[June 18, 1955]
My name is James. James Evans Castillo. If anyone asked, "why is your name so weird?"
It's simple. I'm a pure blooded Filipino, you can already see it in my appearance for my skin is a colour of a warm coffee with milk and my hair is black. We moved to Southern America when I was just four years old.
Anyways, my life isn't really that cool or something. I don't have super powers and such.
Here I am now, walking to school to learn and start my new day, it's just an ordinary life to everyone.
I walk up to my locker to place my belongings there, but of course, someone threw a papel on my hair.
I turned around and saw Alex, my bully... Or my enemy. He stared at me with that sickenly grin as he walks towards me with his friends behind him.
"Well, look who's here?" He said. "That's right! The murderer!"
With that, they all laughed at my face as if I'm a complete joke to them.
I stood there, with anger in my veins. This always repeats almost everyday but I still can't get used to his too far mockery.
"Leave me alone, Alex." I barked.
"Or what? Call your mama? Oh wait, you don't even have one!"
They all laughed again. I was so close to breaking his arms and make him regret his decisions.
"Are you starting a fight, you piece of sh*t?"
"What can you even do? You don't even have a muscle to fight me!"
I rolled my eyes at his words and said the most obvious thing to him, "That's because we're kids, not a soldier, dumbass."
He scoffed at me and answered back, "It's a joke, smartass. Can't handle a single joke?"
After that, he walked towards me again and said something,
"Or is it because of your 'breed'? I bet that everyone like you is as dense as a bird! Go back to your country and never came back!"
With those words, his friends laughed again while I still stood there. I can feel myself snapped as I blew a punch on his face which makes them quiet.
"Say that again. I dare you."
Alex gritted his teeth in anger and also punched me. We fight in the hallway while the other students, along with his friends, watched and cheered to who will win.
Finally, a teacher stopped us and we looked an absolute mess,
My face is full of bruises and my arm is bleeding for he pushed me to the ground, my shirt is dirty because he kicked me and has torns.
Alex, looked no different. He had a black eye, his right cheek is bruised because of the earlier punch, his lower lip bleeding and clothes also torn.
"Both of you, go to the principal office! Now!"
***
The principal, Mr. Brown, looked at us and sighed as he saw us. Again.
"What a way to start your day huh?" He said with annoyance as he run a hand through his hair.
"The bell didn't even ring and you guys already caused a problem again. Now, enlighten me why did you guys fight."
Mr. Brown looked at me, signaling that I should speak before he yelled at us.
I sighed and told the fact,
"He started it first, principal Brown. I was just minding my own business when he suddenly walks up towards me—"
Alex then cutted me by defending himself,
"No I didn't! You're the one who punched in the face!"
My eyes twitched in annoyance as I heard his reasoning,
"I wouldn't if you didn't call me 'murderer' and I have a different 'breed'!!!"
I can hear my voice raising in anger again, but Mr. Brown stopped us just in time before we fight again in his office.
"SILENCE!"
He yelled as he rubbed his forehead in annoyance.
"You both did something wrong and there's no point of defending yourselves..."
He then looked at us again and scolded us.
"Alex, what you had said is wrong. He is a person, not an animal. God created us perfectly and equally and there's nothing you can do to change it."
Alex gritted his teeth to fight back a retort as he glared at me.
"And you, James. Learn to handle yourself. You can't just punch anyone just because they make you mad."
He sighed again as this is the fifth time we both have been brought here.
"If this keeps happening, I have no choice but to call your parents and expell the both of you."
My body became tensed as I heard his words, Alex has the same reaction.
Alex's parents are known for being strict and also the smartest people in our small town. His parents will be more than disappointed when they found out what happened.
While I... I have the most worst uncle that wouldn't hesitate to raise a hand and hit me if he found out about this.
And of course as a punishment, we will have to clean the hallway until it's sparkling clean after school. What a day...
***
It was finally noon when we finished. None of us spoke a single word as we clean earlier.
He was the first to leave while I'm last. I walked to the very same route I always take.
The one where the old couples lived with their grandchildren.
Still, the window is closed but the curtains aren't covering what's inside. As if the kid is savoring the warm orange sunset right now.
I continued walking but suddenly, a paper plane hit me in the head.
I turned around and saw where it came from, it was none other than this house.
The window now is slightly open but a little hand is trying to close it without getting caught.
It was silly if I were to say. I got curious at the paper plane and decided to open it to see if there's something written inside,
Sure enough, there was but it caught me off guard for it have a neat writing but it says,
"Who are you?"
....
I was also asking the same thing for your information, mysterious kid.
The kid, who has seen me reading what they written couldn't help but have the courage to show themselves again.
I again see the golden hair and yellow eyes that is staring at my purple ones. They then flew another one and it landed to me.
I read it again and this time, what he was asking was more clearer,
"What's your name?"
I quickly pull out my pencil from my bag and write back my name and asked for theirs.
But when I was just flew it towards his window, a wind suddenly passed by and flew the paper plane away, leaving us disappointed.
The kid began to think for a solution before disappearing for a moment and coming back with a homemade tin can telephone along with a girl, or their sibling who looks the same age as theirs.
She saw me and spoke at the kid which I couldn't hear from here.
The kid then threw the other side to me which I had caught and turned it near my ear.
"Hello? Can you hear me?"
The kid answered, judging by the voice—it was a boy who have a soft french accent.
I then nodded at him and he smiled and looked at his sister.
With the help of the can, I can hear what he had said for he forgot to place it away before speaking,
"See, I told you it will work!"
He then turned to look at me again and spoke,
"I'm Mark Louise, Nice to meet you!"
I placed the other side of the tin can near my mouth and spoke back hesitantly,
"…I'm James Evans.. Nice to meet you too..."