My Teacher is a Gangster

56. SACRIFICE

I cut classes. My first after quite a long time.

Matagal tagal na rin iyong huling beses na hindi ako pumasok ng klase intentionally. Perez made sure na lagi kaming pumapasok sa lahat ng classes namin. She tirelessly reminds us not to boycott or cut classes again.

Nakakatawa at nakakainis isipin na ngayong wala na siya, balik sa dating gawi kami.

Pagkatapos naming mag-usap ni Neil ay dumiresto agad ako sa parking lot. Uuwi na ako. I want peace. I want to be alone.

These thoughts and emotions are hitting me hard. Worse, it might knock me down. But I must not let it happen. I'm Jazz Sison. The leader of hell section.

The boys need me. Hindi puwedeng maging ako ay malugmok din. I won't let our ship sink. I must be the anchor.

I'm walking towards my car nang mapansin ko ang lalaking nakabulagta sa kalsada. Linapitan ko ito at nakita ko si Gray na bagsak at lasing na lasing. 

Did he drink inside the campus? Nagiging lasinggero na yata ang mukong.

Linapitan ko siya at yumuko. He smells alcohol. Tinapik ko siya ng marahan sa mukha pero he did not react but he is half conscious.

Binuhat ko siya at sinakay sa kotse. I'll better bring him home. Baka may makakita pa sa kanya at mareport sa guidance office.

Pinahiga ko siya sa may backseat. Isasara ko na sana ang pinto nang marinig ko siyang magsalita. "Madaya ka. Umalis ka." I saw a little drop of tear in his cheek.

Gray is very good in concealing his emotions. Lalong lalo na kapag nasasaktan o nahihirapan siya. He has a strong defense mechanism because he turns his pain into anger. Sa galit niya nilalabas ang lahat ng hinanakit niya. Gray always wants to be the tough guy. Sa hell section, siya ang pinaka hot tempered.

But during times like this, you could see how weak and fragile he is inside.

Naaawa ako sa itsura ni Gray ngayon. Tila ba laging nalalayo ang mga mahahalagang tao sa kanya. First his mom and now Perez.

Tila mas naging mabigat ang kalooban ko. I took a long and deep breathe. Then I turned on the engine of my cara para maihatid na si Gray sa bahay nila.

*****
Nagtungo agad ako sa kuwarto pagkarating ko ng bahay. Humiga ako sa kama.

My eyes caught sight of a picture placed on my bedside table.

This is the only picture I keep aside from our family picture on my wallet.

We were so happy that day.

"Busog na busog ako!" halos sumigaw na si Bruce habang sumusubo ng dumplings.

"Walang panama ang mga expensive Chinese restaurant sa noodle house na ito." pagpupuri naman ni Mike.

"I'll tell dad na magpatayo ng Chinese resto at i-hire iyong chef nila dito." bulalas naman ni Henry.

Binatokan naman siya ni Duke. "Sira! Hindi na masarap mga pagkain dito kapag kinuha niyo iyong chef nila. Mukong ka talaga."

Nagtawanan kaming lahat.

Pangiti-ngiti lamang si Perez habang pinapanood kaming kumain. Kompleto kami. The boys finally succeeded in persuading Perez to bring us in this noodle house.

"Teka. Picture tayo para may remembrance." said Neil.

Inilabas niya ang phone niya at nagpakuha kami ng picture kay manong chef na tuwang-tuwa naman sa kakulitan namin.

Neil doesn't know until this time that I secretly sent the photo to my phone.

I did that because I considered that moment one of the most memorable.

You might think that I'm the least affected among the boys. Ang alam siguro ng iba ay matigas ako at walang pakiramdam.

These feelings of hurt, confusion and sadness are all new to me. Hindi ko pa naranasan ang maiwanan ng bigalaan at walang dahilan. Ngayon lang.

I do not know how to deal with this emotions. Mabigat ang isip at puso ko pero mas pinipili kong maging matatag.

Hindi ko dinadaan sa galit, pagwawala o pagpapabaya ang mga nararamdaman ko. I have my way of handling and releasing negative emotions.

After my conversation with Neil, mas lalo akong nagulohan. Alam kong may tinutumbok siya.

No matter how I try to solve the puzzle pieces he gave me, I just can't.

"I don't think you can handle it Jazz. Mas mabuting hindi mo na lang malaman."

His words keep on rewinding in my head.

Out of the blue, I heard a knock on my room's door.

Si manang siguro. But I was surprised to see dad and mom outside. Hindi ko alam na umuwi sila.

The last time they were here, we were dealing with a problem. Hindi ko na rin alam kong ano na ang mga sumunod na nangyari. Maybe they are here to tell me the result of the decision we agreed to do.

Unang lumapit si mom sa akin. She hugged me tightly. Umiiyak na siya.

"Mom why are you crying?" tanong ko sa kanya. I instantly knew that I'll be hearing a bad news.

"Mom be strong. Makakabangon pa tayo. Mababawi pa natin ang kompanya. We will help each other." pagpapalakas ko ng loob niya.

Kumawala saglit si mom sa pagkakayakap namin sa isa't isa. She is smiling. Nagulohan ako.

"Son." This time si dad naman ang nagsalita. Maaliwalas ang mukha niya. Tila ba wala kaming mabigat na problemang pinapasan.

"Maayos na ang lahat Jazz. We will not lose the company." masayang wika niya.

"Paano dad? Anong nangyari?" Hindi ko na rin maitago ang gulat at saya ko sa magandang balitang narinig.

"When we returned to Manila, I received a call. It was a offer. May gustong mag-invest sa kompanya without buying out our shares. The investment is twice bigger than what we had lost. Malaking tulong ito na mapanatili sa atin ang kompanya at syempre sa mas lalo pa nitong paglaki at pag-unlad. I accepted the offer son. We came home to tell you the good news."

Thank God. I am very happy and thankful to finally hear this good news. Maayos na sa wakas ang kompanya. Pero gusto kong malaman kong sino ang investor.

"Dad sino ang investor?" I excitedly asked.

"We were not able to meet or talk to her son. It was a representative who contacted us. Pero alam namin ang pangalan niya." he answered.

"Who is she?" I asked.

"She is the new owner and CEO of Golden Dragon Group of Companies. Ang nag-iisang anak ni Maximilion Chua. Her name is Allison Chua."

Ngayon ay malinaw na sa akin ang mga sinabi ni Neil.

I was the reason. Perez had sacrificed for me. She left us because of me.