I was feeling better, so I went out of the house. As I roamed my eyes, I saw festival flags hanging on every corner of the village. They repainted the murals, so it became livelier. Kids were playing around; some were passing by while eating cotton candies and ice creams.
I walk past vendors who were selling street food. I don’t even know how they made it, but I tasted it anyway. The smoke didn’t bother me at all. I don’t have money but the seller gave me the food for free since I have helped them eliminate the Changelings. I was ashamed because I’ve eaten lots of it. Their food makes me crave for more, so I walked out before I could eat everything.
There were also statues which I assumed, Apollo and Asteria. They look heroic and true warriors wearing only clothes made of animal skin with bow and arrow in their hands. They filled their eyes with passion and courage.
“You’re our hero, too.”
I glanced at the person beside me. Her face was fresh to me.
“Ugh, thanks. All of us are heroes of our own battles,” I said and forced a smile.
“I heard you’re going to leave this place later,” she said.
“Yes. My stay here was longer than I expected, I must worry my family. I have an important matter to deal with at home, but I am happy that I could help this village. I did something that I rarely do,” I said.
“Well, I will also do something that I rarely do,” she said.
Before I knew it, her lips touched mine. That moment, my eyes widened, and I had goosebumps. As our lips parted, she smiled and left me frozen. Then, I realized I am Vad Wagner, and he looks irresistibly charismatic to women with poor eyesight.
A girl kissed me, and I don’t know what to feel. I am as straight as a ruler and I can’t believe that a stranger stole my first kiss! I have reserved my first kiss for Treyton. What am I going to do now that it’s gone?
“Vad, I’ve been looking for you. The train will leave soon. I have prepared your things,” Hesu said.
“I don’t remember having baggage when I arrived here.”
“What I mean is my wife packed you some food.”
“Really? I’ve been waiting for you to say that,” I said, almost drooling.
After lunch, we went to the train station. I bid goodbye to them. I flashed my brightest smile that hides the regret of a stolen first kiss.
The days went smoothly. It was the most peaceful day of my life as Vad Wagner. I have prepared myself for the worst-case scenario, like Wagner beating the shit out of me. When I finally arrived, I stopped a few meters away from our house.
One thing I worry about was my Mom. I don’t know how she will react or maybe she wouldn’t act much because I was always giving her a headache. Everything seems normal. There was no sign of the neighborhood being destroyed or the sign of my body being dragged to a mental institution. There was no sign of Wagner waiting for me with a rifle in his hands.
A sigh escaped from my mouth. I was walking with my hands inside my pocket, thinking about how to avoid Wagner’s punches. A phone rang somewhere, which made me stop overthinking. I found it on the ground, someone must have lost it. I answered it, not knowing that I was about to face my grim reaper.
“Hello?” I asked.
The person on the other line took a long time to answer.
“Who the hell are you?”
My heart was beating rapidly, like I was about to face a death sentence.
“Vad. Vad Wagner,” I replied.
“Shit, man. You mean Kylo.”
Surely, this is the end of me.
“Y-yes. I guess you’ve figured it out.”
“Wow. I can’t believe I was expecting you to say sorry after everything you’ve done. I guess you’ve figured it out? The nerve of you to say that.”
He sounds pissed and ready to kill me in one shot with one hand.
“The sorry comes next, but let’s not talk over the phone,” I said.
“Are you sure about that? Do you want to face me? Just so you know, I could knock you down with my left hand, you brat... and I am not a lefty.”
“I know. I’m ready to face my punishment. Let’s talk at home. Let me handle my Mom. Just go with the flow,” I said before hanging up.
A few minutes passed, and I arrived in front of our house. Unfortunately, I came face to face with Wagner, who was inside my body. He looked at me from head to toe.
“What the hell happened to you, huh? Look what you have done to my body. You’ve covered it with bruises. I don’t even know how this happened. This will ruin my entire life, don’t you know that?” he said.
“I’m sorry, it was my fault. I got these bruises after escaping from a bunch of criminals. A man with cowboy attire caught me. He tied me up and was planning to kill me, but he failed. I got lost in the middle of the forest where I have to face the Changelings. Then here I am, still intact.”
“Still intact? I don’t even understand what you’re talking about. Do you want me to thank you for saving me? Or do you want me to turn you into pieces so you won’t be intact?”
He looks mad with his eyes getting large and saliva spilling all over my face.
“Look, I’m sorry. I can’t turn back time, but we can make this right. Before that, follow the script that I’m about to tell you. We have to put up some act for others not to find out the shit we’re in, especially my Mom. Please cooperate,” I said with utmost sincerity.
“I can’t believe a kid is ordering me around.”
After telling him my plan, I knocked at the door of our house. My Mom opened it and made her confused about what she was seeing.
“Mom, I want you to meet my friend Vad,” Wagner said.
I looked at my mother and smiled. It’s weird that a 17-year-old girl has a friend in his 30s, especially in my case that I don’t have any friends at school. I’m one of those outcasts.
“Hi, I’m Kylo’s mother,” she said and shook my hand.
“Come in.”
We entered the house, and it was the best feeling in the world, being home after almost a week. I felt it was the safest place where there are no changelings, strangers, and a crazy girl who would steal someone’s first kiss. But there’s an agent who could slit my throat anytime. We sat on the sofa while Mom was making us some coffee.
“So how did you become friends? Kylo wasn’t the friendly type,” Mom said.
It’s not because I’m not friendly. I had a few friends, but they were fake, so I’d rather be alone.
“I was walking by the road, not knowing where to go. She was with a group of teenagers her age. They were bullying her, poor girl. I stepped in the scene and received their punches because I don’t like beating children, I might go to jail,” I said.
With this act, I deserve an Oscar.
“Sweetie, why didn’t you tell me?” Mom asked.
“That’s why we’re telling you. I owe him a lot, but we have another problem. Vad has amnesia. He couldn’t remember anything. I was the one who invented his name,” Wagner replied.
It shocked Mom.
“What? Are you alright? We have to send him to the hospital,” Mom said worriedly.
“No, you don’t have to. I’m fine, this could be temporary. In the meantime, I’ll look for a place to stay,” I said.
“Why don’t you stay here? You helped my daughter, so it’s right for us to help you too.”
“Thank you, I would gladly accept the kind gesture.”
Mom cleaned up what used to be my dad’s room. I’ll be using it for a while until this shitty situation ends. I dragged Wagner into my room while Mom was busy setting up the other room. How I missed the softness of our sofa as I sat on it. My mess was still there, the pattern I made for the ritual, the candles, and the handbook.
“Your mother told me you locked your room for almost a week.”
“I guess while I was having an adventure, you were asleep.”
“Adventure, huh? So that’s how you got that weird outfit.”
I was still wearing the villager’s clothes. I realized I look insane.
“Yes. I know you wouldn’t believe me, but everything I said was true.”
“Look, kid. I don’t have time for this. I have a mission and with this condition, I doubt I could succeed.”
“I also want to fix this as soon as possible, but everything became complicated.”
“So do you know how to turn us back to normal?”
“I have to be honest with you... I don’t know how. We have to do our research. For the time being, we have to deal with it. Act like me and I’ll do the same,” I explained.
Wagner walks back and forth in front of me.
“Your honesty makes me feel enraged. Trust me, I want to put a bullet in your head, but that’s not practical. I guess that’s the best option we have. I’ll just take this as another mission and I have to stay undercover,” Wagner said.
“We have to know each other so no one can suspect us,” I replied.
I thought Wagner would kill me because I thought that he’s a dangerous person. He is, but he will cooperate with me. Rather than being emotional and put it all on me, he was being strategic. He’s indeed legendary. He reminds me of my dad, except that he wasn’t hot-headed.
“I am Kylo Morris, a 17-year-old 10th grader. My father died in a car accident 10 years ago. I live with my Mom. You should also know my bullies, namely Agatha Parker, Jasmine Suarez, Rhein Miller, John Mifflin, and Raphael Cortez. If they do something, let them do it. Don’t even think of fighting back because their families are powerful. I might get kick out and I don’t want my mother to get involved with my issues. Don’t do something that could put me inside the principal’s office, guidance office, or being suspended,” I said.
“Well, don’t expect too much from me. I will try to be patient with those kids, but I don’t really like people stepping on me. Still, I will try,” Wagner said, crossing his arms.
“You better not act like yourself because that’s my body, not yours.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
I bet he’s always been sarcastic.
“One more thing, I am dumb so you better act like one.”
“I thought being patient was the hardest thing to do, but being dumb is an impossible thing for me.”
“I get that you’re highly intelligent, but spare me with your bragging,” I said, emphasizing the word highly intelligent.
“It must be difficult to be you.”
“Oh, shut up, Mr. Perfect. Anyway, as a normal student, I have a crush. His name is Treyton Statham. Don’t you dare do something stupid in front of him?”
“So you’re not stupid enough? You even call yourself normal,” he murmured.
I shook my head. This man exalts himself, I could foresee that he’s going to create an enormous mess. I also taught him how to act like a lady, which was not that hard to do since he’s been doing undercover all his life.
“It’s my turn to teach you how to be me. I doubt you can copy me, but still try. I guess you already know that I am the best IIF agent. My title itself is difficult to maintain. To be me, you need to have all the virtues in the world. I have the agility of a cheetah, the eyes of an eagle, the longest endurance—”
“And the highest pride. You’re exaggerating.”
“In short, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
Wagner was unbelievable. He was the humblest person I have ever met in my entire life. He reminds me of our top one in class who thinks that he’s unbeatable.
“My specialty is my fighting skill. I don’t surrender unless I die,” he said.
Now, that sounds cool if it didn’t come from him.
“But I’m not a fighter. I’m weak,” I replied.
I would look like a meme if I come face to face with criminals. I can’t even fight back against my bullies.
“That’s a big problem. I can’t let you put my name in vain. My title... It’s too precious to lose.”
He talks like he’s some kind of God. He thinks only of himself.
“Well, you have amnesia. Can you just act like you don’t have a title to lose? Forget everything about being the great Vad Wagner, because right now, you are no one,” I firmly said.
“I see you are blunt, but I’m afraid that I can’t do that.”
As expected, I can’t convince him. Words from a dumb and weak kid will not move his ego. I could feel some kind of electric shock in between us, a sign that things will not be easy for us in the coming days.
“What is the noise all about?”Our heads turned in synchronization as we looked at Mom.“We’re talking about… how to get my memory back,” I said.I almost run out of words to say.“Yeah. I’m helping her—I mean him to remember where it started,” Wagner added.“Alright. Do you need anything?” Mom asked.“No, we’re fine,” Wagner replied.“We’ll let you know if we need something. Oh, I almost forgot, I brought some food with me. You can have it or keep it,” I said with a smile.“Okay. If you need my help to regain your memories, I’m just at the kitchen,” Mom said before leaving us.She has a confused look on her face. I don’t know what she has in her head, but I think it surprised her. I talk little and seeing me talking to a stranger maybe creep her out.“It
Vad’s Point of View“Today is your first day in school. Don’t forget what we’ve practiced. If you do something that I rarely do, we’re done,” Kylo said.She stood at the door of my room, looking at me while I was fixing myself in front of the mirror. Geez, these glasses make her look ancient.“If something bad happens, call me. I bought a new phone since I broke yours,” she added.“Okay, okay. Is this how it feels like to have a Mom? Thank God, I don’t have any,” I said.I think she has forgotten that I’m way older than her.“Treat this as your most dangerous mission. I bet you’re not fond of failures,” she said.“You should really stop sounding like my superior because it irritates me. I know what I’m doing so shut your anxiety,” I said.I grabbed my bag and walk past her. I went downstairs and saw
It’s my second day at school. I want to make a scene regardless of Kylo’s threats. Speaking of, the door opened and revealed her who was looking at me from the back.“Are you ready?” she asked.“I’ve never been this ready,” I replied as I faced her.She examined me from head to foot. Her mouth flung open.“What did you do to me? I look… beautiful,” she said.“I transformed you into a human being.”I put on some makeup and lenses. I also got rid of her glasses.“I don’t know if this is a good thing, but don’t show off too much,” she said.“You should thank me, kid. If you were my daughter, I would also do the same thing.”She looks at me for a minute. I feel like she’s tearing up.“What?” I asked.“Nothing,” she said and looked away.“How did you learn how to put on some makeup? Have you been gay?”“No. I have to learn it for undercover purposes. Impressive, right?”“Yeah, whate
Kylo’s Point of ViewI thought Wagner was handling things pretty well, not until I saw him yesterday. He arrived home with a dirty uniform and bruises on his body. Wagner said that he let John beat him to a pulp. He did what I told him.At that moment, I felt guilty. For a second, I thought Wagner doesn’t deserve to suffer like I did. It seems like he inherited my bad luck. I felt sorry that he has to maintain my image.Mom was always busy with work that sometimes I forget that I have a mother. I understand that it’s hard to raise a child alone, so I didn’t plant any hatred for her. I still love her more than anyone else because she’s all I have.Staying at home with nothing to do makes me sick. I can’t figure out how to get our lives back. I have to breathe some fresh air.I went out to the grocery store to look around. My eyes scanned the shelves, and it landed on a napkin. I suddenly rem
It surprised me to see Wagner arrived home wearing a jersey uniform. It looks familiar to me. I sat on the sofa while having a cup of coffee. It reminds me of my stay in Apostria. How I miss that place, especially the food.“What is going on?” I asked while crossing my arms.He put his bag on the couch and stood in front of me. He turned around, showing to me the back of the jersey.“Son of a bitch… Is that Treyton’s jersey? Why are you wearing that?” I almost yelled with my lungs out.“He gave it to me.”“And why would he do that?”“Because I’m cool,” he smirked as he sat on the sofa in front of me.“I don’t believe you. First, he never notices me at school. Second, he wouldn’t just give me a jersey without a reason. Third, he can’t possibly like me. So how on Earth did you do it? I bet you stole it, didn&rsqu
Before we leave the house, I left a letter to Mom, which I pinned on the fridge. I told her we have camping and it will take us a week, while Wagner will stay with a friend that he met at the grocery store. Wagner fabricated a document which states that our school will have a camp and I’m pretty sure that it will convince her.We packed a few things for our one-week stay in Wagner’s house if we’re going to make it alive. His place was farther than I expect it to be. We rode two buses and a cab. It took us 16 hours to arrive a few blocks away from his house.While we’re inside the cab, we wore a black jumpsuit and black facemask to hide our identity. We also used earphones so we could talk with each other when the race begins.The worst part was we were unarmed. I don’t know if his plan will work out, but the least I can do was to believe. I was so nervous that I took tranquilizers to minimize my panic attack.
Wagner’s brows crossed.“What are you talking about? I could see that you haven’t recovered from the incident last night,” he said in dismay.His response tells me he wasn’t ready for another near-death experience.“Maybe,” I replied.“Let’s have some breakfast. I cooked something.”He gleefully led the way out of the master’s bedroom.When I came out of the room, a gigantic chandelier caught my attention. It was hanging at the center of the living room, which was downstairs. It seems like everything was shining.The staircase was modern European style, and the railings were shining with gold. The living room set up was colored gray with minimalist designs from the sofa to the carpet.I walked down the stairs behind him in awe. His place was fancy.“By the way, How about those gunmen? Where are they?” I asked.He walked towards the kitchen.“They’re gone,” he said while setting up the table.
After hearing what Wagner said, my mind became numb. I felt like listening to a theory without supporting evidence. His idea was inconceivable.“You want me to fight you? Are you kidding me?”I forced a laugh.“You want me to test your strength, right? Then it’s the only measurement that I can offer and it’s more precise than any tool in this world.”The tension slowly crawled inside my body.Though my posture, skills, and confidence have improved, I still don’t think that I can beat him.“What’s wrong? I thought I’ve encouraged you enough?” he said.Frustration was evident on his face.I clenched my fists as I looked down in shame.“I don’t think I’m ready to fight you,” I firmly said.“Well, you can’t go for another adventure without fighting me. Anyone can beat you up with the state of mi