KID (part 1)

KID

Prologue

Last time, I made a post on my social media account about my stand on the issue of lowering the age of criminal responsibility bill that is being heard at the House of Representatives. My post goes like this, "Instead of lowering the minimum age of criminal liability, why not try doing a more humane action like educating the youths and their parents on their socio-civic responsibilities, and creating programs to promote the quality of their lives.", and I posted a graphical image of a child who seems very sad because he is inside the jail. It has the text captions, "PAANO KUNG ANAK MO SIYA?" (What if s/he is your son/daughter?), "Say NO to lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility!", and "#ChildrenNotCriminals". My post gained some reactions and a comment saying that I must read and understand first the said bill because it actually favors the child. I also wrote a comment with a message like this, "But imagine a nine-year-old out-of-school youth be held liable for a crime which he seems so natural in his environment. The government should be the one who should protect them and not blaming their ignorance for that matter. The officials can also abuse this law. Instead, the gov't should focus on laws that will really protect the child (by promoting their well-being). If they insist that a nine-year-old child can really discern enough, I won't be surprised if one day instead of rescuing them, they will also be included in the "tokhang" list.". I think not only twice or thrice before posting this because the issue is really sensitive and needs a lot of study. For me, a nine-year-old is still an innocent child who needs so much care. Today, I heard from the news that the bill was revised after the next reading and it added three years, making 12-year-old child be held criminally liable. I admit I haven't read the entire bill and what it really says. I only based on the news in TV and online articles. They said that the main goal of the bill is to reform the child in conflict with the law and change them for the better. Well, I think that will be true if the law will be properly implemented. But still I have these questions in mind, "Does a 12-year-old child really capable of doing criminal acts?", "Is it really the right age to say that the child will be capable to discern, reason out and think for the consequences of his or her actions?", and "If not, what is the right age?". Questions like these I've been thinking and reflecting the whole day. Until the night came and I've been given the chance to experience this, which I think a peculiar story.

I was hooked up by Kid?

It was a festive night in town. We've decided to watch the coronation night to support the cousin of my sister in-law and to be entertained. As we reached the town gymnasium, the event has already started. It was just the right time to watch as the candidates were ramping on stage wearing their festival dress. I was entertained by the beautiful and handsome faces and sexy bodies of the candidates. Even though I already feel that I need to go to the restroom to pee, I decided to control it to finish the intermission number and see all the pageant candidates. After all the candidates had been introduced, it was cut for a moment to give way to the speech of a politician. I felt that it was the right time for me to go out, look for a restroom and release my pee.

I went to the municipal hall and found a restroom. As I was about to enter, I saw a young, skinny guy wearing a vertical striped round neck shirt and denim shorts, beside the restroom entrance. It seems that he is waiting for something. I felt that he was looking and staring at me. I also looked at him and I've noticed his beautiful face, clear complexion and so decent look. He is still staring at me as I'm also staring at him. I stopped looking at him and decided to enter the men's restroom because I really have to pee. As I am peeing at the urinal, I saw him entering the door he looked around and saw me. He faced the mirror beside the urinal but I've noticed that his eyes are pointing at me. I finished peeing and closed my zipper. I walked for about two to three steps to reach the sink below the mirror and washed my hands. The young guy gave way for me. I looked at him at a glance and I think he is about as tall as me or even taller by an inch. He is still standing at my back as I'm washing my hands and holding my face towel to dry it. There are three or four guys entering the small restroom so I've decided to go out. As I'm going out, I'm still thinking of this young guy, what he's doing there and what he wants. Having these thoughts in mind, I decided to wait for him to go outside. I stayed in the small exit gate of the hall a few steps beside the restroom door where I am sure he can see me. I'm looking at my cellphone as this young guy go out the restroom. He walked towards me and stayed standing there. He's looking at me once and twice then looked at his phone as if he wanted me to go near him and look at his phone. I looked and stared at him as if I wanted to ask what he is saying. He kept on looking at me and on his iPhone. I've noticed that there are digits flashed on the phone screen. Now, I think I got it. He wants me to know his phone number. Fortunately, I was wearing my glasses at that time so I can see his number clearly. I typed his number on my phone and try to ring it. When he saw that I'm about to do a call, he walked away from me. I heard the phone ringing then it hanged up. I dialed it again and it was busy.

At that time, I decided to go back to the gymnasium. I'm still thinking about this young guy. When I'm properly seated at my place, I cannot focus on watching the pageant candidates. I decided to text the number. "Hi. May hinihintay ka?" (Hi. Are you waiting for someone?).

Kid is really a kid?

A few seconds later, I received a reply. "Tagasan ka po?" (Where do you live?). And another one "Wag ka po muna tatawag ah. Text lang po muna." (Do not call me yet. Just text me for now.). I told him that I live in that town and I asked for his age and he replied, "12 mag 13 sa march 13" (I'm 12 going 13 on March 13). He also told me his school and where he lives. At that time, I began to think and didn't respond on his text messages. He kept on texting me and them asked me "San kana" (where are you?). I responded and asked for his name. He replied his full name and his Facebook account. I asked him, "Be honest to me, are you looking for something now?". He replied "Opo" (Yes) and asked me "pero pwede pa po tayo magkita?" (Can we still meet?). I responded "Yes, pwede naman tayo magkita at maging friend." (Yes, we can still meet and be friends). He's still texting me but I didn't reply because I'm busy watching the pageant coronation. I responded like this after about an hour, "Alam mo bigla akong napaisip nung sinabi mong 12 ka pa lang. Pero na-curious ako sa'yo. Can we meet one time?" (You know, I began to think when you said that you're only 12 years old. But I got curious on you. Can we meet one time?). He responded "Hahaha. Pwede naman po pag free ako." (Hahaha. Yes, we can when I'm free.). He added, "nakauwi ka na po" (did you already go home?). I replied when I got home, "Pasensya na ngayon lang naka-reply. nag-aya na kasi mga kasama ko" (Sorry for the late reply. My companions already asked to go home.). He responded, "Aahh, sige po ingat po." (Ah, take care). When I go to bed, I started searching for his Facebook account. I found two accounts which are exactly the full account name that he gave. Both accounts have his face as profile pictures and the other one wearing the same striped shirt that he's wearing at that night. I browsed those accounts and just saw some pictures and posts which I think his family or relatives. The accounts were almost in private so I didn't know more about him and I also cannot add him. I received a text message again saying "Na-add mo na po ako?" (Have you added me [on Facebook]?). I replied, "Nakita ko na fb acct mo, I will add you on my second acct, ok lang ba?" (I saw your Facebook account. I will add you on my second account, is that ok with you?). He responded, "Ok po", "Sige ok lang po" (That's okay). Then he added "Kaso wala na po akong load eh" (But I don't have enough load). I told him that I can't add him because his account is private. I also sent him 60 pesos load, good enough for surfing the net. He was so thankful for the load that I sent. I gave him my Facebook account name so that he can just add me instead. He added me on Facebook and I confirmed it. I'm really curious about this young guy and how he learned to hook-up older guy like me. I messaged him on Messenger but he replied through a text message. He told me that he preferred a text message. I told him that he's so conventional. I also told him that I'm really curious about him and how he seems so expert on hooking-up. He replied, "hahahaha. Sige pag-usapan natin yan" (hahaha. Let's talk about that.) He also asked me, "Bakit kaba nacurious sa akin" (Why are you so curious about me?). I replied, "para kasing expert ka na on hooking-up. Haha" (you seemed so expert on hooking-up. Haha) and I also added, "And to think na ur just a "kid"?? 12 years old?" (And to think that you're just a "kid" and only 12 years old?).

Kid is not a kid anymore?

I was amazed and shocked on his next messages. "Hahahahha", "Try natin" (Let's try), "Gusto moba" (Do you like?). I responded, "Haha. Baka naman mademanda ako ng child abuse" (Haha. C'mon, I can be accused by child abuse), I also added "May experience knb on adult things?" (Do you already experience adult things?). He replied, "Hindi yan" (Maybe not) and "Opo" (Yes), adding "Hahahaha sorry". I was really amazed so I asked him, "Since when? Ang aga mo naman namulat sa mundo." (Since when? You've been awakened so early in the real adult world). He just replied, "Hahaha", "Oo" (Yes).

Out of curiosity and amazement, I replied, "I really can't believe it. Type mo rin ba ko kc sinundan mo pa ako sa restroom kanina, di ba?" (I really can't believe it. Do you also like me, because you followed me in the restroom, isn't it?). And his next messages were, "Oo" (Yes), "Ayaw moba" (Don't you like it?), "Paano ba nagsimula yung kanina" (How did it started?), "Hahaha", "Di ko maalala kung pano" (I can't remember how).

(TO BE CONTINUED.)