Peter was a cheerful and diligent student. He used to be in the honor roll in his class. He makes himself busy with his academics. You will always see him with his friends. Among the students, he was a favorite. Everybody in school likes him. He was a role model. Peter was an icon in his school. Was...
That was before he changed. Nobody really knows or understands what had happened. The used-to-be smart and cheerful student had vanished. The person being envied by others is now being hated by many. He had become an enemy to the eyes of the teacher. The law-abiding student is now a number one rule breaker in the school campus. He began bullying students and for that he was also feared by many. And yet, nobody knows what had really happened.
It all started when this new girl came into the scene. She was very pretty and intelligent. She was the "perfect girl", as the guys put it. She's so perfect that even the most popular student in school, Peter, had fancied her. Her name is Maya. And lucky for Peter, they're in the same classroom.
However, its not only Peter who fancies this "perfect girl". It seems everybody in school also likes her. Even, the most notorious law breaker and the number one eacher's enemy, Franco like Maya.
Franco seems to be the most unlikeable person in the campus. He's a school bully and always gets into trouble. However, whenever Maya is around he is very nice. He is either keen to the idea that generally, girls don't like bullies or he just want to earn Maya's trust.
Franco would always find time to walk with Maya along the corridors on their way to the cafeteria. He would buy her food. Maya, however, didn't find this as an amusing idea. She would try to avoid all occasions wherein Franco would try to walk her home.
Peter, on the other hand, could not muster his confidence to approach Maya. He was very hesitant to come near her. He doesn't want to be alone with her in the same room. He would avoid circumstances where he would be talking alone with her in a long time. Peter is afraid of rejection. But, it seems fate is toying with them.
One afternoon, after the student council meeting, Peter was left alone in the student council room. He was arranging the project proposals they have. He was very busy that he didn't notice that somebody entered the room. It was Maya. Maya greeted him and asked if she could stay since it was raining really hard outside. When realizing that who the person was, he became nervous and began dropping all the things he's holding. Maya had noticed this and smiled. She asked him why he was so restless. Then, since he cannot take it anymore to hide his feelings, he told him that he really likes her. Maya laughed. She told him that the first time she entered the school, it was him, Peter, that she finds really cool. She told him that she likes him also. They talked for hours that they didn't notice it was already dark. Peter volunteered to accompany Maya on her way home. Ever since that incident an intimate closeness had developed. Peter didn't seem to be uneasy whenever Maya is around. They became really good friends (or maybe more than friends).
This closeness was noticed by Franco. And he didn't like it. He was jealous. It was enough that Peter was the school favorite, but not Maya's he said to himself. If he couldn't get Maya, nobody will. He thought of a plan.
So after school, when there are only few people left at school, he approach Maya. He said that Peter was looking for her. He said that Peter will be needing her help in the student council room. They both went to the student council room. She saw that Peter was tied up on a chair. He couldn't shout! Maya demanded an explanation but Franco was already holding a knife. Maya was hysterical. Peter was struggling to escape to help Maya. Franco grabbed her. He began kissing her all over and dropped the knife. Maya, crying and looking for a way to escape, grabbed the knife. (Peter still struggling really hard). And, while Franco was struggling to undress her, Maya stabbed him. She dropped the knife and began shouting for help. However, to stop the wailing, Franco who is still bleeding and has little strength began stabbing her at the back until she dropped dead on the floor. He lied down (still in pain) and laughed (now coughing and began vomiting blood). Peter was furious and struggled really hard to escape. He was able to cut loose and picked up the knife and stabbed Franco four more times before the door swung open. The security guard and other school personnel came in. They were stunned to see Peter holding the knife with two dead bodies around him. He was sitting, looking at the floor, speechless. They began questioning him on what happened but couldn't get straight answers.
A different story erupted among the student body. The story that he killed his two classmates spread like wild fire. People began to hate him for what had happened.
Peter is still haunted by the thought that he couldn't do anything to save Maya. He thought of himself as weak. That's why he started an image of himself as someone who everybody would fear.
At ngayo'y nagbabalik ang bida nating probinsyano at ang kanyang mga kwelang pakikibaka.
(Si Tano pumasok sa isang Barber Shop upang magpagupit. Siya'y lumapit sa nag-iisang barbero na naroon.)
Nakasando lamang ang barbero at kitang kita ang korte ng kanyang pangangatawan. Ang uniporme nito ay nakasabit sa sandalan ng upuan. Malaki at maskulado ang pangangatawan nitong barbero. Mas bagay pa siya maging gym insructor kaysa maging barbero.. Kinausap ni Tano ang barbero.
Tano: Uhm, manong. Pwede po bang magpagupit?
Barbero: Haha! Ano pa ba pinunta mo dito, kakain? Sige, umupo ka muna dito habang inaayos ko mga gagamitin ko.
Umupo nga si Tano at pinanuod ang barbero habang inaayos nito ang mga gunting, twalyang mainit (nagtataka si Tano para saan iyon), at mga matatalim na bagay na tila balisong (labaha lang iyon). Nang magsisimula na sana ang barbero, biglang may pumasok na babae.
Babae: Kuya, kuya! Nahuli na ang magnanakaw. Nasa police station na ngayon. Kailangan ka daw doon para sa pag sampa ng kaso. Dali!
Barbero: Mamaya nalang! May customer ako.
Babae: Importante daw na ngayon mo maasikaso kasi maraming pa daw "paper works" ang kailangan. At sandali lang daw iyon pipirma ka lang daw.
Barbero: Hala, sige, sandali lang kamo? Ikaw, anong pangalan mo?
(sasagot sana si Tano ngunit pinutol ito ng magsalita ulit ang barbero)
Barbero: Babalik ako agad. Hintayin mo ako dito. Huwaag mo papakialaman ang mga gamit ko. Kung may papasok na ibang customer sabihin mo babalik ako. Sige salamat, pre.
(At umalis nga ang barbero kasama ng babae at iniwan ang kawawang probinsyanong mag-isa sa barbershop.)
Nainip si Tano at sinubukang maglibut-libot sa loob ng barbershop. Nakita niya ang mga iba't ibang gunting. Nakita niya rin ang isang bagay na animo'y pagkudkod ng yelo (razor) kaya lang ay sinasaksak ito. Nahagilap ni Tano ang uniporme ng barbero. Sinukat niya ito. Napakalaki nito para sa kanya. Tinitignan tignan niya ang kanyang sarili sa salamin nang biglang:
Blang!
Bumukas ang pinto at may lalaking pumasok at tila ito'y hinahabol ng aso dahil sa pagmamadali nito.
Lalake: Magpapagupit ako, facial, at papatanggal ko din itong balbas ko. Kailangan ko mabilis! Dapat maging maayos ako tignan. Nagmamadali ako may meeting akong pupuntahan! Ikaw lang ba ang barbero dito?!
Tano: uhm, ako po?
Lalake: Oo, ikaw! Ikaw ang naka unipormeng pambarbero dito diba? Mabilis ka bang magtrabaho?! Bilisan mo na at magtrabaho ka na.
Tano: Di po ako...
Lalake: Wala nang maraming salit. Get to work!
(Umupo ang lalake.)
Hindi alam ni Tano ang gagawin. Nakasandal at tila matutulog ang lalake. Naalala ni Tano ang pelikulang kanyang napanood na kung saan ang bidang lalake ay pumunta sa barbershop at nagpagupit. Kinuha ni Tano ang mainit na twalya na ngayo'y medyo malamig lamig na. Pinunas niya ito sa mukha, kamay, leeg at kung saan-saan pa.
Lalake: Hoy! Anong ginagawa mo? Bakit mo pinupunas yan? Ilagay mo nga yan sa mukha ko.
At nang ilalagay na ni Tano ang twalya...
Lalake: Bakit mo ilalagay yan sa mukha ko?
Tano: Sabi mo, ilagay sa mukha mo?
Lalake: Oo nga! Pero hindi iyan. Pinunas mo na yan sa katawan ko. Marumi na yan para ilagay pa sa mukha ko. Kumuha ka ng bago dun! Ganito ba kayo dito? Mga dugyot! Urgh!
At kumuha si Tano ng bagong twalya. Mainit na mainit ang twalya. Hinahawakan lamang niya ito sa dulo. Nilapitan niya na ang lalake at nilagay ang napaka-init na twalya sa mukha nito.
Lalake: Araaayyyy! Ang init! Bakit hindi mo muna pinalamig ng kahit konti? Ano ka ba? Marunong ka ba talaga?! Baguhan ka siguro no?!
Tano: Ay, patawad po. Patawad.
Lalake: Sige tama na nga ang facial! Tanggalin mo nalang ang balbas at bigote ko. Tapos gupitan mo na ako.
Inalala nanaman ni Tano ang pelikulang napanood niya kung saan may eksena na nasa barbershop ang bida.
Tano: Ah! Itong "balisong" ang ginamit nung barbero.
Lumapit si Tano at gagamitin na sana ang labaha sa lalake.
Lalake: Oy oy! Ano gagawin mo? Bakit gagamitin mo na agad yan? Wala pa ngang shaving cream!
Tano: Ow! Opo, opo. Sige po. Patawad po ulit.
Lalake: Hay, ano ba to? Tatanga-tanga.
Nilagyan ni Tano ng shaving cream ang mukha ng lalake na kumalat hanggang ilog at mata ng lalake. At muli nag complain ito. Tinanggal ang sobrang shaving cream. Nagumpisa si Tano tanggalin ang balbas at bigote ng lalake. Nang natapos si Tano, nakita niyang pulang pula ang mukha ng lalake dahil puro sugat ito. Buti nalang tulog ito at hindi masyadong napapansin.
Nagumpisa na si Tano maggupit. Kinuha niya ang tila electric kudkoran ng yelo (naalala nanaman ang pelikulang napanood). Ginupitan niya ang lalake: Hindi pantay-pantay ang gupit. Tila ang gingupit ni Tano ay mga damo sa paligid. Nang malapit na matapos ang karumal dumal na paggugupit ni Tano ay biglang....
Blang! Bumukas nanaman ang pinto. At nakatayo doon ang barbero.
Barbero: Anong ginagawa mo?! Ano iyan?!!!
Nagising ang lalake.
Lalake: Anong kaguluhan ito? Sino ka? Aano nangyari sa mukha ko? Sa buhok ko.
Barbero: Ako lang naman ang barbero dito.
Lalake: Eh sino ito?! (tinuro si Tano, na nakangiti tila batang nang-iinis habang siya'y galit na galit na)
Barbero: Customer ko iyan!
Lalake: Ikaw! Humanda ka sa ginawa mo.
Barbero: Lumapit ka dito! Sisirain mo pa ang negosyo ko!
Lalake at Barbero: Hoy! Bumalik ka dito!!!!!
(Kumaripas ng takbo si Tano palayo sa barbershop habang sumisigaw ng "PATAWAD")
