A Close Second

Ninth

"Ate, baka po may barya kayo ng kaunti diyan?"

The little girl was looking up at me. She was about seven or eight years old, but it wasn't really that obvious because she was a bit filthy. Her clothes were tattered, and sobrang pudpod na ang tsinelas niya.

We were in the province, but that didn't mean there weren't homeless people here. What's society done to these poor children?

"Hi adding.." I tell her, stooping down.. "Anong pangalan mo?"
"Leila po." Sagot nito sa akin.
"Ilang taon ka na?"
"Walo na taon po." She tells me habang tumitingin sa likod niya. "May barya po ba kayo? Kahit na limang piso lang po, nagugutom na kasi kami ng kuya ko."

Napatingin ako sa direksyong tinitignan niya and I see a boy about ten or eleven years old, nanlilimos din. I couldn't believe there were kids like these.

I was at the plaza, which was always where Jacob and I would meet if we don't go together. It was Wednesday, after class. We were dismissed earlier than usual because of the shortened periods but Jacob had to do an errand first so I went home first to change, telling Mom that I have a study session due with Jacob.

The plaza was always our meeting point, which was near the café where we usually hang out, and besides maganda ang araw ngayon so sinusulit ko nalang.

I didn't expect that I'd be seeing this little girl.

"Bakit kayo nasa lansangan?" I asked her. "Teka, wala ba kayong mga magulang?"
"Dalawa nalang po kami ng Kuya ko."
"Bakit naman?"
"Matagal na po kaming walang Mama at Papa."

My heart melts at what she says. At least I was lucky my parents are alive. To be so young and to be alone in the streets.

"Tell you what. Tawagin mo ang Kuya mo, sabihin mo ililibre ko kayo."

Natuwa ang bata sa narinig niya mula sa akin, and then saka siya kumaripas ng takbo papunta sa Kuya niya.

Nakaupo kami ngayon sa isang fastfood restaurant.

I asked them where they wanted to eat and they both pointed to Jollibee kaya dinala ko sila dun. They were now happily eating infront of me.

I smiled, seeing the two of them habang nag eenjoy sila sa pagkain nilang dalawa while I watched them.

Inorderan ko sila ng chickenjoy at spaghetti, yung may mga kasamang laruan. It's not much, but to see them happy and hear them thank me with joy in their eyes. It was really really sweet.

Naalala ko yung mga kwento nila sa akin.

"So nasan ang Mama at Papa ninyo?"
"Matagal na po silang wala." Sagot ng batang lalaki.. Alex was his name. "Ang nanay po, iniwan kami sa tatay naming lasinggero sa kabilang bayan, pero hindi nap o kami nagtagal ng kapatid ko sa kanya."
"Tumakas po kami ni Kuya sa kanya kasi sinasaktan po niya kami." Pahabol ni Leila.

I didn't understand society nowadays.

They think sex is just okay, kahit na hindi naman sila handa sa pagpapamilya. And they if it doesn't work out they pack up and leave, without thinking of the consequences.

And what was worse was that ang idinadamay nila ay yung mga batang walang ka-alam alam na.

"Ate Courtney, ang bait bait niyo nama po." Alex says sa amin. "Salamat po dito ha?"
"Oo nga po. Ngayon lang po kaming nakatikim ng ganito." Leila.
"Walang ano man." I smiled at both of them. "Saan kayo natutulog pala pag gabi?"
"Diyan lang po." Alex answers.
"Hindi kayo dinadampot?"
"Nagtatago po kami." Leila says. "Dadalhin daw po kasi sa presinto."
"Pano pag umuulan?"
"Sumisilong nalang po kaming dalawa."