ch. 15 - the wrong path

CHAPTER 15
THE WRONG PATH


Narrator: Meanwhile as Sarah and Maja were walking down an empty dim path of the Town Center…

Maja: Bakit parang na dilim ditto? (looks around)

Sarah: May konting ilaw dito kasi. At least hindi ng blackout ditto katulad sa Fullerton.

Maja: Oo… pero tatakot pa rin ako kasi paano kung may salvahe dito katulad sa Fullerton?

Sarah: (shakes her head) Wag mo na isip yan. Dito naman ako eh. (puts hand on Maja’s shoulder) Diba best friends tayo? (as Maja nods) Just remember, lagi kita aabangan sa lahat and problema mo.

Maja: Eh… lagi ka nan dun para sakin. Sa school, sa labas, kahit saang lugar, nan dun ka.

Sarah: (smiling shyly, laughing, lightly pushing Maja) Kaw talaga. Masyado kang sweet.

Maja: Ikaw rin, o? Kita mo minsan kahit mag usap ka sa mga tao ang mas bata pa sa iyo, na sagot mo pa rin yun “po.”

Sarah: That’s kung very friendly sila. Kung masama, di ko na gamitin yan, o?

Maja: Ehh di ka masyado maharap sa mga salvahe eh. Kaya kilala mo mabuti yun tao mo. (smiles)

Sarah: Oo naman. Siempre dapat I kilala mo rin yun personality nila. (as Maja nods) Anong point mo kung na kilala mong tao kapag wala silang personality?

Narrator: A moment later, the girls approached three black gangsters, all wearing bling around their black outfits. They were standing against the wall talking to one another, and one of the guys was smoking.

As the girls stopped…

Maja: (whispers) May salvahe pala dito eh.

Sarah: (whispers) Tara. Baka kung ano mangyari sa ating dalawa.

Narrator: But the minute they turned around, one of the guys made a love whistle to them. The girls stopped for a second, turned to the gangsters, then continued walking quickly trying to avoid them as much as they could.

However, the guys caught up to them, now surrounding the girls. Frightened, the girls kept power-walking, ignoring them, but the guys were too quick as they grabbed them.

Sarah: Hey! Let me go!

Maja: Help!!

Narrator: But it was no use. The gangsters threw the girls against the corner of the wall. One of the guys rubbed his face all over Maja’s neck all the way down to her waist. Maja, shivering, remained silent. The other guy holding Sarah played with her hair, then a second later pulled out a knife from his pocket.

Sarah, noticing the knife in his hand, was about to scream until he covered her mouth with his other hand.

Gangster1: Don’t worry. This ain’t gonna hurt a bit. (as Sarah lets out her scream)

Narrator: Maja also noticed the knife as it was approaching Sarah’s face, but couldn’t make a single move as the other two gangsters blocked her view. One of those two guys covered her mouth as well, and Maja also let out her scream.

The guy holding the knife pushed through Sarah’s long hair, slowly dragging it upward. Then he jerked the knife out of her hair as he directed it toward her neck. But before he was about to make a cut on the side of her neck…

Gangster1: Owwwwww!!! (in pain, dropping the knife)

Narrator: The other two gangsters let go of Maja and turned to their gangster buddy, whose calf was bitten by a dog.

It was a familiar German shepherd that the girls saw earlier at the Wal Mart area. The dog just aggressively attacked the guy, and he landed awkwardly on the ground. But as soon as his two other ganster friends reacted, a loud voice was heard from behind the whole group.

Voice: Eyy!!

Narrator: Everyone turned to the person standing. It was Walter Kowalski all right and that familiar gray hair of his.

Gangster2: Yo, whatcha want, old man?

Walter: Hands off those ladies, I tell ya!

Gangster3: Yo, this ain’t none of ya business!

Gangster2: Yeh, why da fuck are ya even here anyway?

Walter: (points to them) If ya don’t get yer hands off those ladies, I assure ya you’ll get no good deed of livin’ in heaven!

Gangster3: Man, what the fuck are ya gon’ do, ah? Ya look too old ta fight. (laughs as his other friend laughs)

Gangster2: Yeh, dawg. Where da fuck ya come from anyway?

Walter: (as he takes out a black handgun from his pants pocket, pointing it at them) I come from a war that’s ever been so deadly, so bloody, so outrageous that not even one soldier can survive one teeny bit in that battle! (pauses as the two gangster friends raise their hands) So ya ratass arrogant lil bitches better watch what cha say about old men esPECIALLY me!

Gangster2: Yo… we heard ya, man. Dude, let’s get the fuck outta here.

Walter: (points to the gangster on the ground) Ya got FIVE seconds, buddy!

Narrator: The guy quickly jumped to his feet, the dog growling at him, and all three of the gangster friends ran away… for good.

Walter calmly set the gun back in his pants pocket and approached the frightened Sarah and Maja. The dog stood beside Walter.

Walter: Ya gals all right?

Narrator: The girls nodded.

Walter: I’m really sorry ya almost got murdered by those lousy criminals.

Maja: We didn’t know they were here, so we got caught.

Walter: Criminals can be anywhere if ya ask me. They’re usually in these dark areas. So wherever ya go where there’s no one around, don’t even bother tryin’ ta get yaself killed. (as the girls nodded)

Sarah: Thank you so much, Mr. Kowalski, for saving us. (smiles happily)

Walter: Sure… wait, how’d ya know my name?

Maja: You’re Walter, aren’t you? You were our uncle Walter when we were so little.

Walter: Huh… (long pause) I can’t seem to figure out my own people from the past. Uhh… (scratches his head)

Sarah: (whispers to Maja) Sabi ko nga aba eh.

Walter: It’s literally been decades I haven’t seen ya guys. I seriously can’t remember…

Sarah: We used to always visit your barbershop every time we needed a haircut.

Walter: Barbershop?... Ya mean the one in Katella?

Maja: Yeah.

Walter: Huhhh… (another long pause)… If I could only remember what it looked like back in the 80’s… (as Maja and Sarah were looking at one another)… Sorry, ladies. I honestly have a terrible memory.

Narrator: Sarah, without hesitating, took out her wallet, opened it up, and took out a picture that showed her and Maja at their childhood. She gave it to Walter as he looked it over thoroughly.

After several seconds…

Walter: (shakes his head in surprise) Cuteskin? (referring to Maja) Lollipop? (referring to Sarah) (looks straight at them as they were smiling) Really? (smiling)

Narrator: The girls nodded.

Walter: Goodness gracious. (as he and the girls hugged each other) How in God’s name did I not remember? SHAME on me.

Sarah: Everybody’s faces are changing, but that doesn’t stop them from remembering who they are on the inside.

***[the next following lines are omitted due to stereotypical issues]***

Walter: (shakes his head in surprise) Ya girls are definitely growing up too fast.

Sarah: You too. You’ve changed so much.

Maja: I know, and you’re not so very nice like you used to be.

Walter: Well… I shouldn’t have gone in that deadly war down in Korea if this wouldn’t have happened to me.

Sarah: Sheesh… why did you even risk going there?

Walter: Long story. But lemme tell ya somethin’. Girls these days want guys who aren’t so damn nice. They want em’ bad, bold, blood-faced, and bruised.

Maja: They don’t necessarily need to be that bad.

Sarah: He means that they want guys to be protective enough for them. You know, prevent them from being in trouble.

Walter: ‘Sactly. But ya know what? Anytime I see trouble, I’ll know who ta gun down. If ya guys end up in another circle of fire, I gotcha backs. (light fist push on Sarah’s upper arm)

Maja: But what if you aren’t around and we run into another gang group like the ones in here earlier?

Walter: Like I said, don’t ever walk in areas where it’s dark n’ quiet and that no one’s there. Those criminals can most likely be found in those areas, believe me. Have a couple guys witcha next time ya go out to some unknown place. Don’t ever get yourselves hurt again.

Sarah: We won’t.

Walter: And ya don’t wanna have me catch ya gettin’ raped cuz if I do, I’ma have ta yer mummies and daddies ‘bout it.

Maja: Ohh Uncle Walter… (lightly slaps his arm) Of course it won’t happen.

Walter: Ahh… well, just checkin’. Oh… (pulls a mini notepad and pen out of his pocket, writing something, then pulls paper off of notepad as he gives it to Sarah) Here’s my number and address in case ya don’t know. As ya’ll know, I do live around here, so watch out for me wherever ya go here.

Sarah: Thanks, Uncle Walter. Thanks again for the rescue.

Walter: Thank my dog (points to his German shepherd, its tongue sticking out widely). He really loves ta bite off those suckas at their flesh. (as dog drools)

Sarah: Wow… he must be a good friend then.

Walter: Yeep… Damien just thought yer strangers first time he saw ya, so after the second time, he starts bein’ a friend to ya.

Maja: That’s nice.

Walter: C’mon… giv’m a pat, will ya? (as the girls smile shyly) He won’t hurt ya anymore, I promise.

Narrator: So the girls slowly approached Damien, gently rubbing his forehead.

Maja: Hi Damien. (as the dog licks her palm) Ahh… (laughs)

Walter: Yeeah… some friendly duche he is, eh? (laughs) Well, girls. I gotta take off.

Sarah: Where are you going?

Walter: Got some shitload ta do in my garage. Ya take care, Lollipop. You too, Cuteskin.

Maja: You too, Uncle Walter.

Walter: Maraming salamat.

Sarah: Walang anuman.

Walter: (points to Sarah) You’re welcome, right?

Sarah: Yes. I’m glad you still remember.

Narrator: Walter laughed without saying another word, and left along with his dog Damien.

Sarah/ Maja: Bye./Byyye! (waving at him)

Narrator: Walter raised his hand as he walked, and put it back down afterwards.