Who Knows I’ll Be Keeping You

Chapter 2: Deaf

Deretso ang pasok ng bagong kaklase namin at kalmadong hinarap kaming lahat. Hindi ito nagsalita kaya si Ms. Reyes na lamang ang nagpakilala nito sa amin. Nakangiti si Ms. Reyes kaya alam ko talagang gusto niya ang bagong estudyante niya.

"So class, this is Asher Connor Brick." nagtangka itong tumingin sa lalaki para ipagpatuloy nito ang introduksiyon ngunit bigo pa rin si Ms. Reyes.

Nagbuntong-hininga na lamang ang adviser namin at ngumiti ng mapait.

"He will be your new classmate from now on." she just simply ended.

After her introduction, he asked Connor to sit beside me since no one ever dared na lumapit sa akin. This will be good, I can have a friend here in the classroom.

He just shrugged off his shoulder and sat beside me.

"Hi. I'm Asher Keren Cy. We have the same first name, silly." makikipag-kamay sana ako sa kanya ngunit hindi siya nagsalita at hindi man lang tumingin sa akin.

Is he deaf?

"Hello?" I asked again.

"Are you deaf?" tanong ko na naman.

But to no avail, hindi pa rin siya sumasagot sa bawat tanong ko. Then that leaves me with no other choice, I'll just let him on his own. Hindi na ako magtatangkang makipag-kaibigan pa sa kanya. Baka nga deaf siya kaya hindi niya narinig ang mga sinasabi ko.

Oh baka naman snob lang talaga siya? Hmp. Akala mo naman gwapo.

Well, gwapo naman siya. Mataas, maputi, matangos ang ilong, mapula yung labi, medyo bad boy yung aura niya and obvious talaga yung jawline niya. Ang black din ng buhok niya at ang kapal ng kilay niya. He's the perfect description of a fictional character.

Marami na namang babae ang magkakagusto dito dahil sa gwapo nitong mukha. Ano pa nga bang bago? Girls and their crushes.

Napansin ko lang na may tattoo siya sa likod ng tenga niya. Is it a ball? Hindi ko masyadong makita dahil maliit lang naman siya at hindi talaga malapit ang upuan namin sa isa't-isa.

"Ms. Cy? Are you listening to me?" napahinto ako sa pag-iisip ng tinawag ako ni Ms. Reyes.

"Yes miss. I am sorry, I just spaced out for a second." sabi ko.

"Now tell me about accessing legal aid?" she asked at tumayo sa harap ko.

Tumayo rin ako at hinarap ang mga kaklase ko na nasa likod. I stand firm because I am not afraid of anyone. I am confident and I know I can ace any questions if without listening to my teachers.

"Assessing the need for legal aid is well-established in respect of civil (as distinct from criminal) law. However, it is less developed in relation to criminal law generally, and access to legal aid in criminal justice systems more specifically. As the extract from the Early Access Handbook set out above suggests, assessing the need for legal aid in criminal justice systems requires information on: the number of people who are involved in the criminal justice process as suspects and accused persons (and victims and witnesses) on a periodic basis; the number of people who are held in pre-trial detention, and who are imprisoned following sentence; the socio-economic and demographic profiles of such populations; and the availability of lawyers and others providing legal assistance. Unfortunately, even basic statistical information is either non-existent or insufficient in some countries, and assessing need often requires both quantitative and qualitative research to be conducted." I was about to say the next few statements but Ms. Reyes cut me off.

"That's enough Ms. Cy. Mr. Brick, please continue." tanong niya sa katabi ko.

Tumayo ito pero nakaharap lang ito kay Ms. Reyes. Isn't he deaf?

"One aspect of the criminal justice process that may be focused on, in the context of assessing need for access to legal aid, is the pre-trial detention population. This provides a good example because: (a) Indicator 16.3.2 of the United Nations global indicator framework identifies unsentenced prisoners as a proportion of overall prison population as a relevant indicator of Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all and (b) it has been demonstrated in a range of jurisdictions that pre-trial detention is over-used, and that legal advice, assistance and representation can reduce the number of inappropriate detentions, see for example is the Early Access Handbook, 2014, ch. II."

"That's enough."

I was amazed, really. He's brilliant. Did he memorized the whole book just like me? Or timing lang talaga si miss sa mga parts na na memorize niya?

Tumingin ako sa kanya at tinitigan siya. He really has an aura of being a lawyer soon. No wonder.

Umiwas nalang ako ng tingin sa kanya at hinarap si Ms. Reyes. Baka bigla siyang tumingin sa direksiyon ko at makita niya pa akong nakatitig sa kanya.

"The need for legal aid may be considered at two different levels: the needs of individuals involved in particular criminal cases; and the need for legal aid at the aggregate level. Topic 2 is concerned with the latter, that is, the level of need for legal aid services in any particular country. Tomorrow, we will continue to discuss the whole topic number 2. Is that clear? Please prepare yourselves for tomorrow. That would be all for today." deretso itong lumabas kaya nakahinga ang mga kaklase namin.

Everyday, oral recitation ang nangyayari sa 85% ng klase. It seems like kami ang nagtuturo sa mga kaklase namin at tanging definitio o hindi naman kaya'y topic lang ang binibigay sa amin ni Ms. Reyes.

That's nice and challenging actually for someone like me.

Pero para sa mga kaklase ko, that would be hell. Kaya sila mabait sa akin ay dahil kinukuha ko ang halos lahat ng oras sa klase which means that ako na mismo ang sumasagot sa mga tanong ni ng proctors namin.

However, there are times that we are called randomly kaya no choice sila kundi ang mag participate kung hindi, bagsak sila.

Law is everything. It encompasses all the aspects in the society kaya marami ang dapat matutunan ng kung sino man ang mag-aaral nito.

And I am one of these unlucky people.

Pero wala na akong magagawa. This is what my mother wanted? Then so be it.

Tumayo na rin ako at inayos ang mga libro ko. It's already lunch time at mamayang 3PM pa naman ang susunod na subject ko.

Hindi pa man ako nakakalabas ay napansin kong hindi pa tumatayo si Connor sa upuan niya. Hindi ba siya kakain?

"Hey Connor!" tawag ko sa kanya.

Tumingin naman siya sa akin pero blangko ang ekspresyon niya.

"Wanna grab some lunch with me?" nakangiti kong tanong.

Baka kasi wala siyang kaibigan kaya willing akong maging kaibigan niya.

Hindi niya ako sinagot at humarap

nalang siya sa blackboard. Is he deaf, seryoso?

Ay hindi naman. Nasagutan nga niya ng maayos yung tanong ng proctor namin kanina eh.

I just shrugged my shoulder off at lumabas na.

I guess he doesn't need someone as his friend kaya bakit ko pa pipilitin ang sarili ko sa kanya diba?

Pagkalabas ko pa lang sa pintuan ng classroom, agad na may yumakap sa akin.

"Keren!" sigaw nito malapit sa tenga ko.

"Ano ka ba! Do you really need to shout? I'm right beside you!" sigaw ko pabalik sa kanya.

"Kita mo?! Sumisigaw ka rin naman, I am right beside you lang kaya. Hmp!" pag-iinarte niya sabay talikod at nauna nang maglakad sa akin.

"Mira!" sigaw ko bago siya hinabol sa paglalakad.

Mira, my best friend and partner in everything. We became friends nung nag transfer siya noong nasa highschool pa kami dahil ako ang unang lumapit sa kanya. I can say that she's weird that time kaya walang nagtangkang maging kaibigan niya.

I knew back then na mabait si Mira kaya ako lumapit sa kanya. We're friends for almost 5 years na. We always fight, especially in terms of boys and crushes.

She do have a lot of boyfriends before pero ngayon, crush nalang daw muna siya dahil masakit yung last break-up niya.

I know. It was painful for her dahil she trusted that man for everything. Buti nalang hindi niya naibigay ang perlas ng silanganan kaya she's still safe. That would be too much to bear if naibigay niya talaga as in lahat.

"Mira, I want to tell you something." I said nung naabutan ko na siya sa paglalakad.

"Wait muna tayo beb ha? Kailangan ko pa kasing ilagay ang mga gamit ko sa locker room. And look at my uniform, puno na ng iba't-ibang kulay ng painiting kaya wait lang ha? Bihis muna ako." pumasok siya sa comfort room ng locker para magbihis matapos ilagay ang mga materials niya sa locker.

Inilagay ko nalang din ang sa akin habang naghihintay kay Mira.

Mula sa kinatatayuan ko ay kitang-kita ko ang field at simula na pala ng try outs ng mga players. Hindi ko alam kung paano nila namama-manage ang pagiging sports enthusiast at ang maging estudyante.

I mean, it's normal if we're still in high school pero we're college students already and we have a lot of things to do. Oh well, problema na nila iyon and I think mahal lang talaga nila ang paglalaro kaya hindi nila maiwan-iwan ang sports.

Bakit ba kasi may sports pa sa St. Preston? Hello? College students na po kami and do think na ang mga nag-aaral dito ay ang tinatawag na future leaders. How silly.

"Hoy tulala ka diyan?" kinalabit naman ako ni Mira kaya nabalik na ako sa realidad.

"I'm sorry. Tapos ka na ba? Kain na tayo?" aya ko sa kanya.

"Yes. Luckily, I just got back my credit card and my school card kaya hindi mo na ako kailangan ilibre pa. I'll treat you then. Let's go!" hinatak naman ako ni Mira papunta sa school cafeteria kaya wala na akong nagawa kundi magpadala na lamang sa kanya.

Pagdating namin sa cafeteria ay ako na ang naghanap ng mauupuan namin dahil nag-volunteer naman siyang siya na daw ang bibili ng pagkain since she'll treat me daw.

Napili ko yung table for twos na malapit sa bintana.

The universities cafeteria is located at the very center of the school grounds as well as the field kaya kita mula rito sa glass wall namin ang mga naglalaro ng soccer sa field.

As much as I can remember, the only sports that will be offered to the students in St. Preston's are soccer, basketball, volleyball, they also have the baseball and the softball. The basketball and volleyball team have their own gymnasium at nilaan iyon para sa kanila. For students gathering, doon kami sa isa pang gymnasium which is located right beside their gymnasium lang naman. For the baseball and softball team, they have their own field at the back part of the school grounds since they really need a huge place dahil delikado rin ang laro nila.

So much for that, nakapalibot lang din sa field ang mga buildings ng school kaya kung nadulas ka sa gitna ng field, expected na marami ang makakakita sa iyo.

Tip No. 1, huwag ma slide sa field ng St. Preston's.

While waiting for Mira, nilabas ko nalang ang libro ko at nagbasa. Our next proctor is more strict than Ms. Reyes. He don't want to hear a wrong answer kaya mas double check talaga ako sa mga lessons niya.

Yes, his lessons are too much easy but he made it complicated with his strict aura and strong vibe so natatakot talaga kami sa kanya.

Minsan, kapag hindi ka nakasagot agad in less than five seconds, he'll humiliate you at marami na siyang sasabihin tungkol sa'yo. I don't know if it's the right thing pero wala na lang kaming sinabi dahil kung papataasin lang namin ang argument, sa detention kami mapupunta at yun ang iniiwasan namin.

"So Keren, ano ang chika mo sa akin?" bahagya akong nagulat sa biglaang pagdating ni Mira dala-dala ang tray na puno ng pagkain naming dalawa.

Wow! This is huge.

"We have a new student." pagsisimula ko.

Alam kong marami na namang tanong ang babaeng ito dahil idadagdag na naman niya ito sa crush lists niya. Mira and her notes.

"Kayo rin?" so may transferee rin sa kanila?

"You mean may transferee rin sa department niyo?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Yes and he's super annoying." sabi niya with roll eyes pa.

"He so means lalaki?" I know I'm asking the obvious one. Wala akong ibang masabi eh.

"Kailan pa ba ginagamit ang he sa babae Keren? Akala ko pa naman matalino ka? Future lawyer ka ba talaga?" Here comes the freak Mira. Hmp!

"Shut up Mira. I was just asking." kalmado kong sabi sa kanya.

"We'll your asking the obvious dear." I know. I know.

"Back to the topic nga Mira, lalaki nga?" hindi ko na siya pinatulan pa.

Kahit lawyer ang kinuha ko, daig pa rin ako ng future artist na ito.

"Oo nga Keren. Ano ka ba! Paulit-ulit tayo dito girl?" iritado niyang sabi sa akin.

"Lalaki din ang sa amin and he's also annoying in a silent way, I guess?" nagdadalawang-isip kong sabi.

Bakit ko nga ba sinabi na annoying si Connor? Dahil ba palagi akong snob dun?

"How can you say annoying and what do you mean by in a silent way dear? Enlighten me please." tanong ni Mira sa akin kahit na punong-puno pa ang bibig niya ng pagkain.

"I mean he's annoying because he's smart an-" I didn't even finish dahil pinutol na agad niya ako.

"Oh, just like you." sabi niya sabay kagat ng burger at kain ng fries.

Seriously, that's her lunch?

"Can you please let me finish? That's against the law Mira." sabi ko sa kanya na may pagbabanta.

Alam naman niya na ayaw ko talaga na pinuputol ako habang nagsasalita.

"I'm sorry Ms. Lawyer." then she drank her tea.

What? Burger and fries with tea? Seryoso ba siya?

"That's okay. Anyways, he's smart and a snob. Palagi na lamang siyang tahimik kahit na kinakausap ko siya." I ranted.

"Ganun ka ba talaga sa lahat ng transferee? Kasi ganyan ka rin sa akin noon." that's actually true but no. I was just trying to make friends with him.

"That's not the point Mira. Sa akin lang naman ay ako pa nga ang unang nagsalita sa aming dalawa and the fact na lalaki siya, I lower my pride for him dahil baka wala siyang kaibigan or what." That's it. Wala naman akong ibang intensiyon sa kanya.

"Crush mo ba siya?" she suddenly asked.

What the hell! No!

"What?! No?! Why would I even.." but then I ran out of words.

"See? Natameme ka noh?" pang-aasar niya sa akin.

"It's just that, what you said is unbelievable and that will not happen. Not gonna happen, not for me." I said proudly.

"Are you sure?" tapos bahagya siyang lumapit sa mukha ko bitbit ang tinidor niya na may stake pa.

Saan ba niya nilalagay ang mga kinain niya?

"Of course! Hello? He's snob and ayoko sa mga taong kapareho ko ng pangalan." kumain na lang ako para matahimik si Mira.

"Interesting." she said at bumalik na sa pagkain.

Tahimik kaming dalawa habang kumakain kasi marami pa kaming pag-uusapan mamaya. The sembreak is too long at hindi kami nakapag-usap palagi dahil busy rin kaming dalawa nung mga panahon na iyon.

Mira is taking up Bachelor of Fine Arts Major In Painting so magkaiba kami ng department kaya hindi kami masyadong nagkakasabay sa lahat.

Magkasama lang kami during break time at lunch time. Minsan lang sa free time kasi nilalaan ko yung time na yun para mag-aral at iyon din ang ginagawa ni Mira.

We're both into academics at wala kaming sports dalawa. But back when we were in high school, varsity kami sa basketball though patago ko lang iyon dahil hindi suporta si mama sa akin and ayokong sabihin kay dad para hindi sila mag-away ni mom.

You know, baka sabihin ni mom na nagsinungaling si dad para sa akin when in fact, he's just trying to mend the broken pieces that I shared with my mom.

Nang matapos kaming dalawa ni Mira, nag-usap nalang kami sa mga nangyari sa amin sa sembreak.

I told her that I went overseas with my family pero not for family outing kundi para masamahan namin si mom for her client. Sabit lang kami sa trip niya. Kami lang ni Blake at dad ang naglibot sa New York dahil always busy si mom. And right after her work, umuwi rin kami agad, nothing interesting happened. It's just me, Blake and dad.

"I was busy with my work during sembreak." she answered me after I asked her what she did during the semestral break.

"Oh. You have work?" really? I never imagined Mira running erands for someone just to get money.

I mean, we're not that rich. Its just that both of our parents have decent jobs that can sustain all of our needs. Hindi kami mayaman pero hindi rin namin matatawag ang mga sarili namin na mahirap. I think we're at the average class of the society.

"Yes, remember when I called you?" when was the last time that she called me? I couldn't recall it.

"When was that again?" tanong ko nalang sa kanya.

"Before our final exams for the first sememster." she lazily answered me.

"Oh yes, I remembered. You called because you decided to work for a company as their freelance artist. Right?" I think that's the right one.

I remembered na tumawag siya sa akin para ibalita na nag apply siya as freelance artist sa isang company. She happened to passed by their poster at wala siyang ibang magawa kasi wala naman ang mga parents niya dito kaya nag apply na lang siya. Good for her dahil natanggap pala siya.

"Exactly, and guess what?" guess what her ass.

"You got the job oviously. Don't "guess what, guess what" me." I said in a serious tone.

She just laughed it off and continue her story.

"As I was saying, iyon nga. I got the job and worked as their freelance artist. After they saw my works and paintings, ginawa nila akong full time artist the whole break and they are asking if may time pa ba ako ngayong start na naman ng klase. They even gave me their company number and they said that I am always welcome to be their artist. What do you think beb?" she explained too much.

Sumakit ang ulo ko sa mahabang sinabi ni Mira. Paano niya nagagawa iyon?

"I think it's hard na pagsabayin mo ang studies and work. Hindi naman kayo naghihirap Mira. Kayang-kaya ka pa ngang bilhan ng mga painting materials ng magulang mo kahit na hindi mo naman ginagamit." I suggested.

Para kasi sa akin, why work kung nag-aaral ka pa at kaya ka namang suportahan ng parents mo sa lahat? May mga mas nangangailan ngayon ng trabaho kaya give your spot to someone. That's my own way of solving unemployment to the society. Nilalahat kasi ng iba ang mga trabaho kahit na mayaman naman sila kaya wala ng natira para sa iba.

"You're right Keren. I'll just hit them up para e-decline ang offer nila. Ayoko namang mawala nalang bigla sa ere." she said.

"Yes. As of now, we need to focus on our studies first. First year pa lang tayo, we had a long journey ahead pa kaya focus muna." I explained to him giving emphasis to every word.

"Yes Ms. Lawyer." nakangiti niyang sabi.

"Good Ms. Artist." at nginitian ko rin siya.

Nagtawanan kaming dalawa ngunit nabigla kami ng biglang tumahimik ang mga tao sa cafeteria. May anghel ba na dumaan?

Tumingin ako kay Mira at nakatingin siya sa entrance ng cafeteria na may iritadong mukha.

"Uh oh. Embrace yourself for here comes the most annoying person that has ever existed in my life."