Caleb's POV
(1)
———
A lot of people asked me if it's possible for a guy at my age to experience sex?
Well, here's the answer.
I'm Caleb, New Yorkan guy. Sex experience is not big deal— except for virginity. We are liberated by the way.
As a fifteen year old Filipino American lad, my arms and legs are quite long than usual Filipino heights, aside from what's long... down there has it. I got my blue eyes from my dad and my metallic ash gray hair from my Grand mom at my dad's side. One thing I never tell anyone... I mean, wouldn't dare to say...
I still kept my virginity unstained, and that's driving me nuts way back in United States.
Everything has changed when I came over the Philippines— where my granny's living along with my extended family.
Simple but loving family.
—
I normalized things. I learned. It has been three months living in a comfy bricks house with flowers outside the door instead of backyard. Where most gay and girls see me as pretty man every time I walks in the barangay.
“Naks, ang puti.”
“Pogi naman!”
“Laglag panty ko besh!”
These are the words that these people gossiping as I held my head high.
Naiintindihan ko naman mga pinagsasabi nila, it's all about me they're talking; as I was walking in narrow aisle heading to the nearest tindahan or so called ‘kanto’.
I used my arm to wipe my sweat on my forehead in a morning tropical sunny day— I was wearing white sleeveless shirt and just a blue sport shorts that shows my pinkish legs and determined my ‘half’ race origin.
Inutusan lang naman ako ni Tita to buy 'datu puti' soy sauce. My accent sucks, and my Tagalog sucks as well. They made me do everything as part of normalizing things living in this neighborhood.
Kilala ako bilang 'tisoy' everyone of them keep calling me that name instead of Caleb— which I'd love to if someone did.
I walked down the street 'til I reached this small retailed market that has almost everything— except for raw.
“Pabili nga pow,” I tried not to twist my tongue. [Pabli nga po.]
But is seems like nobody's there, “Tao po!” I knocked using my 1 peso.
I walked backwards and checked if somebody would come in. But instead, I heard a voices from inside.
“Sandali lang! Carol, ikaw nga mag—”
“Busy ako, si Gwen na lang!”
Voices of girls. They talked so loud in order for them to understand each other.
Ano ba, walang mag-bebenta sa akin?
“Hays, ano ba 'yan.” A girl came scratching her head and walks irritably to the counter in a window-like screen; made up of wooden frame and tire-wire screen.
I laughed. I mean who wouldn't? She's damn looking idiot on her uneven make up. The left of her face has make up, while the other side has none.
“Pfft!” I tried not to laugh.
“Oh, anong sa'yo?” her eye brow arched in dissatisfaction.
“M-Meron kayong uhm...” I stuttered, scratching my nape. I really can't remember what was it.
“Kuya, pakibilisan naman ho. Ano po ba?” she asked with her temple creased in annoyance.
Well I'm sorry girl, I forgot what was it. She's obviously irritated, but what can I do?
The long run of contemplating broke when she spoke again.
“Kuya... Balik ka na lang kapag naalala m—”
“W-Wait!” I stopped her from walking out, “Yeah, it's tayow.”
“Hah!? Ano kamo?” she asked again scratching her head for the third or countless time already, “H'wag mo nga ako in-english!”
“Tayow!” I repeated that I thought would make her guess what I meant but comes out— it confused her that much.
When I got no response, I tried gesturing my hand describing the size like an idiot; playing charade.
At the end, I call it again, “I want tayow.”
Her eyes widened as her cheeks reddened.
Yet, she still can't get what I mean.
“Argh!” I hissed in disgust, “Th-The thing we p-pour, it's... soy sauce.”
“A-Ah, ug-gh a-ah okay, you mean 'toyo'?” She nods her head slowly to agree, “Toyo?” a sad tone of hers invoicing her disappointment.
I scoffed, “Exactly!” And smiled widely and brightly.
“Eh kung sinabi mo na kasing 'soy sauce' eh ‘di tapos na?! Tsk!” She rolled her eyes in disgust.
Wait, I'm the 'balik-bayan' here. She should be the one to understand me at first, and she even told me not to 'english' her. What's wrong with this— Argh! Never mind.
“Tsk, toyo lang pala may pa 'tayow tayow' ka pa. Umaasa pa tul...” she murmured as she stood— the rest I haven't heard.
She turned around and checked the soy sauce section in the layers made up of wood and well varnished in brown and scan thoroughly.
“Aling toyo ba?” she asked without facing me; with her attentive hand scanning for the item.
Oh damn!
What was it again?
Oh c'mon!
“Ang sabi ko, ‘anong toyo’?” She drifted her phase towards my direction where unwelcoming aura is with her.
“Why do you ask so much questions, why don't you give me anything. B-Basta toyo.”
I really can't hold my temper. Mainit na nga, my temper rises too and this girl is disgusting as f*ck.
“Eh ‘di fine.” She stamped her hand with the toyo she randomly picked on the counter, “'Yan! Tig-otso.”
“W-Wait, what—?”
“Otso, eight. Tsk, baka hindi mo pa-gets.”
“I get it okay... It's j-just...” I rolled my eyes as I was keeping my mind to think for something.
“What?” She frowned.
Argh! I checked on my pocket and got the angel of money without its wings.
She tiptoed and held her head high from inside. Without the screen, she could've seen my palm with my pennies, “Naks! Galing Amerika tapos walang pera.” She crossed her arms that made me look pity so damn; losing my charm.
“Hey! Don't s-say that. It's just s-seven pesos,” I calmly said, “Here!” I threw the coins that jingle on a wooden counter table and smiled at her.
“Hoy puting hilaw bumalik ka rit—!”
She screamed on top of her lungs after I ran fast as I can, satisfied with my item.
Hello it's just one penny? Big deal huh?
I read the soy sauce I was holding. It's Datu Puti— what a satisfying life.
END OF CHAPTER 1
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Penny of Seven
Roman d'amourA teenage New Yorkan 'Tisoy guy' Caleb will completely experience Pinoy life along with his extended family. In his teenage life, he'll be able to discover his teenage wonder, along with Vera; the girl he owes one penny for eight penny soy sauce. Pa...
