I didn't consider my dad as someone na katatakutan ng mga classmate ko o kahit sino sa school. He works for a development corporation. He holds an executive position in the company that specializes in the construction of houses, condos, and other related shits. Though he's a friendly man, he's the same one who would say, "Punch me, and you'll see."

I'd consider him nice because my stepdad was the worst one—not an evil kind, but he always served justice cold. Gerry would never choose the "we settle this in school" kind of revenge. He would just . . . just break everything they thought must break. Daredevil ang family ko sa Canada, and Daddy was just some "daddy guy" out there doing some paperwork and stuff.

Exposed ang mukha ng mga "suspect" sa video, so pinatawag sila sa dean's office. The problem was that most of them weren't my fucking classmates. They came from different programs and belonged to different classes where I enrolled.

Like, in all fairness naman sa mga classmate ko, never nilang naisipang pagtulungan ako sa classroom. Probably because I didn't really mess with them because that was so fucking stupid. Then there were these bitches . . .

Two of them came from the ICT department. Three came from the hospitality management. One came from the tourism management.

Naka-line sila sa may pader ng office ng dean namin sa business and management.

"Can you explain this to us?" the dean asked, showing the video on his own phone after he searched for the link where Daddy saw it.

All of them were silent, elbowing each other to answer the dean.

The dean continued, "According sa ating handbook, 'Students are entitled to be free from all forms of prejudice and harm.' And this?" He showed the video. "This is clear evidence for expulsion."

"Sir!" sabay-sabay nilang pagkontra.

"Sir, joke lang naman po 'yan!"

"Joke?!" malakas na sagot ni Daddy. "You call this a joke? I want to see your parents."

"Hindi na po kami bata," sagot ng isa kay Daddy sabay tingin sa 'kin para ipakitang hindi sila gaya ko na nagdadala ng parents sa school.

"Ah! That's a good point!" Daddy retorted. "Since hindi na kayo bata, and you didn't want your parents to be involved here, then let's put it in adult's way." Daddy dialed the phone. He gazed at the girls while making a phone call. "Attorney?"

Napatakip ako bigla ng bibig ko.

"I want to file a civil case for six Saint Helier students. I'll get their names, kasuhan mo ng physical injury. I want that case to be filed ASAP."

Uh-oh.

"Sir!" kontra na naman nila.

"Mr. Marcello, we can settle this first before filing a case," the dean conceded. "Mag-apologize na lang kayo, mga hija—"

"Sorry, Mr. Almario, but I will never accept any apology from anyone who meant what they did," Daddy defended. "They're not even sorry for it. Sinagot pa 'ko, nakita mo naman. Tingin mo ba, sincere ang apology nila? Punishment exists for this kind of situation, and they must face the consequences of their actions."

"Mr. Marcello, mga bata pa kasi. We can discuss this—"

"The words didn't come from my mouth, and I'm sure you heard what they said, Mr. Almario. Hindi na nga raw sila bata. Kung ayaw nilang dalhin ang parents nila rito, then magkita-kita tayo sa presinto."

"Bully rin naman 'yang anak n'yo, e!" sumbong ng isa kay Daddy.

Oh come on.

Diring-diri ang tingin ko sa HM student na nagsumbong.

"Bully ang anak ko?" sagot ni Daddy at nagkrus ng mga braso sabay taas ng mukha, naghahamon. "What did my daughter do to you para masabi mong bully siya? Sinapak ka ba niya? Sinipa ka ba? Tell me. Makikinig ako. Ipapaospital pa kita kung talaga ngang sinaktan ka."

The bitch inhaled deeply and glanced at her bitch friends. None of them answered my dad's question.

"See? Wala. Gusto n'yo lang talaga siyang pagtulungan. Sa dami n'yong 'yan, ha?"

"Marami naman talaga siyang kaaway, e!" sagot pa ng isa.

"Really?" sarcastic na sagot ni Daddy. "Okay. Sige, I'll be fair with you, girls. Name all the victims of my daughter, iharap n'yo sa 'kin, mag-file tayo ngayon ng penalty para sa inyo at para sa anak ko." Nilingon niya ang dean namin. "Mr. Almario, please do me a favor. If my daughter really bullied anyone in this school, bring them here, parusahan ang dapat parusahan, kahit anak ko pa 'yan."

All I did was cringe at the situation. Surely, Dad wouldn't back out with what he dropped.

The dean called his assistant outside his office. He left me and Daddy on the visitor's chair. The guilty students went out of the office along with the dean para kausapin sila nang masinsinan, although tanaw pa rin naman sila mula sa puwesto namin ni Daddy.

Busy lang si Daddy sa phone niya. Ayoko na lang magsalita. After all, I didn't summon him. Kung ako ang namilit na pumunta siya rito, malamang na marami akong sasabihin. E, siya naman ang nagkusa.

*** other viewpoint ***

"I'm not sure about what's happening, guys, pero ang sabi ng assistant ni Mr. Almario, pumunta raw sa office niya ngayon ang mga na-bully ni Ravenna Marcello," utos ng lalaking prof sa mga estudyante niyang second year ng BACOMM.

Sunod-sunod ang pagpapakalat ng mga assistant ng dean ng business and management sa bawat room para lang ipatawag ang lahat ng nabiktima ni Ravenna sa sinasabing pambu-bully raw nito.

"Don't worry. Safe kayong lahat na aamin," paalala ng mga nagpapatawag.

Pero bawat estudyanteng naroon, kahit kilala si Ravenna ay walang ibang nagawa kundi magpalitan lang ng mga tingin.

"Girls?" tawag ng babaeng prof sa isang room ng mga second year BSCM.

Sabay-sabay silang umiling dahil wala naman sa kanila ang nakaaway o inaway ni Ravenna. Pero sabay-sabay silang naghanap ng sagot sa mga lalaki sa room.

"Boys at the back?" tawag ng prof.

"Ma'am, wala naman po," sagot ng isang lalaking estudyante na madalas makita sa night race. Nilingon pa niya si Salvador na ex-boyfriend ni Ravenna.

Bored na sumagot ang binata. "We're good with Venn. Ask those na nasa Retail, ma'am. Baka sila, may complaint."

Bawat isang room, hinanapan ng maaaring tumestigo laban kay Ravenna, pero halos lahat sila, kung hindi ituturo ang mga lalaking madalas na kalaban nito sa panggabing karera, huling ituturo ang section kung saan ito pumapasok.

"Anyone?" tanong ng lalaking prof sa mga second year BSRTCS.

Lahat sila ay tumingin kay Deacon na dismayadong nakakatanggap ng nag-uutos na tingin nilang lahat.

Wala na siyang nagawa kundi tumayo na lang.

"I'll talk to the dean, sir," paalam niya. "Puwede po akong mag-excuse sa class."

"Go ahead," sagot ng propesor.

"Thank you, sir."

*** Ravenna ***

It's been thirty-four minutes since the announcement, and no one was still in the dean's office.

Waiting pa rin ang mga nam-bully sa 'kin sa mahabang bench malapit sa pintuan ng office. Kanina pa kausap ni Daddy ang attorney niya. Nasa call na rin ang dean para ibalita sa admin ang plano ni Daddy.

Gusto nga kasing i-settle na lang dito sa office mismo. E, ayaw nga ng daddy ko.

Waiting pa kami sa decision ng tinatawag ng dean. Nag-reach out na siya sa office ng school president at sa legal office ng school na nasa kabilang building para ma-settle na 'to ngayon pa lang.

We were waiting for those na na-bully ko nga raw para maging witness for my punishment when Deacon knocked on the dean's door.

The faces of these bitches near the doorway lightened up as they saw Raccoon's face—might be assuming he'd save their asses today.

"Excuse me, Dean. Good morning po," he greeted.

"Yes?" the dean answered.

Raccoon stole a glance at me, then shifted his gaze toward the dean.

"I'm here for Ravenna Marcello."

♥♥♥