"...good afternoon po..." a boy knocked on the door early on a Saturday afternoon.
"...good afternoon din..." a pretty and fair lady opened the door.
"...madami po kasi kayong toys dito...pero wala naman akong nakikitang batang naglalaro..." the boy said as he looked around the front porch which had toys scattered around. The house had a low hedge for a fence and a covered front porch.
"...sa...sa anak ko yan..."
"Anak? Saan po sya? Pwede po ba syang makalaro? Ako nga pala si Je..Jerald Napoles po ang buong name ko, 8 years old na po ako. Dun po kami nakatira sa may green na gate..." 8-year old Je rattled on and pointed to a house across the street.
"H..hello Je...ako si Tita Sari, Mama ni Cayo..."
"Cayo?"
"...yung may ari ng mga laruan na yan...yung anak ko, eight years old din sya..."
"Eh nasaan po sya? Pwede pong makipaglaro sa kanya?" Je tried peering over Tita Sari's shoulder to look beyond the open door.
"Uhmm...nasa loob sya...di sya pwede maglaro sa araw e..."
"Ahh...ako rin, di pwedeng tumagal sa labas...balik nalang po ako mamayang mga 6:30? Sige po, babay..." Je said and waved. "...ahh, mahilig po ako sa cheese pizza at rootbeer...bye ulit Tita..." Je continued and ran back home.
Tita Sari just looked on and chuckled at what just happened. She was still a little bit shocked about the whole incident. She went back inside, shaking her head.
A little before 6:30pm, Je knocked at the door. "Hello po! Tita? Tita Sari? Si Je po ito...pwede po bang mag-play ng toys dito?" Je called out from the front porch.
Tita Sari opened the door and Je let himself in but stopped at the foyer, remembering to behave in other people's homes. "Good evening po, Tita..." Je said as he took Tita Sari's hand and blessed.
"Good evening" Tita Sari replied and led Je to the kitchen where Cayo was seated at the dining table. "Cayo...this is Jerald..."
"Whoa!" Je exclaimed. Cayo was very fair, a stark contrast to Je's tanned skin. "Bakit ang puti mo?"
"Diba nga sabi ko sa yo kanina, di sya pwede maarawan..." Tita Sari said.
"Ah...oo nga pala..."
"...may xeroderma pigmentosum ako..." Cayo began.
"Xero...what?"
"XP nalang...di ako pwede maarawan...konting ilaw lang mula sa araw, pwede akong masunog...." Cayo explained.
YOU ARE READING
XP (completed)
General FictionIt is only at night when they're allowed to be free. His rare condition has barred him from full contact with the outside world. She's a free-spirited teenager. Star-crossed lovers? How will they beat the odds? *inspired by the movie, Midnight Sun
