Chapter 1: She is Aurora

"HOY, babae! Bumalik ka rito!"

I cussed and ran as fast as I could when I heard the annoying high-pitched voice behind me.

"Give me back my Dims!"

I tilted my head and rolled my eyes. Ang ingay.

Panting and gasping for air, I found myself hiding behind a bunch of stinky trash bags. And when I say stinky, really stinky. Bahong hindi bagay sa ganda ko.

Napatingin ako sa Dims na nasa kamay ko. These will be enough, I think?

"You thief! Nandito ka lang pala!"

My eyes widened, not in horror, but in panic. I can't be seen! Come on, Ara!

Isiniksik ko ang sarili sa malaking trash bag at naramdaman ang pagbabago ng katawan ko. I felt light as a feather. My skin turned ash gray. My vision became clearer and sharp. I was not panting anymore. I could feel my body joining the gentle rustle of the wind... like I am one with air.

But I am not air. I am a shadow.

Lumabas ako sa pinagtataguan at sinalubong ang mukha ng baklang humahabol sa 'kin.

"Hello, dear."

Napalinga-linga siya sa paligid habang nakakunot ang noo na tila hinahanap ako. How stupid. I want to laugh at him, real hard. Unfortunately, I don't know how to laugh.

"I got it, so it's mine," I remarked as I shook the Dims in my hand, making a tinkling sound.

"Where are you!? Show your fucking self!" Napangisi ako nang makita ang naggagalaiti niyang mukha.

Fucking, my foot.

"Some other time, darling." Tumalikod na ako sa bakla at naglakad paalis.

I'm still in my shadow form as I walk myself to my humble home. Right... my humble cave.

Tahimik kong pinagmamasdan ang paligid habang naglalakad. Mula sa matatayog na puno hanggang sa mga kulay dilaw na lantang dahon na nakakalat sa tuyong lupa. Everything seems normal. Well, except for me, of course. Wala namang bago sa lugar na 'to. I've been stuck here all my life and there's nothing really interesting about this place... Or maybe there is, and that's playing with people's minds.

Ano bang magagawa ko? Maliban sa magnakaw ng pera para mabuhay, wala na. I don't even know why I'm still trying to live, when life has already given up on me.

Hah! You sound so dramatic, Ara.

Umiling-iling ako at itinuon ang atensiyon sa paglalakad. It's been years since I started saving Dims for future expenses. Dahil balang araw, aalis ako sa lugar na 'to para simulan ang bagay na gusto ko ng simulan dati pa lang.

Natigil ako sa paglalakad sa bukana ng gubat ng makarinig ako ng sigaw ng isang babae. I went back on my human form and looked around but no one was there. All I could see were a bunch of trees with sunlight peaking on its branches. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko.

I can feel her presence — not just hers. There were three of them.

"Miss, tulong! Tulungan niyo po ako, please!"

Napalingon ako sa likuran. Someone needs my help. But I'm not a fan of helping. Not at all. Life is unfair, and I'm living for that.

Nahagip ng mata ko ang babaeng paika-ikang tumatakbo patungo sa direksyon ko. She has a really weird sense of fashion. So colorful. She has a shoulder-length chestnut hair, white and close to pale skin that compliments her khaki knee-length dress, and perhaps a centimeter taller than me.

"M-may humahabol sa 'kin. H-help me, please," hinihingal at naiiyak niyang sabi.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Who the hell is she? As far as I'm concerned, she's not my responsibility.

"M-miss, please — nandiyan na sila!" Napalingon ako sa tinuro niya sa bandang likuran.

And there, I saw three pervert-looking retarded assholes. They look rugged, grinning while staring at this poor girl in front of me. One of them actually has the looks but is too overrated. Hindi naman sila mukhang nakakatakot, mukha lang silang manyak.

That's not something to be scared of, right?

"Hoy, pre! May chicks, 'o," said the guy wearing ancient-looking cowboy boots.

Malakas na tumawa ang dalawa niyang kasama.

"Gago, pre. Lalaki 'yan!" said the other guy and all three of them burst out laughing.

I gave them a bored look that they surely noticed. Napahinto sila sa pagtawa at sabay na tinitigan ako, na parang sinusuri ang pagkatao ko.

"Done?" I asked, raising my left eyebrow. "Now, leave."

The guy in cowboy boots gave me a wide grin. He licked the corner of his lips and muttered, "Gusto mong sumama?"

I gave him a disgusted look from head to toe. "I'm out of your league. I'm into neat and much taller men."

His brows creased, and went on to give me an amazed look.

"Gusto ko ang ugali mo. What's your name?" he said and attempted to reach my hand.

Mabilis kong iniwas ang kamay ko. "Foot."

Sandaling katahimikan ang nangyari bago ko nakita ang pagkagat-labi niya pati na rin ng mga kasama niya sa sagot ko. They're trying to suppress their laugh at something that ain't even funny.

"You can't be... named Foot. I mean..." he burst out laughing with a hint of exaggeration. Nakahawak pa siya sa tiyan niya habang tumatawa.

Napairap ako bago nagsalita. "Touch your foot."

All three of them fell silent as the guy who approached me quickly touched his left foot. Shock and confusion flashed through his face as I spoke, "Suck your thumb."

The stranger's eyes widened when his body moved unconsciously and slid his thumb inside his mouth. Kahit ang babae na umiiyak sa tabi ko ay natigilan at napatitig sa lalaking nakahawak ngayon sa paa niya habang subo ang kanang hinlalaki.

"Tap your head, and don't stop unless I say so."

"What the—!" His other hand left his foot and started patting his head. All of them were looking bewildered. I can even hear the rustling of dry leaves as one of them tried to step back.

Napangisi ako sa reaksiyon nila. "I told you to leave."

"What— what did you do!?" the guy who's still tapping his head asked while glaring at me.

I lifted my shoulder in a half shrug. "Slap your face."

Isang malakas na tunog ng sampal ang narinig namin lahat mula sa lalaking nasa harapan ko. His jaw dropped hanging and his face turned slightly pink. He was still tapping his head while staring at his own hand.

"I-isa kang halimaw!" galit na sigaw nito sa 'kin.

Ibinaling ko ang tingin sa dalawang lalaki na nasa likuran niya. "Do you want—"

"No!" In a snap, the other two men dragged their companion and ran away in a rush.

I blinked and my eyes darted at the man sucking his thumb. Unti-unti na silang nawala sa paningin ko habang patuloy na tumatakbo. I moved my right hand and gestured as though I'm touching the air. An obvious sigh escaped my lips as the man stopped tapping his head, just before they completely vanished from my sight.

Nabaling ang tingin ko sa babae na nasa tabi ko nang magsalita ito.

"W-what are you?" She gave me a suspicious look that literally made me frown.

"A hot woman, obviously," I casually answered.

Tumalikod ako at nagsimula ng maglakad sa direksyon ng kwebang tinitirhan ko. Dali-dali namang tumakbo ang babae at sumabay sa 'kin sa paglalakad, na siyang ikinataas ng kilay ko.

"Are you following me?"

Mabilis itong umiling at binigyan ako ng abot taingang ngiti. "I just want to walk with you and maybe," she bit her lip before she continued, "w-we could be friends?"

Huminto ako at matiim siyang tinitigan. "I don't need friends."

She was taken aback as my voice went colder. Napaiwas ito ng tingin at napahawak sa daliri.

"I... I was just hoping. Y-you know, you saved me back then," she muttered under her breath.

I grunt and did not bother to talk back. Wala akong pakialam kung susunod siya sa 'kin. Hindi naman 'yan magtatagal. Mapapagod rin 'yan. Besides, I don't need a friend. Friend means trust, and trust means betrayal. And that's something I should avoid.

They don't betray me. Instead, I betray them... and that is my game.

"YOU know, pwede kang sumama sa 'kin kung gusto mo. We have an extra room for you, and if you want—"

"I'm not interested," I cut her off as I leaned on the wall behind me.

Mabilis siyang lumapit sa direksyon ko at tumabi sa 'kin. "Come on. You don't deserve to live here."

Matalim ko siyang tinignan kaya'y napatakip ito sa bibig at nag-peace sign.

"I mean, tingnan mo nga ang paligid, 'o. Maliban sa bed mo, puro bato lang naman ang nandito. You call this home?" aniya at nilibot ang tingin sa kabuuan ng kweba.

"Did I?" I replied and closed my eyes.

"But this is where you live! And it's definitely not suited for you..."

"Who are you, anyway?" Napahinto ito sa tanong ko at narinig ko ang bahagya nitong pagtikhim.

She's been talking for like ages and I don't even know her, not even her name. Ang mas nakakainis pa ay pinapakialaman niya ang mga gamit ko. Hindi nauubusan ng sasabihin at parang hindi rin nangangalay ang panga sa kakasalita. A total loud mouth and a careless woman who goes with strangers like me. Hindi niya ba alam na tiwala ang unang wawasak sa isang tao?

"Well, I'm glad you asked. Muntik ko ng makalimutan magpakilala, 'e." I felt her hand on my right hand and slightly shook it.

"I'm Mikaela, but you can call me Milka. Mas cute kasi pakinggan," she continued and giggled.

I nodded in response. A second of silence enveloped the area. She was holding my hand and playing it like a freaking baby. I can say, she is really an easy person. Two easy to the extent that she'd die because of it.

"Ikaw? Anong pangalan mo?" she asked. Dumilat ako at tinitigan siya diretso sa mata.

"Foot."

Nawala ang ngiti nito at napabusangot. She slightly scratch her nape as she spoke, "Niloloko mo 'ko, 'e! Hindi naman Foot ang pangalan mo. Hindi ka naman mukhang paa."

I rolled my eyes once again. "I am Foot."

"Hindi!" anito at ngumuso.

I shrugged and got up. I walked towards the entrance of the cave with my arms crossed. This cave has been my home for years. Pretty tough home for a woman? Nuh uh. It was perfect for me. Besides, I don't fancy having a very luxurious house and leave it behind when I finally get the chance to. Waste of money.

Mabilis na tumakbo si Milka sa direksyon ko, at hindi ko nalang ito pinansin.

My brows narrowed in confusion as I saw a very odd-looking wolf just three meters away from the entrance of my cave. It was ash gray and bigger than the normal size of an average wolf. And it's eyes. It was shining in metallic silver while staring intently at me.

"Sige na! Tell me your name," Milka said in a sort of exclamation.

I gestured my hand to tell her she's too loud. Natahimik naman ito. Kung nakaharap lang ako sa kanya ngayon, paniguradong nakanguso siya.

"What are you staring ba?" Dumungaw ito sa balikat ko kasabay ng paglaho ng kulay abong lobo. It vanished like a popped bubble.

"Anong mayroon sa mga puno?" Milka asked. I did not bother to respond.

Shock and a glint of excitement flashed through my face. I clenched my fist and a smirk was evident on my visage. Hindi ko lubos akalain na ang pagkakataon na mismo ang lalapit sa 'kin.

"Nakikinig ka ba sa 'kin? Ano nga pangalan mo?"

That wolf... its eyes and mine are very much alike. No one has ever stared at me the way it did just a while ago. It was staring at me like it could see the woman behind the walls and the changes I built... like it knew me all along.

And from that moment, I know something's going to happen. Things have gotten easier for me now... so much easier.

I faced Milka with a smirk on my face. She was smiling from ear to ear but was slightly confused with the way I looked at her.

"Do you really wanna know me?" She repeatedly nodded as I continued, "I am Aurora."