MIONG: And the Sublime Paralytic

Kasunduan

U.P. Diliman's hallways are massive, long, and not wheelchair friendly. The PWD parking lot is far fom the main building, and using the ramps make the trip twice as longer. Appy had to muster his mental power to avoid cursing his PWD situation. He needs to be in the best mental state today, because today is the day...

...that he will be interviewed for scholarship application in U.P.

There may be a lot of scholarship offers in the country's best university, but applying for them is not easy. The grade requirments are impossible. The interview questions may be one thing, but the schedules require super human powers, most especially teleportation ability. In addition, there are so many competition in U.P. scholarships that the sponsors don't hunt anymore; rather, they are being hunted.

Appy prepared his mind for the Great U.P. Scholarship Hunt, but apparently, he doesn't need to. A sponsor called him last night, telling him to get ready for an interview. They do not require him anything, but he brought essentials just in-case; his grades, all his academic certificates and awards, government grants, and important published blogs. (He's an economics blogger, by the way).

Before he enters the interview room, he took a deep breath, then reached for the wooden door to knock.

"Come in." A woman's voice commanded.

He pulled the knob down with force since his sitting position doesn't really make simple tasks effortless. It took him time to fully open the door. One man cleared his throath for the delay, but he suddenly felt guilt when a figure of a disabled person came to view.

"Oh. Mr. Javier, we did not expect..." The woman cleared her throat, stacking the papers in front of her to avert eye-contact.

The man in the middle smiled. "I'm sorry but are you Mr. Charles Apollo Javier?"

Appy could feel his heart beat, but maybe not of nervousness, but of disappointment. Why would he expect a smooth scholarship application? He's physically incapable, but he knows his mind has more power than his legs.

"Yes I am." He said firmly.

The woman on the right began to smile. She liked the clarity and confidence in Appy's voice. Yesterday's applicants were really boring. They only have good grades, but their communication skills made them average. They don't need nerds, they need idea communicators.

One man, the man that cleared his throat a while ago, took Appy's attention. "Do you think you can fulfill your responsibilities when you can't walk?"

If the other two interviewers can kill this person, they would. However, they also want to hear the young boy's response.

"Why? Do the responsibilities entail walking?" Appy answered, with a confident and mocking smile.

***

It was the afternoon rush hour and Appy decided to call Miong for transporation.

"I thought you ran away." Miong started as soon as he finished escorting Appy inside his car. "How did you get in U.P. without my help? And you didn't even leave a message. I just came home and you're not there anymore. Are you for real? I thought somebody kidnapped you."

"Shut the fuck up." Appy sassed.

"Excuse me? Are you having a bad day? Well, ask me about my day. I nearly called the NBI." Miong shouted back, then slammed the passengers door. With fuming anger, he walked towards the driver's seat.

"I'm sorry." Appy apologized, looking at his fumbling hands. "I just think... things will never be easy for me from now on." At this moment, he begins to tear up.

Miong couldn't speak, so he just patted Appy's shoulders.

Appy continued. "I want to try my best. I don't want to depend on you so much, but it seems I will be needing your help to get into college. I want to get a scholarship, but they look at my condition first. They think I won't be able to study well. Why? Do I write using my feet? Do I think using my feet?"

"So you went to a scholarship interview today? You should have told me."

"I told you I don't want to depend on you so much. I want to get in on my own."

Miong started the engine after that angry line. He understands, and he remained silent for the entire ride.

When they get home, Appy's cellphone rang. He took it from his pocket after adjusting his butt on the chair. The screen shows numbers, and it was the same phone number that called him this morning. The scholarship program.

"Good evening." Appy greeted professionally. He steered his wheels towards Miong, who was just preparing the microwave for their dinner. Miong set the things down and approached the boy.

"Is this Charles Apollo Javier?" The phone went.

"Yes."

"We would like to congratulate you for passing the Apolinario Mabini 100% Scholarship. We expect your presence in the registrar office next week, Friday. A personnel will assist you for your enrollment. Again, congratulations."

The line went off and it lef Appy hanging for a while.

"Was that the scholarship program?" Miong asked.

"Yes it was." Appy finally answered after a few seconds of shock.

"What were the conditions? What do they provide?"

"They just need 1.5 GPA per semester, plus an active membership in the Economics club. They can provide 100% scholarship and 2,000 pesos per month allowance."

"And the books?"

"Well, they did not specif---"

"And the miscellaneaus? And 2,000 pesos per month? I give more than that." Miong rolled his eyes then went back to the kitchen.

Appy was taken aback. He followed Miong, wheeling towards the kitchen area. "Excuse me? Why can't you be happy for me?"

"I Am Happy!!" Miong abruptly faced the boy. "Congrats. You're a scholar. Look, I'm cooking your favorite because we're celebrating. Damn it, leave me alone."

The boy cannot understand this older male sometimes. He can show concern with that calculative judgmental face. He can make a joke and upset you at the same time. Up to this day, he still cannot read him.

"What's your problem?" He said quietly, trying not to add more angry mood.

"How come you do not depend on me!? Can't you trust me?"

"I can't." Appy replied straightly. What can he do? He's honest since birth, and he at least wants Miong to understand...

...that for him, he's still a stranger who could run away anytime.

Miong did not say anything. He gaped for a while, but he closed his mouth then went back to cooking. 'Makes sense.' he thought. If he were in Appy's position, he wouldn't trust himself, too.

But why does it hurt?

[Kasunduan = pact]