Chapter 1
View Over Tirso's place with 2 big trees on each side of the house. It was a 2 floor brick house. View takes us from the trees towering the house and down revealing the opened glass window of Tirso's room at the 2nd floor.
Tirso can be seen sleeping at his queen sized bed. Spacious white room. With 40 inches flat tv on the wall. A bookshelf on the side, beside a large closet. Air-con is on. Comforter covered his entire body. Room is a bit messy. Time at bedside clock is 6:59am.
7:00am. Alarm went off. Tirso's left hand lazily reached for the alarm clock on his bedside table. Alarm clock turned over. He turned it off. He pulled back his arm and went back to sleep, but unable to pull the cover over his shoulder. suddenly a tiny red hand emerge from under the cover and lift it up.
7:10am. Alarm went off again. This time Tirso sit up on bed. Comforter still over his head. He pulls the comforter down up to his waist. Eyes still closed. Hair messy. He rub his eyes. A red thing was lying on his left shoulder, moving. A closer look reveals that It looked like a human being, looking exactly like a miniature of Tirso, except it's red and with 2 little black horns on each end of it's forehead. It started to wake up. As it turns around finding a comfortable position it reveals a long thin tail with a black arrow-like end. It was wearing a red version of Tirso's clothes of t-shirt and boxer shorts.
Tirso looked at the tiny creature on his shoulder and without thinking flicked it off. The thing fell on the floor. As it hit the wooden floor a solid thud sound was heard. Tirso chuckled.
With a smile still on his face Tirso unconciously turned to look at his right side. There he saw another tiny being looking just like him, except this time, it is dressed in a white version of his clothes. It had a complexion of a normal human being. It was also looking back at him, arms crossed and unamused of what he just did to the red thing.
Tirso stopped smiling and gave a sheepishly looked at the Tiny creature looking at him. Feeling a little guilt of what he did.
He then went out if his bed. He stretched and yawn a little. As he did this the tiny red thing jump back at his left shoulder. Not happy. It could be heard in its small voice speaking of obscenity and cursing under its breath.
Tirso grabbed the white towel beside his dresser and went to the bathroom.
Inside the shower Tirso was singing I will survive with full choreo. Shampoo bottle in his hand. His hair is full of bubbles and his body covered with soap. The two being can also be seen with soap and shampoo over their body while singing along with Tirso on his shoulders.
After a few minutes Tirso emerges from the bathroom. He got his towel wrapped around his waist just like the two beings who are drying themselves.
He looked himself in the mirror while combing his short hair. He is about 5'11 tall which makes his body appears much slimmer than it already is. He got this boyish charm and he could have an angelic or evilish look depending on his mood.
Tirso looked at the two beings on his shoulders. They are exact replica of him with completely different personality than his. They have always been with him for as long as he could remember. They were with him wherever he goes. Never leaving his side.
He used to think that all people on the planet are like him. Each having a red and white creatures on their shoulders. And they do! He could see the beings on other peoples shoulders. But that's the problem. Only he could see them. And hear them.
Tirso used to tell his family about the two beings. They never believed him. His family thought that he just have an over active imagination. It doesn't take long for him to realize that he should stop talking about them. It's cares people away. He doesnt like scaring people. He likes them.
He knew that the two being have constantly been vying for his attention. They tried to make him do things. Different things. They constantly fight as well. Something that he never get used to. He have in many occassions obeyed the red thing. It never fails to bring him into trouble. Then he tried doing what the white being suggests him to do. It made him feel good. He have long understood that the red thing equates trouble, while the white thing equates, well...peace.
At a very young age he could tell when people lie. Untrue words would be mouthed simultaneously by the red thing. As if the words you hear actually comes from it. It does have an advantage. He knows when he isn't really getting presents from uncle Tony for cleaning his room or eating vegetables doesn't really make you a superhero. He also knows that Victor, his bestfriend, was lying when he said he is not afraid of Sally, their same-age neighbor who used to beat them up in the playground. "I'm not afraid of her. She's agirl. You don't fight a girl. " he would say. The last part was atleast true. He also know that Victor was half in-love with Sally since they were small.
He may have been the only kid in school who can tell when their teachers are bluffing. Most of the time. Same thing goes with principal Cruz. He's a small balding guy who never smile. He used to roam around the school with a stick on his hand. If he seez you outside of class during school hours, it's most likely you'll get a stick-shaped red line on your butt. Most kids who are lucky to see him would probably be able to outrun him. That's why you never see him coming. You'll just feel the burning pain. The old guy was a pain in the ass, but they all learned not to skip classes because of him. Last year he found out principal Cruz passed away from a long illness. Bless his soul.
"Tirso, anak. Lalamig ang pagkain." His mom is knocking on the door.
"Opo, nay. Nagbibihis lang po." Tirso answered. The two being were almost ready themselves.
As Tirso goes down the staircase he could see his stopbrother Erwin. He is of the same age as him. Only much bigger, pure muscle. Which is quite the opposite of his brain. His dumbwitted stepbrother however possess a menacing stature which he takes advantage of all possible time. Tirso's mother marriedhis stepfather Bert when he was 7yo. His father died of a car accident and his mother was married less than a year later. He doesn't blame his mom. Uncle Bert could be really charming if he wanted to. He could also sense that he really love his mother. Not the same thing with him but still...
His uncle Bert and stepbrother Erwin were already having their breakfast while watching television. It was like seing a hurricane twin in action. Tirso see the two devour their plates of eggs and hotdogs and ham and rice. The two looks exactly alike. Uncle Bert was wearing his usual police uniform. It was a monday so he was wearing his blue one. Monday is inspection day so he needs to be in complete uniform. Erwin on the other hand was in his green hospital uniform. He works as an orderly in one of the hospital in their place. Atleast he could use his muscle where it was needed he thought. Tirso could also see their beings on their shoulder looking exactly like them.
Tirso sat on his usual side of the table beside Erwin. He could see that there's one piece of hotdog and half an egg left for him. As he was about to take the hotdog, Tirso saw it levitate from the plate. Erwin's fingers was on its end, holding it, and putting it inside his mouth. Looking at Tirso while doing this. He could see Erwin's red being laughing hysterically while pointing at him. While Tirso's red being was showing obscene hand gestures and profanity at it.
Uncle Bert and Erwin stands up to leave. His uncle Bert planted a kiss on her mother's cheek. He have always been civil toward him. Never a father figure.
"Gusto mo bang sumabay Tirso?" asks his uncle Bert as if an after thought.
"Wag na ho uncle. Baka matagalan pa ho ako."
His uncle just nodded and hurried off with Erwin.
Tirso looked at his empty plate. He could hear his red being "Ang hina mo kasi, eh!" While kicking around. Tirso was still smiling when his mom put a freshly cooked bacon and eggs in front of him and winked.
