See You Soon, Love

Chapter 14

14

"Yes please, ganoon parin. Fifty of that. And add more treats, please. Thank you." I said through my phone then hanged up.

Nagbihis ako ng puting long sleeve shirt dress and brown flat sandals. I just let my hair be dahil hanggang leeg lang iyon. Then a brown handbag too to complete the outfit.

It is Monday today and I decided to go to House of Joy Foundation kahit hindi Saturday. May flight kasi ako bukas papuntang Cebu at Thursday na ako makakabalik ng Manila and it's Tita Celeste's birthday after that kaya baka hindi ulit ako makapunta kung hindi ako pupunta ngayon.

Napangiti ako nang nakarating na at sinalubong nina Sister Pat at Sister Grace. They are wearing their grey clothing they usually wear and a viel in their heads. Sister Grace is much more younger than Sister Pat at matanda lang sa akin ng ilang taon.

Sinalubong naman ako ng ilang workers doon para kunin ang mga paper bags na dala ko. Early Christmas presents ang laman ng mga bags because it's almost Christmas and I give the children gifts during this time of the year.

"Good morning, kamusta po?" I smiled and held Sister Pat's hand.

"Sobrang excited ng mga bata nang nalaman nilang pupunta ka. Nasanay kasi silang Sabado ka pumupunta." She smiled and I smiled too.

Miss ko na nga rin pumunta dito dahil hindi ako nakapunta last month dahil may emergency sa Treecup at nagpadala lang ako ng mga tauhan para umasikaso sa mga bata.

"Pasensya na po hindi ako nakapunta last month. Pupunta kasi ako ng Cebu at baka hindi makapunta sa susunod na Sabado kaya sinigurado kong makabisita this month."

"Sus, walang problema Miss Ali. Siguradong miss ka na rin ng mga iyon. Pasok ka." Magaan niyang sinabi.

The kids are done with their 12 pm prayer at tuwing ganoong oras na ako pumupunta para sa lunch nila. I also donate every three months and I plan on organizing an official charity for them.

I don't know why I am very fond of kids simula pa lang noong nag twenty ako na imbes magkaroon ng selebrasyon, I chose to have a simple family dinner and donated everything to this orphanage. That was the most satisfying thing and decision I made so far. Dahil kung hindi dahil doon, hindi ko makikilala ang maraming batang tinatanaw ko ngayon.

Maybe because I grew up alone. Maybe because of wanting to have a sibling so bad na hindi naibigay ng mga magulang ko kaya sobrang nasiyahan ako nang nakasalamuha ang mga bata.

And I don't know why everytime I come here, I become a completely different person. I am calmer and I smile more often. I treat them like people who doesn't deserve to be treated in a bad way. Like people who deserve all the care and kindness of this world.

"Ate Ali!" Kiko called nang nakita ako kaya napalingon na rin ang ibang mga bata.

Tumakbo siya palapit sa akin kaya lumuhod ako para salubungin siya. He hugged me tight and smiled widely at me after.

Tumayo ako para salubungin ang iba. Everyone called my name and has stories to tell. Nakangiti lang ako habang sinasalubong sila habang sina Sister Pat ay inaawat na ang mga bata.

"Tama na 'yan. Maiinitan ang Ate Ali niyo." Suway niya na may ngiti rin.

They are ranging from two to seven years old. May ilang nasa sampu o higit na ang edad at hindi na gaanong nakikisalubong. May iba namang nahihiya pa kaya sila ang lalapitan ko sa araw na 'to.

Kiko, Ashyra, and Daniel are three of my closest friends here. They are very attentive and will always have something to say kaya naman sobrang napalapit ako sa kanila.