SHIELDER (CPAGS Epilogue)

Part 2

"Are you sure you did all your homework?"

Tinignan ko si Mommy na pinapanood ako sa paglalagay ng books and notebooks sa bag ko. I was sure she even wanted to check them to confirm if I really did my homework but she chose to ask me instead.

I nodded and continued putting the notebook in my bag.

"Yes, mom. Kahit tanungin mo pa po si Kuya."

Saglit akong tumigil sa ginagawa ko para tingnan si Mommy na sinulyapan si Kuya na pinapanood din ako. Kuya looked at our mom and nodded at her, confirming what I said.

"He did it before we played chess last night," Kuya Hunter said.

Mom stared at him before she smiled softly. Her eyes... turned misty all of a sudden and I was confused as to why. Bakit mukha s'yang naiiyak habang nakatingin kay Kuya? Did Kuya Hunter do something wrong? O napuwing lang talaga si Mommy?

But then she turned to look at me too and she had the same expression on her face. Dito, sigurado na ako na wala akong nagawang mali. I did my homework before I played with Kuya last night. It was a good thing, right? Yet why does my mom look sad as if... as if she regrets something?

"Ang mga anak ko," she said and her voice even croaked. She reached for Kuya who was just a few meters away from her and caressed his hair. Pagkatapos ay tumingin din s'ya sa 'kin and she outstretched her hand. "Come here, bunso."

Confused, I stood up from sitting on the carpeted floor of my room. Lumapit ako sa kanila at napatingin pa kay kuya na mukhang nagtataka rin sa kilos ng mommy namin. When I got near them, mom pulled me and hugged us both. Nakabaon ang mukha ko sa tyan n'ya.

"My sons..." she said and I felt her caressing my hair. "Always remember that mom and dad love you both, okay?"

Dinala ko ang confusion na 'yon sa naging kilos ni Mommy hanggang sa makapasok ako sa school. I suddenly wonder why Mom reacted like that. Naiyak ba s'ya dahil good boy ako at tinapos muna ang homework ko bago nakipaglaro kay kuya?

Ah, maybe that's why! I know about tears of joy!

I smiled. I don't want to see mom crying but if she's happy, then I'll be a good boy forever!

"Kinakabahan ako."

Tiningnan ko si Michael, 'yung seatmate ko. Hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan na nilaglag n'ya 'ko kahapon kahit s'ya naman ang may kasalanan talaga. So, I ignored him.

I looked to the front. One of my classmates was reading the homework that he did. He was reading too slowly and he looked like he was having a hard time. Parang gusto ko na lang tuloy na lumapit sa kanya at tulungan s'ya sa pagbabasa.

"Hindi ka ba kinakabahan, Gray?" tanong ulit ng katabi ko.

I glanced at him. He looked like shit. Namumutla at pinagpapawisan. Ang mga kamay na nakahawak sa bond paper ay nanginginig.

"Hindi," I said.

"Wow! Ako kasi kabang-kaba na rito."

"Babasahin mo lang ginawa mo, eh. Hindi naman nagtatanong si Teacher."

"Nakakakaba pa rin."

Hindi ko na ulit s'ya pinansin. I'm not nervous. Pero nakakabwisit kasi 'tong si Michael. Sa kasasabi n'yang kinakabahan s'ya, pati tuloy ako ay nagsisimula na ring kabahan.

Michael's turn came. He really was nervous. Nanginginig ang boses habang nagbabasa sa harapan. 'Yung bond paper, nanginginig din tuloy 'cause his hands were shaking too.

I tried to listen to what he was saying and it was almost the same as our other classmates. It got me confused. Dumadag sa confusion na iniisip ko kanina pa.