Chapter 3 (2/2)

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.

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