“Lokiiiiii!”

A loud shout greeted him every morning—the voice of Papa Hayato. A Japanese man who had been living in the Philippines since the 1980s. He wasn’t Loki’s real father; he adopted him when Loki was only five years old, back when he was just a homeless kid wandering in a park.

“LOKIIIII!”

That was his alarm every morning. He didn’t need an actual alarm clock because his father’s loud voice was more than enough. Loki was hard to wake up—he slept like a rock.

“Lokkkkkkiiiii!”

“Okaaay!” he shouted back to his father, Hayato.

“Come down already!”

His room was on the second floor. The house was built by his father—nothing fancy, but at least they had a place to live. His father owned a small repair shop.

Loki was a troublemaker student in a private school—Aurelius Academy.

He was a scholar there because he was smart. A troublemaker, yes—but not too much. Just mild. For Loki, his attitude depended on how people treated him. He didn’t give respect easily unless the person deserved it.

“Paaaa!” he shouted as he came downstairs, his hair a total mess—like a bird that just woke up. Even with messy hair, his good looks still stood out.

“Come on, you’ll be late for class,” his father said while preparing breakfast—hotdogs and sunny-side-up eggs. Same menu every morning. Dinner was usually sinigang na bangus.

So boring, he complained in his head.

He pulled the chair, it squeaked as he sat down, then scooped rice and food onto his plate.

“Pa…”

“What?” Hayato replied while eating.

“Don’t we have any other menu?”

His father knew he was just joking—Loki loved teasing. Even if he had a devil side, he was still sweet.

“Just eat already. You complain too much!” his father said, laughing as he took a bite. They usually ate with their hands, especially when the food was dry.

“Pa…”

“Hm?”

“Why can’t you eat soup with your hands?”

His father almost choked.

It was just the two of them, but Loki was happy. He never had a mother figure. He never saw any woman in his father’s life. Now he was sixteen, and Hayato was still single at fifty-two.

“You’re really crazy, kid,” his father said, laughing.

Loki just smiled and kept eating.

“I’m just trying to make you happy, Pa.”

They weren’t rich, but his father did everything to support him. Loki wasn’t demanding—he wasn’t like kids who throw tantrums if they don’t get the latest iPhone. To others, he looked badass, but deep inside, he was soft-hearted. He never bullied the weak.

“Eat already,” his father said again. “After that, take a bath. Did you iron your uniform last night?” “Yes, Pa.”

Loki was always respectful to his father—that was his weakness.

After getting ready, he looked at himself in the mirror.

I’m really handsome, he thought.

He could be a bit narcissistic sometimes—it was just part of who he was.

When he went downstairs, his father was still in the living room.

“Hurry up, Lo!” “I thought you left already, Pa—” “I was waiting for you. We’ll go out together,” Hayato replied.

That was one of the reasons Loki was respectful—his father truly loved him.

“Good morning, Loki!” the men on the corner greeted him while drinking early in the morning, like they had no dreams left in life.

“Good morning. Take it easy, it’s still early,” Loki said.

“No problem, Lo,” they replied.

As he walked alone, his younger friend Nica called out to him.

“Loki!”

He turned around and saw her running toward him.

“Good morning,” Nica said. “Hmm,” he replied casually. “You look handsome today.” “Tch!” He turned away. “This guy is really so cold!” Nica complained.

“Good morning!”

His friend Xian shouted when he saw him at the gate. Nica was with Loki when Xian suddenly ran over and put an arm around him.

“Loki! Bro, I missed you!”

Loki immediately removed Xian’s arm.

“Are you crazy?” he said before continuing to walk, with Nica and Xian following behind.

“I’m serious, bro,” Xian insisted. The three of them were classmates at Aurelius Academy. “It’s not like we don’t see each other every day,” Loki replied.

When he was with friends, Loki wasn’t affectionate and was a bit cold. They were already used to it—he was blunt, but loyal and never the type to abandon friends.

“We didn’t see each other for two days,” Xian said. “Obviously. Saturday and Sunday—no classes.” “You should’ve texted me.” “Tch! I was busy.”

Busy—because he slept all day during weekends.

“So what were you busy with?” “Sleeping,” Nica said.

Loki glanced at her. She exposed him in front of Xian.

“Tch! Be quiet, Nica.” “Sorry,” she said, biting her lip.

At the front of the school, a luxurious car suddenly stopped. Students turned to look. A bodyguard stepped out first and opened the door. A handsome student with blond hair came out—and to Loki, he looked like royalty.

“Wow.” “Is he a celebrity?” “Maybe a prince.” “He has strong presence.” “Rich kid.”

Those were just some of the whispers Loki heard while all eyes were on the newcomer.

“Who’s that?” Loki asked, having no idea who the rich guy was. “I heard he’s a new transfer student,” Xian said. “Hm. Is that so?” “They say he’s the son of a CEO of a luxury brand,” Nica added.

Both Loki and Xian looked at her.

“How do you know?” Loki asked. “He’s famous.” “Famous?” Loki scoffed. He didn’t care about fame. Even if the guy was Pontius Pilate’s son, he wouldn’t care—as long as he didn’t cross him. Because if that happened, the demon sleeping in his heart might wake up.

“Let’s go,” Loki said as he walked toward the classroom with his friends.