Largesse

16. ripples

"...kamusta na si Nanay Ikay?" Sep asked Poknat who was seated by her bedside at the hospital. A few months after Kyle's accident, his parents and Uncle Gabriel arranged for Nanay Ikay's operation and Poknat's education.

Eversince he got separated from his family at a very young age, Poknat had not really gone to formal school. He would join street classrooms conducted by many organizations and religious groups but after learning a little of the basics, he would easily get bored and go back to his bully life. He had no guidance from anyone so it was slightly difficult for him to easily cope.

When he was reunited with his mom, it was revealed that his anger and resistance stemmed from feeling lost and abandoned. Poknat soon realised that he needed to start changing from within. He had to start with forgiving himself and working on his issues and try not to demand from others.

"Ah, Gusting na ako ngayon" Gusting said and smiled. "...Sep, sabi ng mga duktor, maayos naman daw yung operasyon. Magiging malabo pa yung paningin nya sa simula pero pag tuloy-tuloy lang yung gamot nya, makakakita naman daw sya ulit..." Gusting said. Sep noticed that Gusting seemed to look slightly different from the last time they saw each other. He was a little healthier and neater looking now. He wore clean clothes and sported a cleaner haircut.

Sep nodded. "Eh ikaw, kamusta ka naman?"

"...maraming salamat sa lahat ng tulong mo..." Gusting said as he glanced from Nanay Ikay to Sep. "...kung hindi dahil sa inyo, hindi na siguro magkikita ng Mamang ko...alam mo bang, ayaw na ayaw kong lumapit dun sa simbahan dati? Yung parang may malaking kalaban dun na alam kong hindi ko matatalo. Medyo nawala kasi yung paniniwala ko sa Kanya e..."

Sep nodded. He understood.

"...pero sabi nga ni Uncle, baka dun pinapunta ng Diyos si Mamang kasi alam nyang ligtas dun at may tutulong sa kanya...ikaw yun...

"

"...at si Kyle..."

"...at si Kyle. Malaki din ang pasasalamat ko, namin ni Mamang sa pamilya niya. Sa tagal ko sa Divisoria, ngayon pa lang ako nakakilala ng mga taong ganun ka-bait..."

"...madaming tao ang mabait...iba-iba lang ang paraan ng pagpapakita ng kabaitan..."

---

"Anak? Sino yan?" Nanay Ikay stirred. Gusting assisted her to sit up.

"Nay, andito si Sep..."

"Sep, anak?" Nanay Ikay said and reached out. Sep moved closer so the old woman could feel his face.

"Nay, kamusta po kayo?" Sep asked.

"Mabuti. Nakakain ka na ba? Gusting, anak, bigyan mo si Sep ng meryenda..."

"...nakakain na po ako, salamat..."

"...maraming salamat, anak. Sa iyo, sa mga Cordero..."

"Walang anuman, Nay. Basta magpalakas at magpagaling kayo..."