Lumipas ang isang linggo at nakalabas na ng ospital ang tatay ni Amanda. Napa-encash na rin nya ang cheke at nabayaran na ang bill.

Kulang-kulang nasa 70,000+ din ang nagastos nila dahil private ang kwarto ng nakuha ng mga kaibigan sa ama.

Niresetahan muna ng mga gamot ang tatay nya at binili nya iyon gamit ang naipit nyang pera for emergency purposes.

May expenses pa sa bahay ang iisipin nya. Nagpasya siyang gamitin ang pension muna ng kanyang ina sa pagkakataong iyon. Habang hindi pa sila nakakabawi.

Naisipan na rin ni Amanda na mag part-time sa pagtutor sa mga anak ng ka-opisina at kaibigan kada Sabado para makadagdag sa ipon.

Hindi man sya propesyonal na guro pero may certificate naman syang nakuha sa TESDA. Pag may free time in-between breaks, nagwewebinar din sya ng for English proficiency na magagamit din naman nya sa pang araw-araw at pag kailangan.

At ngayong Sabado nga ay nasa bahay sya ng kaniyang ka-opisina. Sa darating na dalawang linggo ay 2nd quarter exams na ng pangalawang anak nito na si Alan, isang Grade 6 pupil. Si Arnold Hipolito ay isa sa mga IT nila sa kompanya.

"Hey, Amanda. Glad nakapunta ka. Buti hindi ka naligaw?" sabi ni Arnold Stephens sa kanya ng dalin sya sa study room ng anak nito.

"No worries. Na-google map ko sya." kumindat pa si Amanda at natawa na lang si Arnold sa kanya at tumango.

"If may kailangan ka, andoon lang kame ni Sylvia sa sala. May snack sa kitchen, so help yourself." sabi ni Arnold at nginitian sya.

"Thanks, Arnold." Amanda nodded and smiled back.

"Hey, son." tinawag ni Arnold ang anak at pinakilala si Amanda sa kanya.  "She's your Tita Amanda. She's my officemate and she will be your tutor today. So behave, okay?"

Alan nodded and grabbed Amanda's hand to lead her to his chair.

"Ako na bahala, Arnold. Thanks again." Amanda nodded and they started the lesson.

--

As soon as Arnold left the room where Amanda and Alan are supposed to be studying, Alan let out a big sigh.

Amanda gasped at what she saw on Alan's table.

On it was a sketchpad instead of a notebook.

At kung ano ang nakasulat doon?

Was beyond words.

Unimaginable.

He drew a child leaning away towards a tree and looking at the house. Masyadong magaling si Alan gumuhit. He has shaded the house in all the right places for a thirteen year old. The house he drew seems to be a feet away from the boy looking at it.

Simpleng drawing pero may meaning if you look deeper into it.

Mabilis na itinago ni Alan ang sketchpad as if parang ayaw nya itong ipakita sa kanya.

Amanda tried to look away and smiled in surprise.

"Wow, Alan! Ang galing mo naman magdraw!" Amanda exclaimed and pat his head for assurance.

"Thank you po." Alan said and blushed when he saw her smile at him.

"Madami ka pang drawing dyan? Pwede ko bang makita?" Tanong ni Amanda to encourage his talent.

Napailing si Alan, nahihiya.

"Please, don't tell Dad." Alan stammered in fear.

Kumunot ang noo ni Amanda.

Nalito si Amanda sa sagot ng bata. Gusto nya pa sanang tanungin pero she decided against it.

"Sure. I won't tell him. So, let's start?" Amanda asked and pointed at Alan's English book in front of them.

Alan nodded and returned the sketchpad to his bookshelf.

Kinuha nya ang ballpen, papel at ang libro at nagsimula na sila sa lesson.

Tumagal ng 45 minutes ang lesson nila dahil may ilang mga katanungan si Alan.

Matapos nito ay niyaya na nya ang bata na mameryenda upang mas madaling madigest ng utak ang susunod pang lesson nila sa susunod na tatlumpung minuto pa.

"Yehey, pizza!" Alan exclaimed happily pagkakita sa snack nila sa kitchen. "What do you want, Tita Amanda? Coke po or orange juice?"

"Orange juice, Alan, please. Thank you." Amanda smiled and sat on the chair across Alan.

"Hey, you two. How was your first lesson?" tanong ni Arnold ng pumunta ito sa kitchen para kumuha ng tubig sa pitsel. "Binigyan ka ba ng sakit sa ulo ni Alan?"

Amanda chewed her pizza first before answering Arnold's question. "Nope. Alan's great! Mas magaling pa nga siya sa akin. Are you sure he needs help in English?" Amanda smiled and winked at Alan.

Alan smiled sheepishly and drank his coke. Kumuha ulit ito ng pizza at nilagyan ng hot sauce ang ibabaw nito bago kinain.

"Wow. Very well, son!" Arnold nodded proudly. "Keep it up and you'll ace your exams after two weeks!"

Amanda smelled something fishy with Arnold. Parang pinepressure naman nya ata si Alan sa academic standing nya.

Although hindi nya nakikita ang kabuuan ng mga grades nya sa iba pang subjects, Amanda is sure that Alan is trying his best not to fail any of it.

"No worries, Arnold. We'll work on it, right, Alan?" Amanda winked at him again and extended her clean left hand for high five.

Alan slapped his left hand on hers for a high five and grinned again.

"Magkasundong-magkasundo na nga kayo." Arnold laughed. "Iwan nyo nalang dyan ang pinagkainan nyo. Kami na bahala ni Sylvia dyan. Thank you, Amanda. Tell me when you're done and ihahatid na kita mamaya." He nodded at bumalik na sya sa sala dala ang baso ng tubig para sa asawa.

Yun lang ang sinabi nito and Amanda looked at Alan to see if he's fine already.

"Balik na tayo, Tita. " Alan said and went to the sink to wash his hands.

"Go ahead, Alan. Susunod ako. I'll just wash my hands. I left something on your table for you to answer. I'll check it after fifteen minutes." sabi ni Amanda at dala ang baso sa sink para hugasan.

Alan nodded at pumanik na sa taas sa study room.

Amanda sighed and washed the glass. Careful not to slip and break it, she turned the glass down and returned it to the dishwasher.