Clank-clank-clank!
The rusty tricycle groaned as it rolled over the pothole-riddled road of Hacienda Salamanca a sleepy town that felt like time had given up on it. Each bump jolted the vehicle violently, as if destiny itself were kicking the exhaust pipe, which now coughed out smoke like an asthmatic dragon gasping for its last breath.
Tricycle(a three wheel transportation known in the Philippines)
Inside the tricycle, Alden sat quietly on the left side. His elbow rested on the warm, chipped metal window frame, eyes distant not watching the road, but staring into something far deeper.
Into a memory.
That woman in the dark.
That presence barely seen, barely remembered still clung to the edges of his mind like a smudge in the corner of a mirror.
Was that really him?
Or someone he used to be?
He sighed slow, heavy, and cold. Like an invisible weight had wrapped itself around his chest in a hug he didn't ask for.
"Alden…"
He turned his head.
No one.
He glanced at Mang Rico, the grumpy old tricycle driver, but the man remained unfazed staring blankly ahead, humming an off-key folk tune as he gripped the wobbly steering bar.
"Kuya… Kuyaaa…"
(Kuya — a Filipino word meaning "older brother," though often used for any older male out of respect.)
SMACK!
"Ow! What the f—!"
Alden clutched the back of his head.
"What the hell, Ceasar?!"
Grinning like a mischievous monkey from the back seat was Ceasar, who had somehow leapt into the moving tricycle like a local ninja.
"Dude! You looked possessed! I thought a ghost latched onto you! You looked just like my uncle Romy before he 'accidentally' flew to Saudi all spaced out, then boom! Gone!"
He laughed a cackle that cracked through the humid air.
Alden blinked, still stunned.
"I'm serious, jackass."
"And I'm seriously two seconds away from slapping your soul out of your body. Next time, ring a damn bell before you attack someone!"
Ceasar just laughed again that kind of laugh that said, "I regret nothing."
Even the tricycle seemed to rattle louder, reacting to the chaos inside.
At the moment
Mid-Ride Nonsense
"So, what's eating you, bro? Did you see something creepy last night? Was it a flying manananggal?"
(Manananggal — a vampire-like creature in Philippine folklore that splits in half and flies at night to hunt.)
"Or… is this about Sharmaine again?" Ceasar teased, wagging his eyebrows.
Alden's brow twitched.
"Why'd you bring her up?"
'Cause I saw it in your eyes — that deep, stormy ocean of rejection and unsent messages."
"You're disgusting."
Alden rolled his eyes.
"Anyway, I saw Rina yesterday. She was wearing this tiny black ribbon. Bro, so simple, yet it screamed, 'I'm here to ruin your love life.'"
"Pray to God. Maybe He can soften the heart of your wicked crush."
"Hey! Don't call my future ex a witch!"
"Future ex? Are you even dating?"
"In my mind? Yes. That's where I'll court her. In there, I'm free."
He gazed dramatically into the distance.
♪ Even if you don't want me anymore… ♪
"Wow. Even your delusions are flirty."
They both burst into laughter — half sarcastic, half bitter, but truly amused.
Even Mang Rico shook his head from the front seat.
"Good grief," the old man muttered. "My tricycle's turning into a sitcom."
"Sorry, Mang Rico!" Ceasar grinned. "Unlimited storytelling today. You're welcome!"
Suddenly, Ceasar's phone buzzed.
"Whoa! It's Rina! She sent a good morning emoji!"
He shouted like he'd won the lottery.
Alden peered over, skeptical.
"You sure that's for you? Might just be a group chat."
Ceasar checked the screen.
"F*ck. It's the class group chat. She posted the morning flag ceremony announcement."
"Useless."
Alden's mood dipped again. That strange cold feeling crept back.
"Maybe it's nothing…"
He muttered under his breath.
Kalasag… What was that? Who or what is Kalasag?
"Bro! You're doing it again!" Ceasar said, suddenly alarmed. "You look like someone who died but forgot to lie down!"
"You scared the crap outta me!"
"You're like a ghost trapped in your own body. Just staring into the void like you saw something from the underworld."
Alden paused.
He had seen something.
But he didn't want to talk about it.
"Something about a baby… I think. Or me? I don't know…"
He shook his head.
"Wait, what?" Ceasar blinked.
"Forget it. Maybe I'm just overthinking."
"Nah, maybe it's that expired delata you ate last night."
(Delata — canned food, usually sardines or corned beef.)
"Screw you."
"Dude, if a ghost came near you and smelled your expired-sardines breath? It'd flee the scene. Guaranteed."
Alden looked serious now.
"No joke. I really saw something."
"Like… what? A white lady? Tikbalang? Or the ghost of your score in quiz?"
"No. Just… something. A baby. I think I was the baby. Or I was watching myself as a baby. I don't know anymore."
Ceasar's eyes widened.
Then he grinned wide.
"That's it! Horror movie idea: "Ang Bantang Walang Wifi: Iyakinn sa Gabi" (The Wifi-less Child: Crying At 3am.)
He mimicked thunder with his fingers.
Alden cracked up.
"You're such a dumbass."
But ceasar didn't finish yet
"Or maybe… you really are the baby. You dreamt of your past life. Probably mad 'cause you didn't get your milk."
"You are absolutely insane."
SMACK! Alden smacked the back of Ceasar's head.
"Ouch! Hey! That's abuse! I could report you!"
"Report yourself to a mental hospital first."
Arrival at School
As they neared the school gate, they were greeted by a familiar wave of Manila heat, smoke, fishball grease, and teenage sweat.
Monday.
"Hiiii Aldeeeeeen!"
A chorus of girls under the acacia tree sang in sync. One even squealed like a fangirl in a live studio audience.
"You're looking hot today!"
"Are you sure you're from around here?"
"I'm not sure, Maybe I'm from your heart," Alden said with a wink like a telenovela heartthrob sparkling in invisible glitter.
"KYAAA!"
Squeals exploded like confetti.
As they walked toward their classroom, Ceasar couldn't help himself.
He slung his arm around Alden's shoulder.
"Bro, if I had your face, even the principal would greet me with pom-poms."
Alden shoved his arm off.
"Please. If you had my face, you'd be in detention for looking too suspicious. This face is a weapon."
"Hey! With that jawline, I'd have five girlfriends. Minimum."
"Then why are you still single?"
Ceasar struck a dramatic pose.
"It's a choice. Loyalty to myself. Self-love is the new sexy."
"You say that now, but you were crying by the sink last week when Rina left you on seen."
"That was an emotionally vulnerable moment. Respect the pain!"
They both burst into laughter again loud and shameless. For a moment, they looked like boys without a care in the world.
In the Classroom
"Ma'am! John copied his answers from Google!"
"And you? You used AI and acted proud about it!"
"WELL IF YOU'LL CONTINUE BEING LIKE THAT WE'LL MEET AT THE TIP OF THE BALLPEN ANYWAY!" (This commonly hear from a teacher in the visayan region)
Ma'am Ailyn slammed her folder on the desk like a firework.
Alden sat near the window. He flipped open his notebook.
Blank page.
Blank mind.
Too many questions.
Then a flicker of light from the corner of his eye.
He shut his eyes tight.
The crying again. A baby's wail. Shadows circling. A voice…
"It's almost time."
His eyes snapped open.
"Bro? You good?" Ceasar whispered.
"Yeah. Just… tired."
But deep down, Alden knew:
This wasn't just in his head.
Flag Ceremony
As the national anthem echoed through the courtyard, students stood still under the rising sun.
But Alden didn't close his eyes.
He was looking at the sky. At the clouds. At something… staring back.
And beneath his uniform, on the skin of his back, something flickered.
A faint glow.
A mark.
Somewhere across the courtyard on the rooftop of another building a young girl stood silently.
She held a weathered piece of paper in her hand.
In faded ink, it read:
"It's him. The Maharlika."