Eroshi's POV

I was fifteen.

At an age when most teenagers worried about grades, first love, and college entrance exams...

I was learning how to disappear.

The rain poured endlessly from the dark sky, soaking my hoodie as I ran through unfamiliar streets.

My chest tightened with every breath, but I never slowed down.

I couldn't.

Not tonight.

Not when every second meant the difference between living...

...or becoming another forgotten name.

My phone vibrated.

One message.

...DON'T LOOK BACK....

I stared at the screen for a second before slipping the phone back into my pocket.

Those were the last words my aunt sent me.

She never wasted words.

If she said not to look back...

Then I wouldn't.

Even if every part of me wanted to.

My shoes splashed through puddles as I turned into a narrow alley.

The warehouse stood exactly where she told me it would.

Old.

Abandoned.

Silent.

I pushed the rusted door open.

The sound echoed throughout the empty building.

For a moment...

Nothing.

Then—

"You made it."

I immediately stepped back.

A man emerged from the darkness.

Around his late fifties.

Gray suit.

Black gloves.

No weapon.

No emotion.

Just calm eyes that seemed to have seen too many tragedies.

"I don't know you." I said as I instinctively ready myself for running.

"You don't."

"Then why am I here?" Confused of his appearance here.

"Because your aunt trusted me."

"I need proof."

Without another word, the man reached into his coat.

Instinctively, I shifted my footing.

Ready to run.

Instead...

He handed me an old photograph.

It was faded around the edges.

In it, my aunt was laughing while I sat beside her, pouting over a carton of milk because she refused to buy me a second one.

I remembered that day.

No one else should have.

My fingers trembled.

"Where is she?"

The man lowered his gaze.

"She bought you enough time."

"...What?"

"She completed her mission."

"No..."

"I promised her I'd protect you."

"No!"

I took another step back.

"She said she'd come with me!" I hissed.

Silence.

The warehouse suddenly felt colder.

The man slowly placed a silver pendant in my hand.

I stared at it.

It belonged to my aunt.

On its back were words engraved so lightly that I almost missed them.

Live long enough to choose your own ending.

The tears I'd been holding back finally escaped.

"...She's really gone?"

The man didn't answer.

He didn't have to.

Outside...

Several vehicles stopped.

Doors slammed shut.

Voices.

Footsteps.

Getting closer.

"They're here." he sounded a bit worried but was able to stay calm.

"Who?"

"The people who believe your family no longer exists."

I tightened my grip around the pendant.

"What do I do?"

The man looked directly into my eyes.

"Come with me."

"..."

"If you stay..." he paused.

"They'll kill me?"

"They'll never stop looking for you."

Another loud bang echoed outside.

Not thunder.

Gunfire.

The old man calmly walked toward a hidden steel door behind several wooden crates.

Before opening it...

He looked back.

"Listen carefully, Eroshi."

"This will be the last normal night of your life."

"..."

"You'll lose your home."

"You'll lose your name."

"You'll lose the people you love."

"..."

"But if you survive..."

"...one day you'll have the chance to decide what kind of person you want to become."

I looked one last time at the warehouse entrance.

The rain.

The city.

The only place I'd ever called home.

Slowly...

I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again...

There were no more tears.

Only resolve.

"I'll survive."

The old man gave a small nod.

"I know."

As the hidden door closed behind us...

The warehouse exploded into gunfire.

And that was the night...

Zaitush Eroshi Fortalejo disappeared.

Or at least...

That's what the world believed.

Eroshi's POV

People say first impressions last.

Ako?

Hindi ako naniniwala.

People only remember what they want to remember.

Some remember your smile.

Some remember your mistakes.

Some...

Remember your name.

At ako?

I wanted them to remember neither.

Napabuntong-hininga ako habang inilalock ang maliit na gate ng inuupahan kong bahay.

Hindi ito kalakihan. Isang maliit na sala, kusina na kasya lang ang dalawang tao, at isang kwarto sa dulo.

Simple.

Tahimik.

At higit sa lahat...

Walang nakakakilala sa'kin.

Exactly what I needed.

Sinilip ko ang oras sa phone ko.

7:08 A.M.

"Mukhang maaga pa."

Binuksan ko ang refrigerator at kinuha ang paborito kong inomin—milk.

Isang lagok.

Napangiti ako.

"Now we're talking."

Inilagay ko ang natitirang laman sa bag ko bago tuluyang lumabas ng bahay.

Hindi naman kalayuan ang school.

Fifteen minutes walk.

Sakto lang para makapag-isip.

O...

Makapag-observe.

...----------------...

Pagdating ko sa tapat ng school, hindi ko napigilang mapatingala.

Ace Academy

Isang malawak na campus. May Senior High. May College. Magkakahiwalay ang buildings pero nasa iisang compound.

Students were everywhere. May mga naka-engineering uniform. May nursing. Business. Architecture. At siyempre...

Mga SHS na mukhang hindi pa rin tanggap na nagsimula na ang klase.

"...Ang laki." Mahina akong natawa.

"Mukhang mahaba-habang taon 'to."

...----------------...

"Good morning!" Pagpasok ko sa classroom, agad akong napatingin sa gurong nakangiti sa harapan.

"Ikaw ba si Miss Fortalejo?" tumango ako bilang tugon.

"Perfect timing."

Humarap siya sa klase.

"Class, we have a new enrollee. Let's welcome her."

Biglang natahimik ang buong silid.

Ramdam ko ang iba't ibang klaseng tingin.

Curious.

Judgmental.

Interested.

Normal.

Sanay na ako.

"Please introduce yourself."

Pagharap ko sa kanila, ngumiti ako nang bahagya.

"Good morning."

"I'm Zaitush Eroshi Fortalejo."

"Eighteen."

"Nice to meet you all."

Simple.

Enough.

"Welcome to Grade 12 - Integrity!" Napatingin ang teacher sa paligid.

"Ara, may vacant seat sa tabi mo."

"Yes, Ma'am!" sagot ng babae.

Lumapit ako sa bakanteng upuan.

Pagkaupo ko pa lang...

Ngumiti na agad ang katabi ko.

"Hi! Ako si Ara." sabay lahad ng kamay

"Eroshi." I answered nang hindi binabalingan ng tingin.

"I know. You literally introduced yourself thirty seconds ago."

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"...Mabilis ka." Napatawa siya.

"Ikaw naman, ang seryoso mo." sabi nya pa sabay tapik konti sa braso ko

"Hindi."

"Ikaw lang 'yung madaling patawanin."

Saglit siyang natahimik.

Tapos bigla na lang siyang napahagikhik.

"Hala! Ang funny mo!"

"No."

"Observant ka lang."

"Feeling ko magiging close tayo." Napailing ako.

"Too early to decide."

Lumipas ang buong umaga nang walang kakaibang nangyari.

Math.

Physics.

Oral Communication.

Introduction to Philosophy.

Typical school day.

Paminsan-minsan nagtatanong ang teacher.

Paminsan-minsan sumasagot ako.

Just enough. Hindi sobrang active. Hindi rin tahimik. Average. The safest place to be.

Lunch break.

Hindi pa ako tuluyang nakakatayo nang bigla akong hinila ni Ara.

"Tara na!"

"Saan?"

"Canteen!"

"...Akala ko sa rooftop." Napangiwi siya.

"Ang sarcastic mo."

"Thank you."

"Hindi compliment 'yon!"

"It sounded like one."

Napatawa na naman siya.

Grabe.

Parang lahat na lang nakakatawa para rito.

Masyadong puno ang canteen, di kami makakita ng bakanteng table, kaya nauwi kami sa ilalim ng malaking puno malapit sa college building.

'Ayokong maki-table' sabi ko kay Ara nang makitang halos puno.

Habang kumakain siya...

Ako naman ay umiinom ng milk drink.

Napatingin siya roon.

"Seryoso, milk?"

"Hm?"

"'Yan lunch mo?"

"May tinapay naman."

"Tipid?"

"Practical."

"Magkaiba 'yon."

"Depende sa budget."

Hindi ko napigilang mapangiti nang mahina.

She's fun.

Maingay.

Pero hindi nakakairita.

"So... bakit dito ka nag-enroll?"

"My guardian recommended this school."

"Strict ba?"

"Minsan."

"Single?"

"...Guardian ko pinag-uusapan natin."

"Ah oo nga pala."

Napailing ako. "Concerned ka yata masyado."

"Habit." simpleng tugon nya at nagpatuloy sa pag kain.

...----------------...

Bandang hapon, natapos din ang klase.

Nag-ayos ako ng gamit habang si Ara naman ay walang tigil sa pagkukuwento.

"See you tomorrow!" paalam nya pagkalabas.

"See you."

Paglabas ko ng school...

Hindi ako dumiretso sa inuupahan kong bahay.

Instead...

Lumiko ako sa mas mataong bahagi ng siyudad.

Unti-unting nagsisindihan ang mga ilaw. Mas dumadami ang tao. Mas umiingay ang paligid. Hanggang sa huminto ako sa tapat ng isang modernong gusali. Isang malaking silver letter lang ang nakalagay.

Z

Tahimik ko itong pinagmasdan.

Hindi dahil kinakabahan ako.

Kundi dahil...

Ito ang simula ng tunay kong misyon.

Inayos ko ang strap ng bag ko. Huminga nang malalim. At itinulak ang pintuan.

Isang bartender ang agad na napatingin sa'kin habang nagpupunas ng baso. Ngumiti siya.

"Good evening. Can I help you?"

Ngumiti rin ako nang bahagya.

"I'm here to apply as a waitress."

Hindi niya alam...

At lalong hindi alam ng kahit sinong nasa loob ng bar...

Na ang simpleng application na iyon...

Ang unang hakbang sa pagbubukas ng pinakamadilim na bahagi ng buhay ko.

Eroshi's POV

My alarm rang exactly at 6:00 A.M.

Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip na bumangon.

Being late on your second day of school?

Not a good impression.

Being late on your first day of work?

Even worse.

Matapos maligo, nagsaing ako habang piniprito ang natitirang tocino na binili ko kahapon.

Simple lang ang almusal.

Tocino.

Itlog.

At siyempre...

Chocolate milk.

"Healthy."

Napatingin ako sa sarili kong pagkain.

"...Healthy enough."

Napailing ako bago nagsimulang kumain.

Tahimik.

Walang TV.

Walang kausap.

Sanay na ako.

Pagdating ko sa school...

"Good morning!"

Napalingon ako.

Nakatakbo papunta sa'kin ang babaeng parang laging nauubusan ng energy.

"O, good morning."

"Grabe! Akala ko hindi na kita maaabutan."

"Bakit?"

"Seven-thirty pa pasok natin."

"...Exactly."

"E seven pa lang!"

"Exactly."

Napasimangot siya.

"Ang hirap mong kausap."

"You'll survive."

...----------------...

Lumipas ang buong umaga na puro lectures.

General Biology.

Research.

Statistics.

Habang ang iba ay halos matulog na...

Tahimik lang akong nagsusulat.

"Eroshi..."

"Hm?"

"Pahingi ballpen."

"Dalawa hawak mo."

"...Ay." Napailing ako.

"Complete ka na?"

"Emotionally hindi." Napatawa ako nang mahina.

"Relate."

...----------------...

Lunch break.

Habang naglalakad kami papuntang canteen...

May apat na college students ang dumaan sa hallway.

Halos lahat ng babae napalingon.

"OMG..."

"Sila 'yon!"

"Pogi talaga ni Kravitz!"

"Si Khert ngumiti!"

"Hoy Wave, tumingin ka dito!"

Napatingin ako kay Ara nang bigla syang sumisigaw.

"Sino sila?"

Napanganga siya.

"Hindi mo sila kilala?!"

"Should I?"

"College students sila!" saglit ako napa isip.

And???

"...Congratulations?"

Napahawak siya sa noo.

"Eroshi..."

"Anong meron?"

"OMG... the hottiesss! Don't you know Krav, Wave, Khert, Yunmoon and Ark???"

"Hm."

"'Isa sa mga dyan ang may-ari ng Z!"

...

Saglit akong natigilan.

"...Z?"

"'Yung sikat na bar!" Tumango lang ako.

So, it's really his.

"I see."

"Yun lang reaction mo?!"

"Ano gusto mo? Humingi ako ng autograph?"

Napailing siya.

"Hindi ka talaga normal."

"I get that a lot."

Hindi ko na muling binalingan ang apat na lalaki.

Busy silang nag-uusap habang naglalakad.

Mukhang...

Engineering students.

Or Business.

Didn't matter.

They're just seniors.

Nothing more.

...----------------...

Bandang alas singko.

Pagkatapos ng klase...

Umuwi muna ako para magpalit.

Black polo.

Black slacks.

White sneakers.

Simple.

Professional.

Saktong-sakto para sa trabaho.

...----------------...

Pagdating ko sa Z...

Mas maliwanag ito kaysa kahapon.

Mas maingay.

Mas maraming tao.

At mas maraming empleyado.

"Good evening."

Ngumiti ang bartender nang makita ako.

"Oh. Bumalik ka."

"Sabi ko naman kahapon."

"Fair point." Tumawa siya.

"I'm Ark."

"Eroshi."

"I know." Natatawang saad ng putrages.

"Sabi ng manager, ikaw raw bagong waitress."

Tumango ako.

"First day."

"Kabado?"

"Hindi."

"Confident."

"Hindi rin."

"Then?"

"I like money."

Saglit siyang natahimik. Tapos...

Bigla siyang tumawa.

"Hahahaha!"

"Okay."

"I like you already."

"..."

"Platonically."

"Good."

"Kasi baka sipain ako ng manager."

Napailing ako.

"Reasonable fear."

Lumabas ang manager mula sa opisina.

"Eroshi?"

"Yes, sir."

"You'll shadow one of our waitresses tonight."

"Observe first."

"Huwag kang mag-alala."

"We don't tolerate rude customers."

Tumango ako.

"I understand."

"Any questions?"

"...Meron."

"Ano 'yon?"

"Saan po pwedeng uminom ng milk drink?"

...

Tahimik ang buong staff room.

Napakurap ang manager. "Ha?"

I mean... I get that this is a bar, but I prefer that rather than alcohol. It's my fav drink. It's my 'comfort' drink. So what???

"Never mind."

Biglang nagtawanan ang mga waitress.

"Ang cute!"

"First time kong may waitress na naghahanap ng gatas!"

"Akala ko alak!"

Napakamot sa ulo si Ark.

"May stock kami sa kitchen." Napatingin ako sa kanya. "...Seriously?"

"Yeah."

"Employees bring their own minsan."

Napangiti ako. "...I think I'll like working here."

...----------------...

Alas-sais.

Unti-unti nang napupuno ang bar.

Music echoed throughout the room.

The lights dimmed.

People laughed.

Some danced.

Some drank.

Some simply wanted to forget the day.

Habang inaayos ko ang tray...

Napatingin ako sa entrance.

Four familiar figures entered.

Khert.

Wave.

Yunmoon.

...

Kravitz.

Hindi man lang sila tumingin sa paligid.

Mukhang regular na talaga sila rito.

Should I start with you?

"Sino sila?"

Mahinang natawa si Ark habang nagpupunas ng baso.

"Our VIP headaches."

"Hmm."

"Pero mababait naman."

"Especially the quiet one."

Napatingin ako sa lalaking naka-itim na polo.

Calm.

Straight posture.

Halos walang emosyon ang mukha.

Tahimik lang siyang naglakad papunta sa paborito nilang mesa.

"...Mukha namang hindi nangangagat." Ark smirked.

"Depende."

"Sa?" sagot ko

"Kung gaano ka katanga." Hindi ko napigilang mapangisi.

Interesting.

Mukhang...

Hindi lang ako ang sarcastic dito.