Disasters of Brazil

Chapter 08

Deny

"Hey Grandma is down stairs."

After that chaotic public scandalous in the hospital, we went home immediately because Grandma was too stressed about the scenario. We didn't talk about it until the next day came.

My brother wake me up to tell me that Grandma was downstairs. Everything is so suspicious. They say, things happen for a reason.

My brother was right. That chaos won't happen dahil lang gusto nila siraan si Grandma. There must be a reason behind it. But I have the benefit of the doubt that Grandma did all of those things to make a patient's prognosis worse.

I tie up my hair and bun it. I stretch my muscles before getting out of bed. As I walk down the stairs, I saw Grandma talking to someone over the phone. 

"Hindi siya pwede makalaya sa kulungan!" she whispers to someone over the phone.

"Grandma," me and my brother call her.

Grandma was mesmerize by our presence. "I'll call later," she says.

"Who's in jail?" my brother ask. "Sino pong hindi pwede makalaya?" he says, getting confuse by Grandma's words.

Grandma chuckles hysterically. "It was just a joke!" she shook her head. "Don't mind it Roberta and Prinze, it's more of a work related situation." She says, taking a sip on her coffee. 

"C'mon, eat your breakfast." Grandma gesture her hands at us. We walk towards the chair and sit down. My brother was beside me and our Grandma was in front of me. There was already a plate and utensils in front of us.

I look at my brother and he nods. I sigh and shift my gaze towards Grandma. "We were in the chaos yesterday, what happened? a patient said you were giving the wrong psychiatric medication." I  ask without accusation.

"Oh you were there!" Grandma claps her hand.

She's acting weird.

"I'm doing the right thing Roberta and Prinze. As a doctor I won't do anything that will make the patient's progress worse. Don't worry about it. I've also talked to those people already and settled the problem already. It was just a misunderstanding. Don't interfere with it anymore." She says, there was an irritation on her tone.

As much as I want to believe her, I do but there is a benefit of the doubt in it. There was something deeper in it that me and my brother does not know. 

Starting today, I will find answers for that. Something isn't right that needs to be settled.

Something that me and my brother should not know.

Something that Grandma is hiding from us.

I can't force my own thoughts and accusations kasi wala namang proof for that. I'll just find my answers myself.

It's obvious that she's denying something.

"Yallo," Matt greets me the next day. I was looking at the paper I'm writing on when Matt approached me. 

He grab a vacant chair beside and sit beside me. "You okay?" he ask, bending down to see my face covered by my hair. 

"Yeah, of course." I answer, tipid ang mga ngiti sa pagmumukha ko nang sabihin iyon.

"Hmmmm...." he says, not getting satisfied by my answer.

Naghawi ako ng buhok at humarap sakaniya. His face was serious as he have look at me. When we had an eye contact, my face blush. "Uhm..." hinawakan ko ang pisngi ko at mukhang umiinit at nangangamatis.

"I need to use the restroom!" I made up an excuse and place the notebook on my paper for it not to fly and ran outside the room. 

As I've reach the restroom, I cup my face with my two hands and look at the mirror side by side. "What the hell is happening to my face?" 

My eyes widen when Carlin texted me. Oh shit!

Carlin: Girl hinahanap ka ni Ma'am Briela.

Fuck!

I went outside the restroom then ran towards the classroom. As I've reached the classroom, my sweat from my head fell down my face. I look so haggard! Everyone was looking at me while Ma'am Briela started to discuss. She also stopped discussing then looked at me.

"M-ma'am I'm sorry nag restroom lang po!" I apologize while trying to catch my breath. "Kailangan ko po kasi talaga mag CR!" I reason out.

"Bakit pag naiihi kana ba kailangan mo pa magsorry?" her right eyebrow raise at me. "Wala naman nagsabing bawal ka mag-CR, hinahanap lang kita kasi wala ka sa upuan mo." She says in monotone. "Bumalik ka sa upuan mo at makinig kana lang, hindi 'yung ang dami mo pang sinasabi." 

"T-thank you ma'am!" I bow then walk towards my chair.

"Para saan?" she cross her arms. "Dahil pinaupo kita at hindi ako nagalit at nag CR ka? bare minimum na nga iyon na payagan ka magCR kasi hindi mo naman controlado kung naiihi ka or natatae ka. Alangan naman pagsabihan pa kita." She sighs then roll her eyes.

I just bit my lips then bring my notebook out to take down the notes.

"Okay class, sa ating pagbabalik sa inaaral natin, ito na iyon." she pointed at the screen while flashing the powerpoint on the projector. 

"Kung nakikinig ang lahat, sino si Metusalem? maliban kay Roberta." Ma'am Briela look at the whole class.

"Ma'am bakit si Roberta hindi kasama? ang unfair naman no'n!" Andi interfere without raising her hand then roll her eyes.

"Kababalik niya lang, alangan naman tanungin ko siya eh wala siyang alam?" Ma'am Briela walk around the room, looking for someone to call.

"Ladim," she calls.

Ladim stand up and recited immediately. "Ang pinakamtandang taong namalagi sa daigdig po." he answered.

"Tama, maupo kana." Ma'am Briela nods.

To be honest, I'm not mad at Ma'am Briela. I actually like her attitude. She's not like the usual teachers. not common but she's different. She's somehow strict but she knows the struggles of students and she has a consideration.

I cross my legs while taking down notes when the rain dropped. The clouds became dark, the environment became cold. 

I tap my forehead using my right hand as I've left my jacket at home. I was looking around and everyone of has a jacket or sweater.

I texted my brother in a way that I'm hiding my phone under the desk. Lumalamig na rin ang paligid kaya nanginig kaagad ako.

Roberta: Kuya I left my jacket at home, ang lamig. Can I borrow yours?

He was online so I expected for him to reply and he did.

Prinze: Yes I have, punta ako sa room mo, wait on the way.

I smile over the phone.

Roberta: Finally, thank you kuya, love you!!

Prinze: tsk.

I ask Ma'am Briela for an "excuse me" because my brother was outside.

As I went outside, I saw my brother texting over the phone. He was leaning on the wall at hindi manlang naramdaman na nakalabas na ako.

"Hello!" ginulat ko siya.

"Andiyan kana pala," he chuckled.

"Ay hindi, wala ako!" pamimilosopo ko.

"Pag 'to hindi ko binigay," he joked.

"Luh akin na nga!" I grab his hoodie then wave my hand at him.

"Bye brother!" I stuck my tongue out before closing the door. He shook his head then turn back to walk away.

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