Janella's POV
"Parang iba ang glow natin ngayon ah." Sabi ni Doc Janine.
"P-panong glow?." Lihis ko ng tingin.
"After s*x glow." Tukso nito.
"Sira haha." Hampas ko rito.
"Sya nga pala Doc, ano bang activity natin for today?." Sabi ko pa.
"Y-yeah haha. I heard your team will meet the farmers and check kung ano pang pwedeng iimprove sa agricultural strategies na ipinapamalakad natin ngayon. Siguro ask Sir Hugo nalang sa office for more details. I mean obviously, di ko yan field haha."
"R-right haha. Of course." Sabi ko nalang at pumasok na sa office.
..
Jane's POV
Recess
Kumakain ngayon ako kasama ang ibang teachers. So far, okay naman sila hanggang sa,
"I heard you have a girlfriend." Nakangiting sabi ni Teacher Georgina which is pinagtaka ko.
I mean maybe she's up to something, or nag-ooverthink lang siguro ako.
"Y-yeah." Sabi ko lang.
"Before kasi tumanggap ng new teachers dito they undergo investigation muna especially sa part kung bakit na-fire or nag-resign yung teacher na yun sa last school na pinagtatrabahuhan niya." Sabi ni Teacher Laura.
"At nakakalungkot naman talagang malaman na wala ka na sa school na yun just because of your sexual orientation." Sabi ni Teacher Georgina.
"Di naman sa pagiging chismosa pero ganito lang talaga ang pamamalakad rito. Besides, we're not here to judge. Actually, may mga part din ng community kaming mga kasamahan rito. From janitors, vendors, faculty members to teachers." Sabi ni Teacher Sam.
"Nakilala mo naman siguro si Sir Lawrence diba?." Sabi ni Teacher Den.
"Y-yung Math teacher?." Sabi ko.
"Tumpak. Alam mo, medyo di lang halata pero may boyfriend yun and magse-seven years na sila." Masayang sabi ni Teacher Den. Kinilig naman yung iba.
Di ko alam na sa kabila ng napagdaanan namin ni Janella ay may mga tao pa rin palang ganito na nag-eexist.
"Sana makilala din namin soon ang girlfriend mo, tamang tama kasi may paparty si Sir Lawrence this friday night dahil 7th year anniversary nila ng hubby niya. I'm sure it'd be fun." Sabi ni Teacher Georgina.
..
Janella's POV
Kausap ko lang yung isa sa mga farmers nang biglang magring ang phone ko.
Si Daddy tumatawag.
"E-excuse me lang ho ah. Sagutin ko lang to." Paalam ko kay Kuya Eloy.
Pumunta muna ako sa isang tabi.
Hello Dad, napatawag ho kayo--
Anak, I think your mom is going crazy.
P-po? What do you mean?.
I heard her talking to Atty. Lim, she's planning to take full custody of Uno. Labeling you an unsuitable parent due to financial shortcomings and unconventional lifestyle.
Nagmadali akong pumunta sa office. Nakaupo siya ngayon sa dating office chair ko as if she's celebrating.
"Well, look what we have here–a visitor. Or maybe an applicant." Sabi nito. I can see that she's trying to provoke me.
"You can't take Uno from me Ma." Sabi ko as polite as I could.
"I gave you an ultimatum, remember?. It's either you end things with that girl or you lose your son. It's a no-brainer to conclude that you chose her. An indication na wala ka naman talagang paki sa anak mo. So what's all the fuss about?."
"You have no right." Sabi ko. Pinipigilan ko nalang talagang wag sumabog sa galit.
"I have all the right. I'm his grandmother at ang kapakanan nya ang inaalala ko. You can't just expect me to let an unemployed woman like you to raise my granchild together with some woman who lives in a squatter's area prone to deadly diseases, malnutrition and crime, worse is baka di pa makatapos sa pag-aaral ang apo ko."
"You took my job remember?." Sabi ko.
"We had a deal and you lost. Better give up. You'd lose the case anyways kahit sinong magaling na abogado pa yang iharap mo sa korte--"
"I know what happened to your parents ma.."
SILENCE
"..Naiintindihan ko yung pinanggagalingan nyo. But just because yun yung nangyari sa mga magulang nyo, ay parepareho na kaming lahat.."
"..Hindi lahat ng straight criminal, hindi lahat ng straight nang-iiwan. The same way na hindi parepareho lahat ng LGBT. Why do you have to hate me for the crime that I didn't commit?. Why do you have to hate me for lolo's choice to leave?!. I am not lolo who left you for a man, I am not the one who raped lola!. So why do you have to treat me like I am those people?!.."
"..you took away my job, my home and now my child?! Just because I chose to love a woman?. You are my mother but you don't have the right to make my life as miserable as yours just because you chose hatred over forgiveness!. I did everything to make you proud of me my entire life.."
"..I didn't pursue my love in music kasi sabi mo walang pera dyan, I chose to not have friends kasi sabi mo distraction lang yan. Almost lose Jane forever—the only person who loved me unconditionally just because I was too afraid na baka madisappoint ko lang kayo.."
I sighed deeply.
"..Mahal kita Ma, pero sumusobra ka na."
This is the very first time na nasagot ko siya.
YOU ARE READING
TWO FINGERS DEEP
FanfictionIt is a whirlwind romance between a kindergarten teacher (Jane De Leon) and her student's (Uno) mother (Janella Salvador). It tackles about LGBTQI+'s Professional Rights and Protection in the workplace, the struggles and judgement they have to face...
