IMMORTAL LOVE - Josh and Erika

A Twist of Fate

     Josh was walking along the unpaved road towards their small hut in a small town in Negros. He has to hurry up to help his mom with the chores at home.  Just then, his schoolmate, a bully  called from behind him. "Hey you, shorty Josh! Where are you going? Don't walk too fast or your little short legs...chicken legs might make you trip and fall." A burst of laughter erupted from a small group of school kids on their bikes. They eventually came to where Josh was, surrounded him and abruptly stopped little Joshie in his tracks. 

     "Let me pass,  Danny! My Mama is waiting for me at home  right now, " Josh pleaded.  "Oooohhh....poor little Joshie.... a mama's boy. I heard you don't have a daddy. Whaat.... daddy left you and your mama? Your mama must be really ugly that your dad left. Hahaha..." Another school kid taunted him and shouted. 

     "Get out of my way. I need to go home, " Josh reiterated. He tried to push the bicycle aside to move past the school bully and the boy fell off his bike. 

     "What the...What are you doing you little twit...Now you are gonna get beaten up. You asked for it... Aaaaargh...wait..." as the boy fell to the ground. He then got up and grabbed Joshie's shirt in anger. He threw a punch and it landed on Joshie's face. 

    Josh fell back and landed on the ground. The boys laughed at him. They then took his school bag and took turns passing it around them as Josh tried to desperately retrieve his bag.  The school boys then opened his bag and threw his books and papers all over the place on the dirt road. A few of his school stuff landed on a small puddle of water and mud. "Stop....please ...don't do that..." Joshie cried in exasperation but it made the boys laughed more in glee. Another boy who was standing behind Josh pushed him from behind and he fell forward on the ground. 

     Josh tried to hold his anger in trying to remember what his mom said to not pick a fight in school.  He also does not want to cause trouble because he's been doing so good in school being first in his class. But...he thought to himself...this is too much. They've been doing this to me too many times. They need to stop. He was seething with anger. Josh then slowly got up and without a word walked towards one of the bullies still on a bike and hit him hard on the face with a punch. The boy was caught off guard as he fell back towards the ground along with his bike. He recovered from the fall and felt something warm trickling down the side of his mouth. The boy then touched his nose and winced in pain then looked at his hand and saw blood. The rest of the gang saw what happened and were frozen in fear as Josh turned around to face another bully. The boys scampered in fear and fled. All except for their leader who got off his bike and sauntered towards Josh. He was bigger and taller than Josh. He threw a punch but Josh was quick enough to move to the side so as not to get hit. Josh then made his move and slammed the bully with his small body with all his might. They both fell on the ground with Joshie on top of him.  Josh straddled him and started hitting him hard. The bully also threw punches at Josh. It has now become a real fist fight. Just then, a big booming male voice can be heard as Joshie was lifted off the bully. 

    "Hey! that's enough...Both of you...Get up or I'll call your parents. Or do you want me to call the police?" It sounded ridiculous at that time to call the police on some  10  year old street brawl but it worked. The two boys stopped fighting. Josh was then lifted off the bully by a big burly man and the school bully was freed. The kid then got up, grabbed his bike and sped off. 

     Joshie looked at the back of the retreating school bully as he was leaving the place.  He then felt arms around his shoulders from the big guy who helped break off the fight.  It was his Tito Max, his neighbor. 

     "Boy, you were fierce and fearless. Baaammm....But you've gotta do it right next time, Joshie. I will teach you some boxing moves, like this... so you know how to really fight. Max then tussled Joshie's hair and laughed. Hahaha....For sure those boys were the ones who got whipped today.

      "Wait...so you were there watching us fight all this time Tito Max?" Joshie exclaimed.  "But of course, you were doing so good.... Hehehe. Pak...Boom...Pow...They never got a chance yah know.  And it's all because of our little champ here...Yaaaassss... But oh wait...how are you gonna face your mama now. Oh boy...you are in big trouble young man. Better hurry up and try to clean up your face before your mama sees it.  Don't worry I will come by your house in a little while to help explain...you know...the little situation you were in.  Better yet, I will bring your Tita Mely to help...Okay? Now, go home."

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     Joshie slowly opened the door of their small dwelling place and peeked in to check if his mom was home. He saw her busy folding clothes and packing it into a small suitcase. "What now?" Joshie thought. 

     By now he is so used to this scene of packing and constantly moving from place to place as if they were being chased. As to why and who is chasing them away he does not know. His mother never even bothered to explain to him the reason why. He wanted to ask but his mom kept evading the issue. In his little mind, he thought he is big enough now to know why. He slowly approached his mother.

     Amelia noticed that her son had come home from school.  She turned around to give him a scolding for coming home late from school but stopped when she saw Joshie's face.

     "Josh Liam"  She always calls him by his full name when she gets really mad.  What ever happen to your face?  Wait....don't tell me lies young man. You better tell me the truth. You got into a fight...didn't you? She let out a big sigh then continued with her rant. How many times did I tell you not to cause trouble? Specially in school? Why don't you listen? What now? Huh...Why don't you talk? You act tough at school but you are now afraid to talk eh? 

     Josh tried to talk but his mom interrupted him..."Wait...don't you dare talk back. You know you are at fault. How do you like to be punished for disobeying me...huh? I tried so hard to keep reminding you that fighting in school is not allowed. What happens now to your dream of getting that scholarship so you can get into high school? Are you forgetting it now? Or you just want to act tough and just want to be a street urchin."

     Joshie covered his ears with his hands and shouted back. They started it mom. I tried mom. Did you know I get bullied in school because they know I don't have a dad and I wear old clothes and I look funny? I tried mom. They won't let me be. Josh now has tears running down his little face as he tried to explain out of frustration.