LORENZO ELRIC GARCHITORENA

WE HAD an early dismissal, right after our subject for Introduction to Philosophy. And it's a perfect time to chow-down my lunch, kaya dumiretso ako sa may first floor kung saan naka-locate ang wide array of food stalls (there's a separate food center inside the CCS department building, aside pa roon sa school cafeteria).

Inilabas ko ang aking baon na binili lang kanina straight from drive-thru at McDonald's, noong inihatid ako ni Mama before going to her workplace.

Pagkaupo sa may table ay inilabas ko na ang mga pagkaing nakapaloob sa paperbag.

What I got here is a fried chicken meal (unfortunately, the chicken roulette pointed at the leg part, and it looks like it came from a chick), plus cold and soggy fries.

Some people are also eyeing at me when they saw the red box with two yellow-colored letter intertwined arches on the top, right after the table. Kanina ko pa bitbit 'yon sa classroom, not minding my classmates who peeked at the box, na akala naman nila ay may nakapaloob doon na bombs na aking ide-detonate sa buong campus.

Sa tingin ko ay walang mali kung ang isang 17 year-old (turning 18) ay nangongolekta at pinag-aaksayahan pa rin ang pera para sa Happy Meal toys. Like there's no law in morality, of nature, pati na sa constitution natin ang nagbibigay ng age limit para sa mga eligible bumili ng Happy Meal. May batas ba tayo sa pagtatakda ng preferences ng isa, regardless of his gender, age, pati sa katayuan sa lipunan?

Masama rin ba sa babae ang manood ng NBA or PBA? Ang maglaro ng MMORPG's? Nakabababa ba ng moral standards kung mag-movie marathon ang isang lalaki ng Barbie films, o kaya ay magbasa siya ng cheesy romance novels? I guess, we should break the status quo. Tayo lang ang nagse-set ng sarili nating standards and stereotypes na dapat sundin.

Sa sobrang kalutangan dulot ng gutom, marami talaga akong random thoughts na naiisip, na hindi ko alam kung saang part ng aking subconsciousness nanggagaling.

I continued to chomp down my chicken, not minding those judgemental people; lokohin na ang gising, huwag lang ang taong gutom. Tanggap ko nang may pagka-weirdo ako, kaya I shake 'em off.

That "chick"-en meal didn't satisfy my hunger. Ilang subo lang talaga iyon para sa akin, kaya nabitin talaga ako. I already got what it means kung bakit kiddie meal ang tawag--bata lang talaga ang mabubusog sa ganoong serving.

Out-of-the-blue ay para bang dinalaw ako ng tukso, lalo na't napapalibutan pala ako ng maraming stalls, plus may mga kainan pa sa labas. Oras na ba para gumastos na ako for this day? Pero nahihinayangan ako sa gagastusin ko, if ever. Though, Maraming affordable na food options, pero...sayang pa rin!

Plan A: Sa KFC na lang sa malapit ako bibili. But it can be a little bit pricey. And tinatamad na akong lumabas pa at mamasahe. I don't want to exert, even a single ounce of effort.

Plan B: Ang taong nagigipit, sa siomai rice kumakapit. It would just cost 35 pesos, pero may masarap ka nang steaming-hot siomai with chili-garlic-soy-calamansi sauce plus rice, in an instant (kidney stones included).

And I choose...

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"Phew! That was satisfying!" I mumbled like I've been replenished pagkatapos maubos ang in-order kong Sisilog (sisig + sinaing + itlog) meal at a nearby stall, plus a glass of lemonade, both for 55 pesos (napakahapdi, sobra!).

Hindi tumalab ang pagiging kuripot ko ngayong araw; the gallant me is already jeering with joy as he succeeded on his plan.

While sipping at the glass of lemonade, I opened the Happy Meal box (ironically, the meal itself didn't make me happy) and took out the toy which was still covered in plastic, hoping that this toy will reclaim itself, throughout their salvation.

As I open it, I examined the toy I bought which definitely does nothing, except for flapping, and that's it. Nasayang lang ang pera ko for this useless piece of crap. Screw Capitalism! (But still, favorite ko naman ang character na 'yon, kaya mukhang may maganda naman pala 'kong pan-display sa shelf.)

I imagined the song Unhappy Meal by Melanie Martinez playing in my mind.

-30-