At 6:00 AM, in the alleys of busy Manila, a small house stood as rain pattered outside, drenching everything, including the laundry hanging out to dry. The crowing of roosters and barking of dogs filled the air, shattering the morning's silence—until a slipper flew, silencing the roosters.
"Keep it down, you feathered bastard!" Fermin grumbled, annoyed and stressed. He moved back to his desk and resumed his work.
Fermin Alfarez, young, smart, and quiet, had black eyes and short, black hair. Not much of a socializer, he was a first-year college student majoring in architecture.
Sitting in his chair, Fermin focused on his architectural drawings. He had been awake since midnight and now groaned irritably, "Fuck! How many more of these do I have to do?" He leaned back, eyes on the ceiling, gripping a pencil between his nose and lips.
Suddenly, he heard the door open in the living room. He quickly packed up his things and headed downstairs. There, he saw his uncle bringing in fried chicken for breakfast.
"Good morning, Unc," Fermin greeted as he approached the kitchen to plate the food. Once finished, he grabbed a piece and began eating his breakfast.
"You know, this Fried chicken is delicious," Fermin says while he sits at the dining table, eating a piece of fried chicken his uncle bought for him earlier. Meanwhile, his uncle is sitting on the sofa, watching TV, and holding the chicken Fermin hated and despised, which ruined his day.
"You know, Uncle," Fermin says with his mouth still full, "how about we cook that chicken? I mean—" Suddenly, a pillow flies by and hits his face. Ack
"You stupid man, think I'd let you cook my chicken? "His uncle looks at him, slightly annoyed. "This chicken is my lucky charm, you fool! "The uncle says as he playfully tickles the chicken. "She's so beautiful and cute, Unlike you. You ugly donut." Uncle Laughed hard
Fermin's uncle looked at him, his tone becoming more neutral. "Anyway, how's your day, Fermin?" he asked as he stood up and placed the leftover chicken in the backyard. "You know, I received a message from your mo—"
Fermin cut him off. "I see. Well, just let her be," he said with a warm smile, standing up to grab the dishes and placing them in the sink. He hesitated for a moment. "I'll give them a call or text... whatever... maybe later," he added with a hint of sadness as he turned on the sink and began washing the dishes, taking a deep breath.
His uncle moved closer and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know you don't want to talk about it now, but when you're feeling alone or sad, just call your big, smelly uncle." He laughed heartily before heading outside.
Fermin continued washing the dishes in silence.
After a few minutes of cleaning the house, he headed back to his room and started packing his things for school. Suddenly, his phone lit up with a message from his best friend, Maria.
Maria is a short young woman and Fermin's childhood best friend. The bond between them is strong, and she treats Fermin like a brother. Maria has short black hair and wears eyeglasses.
"Yo, Fermin! What time are you going to school? Can we go together? And by the way, you're paying for the jeepney," she texts, adding pleading emojis. "Please?"
Fermin sighed as he read Maria's message and quickly replied, "Whatever, dude. Just wait for me outside your house." he placed his phone on the desk and resumed packing his things for school.
Meanwhile, Fermin's uncle is in the backyard, cleaning and feeding his chickens and dogs while listening to the radio. Just as he's about to pour the chicken feed into a large bowl, the news on the radio catches his attention.
"Well, this is something," he murmurs, placing the bowl of chicken feed on the ground as the chickens rush to eat—except for one. He moves closer to the radio to listen.
"The Health Organization released a statement about a trending video showing animals suddenly acting wild and dangerous when in close contact with humans, even domestic animals," the male reporter said. "The Health Organization stated that this may be caused by sudden changes in weather and temperature in certain areas. They are continuing to investigate the cause of these sudden behavioral changes."
Uncle laughs at the news report. "Well, I guess I'll see my chickens fight back if I don't give them top-quality food, huh," he says, turning off the radio. As he heads to the small shed to seal the sack of chicken feed, he notices his two dogs staring at one chicken standing in the corner of the backyard. The dogs' tails are lowered as they slowly back away. One of the dogs barks at the chicken, but the bird doesn't flinch and remains standing in the corner of the backyard.
Uncle shoos the dogs away. "Go to your cages," he commands, continuing to watch the alone chicken. "Damn, this day is getting crazy..." he murmurs as he moves slowly to the chicken.
He looked at the chicken and noticed it acting differently from the other chickens in the backyard. Its feathers are easy to come off and the eyes are slightly red. "What the hell happened to you, little guy?" he petted the chicken, he noticed that the feather came off easily after he touched the chicken, and black gooey liquid attached to the chicken's feather.
"What in the name of Jesus is this?" Uncle then looks at the chicken's eyes. "Damn," suddenly the chicken bites him hard. Its beak almost penetrates Uncle's flesh, he quickly throws the chicken away from him and the chicken runs away. "The fuck?" he looked at his hand and a small cut formed. He went to the nearby water drum and washed the small cut on his hand.
after cleaning the cut, he entered the house, "Damn I just got bitten by a chicken" He laughed it off and saw Fermin tying his shoes. "So, you're going to school now?" Uncle asked, grabbing his wallet.
"Yes, Uncle, but I'll stop by Maria's house first. She said we'd go to school together," Fermin replied as he grabbed his bag and drew storage tubes.
Uncle laughed at his joke and placed his hand on his shoulder "I see, well you two love birds be careful going to school." Uncle said, handing Fermin some lunch money. Fermin can't but smile at Uncle's word, he then accepts the lunch money. thanking him before he leaves the house, heading straight to Maria's place.
After a few hours, the chicken that had bitten Uncle's hand was now inside the barn. Its head shook wildly as its feathers slowly fell off, black gooey liquid dripping from its mouth. The chicken's eyes fixated on a dog slowly approaching, growling menacingly.
The dog bared its teeth, inching closer, ready to strike. The chicken didn't move, just stared back, unblinking.
The dog lunged forward—
End of Chapter