Artistry of Love (Abstract Series #3)

Chapter 23

"They have already processed the papers. For the meantime, ang DSWD muna ang may custody do'n sa dalawa." Tita Grace continued signing paperwork while informing me about Lola Flora and Mio, the two homeless people I have spoken with previously.

Tita was sponsoring a foundation to help homeless people. Ayaw ko namang makita ulit silang dalawa na nasa kalsada lang. They were really nice, and I learned something from their words.

Kung pwede nga lang sana na lahat ng mga taong nasa lansangan ay matulungan ko pero hindi pa ako sobrang successful para magawa 'yon. All I have to do now is take little steps.

"You don't have to be concerned about them any longer; that foundation is really devoted, and I am sure they would enjoy life there," dagdag ni Tita nang siguro ay napansin ang kunot sa noo ko.

I smiled at her. "Hindi na po 'yon ang iniisip ko. Kung pwede lang sana ay matulungan ko lahat ng mga nangangailangan. But I am completely powerless to accomplish that."

My attention strayed to her when she stroked my hair. Nakangiti niyang tinitingnan ang mukha ko.

"You are too compassionate for this cruel world," she murmured.

Mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti ko. "Kaya nga kailangang maging mabuti, Tita. The world is not harsh, but its occupants are."

I sat near her, checking for anybody entering the library, as she nodded and went about her business. Hindi ko naman pinagkakalat na relative kami ni Tita pero hindi ko rin tinatago. It is entirely up to them to understand what they desire.

"Crush ni Cy?" biglaang tanong ni Tita.

My brow furrowed as my eyes followed her glance to Achi, who was huddled in the corner reviewing something.

"What do you mean, Tita?" Of course, alam ko kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin. I'm just curious as to how she came to that conclusion. We are quite close, but I don't consider it is my place to tell her. Dapat kay Kuya Cy galing. Plus, I'm not sure if my intuition is correct.

"Look." May tinuro siya sa bandang likuran. I nibbled my lower lip to suppress my smile when I caught Kuya Cy staring attentively at Achi as if losing her in his view would be a major thing. Sobrang halata.

Kuya has never been so riled up. He had crushes in the past, but they only lasted a few minutes or hours. Ang pinakamatagal ay isang araw. But it's been days and he's still acting stupid towards Achi. It's incredible how providence entangled us in its clutches.

Hindi ko alam kung sasabihin ko ba kay Kuya na ang nakabanggaan ni daddy sa araw na 'yon ay ang parents ni Achi. Kuya never chastised me for what happened, and I am frightened that if the moment came that he discovered that I was also the reason why Achi's parents were dead, he would get extremely angry.

"This is a real blast to watch. Hindi araw-araw nating nakikita na baliw si Clyde Gian sa isang babae." Tumawa si Tita habang umiiling-iling at pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa niya. "Do you know her name?"

"Saachi Beatrice," sagot ko naman habang pabalik-balik ang tingin kay Kuya at Achi. The girl is completely unaware that she is being watched.

"Oh, Aoki?"

Nilingon ko si Tita. "You know her?"

She shrugged. "One of the scholars, right? Sobrang dedicated na dagdagan ang scholarship niya."

It's not surprising, because Achi is a vibrant, compelling, and independent young lady who, from what I've seen, will go to great lengths to achieve her goals. Gusto ko man na maawa pero mas lamang ang pagkamangha na nararamdaman ko para sa kanya.