Fading Echoes

Special Chapter 3.1

I was deep in a crucial business meeting when my phone buzzed, cutting through my concentration like a knife. The moment I saw my wife's name flash across the screen, my heart sank. She sounded anxious on the other end, and I knew something wasn't right.

"Love, can you come to the school? It's about Lui. He got into a fight."

Panic washed over me. "What happened? Is he okay?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"He's fine, but he stood up for Lia. I really need you here," she said, urgency spilling from her words.

A pang of guilt hit me for even considering staying at the meeting. My colleagues were deep in discussion, oblivious to the turmoil brewing in my mind. "I'll be right there," I promised, quickly excusing myself and hurrying out of the building.

When I arrived at the school, I spotted Irene waiting outside the guidance counsellor's office, her expression a mix of worry and determination. Relief washed over me when I saw her, but I could tell she was stressed.

"Thank you for coming," she said, her voice shaky as she led me inside.

The counsellor greeted us warmly and explained the situation. "Lui intervened when another child made fun of his sister," she said, her tone sympathetic. "While I admire his protective instincts, it escalated to physical confrontation, which we need to address."

My chest swelled with pride at Lui's bravery, but the weight of the situation settled heavily on my shoulders. "I appreciate him standing up for Lia," I said, glancing at my son through the glass window, "but we need to talk about how to handle things differently."

The counsellor nodded. "I've spoken to Lui about apologizing to the other child, and I believe he understands the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully."

Once we left the office, I saw our kids waiting for us, their faces a mixture of concern and hope. Irene and I exchanged a glance, silently agreeing to turn this day around.

"Hey, guys!" I said, kneeling to their level. "How about we go to your favourite restaurant? We could all use some good food and family time."

"Really?" Lui asked, his eyes lighting up. "Can we get ice cream after?"

"Of course! Ice cream is a must," Irene replied, ruffling his hair affectionately.

As we drove to the restaurant, I could feel the tension beginning to melt away. We settled into our booth, and I watched the kids relax. They animatedly discussed the details of the fight, with Lui giving a dramatic retelling of how he had stood up for Lia.

"I told him, 'You can't talk to my sister like that!'" Lui said, his hands gesturing wildly. "And then he pushed me, so I pushed him back!"

Lia is just listening, nakaupo siya sa tabi ng kuya niya at abala sa plato niya.

"Lui, darling, that's not how we handle things," Irene interjected, trying to keep a serious tone but failing to hide her amusement. "Next time, just tell the teacher, okay?"

"But Mom, I was just trying to help!" he protested, his voice rising slightly.

I jumped in, "I get it, buddy. It's really brave of you to protect Lia. But we have to use our words. Fighting can lead to bigger problems."

"Yeah, like getting sent to the principal's office," Lia chimed in, her eyes wide with the thrill of being part of the conversation.

"Exactly," I said, chuckling. "And you don't want to miss out on ice cream, right?"

Lui nodded, his expression serious. "Okay, I promise I'll try talking next time."

After lunch, we headed straight home. Liam was still with Manang Yeda, and I knew Irene would want to check on him. I decided to talk to Lui while I had the chance. Since Lia went with her mom.