." Paunang paliwag ni Shadden sa ina.
"And I'm staying in my condo... I have some few staff that needed to be dealt with. Para hindi na ako mag balik balik dito. Duon muna ako mag istay for the mean time..." Pag dadahilan pa nya sa ina.
As expected her mother frown. Tinitigan sya nito ng ilang saglit.
"Shadden... Why are you stress? Please don't tell me na bumalik ka na naman sa alcohol addiction mo? Yan ba ang rason kung bakit sa condo ka mag istay? And don't even lie with me, son." Seryosong pahayag sa kanya ng ina.
At tama ito. Nag karoon sya ng alcohol addiction for half a year ng biglaang mawala ang ex girlfriend nya. He was such a mess back then. Pero tapos na sya duon.
"No, Mom. I'm way past that stage. I'm over it. Marami lang talaga akong ginagawa ngayun. Trust me, it's nothing serious." He said, sighing. Talagang di agad sya pakakawalan ng ina nya.
Mag sasalita na sana ulit ang ina nya but biglang dumating ang Dad nya.
Shadden felt relieved.
"What's going on here? Are you to arguing?"
"Ethan, kausapin mo nga itong anak mo. This is what I've been telling you earlier. Not only he lost his temper out there and assaulted a student. Gusto pa nyang humiwalay muna at mag stay sa condo nya. May hindi sya sinasabi sa atin!" Madramang sumbong ng ina ni Shadden sa asawa nito.
Shadden have an imagimary deep sighed. Ang ama naman nya ay napatingin sa kanya. Nakakunot ang nuo.
"Is that true, Son?" Tulad ng inaasahan ay naging tanong iyun sa kanya ng ama nya.
Shadden sighed for real.
"Yes. But it's not like that. Mom, your way too exaggerating it. And again, I'm staying in my condo dahil marami akong ginagawa. Mas malapit sa school ang condo ko. It will hassle me less na mag pabalik balik sa school kung dun muna ako. And about school. I'm still looking it to it. It just pissed me of earlier dahil nagkagulo kung kailan andun pa si Mom. Yun lang lahat yun." Mahabang paliwanag ni Shadden sa ama.
Ethan stare for a few moment in Shadden, pero pag kakawan ay tumango ito sa kanya.
"Ok. Make sure to fix the mess. And Honey, give your son a break. You shouldn't be fussing about him right now, na marami itong ginagaea about sa school." Turan ng ama nya sa kanyang ina. Prizelia gasp.
"What? Kasalanan ko pa talaga, Ethan? I'm just worried. And how could you let this be?" Argumento pa ng ina nya.
"Hindi naman sa ganun. What i mean is, trust your son, Honey. I'm sure he'll come around kung may probleme man na kailangan nating malaman."
"You can go, Son. And take care of yourself para hindi nag aalala ang Ina mo." Habilin pa ni Ethan kay Shadden.
Agad syang sumumod sa sinabi ng ama. He bid them good bye at umalis narin. Naririnig pa nga nyang nag uusap ang mga ito behind him pero hindi nalang muna nya inintindi iyun.
Iisang bagay lang ang nasa isip ni Shadden ng mga oras nayun. Ok, siguro hindi bagay. Tao iyun. And it's no other than but Celeste. He wanted to see her to the point na halos takbuhin na nya ang parking lot to get his car and drive back as fast as possible pabalik sa condo nya.
"Damn it! Why is this car so fucking slow!?"
-SYMPHONY OF THE PAST
-EDITED|REVISED
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