MAGIC SHOP

Chapter IV

Chapter IV

Everyone is silent, all waiting for Aire's words but even she is out of it. "Me?" she asked pointing at herself. "Why would I do that? I don't even—" she suddenly stopped and she looked at Ruth, then a smirk formed in her lips.

"What?" Ruth asked raising an eyebrow at her.

"What part of you thinks I did it?" Aire asked back.

Ruth shrugged her shoulders, "You were there."

"So, you were there too," Aire said confidently.

"I'm not!" pagtanggi ni Ruth pero kita na sa mukha ng mga kaklase nila na duda sila kay Ruth.

"But you just said it yourself, kung alam mo pa lang nandoon ako malamang nandoon ka din? Besides I don't have any motive to do that to Annie. I don't even care," Aire said.

But Ruth, she's not giving up, "Pwede bang nalaman ko lang sa ibang nakakita?" she reasoned out making Aire even more satisfied.

"Ruth, if you want to save yourself just shut up okay? I was there and no one else saw it, before you spilled everything of course." Aire looked at her, "And the fact that I received an email, I think that's enough to prove my innocence. How about we check yours or your videos? Up to you."

Ruth holds on tight to her cell phone. "No, I refuse."

Everyone is looking at her. "Open your phone," Harrix commanded which scared Ruth but still refused. "Fine, then I guess I'll just have the head master forcibly take that from you if that's what you want," Harrix threatened which made Ruth immediately open her phone and hand it to him.

"Must be really nice to have a taste of your own medicine, huh, Ruth?" Yves suddenly spoke and glared at Ruth who just can't even look at anyone.

"Gagawa gawa ka ng eksena pero hindi mo kayang panindigan tapos mandadamay ka pa ng ibang tao and you have the audacity not to hold yourself accountable for what you did," sermon ni Harrix.

"Let's go, kailangan ka din sa faculty," dagdag niya at hinila palabas si Ruth.Kitang kita ang inis sa mukha niya.

Sam looked at Aire and mouthed sorry for suspecting her and the latter just smiled.

Karis patter Aire's shoulder, "I know you wouldn't do that and nice shutting up that girl," saad ng katabi niya na nagpangiti sa kanya. She never imagined how good it feels to stand up for yourself.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto at bumalik na sa classroom sina Annie, Ruth, Harrix at Maam Harieth. Kita sa mukha ng guro ang dismaya.

"Class, please before you do something think of the people that will be affected by your actions. Ang mahal mahal ng matrikula niyo sa school na 'to pero parang wala kayong natututuhan," sermon niya sa mga estudyante. "I'm telling this for everybody, let this be a lesson to you ha 'wag kayong padalos dalos sa mga desisyon niyo at kung bored kayo 'wag niyong pagtripan ang ibang tao. Now let's go back to our lesson."

Nagpatuloy ang oras. Some of the teachers brought up the issue about Annie to give them another advice while the others, they just want to give shade to Annie. They were trying so hard to put her in a bad light but Annie, who's used to that, somehow learned to just shrug it off.

The hours went by and it's already their lunch break. Aire, Samyra, June and Karis are together eating in the cafeteria. Nag uusap ang tatlo tungkol sa kung ano ano nang mapunta ang atensyon nila kay Aire na tahimik lang na kumakain.

"Hey, what's your surname? Diko pa natatanong eh." Singit bigla ni Samyra, na maging si June at Karis ay napatanong din, "Tama, hindi mo iyon nasabi sa introductions," saad ni Junelee.

Napayuko lang siya at pinaglaruan ang kutsara niya. She sighed as she opened her mouth to speak, "Yushiko, my full name is Aire Louisa Yushiko," she answered and three of them had their mouths wide open.

"Yushiko?" namamanghang tanong ni Sam. The excitement from her voice is clearly audible that Aire needed to hush her down.

"Yes, so please calm down. Baka may makarinig sa inyo," paki usap niya.

"So ikaw pala ang bunsong anak ni Mr. Ryusei Yushiko at nag iisang babaeng apo ni Takeshima Yushiko?" dagdag na tanong ni June.

"It's so weird that you guys know that. It's borderline creepy to be honest," Aire said.

"Duh, of course we know. Sikat kayo e" biro ni Sam.

"Whatever, let's just eat," Aire said.

Natigilan sila nang mapansin nilang tumahimik si Karis. "Are you okay?" tanong ni Aire.

“Yeah, I just realized you knew me because of my parents," Karis answered but Aire could only respond with her confused face. “Yesterday you asked me about my parents. I thought you asked that because of my surname but now it turns out that you actually met them before," she added, which caused Aire to feel bad.

"Sorry."

"I'm sorry."

Sabay nilang turan sa isa't isa. Nagkatinginan sila pero kaagad ding nagka iwasan ng tingin. Hindi nalang nagsalita ang dalawa pa nilang kasama dahil hindi sila makasabat.

"I'm sorry because I realized that my dad was the one who fixed the divorce of your parents before they moved to Europe," Karis said.

"Wala ka namang kasalanan doon. Dapat nga ako ang humingi ng pasensya dahil hindi ko sinabi iyon kaagad kahapon," paliwanag niya na ikinangiti ni Karis.

"But you don't have to. Hindi ka naman obligado." Sagot ni Karis sa kanya, habang ang dalawa ay hindi maproseso ang mga narinig nila.

"So we're swerte pala kasi we're friends with the daughter of a rich rich international tycoon," biglang singit ni Sam na nagtanggal sa ka-awkward-an na bumalot sa kanila.

"You can say that," Aire said and smiled kaya napangiti rin sila at ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

Nang matapos silang kumain ay saka sila ulit nag usap tungkol sa mga pangyayari sa buhay nila. Naglalakad lakad sila sa campus nang magsalita bigla si Sam.

"Alam mo ba na madaming curious sa mukha mo Aire? Sikat ka kasi as the 'Unnamed heiress of the Yushiko' walang nakaka alam ng pangalan o hitsura mo" panimula ni Sam.

"I know. I actually requested them not to tell the media because I don't want anyone to recognize me outside while I go for a walk alone," Aire said.

"I'm so jealous of my parents that they got to meet you before I do," biro naman ni Karis.

"Don't beat yourself, at least we're friends," saad ni Aire na nagpangiti kay Karis. "We are?" she asked smiling from ear to ear to which Aire nodded.

Aire is the daughter of Ryusei Yushiko, the CEO of one of the best construction companies YSHK Group. Kahit na hiwalay na ang mga magulang niya ay nakukuha pa rin niya ang lahat ng naisin niya dahil sobra sobra ang sustento ng ama niya sa kanya at sa mama niya.

No matter how she hated her father and everything about her dad, she can't still hide the truth that she loves her dad so much that it still hurts when she remembers the thing her father did.

No one dared to ask Aire the reason for her parents' separation because it's too personal. Hanggang matapos ang lunch break hindi nila nalaman ang dahilan at hindi rin naman nila iniisip.

Nang makabalik na sila sa room ay normal naman ang lahat maliban nalang sa awkwardness na meron sa pagitan nila Sam, June at Annie.

Sam wanted to talk to Annie but something's stopping her. Maybe she's shy to talk to her. Si June naman na medyo kumalma na ay naawa kay Annie nang makita niya ang namumugtong mata nito.

"Ano kayang nangyari doon?" takhang tanong ni Junebpero napakibit balikat nalang sila at umupo na sa mga kanya kaya nilang upuan.

At dahil wala pang teacher, inilabas ni Aire ang earphone niya at ipinasak iyon sa kanyang tainga pero wala naman talaga siyang pinakikinggan.

She napped her head on the table and just a few minutes passed she felt someone sat beside her, thinking it was just Karis she quickly raised her head and faced the person next to her only to realize it was Harrix.

Pareho sila ngayong natigilan dahil sa lapit ng mukha nila sa isa't isa na halos dumadampi na ang kanilang hininga sa labi ng isa't isa.

"What the f**k are you doing here?" Aire rudely asked.

Napakamot sa batok si Harrix na naging dahilan upang lalong lumapit ang mukha niya sa dalaga. "It's science time?" patanong na sagot ni Harrix.

“And so?” Aire asked and move his face away from hers.

Sasagot na sana si Harrix nang tumikhim ang teacher nila kaya tumingin sa harap si Aire, and it's too late for her to realize that everyone is staring at them, their science teacher is even giving her a teasing smile.

Aire thought of one thing. EMBARRASSING.

Mabilis niyang tinanggal ang pagkakapasak ng earphone sa tainga niya at umiwas ng tingin kaya hindi naiwasan ng guro na tumawa.

"Magsisimula pa lang ang school year, may mga nagkakamalapitan na ng loob," pang aasar niya na ikina init ng pisngi ni Aire.

Habang ang ibang estudyante ay kinikilig sa kanila, samantalang si Harrix ay naka ngiti at ang mga kaibigan niya ay tinutukso siya.

Bago pa man maging tampulan ng tukso si Aire ng mga kaibigan niya ay nagsimula nang mag-discuss ang teacher niya na ikinagaan ng loob niya.

Lumipas ang oras at nadismiss na din sila. Airee quickly left the room, before her classmates could tease her even more.

Hindi siya dumeretso pauwi, dumeretso siya sa bahay ng lolo niya, medyo malayo iyon dahil sa dulo pa ng subdivision iyon makikita, sa tabi ng farm ng lolo niya. Dahil nilakad niya lang iyon ay naabutan niya ang simula ng paglubog ng araw. Mabilis siyang pumasok sa loob ng bahay ng kanyang lolo Romualdo na tito ng kanyang ina.

Tumatagos sa bintana ang sinag ng papalubog na araw at napakaganda niyon pagmasdan, pero para kay Aire mas magandang pagmasdan ang ngiti ng kanyang lolo kapag nakikita siya nito.

The smell of carrot pie, fresh from the oven make her smile too. Kahit araw araw pa siyang kumain ng carrot pie ng lolo niya hinding hindi siya magsasawa. Pumasok siya sa kusina at naabutan ang lolo niya na kumukuha ng plato kaya kaagad niya itong tinulungan, "Lo, ako na po maupo na lang po kayo," sabi niya kaya ngumiti ang lolo niya.

"Tamang tama ang dating mo apo," masayang saad ng kanyang lolo at lumubas ng kusina, habang si Aire naman ay hiniwa ang carrot pie at naglagay ng tig-iisang slice sa dalawang plato saka nagtimpla ng kape para sa kanilang dalawa ng lolo niya.

Inilabas niya iyon sa may entrance ng bahay ng lolo niya kung saan may isang maliit na mesa at dalawang upuan ang naroon. Doon madalas umupo noon ang lolo niya at ang lola Guada niya noong nabubuhay pa ito, siya ay kapatid ng lolo Romualdo niya.

Napangiti siya nang makita ang lolo Romualdo niyang naka upo na sa madalas nitong upuan. Inilapag niya sa mesa ang inihanda niyang merienda at dinaluhan ang kanyang lolo. Sabay nila ngayong pinapanood ang paglubog ng araw habang kinakain ang paborito nilang pie at umiinom ng kape.

At ito ang paboritong oras niya. Pakiramdam niya, ito ang pinakatahimik na oras. Aire loves watching the sunset from her granpa's house because she can visibly see it. And it's exquisite, very fascinating to her eyes.

Naubos kaagad nila ang carrot pie kaya nagpresinta ang lolo niya na kukuha pa siya ng ilang slice. Aire insisted that she'll get them another slice of pie but her grandpa already got inside.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto pero hindi pa rin lumalabas ang lolo niya kaya pumasok na siya sa loob, pero sa nakita niya ay muntik na siyang himatayin.

She saw her grandpa lying down on the floor, unconscious.