Chapter 20 - Square one

In this cold morning, the rain was still being poured down from the cloudy sky. The sound of its every drop has enveloped the entire area, making every other noise nearby inaudible, and it's already been awhile since I began sitting down on this cemented seat that was attached on the store while waiting for this very climatic event to stop.

Taking a peek to my back from a sudden realization, the store owner has noticed me from the inside and was likely wondering about my presence while he continues to give me a number of his suspicious stares.

Crap. I don't want to be forcedly moved away while the rain hasn't stop yet.

Being aware of my situation, I then slowly reached my hand inside my pocket to get some coins.

I need to buy something in order for me to have an excuse for staying here temporarily, and for the owner not to get too suspicious of me.

"Pops, one cola and a biscuit please." I ordered as I handed my money.

"Right." The owner gave me a nod as he went over to get the goods, and surprisingly he came back with just a flash. "Here you go kid!"

"Thanks."

"Hey kid."

As I was about to open my biscuit, the man suddenly called me out.

"Uhh… Yes?"

"That's quite a lot of stuff you got there. Are you on a trip today? If so, haven't you heard the news?"

His question was disturbing and it got me silent, the fresh and bitter experience just yesterday is making me distress.

"Ah... No, actually. And yeah, I heard the news."

"It seems that you got to go somewhere kid, but if you are going somewhere at Bukidnon, then you should be careful. Well, even if you would go there or not, I guess the military won't allow you."

"Okay pops. I'll remember that." I then sigh.

If you had only known about it pops. If you had only known~

As soon as we were done talking, the rain had seemed to slow down, making it safe for me to go out and resume my walk. I then finished my meal quickly and have gone out when there wasn't any drop of rain anymore.

So… how should I start this again? With the source of my income gone, and not to mention also the place which I had stayed in, how and where could I possibly find sustenance?

Back in the times, I was just lucky enough to be found by the good madam on the way, but remembering about my job hunting from before, all and all there was no good result. I sucked at it.

Oh yeah, come to think of it, the madam is still there!

"But wait--- Gaaaah! I don't have a single one of her contacts. Good grief!"

But wait again! Maybe I could find her in Facebook, or maybe she'll pop out in Google if I'd type her name.

After my attempt in searching, there wasn't any single information about the madam that had come out.

Oh no, I'm starting to get anxious about this. It looks like I'll be going door to door again, and asking for help would still be risky. I sigh.

"After all, being a loner didn't give me much option for only having few friends and with no other---" I stopped walking and spouting as I realized a hope.

"Wait… No, no no no no---- But would it be just fine if it's him? I mean, he isn't my classmate."

What should I do? It's quite shameless to ask for help to someone whom I am not even personally close with, but we were acquainted anyway.

"This is my only chance so I'll give it a shot even though the chance of success is zero."

As I made up my mind, I prayfully moved forward, heading at Manager Alvarez's place.

-----*-----

"Sir! There is a person that wants to see you."

"Hoooo? Who could it be?"

"He said his name was Hanuzuki and wants to talk something important."

"Oh, that Hanzaki. I wonder why he's here. Their business project should probably be over by now."

After the arriving in this place not a while ago, I directly asked for Mr. Alvarez's presence from a staff when I got inside. And from just sitting on a customer's chair near to the counter, I can hear them talking on the other side of their working area.

Without a minute has gone by, the manager then came out from his work and has made his way towards me.

"Oh Hanzaki!"

With him still a bit of the distance, his glances that were likely directed at my bags underneath the table were clearly visible to notice here at my spot.

"Uh… haven't you guys finished your project already? Or are there still more?"

"Ah, actually, we're done with that."

"Oh is that so? Then what brings you here?"

Quite shy and hesitant at first, but I mustered myself up afterwards to address my intentions.

"Uhhm… I would like to get a part-time job here at this restaurant sir Alvarez."

With a serious face and sharp eyes staring at me, the manager has gone in silence.

1 second… 2 seconds… 3 seconds. He remained silent and is likely thinking seriously about this.

"Okay, sure!"

My eyes then went wide, surprised and glad of the manager's reply.

"Are you sure? Are you really sure sir?

"Oh, you don't want me to?"

"No sir! I'll gladly accept!"

Alright! This is what I'm talking about!

"Okay then. Your dismissal is at 3 in the afternoon right? That's also the call time for your available shift. You can get here maybe 30 minutes after. Come with me for a second for the documents and other requirements needed."

"Ah, sir." I raised my hand for another favour.

"Hmmm? Is there something else?"

"If possible, I want you to keep this a secret from anyone, especially to Romeo, if you may?" I asked with a low tone.

"Aaahhh. Fine then." Manager Alvarez sighed mid-way.

"Thank you very much sir!"

"But first! You need to fill the requirements needed. You need some pictures, photocopies and everything else. Here, I'll just write it down for you"

With the heavens on my side, I showed quite the energy on me after a successful hunt and have gone to get the other requirements needed afterwards.

After all was done, the manager told me that I'll be starting my work by tomorrow, and with this success, it is time for me to look for a place to stay.

"I guess a boarding house would be a good option for a cheap pay."

-----*-----

In the same day, late in the afternoon, I was wandering again on the streets in searching for another miracle. I plan to just find a boarding room in the nearby area of the restaurant for my own convenience in working.

At some point in walking, I found a 2-storey wooden establishment, but I wasn't sure enough if this was one.

As I began to observe the place, a bunch of people came out from inside the wooden building and have gone in different ways, and it seems that they were a total stranger to each other since they didn't even gave either greetings or just small reactions in response.

I then went closer to clearly check things out further and have stood at the gate, taking a peek from the outside.

But nah, what am I doing? If I could just have a clear look inside, this place should already have been determined not a while ago. It's useless in just standing here and turning my head left and right, but this hasn't stopped me as my eyes continue to wander at every corner and side of this wooden building.

Oh man~ Now I look like some thug or something.

"Hey you! Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Eeeeeek!" Hearing someone exclaimed, I freaked out.

'Frick me! Someone already has approached me! Oh man, I hope they would not take me for a criminal or someone suspicious.' I added in mind.

"Uhh! Uhhhhm... you see---" Quite unusual enough, my mind has gone wondering in a bit of confusion when I turned my head around along with my gaze to see a tough-looking lady standing and was wearing slippers with her arms crossed to each other while having a litted cigarette on her mouth, and while also having lots of hairclips tied around her messy, curly hair together with an attire of a loosed, oversized shirt and a shorts. Questionably nervous in staring at the lady, her eyes were aggressively roaming all over me from head to toe, seeming to be studying me as well.

"Hmmm? Did I just do something wrong?" She asked, probably has noticed my quiet hidden reaction.

"Uhhhh--- No, no. "

"Well in any case, let's get straight to the point." she said, her direct-approach made me tensed as she maybe misunderstood my intentions.

"Noo! I'm sorry....."

"Are you interested in going into this board house?"

"It's not what you think it i---- eh?"

"Hmmm? Is there a problem?"

"Ah! No! Not at all, a-he-he."

Jeez. As I thought, the establishment and the people that left, my guess of it being a boarding house was right after all.

But who is this old lady anyway? I thought she was threatening me at first, but she sure is very calm while taking a smoke, yet her manly-like personality is giving me the scare.

"Aahhh! Since you went to me with this kind of flow---"

"Yeah kid, you're guessing it right. I'm the landlady."

Wowwy~ Then this is perfect.

"Oh, so I'm assuming you'd go for this?"

Being glad of this encounter, I then nodded in response.

"Then let's go inside to check the available rooms."

Stepping inside through the door, the pathway inside the establishment was quite narrow, and all of its rooms were equally the same in size when I checked it. Since all were quite similar, I just randomly picked one out of the many rooms. My room was just a small one with a wooden bed and some small space for my convenience.

Afterwards, we then settle the matter for my occupancy.

"Okay, so that should do it. Thank you for the business Mr. Hanzaki Hanuzuki."

"Thank you very much Ma'am!"

Questionably, the lady turned back to me with a threatening face as she was about to walk away.

"Just call me Nang Inday." she insisted.

"Yes, Ma'am Nang Inday."

Nervous of what I've somewhat done, she suddenly has gone staring more intensely at me.

"YES! Nang Inday." I immediately corrected my likely mistake.

"Hmmpp! Well then, enjoy your stay."

Is it that a big deal for her when it comes to addressing her? Oh well, that's none of my concern.

As the lady who recently gave her nickname has gone outside, I then start to organize my room and things.

"This one's really hard. Would I be able to sleep with this? Well, I guess with patience, I can."

As the cleaning was finished, I then hop on onto my bed, and with things going smoothly on my side, I came close in resting for the day, but the siege in Bukidnon has not yet siezed to disturb my already crowded mind.

--*---

"Grrrrrr..." Lying on the bed with both of my hands covering my whole face, I let out a groan from waking up. I then breathed, starting with a quick inhale to a long tiring exhale.

As expected, I had a hard time trying to sleep last night due to my bed, and not to mention with what I've gone through yesterday. I rolled over and over around to find a comfortable position, but every place was just hard as a rock. At some point, I decided to get some of my comfy shirts to use it as a cover. Somehow, it lessened the feeling of its hardness at start, but I was still feeling it in the end. I did my best to fall asleep, but with the temperature inside the room, it was inevitable for me not to roll around, and as a result, my comfy shirts fell off. And now, in this morning, I woke up with deep eye bags and with an extremely sleepy face, but despite it, I began to move and fix myself up as the 7:30 class was nearing.

Arriving at school, my friend Francis was already inside the room when I opened the door to see.

Okay self, just keep it cool and act like everything is just fine.

"Oh my, this is a miracle!" Francis jumped on me.

"Eehhh?"

"It is really rare for my bro Hanzaki to come at this time early in the morning."

"You picking a fight france?"

"Hehehe... But it is really rare to see you this early. Did something good happen?"

"Something good, huh?"

"Mmmm?"

"No, no particular reason."

"But speaking of the opposite of something good, did you hear the news of something bad?"

'Am I supposed to laugh at that question?' I thought.

"Yeah, kind of. So Rom, Kevin and Ken aren't still here yet huh."

"Hooooo? So you're boasting now about your achievement?"

"Seriously France, stop it."

When the first subject of the morning was about to start, Sir Roxas has brought grave news for us, or rather about the incident that I was recently involved with.

While they were discussing about it, I stayed low and calm at the corner while listening.

"Okay, that's it for today!"

"Hey pals, that talk with sir Roxas a while ago was really serious."

"Of course, with that entire massacre up at the mountains."

Romeo and Kevin respectively gave their reactions when the first subject ended.

"Still, I can't believe that some of our classmate had someone they know got involved and pretty much others have died."

Hey Kenneth, I think you shouldn't make your voice loud.

"Hey! Keep it low! Be considerate." Romeo muttered.

"Don't make them hear you Ken." Kevin followed.

Nice going Rom, and you too Kevin.

"Family members, relatives, or maybe all of the people they know at the place passed away. So just keep it low and be considerate!" Romeo added to Kenneth who has quickly accepted his fault.

"My bad." Kenneth rubbed his head out of guilt.

"Hey Hanzaki, are you okay?"

Ooops… It looks like Kevin spotted me spacing out.

"Uhh-- ah yes. I just feel sad for them."

Phew~ That was close.

Then after, eventually classes ended.

"Now! Where should we-----"

"Sorry, but I got some important things to do. See you guys!" I said as I packed my things with haste and have dashed outside without having to give a proper reason.

"What has gotten into him?"

"Don't have a clue"

"Maybe he already missed his home that much since he got here really early."

"Wha--- really?"

"Woah. That's pretty rare."

Moving in a hurry, I was hearing their loud voices from their somewhat gossiping about me.