LOGINHERAIAH ‘Hera’ BAUTISTA “Oh my God! Why do you look like that?!” My ears prickled at the sharp pitch of Alex’s voice. It was far too early in the day, yet his was the very first sound to reach me. Lifting my face from where it had been planted on my office desk, I straightened my posture and gave him a weary glance. He was still dressed in sharp, masculine attire—nothing about his appearance would suggest he was gay, so long as he kept his mouth closed. Now he was looking at me with a grimace, as if the sight of me made his skin crawl. “Tired… exhausted…” I managed in short, heavy syllables. “Huh? Just exhausted, or did you not sleep at all, girl?” he drawled, flamboyant as ever, before pulling his chair closer. Our desks sat side by side, barely a foot apart. “Look at your eyes. Good heavens! Are you wearing glasses? Your bags are enormous,” he pressed, pointing directly at my face. I stared off into space, my mind foggy and heavy with sleep deprivation. He was right—I had no
HERAIAH ‘Hera’ BAUTISTA I still haven’t recovered from the shock of the incredible discovery I made just moments ago. Thaddeus has lost his memories. He remembers nothing at all. Could it be because I struck him so hard with that shovel back then? His brain must have been affected. I don’t know if this turn of events is good or bad, but one thing is clear: I can survive this. It seems I’ll escape this man’s grasp, and live to see another day instead of dying by his hand. I just need to stay calm, act as if everything is normal, and earn his trust. With no memories to guide him, I hold the advantage—and I must use this weakness to keep myself safe. Gathering every ounce of courage I had left, I reached out and took hold of his right hand. He was gripping a surgical knife, its sharp edge pressed against my throat. My gaze was steady as I met his eyes, determined to look brave despite the fear coiling in my gut. “Mr. Thaddeus! Saying things like that hurts me deeply.” The words tu
HERAIAH ‘Hera’ BAUTISTA “Girl! Where are you off to? It’s still so early!” I stop mid-step as I hear Alex’s voice. I turn to look at her with one eyebrow raised, my shoulders slumped and exhaustion plain on my face. “Whoa! Kalerki! You look worse than a wilted vegetable!” she says, and I roll my eyes. I let out a long sigh. “I’m going home—I feel like I’m about to pass out from tiredness.” She gapes at me. “Going home?! What do you mean ‘going home’? Why would you go home?!” She fires off questions one after another. “We already agreed we’d hit the bar tonight, remember?!” I rub my forehead in frustration. “You know where my house is, right? Before you were so scared for me to go home when it’s dark—but now you want me to head back in the middle of the night?!” She laughs and slings an arm around my shoulders. “Come on, Hera—it’s rare we get to do this. Plus, I’ll drive you home—” “Shhhh!” I cut her off, giving her a sharp look. “You said the same thing last year, Alex
HERAIAH ‘Hera’ BAUTISTA “AHH! HELP! HELP!” I scream at the top of my lungs as I run toward my house. Rain is pouring hard now. I have no neighbors nearby, and I don’t know if anyone can hear me. I don’t dare look back—I’m too scared of the handsome man turned killer who’s surely chasing me down. “Lord!” I cry out, tears streaming down my face. “Why does my house feel so far away?” I’ve been running for what feels like forever, but it’s as if the path keeps stretching longer. I’m coughing as I run, my eyes nearly bulging when I slip on the muddy ground. “ARGHHH!” I groan as I fall hard, landing flat in the muck. “Shit! Shit!” I shout, realizing what’s happened. I’ve dropped my phone, but I still cling to the shovel in my right hand. I’m about to stand up when I feel something press against the back of my head. I freeze where I sit, my heart hammering so hard I can barely breathe. Fear roots me to the spot. “Please, please! I still have dreams to chase, Lord,” I whispe
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 dous
WARNING: This story contains explicit contents that's not suitable for young readers. Please read at your own risks. HERAIAH ‘Hera’ BAUTISTA My lips are pressed tight as I sling a shoulder bag over one arm and drag a heavy suitcase behind me. I approach the bus conductor, hand over my luggage, then step inside. The bus is nearly full, but a seat waits at the very back. I hurry there and sink into it. I let out a deep, shuddering breath before fixing my gaze on the empty seat across from me. My heart hammers against my ribs; each passing minute winds the knot of anxiety in my gut tighter. My hands are cold, my mind a whirl of unease. “Calm down… he won’t find you. He won’t find us…” I whisper to myself, rubbing my stomach in slow, soothing circles. Almost three years ago, I witnessed a murder. The scene shook me to my bones and drained the strength from my limbs. The killer tried to silence me too, but fate twisted the moment on its head. With one swing of my shovel, I came







