The following day, as expected, I developed a fever. Aling Nita scolded me after learning the reason.
Knowing how fragile my health was, she was deeply upset. Struggling to get out of bed due to the heaviness in my body, I had to rely on her to bring me food. She chose not to inform Mommy and Daddy about my illness, which led me to ignore their calls.
Instead of hearing reassuring words like "Get well soon," "Eat before taking your medicine," or "Rest today and skip school tomorrow if needed," all I received were: "You know your body is frail, yet you still showered in the rain," "Recover quickly—you have to go to school tomorrow," and "You're grounded."
Despite feeling unwell, I forced myself to attend school the next day. I nearly arrived late but luckily made it to the gate alongside Sir Zade, who seemed to be waiting for someone.
"Good morning po, Sir," magalang kong sinabi bago bahagyang tumango.
"Why are you so late? You usually arrive early, don’t you?" he asked.
I managed a faint smile. "I have a fever, Sir. But I can manage. It’s better than being absent—Mommy and Daddy would be upset," I replied.
He frowned. "Are your grades more important than your health?" he asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice. I nodded; honesty felt necessary.
"Alright," he sighed. "If your fever gets worse, go to the clinic immediately. Don’t wait until you collapse."
"Bakit po, Sir? Malaki po bang abala?" tanong ko.
He was momentarily taken aback by my question before continuing to walk toward the school, prompting me to follow.
"That’s not what I meant. Don’t focus solely on academics. Your grades won’t matter if your heart stops beating," he said.
I sighed. "Buti ka pa, Sir, you care about my health. I wish you were my father—maybe then I wouldn’t be under so much pressure," I said.
"Do you feel pressured by your family? Are they the ones pushing you to study so hard?" he asked.
I nodded. "Why don’t you tell them how you really feel? It’s clear that you don’t enjoy studying all the time."
Muli akong bumuntong hininga. "Hindi naman 'yon ganoon kadali, Sir. Kung iisipin madali lang sabihin 'yung mga nararamdaman ko, pero kapag sasabihin ko na, umuurong 'yung dila ko," sambit ko.
"Ewan ko po ba. Parang kapag nag-open up ako magagalit lang sila tapos i-invalidate nila 'yung nararamdaman ko. Baka isipin nila na nag-iinarte lang ako."
"Si Ate Grapes ko po kasi noon nag-open up. Kasi ayaw niyang mag-politiko, nung sinabi niyang ayaw niya ay napagalitan lang siya. Tapos nung kumuha siya ng ibang course, katakot-takot na sermon ang inabot niya kina Mommy at Daddy. Sinaktan pa siya ng pisikal."
"So, this is me—I grew up fearing them because I witnessed how they mistreated my sister and brother. I don’t want to end up like my siblings, so I just follow everything they want," I confided.
"Even if it means marrying someone you don’t love?" he asked.
I furrowed my brows, then let out a small chuckle. "Mommy and Daddy aren’t like that. They wouldn’t force me to marry someone I don’t love…" I clarified.
Silence fell between us as we entered the room.
Everything appeared ordinary; I overheard disparaging remarks, but that was the extent of it. Perhaps they pity me, it's evident that I am unwell.
Maawa naman sila sa akin kahit ngayon lang. Baka bigla akong umiyak kapag na-bully ako.
In the afternoon, I headed to the side of our strand building to throw out some garbage. Sovie didn’t come with me; she had been invited to Steffi and Flint’s home.
I sat on the stone bench attached to the building wall, feeling lightheaded from the walk. I closed my eyes for a moment, breathing in the fresh air.
I was about to stand and head back to the room so I could go home when, all of a sudden, cold water splashed onto my head.
I looked up slowly and saw two female students on the second floor, laughing.
When they noticed me, they raised their eyebrows. Not satisfied with their prank, they threw two bottled waters at my face, the impact making me stagger.
Muli silang nagtawanan bago nagsalita ang isang babae. "Isipin mo na lang na holy water 'yang binudbod namin sa 'yo para makilala mo naman si Lord at hindi ka gumaya sa Tatay mong home wrecker."
Sinundan naman iyon ng isang babae. "Itapon mo na lang 'yung bote sa basurahan, kung saan nababagay ang Daddy mong home wrecker tapos pinagtatanggol mo pa."
Both of them walked away, laughing. I picked up the two bottles and crushed them in my trembling hand, releasing my frustration before angrily tossing them into the trash bin.
I held back a scream, trying to contain my anger.
After discarding the bottles, I ran—but not toward the classroom. My face, hair, and uniform were soaked. Gasping for air, I eventually stopped running. As tears welled up in my eyes, I looked around at the dimly lit classrooms nearby.
Trying to figure out where I was, I checked the section labels and realized I was in the STEM building.
I dabbed at my tears and face with a handkerchief as I wandered around the empty halls. It was quiet here, and I found a strange sense of comfort—no one would judge or mistreat me because of my Daddy’s past.
Ang mahalaga sa kanila nakakapag-aral sila at palaging nasa top.
As I strolled, I arrived at an unoccupied area. Unsure of its exact name, it resembled an open space devoid of trees, filled with old items from their building.
Could it be referred to as a storage area? Pero nasa cellphone ang storage kaya paano mapapapunta iyon dito?
Napailing ako sa aking sarili.
I was about to leave that place when I heard someone screaming in pain. "Oo na, oo na, 'wag niyo lang akong sasaktan!" sigaw ng isang lalaki. "Yhael!"
I followed the direction of the scream. Peering through an open door, I saw Yhael gripping a man by the collar of his uniform, his fist colliding with the man’s face.
Blood stained the man's mouth and clothes. Around them, Yhael’s friends stood idly—Kuya Zhack watched without a word, Juniel was absorbed in a book, while Daniel and Janser cheered Yhael on.
Just as Yhael raised his fist for another blow, I rushed forward and shouted, "Stop!" I stepped between them and pried Yhael’s hand away from the battered man’s collar.
Halata ang gulat ni Yhael dahil sa ginawa ko. Napatayo rin ng tuwid si Kuya Zhack, at natigil sa pag-aaral si Juniel, natahimik naman ang dalawang tinotolerate ang ginagawang pananakit ni Yhael.
Umirap ako sa tatlo. "Why do you hurt a man who has no fight? Are you really men?" I preached.
Receiving no immediate response, I shifted my attention to the weakened man now seated on the floor. Assisting him to his feet, I sensed a light grasp on my arm.
Masama kong tinitigan si Yhael nang makita siya. "'Wag mo ngang tulungan ang lalaking 'yan. 'Wag mo 'yang hawakan," mariin niyang sinabi.
I quickly removed his hand from my arm. "Ikaw ang huwag akong hahawakan," pagalit kong sinabi.
"Did you not hear his pleas? He's injured, and yet you find joy in his suffering. Is this what instills fear in other students? Your behavior is disgraceful," I reprimanded.
Kumamot si Daniel sa kaniyang batok. "Aphle, wala ka namang alam kaya tabi ka na muna riyan. Hayaan mong bugbugin namin—"
"Are you guys for real," singhal ko. "Nananakit kayo ng taong wala namang kalaban-laban. In short, bullying. Sana isipin niyo muna 'yung mararamdaman nung taong sasaktan ninyo ng physical at emotional."
"Iba 'yung bullying sa ginagawa namin, Aphle," mariing sinabi ni Yhael.
He looks frustrated by what I said. "The school staff cannot address the harassment matter due to financial factors. Consider this—your female peers are being harassed, and yet you support the individual responsible for such actions. Is this truly your stance, Aphle? You engage in these matters without understanding the full context."
Natigilan ako sa kaniyang sinabi. "Anong ibig mong sabihin? H-Hindi ba bullying ang ginagawa niyo sa kaniya?" Nanghihina kong tanong. Gusto kong takpan ang tenga ko dahil parang hindi ko yata kayang marinig ang magiging sagot niya.
"Hindi ito bullying, Aphle. Parusa niya 'to na hindi kayang ibigay ng school dahil may pera 'yan," sagoy ni Yhael.
"Ilang beses na 'yang na-rereport sa akin ng mga babae kasi hinahawak-hawakan sila kung saan-saan. Hindi sila makapagsumbong kasi alam nilang mababaliktad dahil may pera 'yang demuhong na 'yan."
"Imagine, hindi naman ako ang SSG President pero ako ang nakakaalam ng ganitong ginagawa ng lalaking 'yan," natatawa niyang sinabi, hindi inaalis ang kaniyang tingin sa akin.
"Sa totoo lang, marami silang gumagawa niyan, kaya 'yung sinasabi nilang nam-bu-bully kami, mali 'yon. Dinidisiplina lang namin ang mga estudyanteng hindi kayang disiplinahin ng school staffs."
I felt my strength drain away at Yhael's words. My hand released its grip on the man whom Yhael had attacked. Sensing this, the man hastily seized my arm, seeking to distance himself from the situation.
Dinala niya ako sa kaniyang likuran. "Diyan ka na muna, ihahatid kita sa gate mamaya," aniya.
I stepped back slowly, feeling drained by the revelations. It dawned on me that my initial judgment had been wrong—I had taken the side of the man who had actually harassed my female school mate.
Clenching my fists, frustration bubbled up inside me—at him, and at myself. A surge of anger and the urge for retaliation overwhelmed me.
I had never fought back against those who had harassed me in the past, but now, it felt like I was being given a chance to make things right.
Gusto kong gumanti para sa mga babaeng na-harassed niya.
Lalapit na sana ako sa lalaki nang biglang magsalita si Kuya Zhack na nasa tabi ko pala. "Hayaan mo na si Yhael ang gumanti, hindi mo kailangang tumulong," Humarap siya sa akin. "At isa pa, ayaw niyang tinutulungan siya ng babae."
Nakinig ako kay Kuya Zhack at hinintay na lang matapos si Yhael. Hindi ako nang-to-tolerate ng mga ganitong gawain, pero kung deserve naman, kahit alam kong masama, matutuwa pa ako.
Janser assisted the man, who was limping and struggling to stand. Approaching Yhael, I acknowledged my mistake. "I apologize, Yhael. You were correct; I shouldn't have intervened without full knowledge of the situation," I admitted.
Inayos niya ang basang buhok dahil sa pawis. "Ayos lang," bahagya siyang ngumiti sa akin. "Naiintindihan naman kita. Basta, next time 'wag ka nang nangingisali lalo na kapag ibang away. Baka mapahamak ka pa."
Tumango ako sa kaniya bago niya kinuha ang kaniyang bag at isinukbit iyon sa kaniyang balikat. "Tara na, hatid na kita sa sundo mo," aniya.
Nauna na kaming maglakad sa tatlong lalaki. "Pwede bang magtanong?" tanong niya sa akin nang makalabas kami ng kwarto.
"Sure," sagot ko.
"Na-bully ka na ba?" tanong niya. Tumigil siya sa paglalakad nang tumigil din ako. Hindi pa ako nakakasagot pero alam na kaagad niya ang sagot. "Sinong gumawa?"
I simply shook my head before resuming my task. "Let it be. They won't cease their actions even if I disclose their identities to you," I remarked.
"Ilan ba sila?" tanong niya. "Sabihin mo kung sino-sino. Kahit ilan pa sila, gagantihan ko para sa 'yo."
-iamlunamoon