Guarded (Alpha Sigma Omicron #5)

Chapter Nineteen

I woke up feeling suffocated.

Pakiramdam kong mayroong nakatuon sa aking daluyan ng paghinga. It’s a sensation of phenomenon that something otherworldly and wicked demon is around, immobilizing me as though it’s sitting on my chest.

Nang nagmulat ako ng mata, bumungad sa akin ang mukha ng munti. His expression was focused on my face. Mayroon siyang dalang krayola at art materials, nakaupo siya sa bandang leeg ko dahilan ng hirap ko sa paghinga.

It was obvious that he was writing and drawing on my face when I slept. Hindi niya napansin ang aking paggising.

I could feel the pain tracing my face with the ballpen he used. Pinagmasdan ko ang mukha ng bata habang hindi niya alam na nakatingin ako sa kanya. He’s the carbon copy of his father.

Walang sobra. Walang kulang. He’s the mini Gotham.

How old is he? Three? Turning four? Halos ganoon din ako katagal na nasa loob.

“Are you done?” tanong ko sa bata.

His eyes widened.

Mabilis siyang bumaba sa pagkakaupo sa aking leeg. His lips turned upward, smiling at me, seeing his creation on my face. I’m sure, it was a horrible sight.

“I… I like it!” saad pa niya. “Are you my new yaya?” tanong pa nito sa akin.

“Hindi. Mukha ba akong yaya mo?” Tumaas ang aking kilay.

Tumayo ako at tumungo sa banyo. Kalalabas ko lang ng kulungan, tauhan agad ni Gotham ang nakaharap ko. I was brought in their penthouse.

Wala na akong balak pang magpakita sa lalaki. It wasn’t what I wanted. Gusto kong dalawin ang aking kapatid. Gusto kong makita si Russle. Ilang taon ko siyang hindi nakita at nadalaw.

I was still wondering if my husband ever found out about that. But I didn’t want to know.

“It seems like you are j-jobless! So, you should be my yaya! I have m-money!” Sinundan ako ng bata hanggang sa banyo.

He’s almost as big as my brother before. Payatin naman ang kapatid ko, maliit siya sa kanyang edad dahil sa sakit. Nitong huli lang siya nagkalaman ng husto.

When I looked at myself in the mirror, I saw a black circle on my eyes with line connecting them. My whole face was in color yellow. Sinabon ko naman ang aking mukha.

He grimaced while watching me remove his masterpiece on my face. Halatang hindi siya natutuwa sa ginawa ko. Ilang ulit ko na ang pagsasabon, pero hindi noon natanggal lahat.

There was still stain on my face. Mahapdi na ang aking mukha. Pinahid ko na lang iyon ng malinis na tuwalya.

“What’s your d-decision? Do you want to be my yaya?” naiinip na tanong ni Voight.

Is this the Voight Garrison my husband raised? Siya na ba iyong batang mahal na mahal ng kapatid ko? Siya na ba iyong batang inisip ko ang kapakanan kaya pinalaya ko ang aking asawa? He’s extremely spoiled.

“Where’s your mother?” I asked him.

Kumunot naman ang kanyang noo. “I don’t have that. I don’t have a m-mother. My father said, you’re supposed to be my mom. But you don’t look nice enough to be my mother. That’s why I’m a-asking you to be my yaya.”

“Why don’t you have a mother?”

Mas lalo siyang sumimangot. Nagsalubong ang kanyang dalawang kilay.

“She doesn’t like me.” He wasn’t fazed by his answer.

So, Celeste left him with Gotham?

Siguro napagtanto niyang wala rin siyang mapapala sa lalaki kahit wala na ako. Hindi ako sigurado. Wala naman akong alam sa buong pangyayari.

Gotham probably was struggling raising the child on his own. I knew the history… I knew that he didn’t want to do anything with the child. Pinatatag ko ang aking loob, I couldn’t risk being close to the kid…

Hindi na kaya ng puso ko kapag… Huminga ako nang malalim.

“I… I want a s-sandwich! Sandwich like Aramis made me!” the kid demanded. “I want it!”

Tumaas ang kilay ko. Aramis? Who’s Aramis?

Pumantay ako sa kanya. “Bakit hindi ka sa kanya magpagawa ng sandwich mo?”

Itinapon niya sa akin ang ballpen niyang hawak. Nilagpasan niya ako. Tumungo siya sa kamang hinihigaan ko kanina upang ngumawa. Pinagmasdan ko siya mula sa pintuan ng banyo at napailing.

Nasaan si Gotham? Why is this kid even here? He’s very much spoiled… with the fact that no one really disciplined him. Lahat ng luho at demands niya nasusunod… to make up for the fact no one was ever around.

I shouldn’t be the one to take care of his child. Our personalities would crash. Hindi rin ganoon ka-stable ang pagkatao ko.

“Are you hungry?” I walked toward him. Wala akong narinig na sagot. Naupo ako sa gilid ng kama. “Do you want something to eat? The offer only stands in ten seconds, wala akong planong maghintay nang matagal.”

Narinig ko nagsimula siyang magbilang hanggang umabot iyon ng sampu. Bumangon siya at humarap sa akin. His brows furrowed, and he crossed his arms around his chest.

“I’m h-hungry!” he screamed.

Tiningnan ko siya, hindi ako nagpatalo sa paninitig niya. It was his tactic to intimidate someone, it wasn’t working with me. Hindi niya ako madadaan sa ganoong tingin. He needed to eat more to win against me in intimidation.

Kusa siyang nagbawi ng tingin. “Do you want a new yaya, Voight Garrison?” I asked him.

He didn’t answer. “If you want, let’s have a deal.”

It intrigued him.

“What d-deal?” Nakanguso niyang tanong.

“There are rules you need to follow. One, no screaming when you want me to do something for you. Two, you don’t throw any object at me and cry afterwards. Three, you’ll eat what I cook. Four, you’ll behave if I ask you to behave.” I laid out my rules. “Is that clear?”

Wala akong narinig na sagot mula sa kanya. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin. He was observant at such a young age. Mukhang naiintindihan naman niya lahat ng sinabi ko.

“Do you agree or not?” I asked again.

Nanatiling nakatingin niya sa akin, maamo ang kanyang mukha. He is a handsome kid, just like his father. Tumayo naman siya sa kama. He extended both of arms wanting to be carried by me.

Pinaamo niya ang kanyang mukha. I could grasp what he was trying to do.

“I won’t carry you unless there’s no answer, Voight.” Muling sinimangutan niya ako.

May sarili siyang rules. That hug meant establishing it, instead of conforming with mine. I verified it the way he got mad at me when I demanded an answer from him.

No doubt, he’s Gotham’s son. Matalino rin ang bata… lalo na sa kalokohan.

“Fine!” He rolled his eyes at me.

Dumamba siya sa akin upang kargahin ko naman. He traced his drawings on my face that weren’t erased by the soap. Narinig ko ang kanyang hagikhik. Hindi ko pinansin ang maliit na bakunawa.

We went to the kitchen of the penthouse to cook something for the little man. He kept requesting me the sandwich a certain Aramis made for him.

Wala akong ideya kung paano iyon gawin. Wala rin akong ideya kung sino ang babae. Maybe, his father’s new woman.

Iniupo ko siya sa countertop. Hinalungkat ko ang kanilang refrigerator. It doesn’t have a lot.

I put some bread on the toaster, fried sunny side-ups and some bacon. Pinatong ko lang ang ingredients at nilagyan ng mayo na nahagilap ko sa sulok ng ref. Hindi naman iyon panis, hindi rin expired, mukhang nalimutan lang nilang gamitin.

“It’s not what I w-want! W-want ko ng sandwich ni Aramis! I want chocolate!” He threw tantrums when I finished making his sandwich.

“Hindi ko alam ang tinutukoy mong sandwich. Hindi ako manghuhula, Voight. You didn’t explain to me what you wanted in specific details. Sayang ang pagkain, kaya kainin mo ‘yan,” sinabi ko nang mahinahon.

Inubos ko ang sandwich na ginawa ko para sa akin. It served as my breakfast. He just looked at the sandwich stubbornly. Ramdam kong gusto niya iyong kuhanin at kainin, pero ayaw niyang subukan.

I moved the plate to his front.

“A-ayoko nga n’yan!”

“Sure? I’m not going to cater your tantrums.”

Hindi siya umimik.

So, I ate the sandwich I made for him. His eyes became teary as I devoured it. Ipinaghiwa ko siya ng apple baka sakaling kainin niya iyon sa agahan pagkatapos noon ay muli akong bumalik sa kuwarto upang maligo.

Hindi pa kami nakakapag-usap nang tuluyan ng dati kong asawa. I was dreading any talk. Eventually, we have to talk… maybe, for closure and to terminate our marriage. Hindi ko naman nagampanan ang tungkulin ko sa kanya bilang asawa.

I didn’t quite see the reason to continue our marriage.

Yesterday, I felt like I got my old self back… those banters to annoy him… that excitement to get out of the prison. Parang gusto ko muling ibalik ang sarili ko sa loob.

Lumabas lang naman ako upang bisitahin ang kapatid ko.

Ang puntod ng kapatid ko…

***

“Do you want to p-play with me?” tanong ni Voight.

“Play. Say it again.”

Inulit niya ang sinabi ko. Hindi naman sobrang dalas ng pag-stutter niyang napansin ko. When Russle was in that age, he was also stuttering a bit. Napansin iyon ng doctor niya minsan sa check up, I was advised to see speech or language therapist for my brother.

Kulang na nga iyong pampagamot ko sa sakit niya sa puso, madadagdagan pa ng language therapist. Sinubukan ko na lang na sanayin ang kapatid ko sa mga salitang bahagyang nabubulol siya.

Sometimes, Voight has tantrums. Hinahayaan ko lang siya kapag nasa ganoon siyang estado. Most of the time, he wants us to play with his toys.

Isinama ko siya kanina sa grocery store upang bumili ng mga kailangan sa penthouse gamit ang kanyang pera. It was true, he has money of his own. Iyon ang ginamit naming pambayad sa groceries.

Hinayaan ko siyang pumili ng mga laruan sa toy store. It was harder to breathe, because I could only think about someone. I’m sure, he was thrilled to know that Voight can run to the store with him.

If only… if only my brother was alive.

I thought, after all the years I spent in prison, I successfully shut off the pain. Now, that I was out, it didn’t subside.

It was almost at night when Gotham came back to the penthouse. Marami siyang dalang paperbags. He already had a dinner takeout. Do they always have takeouts? Palagi bang ganoon ang kinakain nilang dalawa sa loob ng ilang taon?

From the mansion, they moved to a penthouse unit. Masyadong malaki ang mansyon. It would be hard to find Voight’s hide-and-seek place, I understood why they moved to smaller place yet still elegant.

His son was taking a nap. Na-drain din ang energy ng bata.

Sinundan ko siya sa kusina. I could slice the awkwardness in the air.

“I think, I should go and we should part ways for real. I could sign whatever… for the marriage to be void. I’ve been away for long. You deserve to have someone better with you all the time.” Sumandal ako sa hamba ng pintuan.

Nakatalikod naman siya sa akin, hindi ko makita ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha. I wanted to know what he was thinking. Even his mind, it was hard to penetrate to see his raw emotions.

“You left me, Filantropi.” His voice was cold. “You’re leaving me again?”

Pumait ang tono ng kanyang boses. Kinagat ko ang aking pang-ibabang labi.

“You’re still in debt.”

Tumango ako kahit hindi naman niya ako nakikita.

“‘Wag kang mag-alala, babayaran ko. Ibibigay ko ang aking serbisyo hanggang mabayaran ko lahat ng aking utang. I’ll take care of your kid. I’ll do anything you ask me to do.” I sighed. “But I needed time… to do something.”

“Babalik ako kapag nagawa ko ang bagay na iyon…” sinabi ko.

Gotham was silent. I had no idea if he was agreeing with what I proposed or not.

Isa lang naman ang kailangan kong gawin… I just needed to visit my brother’s grave.

“You’ll do anything I ask you to? Then, stay. Stay with me, Fili.”

***

I was stubborn to stay in that moment.

Babalik naman ako. Kailangan ko lang dalawin ang kapatid ko, doon ako dinala ng aking mga paa. Mayroon akong dalang iba’t ibang pagkain para sa kanya. All his favorite food.

He was buried in a single lot I managed to buy. Nagtayo ako ng bahay – bahayan bilang panahob sa kanyang puntod. Pinagod ko ang aking sarili sa paggawa noon hanggang katawan ko na ang kusang bumigay.

I also built a playground around the area. Baka gusto niyang maglaro sa lugar. Nagtanim rin ako ng mga bulaklak sa paligid at puno ng iba’t ibang prutas. The flowers grew beautifully and the fruit-bearing trees grew strong.

The whole space was preserved the way my brother would enjoy the piece of land.

Nanginginig ang tuhod kong itinulak ang tarangkahan. The place was clean, I wasn’t expecting that. It seemed like it was maintained. Even the playground swing seemed to be used regularly.

Gusto ko sanang isipin na kapatid ko ang naglalaro doon, pero alam ko namang hindi na nagpakirot sa aking puso. Maybe, the kids from the area was playing in Russle’s land.

Wala namang masama sa akin kung ganoon, sigurado akong matutuwa ang kapatid kong may kasama siyang kalaro dahil ilang taon akong wala sa tabi niya.

Pinilit kong lumakad papasok bitbit ang mga pasalubong ko sa kanya. Pinatatag ko ang aking sarili. Iyong bahay-bahayan ng kapatid ko ay simpleng kubo na walang dingding pero may mauupuan. Malaki iyon upang hindi siya maabot ng ampiyas kapag umuulan.

Inilapag ko ang dala kong mga pagkain sa kanyang puntod. Binuksan ko iyon at naghain ako sa plato. Matapos ay tumayo ako upang pumitas ng mga bulaklak sa gilid.

Muli akong bumalik sa puntod. I realized, there was fresh flowers on the vase. Did someone visit my brother’s grave?

“Bunso, andito na si ate…” I traced the name on the grave. “Kumusta ka na r’yan? Masaya ka ba? Wala bang nananakit sa’yo r’yan? Sabihin mo lang kay ate, pupuntahan kita upang ipagtanggol. Bisitahin mo naman ako, oh… kahit sa panaginip lang.”

Naglagay din ako ng pagkain sa isa pang plato. “Sabay na tayong kumain…”

I tried to eat some of the food. Ilang subo lang, nawalan na ako ng gana. Pinaglaruan ko na lang iyon habang pinagmamasdan ang puntod ng kapatid ko. Isang picture lang ang mayroon ako sa kanya noon, ingat na ingat pa akong mawala iyon.

Isa sa kinatatakutan ko ay makalimutan ko ang kanyang mukha… o makalimutan ko ang kanyang boses. His laughter was still echoing in my memory. Naririnig ko pa rin ang kanyang pagtawa. Somehow, I survived with just that…

Bawat sandali, lalong bumibigat ang aking kalooban. Para akong ulap na may dalang mabigat na bagahe, anumang oras bubuhos ang lahat ng bagahe ko. There were no little hands to dry my tears.

“Russle, hindi pa rin tanggap ni ate…” I bit my lower lip. “Hindi ko pa rin napapatawad ang sarili ko. I’m sorry, bunso… I’m so sorry…”

Sunod sunod na patak ng luha ang dumulas sa aking pisngi. I was crying uncontrollably again. Nahiga ako sa sementong nakapalibot sa kanyang puntod. I was hugging the cold gravestone.

Paulit – ulit ko mang hilingin, hindi na siya ibabalik sa akin.

The rain started pouring. Kasabay ng pagpatak ng ulan ang pagluha ko. Even the sky was sad for me.

Nanatili ako sa puntod, nakabaluktot ang katawan ko habang yakap ang malamig na bato, hindi ko namalayang nakatulog ako. It was already dark when I woke up again. The lights in the area were already lit.

I didn’t move. I didn’t eat. I just stayed there, hugging a piece of his gravestone.

That’s what I do most of the time, especially the earlier days he had died. I could last a day or two without doing anything. Matagal ko iyong hindi nagawa noong nasa kulungan ako.

I was back doing the same thing again. I was spiraling back to my sadness. It was consuming my being again.

Hindi ko pa rin kayang hindi malungkot lalo na’t bumalik sa akin ang lahat ng sakit. I saw my husband… my mind went back to what-could-have-been questions in my mind if we didn’t leave.

Bumalik iyong masayang alaala naming tatlo, kaya ramdam na ramdam ko ang pait sa aking lalamunan. My bunso could have been happy playing with his kuya bayaw and his bebe Boyt.

Does Voight have a bit of memory of my brother? Hindi ko yata kayang malaman.

After a few days, I was able to get up and get my shit together. Nilinis ko ang kabuuan ng lupain ng kapatid ko, tinanggal ko ang mga damong sumibol kasama ng mga bulaklak ng roses.

Nagtanim din ako ng mga bagong bulaklak gaya ng sunflower. Pininturahan ko rin ng bago ang playground swings niya.

I’m planning to go back every other day to visit him. Pagkatapos ng ilang araw kong hindi pagbangon, bumalik ako sa penthouse ni Gotham.

Matapos ang ginawa kong pag-alis ng walang paramdam sa kanya sa kabila ng pagiging mabuti niya sa akin, hindi ko na inaasahang maging mabait pa siya. Nararapat lamang na bayaran ko ang aking kakulangan at utang.

I would start by being their help. Huminga ako nang malalim… I have to take care of another child again.

Ayokong maging malapit sa bata. Kailangan kong patigasin ang puso ko… I couldn’t be heartbroken again. Hindi na kakayanin ng aking pusong maramdaman ang sakit na ininda ko sa pagkawala ni Russle.

I heaved a deep sigh before I pushed the button.

Within seconds, I was face to face with Gotham. He just came out of the shower. Tanging tuwalya lang ang nakatapis sa kanya, malaya kong napasadahan ng tingin ang kanyang kabuuan.

Walang pinagbago.

Kung mayroon man, wari ko’y lalong tumigas ang kanyang maskuladong katawan. Baka mabukulan ako kung sakaling mauntog ako sa kanya. Ilang segundong nagtama ang aming paningin.

Siniyasat niya ang kabuuan ko kagaya ng ginawa ko sa kanya. I was still in shape. Bumaling ako sa pag-eehersisyo habang nasa loob. But I still looked like a zombie. Ni hindi ako kumain ng ilang araw na pagtangis.

Nilakihan niya ang bukas sa pinto ng penthouse. Pumasok naman ako. Isinara niya ang pinto.

“Have you eaten?” tanong ng baritonong boses niya.

Humarap naman ako sa kanya. “Will you please stop being nice to me?”

He crossed his arms around his chest. Mas lalong naging firm ang kanyang braso.

“Why? You’re going to fall for that? I highly doubt, Fili.” Bahagyang dumiin ang tono ng kanyang boses. There was a bit of bitterness. “You don’t want the nice facade? I can only be rough in bed with you.”

Hindi ako nag-iwas ng tingin, sinagot ko ang intensidad nito.

“Hindi ako interesado,” Dumeretso ako papasok ng kusina.

I left him there.

If he only knew… I had never the chance to tell him that.

I fell for the dangerous man who was so good to the only person I cared for. I fell for the dangerous man who was good to me.

I fell for him… I fell in love with Gotham.

But… everything was different now. It didn’t matter.

Nadatnan ko si Voight sa dining table, kumakain siya ng… burnt eggs. It was probably Gotham’s attempt to cook for his child. Where’s his personal chef?

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin nang makita niya ako, inirapan ko rin siya. Binuksan ko ang refrigerator at kumuha ng ilang ingredients. I was going to make him a decent banana pancakes.

“‘Wag mo na kainin ‘yan,” I told the kid and got his plate.

Ipinagtimpla ko muna siya ng hot chocolate para hindi siya mainip habang pinaghahalo ko pa ang mga ingredients ng gagawin kong pancakes. I was also starving.

Sumilip naman si Gotham sa kusina. Hindi pa rin siya nagbibihis.

“Wala ka bang balak magdamit?” Tumaas ang aking kilay.

“Does it distract you?” He smirked.

Hindi ako sumagot. Tama siya. It was distracting. But I needed that distraction after days of breaking down. Kailangan kong ma-distract kahit sandali lang upang hindi bumalik ang kalungkutan.

“Make me some pancakes as well,”

Sakto naman iyon para sa aking tatlo. Voight was having a wrestling match with his father. Nagkalat pa hot chocolate na itinimpla ko para sa bata. He already finished the cup of hot chocolate, it only spilled the last drop.

Voight was already training. He knew the basics. He was laughing while throwing punches with his father. I could see a hint of smile with Gotham.

It seemed like their relationship blossomed over the years, it was just Gotham had no guidance in parenting a child. But he was trying. I could see it very much. Hindi rin siya marunong magluto.

“Walang kakain hangga’t may nakahubad sa harapan ko,”

Voight’s eyes widened.

“Daddy, I’m h-hungry!” Kinurot niya si Gotham upang magbihis na.

As usual, Gotham was a tease. Mas lalo namang nainis ang kanyang anak sa kanyang asal. Voight was about to cry.

“Gotham,” I called his name.

Walang imik niyang tumungo sa kuwarto. Hindi ko na hinintay na lumabas ang lalaki, binigyan ko na si Voight ng kanyang pagkain. I even offered him some syrup for his pancake. Hindi na niya ako pinansin nang nagsimula siyang kumain.

Gotham went back to the dining table to eat.

We ate in silence. It was an awkward silence.

***

“You don’t go to school yet?” I asked Voight, he was coloring his coloring book, instead of my face.

“N-no! I don’t want to go to s-school! School must come to me!”

I didn’t understand what he meant, but I was thinking, he was homeschooled. A teacher must come to teach him.

Kaming dalawa lang ang nasa penthouse. Gotham wasn’t around… I didn’t know where he was exactly.

Iniiwasan ko ang asawa ko nitong nakaraan. Asawa pa rin. He wasn’t initiating any type of making our marriage null and void. Mag-asawa pa rin kami sa papel.

“Are you my father’s w-wife?” Tumingin siya sa akin. “Why are you not a-around? Why are you not my m-mother?” sunod – sunod na tanong ng bata.

Wala akong ideya kung paano ko sasagutin ang kanyang tanong. Hindi ako makapag-isip ng tamang sagot.

“Everyone has mother, I do not have one!” he exclaimed. “I have two g-girlfriends!”

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa narinig. Two girlfriends? Is that what Gotham teach his son? He’s too young to even have one. Talagang dalawa pa ang girlfriend niya? Napailing na lang ako.

“Do they know you have two girlfriends?”

He nodded his head slightly.

Muli siyang bumaling sa kanyang coloring book. Their concept of boyfriend-girlfriend thing is probably not the same with adults. Kaya siguro hindi big deal sa kanila. But still, they should’ve been aware. Baka madala nila iyon sa pagtanda.

“Justise and Rainbow, they are my girlfriends! I want Justise to m-marry my daddy!” Nagsalubong ang aking kilay sa narinig.

“How old is that Justise?” Hindi ko napigilang itanong. “And Rainbow?”

“I d-don’t k-know! Same as my daddy!” He shrugged.

Nasapo ko naman ang aking noo. Hindi malinaw kay Voight ang boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. Mukhang iniisip niya, lahat p’wede niyang maging girlfriend.

“But she couldn’t m-marry my daddy!”

Kumabog naman ang puso ko. “Why can’t she marry your daddy?”

Alam ko naman ang sagot. I was still a hindrance to Gotham’s bachelor life. Hanggang ngayon, kasal pa rin siya sa akin. Kung tutuusin, kaya naman niyang ipawalang – bisa ang kasal. He should’ve done that instead.

“B-because Priam got mad at me!”

I frowned hearing the name. Priam? A certain scene came back to my memory. It was in Gotham’s office.

Umiling ako. Agad ko rin iyong ibinaon sa kailaliman ng aking memorya. That fond memory would haunt me to my sleep, I’m sure.

I sighed.

“Fili!” Voight screamed.

Naalarma ako. I looked around to see if there was a threat. Hinanda ko ang aking sarili.

“Are you b-bingi? There’s s-someone on the door! Can’t you h-hear?!”

He was now standing in front of me. Nakapameywang pa ang kanyang kamay. Namumula – mula ang kanyang mukha. Kanina pa yata niya ako tinatawag.

Iyong totoo… hindi ko narinig ang doorbell sa penthouse. I was spacing out again. May ilang pagkakataong ganoon lalo na kapag distracted ako. It was different in the cell, knowing I couldn’t lose my shit there.

Tumayo naman ako upang pagbuksan ang pinto. Sumilip muna ako sa home security camera, pero wala akong nakitang tao sa labas. Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko. Another memory was flashing back in my head, it wasn’t a good memory.

I opened the door, ready to fight the demons haunting me. To my surprise, I was greeted by three girls with different haircuts. Sabay – sabay nila akong pinasadahan ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa.

Naligaw yata ang mga bata. Isasara ko na sana ang pinto pero agad naman nila itong tinulak hanggang sa tuluyang nakapasok ang mga ito.

They looked like me when I was their age… are they going to steal something in the penthouse? Nag-evolve na yata ngayon ang mga sindikato. Noong kapanahunan ko, sa kalye lang kami nagnanakaw.

Mas lalo akong nasurpresa nang kausapin ng mga bata ang munti kong alaga. “Ya, sino man ‘yon? Hindi man baya kami inapapasok? Asarhan pa ang pinto!” reklamo ng isa.

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