Melting You Softly (Student Series #1)

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Christmas doesn't feel the same way it did last year. Perhaps because I'm getting older. My heart wouldn't flutter anymore at the thought of it. Or because I finally believe that Santa Claus isn't going to come inside our house and leave me a gift for being a good girl because he's not real.

Inalog ko ang hawak na snow globe. Sa loob nito ay isang snowman na nakasuot ng Christmas hat at napapaligiran ng tatlong reindeer. It was one of Axasiel's gifts for me last Christmas.

Dito lang kami sa Pilipinas nag-celebrate ng Pasko, sa bahay mismo ni Dada. Before the holiday, I'd already sent my gifts to some of my classmates, friends, and relatives. The presents I received from them are still unopened except the ones I got from my family, Harley, and Axasiel.

And this snow globe is my favorite. Ngumiti ako at muling inalog-alog iyon nang may kumatok sa pintuan ko. Hindi ko inalis ang tingin sa hawak nang narinig na ang pagbukas ng pinto.

"'Nak, kakain na."

"Mamaya na po ako. Hindi pa po ako gutom," sagot ko kay Papa.

"Isra, hindi ka raw kumain kanina kaya maghapunan ka na..."

"Mamaya na nga po. Please, huwag niyo na po akong kulitin."

Tumalikod ako sa direksyon ng pinto. I heard him sigh before the door's creak followed. I reached for Dolphy and thrust him into my chest while still playing with the snow globe.

Tapos na ang New Year at pasukan na naman. I don't know what's wrong with me but going to school again seems like entering a small part of the burning pit. Ayaw kong pumunta at gusto ko na lang mag-stay rito sa kuwarto—sa kama mismo—hanggang mamatay.

Tutal mukhang sa kama naman ako ginawa, sa kama ako ipinanganak, bakit hindi na lang din dito sa kama na ito mamatay? Tapos sa espesyal na kama rin ako ihihiga kapag namatay.

And do you think it's funny, Eria? Talking about death after you almost took the life that wasn't even yours in the first place?

I dragged my feet into the hallway of our department building the next day. Sobrang aga ko na naman kahit pa sinabing ayaw ko ring pumasok. Si Papa ang naghatid sa aming dalawa ni Ral.

Ibinalik niya na rin ang mga pagkain at credit card ko pero hindi ko pa nagagamit ang huli. At parang wala akong balak gamitin na.

I'm already 19... yet I'm not doing anything to earn money for myself. Kahit pa sabihing hindi naman kami naghihirap, mas maganda nga naman siguro na maghanap din ako ng pagkakakitaan?

I was contemplating about it inside a cubicle when unfamiliar voices filled in the four corners of the restroom. Ang lalakas ng boses nila na para bang hindi nag-e-echo ang boses hanggang labas at hindi natatakot na sawayin ng tagalinis dito.

"He's turning 17 naman. What's wrong with that? Legal na rin kami sa pamilya, both side."

"Hindi ba child grooming na 'yan? You're already an adult while he's still a minor. Sixteen is still considered a child here in the Philippines. A juvenile, Saddie."

Natigilan ako sa pagbubukas ng pinto nang mapagtanto ang pinag-uusapan nila. Hindi ako ganoon katsismosa pero nakuha nito ang atensiyon ko at gusto pang marinig ang pag-uusap nila.

"Huh? Grooming agad? Paano naman naging child grooming iyon?"

"Sino ba ang unang nagkagusto sa inyo?"

"H-huh? Siya..." Her voice lowered. "Hindi ko naman siya napapansin noon pero... ewan ko. Bigla na lang, ano, nagkagusto rin ako sa kanya?"

An adult dating a minor... is it really considered child grooming? It seemed that one of the girls outside this cubicle was in the same situation as I was with Axasiel.