Chapter 5 About the school

Chapter 5

I knew it. Why did I even talk to him? Why!

But if I don't do it, maybe I won't be silenced.

"Oh."

He just looked at what I was holding and didn't reach for it.

"What is it?"

I dreamed. "I'm not saying the obvious. Well, it's probably a baunan, isn't it? What's in the baunan? Is it food? Does it look like water?"

"You don't need to bother."

"Just accept it.." I said softly while bending down. "You have nothing to eat."

He was silent for a moment. What I do seems unexpected. Even I was surprised by what I was doing.

But he just shook his head. "I'm gonna be late. Just save it to yourself."

I'm bored again. He's really artistic! I can't mock him anymore.

But fine, I'm easy to talk to.

"You don't want it? It's up to you. I'll just give it to Khairro." I whispered to myself.

It's better to give it to someone who really wants it. It won't be wasted just in case.

I was about to leave in the direction of the outside when suddenly someone grabbed my wrist. I faced the person holding it and looked at the owner's hand.

"What did you say?"

I looked up at him.

"Huh?" I asked curiously. "That's up to you?"

"No. After that." He said emphatically.

"That I will give Khairro the baunan?"

There he held me tighter.

"What's wrong with that?"

I have no idea how that became a problem? He is very angry if that is his concern.

"Give me."

I was not only surprised by his speech but also by what he said.

I suddenly became deaf.

"What are you still waiting for, woman?" He said he was losing his patience.

What is he referring to?

"I said, give it to me."

He grabbed the bag I was holding and I immediately let it go because I was also surprised.

"I don't want you giving food to any random person next time. Especially, that boy."

And he turned his back on me, while what was happening still hadn't sunk in.

"I want it to be pigtail instead, Vion. Do it again."

I sighed and removed Maria's hair from the braid and made it into a pigtail just like she said. My hand was shaking from holding back irritation and anger.

I've already changed the type of hairpin in its hair, I'm just sorry. Because he won't go to school if I don't push him.

"I'm telling you, Maria. It's the last time, if you still don't want it, I'll cut your hair." I threaten.

Because the children really want to scare them first before they stop their nonsense.

"What?!" It said in shock. "You won't do that! I'll tell Daddy!"

"Believe me, Baby. I will. So behave."

"No, I'm already thinking about the next hairstyle you'll do."

"Why don't you want to come in? You're in Grade 4, huh. Do you want-"

"Wait, Vion. Too much tagalog."

"Alright. Do you know, if you don't go to school, you'll repeat school, then you will see your classmates moving to another grade, while you're still on grade 3?"

"We'll repeat school? No way! I got perfect score every time. How would that gonna happen?"

I was amazed.

"You also need perfect attendance. Okay? Don't be lazy. Other people can't go to school like the two of you did."

"Why? Are they too lazy?"

"They have no money.." My voice weakened.

Just like me.

"Vion! Look at my bag. It's ruined." We both looked at Marcus when he entered the room.

I saw his torn bag. It still looks lovely. what face Really love it.

"Why is that torn?"

"I rip it accidentally with my scissor, but I was just trying to cut the string then that's it.."

It's frowned upon.

"Next time, tell me so you don't waste anything."

"Fine, fine. Let's go.." He pulled my arm.

"Where will we go?" I asked curiously.

"Buy me a new bag?"

I took my hand back from him and gently took his damaged bag.

"Not anymore. I'll just fix it."

Its face is wrinkled. "What? I'm confused, Vion. How can you fix it?"

"I'll sew it. Wait for me here, just a moment."

Then I left them and went to my room.

I let out a breath.

Mom really has a lot of work

"I miss Daddy." Maria suddenly spoke with a frown while I put the bags in their bags.

"Maria, Daddy isn't always here, remember?"

Maria's shoulders fell upon hearing this. "Oh. I forgot. But two days is too long already, I just thought he'll stay longer after that."

"He's busy. It's fine."

But the sadness in their voices was obvious, they just couldn't do anything about what was happening.

That man is really strange. The last time he came here was the day I buried him with food. After that I never saw him again. He didn't come back for three days. I know that, because I couldn't catch up with him every time I woke up early.

I really don't know him, I don't understand him. He is hard to predict. You will think of him like this one day and then the next day you will think something else because he shows different things.

I just really don't want to think too much. He will add to my thoughts.

"I'm here. Hurry up, you'll be late."

"Eww. We're tired of seeing your face already."

"Yeah. We're gonna miss anyone except you."

"And you really camped out."

I tried to reach them but they just laughed and walked away from me and flayed me. I just shook my head. They will never lose their rebuke.

"Oh come on. Khairro is coming here. Get ready."

"Oh. Daddy's personal driver." Maria had a dream.

"Why are you bothering there? What's wrong with Khairro? You don't like him either?"

"He's annoying. He'd also eat everything you'd cooked." Marcus added.

"What? Manang also eats what I cooked? Don't be rude to him. He's kind."

"He's not part of our family, okay? He can't eat your food."

My hearing focused on the word 'family'. So, I'm part of the family, right? I smiled sparingly while fixing their uniforms.

"Why are you smiling, Vion. Do you like him?" Marcus and his Daddy look alike when serious.

"Huh? Hakdog. I don't know about you, come in."

"You're not answering my question," he said annoyed.

What is the problem with people today? First of all, their father was hot-headed with Khairro, but now it's the twins again. That governor is really an animal, he even conceived his children out of spite. What else do men do to them?

"Good morning!" The newly arrived Khairro greeted enthusiastically.

I simply looked at the two and told them to settle down. I even caught up with the artistic Maria who was struggling.

"Hello, twins." He ruffled Marcus's hair and the boy's face was almost wrinkled.

He shook Khairro's hand which surprised the latter. "Don't touch me."

"Marcus!" I scolded.

"Shut up, Vion." It also scolded me and then turned away from us, going in the direction of the outside.

"Brotha Marcus. Wait for me!" His twin followed him and Khairro and I were left behind.

Khairro shyly held his neck and smiled sweetly at him. I also smiled back at him.

"Thank you for the food you gave me yesterday. It was delicious. Do you know how to cook?"

See? He is very kind. That's why I don't understand where their anger towards men comes from. It's good that I talked to someone who didn't hate me.

Does it always make me a catcher of resentment?

"Thank you, Khairro. And yes, I always cook for my brothers as well."

His eyes widened. "Wow. I wish I could marry someone like you."

I laughed. "Oh, if you're smart enough, you'll find it soon."

We stopped when someone took a sip from the side. We looked at the twins standing in the doorway.

"What are you still doing?" Maria asked the person next to me flatly.

The man laughed. "Calm down twins."

"What's so funny. Let's go." Marcus then looked at me. "It's gonna be your fault if we're late."

And they left with Khairro.

"When did they worry about being late?"

That's new, ah.

"Looks like the kids are trying your patience, huh? But I'm glad because you somehow manage to get them to follow other things. Even I have a hard time saying no to what they want, so I'm surprised you did it."

"It wasn't really easy, Mang. But I can handle it even though it always takes a lot of energy. Because if I don't do it, nothing will happen."

"You are very strong, Ija. I hope you don't get bored."

"It's not possible, Mang. There's no going back," I laughed weakly.

"By the way, I wanted to ask you this before. How did you and Lucifer meet? All he told me was that you were the first to like him."

I wondered. He does not know? Didn't he tell anyone? But from the way Manang asked, it was obvious not. That's why the man was so bothered to hear who we were.

To Be Continued...