The rain stop from falling and the rainbow is slowly showing as the clouds become brighter.

The touch of the wind is cold, making a sound when it touches the trees. And the creek sound from the old swing and the little sobs that came from somewhere is the only noise on the entire park.

Liya has been crying for a minute. She wanted to go home but she knows her mother will get angry again because of her swollen eyes. Bakit ba kasi ang iyakin niya? Pero bakit kasi ang taba niya?

Pero kasalanan ba maging mataba?

"Bakit ka umiiyak?" She froze when she heard a voice. Hindi siya nagtangkang iangat ang ulo. "May masakit ba sa 'yo?" Hindi niya pa rin ito pinansin. Baka kasi awayin din siya katulad ng ibang bata. Mabait sa umpisa tapos bigla na lang siyang aawayin.

Kasalanan ba niyang masarap kumain kaya siya mataba? E, magaling magluto ang Mama niya.

"Bata, huwag kang lumapit diyan! Dadaganan ka niyan!" Her sobs became louder. Pati ba naman sa park sinundan siya nang mga nang-aaway sa kanya? Is there a place where she will have a safe haven?

Ah. Right! On their house! Hindi na dapat siya lumabas at nanatili na lang siya sa bahay nila. And maybe her Mom is cooking mouthwatering food.

Nag-angat siya ng ulo. Tama. Uuwi na lang siya.

Gusto niya sanang umatras nang naramdaman niya na papalapit na ang batang umaaway sa kanya pero hindi niya magawa. Baka mahulog siya sa swing at mas lalong pagtawanan. Pero baka masira na rin ang swing dahil sa bigat niya.

"Stop bullying her!" She froze when the little boy stepped in.

"Sino ka ba? Saka bakit ganyan ka magsalita? Mayaman ka, no? Hoy! Hindi porke't mayaman ka hindi ka na namin aawayin!"

Hinila niya ang laylayan ng damit ng batang lalaki. Agad naman itong lumingon sa kanya. "Bata, umalis ka na. Aawayin ka rin nila," she whispered.

But the boy smiled instead. Mas lalo itong nagmukhang mabait.

His eyes are like a night, dark but full of stars. Para bang sinisigaw na nito ang ugaling mayro'n. Mailap pero puno ng pag-asa.

Nakasuot ito ng maong short at ng blue shirt.

At kahit na payat na payat ito alam niyang magiging heartthrob ito pagdating ng panahon. "Ako ang bahala sa 'yo." She gulped. Mukhang mas masasaktan pa ang batang lalaki kaysa sa kanya.

"Ano lalaban ka?" Liya stands up when the one of the bad kid try to touch the boy beside her.

"Lalaban talaga." Shock is an understatement when the boy beside her pushed the bad kid. Natumba ito sa lakas ng impact.

Pagkatapos ay hinila siya nito at tumakbo.

"They can't even fight me. Hah." A triumphant smile crossed his face when he looks at her. "Why are you not fighting back?" She shrugged. It doesn't matter if she will fight for herself or not. Tama naman sila. Mataba siya at hindi maganda. "Why?"

"Mataba kasi ako," she answered.

"So?"

"Mataba ako at... at pangit." She bows her head, trying to hide her tears. Bakit pa ako lalaban?" Ang iyakin pa niya.

"So?"

Nag-angat siya ng tingin. Naasar na siya. "Hindi mo ba maintindihan?" she asked. Trying to hold her voice. Mas makulit pa ata ito sa mga batang umaaway sa kanya.

"Because I don't get the point." Then he looks at her and smiled. "You're not fat. You're just healthy. You're not ugly because no one is ugly." Umiling siya. Hindi niya maintindihan.

Masyado ng malalim ang English nito. "Teka." She scratched her head. "Hindi kita maintindhan."

Maang siya nitong tiningan. Then the boy laughs his heart out.

Bakit siya tumatawa? Pinagtatawanan niya ba ako?

"You're so cute." And he pinched her chubby cheeks. She felt the heat on her face. She's blushing and this is her first time. Kaya naman yumuko siya upang itago ang mukha.

Her little heart is beating wildly. She remembers a time when her heart beats like this. It is when she secretly drunk a coffee and after that, she never tried to drink that again. And now, she doesn't understand why her heart is beating like this - fast. Hindi naman siya uminom ng kape.

"Come on. I'm gonna treat you." He holds her hand and pulls it. "I'm gonna buy you an ice cream."

"Wala akong pera," she said.

"Kaya nga ililibre kita," he answered, stating the obvious.

Hindi niya talaga ito maintindihan. Yes, he's kind but she also noticed the rudeness from his tone.

Binitawan nito ang kamay niya nang makarating sila sa tapat ng ice-cream vendor. "What flavor you want?"

"Strawberry," she whispered. Hindi na niya tatanggihan ang libre nito. Sayang.

"One strawberry and one chocolate, kuya." Dumukot ito ng pera sa bulsa at binigay sa ice-cream vendor.

"Here it goes." She relaxed when she taste the ice cream. The sweetness of it is comforting her. She can also taste the sugar of it.

She loves how it melts under her tongue. "Ang sarap!"

The boy laughed. "He's my favorite ice cream maker." He pointed the old man. The old man laughed.

"Naku, iho. Ikaw naman ang paborito kong suki."

They are smiling at each other, both holding the sweet ice cream.

When she finished eating her ice cream she felt sticky from it. Pinunas niya ito sa kulay lila niyang dress.

"Thank you."

"You're very much welcome." Pinagpag nito ang kamay. "You know don't always let them bully you. Puwede ka naman lumaban but if you're afraid at least don't let them affect you." He smiled again. Ang dali naman nitong ngumit. "Mag-isip ka ng magandang katangian mo. Halimbawa, when I held your hand earlier, I noticed your soft skin."

"Susubukan ko." She answered while smiling.

"There! You are more beautiful when you're smiling." Mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti niya. Sa wakas! May nagsabi na rin na maganda siya bukod sa Mama at Papa niya.

"Louie!" An old woman came to them. Worry was plastered on her face. "Louie! Saan ka ba galing na bata ka? Kanina pa kita hinahanap. Ikaw talaga! Umuwi na tayo."

"Bye," she bid her goodbye.

"Bye."

Tumingala siya at ngumiti. The glowing sun is smiling at her.

Ah. Not a bad day