"San Andres, you're beautiful."

I strolled down the street, dancing with a carefree spirit as I listened to the music blaring through my headphones. The sun warmed my face, and the rhythm of the song seemed to sync perfectly with my steps.

I could see the curious glances from people I passed. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangisi. I knew the effect I had.

I knew I was gorgeou—

I tensed up when I heard a series of loud honks behind me.

"Hey, Miss! Naglalakad ka ba para magpasagasa?"

Hinubad ko ang headphones at lumingon. I saw a woman leaning out of her car window and shot me a frustrated look.

Wait, what did she just say earlier?

The woman's voice cut through my thoughts. "Tumabi ka!" she shouted.

Napatingin ako sa kalsada. It was wide enough for her to pass easily, and I was already standing on the side. Is she blind?

Rather than giving in to her demands, I crossed the street to put some distance between us.

It was my first day of freedom, I don't want any trouble.

Pumunta ako sa isang malapit na playground kung saan naglalaro ang grupo ng mga bata. An inexplicable urge pushed me towards the swings at bigla-bigla na lang akong kumaripas ng takbo.

As I arrived, may batang babae na humarang sa akin nang huminto ako sa tapat ng swing.

"Oops, ako ang nauna!" she said, her tiny hands gripping the swing's chains.

I furrowed my brow, wanting to assert that I was here first, but I couldn't speak to defend myself. I just nodded, letting the child take the swing even though I was eager to ride it.

A feeling of defeat washed over me as I walked toward the bench shaded by the tree. Bawat hakbang ko ay labag sa aking kalooban.

"Hoy! Hindi ka ba sasakay sa duyan?" I came to a halt and turned around. Nakita ko ang batang babae na papalapit sa akin.

"Gusto mong sumakay?" tanong niya sabay turo sa swing.

I nodded, unable to vocalize my eagerness.

Inilahad niya ang kanyang palad nang makahinto siya sa aking tapat. "Bayad muna."

I frowned, puzzled. May bayad na pala ngayon ang pagsakay sa swing?

I opened my bag and reached into the compartment where I kept my money, my fingers brushing against the familiar texture of the bills. I pulled out a dollar and handed it to her.

She wants a bribe to use the swing. Magaling din 'tong bata 'to. Business-minded.

Her eyes widened as she took the money, her tiny hands gripping the bill with a mixture of wonder and excitement. Itinaas niya ito sa ere at masusing tiningnan. "Hala! Dollar ba ito?"

My forehead creased. Hindi ba halata?

She looked at me, bakas sa kanyang hitsura na hindi siya makapaniwala. "Hindi ito fake?"

I shook my head.

Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang tumalon-talon at humalakhak. What a strange kid.

I left her and went to the swing.

Bakas sa aking mukha ang malapad na ngiti nang makaupo ako sa swing. I started swinging gently, gradually building up momentum. Hindi ko akalain na sa loob ng mahabang panahon, makakasakay muli ako sa swing.

I let my gaze wander around the park. The sunlight filtered through the trees, making patterns of light and shadow on the ground. A light breeze stirred the leaves. I breathed in the fresh air, enjoying the view.

It was beautiful and peaceful here. Ang gaan sa kalooban na walang kahit na sino ang nakakilala sa akin.

"Siya! Siya 'yong babae na nagbigay sa akin ng dollar!" I suddenly heard the girl I had encountered earlier.

I gradually slowed the swing when I noticed a group of four boys approaching me. Nakikita ko sa kanila ang mausisang hitsura.

"Ate, may dollar ka pa?" tanong ng batang naka-Son Goku hairstyle.

"Bigyan mo naman kami," dagdag ng isa, puno ng pag-asa ang boses niya.

They quickly surrounded me, all talking at once, their voices a chaotic mix of demands. I stood up from the swing, umaasang lulubayan na nila ako. Doon ako nagkamali dahil hindi pa rin sila tumitigil sa ginagawa. They even crowded closer, their eyes fixed on me at naghihintay na bigyan ko sila ng pera.

"Ate, sige na!" they said in unison.

Their persistence irritated me. Kahit sa paglalakad ko ay nakabuntot pa rin sila sa akin. May dalawang bata rin na humihila sa damit ko. I couldn't even stand their noise. Their high-pitched voices filled the air, making it hard to think.

I wanted to scold them and tell them to leave me alone, but I couldn't. My voice failed me.

I felt overwhelmed and helpless, unable to understand why this was happening. I just wanted to cry.

"Martin, Bryan, Lucas, Liam, itigil niyo na 'yan." A calm, authoritative voice called out from behind me.

"Kuya Creed!" sabay nilang tawag.

Creed? The name sounded familiar. Parang narinig ko na 'yang pangalan kanina.

The boys who had been surrounding me immediately scattered. I took the chance to run as fast as I could bago pa man sila makalapit muli sa akin.

Thanks, Creed. Whoever you are, you saved my precious life from those loud and demanding kids.

I stopped running after realizing I had already covered a considerable distance. Sigurado akong hindi na nila ako maabutan if they had tried to follow me.

My heart was pounding and I could feel the sweat trickling down my forehead. I took out my tumbler and drank the water inside. Hindi ako makapaniwala, this was my second run of the morning.

First, I had chased after a dog, and now I had to escape from kids pestering me for money.

I never imagined my life would turn into such an adventure after running away from home.

As I caught my breath, napadako ang mga mata ko sa magandang infrastraktura sa aking harapan. It was an old church with intricate designs and a welcoming aura. I put the tumbler back in my bag and slowly walked toward the entrance.

Hindi pa ako nakaka-abot sa entrada, sinalubong ako ng isang matanda na nagtitinda ng bulaklak. "Iha, bulaklak. Bagong pitas pa ito. Singkwenta pesos lang."

I immediately moved away, remembering my allergy to flowers. I shook my head to indicate I wouldn't buy any. Nilubayan din niya ako pero nakaramdam ako ng awa matapos ko iyong gawin. I observed her closely, her face was lined with wrinkles and she moved with a noticeable limp. Masyado na rin siyang matanda para magtinda.

I decided to take some money from my bag and walked over to give it to her.

"Bibili ka, iha?" tanong niya.

Hindi ako nagbigay ng tugon. She smiled widely, thinking I was buying her flowers, and handed me a bunch. I didn't take them, though. Instead, I stepped back and gave her a thumbs-up to indicate that it was okay.

"Sigurado ka bang hindi mo ito kukunin? Nagbayad ka." Her voice tinged with confusion.

I shook my head and gave another thumbs-up, adding a warm smile so she wouldn't insist.

"Salamat, iha. Ikaw ang unang taong bumili sa akin ngayong araw pero hindi mo ito kinuha. Ipagdadasal kong nasa mabuti kang kalagayan palagi."

I bowed respectfully and continued walking. As I stepped inside the church, the serene atmosphere greeted me.

"Nay! Genie po ba si God?"

Napatingin ako sa mag-inang nakasabay kong pumasok sa simbahan. I didn't realize I had stopped walking to listen to their conversation. I stood by the holy water and watched them.

"Hindi genie si God, Flora." Her mother answered, her tone patient and gentle.

"Para siyang genie, Nay. Kahapon kasi narinig kong nag-away kayo ni Tiya Nena, sinisingil na naman niya kayo ng utang. Alam kong hindi pa sapat ang pera natin kaya ipinagdasal ko na sana makakita ako ng pera para mabayaran mo si Tiya Nena. At alam mo ba, Nay habang naglalakad tayo kanina nakakita ako ng pera. Heto, Nay . . . dollar." She laughed enthusiastically. "Dininig ni God ang dasal ko."

Her mother smiled. "Dininig nga ng Diyos ang dasal mo, anak . . . pero hindi sa atin 'yan. Kung sino man ang may-ari ng perang 'yan, sigurado akong hinahanap niya 'yan."

"Hindi, Nay. Biyaya 'to, maaari na nating mabayaran ang utang mo ni Tiya Nena."

Napailing ang nanay ng bata. "Hindi 'yan sapat, Flora. Mas mabuting ihulog mo na lang 'yan sa donation box para sa mga batang nasa bahay-ampunan."

I felt uneasy when the mother looked in my direction. Her gaze briefly met mine kaya automatiko akong napalakad nang wala sa oras.

I chose a seat slightly away from the front. As I placed my bag on the seat, gumawa ito ng ingay na siyang nagpa-igting ng katawan sa taong nakaupo sa aking harapan.

I couldn't help but let out a quiet giggle.

My eyes were drawn to the large crucifix at the front. Lord, I'm sorry. Ang babaw kasi ng kaligayahan ko.

I tried to look innocent as the person turned around and glanced in my direction. Sinundan ko rin ng tingin ang kanyang pag-alis sa aking harapan.

"Nakatulog pala ako habang nagdadasal," mahina niyang sambit ngunit narinig ko naman.

I lowered the kneeler and knelt down. I made the sign of the cross and began to pray.

"Good morning, Lord, my provider for everything. Pasensya na po kung ngayon lang ako naparito dahil hindi ako masyadong nakapagsisimba. But I'm truly grateful that during my time in Italy, I had the opportunity to attend church regularly pero alam ko po na hindi 'yon sapat. Hindi po ako makakapromise na magsimba every Sunday pero sisikapin ko po simula ngayon. Thank you rin po for letting me escape from home without any trouble. Please forgive me for all of my sins, lalong-lalo na kanina, Lord, nasa harapan ka pa naman . . . I also pray that Gia and Greg do not discover that I've run away. Please guide me wherever I go and help me find a place to stay. Sana po ang mga tao na makasasalamuha ko ay mababait. Lord, sana rin po tulungan niyo akong makapagsalita sa harap ng mga tao ulit kasi nahihirapan na po ako na sarili ko lang ang aking kinakausap. Amen."

After a few minutes of prayer, I rose from my kneeling position and took a seat. I took my phone from my pocket and saw that it was already past eleven in the morning.

Tumayo ako at naglakad palabas ng simbahan. As soon as I stepped outside, my eyes caught sight of a familiar dog in the distance. It was none other than Neo, ang aso na dumukot sa aking litrato.

Excitement surged through me as I sprinted towards him. Sabik na sabik akong puntahan siya dahil wala siyang kamalay-malay sa presensya ko.

When he noticed me, he started running. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hinahabol ko siya kahit nakita kong wala na ang litrato sa kanyang bibig, but I couldn't stop myself from following.

We passed by the playground until Neo finally stopped at a store. Pinagmasdan ko siyang pumasok nang bumukas ang pinto dahil may mga customer na lumabas.

Target locked.

I came to a halt and caught my breath. Nakakapagod tumakbo lalong-lalo na't may pasan pa akong malaking backpack.

I composed myself, wiping the sweat off my face with my hands. I took a deep breath and approached the store's entrance.

"Hala! Sorry!" sigaw ko nang bigla kong mabangga ang isang tao na lumabas mula sa tindahan.

I cautiously lifted my eyes, but I froze when my attention was captured by the name tag pinned to his apron.

"Creed . . ."