[June 27, 1985]
James was walking home from school alone. Kicking a piece of rock as he walked, head down. Their little town was just as before—women chatting near the park, a man walking his two big dogs, and children playing baseball.
As he was walking, the ball the children were playing with suddenly rolled and bumped into his shoe. He looked at it and turned his gaze to where it came from.
The children were glaring at him but did not dared to move, not wanting to get near him as if he's some dangerous species.
James furrowed his eyebrows as he stared at them back.
He didn't kick the ball away but he continued to walk and ignored them. The children took this as an opportunity to pick up the ball and continued playing happily. Accidentally breaking a neighbour's window.
James finally reached the route he was always taking—where the friend he had met lived. Mark Louise saw him too and opened his window to call for him with a wide smile on his face.
****
The two boys were at Mark's room. James sat on the floor while reading a comic book Mark have while he watches him.
"So? What did you do today?" He asked.
James hummed and answered, "Nothing. Same as usual." He said casually.
Mark then tilt his head and raised an eyebrow, "What about your friends? Did you guys not play or something?"
James didn't speak a word and just read the comic book like he heard nothing.
"..."
"Don't tell me you don't have one..." Mark said after a long awkward silence. James nodded but still didn't speak.
"Seriously? I don't want to sound mean but to be honest, being a loner is weird, James... Especially at your age."
James glared at him, sometimes Mark doesn't care if his words can hurt someone sometimes...
"It's not like you're not the same as me... You're friendless too, y'know?"
"I'm different! I'm sick and you're not." Mark said.
"But isn't that cool? You're homeschooled instead going to a real one? School stinks so bad and it's loud there."
Mark then think for a moment then hummed, "I don't think so... It's boring to be homeschooled. I'd rather go to yours than being confined here in my room."
"But that will change!" He added. "I'm getting better and better now and I can finally go out! We can finally go to school together!"
James smiled as he saw the excitement on Mark's face. He was glad that his friend is recovering well but he can't help but also feel concerned. Students at school can be very mean sometimes so he can't help but thought to himself,
"Making friends? It's not that easy for you, Mark..."
News flash:
When Mark finally recovered and can go to school, the first thing he did was to amek friends and he didn't failed to do so even though he was holding James's hand and dragging him by his side as he greet everyone. James meanwhile, did not like it at all for Mark already became popular and they were surrounded by a lot of kids.
****
[4 years later]
It has been a year since everything happened. My uncle, who was supposed to raise me, left without a trace when I was just 14 years old. How kind of him, right?
Now, here I am. Working at a well known restaurant in our town called "Luntian Restaurant". The owner is also a mere Filipino just like me and was kind enough to help me.
Rumours about me slowly began to fade. Now, some children have the courage to talk or hang out with me, it seems that the only problem that was keeping them away was my uncle.
But still, enemies and bullies didn't disappeared. But I'm glad there's some improvement, all thanks to Mark Louise.
"Would that be all?" I said to our female customers after taking their order.
"Um... Yes please, thank you..." One of them said while she couldn't stop staring at me. I nodded and told them that their food would be ready soon and left.
Tonight was peaceful. It was not as busy as yesterday and you can hear the faint music my boss was playing.
After giving the food to the customer earlier, I went to the other table and cleaned the mess of the person who ate before. Then, the door opened and a boy came in,
"James! You're still here, lucky!" The familiar voice said. I turned around and saw the golden blonde hair and freckled face.
"Louise?"
He nodded and behind him, a pretty woman with a handsome man showed up. Areia and Trevillion.
"Just thought that we can come and eat here! Oh, they're also having a date. I brought them here."
"I can see that. But why are you tagging along?"
"They said that I can and they can pay for my food! Aren't they kind?"
Mark Louise is a close friend of them. But if I'm stating what I see, Mark is like a child they randomly adopted despite them being only a year older than us.
Areia and Trevillion are also childhood sweetheart that you can't separate no matter how hard you tried.
"Hey there, man." Trevillion greeted me as he pat my shoulder rough but not unkind. "You don't mind, do you?"
I shake my head as I brush away his hand, "No, not at all. Just give me a high tip and eat."
Trevillion then left and went to his girlfriend. I escorted them to a table for three and took their orders, they were getting lovey-dovey while Mark just focus on the food and pretend that they're never there.
****
Finally, they all finished their foods and pay through—they were still being love birds. The two of them pays and leave while Mark stayed in the restaurant.
"You can go home now, y'know?" I said while cleaning the tables of the previous customers.
"It's alright, I'm going to wait for you. Also, I told my grandma that I'm going to be home late so they won't get worried about me." He said while sitting on a corner, watching me.
Just then, Sir Lester—the one who owns the restaurant, came in and spoke in his–or our first language, "James, Pagkatapos niyan, maaari ka nang umalis dahil walang dagdag na trabaho ngayong gabi."
I turned my head and nodded at him. Meanwhile, Mark who doesn't understand a single word was silent for a while before finally asking what it was when Sir Lester left.
"...What did he say?" He said while tilting his said and raising his eyebrow.
"He said that I can leave earlier than usual because there's no extra work." I said calmly while mopping the floor.
Mark then smiled and stood up, "That's great, that means we can hang out for a while after your work!"
After cleaning, I finally left the restaurant with Mark and went to different places. But while hanging out, we heard a faint sound coming from the alleyway.
"What was that noise?" He asked while walking towards where it came from.
"It's probably just some rats, don't mind it."
Still, Mark checked the place and found a box that is shut. Out of curiosity, he opened the box and a furry creature jump on him.
"Woah! Are you alright!?" My shock was obvious as a stray little dog was barking and licking his face. But—Mark was just laughing instead of pushing it away. He'd rather have rabies instead of pushing it.