The next morning, Kenneth and Frank did their best to act normal. They sat in their usual spots in class, chatted with classmates, and even laughed at a few jokes. But beneath the surface, both of them were on edge. Every glance, every passing student felt like they were being watched, like someone was waiting for them to slip up.
Kenneth, in particular, struggled to focus. His body still felt strange—like it wasn't entirely his. His senses remained heightened, making the hum of the fluorescent lights in the classroom unbearable. He could hear heartbeats, the soft scratching of pencils against paper, the nervous tapping of a girl's foot three rows behind him. It was all *too much.*
At one point, his teacher called on him to answer a question from the reading assignment. Kenneth stared at the words on the page, but they blurred together. He blinked, trying to focus, but something about the text made his skin crawl. The words seemed to rearrange themselves, shifting in ways that defied logic. He could almost *hear* them whispering.
"Kenneth?"
The teacher's voice snapped him out of it. He quickly shook his head. "Uh—sorry, sir. Could you repeat the question?"
A few students chuckled. The teacher sighed. "Try to stay with us, Mr. Reyes."
Frank shot him a look but said nothing. Kenneth barely made it through the rest of the class. By the time the lunch bell rang, he all but bolted out of the room.
---
The cafeteria was packed when Kenneth and Frank arrived. The usual clatter of trays, the chatter of students, and the occasional burst of laughter filled the air. Kenneth grabbed a tray and followed Frank to their usual spot, but he barely touched his food. His appetite had been off since the night in the woods, and the scent of food—normally something comforting—now felt overwhelming.
"Dude, you gonna eat that?" Frank asked, pointing at Kenneth's untouched burger.
Kenneth shook his head. "Not hungry."
Frank shrugged and stole a few fries. "You've been acting weird all day."
Before Kenneth could respond, a familiar voice called out. "Yo, Reyes! You coming to practice later?"
Kenneth looked up to see Jason Fernandez, the captain of the basketball team, approaching with his arm draped around his girlfriend, Jessa. Kenneth had always found Jason a little full of himself, but the guy had talent. Jessa, on the other hand, was one of the most popular girls in school—and, as Kenneth knew, Frank had been crushing on her since grade school.
"Uh, yeah. I don't know, man. Been feeling off lately," Kenneth replied.
Jason smirked. "Come on, dude. Coach is expecting you. And Mariah's watching."
At the mention of her name, Kenneth felt his stomach twist. Mariah. The girl he had been crushing on for months. He glanced toward the other side of the cafeteria and spotted her sitting with her friends, laughing at something on her phone. She was effortlessly beautiful, with her long dark hair and bright eyes.
"I'll try," Kenneth said, trying to sound casual.
Jason nodded before turning his attention back to Frank. "And you, still gawking at my girl?" he teased, nudging Jessa.
Frank turned red. "W-what? No, man. Just eating my lunch."
Jessa giggled, clearly aware of Frank's longstanding crush on her. "Relax, Frank. I don't bite."
Frank looked like he wanted to disappear, but before the conversation could continue, Coach Navarro appeared, clapping his hands loudly. "Alright, boys! Let's go. Practice starts in five."
Kenneth hesitated before standing. Maybe playing basketball would take his mind off things. Maybe he just needed to move to get rid of this restless energy inside him.
---
The gym was buzzing with movement as the team started warming up. Kenneth fell into routine drills, pushing himself harder than usual. The squeak of sneakers on polished wood, the rhythmic bounce of the ball—it should have been familiar, grounding. But something felt off.
During a one-on-one play against Jason, Kenneth felt a surge of raw energy course through his body. He stole the ball, dodged past him, and made a shot without thinking. It was *too* fast. Jason stared at him in shock.
"Damn, Reyes. What was that?" Jason said, laughing. "Didn't know you had that kind of speed."
Kenneth forced a grin, but inside, he was panicking. His heart was racing, not from exertion, but from something else entirely. He felt *wild*—like he was losing control. And then, just for a second, he caught his reflection in the gym mirror.
His eyes were glowing yellow.
He stumbled back, nearly tripping over his own feet. His vision blurred, his senses overloaded. He could hear the pounding of everyone's hearts, the smell of sweat and adrenaline filling his nostrils. His breathing became ragged.
"Kenneth?" Frank's voice cut through the haze.
Kenneth clenched his fists, forcing himself to breathe. He squeezed his eyes shut, willed the feeling to go away. When he opened them again, the glow was gone.
"I—I need some air," Kenneth muttered before rushing out of the gym.
---
Frank found him outside, leaning against the wall, his hands shaking. "Dude, what the hell was that?"
Kenneth shook his head. "I don't know."
Frank hesitated before speaking. "Look, I was at my dad's station last night. I heard something."
Kenneth sat up. "What?"
"There's a rumor going around." Frank lowered his voice. "One of the survivors from the 2010 massacre is back in Cavite."
Kenneth felt his stomach drop. "The massacre?"
Frank nodded. "You know the one—twelve people slaughtered in one night. No suspect, no explanation. The case went cold, and the only survivor—Max Salonso—disappeared right after."
Kenneth felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't know why, but something about that name sent a strange sensation through him, like a memory he couldn't quite grasp. *Max Salonso.*
"This has to be connected," Kenneth muttered. "I don't know how, but it is."
Frank watched him carefully. "You sure about that?"
Kenneth nodded. "I *know* it."
Frank sighed. "Then I guess we're paying him a visit."
Kenneth swallowed hard, staring off into the distance. He didn't know what he expected to find at Max Salonso's old home. But deep down, he knew this was the only way to get the answers he so desperately needed.
And he was ready to face whatever truth waited for him there.
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