Transcendence

Chapter 4

Its been a while

Ulysses's POV

"Yeah..." Ani ko, "I totally understand, and I think what you doing right now..... is inhumane." Throwing her a cold and blank expression.  

She gasped in disbelief. 

Kitang kita ang paggalaw ng kanyang panga, "What di--" 

"What's happening here?" Hindi na niya natapos ang sinabi dahil sa isang baritonong boses ng lalake ang pumaibabaw dito.

Lahat ng tao ay napatingin sa lalaking kakalabas lamang ng isang fast food chain na malapit sa coffee shop nila allaine. 

When I heard those voice, it gave me a massive goosebumps and chills over my body.

I know exactly whom that voice is. Kilalang kilala ko ang mga ito. At hinding hindi ako pwedeng magkamali sa boses na ito.

Isang matangkad, matipuno ang pangangatawan, at ang kanyang mala-adonis na pagmumukha ang naglalakad patungo sa aming direksyon.

I can feel that my chest is tightening, I can barely breathe, and I can hear my heart pounding at parang gusto na nitong kumawala.

I know it's you. I've known you for a long time. 

It's been a while since I saw that handsome face of yours. 

It's been a while since I heard those voice.

Its been a while pero yung kaba at mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ay andito pa din. It's still you, the one that cause my heart and knees trembling apart.

It's been a while, Nathan. And I'm still into you. 

"What's going on here?" Paguulit niya ng tanong niya, habang prenteng nakapasok ang kaniyang dalawang kamay sa bulsa ng kanyang pantalon.

"Nate..." Bigla siyang dumantay sa braso nito, "Kasi... itong mga batang 'to." Turo niya sa mga batang umiiyak sa lapag. "Tsaka ito pang isang 'to, nakikigulo pa dito." Turo niya sa akin at patuloy pa din sa pagpapaawa.  

Mas lalo lang sumasama yung pakiramdam ko sa nakikita ko at naririnig ko, at kung paano hawakan nung babaeng 'to yung hayop na 'to na para bang wala lang sa kanya.

"Anong nangyayare dito?" Aniya at tinapunan ako ng mga malalamig na titig. 

I gasped, "Well, why don't ask your... spoiled-brat girlfriend." Yuck. Bitter. 

"What did you say?" At kumawala ito sa pagkakakapit niya sa braso ni Nathan at akmang lalapit ito sa akin pwesto, ngunit pinigilan siya nito. Na mas lalong nagpainit ng  ulo ko.

I chuckled at inalis ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa bago magsalita, "Well, your spoiled brat girlfriend accused these underprivileged children for ruining her limited edition Hermes Bag." I emphasized every word I said.

"Binunggo ako ng batang yan kaya natapunan ako ng kape!" Pagsigaw ng babae.

"Correction, ikaw ang nakabunggo sa kanila."

"Excuse me?" 

I crossed my arms and grinned at her.

"Nathan, see?" Pagmamakaawa niya, "They are attacking me..." At iniyukyok ang kanyang ulo sa braso nito at parang umiiyak ito,  "Maybe we can sue them, and send those street children to a juvenile detention center." She added. 

"Well, maybe we can set--"

"Sue me? Sue these children? Are you out of your mind?" I gasped due to disbelief at napailing dahil sa narinig ko,  "Republic Act 7610 Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act: Sec. 3b 'Child abuse' refers to the maltreatment, whether habitual or not, of the child, which includes any of the following: (1) Psychological and Physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment; (2) Any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being; (3) Unreasonable deprivation of his basic needs for survival, such as food and shelter; And also Art. 266. Of the Revise Penal Code - Slight physical injuries and maltreatment — The crime of slight physical injuries shall be punished: (1) By arresto minor when the offender has inflicted physical injuries which shall incapacitate the offended party for labor from one to nine days, or shall require medical attendance during the same period. Dire-diretso kong pagsasalita and I highlight every word.