Shouldn't You Run Away?

HERAIAH ‘Hera’ BAUTISTA

“Hera! Hera!”

I jump—my heart lurches at the loud shout cutting through the air. I furrow my brow and turn toward the voice. There stands my gay best friend, barreling toward me.

“Alex! Why are you yelling like that? Jeez, you nearly gave me a heart attack!” I scold her as she skids to a stop in front of me.

“J-Just… let me catch my breath!” She bends over with hands on her knees, gasping for air.

I shake my head, standing there with a shovel in hand. I’d been tilling the soil for new seedlings just moments before.

“Okay! I’m good now!” she calls out, straightening up to wipe beads of sweat from her forehead.

Of course she’d be this way. The sun is blazing overhead, but this foolhardy soul acts like her skin is as thick as a carabao’s. No hat, no shade—nothing to shield her from the heat.

“What’s the rush? You look like you ran all the way here.” I ask, still frowning.

“My God, Hera!” She shrieks suddenly, bouncing on her feet like a worm doused in salt.

Alex is a big person—broad-shouldered and solid build, with warm brown skin that’s smooth and clear despite her reckless ways. In short, she’s the kind of “handsome” guy every girl gossips about. No one would guess she’s gay; she keeps it hidden thanks to strict, devout parents.

I grimace at her dramatics. “Alright, alright! I’ve asked twice now. Are you gonna tell me, or wait till the sun sets?” I raise an eyebrow at her.

She rolls her eyes, then squares her shoulders and crosses her arms over her chest like she’s about to pick a fight.

“Your dad! Oh my god, shit—he’s so hot in person, girl! I’m losing my mind. I swear I could die just looking at him!” She hisses the words like they’re burning her tongue.

My jaw drops. “You filthy thing! When will you ever clean up that mouth of yours?” I swat her arm, but she just flexes her bicep and wiggles her eyebrows at me.

“Seriously though—he’s here?” I ask, my tone softening.

Alex sobers up at once. “Yeah, girl. He’s with the Mayor and it looks like your old man’s making his name known again. Makes sense, elections are coming up soon.”

I let out a heavy sigh and go back to turning the soil for my seedlings.

“What? Back to work already? Aren’t you gonna go say hi to Governor Daddy?”

I shoot her a sharp look and she clamps her mouth shut. “Oh right… secret. My bad.” She flashes a peace sign. “Fine, fine—you do you! I’m heading back to my post now. Catch you later at the municipal hall!”

I nod and watch her walk away. It’s true: I’m the governor’s daughter, but I’ve never boasted about it. In fact, only Alex knows—the truth is a well-guarded secret. I grew up without him, never knowing who he was. He only showed up the night of my mom’s wake to explain we were his “unofficial family,” and that’s how things had to stay. That was seven years ago.

I’m lucky he made up for lost time. He quietly paid for my studies, sent me allowance, and gave me a place to live. Now I’m twenty-four, with a steady job at the municipal office as an Agriculturist—I don’t need his money anymore. But I still live in the house he gave me back then. The only difference is I insist on paying rent, even though he hates it.

“Heraiah! Come on, you’ll miss the ride!”

“Just a sec!” I call back to one of my colleagues.

The municipal tree-planting event I helped organize is finally over. It’s tied to a scholarship program for local college students—they volunteer to plant trees in exchange for financial aid.

“Hey! Hurry up!” They shout again.

I roll my eyes, grab my bag, and clutch the new shovel I’d just bought. It cost a fortune—I’m not leaving it behind for anything. I’d rather be last than lose this thing.

I run to hop into the back of a pickup truck owned by the town’s rescue team.

“BYE GUYS! Ugh, today was exhausting!” Alex yells to my office mates as they pile onto a bus.

“Take care!” I wave, then turn to Alex. We’re both waiting for transport at the shed across from the municipal hall.

“Hey, why don’t you crash at my place tonight?” She suddenly offers, making me look at her.

I raise an eyebrow. “Why would I? I have my own place, you nut. My pets are waiting for me at home.”

She lets out a long sigh and scans the street. “Girl, I’m worried about you. It’s getting dark! There aren’t any street lights on the way to your house, right? God! Why does your place have to be out in the middle of nowhere? There are so many other spots—why there?”

I laugh and give her arm a light pinch.

“Ow! Really? I’m trying to be concerned here!”

“I’ve been walking that way for seven years, Alex. I know every inch of the road—the smells, how long it takes to get home. What could possibly happen now just because it’s night?”

She scratches the back of her neck. “If only we lived on the same route, I could drive you.”

“Enough! You’re just overthinking because you binge-watch too many action movies.” I cut her off.

We trade a few more jabs before climbing onto separate tricycles heading back to our barangays.

“Just drop me here, Manong.” I get off and pay the driver. Once he’s gone, I pull my phone out of my shoulder bag—holding it in my left hand, my shovel in the right.

The dark path to my house is already in front of me. It’s a narrow dirt road flanked by fields on one side and forest on the other, with no neighbors for miles. I still don’t know why my dad chose this spot for my home.

As always, I start walking with my flashlight cutting through the black. The only sounds are the buzz of insects around me—I’m so used to it, it’s like background music.

“Shit, is it drizzling?” I mutter, feeling tiny drops on my skin. Out of nowhere! And I didn’t bring an umbrella.

I glance up at the sky. The full moon is bright, but dark clouds are creeping in. Looks like heavy rain is coming.

I pick up my pace—I don’t want to get soaked like a drowned rat. I have work tomorrow; I can’t afford to get sick.

I’m almost home—I can see the glow from the solar light by my front door—when I hear rustling in the trees to my left.

I freeze and look toward the forest. “Please tell me that’s not a wild animal!” I grumble, switching off my flashlight.

I don’t know what comes over me, but I start moving toward the sound with only the moon’s fading light to guide me. The drizzle is getting heavier, so I squint to make out shapes behind the thick trunks.

“Could it be Ace? Maybe he got loose…” I murmur to myself, thinking of my dog.

“N-No… please, I’ll tell you everything—please, stop—aughhh…”

A flash of lightning splits the sky, flooding the area with white light. My eyes go wide as I see where the voice is coming from.

“O-Oh my God…” I whisper, clapping a hand over my mouth as I watch a figure drive a blade into a man. A woman’s voice cries out with each strike.

My heart hammers as I look at the killer. When our eyes meet, my breath catches in my throat. If I had to describe him, he looked like a Greek God.

The light vanishes as quickly as it came, plunging us back into darkness. I’m still standing there, my mind struggling to process what I’ve just seen.

Then I hear his voice—cold as ice, cutting through the night.

“Shouldn’t you run away?”