STANDING in front of her mother, with her lips pressed together, listening to the nonstop remarks of her Tita Krizzia. Khaila's head was about to burst. May sumpa yata ang dila ng kapatid niya at biglang nagkatotoo ang hula nito kahapon. She wasn't crying because of the rumour about her having an affair, but because of their father.
"Teacher Khaila, may mayaman na boyfriend pero matanda?" Her Tita Krizzia exclaimed. "Grabe ah! Mag-ina talaga kayo! Naalala mo pa 'yung principal natin na buntis? Wala lang, pinapa-alala ko lang!" she added.
The rumour circulate and spread like a wildfire, umabot 'yon hanggang sa mga magulang niya.
"Sumasakit ang ulo ko, Angelyn! Si Kade pa talaga?!" Her Tita Krizzia hissed.
Her mother massaged the bridge of her nose and glanced at her sister, who was sitting comfortably, while looking at her newly made nails. Kasama nito si Ky na tahimik lang din sa tabi.
Masakit na ang ulo ng Mamu nila sa tsismis na kumakalat sa loob ng school nila, mas lalo pa na nadagdagan dahil pinili na magtago ng kapatid niya sa school kaysa ang umuwi na lang sa bahay nila sa village.
"Ma'am, pasensya na ho sa istorbo. Hindi na po kasi namin kaya ang mga tao sa labas, kulang ho kami." The guard said.
The securities they have were all having a hard time controlling the reporters outside the school.
"Krizzia, mamaya na 'yan. Pakisuyo na muna sa mga pinsan ni Ryker na tulungan ang mga guards natin sa labas." Mahinahon na sabi ng Mamu nila at pagod na umupo sa swivel chair nito.
On the other hand, their Tita Krizzia left the office, still mad about the rumour spreading.
"Tally… Pumayag ba ang Papa mo sa project na 'yon?" Angelyn, their mother, calmly asked her sister.
Hindi makatingin ang kapatid nila sa ilaw ng tahanan nila. Her mother sighed and give it up. Nakuha na nito ang sagot sa pananahimik pa lang ng kapatid nila. Even the overprotective brother, Ky, was silent.
"Ikaw ang photographer, ano?" Their mother pointed at Kyrst.
Ky avoided their mother's gaze.
"Anak naman…" halos maiyak na sabi ng Mamu nila. "Pinapayagan naman namin kayo sa gusto niyo, pero sa tingin niyo? Hindi ba sobra 'yon? It's too… seductive for my daughter, Tally," bahagya na tumaas ang boses nito sa kanila.
Yumuko ang kapatid niya at pinaglaruan ang mga kuko nito. Even Ky was slowly hiding himself behind her. Umingos siya nang maramdaman ang kamay ng dalawa sa magkabilang braso niya.
"Mamu… I am aiming to be a potential model for Victoria Secret. Ayaw mo noon? May anak kang maganda na rarampa sa VS?" pang-aalaska ni Tally sa Mamu nila.
Tally's latest photos turned social media upside and down. There's a lot of negative comments and some were too disgusting for her family to read. Some people just don't know how to shut their mouths and how to properly use their brains. Hindi naman 'yon maiiwasan, but still.
Ngumuso lang ang nanay nila. Their mother dismissively waved her hand, it was a good sign for her sister, that only means na wala nang magagawa ang magulang nila sa gusto nito.
"Please, be careful, Tally. Huwag kang pumayag kung hindi ang kapatid mo ang photographer mo or kung wala si Kyrst sa tabi mo." Their mother said.
"Yes, Ma!" Tally beamed at their mother.
Ky showed up from her back and showed his muscles. "Hindi naman ako papayag no'n, Ma!"
"Hindi ka pa tapos, Ky. Hintayin mo ang Papa mo, lagot ka doon!" dagdag nito na siyang ikinawala ng ngiti sa mga labi ni Ky at nagtago ulit sa likuran niya. Her mother glanced at her and said, "As for you… wala naman katotohanan ang sinasabi nila. Kaya mo ba?"
Ayaw niya na nag-aalala sa kanya ang magulang. Khaila nodded her head as an answer. This wasn't new to her. It all started when she turned eighteen, rumours about her dating older guys— so she won't need to join the screening. Kabit siya ng mga Tito niya at kung ano-ano pa. Hindi na bago, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't affecting her.
At the end of the day, mawawala rin 'yon ng kusa. She's the eldest daughter of Kyst Miller. And people knew about her father's circle of friends.
"Yes, Mamu. Don't worry, I can handle this one. This isn't new…" She confidently answered.
And because she's using her mother's name, and none of them knew her mother's surname, none of them believed her when they asked if it was true that she's dating an older guy.
Hindi niya pinilit. She doesn't owe them an explanation.
Khaila chose to be silent and let the issue slide. She continued her daily routine like there's no people silently and sometimes loudly judging her.
Lumabas siya sa faculty at naglalakad lakad sa school. She was planning to go to the garden but found herself walking towards the high school area. Siguro dahil malapit lang ang office ng Mamu niya doon.
Her face lit up when she saw her crush. Yes, Khaila considers him as her crush now. She's attracted to him.
May dala itong libro sa kabilang kamay at salubong ang mga kilay habang naglalakad. She offered a friendly smile but the man just looked at her flatly. Pinapakita talaga sa kanya na hindi nito gusto ang presensya niya.
Khaila wanted to ask him why? People would gladly pay her millions just to see her smile.
Kakausapin na sana niya ito nang basta na lang siya nito lagpasan. Hindi man lang tumingin sa gawi niya!
"Did he just ignore me? Me? Khaila Miller?" hindi makapaniwala na tanong niya sa sarili.
"Aila? Princess, what are you doing here?" Nagulat siya nang bigla na lang sumulpot sa tabi ang papa niya. "May kausap ka?" He slightly bit his lower lip.
"You're teasing me, Pa!" reklamo niya. Sigurado na nakita nga siya nito na kinakausap ang sarili niya. She couldn't help it! Bigla ba naman kasi siyang tinalikuran!
"Are you done having a one on one talk to yourself? Kung tapos na, sumama ka na sa akin sa office. Kung hindi pa, take your time?" Her father jokes.
"Papa!" Angil niya rito.
Tumawa lang ito at umakbay sa kanya. It was her turn to laughed at him when he started to tell her what he did and what made him stress one by one. Lahat 'yon ay dahil sa kanilang tatlo.
When they reached the office, kaagad itong umalis sa tabi niya at dinaluhan ang Mamu niya. She smiled softly when her father greeted her mother with a kiss on the lips. It was sweet.
She was silently wishing to have someone… who'll greet her just like what his father always does to her mother. Someone who'll accept her wholly.
She was silently craving for a family of her own as she grew older.
Bumalik lang siya sa katinuan nang marinig ang sinabi ng Papa niya.
"Our daughter should teach high school students, baby. Ilipat mo na kaya siya?" Her father suggested.
Her mother massaged her nape and answered, "It's not that easy. Besides, kumpleto ang mga teacher sa high school."
"I'll retire early for her." Nagulat siya sa sinabi ng Tita Krizzia niya. Seryoso ang mukha nito habang nakatingin sa Mama niya. "Pwede rin na swap kami."
"Swap?" naguguluhan na tanong ng Mamu niya.
Tumango ito. "I'll shoulder her advisory class."
"Krizzia, hindi ganun kadali 'yon. Hindi available ang major na natapos ni Khaila sa secondary."
"Edi magturo siya ng iba? Kaya naman niya 'yon." Lumingon ang Tita Krizzia niya sa kanya. "Right?" She smiled sweetly at her.
"Except Math and Science…" nahihiya na sagot niya. Those subjects were her weakness.
"See? Pull her out slowly, sasanayin muna natin ang mga bata na paalis alis ang homeroom teacher nila at ako ang papalit. That way, unti-unting mamamatay ang tsismis na kumakalat. Naiirita ang tenga ko sa naririnig, you know me when I'm irritated, Angelyn. I won't care about that thing they called 'professionalism'." Umirap ito.
Napipilitan na tumango ang nanay niya. It was a safe and better choice to listen to her godmother's suggestion. If not, mas malala pa sa isyu ang kayang ibigay ng ninang niya.
KHAILA SLOWLY STARTED teaching in secondary. Tatlong klase pa lang ang pinahawak sa kanya para makapag adjust siya, kahit hindi naman na kailangan. Her mother gave her the books and she also coordinated sa teacher na pinalitan niya para ituloy na lang nito ang natapos.
"May maganda na po kaming teacher!" biro ng iba sa klase.
"Isusumbong ko kayo sa ibang teacher!" sakay niya sa biro ng mga ito.
"Ma'am, sobrang istrikto naman po kasi nila!"
"Opo, ma'am! Ang sungit pa!"
Khaila shook her head and answered, "Sorry to burst your bubbles, guys. Pero hindi niyo ako mauuto sa 'Ang ganda mo, Ma'am!', sanay na ako sa ganyan." Tumawa siya nang makita na nawawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ng mga estudyante niya. "I'm also strict. No talking while I'm discussing our topic, unless hinihingi ko ang opinyon niyo o kung may gusto kayo na isingit na related sa topic natin. We have another time to joke around. We will also have a recitation kapag pumasok na ako and quiz after discussion para hindi niyo malimutan ang tinuturo ko."
Her students started to groan and some were saying that they understand her.
"Ma'am! Sa Activities po?"
Ngumiti si Khaila. "We'll have some fun when it comes to that, don't worry."
Everyone was asking, and she's glad, dahil lahat ng mga tanong ng mga ito ay tungkol sa kung paano siya magturo, kung paano siya magbigay ng quiz, at sa recitation nila.
They were calmly conversing but when the handsome teacher passed by her classroom, her students started to make noise.
"Class! Silence, please." Suway niya sa mga ito. "Let's start the discussion." Istrikto na sabi niya sa mga ito.
ILANG LINGGO pa lang simula nang pumasok sa paaralan ang guro, may issue na agad ang dalaga. Atticus shook his head. He was hearing nonsense since this morning, he wanted to clear his mind.
So, he roamed around the school. Helping the other students cleaning their room, pati na rin ang sa tapat ng classroom ng mga ito. Hanggang sa matapos ang mga ito.
He got bored and decided to go to the computer laboratory. Kung saan tambay ang kaibigan niya na nagtuturo rin.
His brows furrowed when he heard some students making noises. There's a lot of high school students crushing over him.
Mas lalo na nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya nang marinig ang isang estudyante, "Ma'am, nakatingin ka rin naman po!"
"Tingin lang. Hindi ako tumili. Now, listen to me. Kapag wala kayong nasagot sa quiz mamaya, hindi ko kayo palalabasin. Ako last subject niyo." Pananakot nito sa mga bata.
Umiling siya sa narinig. That was a bit old style, and childish. He watched the woman discussing for a minute but when he noticed some kids looking at him, kaagad siyang tumalikod at pumunta sa computer laboratory na katabi lang ng room na dinaanan niya.
He was about to knock when the door opened and his friend showed up.
"Oh, naligaw ka yata?" namamangha na tanong nito sa kanya.
"Pa-aircon lang."
"AC? May AC sa faculty."
Atticus looked at his friend from head to toe.
"Mas malakas ang AC dito sa computer lab. Kaya ka nga laging nandito 'diba? Kaya laging bakante ang lamesa mo sa faculty?" pamemersonal niya sa kaibigan.
"Hindi ka naman mabiro, Sir! Pasok ka, kahit sa upuan ko pa ikaw umupo." Inilahad nito ang kamay sa upuan nito at tumabi sa daan. "Takot ako sayo, alam mo 'yan. Nanginginig ako, oh!"
"Tanga mo." Atticus pushed his friend a little.
Hindi pa umiinit ang pwet niya sa upuan nito, Lhey, his friend, started to talk about a certain woman. Ang hot topic sa buong School.
Tamad siyang sumandal sa backrest at nilaro ang computer na nasa harapan niya. Lhey was actually monitoring every computer in the room. Baka kung ano na ang ginagawa ng iba nilang estudyante.
"Sayang, brad! Sugar daddy pala ang hanap. Kagwapuhan lang ang ambag ko."
The door was widely open. Lhey forgot to close it when he started to run his mouth. He wasn't surprised at all when he saw the woman his friend was talking about outside. Looking at them.
Atticus crossed his arms against his chest.
"Hi, I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation but… I think you heard it wrong. Yes, I am looking for a suitable partner. Hindi sugar daddy. Kaya kong gastusan ang sarili ko."
☕