Souls on Strings

PART ONE: REIN + GENESIS

Twas a stormy night in Metro Manila—the gusty wind dragged grey clouds over the city and anchored them above skyscrapers and satellite towers. The students of St. Margaret of Antioch College hurriedly wrapped up their weekend-long celebration of honoring their patron. Booths and arches were dismantled, signs were taken off the walls, and trash was picked up from the ground.

Rein Encarnacion, a third-year college student taking up film, walked out of the storage room after placing back equipment used for the movie tent. He was timid and quiet. Rein's small body frame made it convenient for him to disappear in a crowd whenever he wanted to. His big round eyes, though, reflected all the beauty in life. His calm nature made people put their guard down and open up to him with no hesitation. For someone who never liked getting attention, he sure made many friends for being inconspicuous and modest.

Rein looked around as if he was expecting someone. No one was there but the wind and a few candy wrappers being carried away to the sky.

Genesis: Met! Met!

Rein: Uy, Tem!

Genesis: Uwi na tayo? Babagyo na, dude.

Rein: Tanungin ko lang muna si Leah kung pwede na ako umuwi.

Genesis: Pwede na yan.

Rein: Baka kasi kailangan pa nila ng tulong.

Genesis was very eager to leave. He was Rein's best friend—also a third-year college student, but taking up business management. Taller and more outgoing than Rein, Genesis was usually mistaken as the latter's older brother or cousin. He made friends by being charismatic, relevant, and just all-around cool. If there was a living, breathing, Instagrammable person everyone in the campus wanted a picture with, Genesis was their guy. One single post with Genesis could up anyone's game on the social media app by at least a guaranteed one thousand likes. Admirers raved about his perfect smile and boy-next-door looks.

Rein: Wait! Itext ko lang si Leah—mabait yun. She taught me how to make a story come to life nung first time ko mag-edit by giving our short film—

Genesis:—emotional dynamics and rhythmic shapes! I know! And you're too nice...

Rein: What's wrong with being nice?

Rein texted as he defended his actions.

Genesis: Too nice ang sabi ko. 

Rein: Ikaw kaya ang too nice. Four straight days mo pinadalhan ng food si Adam this week gamit account ko.

Genesis: I have to put an effort—nililigawan ko 'di ba? Also, didn't I pay you back after every order? Sobra pa nga mga binayad ko to make up for whatever inconvenience I may have caused you.

Genesis teased.

Rein: Ayan, Leah replied na. Okay na daw sila.

Genesis: Tara! Uwi na tayo.

Rein: Si Adam, 'di mo ba ihahatid?

Genesis: I already did—kanina pa. Then I came back to pick-up my bestest best friend!

Rein: Bakit ka pa bumalik? Same village kayo 'di ba?

Genesis: Ang dami mong tanong. Kailan ba kita iniwan?

Rein: Hm, senior high—prom night. Parang isang oras ka lang sa event tapos tumakas na kayo ni Stacey para mag-sex sa condo nila kasi nag-Taiwan family niya.

Genesis: Wrong! I respected her—no sex happened. We watched a movie and she fell asleep. I went back to the party pero wala ka na and you didn't respond to my texts that night.