(District Series Two) The Deceiver [COMPLETED - NOT EDITED YET]

[3]

CHUZELLE

Morning came and I was up very early. Nagising ako halos dalawang oras pa lang matapos ang alas dose ng gabi. I am not really used to waking up early but when I have urgent things to do, my mind will automatically wake me up early in the morning.

I don't want to be late and so as if someone wants to meet me, I don't want them to be late. If I want this to be early then they should be, I will leave them behind if they're too slow or too late to do it. But, I always end up choosing another one. Hindi ako napapakali sa isang bagay at isa na doon ang mga tao.

I don't have any friends to rely on because I can't even stay with a person for a week. The longest time I had myself a so called friend was years ago. He also left me when I started to feel like I want to rely on him. Though, it's better to take it that way. Mahirap ang maattach sa isang bagay o isang tao lalo na at walang kasiguraduhan ang buhay dito sa loob ng syudad.

"A day with an urgent event." Pagbasa ko sa kalendaryo na nakasabit sa ibabaw ng pintuan ng aking silid. I don't have a fancy house to start with. I am living with the people who have low status in life. Nakatira ako sa isang bahay na parang langaw na lang ang pipirma para tumira.

I don't have any choice. Using my money is different. I can live with a house like this but I can't live without gambling my money with the other gangs. Nakasanayan ko na rin kaya hindi na ako naabala pang magbagong bahay. This is already enough for me to have a bed to sleep.

Umalis ako sa kama at lumapit sa pintuan kung saan ko din isinusukbit ang mga jacket na isusuot. I grabbed the black plain jacket and wore it. Nang maisuot nang maayos, hindi na ako nag abala pa na magbihis ng pang itaas at pangbaba na kasuotan. It's just right.

Kinuha ko ang note sa aking bulsa atsaka ko iyon muling binasa. "Meet me tomorrow at the 14th street, alleyway." Bulong ko sa aking sarili tsaka ako lumabas sa pintuan ng aking silid.

Bumaba ako sa hagdan dahil nasa ikalawang palapag ang aking silid. Nang makababa, doon bumungad sa akin ng pagbati ang may ari ng inuukupahan kung silid. The old woman who always wants people like us who live under her roof, pay on time. And without paying, hindi lang singil ang aabutin ng taong umuukupa dito. Pinapapatay din ng may ari ang sino mang hindi magbabayad sa tamang oras.

Yes, she isn't normal too. No one is normal on a place like this. We are here for survival and we yearn to stay alive as long as we still can.

"Galaez, asan punta mo? Ang aga mo ngayon ah." It was the old woman. In terms of being a good old woman, she is only good to me because I pay on time and she knew what I am capable of kaya naman mabait siya sa akin, or is she really?

"14th street." Maikli kung sagot dito. She stopped on sipping her coffee and gave me a stare. Nagtataka naman akong lumingon sa kaniya at walang emosyon siyang tinitigan. "Why? What's with the face?" Tanong ko dito.

"You're going to 14th street? Alam mo ba kung anong nandoon, hija?" Tumingin ako sa lupa at pilit na iniisip kung saan ko nga ba narinig ang 14th street. And then, realization hit me. 14th street is also known as the abandoned and creepy street. Wala ng nakatira doon dahil sa naganap na plague na napakamisteryoso. A plague that killed almost all of the people living in there and to the point of the mystery, the plague didn't spread throughout the whole city.

So, up until now. That street is closed and no one dares to come in to visit. But, I don't care. Ano ba ang dapat kung ikatakot doon? The plague already ended years ago and it was cured they said so its fine to go now.