FIGHT - 2
"So you like playing some toy guns?"
Dorry just nodded to Theo's question. She's busy with the toy gun and figuring how to use it with coolness.
"Then might as well take it." napalingon siya rito. "Hindi ko naman yan nagagamit. I'm busy playing basketball and this week, Kuya told me to join the basketball trial so I could be with the basketball team at Washington University."
Ilang minutong natahimik si Dorry bago umiling at ngumiti. "Salamat pero hindi na. My mom will surely be mad at me if she found out I'm playing toy guns."
"Oh. Ganun ba? Then why not just come over here at my house after class to play? You said you don't have friends anyway."
Sasagot sana si Dorry nang pumasok sa guess room -- kung nasaan sila ngayon -- ang Kuya ni Theo.
"Hey, lil bro-- oh, you bring a friend here."
"Hi, Kuya Jasper! What are you doing here? Where's ate Atheena? I want to see her!"
Nagpakarga ito sa kanyang kuya.
"Umuwi na sa Pilipinas ang ate Atheena mo kanina. But don't worry, she'll call us later because she's already miss you sooo much!"
Napahalakhak si Theo nang kurutin ng kuya ang kanyang ilong. "Okay. But I really want to see her right now because she's so pretty! And I like her, kuya. Bleh!"
Biglang nagpababa ito sa pagkakarga sa kanya at nagtago sa likuran ni Dorry na parang hahabulin sya ng kuya. Tinawan lang sya ni Jaspher at napabaling sa kanya na nakamasid lang sa kanila.
Yumuko si Jaspher para magpantay sila ni Dorry.
"So I guess you're Dorry. Ang bukang-bibig lagi sa akin nitong si Theo. Nice to meet you, lil one."
Dorry accepted his hand that offers her to a handshake. "Nice to meet you din po."
Jaspher chuckled. "Just call me Kuya JT na lang."
"But Kuya Taylor is also JT. James Taylor, right? And I'm too. Joseph Theodore." biglang sabat ni Theo.
Napailing-iling ang kuya. "Oo na, oo na." bumaling uli ito sa kanya. "Call me Kuya Jaspher na lang. Masyado kasing maarte itong kapatid ko."
"Sige po, kuya Jaspher."
Ngumiti ito at nagpaalam saglit na kukuha muna ng meryenda nila sa kusina kaya bumalik na naman uli si Dorry sa paglalaro ng baril-barilan habang si Theo naman ay panay scroll down sa Facebook para mag hanap at makipag friend request sa mga magagandang babaeng nakikita niya sa social media.
Hindi na nila namalayan na gabi na pala kaya aligagang umuwi na si Dorry at hindi na nakapagpaalam pa kay Theo dahil nasa cr ito at tumatae.
She will bid goodbye to Kuya Jaspher since Theo's busy inside the bathroom with his phone with him.
"WHAT DID I told you that your curfew is on five pm?!" her mother rolled her hair with so much frustration. "My god, Dorry! Hindi ka na nagtanda! Saan ka ba nanggaling, ha?!"
Taas-nuong sinalubong ni Dorry ang kanyang ina at sumagot. "I was at my friend's house, mom. I was just playing with Theo--"
Hindi na nya natapos ang sinasabi nang maramdaman niyang dumapo sa pisngi niya ang palad ng kanyang ina. Napapikit na lang siya dahil sa sakit ng naramdaman niya sa pagkakasampal nito.
"So you're playing with a boy? When I told you to go hang out with your girl friends but you always refuse and now I just found out that you were playing with a boy."
Her mother was reining herself not to slap her again. "I warn you, Dorry. From now on, you will never attend school if you didn't join to the girls on your class. Go friends with them, Dorry. Learn how to socialize with others. Understood?"
Napipilitan siyang tumango. "Yes, mom."
Nagtungo siya sa kanyang silid para magpahinga na at gumawa pa ng mga kung anong dapat gawin tungkol sa school.
Hindi niya maiwasang maluha kaya habang siya'y nagsusulat, nababasa ang papel niya sa bawat butil ng luhang pumapatak.
Tumigil siya sa ginagawa at tinawagan ang kuya.
"K-Kuya..." she sobbed.
"Beb? Are you crying? Wait, what's wrong? Did something happen?" her brother answered on the other line.
She whipped her tears. "No, I'm fine. But mom scolded me again. She didn't want me to play around with boys and instead, she wanted me to hang out with my girl classmates. But you know me kuya, right? I... d-don't want that--"
"Shhh... don't worry, beb. After my work here in Seattle, I'll head right back there, hmm? So don't cry, baby. I don't wanna hear or see you cry. Babalik agad si kuya jan, okay? Kaya matulog ka na at may pasok ka pa bukas."
Mahina siyang natawa. "I still have homeworks to do, kuya. Help me?"
"Hahaha! Sorry, beb. Limot ko na mga lessons nyo eh."
"Okay kuya. Just kidding. I gotta hang out now. Bye!"
Nang patayin niya ang tawag, duon na bumuhos ang mga luha niyang kanina pang pinipigilan.
She's tired pretending that she's okay and it turns out that she'll cry and cry until she fell asleep. She only show that kind of side of her to her older brother but not that much.
~Three years later~
"BUD! What are you going to do later? Guess what, mom wants us to build a tree house across our house. Let's build it later after class!"
Hindi niya pinansin ang napakakulit na si Theo na panay ang dada sa harapan niya habang kumakain sila ng tanghalian sa Cafeteria ng school.
Dorry hard a hard time to think if she will listen to her mother's warning that keeps bothering her everytime she wanted to disobey her mother for the sake of her happiness.
Tatlong taon na ang nakalipas simula sa nang  warningan siya ng kanyang ina pero parang sirang plaka iyon na paulit-ulit na pumapasok sa utak niya kapag gusto niyang gawin ang kagustuhan niya.
She didn't want to disappoint her mom but how could she lose her only happiness? That happiness is just playing without stopping her. And most importantly, she will felt freely to play and do whatever she wants with permission of course.
Nagising siya sa kanyang diwa nang marinig na may kinakausap si Theo na babae.
"Hi. I'm Joseph Theodore Davis. You?"
"Hello, handsome. I'm Penelope Evans. From Los Angeles."
Theo smirked. "Wow. What a cute name. You look so beautiful by the way." he winked.
The girl seems fluttered because of Theo's sweet tongue. Which could make every girl fall for his charms.
And at the age of eight, Theo had three exes already. He's always the one who broke their relationships to every girl who fell over him. Kapag sawa na sya sa babae, makikipag break na sya at maghahanap na ng iba pa.
"Tara na."
Tumayo si Dorry habang bitbit ang fresh milk na lagi niyang binibili at sapilitang hinila patayo si Theo kahit pa kausap ang babae.
"Bud! Where are we going?!"
"Cutting."
"What? You mean cutting classes?!"
Hinarap nya ito nang makarating sila sa pinakagilid ng school kung saan walang taong makakakita sa kanila.
"Kaya mo bang umakyat?" tinuro nya ang pader na medyo may kataasan.
"I'll try. But where are we going anyway?"
Napakamot sa ulo si Dorry sa kainisan. "Tsk. Wag ka nang puro dada pa. Para kang babae."
As expected, Theo couldn't lift himself on top of the wall so Dorry came to help him to get over the other side of the wall.
And when it's her turn, walang kahirap-hirap niyang inakyat ang pader na namamagitan sa school nila at sa labas ng school. Mabuti walang tao na nakakita sa kanila kaya mabilis niyang hinila si Theo papalayo para pumunta sa kung saang lugar na unang pumasok sa kanyang isipan.
DORRY
"Nakuha mo na ba ang jersey mo? Malapit na ang intramurals. You better be get that jersey right away." nag-aalalang sabi ko kay Hanelle dahil alam ko namang transfer student sya dito at hindi pa kumpleto ang mga kagamitan niya.
"A-ah, eh, hindi pa eh. P-Pero mamaya titignan ko kung m-makukuha ko na. Thanks, Dorry."
Umiling ako at inilagay ang kamay sa bulsa ng aking palda na napakaikli. Yung pa naman ang pinakaayaw ko sa lahat. Ang maiikling damit.
"Don't mention it."
WHILE I was walking towards the convinience store to work, I saw a young boy student -- across the alley where there are no people around -- who nearly punch in the face by those street gangsters.
But looks like the victim is already beaten because of so many bruises in his face.
And that's when I entered the scene. But with coolness of course. Good thing my outfit is all black because I had a practice earlier. I also had a black mask to cover my head, nose and mouth so I wore it.
Tss. I look like a ninja in this one.
"Hoy." tawag pansin ko sa mga lalaki at ibinaba ang gamit ko.
Humarap naman kaagad ang mga ito sa akin at sabay-sabay silang nagsitawanan.
"At sino ka naman ha? Gusto mo bang madamay?" sigang tanong nung nasa gitna.
I smirked. "Ano ba ang ginagawa nyo?" dahan-dahan akong naglakad papalapit sa kanila. "Hindi nyo na alam na masama ang pinaggagagawa nyo dito sa batang ito?"
Binalingan ko ang bata at nakaramdam ng awa. Nasa dose-anyos pa lang ata itong batang ito na binugbog ng mga walanghiyang mga mama na tambay lang sa kanto.
Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kanila. Kalmado pero napadelikado ng uri ng pagkakatingin ko sa kanila.
Time to teach these bastards a lesson!
"Ha! Gago ka pala eh noh! Pakialam mo ba?! Kaya kung ayaw mong madamay, umalis ka na sa harapan naming animal ka!" dumura ito sa may paanan ko.
Ngumisi lang ako at iginala ang paningin. Nang may mahagip ang mata ko ng bote na may laman ng tubig, walang pag aalinlangang kinuha ko iyon at binuksan ang takip saka tinungga ang laman at...
"Putang--"
...ibinuga sa pagmumukha niya ang tubig na galing sa ngala-ngala ko.
"--Hayop kang put*ngina ka!" he ordered his men to beat me up.
"Boss babae sya--"
"Puta ka! Bulag ka ba?! Lalake sya!" sagot ng boss nya na panay ang pahid sa mukha.
"Eh boss, boses babae sya at may boobs naman oh--"
"Putangina ka talagang hinayupak ka! Gulpihin nyo na sya!"
His men gathered up and readied themselves with their weapon which is just a long thick of wood.
Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako at bahagyang natawa. "Why do you people always listen to your master? Are you even dogs?" ngumisi ako ng mapang-uyam para lalo silang maasar.
"Pakyu!" mura sa akin nung isa sabay taas ng gitnang daliri at saka sumugod ng suntok.
But I hate to break it to you, I didn't let him to hit me even if it's my single hair.
"Tsk. Gago."
Bago pa sila makatira ng pagsipa at pagpalo ng kahoy, inunahan ko na sila ng pag-ikot sa ere sabay malakas na sipa sa tagiliran nila. I also used my taekwondo skills. That's an advantage for me.
Nakakailang beses na akong buntong-hininga habang nakikipaglaban.
I yawned. "This is boring."
Mga nasa pito silang kalalakihan at halos lahat sila ay wala man lang nakatama ng kahoy sa parte ng katawan ko. That's their advantage. They have weapons and I have none.
Nawala na rin sa paningin ko ang bata. Siguro natakot na at umalis. I just hope he wouldn't tell me to the cops though.
At nang mapatumba silang lahat, nahagip ng mata ko si Hanelle na nagulat rin nang magtama ang paningin namin kaya agad siyang nagtago.
I glanced at my wrist watch. "It's seven already?! Shit I forgot my work!"
Hindi rin naman ako abot sa trabaho ko ngayong oras na ito kaya magpapaliwanag na lang ako bukas kay Theo. Siguradong bagot na bagot iyon don at walang kasama magbantay ng convinience store.
I grabbed my bag and remove my mask. I followed Hanelle to explain myself to her. She might get the wrong idea because of what she just saw.
"I THOUGHT you stopped picking fights, bud?! Anong nangyari?"
Kunot-nuo kong sinalubong si Theo sa harap ng pintuan ng apartment ko sa kalagitnaan ng gabi. Sana pala hindi ko na sya tinext at pinaalam ang nangyari. Istorbo tuloy sa magandang tulog ko.
"Will you please lower you voice? Tulog na ang mga kapit-bahay oh." humalukipkip ako. "Don't tell me pumunta ka dito nang dahil sa sinabi ko?"
"Ano pa! Edi yun na nga!"
I grab his collar and pulled him inside my apartment. I don't want to happen again last time I shouted in anger outside. One of my neighbours just throw a flower pot near me because I was too loud. Good thing it didn't scattered around to my feet.
"Sorry to drag you inside but, you're just too loud, amigo."
Itinaas nya ang dalawang paa sa gitna ng lamesa sa salas. "Pero bud, ang sabi mo titigil ka na gumawa ng away? Kaya ka nga umalis sa grupo ng mga sindikat--"
"Stop. I don't want to hear it anymore." I sat on the chair in front of him. "Umalis ako sa grupo na iyon para mag bagong buhay, bud. Ayoko nang maulit pa ang ginawa kong katangahan nuon. Pero yung kanina? I did it for some good reason. I did it for that kid's justice. He needs help, bud. At wala nang makakagawa non kundi ako lang. Ako lang naman ang nakasaksi eh."
--well, except for Hanelle.
Theo heavily sighed and laid his back to the sofa. "I understand but, you didn't need to be a hero all the time, bud. Oo nga at malakas ka at kaya mo silang labanan pero dapat may limitasyon ka rin naman. Hindi mo alam na may mga tao na ang tingin sayo ay masama. Hindi lahat ng tao na katulad ko o ng mga kaibigan mo ay tingin sayo ay tagapagligtas. You never know people, bud. Well, I'm just saying that you need to be careful."
Napangiti ako at lumapit sa kanya para i-tap ang kanyang bumbunan. Except for Kuya, Theo always reminded me of what's best for me since we were kids. Pero minsan lang yan magpayo at magseryoso kaya nakikinig akong mabuti.
And speaking of Kuya...
"I haven't found him yet."
"Who? Is it Kuya Branden?" he sighed. May pag-alala sa kanyang boses. "I already asked my brothers to help us find him. But maybe he's not here in the Philippines, don't you think?"
I shrugged and put my palm together. "I hope he's doing fine wherever he might be. I contact his girlfriend but she also didn't know where Kuya is."
"Don't worry, bud. We'll find him."
I stared at him worriedly. "But I'm worried about Kuya, bud. It's almost ber-months and I still couldn't find him."
The last time I saw my brother was on September 1. Mag iisang taon na ng huli ko siyang makausap.
He told me that he was going to the Philippines closer to his girlfriend and when I exactly told him that I wanted to live with him, he absolutely agreed with it.
He said that he's waiting at the airport the time I landed here but I couldn't find him that time. I always think that maybe something happened urgently so that he ditched me at the airport. Then after a month or two, there's no still sign of him.
~amph1trite~