FORTY TWO

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"Bye Mama" kaway na paalam ni Haru kay Ayaka.

"See you later. Love you." hinalikan niya ito sa noo at hinintay nitong makapasok sa loob ng room. Nakita pa niyang bumati ito sa teacher bago pumasok sa loob.

Nakangiti namang binati ng teacher si Haru at naglakad papunta sa direksyon kung saan nakatayo si Ayaka.

"Goodmorning Ms. Jung." bati nito kay Ayaka.

"Goodmorning Teacher Leah, thank you for helping Haru to adjust in your class." saad niya. Hindi kasi naging madali ang mga unang araw ni Haru sa school. Since may language barrier, hirap maka adjust si Haru lalo na't minimal pa lang ang words niya in Filipino.

"He's a smart boy. Nakakahanap siya ng sarili niyang way to communicate to other kids. Minsan nakaka amaze tingnan kasi you see that he's really trying. Mailap makita sa mga batang ka edaran niya." masayang komento ng teacher ni Haru.

Ayaka felt even prouder for her son. Even at his young age talagang nakikitaan na niya ito ng pagka independent. He's a mature thinker sometimes, left Ayaka in awed for a while.

"Ah, Ms. Jung?"

"Yes?"

"Hindi naman sa pangingielam ng personal life. But the other day, nagpagawa ako ng activity sa kanila. A simple artwork. Uhm... I told them to draw their family. Then napansin ko si Haru... hindi siya nag do-drawing. So I asked him what's wrong." sabi ng teacher hesitating at first kung paano sasabihin kay Ayaka.

"He said that he didn't want to participate to the activity. I asked why...he's silent for a while then said... 'I don't want my classmates to know that I don't have a daddy.'"

Ayaka felt a pinched in her heart. This happened several times already nung nasa america pa sila.

"Meron nagsusundo lagi kay Haru after class. I thought he's... I mean I'm sorry again Ms. Jung. I didn't mean to pry. I just felt the need to tell you this bc you know, your child's well being is important." muling paliwanag ng Teacher ni Haru nung mapansin siguro ang malungkot na reaksyon sa mukha ni Ayaka.

Si Charles yung nabanggit ni Teacher Leah na sumusundo kay Haru after class. Charles insisted, he told Ayaka na it's their bonding time. Gusto din naman ni Haru dahil hindi ito mahiwalay kay Charles. Naging busy din naman kasi talaga siya sa kumpanya nila at pag aalaga sa kanyang Ama na nakalabas na ng hospital at patuloy na nagpapagaling sa bahay, kaya alam din niyang nagkulang ang atensyon niya kay Haru. She's really thankful na palagi lang nandyan si Charles para punan ang mga pagkukulang nya.

She tried to flash her a smile to shoo away the uncomfortable feeling that starting to surround them, "Of course. Don't worry Teacher Leah, I'll have a talk with Haru. Thank you for your concern."

She bid her goodbye and asked Teacher Leah to watch out for Haru's other concern.

Nakangiti itong nagpaalam sa kanya. Naglalakad na si Ayaka sa corridor palabas ng marinig niyang tawagin siya ulit nito.

"Ms. Jung, oo nga pala I forgot to asked kung nasabi ba sayo. Our class will be leaving the school today to watch the educational show na inorganize ng One Theater. Don't worry dahil hatid sundo naman ng school bus ang mga bata. It's just a one hour play. So before lunch time makaka-balik na din kami."

Hindi sure ni Ayaka kung nabanggit ba ni Charles sa kanya ang tungkol dito pero siguro naman dahil hindi nakakalimot si Charles sa mga bagay bagay na dapat sabihin kay Ayaka especially about kay Haru. Siguro hindi lang niya na sink in sa utak dahil sa dami ng naiisip nito nung mga nakaraang araw.

Tumango tango si Ayaka, "Yeah ok. Just make them safe."

"We will. Thank you Ms. Jung."

***************

A night with my Cousin's Fiancee (COMPLETED)Tahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon