--
It was her smile. It's the first thing she did in front of me when she saw my face. When she saw what I look like. Kahit maamos ang mukha ko, madumi ang damit ko, nginitian niya ako. I didn't know that smile would change my life.
"What's your name?" Tila malambot ang boses niya habang kumikinang pa ang mga mata. She looked like an angel. "My name's Allison. Do you see the man right there? He's my dad and I told him to help you and your father." Nakangiting sabi niya.
Natulala ako. Hindi ako nakaimik.
"Sorry, hindi ka ba umiimik ng English? Sorry nasanay kasi ako 'e. Teka, ah, iyong Dad ko, he's um.. paano ba'to.." Mukha siyang nahihirapan kaya napangiti ako. Natigil naman siya sa pag-imik kaya tumikhim ako.
"Naiintindihan kita," sambit ko.
She smiled widely and nodded. "Good, I'm sorry for troubling you. Can I please help you?"
Noong una ay tumanggi ako. Nahihiya ako sa kanya. Nahihiya ako sa hitsura ko pero wala siyang pakielam, Unti-unti naging magkaibigan kami at 'yong pinsan niya. Nakilala din naman 'yong isang batang lalaki na laging nakatingin sa amin na para bang gustong makipaglaro. Allison treated us nicely. She was like an angel sent from heaven. Nakaramdam ako ng pag-asa habang nakitingin sa kanya. I think she's the kind of a girl who can possibly do everything.
Minsan ay dumadalas ang pagbisita niya kasama ang pinsan at ang Daddy niya. Her dad was so cool. He became my father's friend and even offered him a job. Dito nagsimulang umayos ang buhay namin. It was because of their heart. Doon ako nagmulat sa katotohanang may mga taong handing tumulong sa'yo kahit gaano pa kababa ang antas ng buhay ng isang tao.
Until she met my brother. Na siyang dahilan kung bakit nagkaganito ang buhay naming ni Dad. But I'm not blaming him. He was mad. He was confused. He didn't want my existence, lalo na nang malaman niya ang totoo. But I didn't bother them. Nakita ko kung gaano kasaya si Allison tuwing kasama niya si Chase. Nagalit siya nang makita niya ako sa school na pinapasukan niya. He didn't know that Allison's father was helping me through all this. Kapalit noon ay ang pagbabantay ko kay Allison.
For the first time in my life, I got mad when I saw Chase kissing another girl while Allison was about to die finding him everywhere. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko 'noon. I was furious trying to find Allison. I wanted to tell her how big of an ass my brother is but I couldn't break her heart. I didn't know what to do until I saw someone holding a box of cupcake, I stole it and stormed calmly to Allison's direction. She was looking at me like she didn't know me at all. Hindi siya umiimik at hindi 'rin naman ako makaimik.
"Uh." Binuksan ko ang box ng cupcake at talagang nakakapagsisi. Nakalagay doon ay 'will you be my girl?' kaya hindi ako nakaimik ng ayos.
She was about to answer. Probably getting embarrassed now and I know how she felt about rejecting people and rejecting things. It's just how her heart is.
Bigla naman dumating si Chase at kinuhanan 'yong cupcake saka dinala si Allison sa ibang lugar.
