Changes of Tomorrow (Serendipity series #1)

EPILOGUE

In this new company, they really like me a lot. In just two weeks, I have a lot of projects. Gustong-gusto nilang ibigay sa akin. Tinanggihan ko na ang iba dahil hindi na kakayanin dahil tumutulong din ako sa business namin.

"Ouch!"

"Oh, sorry. Okay ka lang?"

I was walking towards the nearest coffee shop in the company when I bumped into a girl. She looked like a teenager. Kumunot ang noo ko nang mapansing may sugat siya sa tuhod at sa siko.

"Are you okay? Gusto mo dalhin kita sa ospital?" I asked her. She immediately shook her head.

"Okay lang po. Nagmamadali po kasi ako, sige po, bye po!" I was about to talk again but she immediately ran. I just sighed and went inside the coffee shop.

I have a lot in plate right now. Ang dami naming meeting ni Kuya at pupunta pa ako sa iba't ibang site na hawak ko. I drank my meds to calm me down. Kuya was scolding me because of my work. Masyado raw akong nagpapakapagod. Hindi ko na lang sinabi sa kaniya na inaatake ako lately para hindi na siya mag-alala.

My mother asked me to deliver some of our goods to one of our charity. It's an orphanage for kids who happened to become orphans.

"Nako, salamat. Matutuwa talaga ang mga bata." Sister Penelope told me.

"Wala pong problema." I smiled at her.

Kinuha na nila ang dala kong goods para sa kanila kaya nagpaalam na rin ako dahil marami pa akong aasikasuhin. I stopped a few meters away from the gate when I saw a familiar face. It was the girl a while ago. She was crying.

I ran towards her. Nakaupo siya sa labas ng gate at nakatingin sa sugat niya na mukhang nahahapdian siya.

"Hey," I kneeled in front of her. Mukhang nagulat siya kaya tumayo siya kaagad. "Taga-rito ka ba?" tanong ko. She's wearing a polo shirt with the name of the orphanage.

"Uh... Hindi na po." Nakayukong sabi niya. "Huwag po kayong maingay na nakita niyo ako." Sabi niya at sinubukang tumakbo palayo pero nahawakan ko na ang braso niya.

"Come with me." I said and pulled her towards the nearest convenience store.

I bought a band-aid and a betadine to clean her wounds. Tahimik lang siyang nakaupo at nakayuko. Lumuhod ako sa harap niya at dahan-dahang ginamot ang sugat niya. When I finished, I saw her crying again.

"How old are you?" I asked.

"14 po..." Pinunasan niya ang luha niya.

"Bakit ayaw mo na bumalik sa orphanage?"

She didn't answer so I thought it was too personal. But I need to know so that I could help her. Hindi ko siya pwedeng pabayaan ng ganito. She's a minor.

"Nahihiya na po ako." Biglang sagot niya, nanatili pa ring nakayuko. "Hinahanap po nila ako pero ayoko na po bumalik. Ako po ang pinakamatanda roon dahil ang iba po na kasabayan ko ay may nag-ampon na, sa akin lang po wala."

My heart ached because of what she said. She looked so innocent. She is so fragile. I was starting to get worried.

"Hinahanap po nila ako pero ayoko na pong bumalik kaya parang awa niyo na po, huwag niyo pong sasabihin." She pleaded.

"Saan ka naman pupunta?" tanong ko na hindi niya nasagot. I sighed and stood up. Naglahad ako ng kamay sa kaniya. "Come with me."

I know that I shouldn't tolerate what she wants. But I feel her pain. Alam ko ang pakiramdam na ayaw mong ipakita sa iba na nasasaktan ka. She looked hurt when she told me that no one wants to adopt her. Iniisip ko tuloy na ako na lang ang mag-ampon sa kaniya.