Just a Stranger

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

When was your last confession?

Grade six.

Early '90s, Father.

Okay.

Sorry, Father, what's the...

-What's the next step? -Your sins.

Confess your sins.

Start with mortal, then venial.

Sorry again, Father.

What counts as mortal and what counts as venial sins?

Okay.

Just confess your sins. I'll tell you which is which.

I've been cheating on my husband...

with a man half my age.

Why didn't your phone ring, Kim?

It did.

But I think I turned it off.

Then I fell asleep again.

I told you we should only drink a little.

Let's go. Our tour bus will leave without us.

Where's Mae? Still in the bathroom?

Mae!

She isn't here.

Gosh, Mae, why are you not dressed yet?

My body is still in pain.

Have you taken your medicine yet?

It hasn't kicked in yet.

Oh, what about your tickets? You want to see the Pena Palace, right?

That's a lot of walking. Go ahead. Your tour bus might leave without you.

Hi, dear! How's Madrid?

Dad, I'm in Lisbon.

Oh, yeah, I forgot.

I can't keep up with your trips anymore.

Read my texts to keep up.

You know I'm not into gadgets.

Is it fun there?

It'd be more fun if you were here.

Someday, dear. We'll find time.

Okay. Soon?

We'll see.

Portuguese?

-No. -I'm sorry.

I saw you from over there. I thought you were going to pass out.

You were checking me out?

What? No, no, no, no!

I mean... well, not on purpose.

I just... I accidentally--

So, if I didn't look like I was about to pass out,

you'd just ignore me and gaze at something else?

I'm okay, though. Thank you.

It's Jericho, by the way.

Can I help you, Jericho?

I just...

I just wanted to ask...

Are you Pinoy?

How did you know?

Well, sometimes you just know.

Not physically. Don't get me wrong.

But, sometimes, Pinoy people give off a certain non-verbal gesture

that gives away that they are Pinoy.

Oh, sorry. Your English, too.

-Sorry-- -You seem nervous.

I don't want to bother anyone.

Hey, boy, relax.

Just relax.

I'm sorry to ask,

but what are you doing in Portugal?

I'm a tourist. What about you?

My dad is an ambassador for the Philippines here.

Really?

Yeah. We've been here for more than a year now.

So, if you want to see a tourist spot or destination, I'm your guy.

What's the fee?

None.

Thanks for the offer. I'm okay.

Okay, have a good time, Big Sister.

Wow, really? "Big Sister"?

Well, I didn't get your name.

It's Mae.

Enjoy Portugal, Mae. Bye, ma'am.

"Ma'am"!

I'm here at Torre Beach. I was bored at the house.

I'll see you tonight for dinner.

I want to see your pictures.

Okay. Bye.

Looking for something?

I'm just checking that I didn't leave anything behind.

Not interested?

It's a free guided tour.

You won't do me any harm?

And why would I want to be jailed here?

Well, you do have diplomatic immunity.

Well, you have a point.

But, still, Dad is the principal representative of the Philippines here,

so, by extension, I am, too.

Of course, I wouldn't want to give the motherland a bad name.

Why do you want to give me a tour?

You're Pinoy.

Thought I was your type.

You're like an aunt to me.

Fuck you!

Look.

I just want to show you how beautiful Lisbon is.

I promise, I'll get you back home safe and sound.

How about that?

I have to be back by dinner.

So let's go!

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world.

I think it's older than Rome, London, and Paris.

As in, older by centuries.

Yeah, I've read it on Wikipedia.

That one, what's that?

Arco da Rua Augusta.

It was made to commemorate the city's reconstruction

after it was struck by the great Lisbon earthquake.

Why are you laughing again?

We were just here yesterday.

Jesus!

I thought you were going to show me something new.

Okay, fine.

-Carmo Convent? -Yesterday.

-Santa Justa Lift. -Yesterday also.

Okay, this one. Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology.

The day before yesterday.

Come here.

Where?

Beautiful, isn't it? Actually, I like it here more than in America.

Did you grow up in America?

Dad was an ambassador there before Portugal.

Actually, I was meant to stay in Washington to finish my degree,

but I got expelled.

-Why? -Because I wasn't attending class.

I can't understand AB Political Economy.

Anyway, haven't you been here to Rossio Square yet?

We went, but we didn't stay long enough.

You know, my friends love the mall, palaces.

You? Don't you like palaces?

Well, I'm amazed.

But I don't know. I mean, for me,

if it has tourists,

it's not fun at all.

I don't like that.

I don't like it. That's just me.

I think I know where to take you.

They used to call this Rua Nova Do Carvalho.

But now they call it Pink Street.

Usually, the paid tours here in Lisbon

bring you to the museums, castles, things like that...

but if you really want to see, or rather experience, life...

this is the best place to be.

So why is the street pink?

Okay. This used to be a red light district.

I think, back in 2011, the government decided to rehabilitate the place.

That's why they removed seedy establishments like brothels,

and things like that, and they colored the street pink.

And look at it now.

Proof that there is salvation, even for the sinful.

Are you tired? What are you, a senior citizen?

Hey, boy! You're only 15. Of course you're still strong.

Seriously? I look 15 to you?

Whatever.

The truth?

You know, you've been making fun of my age.

Now that I'm annoying you, you can't take it?

You're so weird.

I think you're the only person I know who gets offended when thought to be younger.

Because, when people see you as younger,

they think you can't take control.

You're indeed young.

Excuse me. I'm already 19.

-And I'll be 20 in seven months. -You're only 19.

A 19-year-old boy can do things.

Like what, play Mobile Legends?

That's all?

Let's go to your place.

I'll show you what I can do.

I'm serious.

How much?

I'm not a rent boy.

Are you going to pay me?

Wait.

-Are you a-- -Oh, my gosh, it's a joke.

You're so slow.

We can't go to my place. My friends are there.

Well, then, you guys can take turns on me.

I can go all night.

Or we could just check in.

Somewhere we can be alone.

One hundred and ninety euros.

One moment, please.

I'm sorry. I promised to bring you home before dinner.

My friends Kim and Vian must be panicking by now.

Wait. I'll just message them.

So what's your excuse?

I'll tell them I met with my friends from elementary school.

That's how gullible your friends are?

Why not introduce me as some random Pinoy that you met.

And that we were together the whole night? Yeah, right.

You're sexy.