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Chapter 18

Trouble

I also got myself a new Ob/gyn doctor. Since the last doctor can't be trusted. Kahit pa kakilala niya ang Mama ni Faye na dati niyang patient, I still became her patient now so she should also take care for my privacy and not just share my medical records to other people.

"Take care of yourself." bilin sa akin ni Hale.

Hale has to go on a business trip for days. Gusto niya pa nga sana akong isama pero may pasok pa ako sa university. And I also don't want to leave the children alone here dahil wala na nga si Hale. At least I could stay here for them.

"Ako na ang bahala sa mga bata, Hale. Huwag ka nang masyadong mag-alala sa amin." I gave my husband a reassuring smile. "At saka nandito naman sina Manang."

Hale nodded and kissed my lips shortly. Medyo nakaramdam pa ako ng hiya dahil nandito pa ang mga kasambahay namin at ang dalawang bata. Pero mabilis lang naman iyong halik sa akin ni Hale. "I'll miss you." he said. His eyes was filled with longing already.

I smiled gently. "Mamimiss ka rin namin ng mga bata, Hale. Mag-iingat ka. Tumawag ka na lang sa amin."

He nodded.

And then we went with him up to his ready and waiting car. We stood there just outside the mansion's main door and waited until Hale's car was already far and we couldn't see it anymore.

Pumasok at bumalik na kami sa loob ng bahay ng mga bata kasunod ang mga kasambahay. I then turned to Angel and Gelo. May bago na rin silang yaya ngayon. Although they were still looking for Yaya Celsa...

"I'll be just in my room." May gagawin pa kasi ako para sa eskwela. "If you need anything you can just go to me and ask... You can also ask your Yaya Mona for help or anything." I smiled to them.

But they both didn't smile back. Especially Gelo who just looked away. Suplado itong nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin at mukhang masama na naman ang hitsura niya. Ang nabuo namang umaayos na sana na relasyon namin ni Angel ay parang bigla rin naglaho...just because Yaya Celsa isn't here anymore...

Hindi ko rin naman sana gusto iyon... But her presence here in the mansion wouldn't help me get closer to the children... Kasi palagi siyang nand'yan. Kahit gusto ko sanang gawin ang isang bagay para sa mga bata palaging gusto niyang siya na lang ang gagawa...

"All right...I'll go upstairs now." Sighing, I started going up the grand staircase.

Tahimik at focus akong naging abala sa kailangan ko para sa course ko. Konti na lang talaga and I'll be finishing my studies. I can start working at Hale's company and help him with work. Iyon lang naman ang gusto ko na makatulong kay Hale kahit sa anong bagay. Because he's been working so hard for our family and I want to work hard, too.

One day while Hale was still away I received a call from the children's school. May ginawa raw si Gelo sa eskwela na hindi nagustuhan ng teachers niya. I then worriedly hurried to their school after talking to the teacher.

"What happened, Ma'am?" I immediately asked the teacher what was really happening the moment I arrived.

"Mrs. Salcedo." Sinalubong din ako ng teacher. She smiled at me politely. "We did not expect for this to happen too, Ma'am. Gelo was one of our good students. The best even. Kaya hindi ko talaga inasahan na makakapanakit po siya ng classmate niya..." The teacher looked saddened.

My shoulders also fell. Pinanghinaan agad ako sa narinig. I was called to their school because Gelo caused trouble... "Where's my son? Can I talk to him first?"

The teacher nodded and brought me to their classroom. Doon nakita ko si Gelo sa desk niya, and just beside him was his sister. "Angel, Gelo..." tawag ko sa kanilang dalawa.

"Bigyan ko po muna kayo ng panahon na makapag-usap, Ma'am."

Tumango ako sa teacher at nagpasalamat. After that I get to talk to Gelo with Angel alone. "Gelo...what happened?"

"I think my teacher already told you." He looked away with his grumpy face...

I sighed. "Gelo...totoo ba na nanuntok ka raw ng kaklase mo? We're still waiting for his parents to arrive, too. Pagkatapos mag-uusap kami..." I wanted to confirm it to him. Gusto kong siya rin mismo ang magsabi sa akin sa nagawa niya. And I know that he has a reason why he did that...

Pero hindi nagsalita si Gelo.

Muli akong nagbuntong-hininga. "Why did you do that?" I asked him gently.

It took him a while before he answered. "Nothing. I just want to cause trouble to you." Pagkatapos sabihin iyon ay ngumisi pa siya.

My lips parted. "Gelo..." Suminghap ako. "Is this still about your Yaya Celsa leaving our house?"

Sumama pa lalo ang mukha niya habang nakatingin sa akin. "I know you're happy now that you made her leave."

Umiling ako. "Hindi totoo 'yan, Gelo. Your Yaya Celsa made a mistake —"

"You told Dad to make her leave!" putol niya sa akin.

Umawang pa ang labi ko. "Gelo..." As if I didn't know what to tell him next for a while.

I saw him gritting his teeth. "Dad will do everything that you ask him to. Because he's more concerned about you! And less concerned about me and Angel! Because he cares about you more than us!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Gelo! That's not true. Your Dad cares about you, and loves you and your sister. He's been working hard for your and Angel's future."

Hindi ko alam kung saan niya nakuha ang sinabi... Kung may nagsabi rin ba sa kaniya...

"Angel and I can live with our grandparents instead! Dad doesn't need us! He only wants you!" There.

Naisip ko agad na maaring sa lola niya nakuha ang mga ganitong pag-iisip.

I gritted my teeth. Hindi ba nila naiisip na hindi makabubuti para sa mga bata ang ganito?

"Angelo," I became more serious. "None of what you're saying right now is true. Pinag-iisipan mo ng masama kahit ang Daddy mo. Na wala namang ibang ginagawa kundi ang magtrabaho para sa inyo ng kapatid mo. You shouldn't think that way towards your Dad." saway ko na sa kaniya.

Ayos lang na pag-isipan nila ako ng masama... Pero hindi dapat ang daddy nila na walang ibang inisip si Hale kundi silang dalawa ni Angel. Kaya nga pumayag din si Hale na magpakasal kami dahil gusto niyang may tumayo pa ring ina sa mga anak niya pagkatapos niyang mamatayan ng asawa. Hindi lang iyon alam ni Gelo...

Natahimik din siya.

"I'll talk to your classmate and his parents. We will apologize, I will apologize. This shouldn't happen again, Gelo. Wala pa dito ang Daddy mo and he's doing work. Huwag na sana tayong magbigay pa ng problema sa kaniya."

He didn't say anything.

When the other student's parents arrived we talked to them and settled things. Umamin din naman iyong bata na may ginawa rin siya to trigger Gelo into punching him. The kid got a small cut on the sides of his lips. Pagkatapos noon ay pinagsabihan na lang namin ang mga bata.

Maaga na rin muna na pinauwi sina Gelo ay sumama na si Angel na kanina pa tahimik lang. I turned to her as we were already nearing our car. Naghanda na rin ang driver na nakatayo sa labas para pagbuksan kami ng pinto ng sasakyan.

"Angel, are you okay?" I was worried about her, too. She's been more quiet lately...

She did not answer and just looked away. I sighed and went inside the car after her and her brother.

"Gusto n'yo bang kumain muna tayo sa labas ngayon bago umuwi sa bahay?"

Again I received no answer from the both of them.

I just kept on sighing.

But the next time while Hale was again on another business trip, I was called to their school for the second time because Gelo bullied a girl classmate...

"Angelo! What's happening to you? Akala ko ba nag-usap na tayo noong nakaraan." Na hindi ko na rin pinaabot pa kay Hale dahil nagdesisyon na lang akong ganoon so we wouldn't worry him anymore. He's already really busy with his expanding business. And I don't want to cause him any more stress.

"Babae pa iyong binully mo raw? Bakit? You also have your sister, Gelo. And what would you feel if someone bullies Angel, too?"

He turned to me harshly.

I sighed. "Apologize and this should be the last time."

He looked away and didn't answer.

"Angelo." I warned him.

Tiningnan ko rin si Angel. She's not causing trouble here at school...yet. And I'm afraid na gagaya rin siya sa kapatid niya sooner or later... Because she already causes trouble at home to their Yaya Mona. Silang dalawa ni Gelo na palaging pinaglalaruan o tinatakot ang bago nilang yaya. Na kapag nagsusumbong ito sa akin ay parang gusto na rin nitong umalis sa trabaho dahil sumusuko na sa mga bata sa ginagawa ng mga ito.

"Isa pa ang ginagawa ninyo sa bahay sa Yaya Mona ninyo."

Hindi na yata tama ito.

"I just kept quiet at hindi ko na pinaabot pa sa Daddy ninyo because I don't want to worry him anymore... But if you continue doing this, Angel, Gelo... I might just let your Dad know about this. Dahil parang hindi naman kayo titigil na ako lang ang nagsasabi sa inyo."

Both their eyes grew wide.

Alam kong natatakot pa rin sila kay Hale... And I didn't really want to do this. Pero sumusobra na yata sila, and I wouldn't wait for the day na lumala pa ang maari nilang magawa...

I sighed. "This should be the last time na pagsasabihan ko kayo tungkol sa bagay na ito... Or else, I have no other choice but to let your Dad know of your doings..."

Angel looked down and she looked scared. While Gelo, despite feeling scared too with his dad knowing about this that's obvious in his reaction, looked at me with disdain in his eyes.

Nakatingin lang din ako sa kaniya. Nagtitigan kaming dalawa. And I didn't back down. Until he looked away first.

I sighed quietly. Kung hindi ko gagawin ito, baka hindi pa sila tumigil...at baka lumala pa. At ayaw kong lalo pa silang mapasama. Because I care for both of them. Dahil anak sila ni Hale. Anak sila ng lalaking mahal ko. And I promised Hale that I will do my best for his children, too. So I just wanted to protect them also...

Kung sana ay nakikita lang din iyon nina Angel at Gelo...

"Let's go home now." sabi ko sa kanila. I turned my back at nauna nang maglakad pabalik sa naghihintay naming sasakyan sa may parking lot ng school. Naramdaman ko na sumunod na rin silang dalawa sa akin.

Tahimik na lang akong huminga.