My Teacher is a Gangster

67. DECISION

Lately, Jazz is acting strange. He is not his usual self. Tila laging malalim ang iniisip niya. One time, I caught him blankly staring to nowhere. Something, for sure, is bothering him.

Jazz is the most reserved among the boys. Madalas ay tahimik lang siya at nagmamasid. From the very start, I know that he has quite a strong control over his feelings and thoughts. Mahirap mawari kung ano ang nasa isip niya at kung ano ang nararamdaman niya. He is more of a listener than a speaker. He thinks rationally and considers consequences. That made him the perfect leader of hell section.

The boys give so much importance to his opinion and approval. Jazz is hell section's anchor. When things are hard, he is always there for everyone.

Buong oras ng klase ay hindi ko nawaglit sa isip ko kung ano ang bumabagabag sa kanya.

"A penny for your thoughts." tanong ni Duke kay Jazz. Mukhang napapansin din niya na may kakaiba kay Jazz nitong mga nakaraang araw.

"Bro baka malunod ka sa mga iniisip mo. Anong problema?" muling tanong ni Duke ngunit hindi ito kumibo.

I know that Jazz won't say anything. He has a strong and firm personality. He may crack inside but he won't let himself break outside.

Nagsilabasan na ang lahat at kaming dalawa na lang ang naiwan sa loob ng classroom. I took it as an oppportunity to talk to him.

"Jazz. You can tell it to me. Don't keep it to yourself. I'll listen." I told him.

He gave me a blank expression but my reassuring look finally made him open up.

"Business." he answered.

"Bakit? May problema ba ang kompanya ninyo?" Hindi pumasok sa isip ko na ito ang problema niya. Mas lalo akong nakaramdam ng pag-aalala.

"Malaki at mabigat." napabuntong hininga siya.

The Sisons are prominent in the business world. They own chains of hotels. Marami din silang investors both local and international.

"What exactly happened?" tanong ko.

"Dad has screwed big time. The company has lost millions because of a failed investment. Sa sobrang laki ng nawala mapipilitan si dad na ibenta ang ibang shares ng kompanya. Kung hindi niya ito gagawin ay tuloyang malulugi ang kompanya. Nanganganib mawala ang lahat ng pinaghirapan nila."

I felt the gravity of the situation. Jazz and his family might lose not only their company but also everything they had worked hard for.

"Anong mangyayari kapag nagbenta ng shares ang daddy mo?" I asked him again.

"The company will survive but sadly somebody else will own it. Hindi na kami ang magmamay-ari nito." he said bitterly.

"Naaawa ako kay daddy. Dugo't pawis ang naging puhonan niya sa pagpapalago ng kompanya. He dedicated almost his entire life for the company and its employees. Ang kompanya ang naging mundo niya. Nawalan siya ng panahon sa amin ni mommy pero hindi iyon naging dahilan ng kahit anong problema sa aming pamilya. Naintindihan namin. Mom and I supported him. Dad has a great vision not only for the company but also for the employees. Alam mo ba na hindi ang pagkawala ng maraming pera ang iniisip ni dad? Mas inaalala niya ang mga empleyadong mawawalan ng trabaho. He is willing to give up the ownership of the company he inherited just to make sure that his people will not lose their jobs. Mahal na mahal ni dad ang mga tao niya."

I met his dad several times already. Alam kong mabuti siyang tao. Sa kabila ng kanilang estado sa buhay ay likas siyang mabuti at matulongin sa kapwa.

Jazz doesn't know that his father and I had a talk. Una kaming nagkita at nagkausap sa ospital. Jazz and Neil got into trouble with a gang.

That time, he had to skip an appointment to check on his son. Mabuti na lamang at nasa kabilang bayan lang siya when the incident happened.