A Little Bit of Sunshine

29

Chapter 29: Treat Her Better

"Kuya Pogi!"

"Hi Poli! How are you?!" I smiled as I welcome Poli with a hug.

It's been a while since I met Poli. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagkaroon na kami ng connection even if hindi ko kavibes ang mga bata. This little guy over here seems to be in the same rank as teenage kids.

"I'm fine thank you Kuya. You seem lonely." I smiled ng tumabi siya sa akin at nilapag ang dala dala niyang ice box at tupperware.

He's trying his best to copy the language that I mostly use. And I'm glad that so far, he's doing great.

"I'm alone but I'm not lonely, Poli. Keep in mind that these two words have different meanings." I grabbed an ice candy from the ice box and started eating it.

"Alone kapag mag isa ka lang. Lonely if you're alone but feels sad at the same time." Tinitigan ko siya and I was able to see how his eyes squinted.

"Hindi ko na po maintindihan, kuya. Pwede bang break po muna tayo sa English time?" Napahawak sa ilong niya si Poli na nagpatawa sa akin.

"Oo naman. Hindi naman kita pinupwersa."

Poli kept me company most of the time kapag bigla nalang akong nahihirapang makipaghalubilo sa mga kaklase ko. I was glad that he came into my life. And he was also feeling blessed after I came in to their family's life.

Pagkatapos kong makita ang kundisyon ng pamilya nila Poli, I started helping them with the money I've saved for years. Nakikita kong hirap talaga si Tita Ysabelle, her Mom, na itaguyod ang mga anak niya lalo na pagkatapos ng aksidente. Hindi na siya nakakalakad ngayon and her life only revolved around making the ice candies habang nakasakay sa wheel chair na sira pa. She had a husband pero bigla nalang daw itong nawala ng parang bula.

Poli told me that he absents from his class just to gain money out of their business. Sayang naman ang taon kung palagi nalang siyang nagmi-miss ng mga klase niya. Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip na tumulong sa kanila para makaattend na sa school si Poli palagi. Pumapayag nalang ako na maglako siya ng ice candy during weekends dahil kahit papano ay meron naman na silang benta kahit na nasa bahay lang si Tita out of the snacks that she's making.

"Nako Hanson. Nakakahiya naman. Sobra sobra na ang mga tulong mo sa amin." Tita Ysabelle almost kneeled on the floor to give me thanks but I shrugged it off.

"It's a pleasure to help Tita. Just tell me when you have problems at home, okay?" I smiled before holding her hand. "Hindi ko po kayo papabayaan hanggang sa nahihirapan pa kayo. And I'll promise na papaaralin ko pa si Poli kapag natapos na ako."

"Maraming salamat." Her eyes watered again as she pulled me into a hug. "Maraming salamat talaga hijo."

Saturday. Bago umalis para sa isang business meeting sila Tita at Dad ay napilitan akong samahan sila para kumain ng lunch. I didn't have the appetite but Tita Sunny did her best to bring me to the table.

"Hanson? How's your studies?" Dad said in his lowest tone. Nung bata pa ako, this voice was enough to make my heartbeat faster and send shivers to my skin.

I closed my eyes for a bit after my mind gave me sudden flashbacks. This is the reason why I hated being in the same table as him.

"It's good Dad. I'm adjusting and doing great in ACHS at the same time." Tumango lang siya before eating quietly again.