Jazz's POV
(Continuation of flashback)
"Sayonara Mama!" (Goodbye Mama!) I said while waving at her. She wave back and she leave with the car. "Tara na Kuya" balik ko sa kanya and he nodded. Na e-excite na ako makikita ko ulit ang mga kaibigan ko! Hindi ko kasi sila nakausap nung Field Trip namin tapos wala kaming pasok kahapon.
I ran fast as I can in the stairs. Nasa second floor kasi kami at nasa pinaka dulong room.
"Daian o matsu dake!" (Wait lang Dianne!) Habol niya sa akin. Tumigil naman ako and I look at him. Hinihingal na ito at pinagpapawisan. "Ne... Okashi o takusan tabeta to omoimasu" (Hey... Marami ka yatang nakaing candy) paghihinala niya but I shook my head.
"Nope! I'm just excited to see my best friends" I answered. Pagka sabi ko nun biglang nagiba ang reaction niya while my forehead frowned.
"Dianne. How many times I have to tell you that they're just using you" he said and I felt annoyed. He always tells me that my friends only use me. Whenever I approach my friends, he stops me. There we often fight. Of course I do not believe in his opinion. He was able to discredit my friends.
"Kuya! Why are you saying that!?"
"I'm just protecting you! I can see in their eyes, they're using you"
"And how did you say that?! Why do you tend to criticize them? Do you have a problem with them?" I shouted to him. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang problema niya. Iba ang nakikita ko sa nakikita niya at malamang sinisiraan niya lang sila.
"Yes there is. I can see in their eyes the way they treat you. You will only get hurt eventually Dianne. They just use you. Don't you know that they are just pretending to be your friend? Because in the beginning you didn't really have any friends" pagbitiw niya ng salita. Parang may matulis na bagay na bumaon sa aking dibdib. Nangilid ang aking luha sa mata. Nakaramdam ako ng matinding galit, inis at lungkot. Natigilan siya and he tried to calm me down. "D-Dianne---"
"I hate you Kuya! D-Daikirai!" (I hate you!) I shouted to him and I run away. Nagsilabasan na ang mga luha ko. Hindi ko inakalang sasabihin mo iyong mga bagay na yan sa akin.
Mas nauna akong nakarating sa aming classroom. Bago ako pumasok, I wipe my tears and I fix myself and I went inside. Ang unang sumalubong sa akin si Maya. Isa sa mga kaibigan ko.
"Hi Dianna Mae!" Bati niya. I just nodded to her.
"Dianne!" Lapit naman ni Lily, one of my friends also. Suddenly, she stop. "Umiyak ka?"
"I-It's nothing..." I answered. Biglang lumapit rin si Rinna sa akin.
"Dianne! Ano nagawa mo?" She asked and suddenly, my system shut. Oh, no! I forgot to do their homework! That was about our Field Trip, all I did was mine, I forgot theirs.... Pano na yan?
"Dianne," she handed her hand to me. Ganun din ang ginawa nina Maya at Lily.
"Inaasahan namin na maganda ang pagkaka sulat mo at sa pag drawing mo"- Lily.
"Oo nga! Di ba marunong ka magdrawing? Maganda pa ang pagkaka sulat" - Maya.
"Pasado na tayo nito girls!"- Rinna.
Lahat biglang nagtaka. Nakatingin na silang lahat sa akin, yung mga classmates namin kanya kanyang bulungan kung ano yung hinihingi nung tatlo. I felt nervous. If I say no, they'll disappointed. Well here we goes...
"U-Umm... I-I forgot my, t-task..." I answered while scratching my arm in nervous.
"W-What?!"
"Dianne naman!"
"No way!" Kanya kanya nilang react dahilan mapatungo ako.
"G-Gomen'nasai..." (S-Sorry...) Tanging naisagot ko lang.
"Pano na kami niyan?! Babasag kami nito Dianne!" Rinna shouted at me. My palm is getting numb. Ngayon lang nila ako pinagtaasan ng boses. Inangat ko muli ang aking tingin at lumapit sa kanila.
"L-Look... S-Sorry, I forget--------!"
Tinulak nila ako...
They pushed me and that was enough for me to fall. Inantay kong tumama ang aking pwet sa sahig pero may sumalo sa akin.
"Dianne," nilingon ko siya sa aking likuran at yun ay si Kuya Dylan.
"K-Kuya..." Nangingiyak kong usisa sa kanya. He helped me to my feet. He pulled my wrist and hid it behind him.
"Why did you do that to my sister. Do you have nothing sensible to do?!" He shouted to them and they were suddenly frightened when my older brother shouted at them. My older brother is kind but, he's scary if he's mad.
"D-Dylan..."
"P-Pasensiya na..." Kanya kanya nilang sabi kay Kuya. Sinenyasan sila ni Kuya na umalis na sila.
"Wag na kayong magpapakita at lalapit pa kay Dianne, kundi isusumbong ko kayo sa Guidance" ma otoridad na utos niya sa kanila.
"O-Oo na!"
"Tara na!"
Nagiwan sila nang irap sa akin bago umalis. Hinarap naman ako ni Kuya sa kanya. He is smiling as if parang walang nangyaring away sa amin. I found myself hugging him.
"K-Kuya!" I said, "Sorry I didn't listen to you..." I said as I cry. Ngayon ko lang na realize na tama siya. Ginagamit lang nila ako para tumaas ang kanilang grades. Ako na nga ang pino-protect-tahan ako pa ang may ganang magalit.
"Shh... Don't cry. Forget it. Next, choose the one that should be your friend, understand?"
"H-Hai..." (Okay) I answered at inilayo niya ako sa kanya. Kinuha niya ang kanyang handkerchief and he wipe my tears away. He smiled and I force myself to smile.
Since that day, they have bullied me. Kuya is also affected by the trouble. It was like a bubble burst that they lost their fear of Kuya. Often, we hide our wounds from Mom and Dad, because we do not want to worry about them. But it looks like we will fail today. Kuya fought with some men just to let me go. They picked me up, they called Kuya and they challenged Kuya to fight. If my older brother wins, they will release me. Nanalo naman si Kuya, pero may pasa siya sa mukha. Kahit anong tago namin yun, makikita't makikita pa rin yun nila Mama.
Narito kami ni Kuya sa harap nang bahay. Nung una kinakabahan kami pumasok pero naglakas rin kami ng loob na pumasok sa bahay.
Naroon si Mama, sitting in the couch while reading a magazine. Mukhang napansin niya kami kasi bigla siyang lumingon sa amin.
"Dianne, Dylan. How was school----? Dylan! What happen to your face!?" Lumapit si Mama and she examine Kuya's face. Napayuko ako sa khihiyan. Nadamay nanaman si Kuya. Sinalo niya ang dapat sa akin. "Ano ba ang nangyari sa mukha mo? Nakipag away ka ba Dylan? Anak, magsalita ka naman!" Mama said.
"O-Opo..." utal na sagot ni Kuya. Siyempre nagulat si Mama. Alam naming di papatol si Kuya sa iba. Pero iba na ang usapan kapag pamilya na ang pinagaawayan. "I fought for them to release my sister. They are hurting Dianne and I can't just look at her. I also need to defend her from them and keep her out of trouble" He answered to Mama. Bumaling naman ang tingin sa akin ni Mama.
"M-Mama! Wala pong kasalanan si Kuya. Ginawa niya po yun para iligtas ako. Mama, wag niyo pong paluin si Kuya" I defend. Sa totoo lang, naluluha nanaman ako. Hindi ko alam kung bakit umabot sa ganitong punto.
Sinubukan tawagin ni Mama si Papa. It took a few more minutes before Dad answered Mama's call.
"Hon, can we talk?" Mama paused a second, "It's about Dianne and Dylan. They had been bullied---" Mama stop. "Hon, kawawa ang mga bata. Kailangan nating----" Mama stop again and she never speak. Mukhang wala na siyang kausap kaya binaba niya na ang telephone. Humarap sa amin si Mama na naka ngiti pero may lungkot sa kanyang mukha.
"Mga anak. Di makakarating si Papa" Mama said that makes me confused. Eto ang sinasabi kong parang nawawalan na ng kulay ang aking pamilya. Si Papa parang walang oras sa amin. Gabi gabi na siya umuuwi hindi gaya noon na marami siyang oras sa amin. Masyado siyang naging busy sa trabaho niya.
Mama and Kuya and I are here in the car. Where is Dad? In house. He said he would guard the house. Mama agreed. We are on our way home from the mall. My older brother is wearing headsets and playing roblox while I just look out the window. Bigla na lang tumigil ang sasakyan, halos mauntog ako sa upuan ng driver's seat.
"A-Ahh..." Aray ko sa sakit. Hinilot ko ang noo ko at nilingon si Mama. May binubusina siya. Lumingon ako sa harapan. May lalaking naka harang sa daanan namin.
"Jenna! Let's talk, please!" The man shouted. Rinig ko kasi bukas ang bintana na nasa tabi ko. Parang may binulong si Mama pero rinig ko.
"Kare wa nani ga hitsuyōdesu ka? Naze kare wa koko ni iru nodesu ka?" (What does he need? Why is he here?) She asked by herself. Naka ilang minuto at nilingon niya kami ni Kuya. "Mga anak. Diyan lang kayo ah?"
"Opo Mama" I answered at nagiwan muna siya ng ngiti sa amin bago lumabas ng kotse.
"Dito ka lang" sabi ni kuya ng hawakan niya ang kamay ko. Nilingon ko naman siya.
"Oo na" I answered at binawi ang kamay ko. Habang tumatagal, nababagot ako. Sana dinala ko na rin ang phone ko. As time goes on, Mama's voice grows louder because I can hear what they are talking about.
"David De Villa! Tigilan mo na ako please! Tama na please! Ilalayo din sa atin ni Amanda si Natalie" Mama said.
"Jenna. Hinahanap ka ng bata. Nilalagnat ang anak natin. Ako ang bahala kay Mama"
Anak?
I'm confused! Mama has a third child? So, hindi lang kami ni Kuya ang anak ni Mama? What is the meaning of this?
Nilingon ko si Kuya. Busy siya sa nilalaro niyang tablet. Narinig ko na lang bumukas ang pinto ng kotse. Nilingon ko naman yun at si Mama na luhaang naupo sa driver's seat. She closed the door and run the engine.
"Mama? Why are you crying?" I asked. Natigilan siya, pinunasan niya ang kanyang luha at humarap sa akin.
"Wala ito, napuwing lang si Mama"
Eh, makaluma na po yung dahilan niyo eh. Mama naman!
I noticed something. Dad and Mom do not meet. Dad didn't have as much time with us. Every morning they both work. Mama comes home early and Papa at midnight. They have lost time with each other. Hindi na rin kami nakakagala.
Isa rin sa napansin ko. Iba na ang kasama ni Mama at Papa. Kagaya ngayon. May kinausap si Mama. Last week naman si Papa may dalang babae. Sabi ni Papa wag ko daw sasabihin kina Kuya at Mama ang tungkol dun kaya ako lang ang may alam dun.
Iba na ang kinakasama nila...
Finally! It's Sunday! Mom and Dad are off! The four of us are complete again! I thought they really had no time with us. But I just thought that!
I ran down the stairs. I saw Mom and Dad on the sofa. They both do it separately. Mom reads and Dad has a text. Wala na akong inaksayang oras lumapit ako sa kanila at tumabi.
"Papa! Pwede po ba tayo pumuntang mall?" I asked. Dad shook his head.
"Sorry, meron akong ginagawa" Dad answered and I pout. Bumaling naman ako kay Mama.
"Gomen'nasai. Meron rin akong ginagawa sweetie" (Sorry) Mama answered and I felt sad. Is there anything else?
May biglang pumasok sa isip ko. Ito na ang time para magtanong!
"Papa?"
"Hmm?"
"Is that true, Mama has a third child?" I asked at biglang may nabasag na baso. At yun ay baso ni Mama na hawak hawak niya kanina na ngayong na bitawan. Napa tayo si Papa at hinarap si Mama.
"Jenna. What is the child saying!?" Papa shouted at napapikit ako sa lakas at gulat. Napatayo na rin si Mama.
"I-It's not what you think! L-Let me explain----!"
"Jenna are you cheating me?!"
Nagsimula ng magkasigawan silang dalawa. Napa tayo narin ako dahil sa takot at kaba. Ngayon lang sila nagpataasan ng boses. Natatakot ako kung ano ang sunod na mangyayari. Nahagip ng mata ni Mama ang phone ni Papa. Kinuha niya ito at tinignan ang laman.
"Gina?! Who the hell Gina is this?!"
"Jenna! Put it down! Give my phone back!"
"Walang hiya ka! Ikaw na nga ang nanloloko ikaw pa ang may ganang magalit!"
Mama said as she cry. Parang naiiyak na rin ako sa nakikita ko. Naghalo halo ang takot, kaba at pagtataka. I no longer know what is going on in my family. It looks like we are already broken. We were not like this before. If there is a misunderstanding, it is resolved immediately, not as it is now.
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