Apology Denied ==> gXg

Chapter 19

Miss Hernadez 

Ilang buwan nalang, graduation nanaman ng mga bata, dadami nanaman ang gagawin ko, naming mga teachers. Computation of grades, attendance and requirements of the graduating students. Pero may mas malala akong problema, isa sa mga estudyante ko ang nag aalangan makagraduate. Karla Rosales. She used to be on the top list exceeding students until one day, she stopped showing to school. I thought she gonna dropped  but today I was surprised to see her after ng class ko. She doesn't look good, she looks like she haven't eaten for days. Her cheekbones are showing off, she look so skinny, but what makes me worried more is the bruise on her right arm. It went from her armpit to her elbow, it was yellowish which means it was healing which also means it was there few days ago. Hindi ko magawang pagalitan sya sa pagliban nya sa klase ko ng halos isang buwan. I pity her instead. She look at me, not saying a word kaya ako na nag umpisa.

"What happened to you?" I asked, I sent her to my side.

She didn't said anything, she doesn't answer kaya sinubukan ko ulit, I held her arm, the one with the bruise, she flinched. "What happened here?" I asked, napaurong sya sa ginawa ko. 

She hid her arm away from my reach "Nabunggo lang po Ma'am" sabi nya , she's avoiding my eyes, I considered that as lying. 

"Doesn't sound like it" she keeps looking away "Karla, look at me"  my tone is not a request, it's an order. She jumped on my voice before looking at me. "What happen?" mas mahinahon kong tanong.

"With all due respect Ma'am, I'm not here to talk about what happened to me, I'm here for school matters" sabi nya bago sya yumuko, halatang nahihiya sya sa sinabi nya.

I sighed, knowing that she's not going to tell me anytime soon. Even though I want to know so bad, hindi ko sya pwedeng pilitin. Kailangan sya ang mismong ang magsabi sa akin or.... ako ang gagawa ng paraan para malaman kung anong nangyayari sa kanya. It sure doesn't look good. It was hardly good, her looks is giving her away. 

"Okay, so why aren't you attending your classes?" I asked. 

"Family problems Ma'am, well my I have misunderstandings with my step dad" she said. Hint number one. I was tempted to ask if her step dad did this to her but I push the urge away

"What kind of misunderstanding?" tinignan nya ako sa mata. Matang parang humihingi ng tulong, matang parang aping api, mga matang pagod na pagod na. Yan ang mata na nakatitig  sa akin ngayon. It was hard to ignore it, mahirap magpanggap na bulag para hindi ko makita. Pero kailangan ko, kailangan kong tiisin yung awa ko sa batang ito. 

"I don't want to talk about it, I just want you to know that I'm going to attend school again." she sighed and look down "But....." she trailed off, making me wonder

"But?"

"But not as often as I used to. I have limits, I have to go after the regulations at home" she said. Napasinghap ako sa sinabi nya. No parents should lock their children inside the house. 

"You also have limits attending school?" I asked in disbelief. She nodded. "What about your Mom?" tanong ko ulit. Then she looks away on the second I mentioned her Mom. 

It's not a good sign, I knew it's bad, or maybe worst. This is not the Karla I used to know, she's not the bubbly, jolly and happy girl I used to teach, she's not the girl everyone admire and adore. The girl sitting down next to me is a depressed and a broken one. As much as I want to ask more, I can't.  If she's not going to cooperate then it will be hard for me to help. 

"So, when are you going back?" I asked instead. Tumingin sya sa akin. Nakita kong nilalaro nya yung dulo ng damit nya. She's nervous, hindi sya mapakali.