After Everything

Chapter 9

Mondays are not may favorite especially today that the kidnapping and gangs incident will be disclosed to all the students and the parents. School admins and officials are ready for any possible outcome of this decision.

My parents are still clueless about what happened but this time I am ready to tell them everything before we go to the school for the assembly. I texted Mico and Ms. Herrera that I might be late for our call time because I will be telling my parents what happened.

"Mommy. Daddy. Kuya. I have to tell you something." Kinakabahan ako dahil siguradong mapapagalitan ako na hindi ko sinabi sakanila kaagad ang nangyari sa akin.

"What is it?" We are having breakfast. We are all prepared to go, Daddy and Kuya for work and Mommy and I for the school assembly.

"Promise me that you will not overreact." Pakiusap ko sakanila.

"Is it that bad for us to overreact, Kassandra?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Daddy.

"Are you pregnant?" Titig na titig ito sa akin habang humihigop ng mainit niyang kape.

"Ano ba, Kuya? Para ka namang ewan magtanong e." Kung minsan talaga ay nakakainis si Kuya. Ang sama mag-isip. But as I was thinking about it, what is worse? Being held captive or being pregnant?

"Ano nga? Ang tagal naman e. Daddy and I will be late kung ganyan ka katagal." Inirapan ko siya bago ko hinarap si Mommy.

"Two weeks ago po nagkaroon ng incident sa school. Mayroong kidnapping incident between students." Seryosong nakikinig sa sasabihin ko ang tatlo kaya mas lalo akong kinabahan. "So there's this girl that was taken by her schoolmates after class hours inside the school. Dinala siya doon sa likod na part ng St. Mary's. Sa lumang gym." Napatingin ako kay Kuya dahil siguradong alam niya kung saan iyon. "She was saved by a classmate the same afternoon she was taken kaya wala namang nangyaring masama sakanya. She reported it to the school admin and the investigation shows that the guys took the girl are not St. Mary's students. Illegal silang nakakapasok sa school para magmasid sa mga studyante ng St. Mary's na part ng whatever group or gang na present sa community. Nadamay lang yung girl dahil may nakita silang kasama ng babae na leader ng group na kaaway nila. Everything was fixed. Naayos na lahat ng admin ang mga butas at naging pagkukulang ng school. That was what the assembly all about." Seryoso pa rin silang nakikinig sa akin at naghihintay ng susunod kong sasabihin. Huminga ako ng malalim bago ituloy ang sasabihin ko. "I was the girl that was kidnapped." Kitang-kita ang pagkabigla sa mukha ni Mommy at mabilis na lumapit sa akin. Napapikit naman si Kuya na madalas niyang reaksyon kapag nagpipigjl siya ng galit. Si Daddy naman ay seryoso lang na nakatingin sa akin.

"Kassandra, my baby." Niyakap ako ni Mommy. "Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi 'to sa amin." My mommy's teary -eyed that is why I hugged her back.

"I am all good, mommy. Hindi naman ako nasaktan. They are my age po kaya hindi ako masyadong nabother noong gabing iyon. Knowing na schoolmate ko sila and I am one of the student leaders. Last week lang po namin nalaman na hindi po pala sila student ng school." Ngumiti ako kay Mommy pero napailing na lamang ito sa akin.

"Kassandra, anak, ang mga ganoong pangyayari dapat sinasabi mo sa amin. Hindi pwedeng sinasarili mo ang mga ganoong bagay." Lumapit rin si Daddy sa amin para yumakap rin sa aming dalawa ni Mommy.

"Gano'n na ba hindi ka kasafe ang St. Mary's? Bakit walang nagsabi sa akin ng nangyari sa'yo?" Inis na tanong ni Kuya.

"I'm fine, kuya. Hindi ka naman nagklase last week 'di ba? Buong week po walang activity sa school. Kaming mga officer lang po ang naiiwan sa school para tumulong." I assure him with a smile but he didn't buy it.

"Ihahatid sundo kita simula ngayong araw." Napasimangot ako dahil sa sinabi ni Kuya.

"No, Kuya. You don't need to do that. At alam nating maihahatid mo ako pero mahihirapan kang sunduin ako dahil sa work schedule mo. Everything is safe now, Kuya. You don't need to worry about me." Napailing siya dahil totoo ang sinabi ko. He is the most busy person that I know. Madalas ay ginagabi na siyang umuwi sa dami ng trabaho niya.