Bittersweet

Chapter 1 - Childhood Memories

“Tabi! Bawal dito ang ampon!”

I was busy playing with my ball when I heard a voice somewhere. When I looked around the basketball court, I couldn't see anyone, but I still heard a voice coming from nowhere. It wasn’t until my eyes stopped at the playground nearby that I saw a little girl sitting on the swing with two boys in front of her.

I frowned, confirming that the noise was coming from them.

“At least ako may papa!” the little girl bravely shouted.

I almost laughed when the group of boys fell silent after what the little girl shouted. I think I'm the same age as them. The next scene was unexpected; one of the boys suddenly grabbed her wrist and pushed her, making her fall to the ground.

“Ang yabang mo naman!”

At this point, I couldn't take it anymore. My mom said that we should respect girls and never hurt them. Well, I can't blame the boys; it seems that the little girl is too brave and not an ordinary girl who would shed tears and appear fragile.

I walked towards them, ready to save the girl, but she suddenly stood up on her own and punched the boy who pushed her, making everyone gasp, even me. I stopped in my tracks; her eyes were scary, she was really mad.

“Mayabang talaga ako! Mga sira ulo!” she said, leaving all of us in shock.

After a few minutes, the other boy helped his friend who had a cut on his lip. They sat on the bench near where I was standing. I felt sorry for the boy who got punched; the bruise and small cut on his lip looked painful. I always have a first aid kit with me, so I walked towards them to offer some help.

When they both noticed my presence, their eyes questioned my existence in front of them. I took the first aid kit from my Spiderman bag that my mom always packed for me. I handed it to the boy who had argued with the little girl.

“Here, I think he needs it,” I said.

He smiled a bit. “Thank you.”

I stood there watching him struggle to put a bandaid on his friend's lip. I sighed before taking it from him and easily placing it on his friend's lip.

“Thank you, I'm Eleven by the way, and this is my cousin Rhed,” he said, grimacing because of the cut on his lip.

So, they are cousins.

“Why are you bullying her?” That was the first question that came out of my mouth.

The boy named Rhed looked so guilty while pouting his lips. “I have a crush on her. I'm just too shy to admit it, so here we are, teasing her every day.”

For unknown reasons, I found it hilarious, making me laugh.

“What? You shouldn't do that! She will not like it. Eleven got punched in the face!” I scolded him.

I saw Eleven scoff. “She’s so fierce! Why do you even like her?!” he looked so pissed.

I laughed again. “Calm down. She's a girl, and as boys, you should respect her. Stop bullying her, or else she really wouldn't like you, Rhed, and for you, Eleven, don't hurt any girl; that's wrong.”

I'm serious about that, and I hope they'll take it as advice.

“How old are you?” Rhed asked.

“I’m already seven years old. How about the two of you?” I asked back.

“Same as you, but you're more mature than us,” Eleven said with difficulty because of his cut.

“That’s what my mom taught me!” I proudly said.