S U A D E L A

17

TW: Mention of sexual assault, and excessive swearing.
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Hindi agad nakahuma si Suadela sa gulat. Paanong nasa harap na niya agad si Luan gayung katext lang niya ito?

"I was at the gym and on my way here when I replied." Luan informed like he just read what was on her mind and ended the call. "Sa office tayo," he said and walked ahead to Prof. Millare's office.

Tahimik na sinundan lang ito ni Suadela.

"Upo ka muna." Itinuro ni Luan ang sofa sa sulok nang makapasok sila sa opisina habang dumiretso ito sa mesa. "Hindi ka nanood ng field demo kahapon," kaswal nitong sabi habang nakayuko ito sa mga papel na nakakalat sa mesa.

"Hindi. Nagka-emergency kasi." Si Suadela habang nakatingin sa likod ni Luan. Hindi alam kung paano sisimulang sabihin ang pakay niya. Bukod sa mukhang busy ito, paano kung masamain nito iyon?

"Mhm," Luan nodded and suddenly turned around, facing Suadela.

Awtimatikong sinalubong ni Suadela ang mga mata nito na kaswal nitong binawi bago nagsimulang maglakad palapit sakanya. Hanggang sa tuluyan na nga itong umupo sa tabi niya.

"Anong pag-uusapan natin?"

Nagbaba ng tingin si Suadela bago muling nilingon ang katabi, "Si Sil, " mababang tono na sagot niya na ikinalingon ng katabi niya sakanya, "at yung scandal niya."

Luan stared at Suadela in silence. He knew that she had been with Sil yesterday when he met that woman.

Nang malaman nila ni Sen na nasa SU ang babaeng iyon ay agad nilang hinanap si Sil. Pero nang sagutin nito ang tawag nila ay nalaman nilang nagkita na ang mga ito at kasalukuyang pauwi na at nagpasundo sa family driver nilang si Kuya Roy.

He sighed. "Sil told you?"

Marahang tumango si Suadela. "Gusto kong malaman kung anong nangyari."

Kung sinabi na ni Sil ang tungkol doon ay wala siyang nakikitang dahilan para hindi malaman ni Suadela ang buong pangyayari.

Luan leaned back in his seat, gazing ahead. "Sil was once a member of our school dance troupe. We got in at the same time, but he didn't stay long."

"Dahil sa nangyari sakanya?"

Luan nodded. "That woman met Sil briefly three years ago when we were new members of the troupe, competing at IDC. She became obsessed with Sil the first time she saw him." Luan glanced at Suadela, "She even made an excuse to come to SU just to see him again." 

Suadela grabbed onto armrest. Obssession. An adult woman obssessing over a mere boy? How fucked up was that?

"On that day, Sil was called into a professor's office, but the professor left them alone. The woman threatened Sil that she would shout and tell everyone that he was harassing her if he didn't agree."

Naihilamos ni Suadela ang mga palad sa mukha. Gaano kadesperada ang babaeng iyon para gawin ang bagay na iyon sa estudyante minsan lang nito nakita?

"Paanong iba ang kumalat na scandal tungkol sakanya?

"May estudyante pumunta sa opisina para kausapin yung prof, nakita sila. The next thing we knew, the whole school was feasting on a fabricated scandal."

Napatiim bagang si Suadela. "Anong ginawa ni Sil?"

"He quit dancing and almost gave up studying. He was traumatized but didn't want to talk about it. Kaya walang demandahan na nangyari."

"At ang parents niya? Anong ginawa nila?" kunot-noong baling ni Suadela sa katabi.

"Pinatherapy nila si Sil. Pero hindi niya tinapos kasi okay naman na daw siya."