Harper Bry
It's been 6 years. It's been 6 years since she left and we still don't know where she is.
Even her family doesn't know where she is. She left without saying goodbye. The day after she went to our condo, she left. Her mother said she was shocked when she called her and asked several questions. She asked about the truths and reasons why things happened. She said London slept after that revelation but when they woke up, she was gone.
I and Brielle are still in the Philippines right now. Our flight that day was canceled due to some technical problem. Dahil doon, hindi kami nakaalis nung araw na yon at dapat ay sa next day na but then, London went missing. We weren't able to leave the Philippines until then because now I'm still helping her family to find her.
At first, of course they are mad at me, especially Leigh. They are blaming me for what happened and she said kung hindi ko lang daw iyon sinabi, baka kasama parin namin siya.
It took them 5 years to forgive me and yes, last year lang ulit nila ako kinausap ng mahinahon though Leigh still raising her eyebrows on me sometimes.
London's parent and brother talked to me as well. They said that it is not my fault that it was Brielle's father who did that to her. Ang sabi pa nila ay hindi ko naman daw iyon kaano ano so why am I avoiding her. Why left her?
Honestly, tita knew the truth already weeks before I decided to break up with London. She got mad of course but she loves her daughter so much so she asked me not to hurt her daughter. To stay with her, but I was so embarrassed to myself to act like nothing is happening so I told her my plan. She don't like it of course, that is why she always calling me and trying to convinced me but to no vail.
And about Brielle they still accept her because even her, it's not her fault that her father was a rapist and she is innocent about it. She even doesn't know what rape is.
Since then, madalas na rin kunin nila tita si Brielle to play with them 'cause sometimes, she reminds them of their daughter.
Now, the only problem we have is where can we find that girl! And if ever she'll come back... Tita said she will respect whatever desicion she may do especially if it is about us.
Kung sila ay tinanggap at napatawad na kami, hindi daw siya makakasigurado kung ganoon din si London. So I must respect her decision as well.
I was busy checking my students' paper when I heard knocks from outside. I stood up upang pagbuksan ang sino man ito pero parang kaagad na nagsisi ng makita ko ito.
"Hi, Beautiful. Still working? Mag-lunch muna tayo sa labas. My treat."
I look at the time and almost 12pm na nga. I faced her again.
"I can't, Miss Carlos. I'm busy." I answered her.
It's exam week now so it is not surprising why teachers are busy for now aside to this girl in front of me.
Kahit ata may meeting siya ay nakukuha niya pa ring puntahan ako kapag lunch na.
She is Stephanie Carlos, daughter of the president of this school. Lumipat na ako ng school 2 years ago. This is a co-education school, by the way. Simula nung lumipat ako dito ay siya ring pangungulit ng babaeng to sa akin. She likes me. Pagkakita palang niya sa akin ay nilalandi na ako. Tsk.
Of course, her father knows about it. All people in the school, actually.
I chose this school because it caught my attention. This school is like a liberated school or what so ever na pwede kahit anong gawin mo. Teacher-Student relationship is acceptable here, might as well as LGBT. The only thing that is forbidden here is making chaos or fight, especially bullying.
I was about to close the door ng pigilin ito ni Miss Carlos.
"Come on, Miss Turner. I've been asking you for 2 years for a lunch, but until now you're rejecting me." Nakanguso pa nitong reklamo.
I mentally rolled my eyes. Tsk. Kinaganda mo yan?
If only she is not the president's daughter, I already kicked her ass long ago.
She's so nakakairita. Parang hindi guro sa inaasta.
"I'm sorry, Miss Carlos but I need to finish my work. You can ask Miss Velasquez if you want someone to be with on your lunch."
"But it was you who I wan--"
Kaagad kong sinarado ang pinto ng office ko at ni-lock. Bumalik ako sa upoan and I still heard her knocking pero hindi ko na ito pinansin.
I grabbed my bag to get my lunch that I packed earlier this morning. It was ampalaya and vegetable salad. Ever since Miss Carlos is asking me for a lunch, I decided to packed my food nalang para may dahilan ako para hindi na kailangang lumabas pa. With that, nakakapag baon na rin si Brielle sa school niya.
Even though I'm busy with my work, I still need to take care of my health not just for myself but for Brielle and her too.
While eating, I chuckled when I remember how London hate eating vegetables.
Damn. I miss her so damn much.
Nasaan na kaya siya? Kumusta na kaya siya? Madami na ba ang kinakain niya? Kumakain na kaya siya ng gulay? Naaalala niya pa kaya kami? N-napatawad na niya ba kami? N-namimiss niya rin kaya ako? Kami?
I immediately wiped the tears that had fell on my face and continued eating.
--
"I don't like you for my mommy. I only like one person for her." Mataray na sagot ng anak ko kay Miss Carlos.
"Brielle." Suway ko dito.
They are both here in my office. My head is aching simula ng dumating sila dahil kanina pa sila nagbabangayan.
"I don't care, hindi naman ikaw ang gusto ko, ang mommy mo." Sagot naman ni Miss Carlos.
This woman!
"But she doesn't like you naman, bleeee" Brielle sticked her tongue out reason for me to chuckle.
Even though she's already 10 years old, she's still the baby who loves London so much. Nothing's change, kahit nga ang height nito ay kaunti lang ang dumagadag. Since London left, many people are trying to get me but failing because of Brielle. Si Miss Carlos nalang talaga ang natitirang may lakas ng loob na awayin ang anak ko.
"See? She's just laughing." She even pointed me as she rolled her eyes on Miss Carlos.
"So? Wala naman na dito yung person na yon right? Iniwan na kayo" parang nagpantig ang tenga ko sa narinig. I was about to answer her pero mabilis na sumigaw si Brielle.
"No! Even though she left us, babalik siya."
"Ow? Di mo sure."
"I am sure! And kahit hindi siya bumalik, I still don't like you. My mommy won't like you too and I hate you so much!" Sigaw nito.
"Damn it! Shut up, Kid--"
That's it!
"Miss Carlos, just to remind you, it's a kid you are talking to. My daughter to be exact. Don't you ever try to curse her again if you don't want me to punch your face even though you are the president's daughter. In fact, you are crossing the line already. You don't know the reason why that person left and you don't have the right to tell what ever in your little mind to Brielle." I coldly said.
Who is she to curse my daughter? If only London is here and heard what she said, baka di pa ko nakakapagsalita ay nasakal na niya ito.
"W-what?"
"Enough. Leave now. We're going home na rin naman." I said as I collecting my things.
Wala ng nagawa ito kundi ang lumabas na rin ng office ko.
I sigh as I'm trying to calm my self. Damn her!
"I'm sorry po, mommy. I shouldn't answer her--"
"Hushhh. It's okay, hon. You don't have to say sorry, okay? It's fine." I said as I hugged her and lean downward to kissed her head.
Dang! She's so small. I believe she gets it from my sister. She may be older than me but I definitely taller than her.
Hindi na bago sa akin na nandito si Brielle dahil gaya ng dati, madalas niya akong puntahan lalo na ngayong nasa tapat lang ng school na ito ang school niya.
She's now in her 5th grade and I proudly say that she's still holding the title of being the top 1 student. Indeed, she's my daughter.
"Mommy, is she still courting you?" Brielle asked me while walking to the car.
"I don't know, hon, I already told her to stop whatever she's doing but she's so makulit." I answered her as I rolled my eyes.
"I really hate her po. She's bad." I smirk when I saw her crossed her arm while waiting for me to unlock the car.
I don't know why but since she met London, naging maarte at mataray na siya sa mga lumalapit sa akin, unless kaibigan ko ang mga ito.
"Just don't mind her, baby." I answered her.
She just tsk and hop in the car.
"Mommy, can I go to Mama L this saturday?"
"Why?" I asked her.
"Nothing. I just missed them." She answered then bit the burger she's holding.
Nag-yaya pa kasing mag drive thru kanina kaya may pagkain ngayon.
"Okay." Tutal monday palang naman ngayon.
"I'll gonna sleep there, ha?"
I just nodded my head.
"Yeheyyy!" I shook my head when she shouted. Kahit naman umayaw ako ay pipilitin parin niya ako hanggang sa um-oo ako.
--
"Mommy, as much as I wanted to go to your office to protect you from that witch, I can't because we have practice for one of our project. I'll just message you nalang po later para daanan mo nalang ako ha? And please, mommy... Don't talk to that witch, ha? Huwag kang sasabay sa kanya sa lunch baka bigyan niya ng gayuma yung food mo."
I chuckled because of what she said. This girl, kanino ba ito natutong manlait?
"Okay, hon. Take care. Eat and drink later, okay?"
"Yes, mommy. You too." She kissed my cheek bago lumabas ng kotse.
Hinintay ko munang makapasok siya sa gate before taking a U-turn para makarating sa school na pinapasukan ko.
I was about to go to my assigned room and section dahil nga exam week ng may biglang kumatok mula sa labas.
I mentally prayed that it's not Miss Carlos 'cause if it is really her, it is so early to kick someone's ass right now.
I sigh first before opening the door and to my relief, it's not the witch but... It's the president's secretary.
"Miss Turner, the president is asking for all the teachers to go to his office right now."
Confuse man ay tumango ako dito. "Okay. I'll just go to my class to give them their exam, then susunod na ako."
"Okay, Miss Turner. Pupuntahan ko pa naman yung iba pang mga guro."
Tumalikod na ito upang puntahan ang iba pa kaya mabilis ko nalang kinuha ang mga test paper na gagamitin ng mga estudyante at pumunta sa room.
I don't know if Raquel, the girl earlier is a stupid or the president just really want her to get tired cause she can message naman us through messenger or chat but she still chose to walk and call us one by one. Tsk.
"Good morning, Miss Turner."
"Morning. Sit down, you all." I said to my students na agad naman nilang sinunod.
I grabbed the exam sheets and give it to the student in my front.
"Count the students per column and leave the paper first on the first row. Don't distribute them yet unless I say so."
I saw them nodded their head.
"Same rules as yesterday. I want nothing but pen on the top of your desk. No phone, no paper, no tumbler, nothing at all but pen only." Muli ay nagsitanguan sila.
"Pass your paper backward. Hide your reviewer now, Mr. Cameron." I said when I saw him still reading.
Mabilis niya itong itinago at kinuha ang test paper na inaabot sa kanya ng kaklase niya.
Ng magkaroon na ang lahat ay saka ko kinuha ang kanilang atensyon muli.
"I will be leaving right now because we have meeting with president. Don't you ever try to cheat because I will still know who cheated and who is not, understood?"
They all nodded.
"Miss Sinio, collect the paper just in case your time will finish and I'm still not here yet. Put them on the table and leave them properly and organize. Leave the room and come back on your second subject of your exam."
"Yes, Miss Turner"
Lumabas na ako ng masiguradong maliwanag na lahat ng instructions ko sa kanila. Sakto din ng paglabas ko ay ang pagtunog ng phone ko.
It was Raquel again, saying na ako nalang ang hinihintay. See? May load naman pala pero pinagod pa ang sarili kanina.
I walk faster para hindi na sila maghintay ng matagal 'cause as much as I wanted to seize the moment, I am not the owner of this school para paghintayin sila ng matagal.
As soon as I walk inside the office, ay siya ring paghinto ng aking hininga.
W-what is she doing h-here? I mean... S-she's here? She's b-back? W-when?
"Finally you're here, Miss Turner. Sit down." Muli lang akong nakahinga ng magsalita ang presidente.
"Sit here beside me, Miss Turner." I mentally rolled my eyes when Miss Carlos tapped the chair beside her while smiling so wide as if nothing happened yesterday, and as much as I wanted to decline her offer, I have no choice dahil occupied na ng taong bagong dating ang madalas kong inu-upuan which is ang tapat ko ngayon.
She just looked at me coldly then faced the president.
"Now that we are complete, I want to introduce you our new faculty member, fresh from the name herself, Miss --"
London Ash Ventura Mackenzie
~~~~~