untouchable

5

You and your friends are about to meet up with Jill's team in Taguig for the H2H. You badgered your friends that you three should be there earlier than them as courtesy for being the new members. They protested but listened. You even made your friends Berocca water so they're energized for the day.

JD yawned, followed by Shein. The sun has risen, but the horizon is still a little dark. Both of your friends are leaning on you as they try to steal some naps while waiting. You understand their exhaustion as they still have to work while volunteering. When a big white van pulled up across the sidewalk you and your friends are sitting on, you waited to see whose van it belongs to. The doors opened and out goes the youngest Robredo daughter.

You gently shrugged your shoulders to wake your friends. "Nandito na sina Jill, mga vebz," you said while tapping them.

They were up in no time and quickly fixed themselves to look more presentable and put together. You helped them on their feet.

"Hello po, good morning sa inyo!" Jill chirpily greets as she reaches you.

"Good morning, Jill!" JD and Shein raspily answered, you snorted at how drowsy they sounded.

"Bitin pa ang tulog?" Jill asked them.

"Oks lang sila, 'wag ka mag-alala, Jingjing." You answered for your friends.

Jill's eyes narrowed at you. You're already trying to annoy her. "Almusal mo ba talaga mang-asar, Y/N?"

"Yes! Hindi ka ba na-inform na nabuhay ako para mang-inis ng Robredo?" You quipped.

"Oh, my Ates informed me." Jill sassed back.

You chuckled. You gazed from behind her and see some familiar faces. You already knew Casey and Pau as they sometimes come with Aika and Tricia for the documentation and photography. You waved at the two.

"Anyway, this is Ate Stella, mother ng group. This is Casey and Pau, mga photographers ng team." Jill introduced each and everyone to you. "And our new members, Kuya JD, Ate Shein, and si Y/N."

You exchanged pleasantries with Miss Stella then turned to the two photographers. "'Musta Casey, Pau?" You asked.

"Oks lang, Ate Y/N." Pau answered. "Hello, Kuya JD, Ate Shein. Akala namin makakatakas na kami sa inyong tatlo, pati ba naman dito," she joked.

"Ay mars, wala kayong kawala sa amin, pasensya na." JD replied, already more wired.

"You guys know each other na pala?" Jill asked.

"Oo, Jill. We sometimes come with Ate Aika or Doc Tricia, right? Ta's nand'on din sila." Casey answered.

"Korique." Shein answered.

Your group conversed with each other just to catch up and further know one another. You talked with Miss Stella as this is your first time meeting the woman. She's very nice and easy to get along with. The plan for the day is mapped out. The team would meet up with other volunteer groups as well, and as Jill is the guest of honor, she'll have speaking engagements.

The slums in Taguig is a far cry to the out-of-touch, "walkable", modern Bonifacio Global City. They're only a few kilometers away from each other, but the contrast is lightyears you wouldn't think they're in the same city. BGC was built to further highlight the division between the elites and the simple people. It locks the rich away inside their own perfect bubble. BGC is clean and green, aesthetic, full of tall skyscrapers, modern architecture, skyways, and pretty malls; while the slums are still polluted, "dangerous", an eyesore, hidden behind the illusion like some freak. Like the Capitol of Panem and the districts in the Hunger Games.