Mang Nestor could feel his heart beating loudly in his chest.

He tightened his grip on Bantay’s legs that were resting on his shoulders.

—What did you say? —he asked in a dry voice.

The man in the suit stared at him silently for a few seconds.

He didn’t look angry.

Instead… he seemed surprised.

He looked at the dog again.

Then he took a step closer to Mang Nestor.

—That dog shouldn’t be walking in this heat —he said calmly—. He’s sick.

Mang Nestor frowned.

—I know.

—In that case, put him down.

Mang Nestor shook his head.

—No.

The man raised one eyebrow.

—His feet will burn on the cement road.

—That’s why I carried him.

He looked at the dog again.

Bantay was breathing heavily.

His mouth was open.

His tongue was sticking out.

His eyes were tired.

Then the stranger asked a question that no one expected.

—Where are you taking her?

Mang Nestor hesitated for a moment.

Then he answered.

—To the animal hospital in Manila.

The man in the suit fell silent.

As if calculating something in his mind.

—That’s about six kilometers from here.

Mang Nestor nodded.

—I know.

—And you plan to walk that distance while carrying her on your back?

Mang Nestor didn’t answer.

He just kept walking.

He passed by the man.

One step.

Two steps.

Three.

Then he heard a voice from behind.

—Wait a minute.

Mang Nestor stopped.

The stranger opened the door of the black SUV.

—Get in.

Mang Nestor slowly turned around.

—I don’t have any money.

The man sighed.

—I’m not charging you.

Mang Nestor hesitated.

He looked inside the car.

Leather seats.

Powerful air conditioning.

A world away from what he was used to.

—Why do you want to help me?

The man looked him straight in the eye.

—I’ve been watching you for ten minutes.

Mang Nestor didn’t say a word.

—And in those ten minutes —the man continued— I saw something that is rarely seen in this city.

He pointed at the dog.

—Honesty.

Mang Nestor bowed.

The stranger opened the door wider.

—Get in before the dog faints.

Finally, Mang Nestor agreed.

He carefully got into the car.

He placed Bantay on his lap.

The interior of the car was filled with cold air.

Bantay sighed softly.

The car started moving.

For a few minutes, no one spoke.

Until the man in the suit broke the silence.

—My name is Miguel.

Mang Nestor nodded.

—Nestor.

—How long have you been with the dog?

—A year.

—And you always take care of him like that?

Mang Nestor stroked Bantay’s head.

—He was the first to save me.

Miguel frowned.

—How?

Mang Nestor took a deep breath.

—A year ago… I was sleeping on the sidewalk.

Miguel glanced at him.

—And?

—One night someone tried to rob me while I was sleeping.

Mang Nestor bowed.

—Bantay suddenly appeared from nowhere.

—And?

—He bit the man.

Miguel laughed a little.

—A stray dog ​​defending another person living on the street?

Mang Nestor nodded.

—Since that night… we have never been apart.

The car slowly moved forward in the midst of heavy traffic in Manila.

Bantay’s breathing slowed down even more.

Mang Nestor noticed that.

—Please… hurry up.

Miguel stepped on the accelerator even harder.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at an animal hospital.

Mang Nestor almost ran out of the car.

—Help! —he shouted as he entered.

A veterinarian came out from inside.

—What happened?

—My dog… he’s having trouble breathing.

The woman quickly helped him.

—Put him here on the table.

Bantay was placed on a stretcher.

The doctors immediately began to examine him.

Mang Nestor just stood there.

Not moving.

His hands were shaking.

Miguel watched silently from the doorway.

The minutes passed as if they were endless.

Then the veterinarian approached.

—Is this dog yours?

Mang Nestor nodded.

—Yes.

The woman took a deep breath.

—He has a serious infection.

It felt like the floor moved under Mang Nestor.

—But… you came at the right time.

Mang Nestor suddenly looked up.

—Will he still be saved?

The woman looked serious.

—Yes.

Mang Nestor rolled his eyes and let out a long sigh.

But then came the second sentence.

The sentence that hit him like a hammer.

—The treatment will cost almost a hundred thousand pesos.

Mang Nestor was stunned.

That was a huge amount.

An impossible amount for him.

He looked at the floor.

Then he looked at Bantay.

The dog’s eyes were only slightly open.

Mang Nestor slowly turned to face him.

—Thank you for taking me —he said to Miguel—. Now… it’s up to me what I do.

Miguel crossed his arms.

—What are you going to do?

Mang Nestor swallowed his nerves.

—I’m going to look for a job.

—Now?

—Yes.

Miguel shook his head.

—The dog doesn’t have time for that.

Mang Nestor clenched his fists.

—Then… I don’t know.

The entire room fell silent.

The veterinarian watched the scene.

Miguel approached the table where Bantay was lying.

He looked at him silently for a moment.

Bantay slowly raised his head.

And slightly wagged his tail.

Just once.

Miguel sighed.

He took out his wallet.

He took out a black card.

He placed it on the table.

—Do all the necessary treatment.

The veterinarian took it.

Mang Nestor’s eyes widened.

—No… I can’t accept that.

Miguel looked at him.

—This isn’t for you.

He pointed at Bantay.

—This is for him.

It felt like something had broken inside Mang Nestor’s chest.

—I don’t know how to thank him.

Miguel shook his head.

—Just take care of him.

Mang Nestor nodded.

After a few hours, the treatment was over.

Bantay was still weak.

But his breathing was better.

When Mang Nestor left the hospital carrying Bantay, Miguel was still waiting outside.

—Will he live? —Miguel asked.

Mang Nestor smiled for the first time.

—Yes.

Bantay wagged his tail slightly.

Miguel silently observed the scene.

Then he said something unexpected.

—Nestor.

—Yes?

—I work for a foundation that rescues abandoned animals.

Mang Nestor looked up.

—We need people who truly understand what it means to care.

He paused for a moment.

—Do you want to work with us?

Mang Nestor didn’t answer right away.

His eyes were filled with tears.

He looked at Bantay.

Bantay looked at him.

And in that moment, Mang Nestor understood something.

Sometimes, life changes…

just because someone decided to carry their dog under the scorching sun.