I’m Friends With The MonsterWhen I returned home from school, I walked straight into my room.
“Baby, the children from the neighborhood wants to play with you.”
“I don’t want to mom, because I will play in my room.”
I immediately put my lunch box on my bed and opened it, there are still some leftovers left. I planned to gave it to Allen. I put the sandwich below my bed.
A little while, a hand took it quickly which made me surprised but also made me delighted.
“h.e.l.lo?” No reply.
“Heellooo?” Still nothing.
I thought of a plan to see the monster again. I tied the sandwiches and dropped it. Gradually a hand came out, I withdrew more of those sandwiches but he still insisted on reaching out for it.
“Gottcha!” I surprised him and laughed at his reaction.
“s.h.i.t!” he said in irritation.
“I just wanted to be your friend.”
“You! Kid, I don’t have time for you.”
“Do you want me to help you remember your lost memories?”
Those words caught Allen’s attention and caused him not to leave and talked to me.
“How will I remember my past?” Allen asked seriously.
“Let me repeat, can’t you really remember anything?”
“Hmm.. people, different people, and a room. Those are the things I remember when I peeked outside for several times before.”
“Eh who are they and how did you get in there?”
“I didn’t recognize them so I don’t know.”
“Ah.. look at the old-fashioned clothes you are wearing. It’s formal and is like a tuxedo, as if it was the clothes Jack of t.i.tanic was wearing. Or even a garment style from Jose Rizal’s era!”
“How would I know?.”
“What year were you born?”
“Year?”
“Yes, look! It’s August 26, 2012 today” I pointed my forefinger at the calendar.
“Fif..fifteen.. 1531!”
“Ha?”
“Yes, its 1531, I saw it on the calendar before.”
“Wow, that was a very long time ago! Was it on your house?”
“No, it was from the past owner of this bed.”
“So that time you are already living in this bed?” I asked in shock.
“How old are you for real?”
“I have no idea.” Allen answered in dismay.
Since that day I have been returning home early. He always see me, I taught him things which he doesn’t know. Even though I’m always inside the room, I was never bored because I have a playmate.
“Wait! I thought of something to do.” I said while we are playing snakes and ladders.
“What? Playing jack-stones again?”
“Haha, nope.”
“Eh, what?”
“We should take a picture.” Then I took out the camera from the divider.
I approached him and pressed the camera’s b.u.t.ton. “Eh? You are not here? So, you couldn’t be captured by the camera?” I said, pouting.
“What is that?”
“This is a camera, if you press this a little, after a while you will see yourself on the screen.”
“Aha!” It’s like a light bulb lit up inside my brain. “I will draw you.”
“What?”
“Using this pencil. I’m not really good but I will learn how to draw you.” I smiled at him.
Every night I tried to express him though my drawing. It is one of the things that keeps me busy every day and night.
One day, my mom suddenly entered my room.
“Hurry, Allen! Hide.”
“Are you talking to someone?”
“No, mom.”
“Why don’t you try to go outside? There are kids who want to play with you.”
“I don’t want to, I’m fine here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes mom.” I smiled at her.
“Allen you can go out, mom is no longer here.” Allen emerged from below.
“I have an idea! Why don’t you follow me in the school.”
“I am not able to get away from this bed.”
“Ha, why?”
“I don’t know. Do you think I will choose suffering here if I can leave?”
“You’re right. That’s too bad.” I said in dejection.
translator: seiji
editor: ws25
TL’s note:
Jose Rizal – was a Filipino nationalist and polymath during the tail end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philipines.