Elisa May is the first friend I've made in this town.
I remember being all shy at the age of 5. My family had just moved to Awanen because of my father's work. My mother will always force me to go out and make friends with our neighbors. Back then, I remember not being able to talk that much compared to kids the same age as I do. So, I had trouble being associated with my playmates, because I don't talk at all.
After weeks of going home not making friends with any kids at the playground, I finally met Elisa May. She was asking me to join their hide and seek game which I immediately shook my head no at, declining her invitation. But, she said that she will be my 'mother hen', I and the other boy beside her will be protected by her. Without thinking I grabbed her extended hand and played with them for the rest of the night.
I can say that she is the big sister I never had. I remember we used to sneak out on our afternoon nap and she would ask me to play in their backyard since they had this big mango tree that could shade us while playing. We also loved to roleplay being in a classroom set up where she will be our teacher and me and the other kids will be her students. I can say that a major part of my childhood was full of her memories of being there for me and acting like my very own sister.
Then school came around. I was still the same me, awkward and quiet. I made zero friends at school. I don't reach out first and when others do, I don't entertain them. The only time I am always excited was seeing Elisa coming home with her uniform on and meeting us in the playground. And, that went on for a long time.
Until Elisa started high school, she became more interested in hanging out more with her same-aged friends.
We were left alone. I still remember hanging out in the playground waiting for her to play with us again. And, she always waved and smiled at us from a distance with her older friends.
I have played by myself since then.
I heard shouting, it seemed that those two kids were fighting again. I turned my head around and saw two young kids staring back at me. The other one was wearing all pink from head to toe, she has a round and chubby face while the other one was taller than us and has a lanky figure.
"What are you looking at?" the pink one asked.
I instantly looked down at my slippers.
"Heyy, do you want to play with us?" the thin one asked.
"Blessi, she doesn't talk! don't ask questions, that's rude.`` Pinky loudly whispered.
The thin one looked convinced. "Idiot! I do think she can move her head. Up and down means no, left and right-"
"I KNOW THAT!" I burst.
They looked surprised at my outburst. I immediately told them I didn't mean to shout.
"I can talk, you may not have heard me talking but I was always with Ate Elisa May. I played there all the time." I explained to them.
What they did next was to look at me while encircling me. I felt extremely nervous at that time. I felt like being a prey being surrounded by not that much of what you call a predator, just a prey, too.
"I haven't seen you before." the thin one said. "I guess because I don't go out that often," she smiled as she extended her hand.
"My name is Blessi, nice to meet you!" she cheerfully said.
"And what's your name, alien?" the pink one asked.
"I-i am Ramona, I live in Katahimikan Street", I replied. "Our gate has an emblem that looks like a heart, do you know that?" I asked.
"Aah. Kapuso! Wow, your house has a driveway with a car right?" the pink one excitedly asked.
"Y-yeah. That one."
"Okay, Mona. I am Sonja, I have two eldest sisters and I am the prettiest of them all," she proudly stated.
"RA-MONA, not Mona" I corrected her.
"Mona!" she said. "No, Rrra-Monaa!" I replied. "Aah! Moona!" she insisted. "It has Ra!" I insisted back.
"Okayy! I can't pronounce /rr/ so I called you Mona. Deal with it," she said while looking at me and Blessi.
"Anyways, our house is on Kasinungalingan Street. So before you reach your street you will pass our house. Do you recognize that big and tall green painted house with a convenience store?" she asked.
I've seen that many times, my Mama will always buy me ice cream there.
So, I excitedly said, "Yes! I know that store."
"So, that's not our house… but beside it, was a narrow street that's where we lived, the second house right when you enter it," she said.
After our introduction, we played till the sunset. We planned to play for more hours when Sonja's mother came into the playground with a stick that looks like she picked up on her way here. I remember seeing Sonja run faster compared to when she was playing.
The next day, we met at the playground Sonja told us that when they came home her mother spanked her in the butt. Then we all admitted that we also had experienced it when we came home. Sonja laughed hard, then Blessi and I followed.
Ever since we never left each other's side. I became acquainted with these people who are the same age as me, even though at first I thought they were older than me. We don't hang out at the playground anymore. And, since we go to different schools we would always prefer to hang out after school at each other's house.
That's where I stopped waiting for Elisa May to play with me. I haven't heard any news from her either. I am just glad that when we got to see each other, like coming across each other on the streets, we gave each other a warm smile.
Later on, my family went through financial difficulty. So, I had to change schools when I entered high school. That's the only time I went to school with Sonja and Blessi. If you would describe us as your classmates we are those kids at the back living in our world.
Looking back, I never felt alone when I had these two beside me.
We also went to school with Elisa May, I once again failed to reconnect with her. Also, they are a few years ahead of us, therefore we seldom meet even at school. Eventually, I accepted that both of us are meant to part ways, it's natural.
I only saw her at school assemblies and programs. She was known to be one of the top students in her year. I was not surprised since back then when we were playing she was suited to be a teacher.
The other time I heard groundbreaking news from Elisa was when she stopped going to church. Part of me wants to ask why she doesn't want to attend. But, it was later revealed that she claimed not believing in God anymore and therefore no use in going to church anymore. I was disappointed but I guess that everyone has the freedom to believe what they want to.
"Whose Elisa?" I asked. I felt that my heart just dropped,
Blessi continued, "Elisa May! Our old friend Ate Elisa."
"Whattt! W-w-when did she disappear?" I curiously asked.
"You know what I think? It's much better to talk about it inside." Sonja said.
She began to lead the way and opened our gate again. I just followed them inside and I can't wait for their full-length story.
Our house looked like you time traveled in the past during the Spanish-colonial era. It has the features of an ancestral house, most of our appliances will take you back to the modern world.
We reached our dining room, they already felt at home when they opened our storage cabinets and refrigerator searching for snacks.
Sonja stopped what she was doing at our cabinet and asked. "Where are your parents again?"
"In their bedroom. I already checked them when you guys hurriedly came into our dining room," I replied while crossing my arms.
They went back to get snacks and drinks.
I began to ask again, "So when did she go missing?"
Blessi is already sitting in our chair in front and looking at me. She immediately turned her focus to her loaf of bread and peanut butter. She answered, "Well, about a month now I guess"
"A month? So almost after I left Awanen? And, my parents didn't tell me about it?" I replied.
Blessi continued, "Well, Girlie! You don't need to worry about her. The town is speculating that she had run away with a boy. And, the police investigation is going on."
"Runaway?" I asked while scratching my head. "She has a boyfriend then?" I asked.
"Duh! Yes, our elusive Elisa was seeing someone." Sonja had finally talked and arrived at the table. She put the whole box of buko pie we bought on the table on our way home and one liter of coke.
Afterward, she put her hands below her chin and said, "You know what, I think that's most probable because her family was ruling that one out as well." she nodded.
That's interesting. I never thought that she would run away from her beloved Awanen. Or do things turned around this time. I was still absorbing their newly expressed information when Sonja said, "Seems suspicious let me tell you~"
What is she talking about this time?
Blessi interrupted, "OMG, here we go again. Don't start please, not in front of Mona"
I am confused.
"Okay, so the police can't even have the manpower nor time to dig deep to where Elisa is right now. It's just town people who began to spread that gossip about 'Elisa May running away from her home and "She was abducted by the dwarfs because she's pretty blah blah blah." Sonja stopped talking as she ate a mouthful of buko pie.
She raised her index finger, basically telling us to wait. "Bunch of bullshit, if you ask!"
We were startled when the microwave beeped. Sonja stood up and headed in front of it. Pulling out a microwaved instant mac n' cheese. On her way back she stumbled and almost slipped.
"Are you drunk?" I asked. Even before she stood up, I was itching to ask her.
"Noo, I am hangry" She replied. Blessi shook her head. "I know where it is going.." she muttered.
I grabbed the back of my head and looked down at what they were eating. The buko pie in Sonja's hand looks enticing. I was grabbing the whole box of it when Sonja continued.
"And you know what it calls us to do? Investigate where the hell is Miss Elisa May"
My stomach growled.