Taya a short feature about two childhood friends who succumb to drug addiction

• Main Authors: Alejo, Raphael Carlo C., Altomonte, Marko Angelo G., Bama, Patricia Anne Marie M.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2015
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/11813
• Institution: De La Salle University

Anton goes home every summer with his family to their rest house in the province where Rommel's mother is the caretaker. They have since been friends and they maintain their friendship throughout the years. Rommel has always been jealous of Anton's material possessions, and almost always manipulates Anton so that somehow, he is able to experience having these things. As their college years dawn upon them, Rommel somehow manages to get in the same university as Anton through a scholarship grant. They are reunited in the university, and Anton introduces Rommel to his group of friends in Manila. After introducing Rommel, they are invited to Anton's friend's house party and Rommel eventually finds out that Anton is an occasional drug user. He tries the drug for himself. Rommel gets fixated on the high of the drug and wants to keep doing it. Rommel tries to get Anton to supply some more drugs for him to take. Anton was hesitant at first, but he eventually agrees to do it after Rommel offers to do Anton's school work for a week. Subsequently, it becomes a pattern. When Anton goes out of town for the weekend, Rommel is unable to wait for Anton to give him drugs for the week and tries to look for another source online. He meets a source online who happens to be an undercover cop. At the supposed exchange, Rommel gets caught by the police. At the police station, the police ask Rommel for money and since Rommel was not capable of paying the sum that the cops were asking for, he finds his way out after remembering what Anton told him regarding the cops who would ask for you to give another name in exchange for one's freedom. Rommel then offers the police to let him point another person instead and assures them that this person can pay the amount that they are asking for. He couldn't think of anyone else but his best friend, Anton. Rommel helps the police find Anton and entraps him just as he arrives from his trip. The police started interrogating Anton and ask for money. Anton tells the police that he needs to wait for his mom who is working abroad and is in a different time-zone. The police believe Anton and plan to set him free only after he gives the money they are asking for. Rommel feels utterly remorseful with what he has caused to happen. Rommel and Anton go their separate ways after the buy-bust incident and years later, Anton sees Rommel being interviewed as an anti-drug enforcer and his feelings of what happened back then in the police station reappear making Anton completely cut-off Rommel from his life.