#Yatiz is a story focusing on the lives of young people in a small seaside municipality called Carmen in the southern part of the Philippines. The name is based on a cuss word here, "Yati/Yatis" that has no English equivalent but is closest to WTF.
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MARCH 13, 2023・MONDAY・12:38
Maya is waiting by the gate, looking at some students setting up a tent for their booth in the upcoming foundation day.
The school is already busy, decorations are being set up everywhere and buntings are being hung.
Maya takes out her phone and aims it at the booths on the field, ready to record and Instagram story. She presses record and starts panning through the whole of the field. When suddenly, a face appears on her phone screen, startling her.
"Hi," Noel says as he approaches her.
"Hi," she responds with a shy smile.
For a while, they lock eyes, a lot of thoughts running through their head.
Maya, realizing this awkwardness, chuckles and shakes her head, breaking the silence. "Kumusta, Noel?"
"HOW ARE YOU, NOEL?"
Noel smiles back. "Okay lang. Ikaw?"
"GOOD. YOU?"
"Okay lang pud."
"I'M GREAT."
Noel clears his throat. "Erm...nag-unsa ka diri?"
"ERM...WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
"Naghulat ko kang Mariz. Gipatawag siya ug teacher."
"I'M WAITING FOR MARIZ. SHE'S TALKING WITH A TEACHER, I DON'T KNOW."
"Ahh."
Maya looks behind Noel. "Ikaw? Wala lage mo nag-uban ni JR?"
"AND YOU? WHY AREN'T YOU WITH JR?"
Noel's expression suddenly sours. "Absent siya."
"HE DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL TODAY."
"Ngano daw? Okay lang siya?"
"WHY? IS HE OKAY?"
Noel shakes his head. "Nagbulag iyang mama ug papa. Nilayas ra iyang mama ug kalit gahapon."
"HIS MAMA AND PAPA BROKE UP. HIS MAMA LEFT THEIR HOUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN YESTERDAY."
"Shet. Kalooy ni JR uy. Nagsturya namo?"
"SHIT. POOR JR. DID YOU TALK TO HIM?"
"Oo. Gabii, sa balay siya natulog kay dili niya kaya mag-stay sa ilahang balay."
"YEAH. LAST NIGHT, SLEPT AT OUR HOUSE BECAUSE HE CAN'T BRING HIMSELF TO STAY AT THEIR'S."
"Yawaa uy. Ingon ana na diay ka lala?"
"THAT'S ROUGH. WAS IT REALLY THAT BAD?"
Noel lets out a deep breath. "Oo. Sugod last week, lala na gyud kaayo siya. Halos kada-gabii nalang magsyinagitay. Gireport na gani sila sa among silingan."
