Nag-iisa siyang naglalakad. Kahit maraming tao ang dumaraan at tumambay sa lugar na pinuntahan niya ay pakiramdam niya ay nag-iisa lamang siya. He was lonely in the midst of the crowd. Kanina ay tumakas siya sa bahay at hindi nagpaalam. Bakit naman siya magpaalam kung hindi naman siya papayagan? Nakayuko siya habang naglalakad. Wala na siyang pakialam kung may makabangga man sa kanya.

May isang bagay ang pilit niyang intindihin. Nalilito siya, and became even more confused when he saw two guys holding hands and kissing under the colorful lights. He wonders why the two show their relationship publicly. He knew others express their love for each other secretly, out of the public eye. Alam na alam niya ang rason, na ang gano’ng relasyon ay hindi tanggap ng ibang tao, hindi pa pabor ang panahon at taon.

He stopped and turned to the two men holding hands and the two began walking away. Their moments captivated Kieran’s entire being. Ang bagay na hindi niya naiintindihan ay bakit sa lipunang kinalalakihan at ginagalawan niya ay hindi ‘yon kaaya-aya.

Kasuklam-suklam ‘yon sa persepsyon ng mga matatanda. Old folks are often disgusted with how the people like Kieran could tolerate that kind of people, and even television shows portray two men in love. It’s badly against their religious beliefs and views.

Mula sa malungkot niyang aura ay unti-unting gumuhit ang kasiyahan sa kanyang mga labi. He began to enjoy the view of Rama VIII bridge, and the beautiful Chao Praya river. The night was serene and calm. He looked up at the colorful poles, like strings of a guitar.

The bridge is indeed beautiful. If it wasn’t for the lights coming from the bridge, sigurado siyang didilim ang ibabang parte ng tulay, but because of the golden yellow color, and the blue lights that came from the bridge, it looks like a butterfly dancing in a field full of flowers. The lights kiss the river surface below.

Nakaramdam siya ng pagod. Maya maya ay yumuko siya para linisin ang camerang dala niya na nasa loob ng sling bag niya. A gift from his dad on his tenth birthday. He asked Arthit, his older brother, how to operate a camera, and how to get the best shot. Agad naman siya nitong tinuruan dahil hindi siya huminto sa pagpilit dito kung hindi ito papayag.

Kinuhanan niya ng larawan ang mga naglalakad, at mga nagbibisikletang dumaraan sa tabi niya. Para sa koleksiyon niya iyon to design his room. Napangiti na lamang niyang sinisipat ang bawat larawang kuha niya at ipinagtuloy ang paglalakad.

Naagaw ng larawang nakunan niya ang kanyang atensiyon. May batang lalaki siyang nakuhanan ng larawan na sa tantiya niya ay labinlimang taon ang batang lalaking iyon. The boy seems perfect, he looked at Kieran, pero siya ay hindi niya ito nakikita kanina kung saan man ito nakatayo.

His attention was still on his camera as he walked, and he accidentally collided with a boy wearing a black jacket. Naaamoy niya ang mamahaling pabango nito. The stranger’s loamy cologne swirled around him. Man, he was lovely. Kieran guessed he was a handsome man too.

His lovely scent that fell in Kieran’s nostrils made Kieran’s body tremble with so much excitement. Hindi naiintindihan ni Kieran ang sarili, he’s eleven years old and it seems impossible na mahulog ang loob niya sa estrangherong kaharap niya, at lalaki pa ang estranghero. Kinikilig siya and at the same time Kieran felt nervous every time he peeped at the stranger’s perfect lips.

Nahulog ang camerang hawak niya, basta na lang iyon nahulog, siguro ay dahil ninenerbiyoso siya na hindi naman niya alam ang eksaktong dahilan. A stranger picked it up immediately saka tumayo nang tuwid. Tumambad sa estranghero ang sarili nito na kuha niya kanina. Kieran looked up at him. Yes, he was the boy in the camera.

“It was a coincidence.” Kieran snatched the camera from the stranger’s hand. Yes, it was a coincidence pero inaamin niya na napakaguwapo ng estranghero sa kuha niya. “Khun pood pasa anggrit dai mai?” (Can you speak English?) tanong niya. Baka kasi hindi nito naiintindihan ang sinasabi niya.

“Perfect,” the stranger said.

Tumango siya. The stranger’s accent seems he’s not a native. “Who?” Kieran was aware that some natives are fluent in speaking English. However, the guy’s accent is too different, or he just carries himself speaking English fluently.

“That picture on your camera.” The boy smiled.

He puffed out his chest as if he was winning a gold medal in Olympics. The guy makes Kieran dance with glee. Malaking achievement para kay Kieran sa tuwing may humahanga sa mga kuha niyang larawan.

“Khobkhun mak khrub.” (Thank you very much.)

The stranger’s eyebrows knitted together. What’s wrong? Hindi niya mawari kung ano ang ipinahiwatig ng mukha nito na tila nalilito. Hindi ba nito naiintindihan ang sinabi niya? Tinanong niya ito kung bakit.

“I don’t speak Thai.” He thrust his hands into his pockets.

Sinabi na nga ba niya kanina na hindi ito native. So what was he doing there? Where is he from? Hindi niya napigilan ang sarili at nag-usisa.

“My name is Hardin Sheeran Chen, I’m from the Philippines, and happened to explore the place until I came here and fell in love with the bridge.” He explained.

“Philippines? It means that you’re also a Filipino.” Isinilid ni Kieran ang camera sa lalagyan niyon.

“Also? You mean?”

“My Dad is Thai and my Mom is Filipina.” Ngumiti siya at tumingin nang diresto sa mga mata ni Hardin.

“Ah, siguro marunong kang magsalita ng Tagalog?”

“Yes, but I can speak little. My name is Kieran Lymn Sutthiprapha by the way,” he said. He has a perfect smile on his lips.

“Gentle name.”

“Oh, thanks. What are you doing here?” hindi ba niya narinig ang sinabi nito kanina?

“I lost, it was my first time here.” Hardin looked in a distance then his lips locked unable to say another word again. Katulad din ito ni Kieran na tumakas sa bahay ng mommy nito.

“Bangkok is just a small world. Tell me about where your mom is, or do you remember the address —” Kanina pa siya hindi nagbaba ng tingin. Dugtungin na sana niya ang sinasabi niya pero nagsalita agad si Hardin.

“Saem Choi, that’s where Mom lives. I moved into her house just three days ago from the Philippines since it was vacation,” mahinang sambit nito.

“Luckily, I am from Saem Choi too, let’s go.” He began to walk to lead Hardin. He felt the droplets of rain that hits his soft skin.

Hardin smiled as he followed Kieran. “The lights, the scenery of the bridge tonight is probably amazing,” sambit ni Hardin. Maganda naman talaga ang Rama VIII ‘pag gabi, or even during the day.

Hardin’s affection for scenery and art is artistic and precious just like Kieran. His temperament seems to soothe Kieran. Kieran is a boy who’s falling in love with the night, starry sky, and all the perfect views. Huminto si Kieran at lingunin si Hardin. “Rain.” Sinenyasan niya itong tatakbo sila. They’re just a few meters from the end of the bridge. Tinakbo nila ang haba ng tulay and they’re both panting as they reached the beanery ten meters away at the end of the bridge. Nanginginig sa lamig si Kieran. He hugged himself. Nabigla na lamang siya nang hinubad ni Hardin ang suot nitong Jacket at ibinigay nito ‘yon sa kanya.

“Why?” tanong niya.

“Wear it, you’re cold.”

Tinanggap niya at isinuot ‘yon. “Thanks. I bet we should warm our stomachs. Noodles will do.”

“Payag ako,” sambit ni Hardin. Alam naman nitong alam ni Kieran ang ibig nitong sabihin.

Umupo sila sa isang bakanteng mesa. Siya na mismo ang nag-order. It was his treat for a new friend. He ordered two Guay Teow, the popular Thai soup. Hardin will love it, it’s an epic noodle in every Thai street. Habang magkaharap sila sa mesa at kumain ay inoobserba niya ito. Tahimik itong kumain. Hindi ito madaldal na bata. Kieran just ignored him in his nerve at yumuko para sa kanyang Guay Teow.

As they exactly finished their soup the heavy rain stopped. Kieran heaved a sigh of relief as he take a big step outside that decent beanery. Sa totoo lang ay tinanggi ni Hardin ang libre niya pero nagpupumilit siya at wala na itong magawa nang ibinigay niya sa tindera ang Ninety Baht. Nagpasalamat na lamang ito.

“Okay, Saem Choi is just twenty meters away from here. Do you prefer walking?” tanong niya kay Hardin.

“Sure, I want to get to know you a little bit more.” Humakbang ito at sumunod kay Kieran.

“Same here. I can see you’re good, genuinely good,” masiglang sambit ni, Kieran.

“You speak like a grown-up man.” He tapped Kieran’s shoulder.

“Dad used to say the same thing. By the way, should I delete your picture from my camera?” tanong niya. Baka kasi gustong ipabura ‘yon ni Hardin at nahiya lang ito.

He stopped. “And if I told you that keep it for me. I mean, I just want to be your friend.”

Huminto si Kieran at bumaling kay Hardin. “Then we are friends now. Okay, I’ll keep it. Kailan mo ba kukunin?” seryosong tanong niya. He can communicate in Tagalog but he has a difficulty in pronunciation.

“When I’m in college,” said Hardin.

Napameywang si Kieran, and he creased his forehead. “Kidding me?”

Hardin just laughed. “I want to study at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. It’s known globally for Engineering courses. Since I’m still in Junior High School, I will go back to the Philippines. After my graduation, I will take the entrance exam for civil engineering.”

“Civil engineering? That’s what my Dad wants for me and I want it too.” Kieran began to walk again at sumunod si Hardin.

“Shall we go together to the same university?” Hardin asked and plead.

Kieran said, “I’m eleven years old now, Pee. We’ll wait a few years. And, you’ll become my senior.”

“That’s okay, senior will take care of his junior,” Hardin replied in his gentle voice.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit ang sinabi nitong ‘yon ay nagdudulot nang pagbilis ng tahip ng dibdib niya. Ginulo nito ang buhok niya. They are neighborhoods. He remembered yesterday that his mom talked to a Filipina lady that would be Hardin’s mom.

Ngumiti ito.“Thanks.”

“My pleasure.” Hinubad niya ang jacket ni Hardin at nang ibalik niya sana ‘yon ay tinanggi na nito ‘yon, sa kanya na raw ang jacket nito. Nagpasalamat siya. Bago ito pumasok sa loob ay kinindatan siya nito. Kieran would always remember his words. Kieran would always care about Hardin’s words. Isang matamis na ngiti ang gumuhit sa mga labi niya habang pinagmasdan ang pagpasok ni Hardin sa loob ng bahay. Ang bagong kapit-bahay nila at bagong kaibigan niya.

_____

Thanks for your support