PUNISHMENT

"Kath? Bakit ka nandito?" nagtatakang tanong ni Charlie sa kaibigan. Hindi ito mahilig pumunta sa mga ganoong activities kaya nagulat siya ng napadpad si Kath doon. Siguradong may iba itong dahilan kaya ito nandito ngayon.Kasalukuyan na silang naglalakad palayo sa may locker room habang patuloy pa rin siyang inaalalayang maglakad nito.

"Kasi gusto ko" nagtatakang sagot naman nito. Mataman siya nitong tinitigan. "Ayos ka na ba? I mean—do you feel dizzy or something?" Charlie waved her off.

"I'm fine. Stop overreacting"

"Then stop asking weird questions" Kath shot back. Charlie chuckled. Look who's talking

"Samahan na kita sa may clinic" offer ng kaibigan sa kanya. Napahinto si Charlie. "Hindi pwede. Magbabantay pa ako dito" protesta niya.

Hindi siya nito pinansin bagkus lalo lang siya nitong hinila. "Papunta na ngayon dito si Ana para pumalit sayo kaya wag ka na mag-alala"

"Pero—" Kath waves her off. "Wag ka ng makipagtalo. Kailangan nating gamutin ang sugat mo" matatag nitong saad.

Napabuntong hininga si Charlie. Kapag ganito ito umakto hindi na niya magawang tanggihan ang gusto nito. Mas mabuti na nga din siguro na umalis muna siya para maiayos niya ang sarili. She needed to clear her head and regain her composure. It's all because of that stupid prank she got herself into.

"Teka nga, paano mo nga pala nahuli yung anak ni Mr. Rodriguez?" biglang naalalang tanong ni Charlie.

"May naiwanan kasi ako dito kahapon kaya dinaanan ko ng maaga sigurado kasi na mahihirapan akong makita iyon kapag nagsi-datingan na ang mga tao at tsaka dumaan ako sa may back door sumabay ako kay Lolo Elias tapos insidenteng nakita namin si Beatrice. I really intended to report it dahil siguradong masasakal ako ni Keilah kapag hindi ko ginawa iyon pero si Lolo Elias kasi nakiusap na palagpasin na lang iyon. So, I said I'll think about it. Then things with you happened. That's why "the thinking about" part just flew right out of the wi—" tuloy-tuloy na pagpapaliwanag nito sa kanya ng bigla itong natigilan ng mapansin nito ang paraan ng pagkakatitig niya.

"Bakit ganyan ka makatingin?" nakakunot noong tanong nito. Napailing siya.

"Wow, first time kang sumagot sa mga tanong ko ng diretsa at klaro without being sarcastic o kaya walang double meaning" namamanghang saad ni Charlie.

Tumikwas ang kilay nito. "Hindi dahil injured ka hindi na kita papatulan" nangingiting banta naman nito. Namalayan na lamang ni Charlie na tumatawa na din pala siya. Kahit paano gumaan ng kaunti ang pakiramdam niya.

"Feeling better now?" mayamaya ay nag-aalalang tanong nito.

Charlie nodded. "Thanks" aniya. Ngumiti lamang si Kath bilang sagot.

Bago pa man sila tuluyang makaalis hindi napigilan ni Charlie na tapunan ng huling tingin ang papalabas na starting members ng swim team papunta sa mga kanya-kanya nitong pwesto. Huling lumabas si Alessandro at kasalukuyan din itong nakatingin sa direksyon niya. Natigil ito sa paglalakad at tinitigan siya ng matagal at sa sobrang tagal niyon nagsimula ng magbulungan ang mga tao sa paligid nila. Hindi niya ito maintindihan. Hindi niya maintindihan ang mga tingin nito. He's always been a mystery to her. A dangerous mystery pero kahit ganoon hindi niya pa din magawang iiwas ang tingin sa binata.

Unti-unting lumabo ang paningin ni Charlie. Hindi na niya makita ng maayos ang mukha ni Alessandro lalo na ang mga mata nito. Siguro kung silang dalawa lang ang nandoon at nagpatuloy siya sa walang pakundangang pagtitig dito malamang magagalit na naman ito sa kanya at pagsasabihan siya ng kung ano-ano na siguradong ikakainis niya. Mas mabuti na nga siguro ang ganoong set-up sa pagitan nilang dalawa. She can stare all she wants even just for a distance. Sa ganoong paraan walang mabubuong komplikasyon sa pagitan nilang dalawa. He can't chastise her for staring from a far right? Dahil bago pa nito magawa iyon lalayo na ulit agad siya.

A few sneaking glances huh? Charlie thought dumbly. What the hell is she thinking? Mapait siyang ngumiti. You're turning to be a pathetic loser after all. Suddenly, Charlie heard someone cursed before she knew it she was dragged again on her feet.

"You sure know how to pick them huh?" she faintly heard Kath seriously saying.

Alessandro was the first to break eye contact. And Charlie felt like someone squeezed her heart so tight her chest reeled from the shock. She stumbled a few steps—thankfully, nandoon si Kath para alalayan siya. The sudden feeling of losing something and an undeniable emptiness dwells within her and for some stupid reason that she couldn't quite understand herself she tasted her own tears again. Charlie started to laugh. She started to laugh so hard her cheeks hurt, her stomach feels like there's thousands of butterfly fluttering inside it felt ticklish and numbing at the same time. Actually she feels light headed. Her legs won't cooperate. It almost literally turned into a Jell-O but of all that stupid feelings that she's experiencing right now—the stupidest of it all is that she's still bawling her eyes out while laughing. She probably looks like a certified loony right now. She faintly heard Kath muttering while still dragging her on her feet.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she heard Kath say. Charlie snorted. She wants to ask to same thing.

TATLONG araw na ang nakakaraan simula ng mangyari ang aksidente sa pagitan niya at ng swim team at ngayong araw na ito ipapaalam sa kanila ang desisyon na nanggaling pa mismo sa Chairman ng eskwelahan. Kinakabahan si Charlie sa kung anumang sasabihin ni Miss Rivas. Walang nag-uusap sa mga miyembro ng swim team. Tahimik lamang na nakaupo ang bawat isa at hindi maipagkakailang nababalot silang lahat ng tensyon. Kasalukuyan niyang katabi si Keilah. Kahit sinabi nito na hindi na niya kinakailangang umattend ng meeting na iyon, Charlie still insisted. She needed to be here. Biglang bumukas ang pinto ng conference room at iniluwa niyon si Miss Rivas. Napatuwid si Charlie ng upo.

"Nandito na ba ang lahat?" ani Miss Rivas. Dumiretso ito ng upo sa may swivel chair sa may pinakaunahan ng mahabang mahogany table. Hindi nito binati ang mga bisita nila na karaniwan nitong ginagawa tuwing may ibang tao na pumupunta sa opisina bagkus nanatiling blangko lamang ang mukha nito. Ang labi nito nag-isang linya dahil wala itong kangiti-ngiti. She`s clearly in a bad mood.

"Wala pa po si Coach Rodriguez at si Beatrice" imporma ni Keilah.

"There's no need to wait for them that issue had been settled. We'll discuss the incident between the swim team and the prefects. Let's start this meeting at once"

Tumango si Keilah. "Miss, all the people accounted for during the incident is present—"

"Where's Katerina?" Miss Rivas beat her to it. Keilah cleared her throat.

"She said she had urgent matters to attend to so she won't be here today" maingat na sagot naman nito.

"Urgent matters?" Miss Rivas echoed in a deadly voice.

"Yes. I thought that Kevin's presence is enough to fill in, in case you have some other things to clarify apart from the report I've given you " Keilah said smoothly trying not to be too obvious that she's trying to wiggle her way out the dilemma presented by Kath's absence.

"Tell Katerina that I need to talk to her as soon as possible" Miss Rivas responded temporarily dismissing the problem. Keilah breathed a sighed of relief.

"I'll get straight to the point" Miss Rivas addressed to everyone "From what I gathered from all the reports as well as Ms. Santiago's own version of the story, I surmise that the swim team made a grievous act of violence and were all here to talk about the appropriate punishment. Do you all agree to that?"

"No!" hindi na napigilang bulalas ni Lucas na kanina lang ay tahimik. Mayamaya lamang ay nagsunuran na ang iba sa pagtanggi sa mga nangyari.

"It was all just an accident"

"This is unfair!" They were talking all at once it was chaos maliban na lang kay Alessandro na tahimik na nakaupo sa may bandang dulo.

"SILENCE!" singhal na utos ni Miss Rivas sa kanilang lahat. Umalingawngaw ang boses nito sa apat na sulok ng kwarto at sa isang iglap tumahimik ang paligid. Napalunok si Charlie. Animo'y kakain ng buhay na tao ang adviser nila.

"I will allow everyone to talk but not all at once. Understood?" Silence stretches for what felt like an eternity to her.

"It was just an accident. Lucas was just trying to scare her off and then she just start acting weird. The scrapes she accidentally did that to herself. Wala pa ngang ginagawa si Lucas sa kanya. He just simply backed her up on the wall" lakas loob na paliwanag ng isang miyembro ng swim team.

"Simply backed her up on the wall?" dumagundong ang boses na ulit ni Kevin. Kulang na lang umusok ang ilong nito dahil sa sobrang galit ngunit walang epekto iyon dito. Nagkibit balikat lamang ang binata at dahil doon marahas na napatayo si Kevin. Lumipad ang swivel chair nito at tumama ng malakas sa pader.

"You piece of shit!" Kevin roared. Muntikan na siyang mapakaripas ng takbo papunta sa direksyon ng kaibigan ngunit agad siyang pinigilan ni Keilah.

"Shit! Do you have a freaking death wish?" nagpupuyos sa galit na singhal rin ng isa. Napatayo na rin ito mula sa kinauupuan at akmang dadambahin si Kevin.

"ENOUGH!" Miss Rivas voice menacingly thundered across the room. Muntikan na siyang malaglag mula sa kinauupuan. Biglang naramdaman ni Charlie ang mainit na palad na dumampi sa nakakuyom niyang kamay. Napatitig siya kay Keilah. Wala itong sinabi pero sapat na ang simpleng gesture na iyon para pansamantalang maibsan ang nararamdaman niyang tensyon sa katawan. Muli nitong binalik ang atensyon sa mga nagdidiskusyon sa may harapan nila habang hindi iniaalis ang palad nito sa kanya.

"Sit down Kevin" nagyeyelo ang boses na utos ni Miss Rivas dito. Napilitang sumunod si Kevin at bumalik sa upuan nito samantalang nanatiling nakatayo naman ang nakasagutan ni Kevin.

Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin nababawasan ang galit ni Kevin sa mga ito—enough for him not to be able to control his temper despite knowing his position and Charlie knew it's her fault. Kevin had always been sensitive with issues like violence lalo na`t kapag ang mga babae ang nakikita nitong sinasaktan. She should have been more careful. Hindi na lang sana niya sinampal noon si Alessandro. She should have retreated quietly pero hinayaan niya ang sarili na pangunahan ng init ng ulo niya. She feels guilty and ashamed. Bukod pa doon hindi niya masyadong matandaan ang buong pangyayari. Totoong binalya siya ni Lucas sa pader—aside from that she doesn't remember anything else. Hindi niya alam kung bakit nagkaroon siya ng mga sugat sa kamay. Though she remembered what she felt that day—terrified out of her wits about something she couldn't figure out and Alessandro`s voice calling out her name that somewhat calmed the storm raging inside her. Ilang ulit kinumbinsi ni Charlie ang mga kasamahan na hindi kailangang palakihin pa ang gulo pero ayaw magpapigil ng mga ito. Hanggang sa kumalat sa buong eskwelahan ang mga nangyari at umabot ang balitang iyon kay Chairman. Kahit ang ginawa ng anak ni Coach Rodriguez ay lalong nakadagdag sa problema.

"I don't have time for this shit!" biglang saad ng naka-verbal smackdown ni Kevin.

"Sit down" diretsang utos naman ni Alessandro sa kasamahan. Nanatiling blangko ang mukha nito—not giving anything away for Charlie to figure out what he's thinking right now amidst all the chaos.

"Pero Captain—"

"I said sit down Michael" matatag na muling utos ni Alessandro. Wala na itong nagawa kundi padabog na bumalik sa upuan nito.

"Mayroon ka pa bang gustong idagdag Michael?" kalmadong tanong ni Miss Rivas dito.

"Nothing. I've already said my piece" nakaangil namang tugon nito.

Bahagyang tumikwas ang isang kilay ni Miss Rivas ngunit hindi na ito nag-komento pa. "Anyone else who want to say something?" she encouraged in a deadly voice. Walang nagtangkang magsalita sa mga ito.

"And here I thought everyone has something to say for themselves. How about you Lucas?"

Kevin glared at Lucas then but Lucas didn't answer. Mabuti na lang mas kalmado ito ngayon at hindi agresibo kumpara kay Michael. Biglang lumipat naman ang tingin ni Miss Rivas sa lalaking katabi ni Alessandro sa may bandang dulo ng table.

"How about you Stefan?"

Bahagyang nagulat ang binata sa kinauupuan nito. Nanlalaki ang mga matang napatingin ito kay Alessandro. Tumango lamang si Alessandro bilang tugon. Tabingi ang ngiting humarap si Stefan kay Miss Rivas. As if resigning with the situation they've gotten themselves into—Stefan sighed.

"It's our entire fault" mahina ngunit klarong saad nito.

"Woah! Wait! What the hell are you talking about?!" gulat na singhal ni Michael.

"Go on" ani Miss Rivas. Nakatutok na ang buong atensyon nito kay Stefan. "Hindi sinasadya ni Lucas ang nangyari—it was really an accident but still he really intended to scare her and that's why things happened. Hindi lang namin inaakala na ganoon katindi ang magiging resulta. Pero aksidente man o hindi, wala pa rin kaming karapatan para gawin iyon kay Charlaina. We didn't even try to stop Lucas instead we even cheered him to do just that"

Stefan. So that's him. Kaya pala pamilyar ang boses nito. He's the same guy na nakabangga niya noong nakaraang araw. At naaalala niya na sinubukan rin nitong pigilan sila Lucas sa balak nitong gawin.

"Hindi. Naaalala ko sinubukan mo akong tulungan" hindi na napigilang sabat ni Charlie sa usapan. Stefan smiled faintly looking apologetic. "Still it happened. It's our fault" he reasoned out.

"Alessandro?" Miss Rivas suddenly inquired. Alessandro looked at her straight in the eye. "I will say it again. We don't deny any of those accusations. We'll take responsibility" he answered in a calm voice. Kevin smirked in triumph.

"Hindi kami papayag!" magkakasabay na protesta ng bawat isa.

Miss Rivas smiled thinly. "Despite your objections though the Chairman already made a decision and I`m here to tell all of you that" seryosong saad nito kela Michael.

Biglang natahimik ang mga ito. "As for the punishment, the swim team will be doing community service with the prefects for two months" walang paligoy-ligoy na imporma ni Miss Rivas sa kanilang lahat.

"What?!" gulat na bulalas ni Lucas.

"What about practice?" ani Michael.

Sa pagkakaalam niya nalalapit na ang kompetisyon ng swim team siguradong mababawasan ang oras ng mga ito para mag-practice dahil sa community service na iyon.

"The initial decision was that your team was suppose to withdraw from the tournament but I managed to convince the Chairman to let you do community service instead and you'll be able to participate but if you still don't want to I can retract his previous decision and suspend you for two weeks but you have to withdraw from the tournament"

She just dropped a bomb but she only look nonchalant about it while the swim team looks like they're going to burst in their seams. Well, maliban kay Alessandro na kalmado pa rin. Wala bang makakasira ng calm demeanor nito? Mas gusto na lang siguro niya itong makitang nagagalit para naman ma-kumpirma niya talagang tao it at hindi isang bloke ng yelo.

Miss Rivas declaration was met with defeaning silence and she took that as an agreement from them. "Report back here on Monday for the schedule of your community service. By the way, Coach Rodriguez is suspended for the time being. Mr. Sanchez will be handling you for awhile" Ms. Rivas added as an after thought. Tuluyan ng natameme ang mga ito. Wala ng natitirang lakas ang bawat isa para magtanong. Alam niyang napakaimportante para sa mga ito si Coach Rodriguez. Kahit siya pakiramdam niya unti-unti ding hinihigop ang lakas niya.

"Kevin as for your punishment we'll talk about it later after class. We'll be having a long talk about your poor behavior. I don't want to hear excuses from you so be prepared" ani Miss Rivas.

"Yes Miss" awtomatikong sagot naman ni Kevin.

Saglit na lumipat naman sa kanya ang atensyon ni Miss Rivas bago muling binalik ang tingin sa harapan. "Meeting adjourned" anunsiyo nito. Charlie breathed a sigh relief. She was expecting her to say something. Sinundan niya ng tingin ang paalis na pigura ni Miss Rivas. Mayamaya lamang ay biglang sumunod si Keilah dito. Kinakabahang tumingin si Charlie sa paligid. Michael sneered. "Let`s go. I need to burn off some steam or I'm gonna explode. Who's coming?"

"I'm coming Bro" sang-ayon ni Lucas dito. Nagsunuran naman ang iba sa dalawa. Umalis ang mga ito ng hindi nagpapaalam kay Alessandro na nanatili lamang nakaupo ng walang imik at nakahalukipkip habang pasimpleng tinitignan ito ng masama ni Kevin. Napabuntong hininga si Charlie.

"I'm really sorry" aniya kay Stefan. Ngumiti ito. "Don't be. It's not your fault. Right Captain?"

"Still not leaving?" Alessandro asked instead barely looking in their direction.

"Er—well I'm waiting for you" sagot naman ni Stefan dito.

"Let's go then" Tumayo na si Alessandro at naglakad papunta sa may pintuan.

"Wait!" agap na pigil ni Charlie sa mga ito. "Bakit Charlaina?" nagtatakang tanong ni Stefan. Lumapit siya kay Alessandro.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" kinakabahang tanong niya sa binata.

"I don't have anything left to say" anito sa malamig na boses.

"Right" Charlie smiled sadly and then he went—leaving her feeling crushed and defeated. That's right. It's better off this way. She doesn't want things to be more complicated than this. Alessandro's presence always leaves her feeling confuse out of her mind and she doesn't want to feel anymore confuse than this that's why she needed to stay away as soon as possible but despite all that she needed to make it up to him first for all the trouble she caused. At alam niya kung ano ang kailangan niyang gawin.

After that it's over.

Everything will be over.