the boy

Today, I'm writing about the little boy next door to ours. Starting December last year, this kid is always dropping by in our house, visiting my dad. It made my dad very happy since he like kids (he likes to play favorites. hehe). It turns out, he was the kid of our neighbor's housemaid.

Early this year, this kid frequents our house. He would talk to me, always wanting to play. Makulit na bata! Haha. Then after a while, he wasn't dropping by anymore. We learned that he was taken back to Bohol, his mother's hometown, because her mom couldn't afford schooling here any longer.

Months passed then I was surprised that he's here again! He's back. The only difference is he seems so passive now. No longer the talkative little kid. I even find this awkward because he used to be so 'makulit' to me before. This made me think:

"Did this kid changed?"

"Or did I changed?"

Maybe I changed, thus affecting the little kid's perception of me. Maybe I grew cold these past months. Maybe he sees me as a 'terror' figure because I rarely smile anymore, and mabilis na akong mainis. I remember when I was a kid his age, I was afraid of people who look strict. Mabilis akong matakot. Maybe the kid sees me now as one of those people who kids gets afraid of.

Sometimes, people change. And it seems that the last person who'll notice they've changed is themselves.