Prologue

Prologue

“CLOSE your eyes and turn around. It’s gonna be alright, little brother,” utos ng kapatid ni Trojan na si Gresso, ang tinig ay bahagyang nanginginig, hindi niya masiguro kung dala ng takot o ng nagbabadyang luha. Walong taon si Trojan, at bagama’t bata pa, alam niyang ang baril na hawak ng kanyang kuya ay hindi na gaya noong laruang iniiyakan niya noon. A group of men are in front of them, carefully watching his older brother while a middle-aged man is begging on his knees, trying to convince his brother to not pull the trigger.

His brows furrowed. “But… He’s—”

“I said turn around!” sigaw ni Gresso, ngunit nang tapunan siya ng tingin ng kapatid ay tuluyang pumatak ang luha sa pisngi nito na kaagad ding pinunasan gamit ang likod ng marungis na palad.

“B—Brother...” tawag niya sa nahihintakutang tinig. Takot hindi lang dahil napagtaasan siya nito ng tinig kung hindi dahil alam niyang hindi basta napaiiyak ang kanyang kapatid. He knew something isn’t right, especially when the group of men started speaking in a language he barely understands. Ngunit nang basag na ngumiti si Gresso, ang luha ay pumapatak habang malambot ang ekspresyon ng mga matang nakatingin sa kanya, kumirot ang puso ni Trojan para sa kapatid.

“P—Please?” Gresso sniffed. “Listen to me and… And I promise you I’ll buy you another car, alright?”

He held the Bumble Bee toy car Gresso bought a month ago as tight as he can. “P—Promise?”

Gresso nodded. “I promise.” He smiled in a painful way Trojan will never forget. “I’ll do everything for you, little brother. Everything…”

Like a good boy he’s always been, Trojan turned around and shut his eyes. Ilang sandal pa ay tuluyang umalingawngaw ang mga putok ng baril at ang pagtangis ng kanyang kapatid.

Gresso just killed a man.

Not the one in front of him but himself.

His innocent self… And that was the day Trojan lost his big brother.