Manong Guard (One Shot)

Dali dali kong kinuha yung cardigan ko at isinuot iyon. Nilagay ko rin lahat ng mga gamit na nasa bag ko kanina sa bag ko - including the lollipop.

I wore my flats and grab my bag saka bumaba.

"Michael. Sa school. Now." Sabi ko pagkakita ko kay Michael - driver ko - sa receiving area na nakikipaglandian sa isa sa mga maids. Ts.

"Yes ma'am." Mabilis niyang sagot saka nauna na para pagbuksan ako ng pinto. Pagkatapos ay pinagbuksan niya rin ako ng pinto ng kotse saka na ako sumakay.

After ilang minutes, nandito na kami sa harap ng school. Bumaba na ako at dumiretso sa guard house.

"Guard." Tawag ko dahil nakatalikod siya sakin.

"Oh ma'am. Ano pong ginagawa niyo dito?" Tanong niya.

Tinignan ko siya ng masama na nakapagalis ng ngiti niya at nagseryoso.

"Where's Alex?" Deretdong tanong ko.

"Po?"

"Bingi kaba?"

"Hindi po este, wala po siya dito." Sagot niya. I scoffed. "Pero pinapabigay niya po ito." Sabi niya ulit saka iniabot sakin yung isang papel.

Kinuha ko iyon saka tumalikod na. Nakatupi iyong papel kaya I unfolded it saka binasa yung nasa loob.

"I know you probably hate me by the time you see this but please…listen. Alam mo, kahit na sobrang sama ng mga pakikitungo mo sa iba, hindi ko alam pero nahulog pa rin ako sayo. Nakakainis nga eh. Sa sobrang dami ng mga isda diyan, dugong pa yung nakabingwit sakin. Joke, peace. Pero seriously, ang sakit ng mga sinabi mo sakin kahapon. Basted is underestimate. Hindi ako torpe, well, maybe a little but hindi 'that coward'.

I used manong guard kasi unang una, gusto ko siyang tulungan, nalaman ko nakacofine sa ospital yung bunso niya, tapos hindi na nagaaral yung panganay niya. Tapos may sakit pa yung isa nilang anak. I tried giving him a sufficient amount of money pero ayaw niyang tanggapin. That's why I thought of this para magkadahilan ako na mabigyan siya ng pera. He sees it as his salary.

Pangalawa, I want to explore. I want to see what you'll do. Kung hahanapin mo ba kung sino ba talaga yun o hahayaan mo lang. Pero turned out na hinayaan mo lang AT worse pa. You didn't care, even the slightest. So I guess that's my cue next to give up. Nawawalan na ako ng pagasa nung pinagtatapon mo lang yung mga binibigay ko sayo. Pero I didn't give up kasi nagdahilan ako. Ang sabi ko, baka kapag nakilala mo ako, dun mo maappreciate lahat ng ito. Pero mali din pala ako.

At pangatlo, I wanted to experience how a father loves his child. Sa kanya, naranasan ko yung mga bagay na ginagawa ng mag-ama na kahit kailan hindi ko naranasanan with my own dad. Nakakapagbonding kami. Masayang kasama si Manong Albert. I know I should understand my dad but I'm too narrow-minded. But I learned so much from him. He told me: Regardless of my relationship with my parents, I'll miss them when they're gone from my life. I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life'. I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.  I've learned that everyday, you should reach out and touch someone. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. It's not how we give, it's how much love we put into giving.