Elijah Alkie Rivera

"Eli, ah! Kung may mga kailangan ka or mga bad vibes sa paligid tawagan mo kami agad."

I nodded and scratched my cheeks. I don't know how many times na ako nag-nod kay Ali. She's like a worry-wart mom but worries about me more than my real mom.

She sighed and looked at me na para bang s-second thought na siya sa pag-alis. We only know each other briefly but I'm happy na she cares for me to this extent. I gave her my most reassuring smile and touched her hand. 

"Don't worry about me, Ali. I can take care of myself, really. I will call you and update you about my life as frequently as I can." 

"Hays. How can I leave you? You're like my baby," she pouted and pinched my cheeks. "Bakit kasi wala kang passport? Next time kumuha tayo ah."

I laughed and nodded na lang.

How can I tell her na my mom burned all of my important documents?  She'd be mad, I'm sure. I know naman na I can get another copy but I have to spend money, which I don't have, sadly. Iyong document lang na na-secure ko is my birth certificate.

"I will miss you talaga, Eli! Pa-hug nga!"

I giggled and opened my arms. She wrapped her thin arms around my neck and hugged me tight. Warmth crept throughout my body, replacing the coldness I felt from the rain that passed minutes ago.  

"Aliyah, stop pestering, Elijah. Dalhin mo na 'to sa sasakyan, ba't mo 'to iniwan sa loob?" 

Ali pulled herself from me and turned to look at her kuya. I can see her making irap pa kay mamang police.

I smiled at mamang police when he looked at me. He gave Ali the bag nang makalapit siya sa amin tapos tinulak niya pa si Ali sa direction ng car nila.

"Ang sama mo talaga!" Ali stomped her foot before walking away from us.

I was laughing while looking at Ali heading towards the car.

"She's so childish," I heard mamang police mumble who was also looking at Ali din pala.

When he looked at me, I held my breath unconsciously. I've had plenty of men in my life, but nothing comes close to mamang police. He's super gwapo.

Not the usual gwapo na may perfect smile, perfect teeth, perfect bakat. He's gwapo in ways that make you want to look at him 24/7 and thank God for giving you eyes so you can look at him.

"Did you put my number saved as your emergency contact like what I've told you?" He asked me, brows raised, and looking as worried as Ali.

I cleared my throat, trying to hide my smile, and nag-nod sa kaniya. I pulled my phone from my pocket and showed my phone to mamang police. Anything to make him feel better.

A flash of relief crossed his face before he looked at me and patted my head.

"Good job. I assume you already know
all the police stations near your place, right?"

"Yes, Daddy," I answered cheekily but immediately wiped the smile on my face when he looked at me seriously.

Hala!

I bit my lips and turned to look at my side. I saw Ali na nakatingin sa amin tapos 'yong smile niya nang-aasar.

"Come on, daddy! Mal-late na tayo sa flight."

I glared at Ali, but she just laughed at me. I can feel the heat rising on both of my cheeks. Now, I can't hide how embarrassed I am.

I apologized weakly. "Sorry po..."

A deep chuckle escaped his lips.

"It's okay," he said kindly. "So ano? Aalis na kami. We still have a flight to catch up. Take care of yourself, Elijah."

"Thank you. Kayo din po."

I blinked when he remained na nakatayo sa harap ko. "Is there something wrong?"

"Where's my hug?" He asked brows raised and lips curved in a playful smile.

I laughed a little and moved to wrap my arms around him. The corners of my lips shyly lifted as I felt his strong arms wrap around my waist. He pulled me close to him and dropped a kiss on my forehead. 

A kiss. on my damn forehead.

I looked up at him with eyes open wide, trying to contain myself from reacting more because he made it clear na I couldn't expect more from him. I think he was surprised as well with his eyes going as round as mine. 

He faked a cough and that's when I realized na we're still tangled with each other pa. I immediately pulled myself palayo sa kaniya and tried to look anywhere but at him. 

"So.. I.. we.. we should go," he said carefully, breaking the awkward silence between us. 

I nodded and shyly stared at him. "Goodbye then."

He smiled gently before walking away from me. I watch them drive their car until they are no longer visible in my line of vision.

Days passed by slowly after that. Before I knew it, almost a week had passed na.

Sam also went to sa US together with mamang Police and Ali so I am back to my previous life without them.

Well, not really.

They may not be here physically with me but they know about my existence, acknowledge it, and continue to value it.

With that, I am thankful. And super miss ko na sila. We do video calls naman and I do nonstop chat kay Ali but iba pa rin if you talk to them personally. You can't make hampas if you're kinikilig or push each other when you get to talk about something funny. 

My attention was snatched by a huge truck that passed by me. It's not always na may vehicle aside from taxi and privately owned cars ang pumapasok dito sa village namin. And not just that, it came pa sa direction ng inuupuhan kong room. 

I felt my heart thump in uneasiness. I don't know why but something inside me is telling me na magmadali ako sa paglalakad. And so I did. 

When I reached the two-story house, I was taken aback at the number of people gathering in front of it. 

"Um, excuse me, may I know what's happening po?" I asked hurrriedly doon sa matabang guy near sa isa pang big truck. 

"Inatake iyong may-ari ng bahay kaninang umaga. Nandito iyong mga anak para hakutin iyong mga gamit ng matanda."

I was petrified at the news of Manang Fe collapsing. I just saw her pa kanina na nagdidilig ng mga plants niya. 

I ran towards doon sa tita na maraming suot na jewelries. I think that's her daughter, I saw a picture of her kasi sa house ni manang Fe. 

"Hello po," I called bravely despite feeling intimidated. 

She stopped her conversation with the older guy na I don't know who and stared at me. "Ano?"

"I just..." I sighed and held the strap of my sling bag tighter. "I just want to know po if okay lang si Manang Fe?"

She inspected me from my feet pataas sa face ko with her brows lifted as high as Mt. Everest. We never met before so there's no way she would recognize me. 

"Sino ka ba?" Just from her tone I knew she disliked me na. 

As much as I want to disappear from her face, I can't, not unless I get to know na manang Fe is safe and kung anong mangyayari sa room ko. 

"I'm Eli po. Ako po 'yong nag-r-rent ng room sa second floor," I explained trying my best to stop my voice from quivering. 

She stared at me for a long time. She looked at me suspiciously, parang hindi siya makapaniwala na someone is renting the room above her mom's. 

"Matagal ka ng nagr-renta diyan?" She pointed at the room without taking her eyes from me. 

I nodded. 

"Magkano ang renta mo?"

"2, 500 po." 

"2,500?" She scoffed. "Binibiro niyo ba ako? Alam mo ba na isa sa pinakamahal na village itong tinitirhan mo tapos 2, 500 lang ang renta? Kaya naman pala ayaw ni mama na ibigay itong bahay sa akin. Inuuto mo siguro ang nanay ko."

I shook my head hard. "Hindi po! I would never do that to Manang. I insisted pa nga po to pay her more but she declined."

"Aba malay ko kung niloloko mo lang ako. Anyway, inatake ang mama. Iuuwi na siya sa London ng ate ko, itong bahay ibinilin niya sa akin.  Ipapa-renovate ko na 'to kaya gusto kong umalis ka na ngayon." 

My eyes widen in surprise. "Where po ako matutulog? And I need to tidy my things pa."

"Aba hindi ko problema 'yon." 

I held her hand desperately. "Please po. I'll find a place as soon as possible pero not today. It's getting dark na po."

"Ano ba?!" She tried to pull her hands away from me but I held it tighter. Feel ko if I let go, then I'm really going to sleep sa gilid ng streets. And from experience, sleeping on the streets isn't the most comfortable.

"Please po. Pretty please."

"Imbyerna! Oh, siya, sige. Bibigyan kita ng dalawang araw. Hanggang alas otso ng gabi sa ikalawang araw. Kung nandito ka pa il-lock ko ng 'yang kwarto. Naiintindihan mo?" 

I nodded almost aggressively. "Thank you po." 

Inirapan niya lang ako tapos she continued to talk na sa guy. I watched the people around me and sighed. How do I find a room in two days? Maybe I shouldn't be picky na this time. The slums will do. I can't afford nice rooms na apart from this. 

I went to my room after that at nahiga sa sofa ko. I may not be always here pero this is the place that made me feel secured after being thrown out from my family home. There's not much things here pero I did my best to make it feel like home. 

And now it's gone. 

I closed my eyes and tried to relax myself kasi sumakit bigla ang head ko. I'm definitely going to be sick. 

I was about to doze off when my phone started to ring. I ignored it once, then twice, pero I can't anymore at the third ring. 

It was Ali requesting for another videocall kahit nag-call na kami yesterday. 

"Eliiiiii!"

I grinned when baby Jacky's face popped on the screen. Her rosy cheeks bulged like a squirrel as she nibbled at the biscuit she was holding. 

"Hi, Ali!!! Hi baby Jacky! I miss you so much," I cooed and tried to pich baby Jacky's cheeks on the phone.

I saw her laugh and tried to reach me as well. That melted my heart instantly knowing na she recognized my voice na. 

"Miss ka na rin niyan. Oh ano? Kumusta? Anong chika."

"I'm okay, Ali. And I don't have any new chikas anymore. Inubos mo na kaya yesterday." I playfully rolled my eyes at her and she cackled.

I tried to act as I normally do because I don't want her to worry. She might do crazy things if she knew about what happened kaninang morning. Wala iyong maid nila today so I guess the secret's safe for now. 

And this is my problem. There's a limit to what I can ask for help from them. I don't want to abuse their kindness. They don't deserve it. 

"Sige, ako na muna ang may chika."

I giggled at that. "What?"

She leaned closer sa screen then she looked around before she looked at me.

"Nandito si te Bea. Pinakilala ng jowa ni kuya," she whispered on the screen.

I was silent for a while. It was as expected. That was what the future holds. I knew from the start.

But why is it still painful? Why does my heart throb and ache at the thought of it? Why am I so disappointed and sad? 

It was just a crush. It couldn't be more. But why does this feel far heavier than losing a roof over my head? 

"Okay ka lang, Eli?" Ali asked worriedly and that snapped me out of my thoughts.

I weakly smiled at her. "Of course, Ali. Please say congratulations to mamang police for me, okay? I'll sleep na muna. We got busy kasi kanina medyo pagod ako. "

"Oh, sige. Papatulugin ko na din ang isang 'to. Ingat ka, Eliii. Babe, say bye to dada Eli."

I laughed at Eli's name for me kay baby Jacky.

"Bye, baby. Bye, Eli."

I turned off my phone after that and hugged my pillow tight. 

"I hate you, Ajax. Damn you." I wiped the warm liquid running from my eyes aggressively. "So oa, Eli."