Chapter 3: Lost and Found

At the backside of the Madridejos Community College, a basket made in rattan landed on the grassy meadow followed by a shadow sneakily jumping down from the tall walls.

It was Chiko trying to escape without getting detected by the school personals after the scandal he made at the event.

Thud~

"Agkh!"~ he cried in pain.

His limping body landed with a faint thud as his figure swiftly rolled forward like a ninja to absorb the impact and momentum of landing. Unfortunately, his body was not in a good condition due to the throbbing nerves and overstretched thighs after performing spikes his body is not used to.

Slowly, he stood up and patted the dust away from his clothes before trotting away hurriedly with a face of grumbling regret towards the main road.

"Stupid people think they can fool me with a paper chick. hah!" Chiko mumbled as he lightly jogged on the side of the road. His hands moved to check his pocket and confirm his remaining money.

"Whew.."

After counting his sales folded neatly in his battered leather wallet, he sighed a deep one. Fortunately, it seems, they did not touch them.

"Today was an unfortunate day. But as long as I continue to persevere, I know I could save enough for my tuition fees before the school opening next month. Now I just need to get home and explain everything to grandma."

Chiko cheered himself as he continued to walk. He was reaching the crossroad just beside the Community College when he saw some habal-habal drivers or local motorcycle for hires.

Unfortunately, there was no way around those people so he prepared himself for the worst mockery. Most of these people have very keen eyes and ears so Chiko decided to wear the red jacket that was wrapped around his hips to at least hide his messy clothes and hopefully avoid being identified as the scandalous vendor.

As he got closer to the crossroads, he could hear their loud laughter while talking about him.

"It was crazy! Can you Imagine the amount he single handedly torn away?"

"I was speechless. I did know what to say. Poor farm boy never seen what a bank check is. haha!"

"He was looking for a live breathing check that can feed him for an hour! Not the one that can buy a house and lot! waahahaha!"

"Just think about it. You got your hand on one million pesos but you threw it away wanting a shiny little coin! I truly pity his family."

The more Chiko heard from them, the more he realized something. His eyes shook and his teeth gritted like there was no tomorrow. He hurriedly walked by the habal-habal drivers that have been drying in laughter with tears flowing like a dam.

"This bastards are an idiot too. I truly pity them. They cant even identify between a piece of paper and a house and lot. This community is cursed by a deadly idiot-disease. I just can't help but cry for them!" Chiko beckoned in his heart.

Unfortunately, really he doesn't have an idea what a bank check is.

Chiko was passing by a bakery near the highway while looking back at their laughing figure when he suddenly felt like hitting a wall.

Thud!~

"Ow"

"Watch where you going kid."

Chiko glanced at the tall and bald person he bumped with. There are marks of some burnt skins in his body while his bald head calmly reflected the orange street lights ahead. Chiko was about to retort madly when he suddenly stopped as he realized the terrifying vibe the guy was emitting.

The guy was standing at 5 foot and 8 centimeters. His dark brown complexion covered his heavy looking-body and a piercing gaze filled his deep dark eyes. One look and Chiko unknowingly gulped in fear.

"You have a death wish, kid?" the cold voice from the heavy young man sent chills to Chiko's back.

"This guy is bad news. I better go." Chiko thought to himself.

"I am sorry sir, I was not looking ahead. I will be careful next time."

He quickly nodded and bowed in apology before passing through the side. He did not want to stay any longer just in case the mad bull-like person would probably grab him and teach him a painful lesson.

He already had enough pain for today. Although he felt something uneasy, he continued to move on. Little did he knew, he actually dropped his wallet.

A couple of minutes later. Elric was nearing the entrance to the woods towards his home when he felt something was really missing. His hand instinctively searched his pocket only to realize that they were gone.

"Shit. Sh*t. Sh*t! Why is this all happening to me!?"

Chiko's hard earned money was gone just like that. He hurried to trace his steps, opening his eyes like a hungry owl while gazing down.

"It's that bastard! He took my money!" Chiko realized that the most potential suspect was the tall guy he bumped with a while ago.

"Did he think I will not dare to beat the living crap out of his bald head!?"

Chiko's aura swiftly changed from a cowardly dog to a mad bull. His body forgot the painful strain on his muscles and ran like a mad dog towards where he came from.

It doesn't matter if he is against a guy who is bigger, taller and tougher looking than him. When it comes to his savings, he will do everything.

"I was pretty sure I have it with me when I left the school grounds. My future lies on that wallet. I will never be able to enter college without that money! What will happen to my future!? Grandma will surely kill me this time. I must get that money back! No! I will get that money back even if I have to scorch the earth!"

A few hours later, it was already midnight. Chiko has never found his wallet.

After running back and forth a couple of times and shamelessly asking almost every person he saw, Chiko has yet to get a single sniff of his lost wallet.

"Its over. My life is over."

Under the dim light of the street post, He finally gave up with shaking knees due to hunger and helplessness.

"One year of saving and its gone in a second. Did I destroy a planet in my previous life?"

"What am I gonna do? I knew I should have listened when grandma told me to put my money in the bank before risk losing it. Now, I understand... but it's probably to teach me a good lesson."

The life in Chiko's eyes were fading away like a flickering candle light. His heart was beating mad while his body was heavy. He felt like the world has stomped hardly on him today. It was a great feeling of defeat.

"When you tried your best but you don't succeed. When you get what you want, but not what you need.." Chiko calmly sang a song he heard before in a radio station and he felt like it was just perfect in his current situation.

His eyes gazed at the beautiful stars scattered over the sky. His tears slowly falling down in utter defeat as he finally succumbs to the lonely cold night.

"Guess I have to postpone going to college and save again for next year." Chiko wiped his dried tears and looked at the distant shadow of the college institution he dreamt of going to someday.

It was not the best school the island could offer, but he is willing to do his best to at least finish college and help his family - his grandma to be exact. Not to mention, it was the only college that offered cheaper tuition fees compared to the private colleges.

"I just need to accept her warm beatings right?" Chiko smiled with a helpless face as he stood up.

After an hour of sobbing, he has already calmed his heart and learned to accept the reality that sometimes, everything doesn't go according to one's plan. No matter what you do, sometimes life is just a bastard that spits on you.

"Haaayz."

Chiko breathed a deep one. He could already imagine the nagging face his grandma gonna make later on. He turned around and was about to leave when his eyes landed on a school poster.

The poster was plainly designed but presentable enough. There was a huge Sepak Takraw ball printed and he could not help but be curious about the post. After all, he got enough experience with the said kind of ball for today.

Using only a piece of letter size paper, it was a recruitment post for the school's Sepak Takraw try out. As he continued to ready, Chiko's eyes suddenly regained their color and brightness.

His body started shaking in excitement while his mouth smiled like it was about to reach the other end. His head swiftly turned to scan from left to right, making sure no one was watching him.

Whip!~

His hand snatched the school poster and ran towards the direction to his home with bunny hops of happiness. He was filled with unexplainable confidence and hope.

"100% Scholarship and Five thousand monthly allowance! Here I come!" Chiko's loud shout alarmed the street dogs and they started barking. However ,Chiko could care less about them right now.

He just felt like flying any moment.

The poster was indeed about a Sepak Takraw try out next week, and Chiko has never been as determined to snatch this one for sure.

Meanwhile, back at the Madridejos Community College, the loud shout from Mr. Gaje echoed across the gate. Gaje, with his boastful and condescending demeanor, was madly shouting towards a certain female school nurse and a brawny school guard.

"You are both useless pieces of sh*t! Just one limping farm boy and you can't even find him?! Did you know the damages your carelessness has caused?! We just lost a prospect player! And it is all because of your laziness! How am I gonna face the great and almighty Santi tomorrow? And what do you mean that no one knows his real address? Did he just pop out of nowhere from the forest? What is he? A dwende?! Bulsh*t!"

The barrage of insults continued for half an hour before Mr. Gaje angrily left in his Montoro Sports while Mr. Ulysis watched him with a gentle smile through the window from the school faculty.

The school nurse ran back to her office with red eyes ready to burst into a tsunami of tears while the school guard had a red face ready to explode.

"Just you wait you freaking balut vendor. You managed to sneak in and out today out of my sight. The moment I will find you, I will make sure to make your life miserable you're gonna wish you just went back to your momma's pwet! (butt)" The school guard grumbled as he went back to his post. His nose popping out a steam of smoke.