Autumn of May

CHAPTER 5: Unfortunate Encounter

I am currently sitting at the chair facing this RUDE CITY BOY ruining my day. Katabi ko si Lola at Lolo habang ang barangay captain ay nakaupo sa aming harapan. I look at him and when our eyes meet, I rolled my eyes and he just glared at me.

"Your neighbors reported to me about the commotion. I wanted you both to discuss about the issue and solve this matter because we aim to have a peaceful community here in the island" He just stared at me rudely kaya wala akong plano na makipagbati dito sa taong ito kung hindi siya hihingi sa amin ni Lola at Lolo ng tawad. He is so rude and besides it was an accident. Hindi ko iyon sinasadya.

"Cap. Hindi sinasadya ni Abbi ang pangyayari dahil sa sira ang gripo namin sa harden at sakto namang dumaan ang binata at nabasa siya ng tubig ng hindi sinasadya" sabi ni Lolo kay captain. Tumango lang ang captain at tumingin sa akin. "Miss Abbi, ikaw ang may kasalanan pero bakit mo siya pinagsisigawan at tinapunan ng lupa sa mukha?" the captain asked me.

"He is so rude. Pinagmumura niya kami at ang aking Lolo at Lola" I said to the captain. "Why did you curse at them mister? Did you apologize for using bad words? Do you have an idea that using bad words can cause emotional and mental discomfort?" Tumango tango ako as affirmation sa sinasabi ng Barangay Captain. He just looked at me and glared. He let out a laugh. Tumawa pa napakag*go talaga.

"Yes, I curse but I never said a name" He answered bluntly. WHAT? NEVER SAID A NAME? TANGA BA SIYA O SADYANG G*GO LANG? "Teka mister, you said it directly to my face. Anong never said a name? It is so clear that you are directly cursing at me" I said to him. He just sit there arrogantly and laugh.

Konti nalang at wawasakin ko yang bibig mo para hindi kana makatawa. Naiinis ako at nastress sa lalaking ito. I went here para makapagrelax and para naman hindi ako mastress sa trabaho but this guy here is destroying my peace of mind.

"First of all, I never said a name. Secondly, it is not my fault it is clearly your fault and do you have an idea how much my clothes worth? Well, I know you don't have any knowledge in any luxury brands" He said while looking at me from head to toe. Napakayabang talaga ng lalaking ito. This conversation here is making no sense at all.

"NAPAKAYABANG!" I grunt heavily. His eyes widened and aim to stand up but the officers stop him from doing it. "Look miss, I am telling you the truth. Well, this is a waste of time so let's settle this. How much do you want?" WAIT. WHAT? Did I heard it right? Hindi na ako nakapagpigil pa at sumugod na ako sa kaniya. I grab her shirt and look at him in the eyes.

"Akala mo ba mababayaran mo ang mga panginginsulto mo sa Lola at Lolo ko? Ganun lang ba kadali ang buhay mo dahil sa marami kang pera?" Hinawakan ako ni Lola at Lolo sa aking mga braso pero hindi ako nagpapigil. "Abbi, tama na" mahinahong sabi sa akin ni Lola. "Mabibili mo ba ang sakit na binibigay mo sa mga tao? Akala mo kong sino ka dahil sa may pera ka. Hindi ka ba tinuruan ng mabuting asal ng MGA MAGULANG MO?" I saw a dark aura forming at him. I saw his anger building up. Itinulak niya ako ng malakas kaya bumagsak ako sa sahig.

Aray. Anak ng Tokwa ang sakit ng puwet ko.

Naglakad siya palabas ng barangay hall kaya hinabol ko siya. He can't easily escape like that. Tumakbo ako ng mabilis at hinila ang damit niya ng mahabol ko siya. He looked at me angrily.

"GANUN BA KAHIRAP HUMINGI NG TAWAD?" I shouted at him. He just looked at me. Akma na sana siyang lalakad pero hinawakan ko siya sa braso. He harshly tossed my hands away and composed himself. "Ano ba ang gusto mo?" He asked while forcing himself not to get mad.

"Apologize to my grandparents" I said to him while directly looking at his cold, rude eyes.

"It is your fault, not mine. I don't see any reason for me to apologize and to continue this nonsense conversation. If you want money, just tell me the price..." hindi niya naipatuloy ang gusto niyang sabihin dahil sinampal ko siya ng napakalakas. I never met anyone like him in my life and meeting him in this period of my life is an unfortunate encounter.

"ANG SAMA SAMA NG UGALI MO. NAPAKASAMA NG UGALI MO. ALAM MO, HINDI MATUTUWA ANG MGA MAGULANG MO SA ASAL ASO MO AT WALA KA BANG SUBJECT NA VALUES O EDUKASYONG PAGPAPAKATAO? HINDI KA BA TINURUAN NG MAMA MO KUNG PAANO UMASAL NA PARANG TAO?" I shouted at him. I wanted to say more to him pero napahinto ako ng nagsimula siyang sumigaw.

"MY MOM DIED WHEN I WAS 5 YEARS OLD AND NO ONE IS THERE TO TAUGHT ME THE F*CKING VALUES YOU PROUDLY SAY, HAPPY NOW?" He walked out from the scene. I was left there standing while staring at him walking away from my direction.

I hit a vital point.

I never expected that it turned out this way. I let out a deep sigh. I know, it is my fault at the first place pero hindi ko kasi napigilan ng magsimula na siyang magsalita ng masama kina Lolo at Lola. I hate that. I hate when people curse at them and said something bad about them.

I heard my Lola and Lolo calling me kaya lumingon ako sa kanila. They are walking towards me. Alalang-alala, they caressed my hair and asked, "Apo, okay ka lang ba?" Tumango lang ako sa kanila.

"Umuwi na tayo La, Lo, gagawin lang natin na umiwas sa kaniya at sa gulo." My grandparents agree kaya lumakad na kami pauwi ng bahay. Pagkadating namin sa bahay, napansin kong nakasindi na ang mga ilaw sa kaniyang bahay. I let out a deep sigh at pumasok na sa bahay. It was a great messy day I had. Kakadating ko palang dito sa isla pero marami na kaagad ang nangyari.

I told my grandparents na matutulog na ako dahil sa pagod na pagod ako sa araw na ito. I climb the stairs and enter my mom's old room. My grandparents never empty her room pati mga pang-araw araw niyang ginagamit ay nandito parin sa kaniyang kwarto. Her smell never left the place kaya gustong-gusto kong matulog dito sa kwarto niya. I changed my clothes and lie down to her bed. I look at the window and saw the reflection of a man in the neighborhood's window.

The guy I met earlier is standing at the parallel room. He is doing something pero hindi ko lang pinansin at humiga nalang ako sa kama. My mom told me always that every encounter is treasured at must dahil sa lahat ng tao na makakasalamuha mo, maganda man o mapait ang inyong karanasan ay may makukuha kang aral. Sabi niya na dapat ang aral na makukuha natin kahit masakit man o masayang aral ay buong puso nating yakapin dahil ito ay mabuting handog ng buhay.

But, I can't imagine what kind of encounter I have with this guy. I really plan not to have another encounter with him as soon as I could kasi maiinis lang ako sa kanya kaysa makapulot ng mabuting aral. I grab my phone at my backpack and started to type some letters in my notepad. Starting today, I will plan beautiful things and create beautiful memories. I will start to mark my calendar.