The Day Before Chaos - Part 1

A sunny day, on a wintry snowfield.

There were two children playing with each other, a boy and girl having fun without a care in the world.

They played and played, until eventually they got tired and stopped.

They both laid down on the snow, catching their breathes.

“Hey, let’s play more after this.” The girl said while smiling brightly

“Yeah.” The boy excitedly responded.

For a few minutes they both silently rested thinking about all the fun they just had.

“You know… my daddy says that we’re going to have a new home tomorrow, and leave.” The girl mentioned while frowning.

“Ehh… then does that mean we can’t play together anymore?” He commented.

“Probably… but even though after tomorrow we won’t get to play together, let’s meet again someday when we’re all grown-up.” She added.

The boy breathed in as much as he can and stood up, “Then let’s do a promise.” He said while he turned to the girl and pointed his pinky finger.

The girl sits-up and slightly tilts her head confused as to what the boy is doing. “What is that?” She asked.

“It’s a pinky promise, my mom told my that whenever you do a pinky promise someone, that promise will come through.” He explained.

“I see, then…” The girl stood up and wrapped her pinky finger against his.

““Let’s meet again! It’s a promise.”” They said in unison.

I can’t remember how long it has been but I can say for sure that it’s been years since we both made that promise, the promise for both of us meet again and reunite…

***

I slowly open my eyes as I hear the alarm of my smartphone go off. “ahhh…”

I slightly groaned and used my right hand to reach out for the phone on the side of the bed and turned off the alarm.

I put the down the phone, sit-up straight, and scratched my eyes as my room becomes clearer and clearer for me to see.

That dream again huh…

I wonder what was that?

That boy making a promise with a girl…

It’s like something out of a novel.

“Hweaaagh…” I stretched my arms and yawned.

I’m still a bit tired because I stayed up a bit too much last night cramming all the materials needed for today’s tests, but can’t afford to sleep in because today is the last day for the school year.

I fought off my tiredness and got off the bed.

Naturally with it being the last day of the school year, it is also the last 4th quarter examination day.

I got out of my room and went inside the bathroom.

After doing my business in the toilet, I walked over to the sink and washed both my hands and face.

As I wipe my face with a towel, I saw my reflection in the mirror.

Messy black hair, dark brown eyes, completely average face, those are my… Eden Vasquez’ current physical attributes.

Not that I have anything to complain, I’m completely fine with being an average person.

I finished wiping my face, and headed downstairs for breakfast.

My parents work both start really early in the morning, so I’m almost always alone whenever I have breakfast before going to school.

I plugged in the toaster, placed two pieces of bread, and started it up.

I walked over to the fridge and grabbed a couple pieces of sliced cheese, then I sat down to wait for my bread to toast.

I really don’t like washing the dishes so, I always try to cut corners whenever I can.

After breakfast I headed back upstairs to take a shower and get ready for school.

***

As I put on my jacket and backpack, I once again went downstairs, went outside the house, locked the door and gate.

As I stood on the street, I hear the birds chirping and took a look at my house that I’ve been living in Paranaque City for nearly a decade now…

I live in a townhouse so my family and three others share one garage and gate.

The subdivision that this townhouse is in might look weird because of the different sized houses, colored gates and what not to people outside the country, but I’ve grown accustomed to it, after living here for a long while.

The street is really quiet aside from the usual tricycles and other vehicles, it’s very rare that it wouldn’t be quiet, but I guess this is a plus since it’s peaceful.

I sighed then started walking…

***

As I reach the street where the school campus is located, I spot several students like me making their way to school.

“Good morning Eden.” Someone called out to me from behind so I quickly glanced behind me.

It was a female student with short blond hair, blue eyes, and she’s someone who I’ve known for a while.

“Good morning K-Kiara.” I responded.

Kiara Reyes, a classmate who coincidentally lives in the same townhouse as I am so technically you can call us neighbors.

But besides school, I haven’t really interacted with her much, we’ve only talked around four or five times, this is probably the sixth.

“It’s finally the last day huh…” She said as she walks right beside me.

“Y-yeah…” I added as I swallowed a bit of saliva.

“So, have you decided on what college you’re going to?” She asked.

I sighed…

“Why ask so suddenly?” I replied.

“Well… after this school year is going to be our last year at senior high, then after that it’s off to college we go.” She explained.

“I see… well I haven’t really decided on what I want to do, I have a few options open but I can’t seem to settle on anything. How about you? Have you decided?” I added.

After all, I don’t think I have anything I really want to do…

“I’m the same, I can’t seem to find something I’m interested in… in the past I wanted to be a doctor but now I don’t think I can do it.” She responded.

I glanced at her for a moment, her face had a sad look as she talked about it.

A doctor huh… I’ve heard that it’s a really hard profession to get into so that’s probably why.

“Anyways, my family is a bit poor, so I think I’ll aim for a job that pays a lot, I want to help them.” She declared.

“That’s admirable…” I commented.

Meanwhile I’ve been doing nothing but being trouble for mine, I want to help my family too… it’s just that the way I acted a few years ago made it hard for me to do that openly.

And I don’t have the courage to suddenly act all affectionate to them.

For the past few years even after I changed, I’ve been acting nothing but cold to them.

I’m a horrible person aren’t I?

“It’s not really all that admirable, it’s natural to just want to help your family isn’t it?” She said as a slight smile formed on her face.

“Probably…” I uttered.

As we kept talking we reached the building.

After we passed through the guard and entered the building, the conversation went silent.

A few minutes later, after going up to the third floor, we finally reached our classroom and parted ways by going to our seats.

I reached my seat on the middle right of the classroom next to the window and put down my bag underneath the table.

This is probably the last time I get to see this same scenery before I change classrooms next year. I thought as I stared at the calm and peaceful scenery outside the window.

I wonder if I should go on and continue like this…

Without ever changing, staying as the person I am now.

I guess I deserve this, after all I’m done who did all those things, so I need to face the consequences of it.

Hurting my friends, hurting my family, and… ******* ******

Eh…? What was that last part? Probably doesn’t matter anyways… It just goes to show horrible of a person I used to be.

***

And done… I thought as I filled in the last of the empty blanks in the test paper.

I stood up and handed my paper in to the teacher then went back to my seat picked up my bag and started walking towards the exit.

It’s a half-day today because it’s an exam day, so I get to leave as soon as I finished the last test for the day.

The exams in this school are conducted across three days with two days each, so meaning I just finished the last two.

And I kind of feel happy.

Just before I exited the classroom, I turned back and looked at the clock.

It was currently 11:43 AM just before noon.

I think I’m going to go out and eat just to celebrate, might as well treat myself with the allowance that I have then after that I need to buy some groceries.

Even though I still act coldly to family, I try and help them in discreet ways like buying groceries or doing the dishes from time to time. I thought as I left the classroom and walked out of the school building.

As I was just about to exit the street the school building was in, someone from behind had shouted my name.

“Eden let’s eat together!” I turned around to see Kiara waving her hand while sprinting towards me.

A few moments later she catches up to me, breathes for a few seconds and looked at me in the eye while smiling brightly. “Let’s eat!” she said.

Was she always this cheerful and bright? I thought as I process what just happened.

“Erm… are you sure you want to eat with me? Don’t you have friends to eat with?” I asked.

“Yeah I do, but since they’re still back there taking the test and I have something to do later today, I thought why not eat with you.” She explained.

This is weird… I always thought she was the quiet-shy girl type, that’s how she’s always acted in both class and the other times we talked to each other. She possessed or something?

“Ah… sure why not.” I agreed.

Then we both started walking.

***

A dozen minutes later, we settled to eat the WcRolands and are now eating our lunch.

She ordered a one-piece chicken meal with rice, while I’m having six-piece chicken nuggets with rice and a bunch of extra gravy.

The journey to get here had been peaceful, on the way we talked about random topics and such.

Basically, normal conversations “friends” would have.

But It was mostly her doing the talking, I just replied when needed.

I can see that she’s made progress with herself, she used to be shy and didn’t talk much like me, but right now she has friends she can talk with.

Although it’s been a while since I’ve eaten out with someone, I don’t go outside the house often aside from helping out with the groceries and what not, it feels refreshing.

“How’d you do on the test?” I asked to keep the conversation going.

“Mhm… pretty normal, how about you?” She replied.

“Same I guess….” I added.

“I see…, hey have you heard about the murders that has been going around for a while?” She asked.

Murders? Uh… oh that.

“I think, it’s the one where the bodies where mauled yeah?” I responded.

“Yeah, it’s scary, isn’t it?” She commented.

“Not that much, the culprit will probably be caught sooner or later, that’s how these types of crimes always work, they commit the crime, they get hunted down, and arrested. Simple as that.” I explained.

I’m not all that interested in the news of what happens, nothing really abnormal happened in my life besides the fact the I used to be a horrible person, so I doubt a murderer is going to be interested in killing me.

Although there is one thing that’s bugging me about this one…

“Mauled?” I uttered.

“Yeah, they said that it’s the only word to explain the state that the victims bodies are left in.” She said.

“Eh… then isn’t that just a wild animal or something?” I guessed.

“Probably… couldn’t it just be that the killer is using wild animals as a murder weapon?” She mumbled.

“Could be…” I muttered as I sipped on a cup of water.

After we finished eating, we exited the restaurant… “Then this is it, see you I got to get somewhere.” She said as we both parted ways.

“Bye…” I uttered while slowly waving my right hand until she was out of view.

Now then… time to go grocery shopping. I thought as I turned to the right and started walking towards the mall across the street.

***

As I walked through the automatic glass doors, I immediately felt the cold breeze of the air-conditioned mall and saw a wide range of people from kids to adults walk around the mall, enjoying themselves, doing what they need to do and all sorts of stuff.

It’s lively as ever, wait it is a mall so I guess this kind of liveliness is normal?

I shake off the random thoughts and headed for the escalator going from the first floor to the third floor.

The second floor in this place is almost nonexistent because it only has a home furniture shop and an arcade.

The third floor however feels bigger than the first and second floors because of the glass roof in which you can see the sky from.

Maybe I should stop by the food court for some dessert if I have some spare funds left after I finish the groceries.

Walking around in the grocery store is a pain and all, so I guess I should treat myself to something after the fact.

As I step foot into the escalator, in the corner of my eye I see a large amount of people lined up for something.

Is there an event or something going on?

A minute later, I arrive at the third floor and walked towards the supermarket.

As I was about to pull out a cart from a line of carts near the entrance, someone else also tried to grab the same cart and for a moment both of our hands touched.

“Ah… sorry, you can go ahead and get one first.” I said.

“No worries, you should go first.” They responded as I turned my direction to the right to see the other person.

It was a woman with medium-length black hair tied in a pony tail, wearing jeans and a blue collared shirt.

“Rose?” I called out their name.

This woman is someone I know very well.

“Oh it’s you, Eden.” She muttered.

“Yeah, it’s me, what coincidence huh…” I added.

“Yeah yeah, it’s been a while I guess, how you doing?” I asked.

“Fine, I guess… nothing really much changed since I graduated college.” She mentioned.

“I see, then I’m going to go on ahead.” I uttered.

“Wait, it’s been a while, so let’s do our groceries together.” She spoke while smiling.

She’s as positive as ever.

“Alright fine, here.” I said as I pulled and handed her a cart.

“Thanks.” She replied as she accepted the cart while I grabbed my own.

Then we both entered the supermarket together.

As I was focusing on buying the items listed on my list, we mostly cached up on each other’s live, well it was mostly her as nothing really interesting happened to me for the past few years, while we were browsing through the isles.

Around half an hour later, we checked out our items, paid for them, the clerks packed them into plastic bags, and exited the supermarket with carts full of groceries.

“Want to eat?” She asked as she pointed at the food court across the supermarket.

“Sure.” I agreed.

We both walked and pushed our carts towards it, and secured an empty table.

“I’ll sit down here and watch the groceries, uhm just get me a large cookies n cream shake from there, here’s the money.” I said as I sat down and hand her a one hundred pesos bill out from my pocket.

“Okay.” She responded as she took the money and walked towards the stand.

“Haah…” I sighed as looked down and stared at the empty table and looked back on the day I met her.

***

That day… three years ago.

On a rainy afternoon, I ran…

I left the house with a knife hidden in my bag.

No one was home that day so I decided to it.

I held back the tears.

I ran a few streets away from my house until there were no more people in sight.

I clenched my teeth and took out the knife from my bag.

“Oi what’re you doing there?” As I aimed the point of the knife at my own neck, someone had called out to me.

I hurriedly turned around and saw a woman with long straight black hair wearing a hoodie and jeans under an umbrella.

“What does it look like?” I said with no energy as I held the knife in my hand.

She walked towards me a bit more and slapped my right cheek.

I dropped the knife and held my right hand to where she slapped me as I was getting drenched in the rain.

It hurts… I thought.

“Look, I don’t know what happened that made you resort to this, but this is never an option, even if you’re going through something that you feel that you can’t handle, don’t do this, you still have a long life ahead of you.” She scolded me.

I was bewildered.

Why is this stranger scolding me when she doesn’t know me?

“Why?” I ask her as I look her in the eye.

“Why… because it’s natural. I don’t need a reason to help someone who’s hurting.” She explained.

Natural? Probably. But then I don’t deserve this.

I don’t deserve to be helped.

As more and more of these thoughts kept flowing through my mind, I heard the sound of lightning striking the ground.

“Ah, the rain is getting worse, so we should probably get inside… hey you, let’s go inside my apartment, then go ahead and go home once this rain blows over okay?” She said.

As she held my hand and dragged me over inside the old apartment complex at the end of this street.

I didn’t resist.

I didn’t know what to do now.

Someone had found out.

I’m scared.

That they’ll tell my parents, family, friends…

I don’t want that.

I don’t want to cause more trouble.

A few minutes later, she dragged me all the way to the third floor and inside her apartment at the end of the hallway.

“Here, wipe yourself down.” She uttered as she hands me a towel.

Now that my plans have been foiled, I meekly obeyed and accepted the towel.

After wiping myself dry as much as I can.

She handed me a plain white shirt and a boxer then told me to change out of my drenched ones into the these.

After changing, I sat down on the sofa on the living room.

She then sat across me.

It was uncomfortable silent with no sound except for the clock ticking away.

“Now what?” Unable to bear the awkward silence, I asked.

“Well… for starters, why did you try and take your own life?” She asked back.

“Haah…” I sighed, having no choice now that I’ve been found out by someone else… I started talking.

“For as long as I can remember since 1st grade, I was an idiot, an arrogant, self-centered selfish bastard who didn’t care what was around me. I’ve been causing a lot of trouble for my family, friends, classmates, basically every person in my life. Around a year ago… I realized those facts and I can’t live like I used to. There’s been this aching feeling in my heart that I can’t be rid of. I don’t want to feel it anymore so I came to this conclusion. I don’t deserve the life that I live now, I don’t deserve the care they’ve given me all these years, so… I should just end it all. That way I won’t cause anymore trouble for them.”

I let it out, the feelings that I’ve kept bottled up for a year…

My eyes are getting watery and a moment later tears started dropping.

“I know that there are other people in the world who are suffering more than me, who are in more devastating situations but I just can’t help it. Those people deserve the life that I have now anyways…. I’ve had it easy, while they’re there suffering this unfair life.” I continued on as the tears flow out.

“I’m an idiot, aren’t I? Spilling the beans to a kind stranger like you without even resisting, I’m an idiot.” I said, but then I felt something I haven’t felt in a while…

“Ah…” I mumbled as I felt her embrace…

“Don’t worry about it… I’ll be your friend who you can confide in. That way you won’t be causing trouble for a stranger won’t you?” She said as she embraced me even tighter.

What is this feeling…

Why?

Why would she go far for scum like me?

I stopped thinking rationally and bawled my eyes out.

I let everything out.

Everything that I’ve been keeping to myself.

An hour later, I had calmed down…

“Sorry to spill on everything to you like this…” I grudgingly apologized as she served me a cup of tea.

I don’t even drink tea, but I don’t want her kindness to go to waste.

“It’s no problem.” She responded.

She’s kind… but do I really deserve her kindness?

“Oh… come to think about it, I didn’t catch your name.” I added.

“It’s Roselyn, Roselyn Soto.” She replied.

“Then can I call you Rose?” I asked.

“Sure.” She agreed as she smiled brightly…

“How about you what’s your name?” She asked me.

“Eden Vasquez.” I responded as I brought the tea to my mouth and started sipping.

“What a cute name…” She commented.

I can’t remember what happened after that, but I think from then on I dropped by her apartment to hang out as friends…

I didn’t want to bother her too much so I didn’t spill my feelings out too much.

I was an idiot, after I was caught, I had no choice but to reveal everything to her.

During the times I visited, I only came over to ask for ‘advice’ because she kept finding me loitering about outside.

Although I guess it wasn’t all that bad, a couple months before she moved and we stopped meeting up, I think I started to enjoy the time we spent together.

Slowly but surely, this thing that I feel went away during those times but it never left me.

It was just a temporary solution.

***

“But still… I don’t think I deserved it.” I muttered as I saw Rose walking towards me with drinks in hand.

“I got it.” She said as she put down both drinks on the table along with the straws.

Even after I had Rose to confide in for that year, I never stopped questioning myself.

Whether I deserved it or not, whether I can still live like this or not, those questions kept on flowing even after all that.

I just can’t forgive myself, even if someone encourages me too.

“What’s wrong? Go ahead and drink already.” Rose said.

“Ah, right…” I replied then I grabbed the straw, stabbed it into the cup, and started drinking the shake.

It’s sweet.

“You’re still having those thoughts, aren’t you?” She added.

“No matter how hard I try, I can’t hide it from you can I?” I slightly smiled.

She’s the same as ever.

“Nope, you can’t hide it when it’s already on your face.” She explained as she points her drink and the tip of her straw at me.

“It’s that obvious huh…” I grumbled.

“Of course, it is.” She commented.

“Come to think of it… why are you back here? Didn’t you already graduate college?” I asked.

She moved out of her apartment as soon as she graduated, so I assumed she already got accepted into a job, but why is she here all of a sudden?

“I never did tell you huh… well I’m here because I’m going to be a teacher at a school near here.” She explained.

“Ah, does that mean you’ve moved back to your old apartment?” I added.

“Nope, they already demolished that old place.” She said.

So they already demolished it… it’s a sad thing now that it’s gone but either way no use crying over spilled milk.

“Then where are you living now?” I asked.

“A townhouse because that’s the only place where it’s vacant.” She responded.

“What a coincidence, I also live in a townhouse…” I mentioned without thinking.

There sure are a lot of coincidences happening today…. Oh wait, If I follow today’s trend of events then the townhouse, she mentioned…

No no no, surely it’s just a coincidence that she moved into a townhouse right?

I finished drinking the shake and wiped my hands with tissue.

I took out my phone from my pocket and looked at the time, it was currently 2:17 PM in the afternoon.

Guess I’ll go home…

“Sorry, I need to go home now, I have stuff that I need to do.” I lied… I’m just tired from what happened today, so I want to go home and sleep.

“I see, well then till next time.” She replied as I stood up and pushed my cart towards the elevator.

I pushed the button and waited for the elevator to open.

Well at least I’m glad that she’s doing well. I thought as the elevator opened then I pushed the cart in along with myself, and pressed the button for the 1st floor.

A minute later the elevator doors opened and then I pushed my cart and headed towards the exit.

A teacher… seems to be fitting her, I always thought she had that kind of vibe to her. I didn’t expect that she would actually become one.

“Haah…” I sighed as I was getting closer to the exit.

What do I want to do?

In the past I’ve always half-assed my answer to this whenever career days would come in school but right now, I don’t have anything I want to do.

Even though right now I have Rose who can help me sort my feelings out now that she’s returned, this aching feeling in my heart is there.

I really, really want to apologize to the people I’ve caused trouble for, but I can’t.

I don’t want my current life to fall apart.

So maybe in the future I will.

But not right now.

The glass doors opened automatically and I pushed my cart outside of it.

As I stepped foot outside, I immediately felt the warm breeze.

I’ll try and slowly get there one day, when I’m free of this feeling, and can enjoy this thing they call “Life”.

***

A couple hours earlier…

“Then this is it, see you I got to get somewhere.” I said goodbye to Eden and then crossed the roads.

Once I got to the other end, I looked back on the fast-food place I had just been in, and saw Eden’s figure walk to where the mall was.

I acted weird today, didn’t I? I thought as I smiled at what just happened.

I tried harder than normal just to get him to notice me that I acted overly bright and cheery.

Yes… I Kiara Reyes have a crush on the boy called Eden Vasquez.

This is the first time I actively talked to him.

Out of all the times we had conversations with each other, this is the longest one yet.

Before all of this, I was actually a very shy person.

I didn’t talk very much and just listened in on the conversations of the friend group that I apparently was apart of.

Even though I don’t know him very well, I at least can tell that he’s a nice person.

Our first meeting wasn’t exactly bad nor good, it was on the day that I just moved here.

Three years ago…

My parents were fixing an issue that happened, apparently a part of our stuff shipped here was lost, so they were trying to track it down with the help of the shipping company, so I got sent to the house in advance along with the luggage we brought on the plane.

After me and the luggage been dropped off at the gate of the townhouse via taxi, I realize that I didn’t have the key to the gate with me so I couldn’t open it.

After what had felt like hours, he came.

After I told him about my situation, he opened the door with his own key and let me in.

Of course, he helped me with my luggage, so I thought he was nice.

After that I got settled into my new house which was right next to his.

From then on, we rare just occasionally had conversations that didn’t last very long.

I thought he didn’t like me but a couple months after I moved here, I heard all of it…

***

Woah it’s really pouring in. I thought as I watched the rain from inside my house.

I leaned in the screen door to check the sides, because I couldn’t see anything else besides the wall.

And then I saw him…

Eden stepped outside of his house with a knife in hand and then placed the knife inside his body bag and ran.

Fearing the worst, I quickly grabbed an umbrella, and tailed him.

Luckily my parents weren’t home because they were with his parents so I didn’t need to tell them where I was going.

With the rain getting heavier and louder, it was hard to keep track of where he was going, but I persisted.

I didn’t want him to die, I don’t want to see or hear anyone I know die.

Even if he’s just someone I had a few conversations with.

I don’t want him to die.

A few streets later, he stopped.

He then pulled out the knife and started to aim at his own neck.

Just as I was about to step out of hiding and stop him, someone else had stopped him.

A woman…?

He was slapped by that woman, but because of the rain I couldn’t hear what she was saying.

Eden was dragged into that run-down looking apartment complex, so I followed suit and continued to tail them.

While that woman was dragging Eden, it seems she forgot to lock the gate to the apartment complex so I successfully followed them without being noticed.

On the third floor, at the end of the hallway is where Eden was dragged into.

So, I quietly made my way there and listened in to their conversation.

And then I heard it…

The nice boy who I’ve interacted with… had let out all of his feelings.

He was suffering.

No matter the reason, he was suffering to the point that made him think to do that.

I want to help him… I thought as tears had also let itself out from my eyes.

I don’t want him to suffer, I don’t want him to be in pain.

***

I’ll make an effort to cheer him up… Is what I swore on that day.

But even after that, it was still the same.

The conversations we’ve had after I heard it all, was still the same.

None of my efforts of trying to talk to him to make him feel better worked.

It was always the same short conversations of “How do you?”

And in the midst of me trying to make an effort, I fell for him.

Even though he was suffering and was blaming himself, he’s still trying to be strong not letting it show.

Today… I finally did it.

Even though it was just a normal and friendly conversation, I finally took the first step in getting to know him better.

***

After reminiscing about those days and today’s achievement, I walked through the entrance of the subdivision I live in.

On the right side of the street, there’s the market where various vendors sell fruits, items or meat.

Meanwhile in the left side where I’m walking from is filled with plenty of miscellaneous shops like a bakery, barber shop, and all other sorts of shops.

Where I’m heading now is the convenience store, because I need to use their bathroom.

I crossed the street, and crossed another street where the tricycle station is at and went inside the convenience store.

After doing my business inside their bathroom I felt a bit thirsty so I bought a bottle of water.

Then I walked outside of the convenience store and proceeded to walk home.

“Alright, let’s do this one step at a time.” I muttered to myself as I recalled today’s events…

***

As I approached the street the townhouse was located in, in the corner of my eye, I saw something that looked like a wolf or a big dog in a humanoid form.

“Eh… was I seeing things?” I quietly uttered and then pulled out my phone from my backpack to check the time, it was currently 1:17 PM in the afternoon.

I’ve got time, so I can go take a detour and see what was that.

I couldn’t help but get curious at times like these…

I turned to the street on the left and then started walking with my camera app on my phone booted up, just in case anything happened.

Several minutes later, I kept on walking until I reached a dead end that led to a small forest.

Was it my imagination after all? I thought as I looked all around me.

The sun was still out, so there was no chance of anyone attacking me in broad daylight.

Then suddenly I heard it, the sound of something being chewed on by an animal.

And I spotted it, there was a silhouette of that same humanoid wolf thing from earlier.

I gathered up all my courage and stepped out of the pavement and into the dirt-grounded forest.

I carefully walked so as to not make any sound...

My heart was pounding as I was steadily approaching it.

I hid around the trees to avoid getting caught, and while that sound was still going on, I took a peek.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

It looked like a humanoid wolf something akin to a werewolf, eating on a…

I felt sick at just the sight of it.

There’s no mistaking it… that’s a human being eaten.

I was shaking in fear as I held back the urge to vomit what I just ate.

I need to take a picture of this and get the hell out of here. I thought as I aimed my phone’s camera at the scene but then I accidentally stepped on a leaf making noise.

I quicky pulled back and hid behind the tree hoping that I didn’t get noticed.

The chomping noise had stopped and I heard footsteps slowly getting closer to my position.

Fearing that I had been found out I decided to make a run for it.

I ran and ran until I was out of breath only to realize that I ran the wrong way.

Instead of running towards the streets where I could’ve asked for help, I accidentally ran deeper into the forest.

I’m an idiot, why’d I ran here? I berated myself.

As I was catching my breath, I heard it.

The sound of leaves cracking and branches being broken.

I turned back and saw the humanoid wolf with the half-eaten human corpse in hand.

I swallowed my saliva in fear of what’s to come.

I’m going to get eaten! I thought.

I stood frozen in fear as I watched its movements.

It was sniffing something.

I can’t tell what its going to do.

A few moments later, it had its eyes locked onto me…

I don’t want to die.

Suddenly it dropped the human corpse that was in its hand and started sprinting towards me.

Out of reflex, I raised my hands.

The moment I blinked… my left arm was already in its mouth ready to be chewed on.

“No! I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die!” I shouted as it grabbed hold of my body and tears flowing out from my eyes…

I resisted, and resisted.

But it was no use.

I can’t get out of it’s monstrous grip.

It’s jaw now started to close, biting down my left arm.

It hurts, It hurts, it hurts, it hurts… those thoughts repeated until, “Kyaaa-huhghu”.

It completely tore my left arm apart and started chewing on it, blood spills out.

It dropped me on the ground.

“I-I don’t… want… to… die…” I said as the pain runs throughout my entire body.

Why did it come to this? How did it come to this? I still haven’t done anything.

With the last of my remaining strength, I reach out to the blinding sun in the sky with my right arm…

Mom…, Dad…, Eden…

I call out the names of those whom are the dearest to me.

I can already feel my consciousness fading away…

While I’m still conscious, I watched how it acted.

It had just finished chewing on my arm and swallowed it.

Then It howled.

A howl so intense and loud that it can be heard from a mile away.

“You. Are. Be. *******” It said in a gruff husky voice.

“N-no…” In my last attempt to say something, my consciousness had faded.

In death, there was nothing but darkness, despair, and partings…

***

“Ah, this is it boss, stop here.” I said as I pointed at the red gate to the tricycle driver…

The tricycle then slowly stopped right in front of it.

Ah... finally, I’m home, can’t wait to lay in bed and get some sleep. I thought as I got out of the tricycle along with four plastic bags worth of groceries, two in each and placed it down on the ground as I took out a fifty pesos bill to pay the driver from my pocket.

I handed it to him then he nodded as to acknowledge my payment and drove off…

“Haah…” I sighed, then took out the gate keys from my bag, unlocked the gate, and entered along with my groceries.

As I entered, I noticed some empty boxes on the house nearest to the gate.

“A townhouse because that’s the only place where it’s vacant.” I recalled what Rose said earlier.

Huh… so it’s either true, or it’s just a coincidence that someone moved here at the same time. I thought then I proceeded to walk up to my house which is the farthest one from the gate.

I put down the groceries once again as I unlocked the front door of my house.

Then, I pick my groceries up again… and entered my house.

What it greets me, is the living room, kitchen, stairs, and the dining room all at once because it is open-spaced and not separated by doors and walls.

I set the groceries down for good this time on the dining table and started organizing and putting the groceries I just bought into their proper places.

***

After a while, I managed to organize the groceries, locked the front door and started to head upstairs to change into my casual clothes because I was still in my student uniform.

As I was walking up the stairs I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket so I pulled it out and checked who was calling.

Ah… it’s Mi.

After confirming that it was my Mom who I usually call Mi because calling her Mom and Mommy didn’t feel right, I promptly answered the call.

“Hello…” I greeted with me being tired from all that happened today.

“Eden, tomorrow me and your Papa will be going on a trip to participate in the company team building activity for three days, will you be alright being alone?” She asked.

Ugh… I’m tired, team building?

“Yeah yeah, couldn’t you have told me that when you get home later?” I replied.

“No, you see, the company president suddenly asked us to prepare for it today, so both of us came back there earlier and got the items we needed, so including today it will be four days…” She explained.

“I see, then have fun.” I responded.

“Okay, bye I Lo—.” I had ended the call…

“I don’t need… positivity, when I am this tired…” I muttered to myself.

I continued walking up the stairs, then I reached the second floor.

I went inside my room, put down my bag, changed into casual clothes, and then immediately fell asleep on the bed.

***

“So, this is goodbye...” The girl said to the boy as they both stood on the same field of snow they used to play on.

“Yeah…” The boy responded as he looks down on the snow, saddened.

“Don’t forget you promise, when we grow up, we will meet each other!” The girl cheerfully declared.

“Yeah, we will…” The boy smiled at the cheerful girl.

“Bye, bye!” The girl waved at him as she turned her back and started to leave.

“Don’t forget alright!” The boy happily waved back as he’s sure that he will meet her again.

He stood there in a daze, as the girl was no longer in sight.

“For sure, we will meet again.” He quietly mutters to himself as he clenches his fist and looks down on the snow.