In one of the busiest, most polluted cities in the Philippines, where the air was thick with smoke and the streets were filled with noisy cars and motorcycles, there lived a teenage boy named Stephano. But almost everyone knew him by one name: Zep.
He was seventeen. His dreams were simple but deep: to finish school, defend the helpless, and take care of his mother. That was all he truly wanted.
That afternoon, Zep was on his way home from school. He lived in an urban poor neighborhood in Manila—narrow alleys, crowded homes, and endless noise—but there was life and warmth in every corner.As soon as he reached their small front door, he knocked.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
"Mom, I'm here!" he called cheerfully.
His mother opened the door with a smile. Zep gently took her hand and pressed it to his forehead in respect: "Mano Po," a Filipino gesture of honoring one's elders.
Then he hugged her, and she hugged him tightly in return.
"Ohh, kid, you're home... You're early. How was your day?" she asked with tired eyes but a warm voice.
Zep stood tall and proud. "I'm still doing my best, Mom. I study hard and practice martial arts after class. I want to graduate. And I want to protect others from bad people—especially you."
Ana smiled. She was proud, a kind of pride only a mother could feel for a son who never gave up. Life was hard. Her earnings barely lasted through the week. But she made sure her son never went hungry.
Outside, life continued like nothing was wrong: jeepneys honked, vendors shouted, and radios played from windows. But beneath it all, there was pain. Struggles. People hiding their hunger behind loud laughter. And Zep? He only wished for a life of peace—quiet, happy, and free from chaos.
That Night…
Under the full moon, while most were asleep, two mysterious beings wandered the streets of Manila. Their footsteps were silent. They were looking for prey.
Zep, already deep in sleep, suddenly found himself in a strange dream.
He opened his eyes inside a misty forest: damp, cold, but filled with beauty. Orchids clung to twisted trees. Ferns brushed his arms. Vines hung like curtains from above. Moss carpeted the ground.
"Where... am I?" he whispered, heart beating fast. "What forest is this?"
His memory stirred. He remembered a lesson from school.
"A mossy forest?"
He wandered forward, uneasy. Then something from his past returned.
A memory. A terrible one. Ten years ago. A moment that had scarred him forever.
He began to panic.
WHOOSH! TWIGS SNAP!
His shoes slipped on wet soil.
BOOGSH! He tumbled down the slope, leaves and mud flying past him. He barely stopped at the edge of a cliff.
Just as he started to fall—
A hand caught him.
He gasped, pain shooting through his arm.
The figure holding him didn't feel human. It had long, cloud-like gray-white hair that moved with the breeze. Its eyes reflected the sky. Its feet didn't touch the ground. It wasn't floating—it was drifting, like a living cloud.
Zep rose with it, floating back up.
Startled, he ran again.
THUD! He tripped, fell backward, and scrambled on the ground.
The cloud-like figure calmly approached.
"Take my hand,"it said, its voice echoing through the trees—soft and calm, but impossibly powerful.
Zep's hands shook. "What's going on? Who are you? Why do you look like that?"
The figure's voice filled the air again.
"You... you are the one who—"And then the dream faded.
Back to Reality
Zep awoke with a sharp gasp, clutching his throbbing head.
WHOOSH.
A gust of wind slipped through the open window, rustling the curtains softly—then, silence.
"Ouch…" he muttered, rubbing his temple. "What was that? Why does my body feel sore?"
He sat up, dazed, blinking as the morning light crept across his room. For a moment, he just sat there, his breath uneven, the fragments of a strange dream still clinging to him.
"That dream… it felt so real."
Then his eyes darted to the clock.
7:40 AM.
His stomach dropped.
"What?! I only have twenty minutes before class starts!"
He jumped to his feet, grabbing his uniform from the chair and slipping into it with hurried hands. He splashed water on his face, brushed his teeth in a blur, then shoved notebooks into his bag.
Footsteps thundered down the stairs.
His mom looked up from the kitchen, surprised.
"Oh, son… I thought you didn't have school today," she said. "You were sleeping so deeply."
"Sorry, Ma," he said, catching his breath as she handed him a packed meal. "I overslept.
"He gave a grateful nod, then headed out the door—hair uncombed, bag bouncing at his side, the strange dream still lingering in the back of his mind
At School
Zep arrived at the classroom five minutes late, his footsteps slowing as he reached the door. He took a deep breath before sliding it open.
The teacher glanced up from the board, arching a brow.
"Zep? Late for the first time, huh?" She tapped her marker against her hand. "I'll let it go. I know you've been training hard."
A few of his classmates chuckled softly as Zep nodded sheepishly and slipped into his seat. The class was already deep into their discussion on ancient mythology, the teacher pacing as she spoke about old gods and forgotten realms.
Zep tried to follow along, but his head throbbed with a dull ache. The remnants of that dream still clung to him like smoke.
" Why did it feel so real?"
His eyes drifted to the window—sunlight pouring in, birds fluttering past—yet the pit in his stomach hadn't left.
The bell finally rang, snapping him out of his thoughts.
As he packed his things, two familiar voices called out.
Louie's uniform was messy, with one sneaker worn out. His laid-back smile hid sharp instincts.
"You good, bro? You're holding your head like someone knocked you out," he joked.
Beside him, Kayla looked neat and calm. Her dark eyes were thoughtful, and her beaded bracelet clicked softly as she moved.
"You look pale," she said kindly. "Did you sleep okay?"
Zep nodded slowly. "Yeah... just a strange dream."
"Weird, scary? Or weird like an aswang watching you?" Louie teased.
"What did you see?" Kayla asked, curious.
"I'm not sure... It's just weird. But those things aren't real. Right?"
Kayla leaned in."You didn't see the news?" she whispered. "Two people were killed near Binondo. Bodies torn open. No organs. Just left there."
"What?!" Louie grabbed his phone. "Oh shoot. She's not kidding."
He looked uneasy. "Maybe we shouldn't hang out at your place later, Kayla."
Kayla's tone was cold, almost knowing. "We still can. But it might be the last time… They're already here."
Zep said nothing. A part of him still thought it was nonsense. But a quiet voice inside him, sharper and harder to ignore, whispered that something wasn't right.
He had wind-swept black hair, warm brown skin, and a steady look. He was quiet, serious, and always ready to defend.
"If that's true," he said with a smile, "I'll protect you guys."
Louie and Kayla laughed.
"Oh, just because you know taekwondo?"
Their teasing stopped when the teacher walked in.
"Everyone, listen. Classes are suspended for a week due to the incident. Go home immediately. This applies to the University of Manila and nearby areas like Tondo.
"The class gasped.
Zep, Louie, and Kayla packed their bags quickly.
As they walked the Manila streets toward Kayla's house, Louie suddenly squinted.
"Wait... Bro. Is that... gray hair?"
Kayla leaned in. "Yeah. You've got something silver in your hair. Since when?"
Zep blinked. "What? I don't know. That wasn't there before."
Louie grinned. "Maybe you're turning into a superhero."
Kayla laughed. "Or an old man before graduation."
Zep rolled his eyes. "You guys are the worst."
But even as he laughed with them, a strange tension buzzed under his skin.
It felt like something was waiting—just out of sight.