N A Z A R E T H
My heart ached when Papa acted that way towards me. I'm used to seeing him angry with other people, but not directly at me. I gave him the silent treatment, a trick I learned from Ninang Cahil, one of Papa's cool friends. It always irks him when Ninang Cahil uses that tactic while he's fuming with anger.
It worked. There were times when I saw Papa close his eyes and take deep breaths, controlling himself. "Manang-mana ka talaga sa pinagmanahan mo," he said.
It only lasted for two days because he already got his big gun, which is poor Ninang Angel, whom he poured all his frustration on me.
"Hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin sa batang iyon, Gel. Ayaw ko naman siyang paluin, pero kaunti na lang siya sa akin, ang tigas ng ulo, eh!" Papa frustratingly said while pulling his own hair. Both of them are in the living area, and I am hiding behind a wall.
Papa said I'm not allowed to listen to other people when they are talking, but I think it's alright because it's about me. I just don't let my presence be known.
"Hindi mo naman kailangang dumating sa point na iyon, Hawi. Bakit pinalo ka ba ng mga magulang mo noong bata ka?"
"Hindi! Kaya nga ako naging ganito, eh."
"Sabagay," Ninang Angel said, then Papa looked at her sharply. "Matalino naman si Nazareth. Kausapin mo nang maayos 'yong bata; makikinig naman iyon, eh."
Papa rubbed his face, lay back on the sofa, closed his eyes, and sighed. "Ang hirap maging magulang mag-isa. Ang hirap magpaka-nanay at tatay ng sabay sa kambal. Kay Bethany naman, wala akong problema. Kapag ipapatawag ako sa school dahil sa kanya, iyon ay dahil may award siya o balak siyang isali sa contest. Pero si Nazareth? Ang bata-bata niya pa pero nakikita ko na ang sarili ko sa kanya noon. Masyadong matapang, sobrang tigas ng ulo, at bayolente."
My eyes heated when Papa compared me to Bethany. "Edi mas mahal mo si Hany kaysa sa akin, Papshy!" I whined.
Like a jack-in-the-box, Papa stood up and immediately walked over to me, lifting me into his arms. He started rubbing my back and kissing my chubby cheeks. "Siyempre, hindi. Mahal ko kayo parehas."
"Manang-mana nga sa'yo. Seloso," Ninang Angel commented.
They both lectured me that what I did to Ruben was wrong. Papa said that if someone bullied me, I should say it to the teachers or to him immediately, and they would handle it from there.
"Bakit ka galit kay Ruben?" Papa asked.
"Kasi salbahe siya," I answered while sitting on his lap.
"Eh naging salbahe ka na rin kasi sinaktan mo siya. Hindi ka ba nagalit sa sarili mo?"
"Wiz," I answered, pouting. Up to this day, I don't regret what I did to him because I was used to Ruben bullying me, so most of the time I just let it slide. However, when he started bullying Mayari, too—our new classmate wearing a beanie because she's bald—I lost it. I had this strong urge to protect her.
"Hay naku, ang cute mo talaga," Papa sarcastically said and tickled me.
"Nazareth, naalala mo pa ba ang tinuro ko sa iyo?" Ninang Angel interfered.
"Opo."
"Ano nga iyon?"
"An eye for an eye, a foot for a foot. Don't do unto others doo bi doo bi doo," I answered.
Ninang Angel gasped, and Papa's eyes were about to pop out. "Kaya naman pala nagiging maldito ang anak ko, eh!"
"Nazareth, 'di ba in-emphasize ni Ninang na we have to love our neighbors as we love ourselves?"
