East

Chapter 1

It was...uh? A chill night that time we met. 

This was the story of me—I guess—and her heart shattering bright smile.

Nakaupo ako kasama ang isang batang lalaki sa malamig na gutter, katapat ng isang abandonadong salon, at malapit sa bukas ngunit walang customer na convenience store, kakagaling lang namin doon kanina matapos bumili ng apat na hotdog buns, dalawang softdrinks, at isang canned beer.

The boy I am with named himself Shiro.

I gave him a weak smile as he took a bite joyfully while looking at me.

"Ilang taon ka na?" I asked.

"Onse po."

Napakabata para maging isang pulubi. 

Bigla kaming may narinig na tila nabasag na bote mula sa 'di kalayuan. Pero hindi ko iyon pinagtuonan pa ng pinansin dahil wala lang naman iyon, it's normal kasi malapit din kami sa pwesto ng mga nakahilerang bar.

I took a sip of my beer and waited for the kid to finish his food.

It was freaking twelve midnight and it's freezing cold outside, considering that it was almost November, ber-months were the Philippine's cold days.

I chuckled on how this kid could possibly eat all those hotdog buns, yes, sa kaniya lahat iyon. He must've been so hungry all day. Imagine the relief on his face now. He seem satisfied.I wonder how he possibly survive years living like this.

"Makinig ka," panimula ko. His head perked up like a good homebody kid who always pay attention in his class. "Uuwi tayo sa bahay ko, okay lang? There, pwede kang maligo, magbihis, at makakain pa," paliwanag ko, walang paligoy-ligoy.

My heart tends to melt with his undeniable charms, well, I've been with him for the past few hours, we were walking earlier until I heard his tummy growl in hunger so I bought him food, he's actually a nice kid, hindi katulad ng ibang walang modo—I'm not generalizing pero mayroon talagang mga bata ngayon na hindi na alam ang salitang respeto.

He burped loudly that made me laugh hard. Ang cute! Papasa na siyang kapatid ko, same kami, cute. Tumayo na ako at inaya siyang maglakad na, my car is parked few meters from here, kagagaling ko lang din kasi sa isang bar dito—I have chosen the farthest bar house since it's not that packed with drunk people, and no smokes, perfect for this cold night, but then I got bored so I walked out and took a fresh air. And tada, I met the kid.

May narinig nanaman kaming hinagis na bote kasabay ng mga kaluskos, the sound of the shattering glass were really close from us, by instinct ay napaupo ulit ako. I also gently pushed Shiro's head down. Tsk, freaking bastards! Wala na silang ibang ginawa kundi mamerwisyo ng nananahimik dito sa mundo.

"HOY! BUMALIK KA RITO! BABAE!" That was louder than I expected, they were really close to our spot right now, siguro pagkaliko lang dito sa kanto ay nariyan na sila.

At tama nga talaga ako. 

I saw a girl fast running for—by means—her life. She took her long graceful strides as an advantage, and I even saw her grinning. What the...heck.

"Goddammit," I cursed as I pulled Shiro up and let ourselves be hidden behind the tarpaulin standing right next to us when I saw the club bouncer, at isa pang lalaking mukang galit na galit na.

It took them a minute before deciding to retreat and to not follow the girl in which was nowhere to be seen right now. Heck right, she run fast.

"Okay, Shiro, " I took his cute little hand. "Alis na tayo rito."

Tinanguan niya ako kaya nagmamadaling hinila ko na ito paalis, see? He's an obedient kid, he'd go with the flow, that is also a scary fact. What if masama akong tao? Buti nalang maganda lang ako.