A Heart That Needs A Beat

Kabanata 16

"Can you believe it? Ang tapang pa ng magulang ng batang 'yon!" my mom fumed, her voice rising with every word.

I sighed, trying to soothe her growing anger. "Ma, calm down. They're suspending the boy, tapos na 'yun."

The Dean had already decided—a one-week suspension for the kid who punched my brother, Chris. On top of that, we insisted on having Chris transferred to a different section to avoid any further interaction between them. Naturally, the boy's parents were livid about the suspension, but honestly, we couldn't care less.

"Hon, let's stay calm for Chris. He's been feeling down lately. Let's focus on helping him move past this, okay?" my dad said, his voice steady but firm as he joined the conversation.

Mom didn't reply, just fixed a furious glare on some invisible spot across the room. She was still fuming, and I couldn't blame her. Chris had been refusing to go back to school, shaken and probably traumatized by what happened.

"Let's try to convince him," Dad continued, glancing at Mom. "Nilipat na siya ng section, so things will be better."

I looked at him, seeing the tension in his usually calm demeanor. I knew he was just as angry as Mom, but he was keeping it together for her—and for Chris.

"Papasok na po ako," I said, excusing myself.

We were already at the school earlier for the meeting, and I decided to go along with my parents. I needed to see the boy who hurt my brother. The moment I saw him, something inside me twisted. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang galit na naramdaman ko habang nakaharap siya.

I wanted to yell at him, to tell him exactly how I felt. But I forced myself to stay calm. He's just a kid, I reminded myself. But even that couldn't justify what he did.

Ngumiti ako nang pilit habang pumapasok sa room. Mukhang tapos na ang first period kasi ang ingay, and wala namang teacher sa harapan. Pagtingin ko sa gilid, andoon 'yung tropa ko. Agad lumaki mga mata nila nung makita ako. Napansin ko rin si Kairus—nakatitig na naman siya. Weird. May something sa tingin niya, pero ano kaya 'yon? Okay kaya siya?

"Akala namin 'di ka papasok!" bungad agad ni Taro, para bang may ginawa akong krimen.

Tumango pa si Taro at si Maggie, mukhang naghihintay ng paliwanag.

Huminga ako nang malalim at sinabi na ang nangyari. Habang nagsasalita ako, nakaupo ako sa upuan ko, at as usual, nakapalibot sila sa akin. Pagkatapos kong magkuwento, natuwa sila na may punishment naman daw 'yung bata.

"Ano pangalan no'n? Sabihin ko sa pinsan ko na elementary, abangan nila mamaya!" yabang na biro ni Tristan.

"Kaya tumatapang lalo mga bata ngayon, e. May sulsol kasi na tulad mo," irap ni Maggie sabay hampas sa braso ni Tristan, pero as expected, iwas agad si loko.

"Sus! Inabangan mo nga si Taro dati sa gate, tapos sinapak mo pa siya!" tawa ni Tristan.

"Eh kasi naman tinago niya 'yung cellphone ko!" depensa ni Maggie, pero halata sa mukha niyang naaasar na siya.

"Abangers ka rin pala," tukso ni Tristan.

Si Taro naman, tahimik lang pero ngisi nang ngisi sa gilid. Halatang tuwang-tuwa sa reaksyon ni Maggie.

Ako? Walang masabi, so natawa na lang din ako. Maya-maya, bumalik na rin sila sa upuan nila.

Napansin kong nakatingin ulit si Kairus sa akin. Tipid akong ngumiti. Pero bigla siyang nagsalita, at medyo nagulat ako.

"Are you okay?" tanong niya, seryoso.

Tumango ako. "Oo naman. Better than yesterday."

Pero parang hindi siya convinced. Tumigil siya saglit, tapos may kinuha sa bag niya. Napatingin ako nang iabot niya sa akin.