The Stray Kids of Edogawa Rampo

A Stray Kid

A Stray Kid

"Lost and Unwanted,"

Z E N Gomez.
December 6, 1:43 am.

"Whenever I see girls and boys and the boys and girls see me..."

Why does it seem to me that life has never been this pro when it comes to torturing me?

"I remember the child, and the child remembers me..."

Why does it seem that I'm the only one getting bullied here?

"Whenever there are people, there are people everywhere..."

And why does it seem that I'm only leading a life of chaos, mischief and suffering?

"I believe that Christmas, and Christmas believes in me..."

Bakit pa nabuhay kung mamamatay lang din naman?

"Uy gising ka na pala!"

The moment that I opened my eyes, a guy, just around my age I guess, welcomed my vision. His legs were crossed, hand holding a cup of coffee and the other inside the pocket of his white hoodie, his hair is a mess and it was jet black, his eyes were grey and it speaks like a trickster. Dahan-dahan akong bumangon at hinawi ang buhok mula sa mata.

Now, paano nga ulit ako napunta dito?

"Sino ka?" was the first thing that escaped my lips. This place, based on its interior design, is definitely a coffee shop. At mukhang nakasara na ito dahil dise-oras na ng gabi at sinong tanga ang lalabas para magkakape ng ala-una ng madaling araw? It couldn't be anyone but this guy.

He grimaced at me, "I would appreciate a sweet good morning, you know? O di naman kaya thank you kasi kinantahan kita?"

Napangisi ako, "So you're the one singing a while ago?"

He faced me with glee in his eyes, as if malaking bagay sakanya na nalaman kong siya ang kumakanta. "Yes, yes! I am the one singing. So, how was it? How's my voice?"

"Adik ka ba?"

There was a straight moment of silence because of my question. He faked a cough and sat properly.

"Nagve-vape ako pero di ako adik." sagot niya sabay harap sa tasa niya, masama ang loob. "Ang ganda ganda ng kanta ko di man lang maka-appreciate. Tsk."

Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo saka nag-inat ng braso. It's been days since I last slept on a soft surface, I feel refreshed. He continued sipping his coffee while I stretched. Nang matapos ako ay naglakad ako sa pwesto niya, hinila ang kwelyo at hinarap siya sakin, hinugot ang baril sa bulsa saka tinutok sa noo niya. I was pretty amazed that he's not surprised or anything. Nakangisi lang siya na para bang alam niya nang gagawin ko 'to. I pressed the mouth of my gun on his forehead and he raised his hands in a surrendering manner very carefully.

"What's with the hostility?" he asked, his voice is different than his voice a while ago. It's cunning. "Is this how you treat someone who saved you when you're on the brink of death?"

"Hindi kita kilala," I responded coldly. "And I am very suspicious of strangers taking me in."

He laughed a bit and raised his left brow, "Why is that?"