The then future-orthodontist was bouncing along the sidewalks of his home town, streets bustling with activity as children walked back to their homes; the last school bell having rung. His small group of friends and him had parted ways as he swiveled around the corner, waving happily back at them. Today, June 6th, was Wayne’s twelfth birthday, and he had gotten one of the absolute greatest gifts! The young boy had been told to meet all of his buds by the school a good half hour earlier than usual, and they had surprised him with a pair of earrings; he could be matching to his mother now! The needle certainly wasn’t the most pleasant step in the process, but one of his older friends assured him that they had had done it themself, so getting his ears pierced by them couldn’t have been too bad, right?

With his brand new pierced ears and stud earrings, he proudly walked the streets of his neighborhood, up until he reached his house. Pressing his ear up to the door, he fished his house key out of his back pocket, quietly listening for any signs that he should walk through the back door and head straight to his room instead. He heard none; creeping in silently, moving the door as slowly as possible to avoid creaking…Though, it was really a waisted effort, as he entered yelling:

"Nasa bahay ako!"

As he glanced around for his father, who was bickering with his mother as she cooked up a supper, the smell of sizzling pork wafting through their home.

"Kamusta ang pag-aaral?" His mother chimed in, leaning away from her cutting board in order to see him.

"Napakabuti, tingnan mo!" He prompted, showing off his new accessories, to which his mother gasped, complementing him.

His father stood from his seat, looming over the two as he peered closely.

"Ano ang impiyerno sa iyong mga tainga?" He demanded, his tone strong and firm, though his stature was far from fitting the voice.

"Tinulungan ako ni Aldo at ng iba pa na mabutas sila!"

He answered, too blinded by his excitement to be aware of the dangerous tone his father was using.

"Paalisin mo sila."

The man hissed, to Wayne’s surprise.

"Pero-Pero sabi nila hindi ko daw sila ilalabas, magsasara ang mga butas!"

He explained, both his expression and voice immediately changing; now sounding disappointed and nervous.

This infuriated his father, by the looks of it.

His mother backed away, but Wayne knew better.

"Ito ang bahay ko, makikinig ka sa akin at gagawin mo ang sinasabi mo, naiintindihan mo ba?! Hindi ako magkakaroon ng ganitong kawalang-galang sa ilalim ng sarili kong bubong! Kung hindi mo tatanggalin ang mga iyon, I'll fucking gawin mo para sayo, walang kwentang bagay!" He shouted at him, taking the poor boy by the ear lobes, and fumbling with the circular studs of his rather plain looking earrings before yanking down with such great force; causing Wayne to let out a bloodcurdling screech as his skin tore, the small metal jewelry quietly clattering to the tiled ground. There was plenty more shouting, and quiet objections from his mother, the bangs of fists being slammed down onto tables, and sniveling from the boy as he fell to his knees, desperately clutching at his ears. Having “bad past” would’ve certainly been one way to word it. If anything, this day was tame! This was displaying his father’s behavior on a

good

day.

"Pumunta ka na sa kwarto mo, wag ka nang babalik hanggang umaga! Walang utang na loob na bata, pagkatapos ng lahat ng nagawa ko para sa iyo! Matulog ka nang gutom, para sa lahat ng pakialam ko!"

Wayne did as he was told this time, scrambling to stand and running off to his room.

Rummaging around in his closet, he managed to find a small roll of medical tape, and did his best to fix up his ears with it.

He sat on the floor, legs crossed, near a lamp that illuminated the small room. Chewing on the end of his pen, he shakily opened his journal, to start on his homework. They didn’t have to read their journal entries out to the class, it was more of a suggestion than anything, but Wayne didn’t mind, and it helped him study.

07/06/1909

‘Father is good man, is stressed from work. I am glad he was in better mood today…’

It wasn’t a large room, but it was furnished with a small, twin-sized bed, a lamp in the corner, a closet with a curtain over it, and a few boxes for storage. The continuous shouting from the other room, and the etching of his pen were the only sounds to be heard, aside from his quiet breathing. Occasionally the young man would get lost in thought and chew of the back of his pen, only to return a moment later.

Wayne froze as he heard footsteps coming down the hallway, and he seemed to analyze who they belonged to. They were heavy and harsh, and the boy scrambled to store his notebook away, climbing onto his bed, popping his window open as the sounds got closer. He had taken too much time figuring out who it was, and he only made it about halfway out the window before the doorknob rattled and his father had yanked him down from the ledge.

"Anong sabi ko umalis ka na sa kwarto mo?!"

Wayne squeaked as his head hit the top of the window, and he was pulled back down onto his bed.

The man took out a slip of paper, pointing to something on the page as he yelled into the poor boy’s face.

”Magaling kang mag-aaral, ano 'to?!"

”M-May biglaang pagsusulit, hindi ko alam!"

He answered.

"Ikaw ay isang fucking kabiguan! Diyos, palagi kang magiging inutil, 'di ba?! Bakit wala kang magawa?!"

But, before he could answer, a hand was brought down on his cheek, causing his head to bang against the wall so hard he nearly had gone unconscious…and he really didn’t anything after that.