Dancing with the Devil

Chapter 26

“Did you know that bullying could put you in jail?”

Unang bungad ko ng maabutan ang isang batang binubully ang aking mahal. I shook my head in disappointment. This is a kid’s fight that I shouldn’t meddle with but I can't just sit back knowing my girl can’t fight for herself.

She’s just too pure to even do that.

“Momma!” Naluluhang tawag nito at nagkukumahog na tumakbo patungo sa akin at umakap sa aking binti. 

I looked down at her tucking the unruly hair behind her ears that tries to hide her pretty face. Para sa anghel niyang mukha ay hindi maitatago ang kalungkutan na nadarama dahil sa pambubully sa kanyang kaklase. I wanted to be mad. But it wasn’t entirely the kids fault. Kadalasan ay dahil rin sa pagpapalaki ng magulang, madalas ay dahil masyado pa silang walang muwang sa mga bagay-bagay na ni tama o mali ay hindi pa alaman. 

“Why would I believe you? My mama said that I’m too young to be put in jail, eh hindi naman ikaw yung mama ko. Kaya, bakit maniniwala ako sato?” Dumila ito sa akin. 

I smiled at Malaya to show her that everything’s fine. And momma will take care of it, as I would. Always.

“Well, you won’t be…” I looked behind her and saw her mother trying to find her daughter in the ocean of kids scattered in the school premises. “But your mother would.”

Sa tagal kong hinahatid sundo si Malaya ay kabisado ko na ang kaniyang mga kaklase. Kahit ang mga magulang ng mga ito na madalas ay kasama ko ring maghintay hanggang sa tumuntong ang oras ng uwian. And this kid never failed to make her feel unwanted and less of her worth. 

She’s still a kid but her actions can lead to traumas that her victim might carry until they’re older. 

She's still a kid. She is just a kid. But I was never a good person to those who tried to hurt my loved ones. 

“Alam mo ba? Kapag yung mga bata may ginawa silang masama, ang nanay nila yung nakukulong.” I explained to her with a soft voice. “Imagine what would happen to you if your mother would be put in jail because you’re bullying your classmates.”

“Kawawa ka naman. Hindi mo na makikita yung mama mo, gusto mo ba yun?” I smiled at her, showing all my white teeth.

I inwardly smirked to myself as I saw tears started to build up around her eyes. I wanted to laugh but I stopped myself because she started crying, calling for her mother’s presence.

Lumuhod ako sa harapan niya at inalo ito. Marahan kong hinimas ang likod nito, paulit-ulit. I neared in her ears, “wag kang maingay ah? Kung ayaw mong makulong ang mommy mo, at syempre titigilan mo na rin ang pang bubully kay Malaya o sa kahit na sino pang kaklase mo.”

“Okay?” I said with a final tone. Muli akong ngumiti habang humihikbi itong tumango sa aking harapan.

Gosh! I can’t believe I’m making someone’s kid cry!

Nagkukumahog na lumapit ang ina nito ng marinig ang iyak ng sariling anak. 

“Mommy’s here, stop crying na!” Sinimulan nitong aluin ang bata. Ang tingin niya ay tumama sa akin.

“Oh my gosh! Sorry for bothering yo—” I cut her apologies.

“No, it's fine.” Mapagpanggap akong ngumiti. “Maybe your kid thought you won’t pick her up, since nagsimula ng mabawasan ang mga students.” I lied smoothly. 

With Malaya on my side, we watch them as they walk away from us. Hinawakan nito ang aking kamay, kinukuha ang aking atensyon. From looking afar, I gave her my full attention. I studied her whole face, she does look like me. A mini version of me. I didn’t know that I looked like an angel not until she existed in my life.