Loving a Believer

Chapter 30: Product of Tragedy

"Bata."

I turned my head to the woman probably in her thirties swiftly walking towards me.

"Naku! Muntikan ka nang makuha kanina."

I started crying while looking at her. My eyes also turned to the girl beside her holding the woman's shirt. She was just my age, and she must be her daughter.

"Saan ka ba nakatira?" the woman asked me.

"D-doon po."

Tinuro ko ang daan pabalik sa bahay namin. The road was already dark.

"Sige, ihahatid na kita." She stared at my wounded knee. "Baka mapa'no ka pa." She held my right hand and started to walk. I just let her drag me. I wiped my tears away using my left hand.

"Bata," the girl called me. She was on the other side, peeking at me from behind the old woman.

"Y-yes?" I replied.

"Sino 'yong mga lalaking kasama mo kanina?" she asked.

I furrowed my brows. "Kanina?"

"Oo, noong kukunin ka no'ng mama na nakaputing van. Ang tangkad nila, kaya siguro natakot yung mga mama," nakangiting kuwento niya.

What was she talking about? I saw nothing behind me.

"Fara!" Napalingon ako sa tumawag sa akin. "Fara! Where have you been?" It was Kirby. Patakbo siyang lumapit sa akin.

Imbes na salubungin ko siya, inirapan ko lang siya at hinarap ang ale. "Okay na po ako rito. Salamat po," I politely told her.

"Sigurado ka ba?"

I nodded my head.

"Sige. Sa susunod 'wag ka nang lalabas nang mag-isa, ha?"

"Opo."

"Ba-bye!" The girl waved at me.

I just smiled and watched them walk away. And then, I continued walking back to my house. I knew that Kirby was following me.

"Hey. I'm sorry na," I heard him say from behind. Binilisan ko lang ang paglalakad ko.

I hated him! Hindi ko siya mapapatawad sa pang-iiwan niya sa akin sa park kanina kaya umuwi akong mag-isa at muntikan na akong mapahamak.

"Fara."

He hugged me from behind.

"Let go of me!" I yelled at him.

"Sorry na nga!" he yelled back.

I punched him a few times.

"Aw! Fara―aw! Stop it!" He blocked my punches through his both hands, kaya napatitig ako sa hawak-hawak niya na dalawang kulay pink na cotton candy na nakaplastik.