When The Night Falls

CHAPTER 2: Blood on Cold Streets

Their classmates stood between them to pacify their quarrels. Zach couldn't move his body scrupulously because of the wounds and bruises he got from Jiho's brawny thump. Jiho tilted his head towards Chairman Leviste and gave him the eeriest glare.

After what happened, Chairman Leviste didn't help his son. He just left the room with a rage on his heart. He wanted to avenge his poor and helpless son, but in different and vicious way. Even Zach brought humiliation and disgrace on his company, he's still his child after all.

Kinuha ni Jiho ang piraso ng nasirang kwintas at saka lumabas ng silid kahit balot na balot siya sa dugo ni Zach. He didn't even bother to have its last sight on Zach. What he did couldn't ease the pain that haunted him for a couple of years.

Jiho walked heading to their school's comfort room to wash the stains of blood on his white uniform. He washed his face and took a serious glance at his reflection on the mirror. He punched the mirror that cause his fist to shed rivers of blood. He did not bear the agony coming from his wound. He was angry at all. Covered by his rage. Uncontrollable.

On his way home, the curious eyes of people were blatantly stuck on him, as the faded nuance of blood on his uniform made him look like a slaughterer, and worst of all, a murderer. Shame was nothing on him, it doesn't have a single space on his heart. He didn't even care to what people think of him.

DOROTEO MONTENEGRO, father of Jiho, is an electrician on Juri Company. Making several appliances was his duty on this company, and these appliances are ought to be delivered to another company.

Sobrang mababa ang sahod niya para sa kaniyang pagod sa trabaho. Ni hindi nito matustusan ang pag- aaral ni Jiho dahil ang lahat ng sahod niya ay napupunta lamang sa pagpapagamot ng asawa niyang si Remedios Montenegro.

As he walked to the office of Chairman Leviste to speak to him, he noticed that he was still talking to a strange man, which is why he remained standing, waiting for them to finish their serious discussion. Even the door is thoroughly closed, noises coming from his office were still audible. Mr. Montenegro had been intrigued, and so, he drew near to the door to hear what they are talking about.

His curious ear touches the translucent glass wall of Chairman Leviste's cozy office, hoping for a tea to be spilled. He knew that this is a serious matter, but he just wanted to feed his dying curiosity.

"Dapat walang makaalam ng korapsyong nagaganap sa kompanyang ito. If this issue will spread around the company, you will be held accountable for this. From money laundering, embezzlement, low salary, graft and corruption; lahat 'yan ay dapat manatiling sikreto. Kapag nalaman- laman ko lamang na may nakaalam nito, hindi ako mag- aatubayang tapusin ka. Ayos ba?"

Mr. Montenegro's eyes widened as he inadvertently knew the company's forbidden secret. For him, this issue should not be kept, but must be posed for the awareness of his subordinates. This is not just an ordinary matter, for people's lives are at stake.

During the time that he was eavesdropping, he accidentally fell his metallic pen which caused an abrupt noise. Chairman Leviste swiftly thrown his glare outside, as well as the strange guy.

"Who's there? Is anybody there?" he asked compellingly. Mr. Montenegro fled into the nearest elevator to escape while bowing down so that he could not be seen by his boss.

He urgently pressed the button of the elevator into the main ground floor, but before his boss could see him, the door was eventually locked. He heaved a sigh of relief after this.

HABANG NASA ESKWELAHAN, ipinatawag ng kanilang principal si Jiho upang pag- usapan ang nangyaring kaguluhan noong nakaraan sa pagitan nila ni Zach. Ngayon lamang naramdaman ni Jiho ang matinding kaba sapagkat inaalala niya ang maaaring mangyari sa kaniyang ama. Ipinatawag din ng principal ang ama ni Jiho na si Mr. Motenegro upang malaman niya ang naging awayan ng dalawa.

The moment Jiho entered the office, his attention was caught by the presence of Zach and his father, Mr. Leviste. Nanumbalik ang dating poot ni Jiho nang masilayan niya ang mag- amang ito.

"We will just wait for your father's arrival, then we could start our meeting," the principal said.

He could see Zach's ridiculous glares at him and giving him sarcastic smiles while they are waiting. Napansin din niyang seryoso ang tingin ng ama nito sa kaniya, kaya kahit gusto niyang paandaran ng mga suntok si Zach ay hindi niya magawa.

"Bakit ang tagal mo? Hindi mo ba alam na naghihintay ako?" tanong ni Mr. Leviste sa kapapasok lamang na si Mr. Montenegro.

Gulat na gulat si Mr. Montenegro sapagkat hindi niya alam na ang kaniyang boss ay nasa loob ng principal's office upang kausapin siya.

"Pasensya na po, Sir Leviste. Medyo na- traffic lang po ako sa labas at saka... bumili pa po kasi ako ng gamot ng asawa ko," sagot ni Mr. Montenegro.

"Wala akong paki sa naghihingalo mong asawa. Sinayang mo ang oras ko na dapat sana ay ginugugol ko sa aking kompanya."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Jiho nang marinig ang pang- iinsultong ito. Kanina pa siya nagpipigil at halos sasabog na siya sa matinding galit.

"Wala kang karapatang insultuhin ang aking ina!" Jiho said in a loud voice, quivering in extreme anger.

Ibinaling niya ang kaniyang tingin sa mag- ama na kanina ay nasa kawalan. Napangisi naman si Mr. Leviste na tila tuwang tuwa makitang napupuyos sa galit si Jiho.

The principal walked between them to stop the tension between Jiho and the Leviste’s.

"Pwede ba Jiho, magbigay- galang ka naman kay Chairman Leviste! Akala ko pa naman mabait kang bata," the principal said.

"My mother was being insulted, bakit ako hindi lalaban? Gano'n na ba ang ideolohiya na dapat kapag mayaman ka ay galangin ka kahit ikaw ang mali? Porque ba mahirap lamang kami ay wala na kaming karapatan ipagtanggol ang sarili namin?"

Nanginglid na ang mga luha ni Jiho sa kaniyang mata, at tila anumang oras ay maaari na itong bumagsak. Napailing naman si Mr. Leviste samantalang nakangisi pa rin si Zach na tila ay hindi tumitigil sa pang- iinsulto kay Jiho.

"Ganito na lang. I will suspend you, Jiho, for the violence you did on Zach."

"No! Hindi pwedeng suspension lang ang makukuha niya," Zach rebutted. "Dad, he punched me! I almost lost all of my blood, and his punishment is just a suspension? What the fuck."

Mr. Leviste think of what compensation Jiho could do. Ibinaling niya ang kaniyang tingin kay Jiho na seryosong seryoso ang mukha ngayon.

"Don't suspend him, Ms. Aquino, nor kick him out. I just want him to sincerely apologize to my son," Mr. Leviste said confidently.

"What? What do you mean, Dad? After what he did to me, I will only receive an apology?"

"Not just a simple apology, Zach. I want him to kneel down in front of us, together with his father. I want them to kiss our feet. I want their forehead to touch the ground, and we will surely smash their head down."

The moment Zach heard this; his lips began to have a smile. Tila nabuhayan ng loob si Zach nang marinig ito.

"Yes, Ma'am Aquino. Don't suspend him. I want them to kneel down on us and apologize to what he did," Zach uttered.

Napatingin si Jiho sa kanilang principal upang pumalag sa naisip ni Mr. Leviste na ito. Hindi ito tama. Hindi ito makatarungan. Ayaw niyang tapakan ng Pamilyang Leviste ang kanilang dignidad.

"Hindi ako papayag, Ma'am Aquino. Suspend me, instead, but I will never humble in front of them. Wala akong kasalanan. Pinagtanggol ko lang ang sarili ko," palag ni Jiho.

"Ayaw mo? Sige, ayos lang naman sa akin. Pero huwag kang umasa na pag- uwi niyo ay may trabaho pa ang ama mo. Talagang gusto mo mamatay ang pabigat mong ina? Tignan na lang natin."

Daliang lumuhod ang ama ni Jiho sa harap ng mag- amang Leviste, umiiyak at nagmamakaawa. Sinundan naman ito ng tingin ni Jiho na tila gustong pigilan ang kaniyang ama.

"Pa, huwag...," naiiyak na sambit ni Jiho.

Tears slowly streamed down on his face. Ayaw niyang umiyak at makita ng mag- amang ito na matagumpay ang pang- aalipustang ginagawa nila.

"Jiho, bilisan mo na. Lumuhod ka na lang!" galit na sambit ng kaniyang ama.

"Pero Pa..."

"Jiho, ano ba? Lumuhod ka na."

Wala nang ibang nagawa si Jiho kundi ang lumuhod na rin dahil ayaw niyang matanggal ang kaniyang ama sa trabaho nito, dahil kung magkataon, hindi gagaling ang kaniyang ina sa sakit nito.

Mr. Leviste and Zach felt satisfaction as Jiho and his father knelt down in front of them. It makes them superior, powerful, and prevailing. They even stepped down on their head and make them feel their inferiority and servitude. No one could ever stop them.

Mrs. Montengro's illness keep on worsening day by day. He coughed more often unlike before, and sometimes it has blood in it. She hid it away from their consciousness and pretend that she is not worrisome.

"Ma, mukhang napapadalas na ang pag- uubo mo ah. Kaya mo pa ba? Dalhin ka na kaya namin sa ospital para mas magamot ka nang maayos doon?" Jiho suggested to his ill mother.

"Ayos lang... ako anak. Huwag mo akong... intindihin...," his mother said while coughing. Jiho was very worried. Hindi siya pinapatahimik ng kaniyang pag-aalalang ito sa kaniyang ina.

"Sigurado ka ma, ah?"

"Oo, an---."

Hindi natapos ng kaniyang ina ang sasabihin niya nang muli itong umubo sa kaniyang panyo. Tinignan ito ni Mrs. Montenegro at nakita ang buo- buong dugo.

Ms. Montenegro felt dizziness, then suddenly collapse after. Jiho urgently delivered her dying mother to the near hospital for the chance to save her. Hope was still dwelling on his heart. He didn't want to entertain the idea of his mother dying in a pitiful death. He was trying to uplift himself even though it hurts. No one could motivate him. Not his father, not even himself.

He was with the nurses, pushing the stretcher where his mother was laying. Kasabay ng pagbagsak ng mga luha niya ang pagkaubos ng natitirang pag-asa sa puso niya. Gusto niyang mailigtas ang ina niya mula sa bingit ng kamatayan. Kung mawawala ito, hindi niya alam kung paano makapagsisimulang muli.

Ilang oras nang naghihintay sa labas ng emergency room si Jiho, nag-aantay sa sasabihin ng doktor. Hinihintay rin niya ang pagdating ng kaniyang ama, upang kahit papaano ay may masasandalan siya.

He's just a kid. He doesn't know how to cope up in this kind of situation. He could not contain extreme anguish by himself. A paternal figure must be on his side, motivating him that every will be okay.

After an hour, Mr. Montenegro finally went to the hospital. Exhaustion was very evident on his face. Pale face, thin body, messy hair, tired eyes; these are what you could see on him. But in spite of these, he, still, has the courage to stand against the difficulties.

A tiny tear coming from his eyes dropped as he looked at his weeping son. He didn't know what to do. His mind was still preoccupied by different thoughts that are slowly ruining his faith to survive.

"Anong nangyari sa Mama mo, Anak?" tanong ng ama ni Jiho sa kanya, na kasalukuyang nanginginig dala ng matinding pag- iyak at nakaupo lamang sa isang upuan.

Tinitigan lamang siya ni Jiho at bumagsak muli ang ilang mga kudlit ng luha patungo sa kaniyang pisngi. Niyakap ng kaniyang ama ang kaniyang ulo habang patuloy sa pagtangis. Napapapikit na lamang sa matinding bigat ng kalungkutan si Mr. Montenegro. Kahit na gusto niyang akuin ang sakit na nararamdaman ng kaniyang asawa, ay wala pa rin siyang magagawa. Ang tanging magagawa na lamang niya ay maniwala at magdasal sa mabilisang paggaling ng kaniyang asawa.

The doctor finally exited the emergency room; he approached Jiho and his father. With the doctor's face, you could already predict what happened. The feeling of disappointment for not reviving his patient was very perceptible and noticeable.

"Ginawa po namin ang lahat ng aming makakaya ngunit ikinalulungkot ko po na hindi na po kinayanan ng inyong asawa ang kaniyang sakit. Mahinang mahina na po ang kaniyang katawan na nagresulta sa kaniyang pagkamatay," the doctor said in a desolate voice.

Napaupo na lamang sa kaniyang kinatatayuan si Mr. Montenegro. Agad naman siyang inalalayan ni Jiho upang hindi tuluyang bumagsak. Nakatulala. Nanginginig. Nananaghoy. Luhang walang tigil sa pagtulo. Nakadudurog ng puso ang pagkawala ng isang miyembro ng pamilya lalo na kug ito ay nagsisilbing liwanag. Nakapandidilim ng buhay, lalong lalo na ng pag- asang mabuhay...

Habang nasa loob pa ng ospital ang kaniyang ama, si Jiho ay saglit na lumabas upang magpahangin nang sandali. Dumiretso siya sa malapit na parke at nag- isip isip, dahil hanggang ngayon ay hindi niya lubos maisip na sa isang kisapmata, naglahong bigla ang kaniyang pinakamamahal na ina.

-

Ano bang nagawa kong mali? Saan ba ako nagkulang? Bakit tila ako ang pinag- iinitan ng tadhana. Gusto ko lamang mabuhay nang tahimik. Gusto ko pang makasama nang matagal ang aking ina. Kung kailan malapit na ako magtapos ng pag- aaral, at saka pa nawala ang aking ina. Siya pa naman ang gusto kong magsabit sa akin ng medalya.

Paano na lang gagawin ko sa mga gabing pinatatahan niya ako sa pag- iyak dahil sa pangmamaltrato sa akin ng aking mga kamag- aral? Ganoon ba kabrutal ang tadhana upang paghiwalayin kami ng ina ko. Pero... ako ay lubos na nagpapasalamat. Ito ang pinakamasakit na pasasalamat na aking nasabi, dahil sa kabila ng pagkamatay ng aking ina natutunan kong maging matatag.

-

In solitude, he was just gazing above the splendid scenery of the universe. Smiling in the midst of deep cries. Trying to accept his mother's grievous death. After the tragic episode on his life, he's still grateful. For him, this is not the end of his life but a door for a new beginning. Someone's departure from life could be so melancholic, but it does not mean that it will lead us to our eternal emotional death.

Muling hinarap ni Jiho ang panibagong umaga nang may pag- asa sa puso. Pinipilit niya hindi magpaapekto sa nangyari. Alam niyang masaya na ang kaniyang ina sa kung saan siya ngayon. Hindi na muling mahihirapan ang kaniyang ina.

Ayaw niyang muling maging malungkot, dahil ayaw ng kaniyang ina na nakikita siyang nalulungkot ni umiiyak.

Their graduation was coming. He needs to focus on his studies to have a better school to study on. He badly wanted to have a scholarship due to the fact that his father was too weak to work hardly. Jiho wanted to be independent and no longer rely on his father.

After years of intensive studying, he got what he dreamed on. He became the valedictorian of their batch. Despite of the issues he was involved in, especially with the Leviste Family, he was still unbeatable in academics.

And because of this, Zach became more envious with him. He could not accept the fact that someone became superior than him. In everything he did, he wanted to be on top; that's why being a salutatorian was not an achievement, but rather more of a disgrace and an embarrassment to their family.

Zach plead a petition for reconsideration and recalculation of their grades, but numbers will never lie. Jiho was still the valedictorian of their batch, and he was the salutatorian. Hindi niya ito matanggap kaya lagi niyang pinag- iinitan si Jiho.

After several weeks, their graduation was held on an auditorium. Mr. Montenegro accompanied his son to receive his rewards and achievements. Jiho being the valedictorian became historical, for having the highest GWA after 28 years.

Many teachers and staffs applauded him for the excellence and dedication he has exerted on his academics, while Zach looks like he was left behind.

Most students were very happy for Jiho's victory and triumph. No one will deny how deserving Jiho was, except for Zach.

Jiho received 18 medals, eight certificates and two plaques. He dedicated this memorable night on his late mother, who became his first teacher. Nasasaktan si Jiho dahil hindi man lang nasilayan ng kaniyang ina ang gabi kung saan siya ay pinaparangalan. But he knew that his mother was watching from the above and was very happy for his success.

Pagkatapos ng seremonya, agad silang umalis ng venue upang umuwi na, dahil nais paglutuan ng kaniyang ama si Jiho upang kahit papaano ay maipagdiwang nila ang tagumpay ni Jiho. Napagpasyahan nilang maglakad na lamang pauwi dahil malapit lang naman ang kanilang bahay.

In the middle of the cold night, Jiho felt a bit of hunger and luckily, he saw a nearby store. He decided to buy some foods for him and for his father just for a while. Iniwan niya muna sa kanto ang kaniyang ama upang sandali ay bumili ng hamburger upang pansamantala ay maitawid ang kanilang gutom.

While waiting for the food to be served, Jiho heard a strange noise that resonated around the place. That noise is more of a gunshot, yet he didn't even bother to check what it really is.

After seconds, he heard again the same sound. He felt a strange feeling that's why he looked for his father. Napaawang na lamang ang kaniyang labi nang masilayan ang kaniyang ama na nakahandusay sa kalsada, naliligo sa sariling dugo. Wala ng buhay.

Jiho ran immediately towards his father. But while running towards him, he saw a boy who seems on the same age as him, covered with an all-black suit and carrying a gun.

That boy was running away from him, but instead of tailing him, he just covered his father's corpse with a warm hug. Tears fell down on his father's body as the cold breeze of night touched his skin.

Hindi niya pa natatanggap ang pagkawala ng kaniyang ina, sumunod naman ang pagkamatay ng kaniyang ama. Alam niya kung sino ang nasa likod ng krimeng ito, at sigurado siya roon. Isinigaw na lamang niya sa kawalan ang pait at hinagpis. Ang pusong mapaghiganti ang bumabalot sa kaniya.

On this night, he finally decided what he really wanted to be. He wanted to be a paladin of the truth, and the one who despised injustices.