Entry #3
April 1, 2000
Dear Ary,
Its been 2 or 3 days, I think? Nang hindi ako nakapagsulat. Well, to tell you this, I was grounded. Remember when I help the little girl to find her parents? Inabot ako ng madaling araw. We were lost while searching for her parents. Hindi na nga ako nakakain because I don't have my money with me. Ilang oras na kami naghahanap ng batang babae pero hindi namin mahanap. I ask some people if they notice two person looking for the girl. Pero halos hindi nila alam kung saan o kung nakita ba nila ang mga ito.
It saddened the little girl and started crying again. Binuhat ko ulit siya at pinatahan. Hindi kami tumigil sa paghahanap. I planned to go to the police station but its so far. Kakailangan pa namin sumakay ng jeep pati ng tricycle para lang makarating doon. We have no choice but to keep searching. I was determined to find her parents until this night ends.
Hindi ko na naisip yong mararamdaman ni mommy pag nalaman niyang nawawala ko. It will hurt her, I know. But I needed to do this. There is something about this girl that I cannot explain. Ayoko siyang nakikitang umiiyak o nalulungkot.
Midnight came, while we were walking to the park, we heard a police siren coming towards our direction. Nabuhay ang loob ko dahil baka ito na yong chance ko na mahanap na ang magulang ng bata. But looks like, its the other way around.
The police was searching for us also. The police was with my mom and dad. And I notice kasama rin nila ang parents ng bata. Both of them are worried of us. Well, except my dad again. Nang tinignan ko siya, there is no emotion evident in his face.
Sumikip ang dibdib ko. Wala talaga siyang pakialam sa'kin. He's disappointed at me. Again.
Dahil nakatulog sakin yong bata habang buhat-buhat ko, ay maingat kinuha ng nanay niya ang bata. She thanked for taking care of her daughter. I genuinely smiled at her, pero nawala rin agad dahil nalungkot ako na hindi ko na makikita ang batang babae. I didn't get the chance to ask her name.
Nang makuha nila sa'kin ang bata ay umiiyak na niyakap ako ni mommy. She's telling what she was so worried. She got hysterically right after she knows that I'm missing.
Nag-sorry ako sa kanya at sinabi na babawi ako. Na hindi ko na rin uulitin yon. She's still crying while she's hugging me.
Nang makarating kami sa bahay ay pinagalitan ako ni dad. Na bakit daw iniwan ko si mommy at ang kapatid ng walang paalam. He told that I'm irresponsible because I didn't take care of my sick mother.
I remain silent habang kinakagalitan niya ako. Nakokonsensya ako. I forgot that my mother was sick. Tapos iniwan ko pa kapatid ko. Inisip ko lang ang sarili ko. I didn't put in mind that I should prioritize my mother and my sister the most.
As a punishment, he confiscated my gadget and didn't let me go outside the house for a week.
Bukas na lang ulit ako magsusulat. And I hope, I will meet that little girl again.
-Skyler
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Posted: February 2, 2019
