Art and Story by Jaziel Rentuaya
AB Literature, 3A | Production Unit 1
Based on an oral Bikol narrative from the Municipality of Malinao
One day while he was playing and talking with the neighboring little old man in the hill, a sudden noise interrupted their conversation. The old man isn’t a conversationalist unless you pay him respect then he won’t mind. The old man seeing the brightness in the boy’s smile, dismissed him and told him to check the noise on the bushes.
With indescribable excitement, the boy ran towards the noise in the bushes and suddenly saw a pair of cute hands peeking out. It suddenly moved and then a cute little girl’s face peeked out.
“Puah! It was a good nature adventure.” The little girl giggled while the boy only observed as if examining the girl’s entity as a whole and the word ‘friend’ popped on his head.
“Are you okay?” The boy asked while lending out his hand.
The girl stared at it for a moment before taking it and she smiled at him, “Yes, I am! Thank you!”
They both smiled at each other after the boy helped the girl out from the bushes. The girl was so happy to meet someone of her age, but the boy only tilted his head in confusion when she said that but because she’s a friend, he dismissed what she said and was glad at thought that she’s glad that they met that day.
Starting on that day, the boy would always wait on the bushes for the little girl. He would sometimes wait on the other side of the bushes just to meet the girl. Sometimes the girl won’t be able to meet him, but it’s fine since the moment he waited on the other side of the bushes where the girl came from, he then never set his eyes off her.
He would protect her even from afar, not minding other big neighbors on that side. When the girl is in danger, the boy would seek help from his neighbors to punish those people who posed as danger to the girl’s life, but whenever he does, the girl’s time to meet him lessened and when they do meet, her expression would be sad and sorrowful.
“Why are you crying again?” The boy asked as he tried to comfort the girl.
“My mama is sick again after scolding me. I think it’s because I’ve been a bad girl.” She answered as she sobbed and hugged her knees.
“Don’t worry, bad individuals get punished for their bad behaviors.” The boy answered, justifying what had happened to the girl’s ‘mama.’
“She said she’s scolding me for my sake.”
“Don’t listen to them, educating or helping someone through bad means is still bad.” He smiled, acting oblivious to what he’s saying that contradicts to what he does.
“Right but she’s still my mama — my family.”
“Aren’t I your family too? Friends are family too, right?” The boy stood up and crouched down in front of the girl, “Right?”
“Yeah.” The girl answered as she wiped her tears away.
“So, a family lives in a house right? Why don’t you go live with me? No one will restrict you there, no one will scold you, and we can play forever.” He suggested with eagerness in his eyes.
“That’s a good idea… but mama won’t be happy if I would.”
The boy stood, walked to the side and crossed his arms looking at the setting sun.
“Hmm, how about this? Since it’s getting dark now, it’s best to reside with me. If you go home now, your mother will be angry but if you go home tomorrow morning, she won’t worry, right?”
The girl looked down on the ground and considered the offer, “She’s really not going to be mad? We’ll only play, right? I’ll be home tomorrow, right?”
“Yes. By tomorrow, you’ll be home.” The boy said and with a flick of his hand, they’re now inside the other side of the bushes where his house is located.
The boy found a friend and the girl also did, a new home is a bonus to it. The next day, the boy walked out on the other side of the bushes and saw the chaotic environment full of humans searching for something.
“Oh, are they also looking for a friend?”