NAKAHARAP SA SILANGAN ANG BINTANA NG opisina ni Mrs. Balaton kaya mainit sa loob at maliwanag kahit walang nakasinding ilaw. Pagpasok sa pinto ay bubungad agad ang mesa nitong puno ng papel, folders at envelopes sa ibabaw. Sa isang gilid ng silid ay may mataas na bookshelf. Mas marami iyong lamang file folders kaysa aklat. Sa kabilang gilid naman ay may stand fan.
Umupo si Mrs. Balaton sa kanyang upuan sa likod ng mesa. Nanatili namang nakatayo ang tatlong estudyante kahit pa may dalawang bakanteng upuan sa harap nila. Hindi rin naman iyon inialok sa kanila ng prefect.
Ganito ang puwesto ng mga pinatawag na estudyante. Kapag nakaharap sa mesa, nasa kanan malapit sa pintuan si Makho. Nasa kaliwa naman si Russel. Nasa pagitan nilang dalawa si Jhustin. Lahat sila ay tahimik na nakatayo, nasa likuran ang mga kamay at bahagyang nakayuko.
“Jhustin, explain yourself,” panimula ni Mrs. Balaton. “Why did you hit Russel?”
“Ma’am, nang-aasar po s’ya.”
“That’s not true, Ma’am,” singit ni Russel.
“Russel, please stop talking,” saway ng prefect. “You’ll have your turn later. Jhustin, please continue.”
Itinuloy ni Jhustin ang pagkukuwento sa mga nangyari, mula sa paglalakad nila ni Makho galing sa CR hanggang sa pag-ubo kunwari ni Russel. Kinontra naman iyon ng binatukan niya at sinabing talagang naubo siya. “What’s wrong with ‘jusko po’?” dagdag pa nito sa kanyang pahayag.
“Ma’am, lahat po sila, binibigyan ng malisya `yong pagkakaibigan namin ni Makho. Ginawan po nila kami ng—”
“Yes, Mr. Almario, I’m aware of that.” Umayos ng upo ang prefect. “I know about the gossips and I know about that.” Tumingin siya kay Russel. “Mr. Dionisio, don’t play innocent here. You’re a member of the Student Council, so I expect more from you as a role model for other students. You know what’s wrong with your ‘jusko po’? It’s not as innocent a remark as how you want it to sound.”
Lalong napayuko si Russel. Nagpatuloy naman sa pagsasalita si Mrs. Balaton.
“You won’t get suspended, Mr. Dionisio, but keep in mind that your record is no longer spotless. This is your first warning. You may now go back now to your classroom.”
Tahimik na lumabas ng office si Russel. Nang makaalis ito ay hinarap naman ng prefect si Makho.
“Mr. Salvador, why did you do what you did? I thought you were preventing Mr. Almario here from going amok. What’s gotten into you?”
“I’m sorry, Ma’am,” sabi ni Makho. “But if my friend go down, I go down, too.”
Napatingin si Jhustin sa kaibigan.
“Saka, Ma’am,” patuloy ni Makho, “`di ko naman po nilakasan `yong batok kay Russel. Mahina lang po `yon.”
Pinigilan ni Mrs. Balaton ang mangiti. “Mr. Salvador, how you treat your friends is admirable. But what you did back there was still wrong.”
“I know, Ma’am, and I’m sorry. I will accept your punishment.”
“No,” sabi ni Jhustin. “It’s my fault, Mrs. Balaton. If someone needs to be punished, it’s me. Just me.”
Napatingin si Makho sa kaibigan.
“Okay, you two.” Tumayo si Mrs. Balaton at pumuwesto sa harap ng kanyang mesa. “None of you will get punished, but consider this your final warning. I understand your situation, I do.” Biglang naging malumanay ang boses niya. “Wala akong pakialam kung may namamagitan man sa inyong dalawa o wala. It’s none of my business. Pero `wag naman kayong mananakit ng ibang tao, kahit gaano pa sila kamalisyoso.
“If you hear people talking behind your back, if they say nasty things about you, or if they bully you because of your sexual preference or your gender, don’t get even. Sabihin n’yo sa akin, and I will handle it myself. I’m your ally. I will protect you, all of you. That’s my job as your prefect of discipline. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Sabay na tumango ang magkaibigan.
“Remember, this is your final warning. All right, you may now go back to your respective classrooms.”