Largesse

14. Kyle

"...anong pangalan mo? Ako si Kuya Sep..." Sep said as he casually approached Meng and the young boy seated on the front pews of the church.

The boy looked up at Meng who nodded at him. "...Kyle...po..."

"Ilan taon ka na?"

"Si...seven po..."

"Bakit nandito ka mag-isa?"

"...inaantay ko po si Lola...si Lola Ikay po..."

"Lola mo sya?"

Kyle shook his head. "...umalis po ako kahapon kasi bumili ako ng tinapay...pag balik ko po, sabi nung mga tao dun sa tulay, wala na si Lola. Umalis. Ang sabi naman nung iba, kinuha daw sya ng mga tao..."

"Ah. Matagal mo na bang kilala si Lola Ikay?"

Kyle shook his head again. "Hindi po...umalis...umalis po ako sa bahay namin..." Kyle began to sob.

"Ah...tahan na...sigurado akong hinahanap ka na sa inyo...nakakain ka na ba?"

Kyle kept his head bowed but he slowly held on to his stomach.

"...sumama ka muna kay Ate Meng, bumili kayo ng makakain..."

Meng stood up and took the boy's hand and together, they walked out of the church thru the side door.

---

Sep turned to talk to Jared who was seated with Sabina on the pew behind him.

"...nakita namin ni Sab yung balita tungkol kay Kyle..." Sep said.

"Oo Kuya...his parents think he's been kidnapped..." Sabina said as she took out her phone to show Jared.

"...kidnapped?"

"Mayaman siguro yung pamilya nila...sinabi namin dun sa mga pulis na may nakita akong batang nagtatago dito sa simbahan pero..."

"...pero they don't want to believe Kuya Sep's visions..."

"...teka, may number dito..." Jared said as he watched the video from Sab's phone. He stood up and moved away from Sab and Sep to make the call.

---

While Kyle ate, he noticed a familiar-looking car pass in front of the eatery where he and Meng were. He stopped eating and turned pale while staring at the street. Alarmed, Meng asked him what he saw. Kyle shook his head when the car did not stop or park at the church. It just looked similar to their family's car.