The Fighter

Chapter Twelve

"Hoy."

"...."

"Kausapin mo nga ako..."

"...."

"Naririnig mo ba ako?"

"...."

"Ikaw-"

"Jackson, that's enough." Awat naman ng babae sa anak nito.

"Mrs. Harata, this is Harley. Yung sinasabi ko na bagong dating dito sa orphanage." Pagpapakilala naman ni Mila sa batang babae na kinukulit ng batang si Jack.

"Siya na ba iyon? She's so cute!" Mrs. Harata exclaimed as she crouched down and looked at Harley. "Hi, I'm Annalisa and you are?" She asked.

Young Harley studied the face of the kind woman before she answered.

"H-Harley..." She mumbled.

"Mama! She's not talking to me!" Reklamo naman ni Jackson.

"Baby..." Annalisa said at saka tumingin kay Jack. "She's still shy kasi bagong dating pa lang siya okay?" She explained.

"But she shouldn't be shy! Walang mangyayari sa buhay niya kung puro ganyan lang siya!" Sagot naman ni Jack.

Harley's lips quivered and she gathered all her strength then walked towards the young Jack.

"Ay jusko!" Mila exclaimed when Harley punched Jack straight to his face. Lahat naman ng mga tao doon ay napatingin sa gawi nila.

"What is happening here?" Tanong naman ni Mr. Harata, mas lalo naming nagtaka ito ng makita ang anak na nasa sahig. "Jack?" Pagtawag nito sa bata.

"He punched me Papa! He punched me!" Sumbong naman ni Jack habang nakaturo ang daliri kay Harley.

"Jack, she's a girl." Mr. Harata argued.

"But she punches like a man!" Jack answered.

Pilit na pinipigilan ni Annalisa ang pagtawa nito sa mga nangyarari. She finds this situation amusing dahil wala pang nagtangka na umaway sa anak niya maliban sa batang ito na nagngangalang Harley.

"Harley, bakit mo naman sinuntok si Jackson?" Tanong naman ni Mila sa batang babae na hanggang ngayon ay masama pa rin ang titig sa batang lalaki.

"Ang ingay niya." Harley simply answered before she walks away from the scene.

"Come back here!"

•

Jack slowly opened his eyes and a bright light immediately greeted his face. He groaned at kaagad na nag-talukbong ng kumot.

"Wake up sleepy head, it's already lunch." Ani naman ng isang boses, he removed the blanket at tinignan kung sino ang nagsalita.

And it was Gemma, she's currently standing on the doorway of his room.

"Uhh...what happened?" Jack asked as he slowly got up.

"You didn't remember?" Gemma asked and Jack shakes his head. She let out a sigh at saka umiling-iling.

"You and Jaypee just had a 'fun' night." Gemma answered as she quoted in air. "You two decided to consume the strongest alcohol here in the headquarters." She explained.