Tale of The Substitute Princess

Chapter IX

09: TWO SWORDS COLLIDING

"Bakit ka umiiyak?" my father asked me as he crouched to the ground.

Mabilis akong tumakbo palapit sa kanya at sinalubong niya naman ako ng yakap. "Tinawanan ako ng mga kaklase kasi mali ako ng sagot sa Math nung pinasagot kami sa white board."

My father's hand softly brushed my hair as I continued crying on his shoulder. "That's okay. There's nothing wrong in making mistakes. Ang dapat mong gawin ngayon ay itama 'yung mali mo na 'yon."

I sniffled. "But I don't like numbers. Nahihilo ako."

Natawa si Daddy sa akin. "Hindi ka na mahihilo sa numbers kapag naiintindihan mo na. Masaya kaya ang Math! 'Yon ang favorite subject ko."

"Hindi kaya!"

"Okay, okay. I'll help you. Para hindi ka na pagtatawanan ng mga kaklase mo kasi magiging magaling ka sa Math katulad ko!"

I took a few steps backward and nodded. "Yes, I want that!"

"But you have to stop crying muna. Ayaw kong magturo sa iyakin."

Pinunasan ko ang luha ko at ngumiti. My father looked amused. "Okay, then. Let's go home and study Math." He carried me at the back of his neck. Hinawakan ko nang mahigpit ang buhok niya at hinila 'yon. As if I was controlling him through his hair.

"O-ou-ouch," my father groaned in pain which made me giggle.

***

"Haera, I heard napatawag ka raw sa office," my father said in a serious tone.

I pouted. Kakatapos lang ako sermunan ng principal. Hindi naman ako pinagalitan nang sobra pero ayaw kong masermunan ulit. Pare-parehas lang naman sila ng sinasabi. "Wala akong kasalanan!"

"Ano munang ginawa mo?"

I sighed. "'Yung kaklase kong lalaki, hinawakan niya 'yung legs ko. I told him to stop but he didn't. Nainis ako kaya sinuntok ko siya sa mukha, nagdugo bigla 'yung ilong niya. Nagsumbong sa teacher 'yung isa sa tropa niya kaya pinatawag ako sa office."

Napapikit si Dad. "Hindi ko sasabihin na tama ang ginawa mo." Naghahanda na ako sa panibagong sermon. He then patted my head. "But don't worry, hindi ako galit. I understand why you did that."

Napaangat ang tingin ko. "Talaga?"

He nodded. "Yes. Hindi ko naman sinasabi na violence is the key, but there are times that you need to use it especially when someone lacks comprehension skills. Hindi naman puwedeng hahayaan mo lang sila lagi."

"Okay..."

"Now, nasa'n na 'yung lalaking humawak sa 'yo? Kakausapin ko lang."

***

"Haera Alcantara."

Pagkatawag nila ng pangalan ko ay naglakad na kami ni Mom papunta sa gitna ng stage. They gave me my highschool diploma, and they gave my mother the medal para isabit sa akin for graduating with high honors.

We faced the crowd and from afar, I could see my father—together with my younger brother—taking pictures of us.

"Dagdag medals na naman! Ang galing talaga ng anak ko. Mana sa 'kin!" he said proudly with a huge smile when we went near him after going down the stage.

Never pang naging absent si Dad sa mga year-end ceremony ko pero...

"Lagi naman akong may medal pero hindi ka man lang umakyat sa stage para isabit 'yon sa 'kin." I pretended to sulk.