TEACHING always satisfies him rather than formulating plans and such like what his father does. Atticus was checking papers and minding his own business, nawala ang atensyon niya sa mga papel na hawak nang tumaas ang boses ng mga kasama niya sa faculty.
He raised his brows and sighed. They've been talking about a certain woman for a week now.
'Yung bago na teacher. And she's the School owner's eldest daughter.
"— ang ganda naman kasi ng bata na 'yon! Hindi pwede na wala pa 'yong nagiging ano… Jowa!"
Was it really necessary to have a boyfriend if you're good looking? Atticus sighed.
"Malay mo ay nililigawan pa lang?" sabi ng isa at nagpamaywang bago tumuloy, "Wala pa naman kasi akong nakikita na bagong sasakyan na pumapasok sa School maliban sa mga sasakyan nila."
He nearly rolled his eyes when he heard that. May mga matatanda talaga, hindi na mawala sa mga ito na ihalo ang trabaho at oras ng tsismis.
"Sa tingin niyo ba ay may makakalusot?"
"Ikaw, Sir Klein? Ano sa tingin mo?" tanong sa kanya.
Napatigil siya sa ginagawa at umangat ang isang kilay. Bakit pati siya na tahimik at idinadamay sa usapan ng mga ito? Nakatingin ang mga ito sa kanya at tila naghihintay ng isasagot niya.
Atticus rolled his tongue over his lips and said, "Alin ho?"
"Sa tingin mo, Sir Klein? May boyfriend na ba si Ma'am Khaila?" They asked him again.
How would he know?
"Ahh, wala po siguro…" Ngumiwi siya sa sagot.
Well, it wasn't necessary to have a partner if you're that good looking. And that woman… her confidence was too much for a man to handle. Hindi niya nakita nang mabuti ang mukha nito noong nagpakilala siya dahil nagmamadali siyang umalis.
Isa-isa na tiningnan ni Atticus ang mga ito nang mapansin na nanatiling tahimik ang mga kasama.
He sighed. "She's pretty, just what you've said. Sigurado, mahirap na magkaroon 'yon ng boyfriend. 'Yong ganoong klase ng ganda, mas mataas pa sa building ang standards para sa lalaki." Sabi na lang niya para mawala sa kanya ang atensyon.
Having that kind of face, her standards must be high. 'Yung hindi basta-basta maaabot ng kung sino lang. She has beauty and brains. She won't settle for a simple guy.
Lumabi ang pinaka matanda sa kanila at marahan na tumango. "Tama naman. Girls in general should set their standards high, hindi dapat basta-basta maaabot ng mga lalaki. Mahirap na, at baka mapunta sa mga abusado at tarantado."
"Naku, ma'am! Mukhang malabo naman na mapunta si Khaila sa abusado at tarantado, 'no! Takot na lang nang magbabalak sa mga Tito niya!"
The eldest among them chuckled softly and answered, "Totoo, hindi papayag ang mga 'yon na masaktan ang unica hija nila. Boys are good at hiding their real skin, their true colors. Malakas ang pang-amoy ng mga 'yon. Walang makakatakas sa mga 'yon."
Atticus shut them down. Wala naman siyang interes sa babae na pinag-uusapan ng mga ito. She's pretty, according to them. But that's all. She's not her type. Pretty girls were dangerous.
If boys were good at hiding their real intentions, their true colors as they say. Then ladies knew how to monopolise someone using their beauty.
He won't get swayed by that. Hindi siya madadala sa ganda.
Mabilis niyang tinapos ang natitira na trabaho bago siya lumabas sa faculty, dala ang bag niya. Hindi na siya nakapagpaalam dahil busy pa rin ang mga kasama niya na hulaan kung ano ang magiging kapalaran ng posible na manliligaw ng dalaga.
Hindi niya dala ang sasakyan ngayon kaya sigurado na mag co-commute siya pauwi. He squinted his eyes when he saw a familiar figure, hugging one of the school primary teachers.
It was one of his bosses. Kyst Miller.
Atticus silently cursed himself for not leaving immediately. Natulos siya sa kinakatayuan. Of all the sins in this world, he loathed cheating.
Napako ang mga mata niya sa babae. That was…
"Oh, I thought he was cheating." Umiiling na bulong sa sarili.
He reminded himself not to jump in conclusion, next time.
Nang mawala na sa paningin niya ang lalaki, saka lang napansin ni Atticus ang malungkot na ngiti sa mga labi ng babae. When she walked out, he found himself following her.
'Hindi pala madadala sa ganda. What's this?' He scoffed.
Atticus sighed heavily when he saw her sat on the swing, makaraan lang ang ilang segundo, umiiyak na ito. Her shoulders were shaking.
He couldn't bear to watch a woman cry.
He lazily sat on the swing next to her and handed her his handkerchief. What happened next made him want to dig a hole and buried himself.
"Hindi ko alam ang rason bakit ka umiiyak… But, everything is going to be fine."
That was the lamest advice he ever heard. Fuck.
Umiwas siya ng tingin nang kinuha nito ang panyo sa kamay niya. Atticus knew to himself that he should leave by now. Pero ayaw sumunod ng sarili niyang katawan sa kanya. He stayed beside her until she finally calm down while glancing at his old wrist watch from time to time.
Mukhang napansin 'yon ng babae.
"I'm okay now… Thank you for staying." Sinsero na sabi nito.
Atticus' lips parted a little when she finally saw her face. Close up. A beauty indeed. Her chestnut brown eyes look lifeless but held so much emotion, her lips are cute and it looks like a small heart.
Habang tumatagal ang tingin niya sa dalaga. Para rin siyang nahihipnotismo sa ganda nito. She's like a goddess in Olympus. Her face was enough to sucked his sanity away.
She cleared her throat. "You're staring too much."
"Hindi ka ba sanay na tinititigan ng mga tao?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya.
"Sanay… but yours is a bit… How should I say this…?" Nanliit ang mga mata nito at pinitik ang mga daliri.
"I'm sorry." Atticus sighed. "Hindi 'yon labas sa ilong. I am truly sorry."
Napairap siya sa hangin. He wasn't good at apologizing, for he sounds sarcastic all the damn time.
She laughed at him. Even her laugh sounds great.
"I'm good now. Thank you, Sir." She thanked him again.
He was about to open his mouth when an expensive car horned. Doon napunta ang atensyon nilang dalawa ng babae. She stood up and thanked him again before she ran towards the car.
"Rich people…" Atticus uttered. Saka niya naalala ang usapan ng mga matatanda kanina sa faculty. "Of course, may boyfriend na siya."
And it was none of his business.
***
KHAILA STOOD up and left the man without thinking twice when she saw her brother's car. Her chest was throbbing. Hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili kanina noong nakatitig ito sa mukha niya.
He's handsome, okay?! Extra handsome.
Hindi lang niya alam sa sarili kung gusto ba niya ito o baka na-a-attract lang siya sa gwapo nitong mukha. His silence fascinates her.
Inayos niya ang sarili habang tinatakbo ang pagitan nila ng sasakyan ni Ky. Nakikita na niya na umuusok ang ilong ng kapatid.
Khaila sniffed and glanced at the handkerchief she's holding. Humigpit ang hawak niya doon at hindi napigilan ang sarili na mapangiti.
Noong una niya itong makita, ang akala niya ay masungit ito. He left without saying anything after he introduced himself. Oh, he actually acknowledge her mother's presence first before leaving.
Kinatok niya ang bintana ng sasakyan. It was her sister's artista van, lulan nito ang kapatid niyang lalaki, si Tally na tamad na tamad ang pagkakasandal sa kinauupuan, plus her glam team. Unlike her, Tally needed a lot of people to help her.
Agad na kumunot ang noo ni Kyrst nang makita ang namumugto niyang mukha. Inilabas nito ang kamay at kaagad na hinawakan ang baba niya. Tilting her head, side to side.
"Who made you cry? That guy?" Nginuso nito ang pinanggigilan niya.
Pinandilatan niya ito ng mga mata at pasimple na tumingin sa mga kasama ng mga ito sa loob ng sasakyan. Unlike her van, wala 'yong divider sa driver at sa loob mismo.
"Or… Is there another rumour circulating about you having an affair?"
Hindi siya sumagot. Hindi naman 'yon ang dahilan.
"Ate? That was the only way to make you cry." Kyrst was spitting facts.
Nanatili lang siyang tahimik hanggang sa pinasakay na siya nito sa loob. Someone will get her things for her and locked her classroom.
The next day, her Tito Kade was suppose to drop her off at the school. May kailangan din daw kasi ito na ibigay sa Mamu niya but she respectfully declined.
Kapag nakikita siya na kasama ang mga ito, palagi na lang siyang na-i-issue na babae siya ng mga ito. Of course, some people who knew her won't believe that kind of bullshit. But when it comes to her work, all the devils will show their horns and say nasty things about her.
Sobrang dalang niya lang mag commute kaya nahihirapan siya. Khaila needed to wear a facemask and her big —no brand, and not sponsor— sunglasses, para maitago niya lang ang mukha.
She's wearing a white shirt and trouser, pair with a heels. Na hindi naman ganoon kataasan. Wala pa ang uniform niya.
Nang makarating siya sa school, dumaan muna siya sa office ng Mamu niya dahil nandoon ang gamit na naiwan niya kahapon.
"I told you, sumabay ka na lang sana sa akin." Kade said.
"Kaya pala naka sunglasses ka," her mother pointed out. "Kumain ka ba bago umalis sa bahay, Aila?"
"Yes, Ma."
"Sandwich?" tanong ulit nito at tumango siya. "Magpapadala ako ng lunch mamaya sa Tito Yves mo. You'll eat lunch with us."
Khaila just hummed. At least, hindi siya ngayon tatambay sa cafeteria kasama ang mga lalaking guro sa faculty nila. Naiilang na siya sa tingin ng mga kasama niyang babae.
Some of them were glaring at her, as if she was being cursed in their head. Baka nga pinapatay na siya sa isip ng mga ito dahil halos ng mga lalaki ay dikit sa kanya.
Hindi naman niya 'yon gusto.
"Baby, I bought you coffee." Umakbay sa kanya ang Tito Kade niya. Saka niya kinuha ang inaabot na kape nito.
"How's the orphanage, Tito?" Khaila asked.
If her parents built a school for homeless people, or anyone who couldn't afford the tuition fee. The school provides it for them. From the school uniform, school supplies, projects and such.
Ang Tito Kade at Tita Shen naman niya ay nagpatayo ng orphanage and a facility. Lahat ng pera na kinikita ng mga ito ay sa school at orphanage napupunta.
"Ganoon pa rin naman. Dalaw ka minsan ha? Nami-miss ka na ng mga bata."
"Sure! I'll bring some healthy snacks with me." Khaila smiled brightly as they conversed about her plan, kapag dumalaw siya sa orphanage.
Without knowing that her simple and no malice conversation with her uncle would stress her again. Nang makapasok siya sa faculty, may nagtanong agad sa kanya.
"Ma'am? Kaya ka ba hindi tumatanggap ng ligaw kasi may boyfriend ka na mayaman?"
How tactless.
Kumunot ang noo niya at umiling. "No, I just don't want to entertain suitors."
"Naku, Ms. Valencia! Gasgas na 'yang linya na 'yan." Other female teachers teased her.
Pinagkibit-balikat lang ni Khaila ang pangungulit ng mga ito tungkol sa boyfriend niya 'kuno' na mayaman. It's either they're talking about her brother, or her Tito Kade.
She spent her whole day doing the usual. And when lunch came, sabay silang kumain ng Mamu niya sa office nito.
And when it's time to go home. Mabilis siyang lumabas sa faculty, hindi para iwasan ang mga kasama niya. Punuan sigurado ang jeep na sasakyan niya pauwi sa village.
Nang matanaw niya ang gate, napansin niya rin ang lalaki na tumabi sa kanya kahapon hanggang sa kumalma siya. She brought his handkerchief with her. Nilabhan niya pa 'yon kahapon.
"Sir!" She called.
Lumingon ito sa kanya at kunot ang noo na hinintay siya. Tinakbo niya ang pagitan nilang dalawa kahit naka heels siya. When you're wearing them on a daily basis, kakayanin mo talaga sila na itakbo.
"Don't run next time, Ma'am. You're wearing heels." He pointed out.
"Oh, it's okay. Sanay na ako," aniya.
"If you say so… Bakit mo ako tinawag?" He asked. He sounded cold and distant all of a sudden. Ibang-iba sa lalaki na kausap niya kahapon. At kanina, he looks like he's concerned.
"Isosoli ko lang sana ang panyo mo…" Inilahad niya sa harapan nito ang panyo nito.
"Thanks," masungit na sabi nito at kinuha ang panyo sa kamay niya.
Nang makuha na nito ang panyo, tinalikuran na siya nito at basta na lang umalis. Khaila was admiring his back and almost laughed at herself upon realising that she might admire that snob teacher.
"Sungit naman pala talaga."
☕