the true Peter Pan

I was walking along the streets of Divisoria when a little boy surprised me from behind. He seemed like the typical street kid who goes around and begs for money. He was different though in more ways than one. First because he simply waited for alms. Second he had a lot of hope in his eyes. And third he followed me around even after I had already handed him a shiny ten peso coin.
His name is something I failed to know with certainty. However, people in the area call him Badjao.
Badjao reminded me of Peter Pan. He was wearing green shorts that were darkened to almost black probably because of soot from the jeepneys, from the dirt around the area and from numerous days of not being washed, and maybe because his mom didn't have enough money to afford Tide. Just like Peter Pan, he was a lost boy who found his way to a girl. He seemed to have lost his shadow and instead became the shadow of the girl he met. He remained close by. Had he been able to enter the stores, I guess he would have, but since he couldn't, he waited for me outside and then accompanied me to my next stop. This boy was very endearing without even having to say a word. All the people who knew him smiled at him as we made our way through and even joked that he once again found a new girl to run after. But just like Peter Pan who could never leave Neverland, he also left me at one point when it seemed outside his usual realm. A point that was beyond the bounds of his neverland.
I see Badjao as a lost boy and I can only pray that unlike Peter Pan, he grows up and finds his way.