"But sometimes, teenage pregnancy is a blessing."

I was surprised when someone spoke. That guy caught our attention. It seems like he was listening to the conversation from the beginning, just like I am. Agad na bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang makiya ko siya. He walked to that door as he explained his side.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin, Jhon Rey?" Rhann asked. I saw how they looked confused about what Jhon Rey stated.

"Some old parents have a hard time bearing a child because they are too old. They say it's hard to conceive and give birth when you're old. And sometimes, some old parents regret it because the gap is too long between them and their child. They are worried that they might not catch up with their grandchildren."

"So you're in favor of teenage pregnancy?" Jhunel confronted. Jhon Rey looked at him. "Because that's what you are trying to say when you say that teenage pregnancy is a blessing when it must be discouraged. Most teenagers now are impulsive and just do what they want out of emotion or lust, not thinking about what the consequences will be. That is why teenage pregnancy leads to another case, which is suicide or abortion, and then poverty, and then the crime rate will increase."

Natahimik ako lalo. I just keep listening to their points, just like my classmates. We became invested in the weight of the topic they were talking about.

"Teenage pregnancy is a blessing 'sometimes' that's what I've said because sometimes, those women who ended up being pregnant at a young age use it as a drive or motivation to move forward. For those women who never experienced affection from their parents but love from their partners, it is somewhat of a blessing—having a child who will love them. I know some women at first will question themselves about why it happened. Some might get depressed, but eventually, when they see their child, all those bad feelings will vanish. And that is why I also see it as a blessing," Jhon Rey explained. I noticed how my classmates nodded.

"How can a mistake be a blessing?" Jhunel asked sarcastically. I gulped when I realized that the tension was getting higher here. I couldn't even get out of my seat.

"Are you telling me that having a baby is a mistake?" sagot naman ni Jhon Rey. Nakatitig sila sa isa't isa na para bang tinitimbang kung sinong mas tama. Napapikit na lamang ako. Mukhang tama ako, nagsisimula na naman silang magtalo.

"No. The point here is that teenage pregnancy is a problem, not the baby. You're distorting the truth." Jhunel stood up from where he was sitting. Lumapit siya kay Jhon Rey na hindi naman natinag.

Magkaharap sila na para bang nagsusukatan ng tingin. Napabuntong-hininga ako. Daig pa nila ang aso't pusa kung magtalo. Pareho naman silang may punto.

"No, it is how you perceive things. Teenage pregnancy was never a problem. Being irresponsible is."

Natahimik ang lahat. It seems that both parties are waiting for the outcome of this debate. Both of them have their own points, but who is more convincing? "Because pregnancy is a problem even though you're not a teenager anymore if both of you are not taking responsibility."

And there, he made his point clear.

My classmates were silent.

Even I.

Sinulyapan niya ako bago siya umupo sa likod ko. Agad akong kinabahan.

Heto na naman siya. Sinasaktan ang puso ko.

Pinapaalala sa akin ng presensya niya ang nangyari noong gabi. At ang mga narinig ko mula sa kaniya kanina ay lalong nagpapagulo sa isip ko. Pakiramdam ko binabawi niya na ang mga sinabi niya sa akin noong umagang 'yon. Pakiramdam ko dinudulutan niya akong muli ng pag-asa

Mabuti na lang at dumatin na ang professor namin kung kaya't nagsibalikan na ang mga kaklase ko sa kani-kanilang upuan. Umipo na rin sa tabi ko si Jhunel. Hindi niya ako tiningnan kahit isang beses.

"Alright, class, I'm just here to ask how the revisions on your research papers are going. I'll just remind you that you need to pass the hardbound on Friday. I know some professors have already given the project for final exams, but still, be prepared for the midterm exams next week. Time flies so fast. A few months from now, you all will be in the hall, finally graduating," professor said as he started to discuss some pointers to review.

The class ended.

I was contemplating the whole time whether I should approach Jhon Rey and talk to him about what happened last time. Hindi ko alam. Kailangan kong alisin itong nararamdaman ko sa loob ko. Parang sasabog na ang dibdib ko, dahil sa napipigilang damdamin. At marami din akong tanong na gusto kong mawala na sa isip ko.

I saw him go out of the room, and I gathered all the courage to chase him.

"Jhon Rey, wait!"

Tumigil siya sa paglakad at nilingon ako. Nagtagpo ang aming mga mata. At sa sandaling iyon, muli na namang nahirapan ang puso kong huminga.

"P-pwede ba tayong mag-usap?"

"Tungkol saan?" he asked bluntly.

"About what happened that night." I bit my lip and looked down. I couldn't look at him straight. I can feel my hands shaking, and my knees have become weak.

"Not today, Sheen. Can you give me some time to think about what happened to us? And also to reflect on what I said at that time. It looks like I hurt you with what I've said. Would that be fine? Can you wait?"

Tumunghay ako para tagpuin ang mga mata niyang puno ng kalungkutan na para bang nakikiusap. Nakaramdam din ako ng lungkot. I began to understand what he was trying to say. I nodded.

He tapped my shoulder before he walked away. I was just standing there, looking for him to vanish.

Maybe, just like me, natatakot din siya sa posibilidad na mangyari dahil sa ginawa namin. Baka nga kinakabahan lang din siya katulad ko. Siguro nga'y mas makabubuting hintayin ko muna siya. Bigyan ko muna siya ng oras para makapag-isip. I'll just pray here nonstop that nothing bad will happen so that I can truly avoid him and not approach him anymore. And act like there's nothing between us.

Lumipas ang mga araw na hinahayaan ko lang si Jhon Rey. Hindi ko siya pinapansin o kinakausap man lang. Ni hindi ko siya tinitingnan. At napansin 'yon ni Anne Marie, kaya naman wala siyang ginawa kung hindi asarin ako na para daw nagbago ang ihip ng hangin. Hindi ko naman magawang ikuwento sa kaniya ang lahat dahil naisip kong mas makabubuting walang nakakaalam at baka iyon din ang gusto ni Jhon Rey—na walang makaalam tungkol sa nangyari sa aming dalawa.

Napansin din ng mga kaklase ko ang hindi namin pagpapansinan ni Jhon Rey. Iniisip na nilang naghiwalay na kami at iyon puno na naman sila ng panghihilakbot sa akin. Mabuti na nga lang sigurong hayaan na ang mga bibig na walang ibang ginawa kundi ang pag-usapan ang ibang tao. Kapag pinatulan pa ay mas lalo lang gugulo ang mundo. I should take care of my research paper now and focus on myself.

Kasalukuyan akong nasa library at nagpapa-print ng anim na kopya ng revised research laper ko. Pagkatapos nito ay ipapasa ko na lang ang book bound sa Biyernes katulad ng bilin sa amin ng prof namin.

Mabilis na lumipas ang isang oras at natapos na ang mga papel ko. The guy who managed the printing called me to give me the copies. I paid for it and was about to leave the library when Dhonna and Klarissa blocked my path.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako. Kahit kailan talaga. Handang-handa silang sirain ang araw ko.

"It looks like you're almost done with the research paper. How about you revise our papers too?"

Agad na napataas ang kilay ko. "Why would I do that?" I asked bluntly.

They both glanced at each other and laughed together. Pinanatili kong mahina ang boses ko dahil nasa loob pa kami ng library. Hindi ko na gusto pang makipag-away. Masyado ko nang nararamdaman ang pagod ngayong araw. Revising the research paper is a headache, and now they want me to do theirs. Patayin na lang nila ako, mabuti pa.

I sighed again, thinking that if I disagreed, they would surely make a scene, and my name would be ruined entirely in this school even before I graduated. How lucky I am, right?

"Why would you do that?" Dhonna repeated this as she walked towards me. She smirked. "Bakit? Do you want me to tell your father that something happened between you and Jhon Rey? You should be afraid of me because, with one wrong move, you're dead."

Nagngitngit ang mha ngipin ko. I thought this kind of bullying and blackmail only happened in movies. How lucky they are to have such time to act like children, dahil ako wala na akong panahon. Bakit ba hindi na lang sila tumino at hayaan ako sa buhay ko? Why are they torturing me now, all of a sudden, when graduation is just a few months away? I just wanted to be alive until graduation and wanted to fulfill my Latin honors. That's the only thing I can be proud of, and I couldn't afford to lose it.

"Walang nangyari sa amin ni Jhon Rey, so can you stop acting like a child?" I tried to lie, but they are keen to smell their kind.

"Oh, you're not a good liar."

I was surprised when Dhonna took an envelope from Klarissa. She opened it and flashed the shots in my face. It was Jhon Rey and I kissing.

"What if I bring these pictures to your father?"

Napapikit ako habang pinipigilan ang pagluha. Huminga ako habang pinahihinto ang sarili sa pagbugso ng emosyon. I never thought that they would have this kind of picture. I thought I had escaped from my father's minion; hindi pa pala. I was really surrounded by demons.

"You know what? We were just planning to find something from Jhon Rey when we went to his birthday party, like what was the reason he suddenly transferred to our school, but then we discovered this... A treasure," natatawa nilang kuwento habang ipinaparanya sa akin ang mga litrato naming dalawa ni Jhon Rey.

"We never thought that you'd be there too, Sheen. Making out with the son of your father's rival in the company. Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng ama mo kapag nakita niya ito? Na magkasama kayo sa kwarto ni Jhon Rey. He will definitely have a heart attack from getting betrayed by his daughter."

I stay back. I want to tweak them and slap them big time. Why do they keep doing this to me? Why can't they stop pestering me? Why, of all the people they chose to oppress, did they choose me? What can they get from bullying me?

"So now, would you do our research paper or will we spread your pictures all over the campus so your reputation will be ruined and your desire to be a cum laude will be out of your reach?"

I glared at them. Wala na akong pagpipilian pa kundi sundin ang gusto nila kaysa naman malaman ni dad at ng lahat ng tao ang ginawa ko ng gabing 'yon. I feel less and less about myself now.

Why can't things go my way?

I breathed deeply and stared at them in defeat. I was about to speak when suddenly someone took pictures from Dhonna's hand and tore them.

"Stop acting like a kid."

I was surprised to see him. His face showed such anger that even Dhonna was afraid of him.

"Stop pestering my woman."