A Place to Stay (Arki Series #1)

Chapter 05

Naunang nagpaalam si Santi at si Waffle, yung golden retriever na kalaro ni Pancho. Parang ayaw pa nga umalis nung goldie, natuwa yata'ng gawing chew toy  yung buntot ni Pancho ko.
Santi gave me his words that he'll encourage his friends to donate sa shelter namin. 

Pancho and I stayed at the pool area for a bit more hanggang sa naalala ko'ng may duty ako sa shelter nang hapon. Kaya kahit parang labag pa sa loob ni Pancho na bumalik sa condo ni Keiji, ay binitbit ko na siya. Literal na binitbit ko kasi ayaw maglakad, para tuloy akong may karga na ten years old sa laki ni Pancho.

Mabilis lang naman kami pinagbuksan ng pinto ni Keiji, but this time, mukhang bagong ligo na ito.

He didn't say anything when he let us in. Pinakain ko muna ulit si Pancho ng lunch slash dinner niya bago ako nag-ayos para umalis. Kapag ganitong busog at pagod sa paglalaro si Pancho ay nakakatulog agad siya. He lay on his sleeping den, unan unan niya yung paborito niyang teddy bear.

After seeing that Pancho is well settled, tumayo na ako para magpaalam kay Keiji na aalis na.

"Alis na ko! Balik ulit ako bukas, same time, bago ang klase ko" I told him.

"It's Sunday," he said eyeing my paper tube and t-square, "May klase pa rin mga Arki kahit Linggo?"

"Ah! Hindi ako sa UST pupunta, sa ano..." My voice lowered. I glanced at sleeping Pancho bago bahagyang lumapit kay Keiji para bumulong, "May duty ako sa shelter" I told him.

"Shelter?" He said out loud. Nasampal ko ang noo ko sa lakas ng boses niya. Ibinulong ko nga lang eh!
"Don't tell me magdadala ka na naman ng aso dito!?" He accused me.

"Hindi ah!" Ano'ng akala nito sa'kin, abusado? But we stopped arguing noong naramdaman namin na may nakatingin sa amin. Our eyes comically turned to Pancho, na ngayon ay nakaupo sa sahig at titig na titig sa akin.
"Ayan tuloy! Ibinulong ko na nga pinarinig mo naman!"

"What? I didn't do anything!"

"Na-e-excite siya whenever he hears the word 'shelter'" and as if it's a trigger word, Pancho perks up hearing that word. He excitedly tugged on the hem of my shirt, hinihila ako papunta ng pinto.
I sighed.
"Hindi kita pwede'ng ibalik 'don, Pare ko! Dito na bahay mo eh" I told the poor dog.

Lumakad ako papunta ng sleeping den niya at itinuro iyon.
"Bilis na, tulog ka na ulit" I told Pancho pero bumaba lang ang tenga nito and stubbornly sat near the door. He looked between me and the door, wanting to go out para pumunta ng shelter.

I was left with no choice but to lure him with treats kahit kakakain niya lang. Pumunta naman sa akin nung nakita yung doggie biscuit. After eating the treat, nahiga ito sa sahig, asking for a belly rub.

"Bakit hindi mo nalang kasi isama sa shelter?" Keiji asked, sitting down on his couch. Nakatitig siya sa labas ang dila na si Pancho.

"Hindi nga pwede, baka hindi na sumama palabas sa akin 'to kapag bumalik kami doon" I said, "I told you, Pancho stayed at the shelter after being rescued. That was his home. Sadly, he no longer have a place there"

"How long was he in there?" He asked, curious.

Nilingon ko si Keiji, "We rescued him almost four years ago, freshie ako that time and new recruit ng shelter. He was so small back then, sobrang payat, tapos..." I sighed as I rub Pancho's belly.