Money. Whenever we want something physical, what's the first thing that enters your mind? It's money. Why? Because that "something" I'm talking about is something you can't buy without money.
It's not an exaggeration to say that everything revolves around money. Just try to imagine your life. For students, why are you studying so hard? So you can work in the future, right? Workers are working because they want money, but you need money to go to work. You need money to buy some food, you need money to buy a suit for office work. You need money to buy some things you like.
Whether you realized it or not... all of our lives revolve around money. Money is one of the foundations of why this world is still alive. But this money I'm talking about... is blinding.
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In the year 2009, at a country called the Philippines, trash scavengers are already the norm in some parts of it. You can say that It's already an occupation. Trash Scavenging is the only way they can live. This is the life of Allaine Monillas.
Allaine Monillas was born in this unfortunate situation. A situation where you have to scavenge some trash or garbage, find some food, or something that could be used to live. They're all doing this for the purpose of one sole reason... to live.
All of them want to live... to live, and dream of a better future for them.
"I'm going to study hard... I won't stop no matter what happens. I'll get a high paying job and I'll escape this piece of shit life that you can't even call living!!!"
Allaine said as he throws some can because of his raging anger. This is his line of thought every day. In the Philippines, there is something called public schools where you could study for free. But It's not completely free. You have to pay for your own uniform, your own projects, equipment and everything you're going to use. They say that It's free, but It's actually not. Still, It's better than what the Philippines called private schools. Where you'll actually pay for the tuition.
"Still dreaming, are we?"
One of his Allaine's friend, Pedro Ronquillo, heard his shouts and approached him. He has a petite body and most of the kids are. An average face you can see everywhere and round eyes.
"Allaine, I know you're working so hard. But why don't you just stop studying like me? So your burden will be lessened even for a bit and you can have more time for scavenging."
"But..."
Allain tried to retort but Pedro kept on talking and talking...
"I know, I know, you have a dream. But if you are born from trash, then you'll end up like trash. That's just how it is. Are you really sure you'll have a good life the moment you start working? In the end, there are no guarantees in life. The two of us are still young, 15 years old!!! We're on our teens, we could just enjoy it!!!"
Pedro's argument makes sense. Even if Allaine managed to graduate and find a job. He doesn't have any certainty that he'll actually live the life he's dreaming for. But still... he thought that It's better... than his current life. A life where you're alive but dead inside... a life that is not worth living. Doesn't even waiting for Pedro to finish, Allaine already left the scene.
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Allaine Monillas, a 15-year-old boy who has a petite body. A coal-black hair, and raging small black eyes... dreams of a future where he lives a life worth living for him and also for his family.
Leaving Pedro alone, he walked towards his home. Kicking some cans and making sure that he doesn't step to a glass that could injure his feet... he goes to walk on and on. Advancing forward...
Climbing some hunks of trash and sliding down to another hunk of trash. For some reason, whenever Allaine is sliding down that path. He feels happiness, excitement...
So he came back to climb the hunk again and slides to the slope once again. Doing this over and over made his clothes dirty, but considering that his clothes are already dirty, he continued to do this without any hesitation.
In a way, this is his euphoria! This is the only source of enjoyment he actually got this day. In a sense, this is his reward. For scavenging trash all day. After some time, he finally stopped and continued to walk towards his home. While still giggling, he continued to walk.
Only a little bit of walking is needed to reach his home from that slope. After some walking, he reached it. A combination of some scrap metal for a roof, an old wood for a wall, and a dirty and full of rips curtain for a door...
This thing... is what Allaine calls his house...
END OF CHAPTER 1