A night sky full of blotted stars could have been so calming and satisfying to the eyes. But for this night, the sky is beige, awful, and weeping. The vengeful clouds blindfolded the stars, throwing its sorrow waters down to the land. And for every drop it falls, tears are being washed away from Andrew’s face as if hindering to console his emotions overflowing with hate and guilt upon himself.

The drops of rain slowly wiped the bloodstains on his white shirt out, leaving only a few traces. His breath was unsteady and his legs were trembling from the combination of cold and perhaps from the rush he made out of the warehouse heading to the place where his mind takes him. He was no longer wearing any shoes. His pants were grubby on the knees from the constant stumbling and falling on the ground.

At one last turn, he stepped on the grass, falling on his knees in front of a tomb named after the man who died because of his selfish love. His eyes set on his legs as if staring at the tomb would blind him. In his right hand, a knife was in place. He gazed at it. It still has some traces of blood. His expression darkened at the sight, as he remembered how he just hurt his best friend using his own two hands. His hand trembled violently at the thought. He held his wrist in his left hand and tears came rushing through once again. He then forced himself to gaze at the tomb, at the name that was written on it.



Emman Figueroa



“Why?” Andrew asked as his bottom lip quivered. “Why did you do that?”

Andrew felt like his world was falling apart. He loved Emman so much. He gave everything to him. There was no secret he hid from him and for the first time before, he believed that there was someone who would not leave him. Emman was his everything.

“Do you hate me? Do you hate me that much to kill yourself?” he went on, his voice was low and brittle.

The rain was getting heavier. The thrumming noise it creates makes Andrew’s chest hammered in pain. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the torturing sound.

“It was mom who did it first. Then you…” he continued with a caustic tone. “I’m Dad’s son after all.”

Andrew clutched the knife with both of his hands, looking straight at Emman’s tomb. He stared at it with an agonizing expression. And as if it was a cue, he pointed the tip of the knife on his chest as a roar of thunder bellowed in the night sky.



*****



11 years ago…



“HmmmMmmmM~~”

With a cheerful smile as he hummed a sound he just heard on a cartoon show, Andrew strolled his little blue bike across a slightly upward road ascending uphill. The shadows casting from the trees lining each side covered the road. The wind was cool and had a scent of fresh grass that blows against Andrew’s messy brown hair. As he weaved his bike, a gate slowly appeared from the vision of his big green eyes.

Andrew plastered a wide smile as he swerved to a full stop in front of an enormous gate of a mansion. On the other side, a guard was standing on his post, eyeing young Andrew. The guard was in his early forties with a black mustache under his nose that seems to cover his smile as he stared at the child. “Good afternoon Mr. Andrew,” he greeted, bowing at him.

“Good afternoon, sir!” Andrew responded with a cheerfully high-pitched voice.

The guard opened the gate, and he let Andrew passed through, still riding on his bike. He went straight to the mansion as if it was his home. The guard sighed in relief as he stared at him.

Andrew passed by on an enormous fountain with four layers atop, each oozing with water gushing down to the bottom. He then strolled his bike towards a plain but huge three-story mansion with sixteen window towers on top. They painted the outer walls with pastel green, while they painted the corner posts of the exterior with maroon. It has a small porch at the front, with four columns attached to the roof.

Andrew stopped in front of the porch. He dismounted from his bike, placed it on a pillar, and went straight to the main door. “Helllllloooo!” he shouted as he knocked his tiny knuckles on the wooden entrance.

A woman dressed in a maid's outfit opened the door and smiled at him. “Andrew!”

“Hello, Miss Anna!” Andrew greeted as he smiled warmly at the young girl.
"What took you so long?" the young girl asked Andrew. Concern was evident on her face.
Andrew scratched his head. "I just scrammed," he whispered, and then a grin plastered on his face. "Looks like dad is in a grim mood," he continued as he chuckled.

The woman laughed with a worried expression, but she’s more relieved with Andrew’s presence. “I think you need to hurry, Andrew.”

Andrew nodded. He knew exactly the reason the young maid was worried. He threw his hand in the air as he waived on her. He didn't take long and hurriedly walked up to an enormous staircase.

The wide marble staircase is quite long. Running from it will surely make a kid tired, but it’s no problem for Andrew. He has strong stamina and endurance. And besides, the staircase in their mansion was way bigger compared to this. When he reached the top, he controlled his legs and started walking to the left with a light step so that it won’t make a sound. He walked straight towards a large fiberglass double door and as he got nearer at it, a loud yet muffled voice of a man was echoing.

“HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD I TELL YOU? YOU SHOULD BE GETTING PERFECT SCORES IN ALL OF YOUR EXAMS! YOU ARE DEGRADING THE SANCHEZ CLAN!”

Andrew heard a muffled whipping sound, a whip of a belt. He then heard his best friend’s weeping voice as he apologizes and pleads to stop.

“WHY AREN’T YOU LIKE YOUR TWIN, HUH? ALLAN ALWAYS GETS PERFECT SCORES AND WHY THE HELL ARE YOU ONLY GETTING 95 AND LOWER THAN THAT?!”

Andrew knew well what to do. He had done this so many times. He lumbered back on the top of the stairs and when he reached it; he faced the direction where he had been. He then posed himself like a runner. He took a deep breath and, with the count of three, Andrew shouted as loud as he could, running straight back to the large fiberglass double door.

“ALLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!!!!!!!!”

Without bothering himself to even knock, Andrew immediately opened the door and saw his best friend sitting on a couch with a book in front of him. Beside him was a man in his late thirties smiling innocently.

“What else do you want Daddy to teach you? Hm?” He asked, running his fingers through Allen’s hair. But the latter did not respond at all. He was just peering at the book.

The man then looked at Andrew and smiled. “Hello, Andrew.”

Andrew smiled widely in response. “Hello, Mr. Sanchez!”

Mr. Sanchez then stood up from his seat and went straight to Andrew. He patted Andrew’s head, then shifted his body to glance at his son, who was just staring intently at the book in front of him. “You can play with Andrew.”

Allen nodded warily. Andrew then stared at Mr. Sanchez and grinned. “Can we go out, Mr. Sanchez? Please…” he pleaded.

Mr. Sanchez smiled forcefully and nodded. “Sure. Whatever you want, Andrew.” He then trudged out of the room, leaving the two kids.

Andrew first waited until he can no longer hear Mr. Sanchez’s footsteps. When he finally disappeared, he immediately ran to Allen. “Allen!”

He leaned closer to him and saw Allen’s legs trembling in fear. He hates it. He hates Allen’s dad. He wanted to help him. But the only help he could give is being a Sy. Even for a kid, he knew enough to learn that Allen’s dad was just being nice to him, for he is a son of the chairman, the chairman and, the owner of the company where Allen’s dad is working.

"Let’s go." Andrew pulled Allen from his seat and together they went out of the mansion.




Andrew swerved to a stop in front of a 7’-square treehouse. It has a 30” deep deck on two sides and is built on one tree and two support posts. The wooden treehouse has a vaulted roof and has all the things kids want: a wrap-around deck, a bucket on a pulley to haul up food and supplies, and operable windows with screens to keep out bugs.

Allen got off Andrew's bike first. Normally, Allen used his bicycle to get on the treehouse, but Andrew figured Allen cannot pedal on his own today. Andrew leaned his bicycle against the tree trunk and supported Allen on climbing up to their small headquarters. The treehouse was owned by Andrew. It was built near their mansion and, later on; he shared it with Allen.

When they reached the top, Allen slowly sat on the floor while Andrew took a box from a small cabinet. There’s nothing much inside their treehouse; just a few posters of their favorite volleyball teams plastered on the walls, two volleyballs on their mini drawer, some snacks placed on a tiny box, one tiny mattress, and two pillows that were just rolled together and placed just beside a trash bin. On the door, plastered some of their pictures together.

Andrew sat beside Allen and placed a mini box beside him. "Remove your shirt," He ordered, which Allen easily obliged.

Andrew opened the box and took a small ointment with "Arnicare Bruise Gel" written in it. Allen was already facing his back from Andrew. The latter squeezed the ointment and a few gel came oozing from it. He placed the gel on his little fingertips and anchored his attention towards his best friend’s large bruise marks.

"Do you want to study with me?" Andrew asked.

"You suck at every subject," Allen replied, which was immediately turned to a yelp and a frowned face when he felt something touched his back.

"And I suck at tending bruises," Andrew retorted as he applied the gel on the bruise marks, making Allen groan even louder.

Allen was in pain, but he chuckled at Andrew’s sadistic humor. Andrew smiled as well as he continued to apply the ointment on Allen’s back.

For Allen, Andrew is not just his best friend, but a savior. He’s the only person who cares for him truly. His dad hates him. His mother died giving birth to him and Allan. His twin brother didn’t talk to him that much and just locked himself up in the library. He thought maybe his twin brother hates him too because he’s not as brilliant as him. The only person who cares for him is Andrew. His best friend saves him every time, tends to his bruises, makes him feel better, and plays volleyball with him. He’s too grateful for Andrew that he’ll do anything for him in return.

"Thank you," Allen murmured.

"I told you not to say that," Andrew retorted. He hates it when Allen says things like that. He knows Allen will do the same thing for him and he doesn’t need his gratitude for doing things a best friend will normally do.

Allen shifted his body to face Andrew. He then stared at his green eyes. "When I grow up... I swear, I’ll protect you, Andrew."

Andrew laughed in disbelief at his best friend’s sudden pledge. "Protect me from what?" he asked as he guffawed.

“A-Anything!” Allen implored.

Andrew just shook his head and smiled at Allen's promise.

After the two spent their time in the treehouse all day, Andrew took Allen back to their mansion, then he immediately went home as well. It was already five in the afternoon when Andrew arrived at the gate of their mansion. Unlike the Sanchez residence, the security of their mansion was tighter. It has a lot of security guards stationing on the two gates and around the main house. Andrew doesn’t mind them, as they do not mind him too.

He entered gate B because apart from this gate being closer to the Sanchez Residence; he didn't have to go through the main entrance of the mansion. The main entrance is closer to the other gate. When he entered gate B, he pedaled his bicycle and took the long path to the main house. It usually took him fifteen minutes to pedal from the gate to the mansion, but those fifteen minutes were not a hindrance for him not to see the mansion. With its size, it can be seen immediately at the gate. The mansion was in the middle of several acres of rice fields and a golf course.

When he arrived at the mansion, he immediately parked his bicycle in the parking lot where the guests' vehicles were parked. The main garage was on the other side and Andrew would need a few minutes to circle the mansion just to get there. Fortunately, he didn’t have to do that because someone will surely move his bike to their main garage.

In front of the mansion, there is a large outdoor pool Andrew still could not figure out what for since no one even bathes there. The mansion itself has an area of fifty-four thousand square feet that would have been a perfect hide-and-seek area for Andrew and Allen if not for them being afraid of Andrew's father. They painted the whole mansion with cream color and has several white windows. Its main porch is like that of the municipal hall. Andrew has thought sometimes that their house could compare to the presidential palace.

Just like Allen, his dad never cared for him. If Mr. Sanchez is paying too much attention to Allen, Andrew’s dad never paid attention to him or even stared at him for long. Whatever he does, his dad never just cared. Even though he always has failing grades in school, always leaving the mansion, he heard nothing from him. His dad just ignored him. The only person his dad cares about is his mom. He loves her too much. He gives everything to her. He financially supported his mother on her studies until she became a doctor, gave her clinic, and provided her with all the material things that a rich man could give to a woman. Perhaps his mother only married his father for all the help he gave her. Her mom always spent her days in her clinic bringing his younger sister Andrea with her. But unlike his dad, her mom loves him. She prepares Andrew’s meal before she gets to work. She always asks Andrew how he spent his day. Though he only sees her and Andrea before her mom gets to work and before she sleeps.

He ambled his way inside the mansion, heading straight to an enormous staircase. When he reached the top, he immediately heard the shouts of his parents. He had thought his parents weren’t home yet. They were always at work during this hour. He saw his dad earlier this morning wearing a choleric expression and so he thought it might be a bad idea for him to go out early, not until his dad leaves. Even if his dad ignores him, he’s still afraid of him. He slowly walked towards his father's office until the sound of his mother’s shout stopped him.

"I know it was you!" Andrew heard his mom. "It was you who killed my assistant. He will never kill himself. I know it was you!"

Andrew’s eyes widened. He remembered her mom telling him she has a new assistant because the last one had passed away.

"And now... You killed Mr. Martinez."

Andrew gasped, and as soon as he realized it, he immediately covered his mouth. Mr. Martinez was his mom’s driver for almost three years now. He was kind and approachable. He always talks to him and he treated him like his own father. He was even the man who built his treehouse.

Andrew couldn't believe what he heard. He could not believe that his father could do such an accusation even if he had not been a good father to him.

"Why do you care?" He then heard his dad. "It was just your assistant, and the other one was your driver. Why do you care so much? Was it because you have something for them? What? Feelings? Affection?"

Andrew then heard a slap that made him flinched.

"WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?!"

His dad cachinnated. It almost sounded evil to Andrew’s ears. "You are only mine. You are my property. No one will ever get near you as close as I am. Do you understand?!"

"You’re crazy!" her mom wobbled.

"I’m not. I just love you." A sneer was clear in his dad’s voice.

"That’s not love. You’re obsessed, Angelo. You killed them for love? You’ve gone mad. I am no one’s property!" Her mom went on, then Andrew heard loud footsteps getting nearer, but it was halted. He heard a slam as if someone was dragged down on the floor.

"Where do you think you’re going?" his dad asked in a harsh voice.

"I’m leaving this house! I’ll bring Andrew and Andrea with me! Let go of me!" her mom shouted. Andrew wanted to barge in and help his mom, but what can he do? He is just a kid who couldn’t even move a single leg.

Andrew then heard his dad cackled. "Leaving? You are not going anywhere."

Andrew found his legs moving, but it was not for him to step forward. He took a step back and ran away from the room. He couldn’t believe what he just heard. For a kid, it was too hard to process.

After what happened, he learned his dad locked her mom in a room. Andrew would sneak into that room to talk to her mom through the door. From the first two days, her mom’s words were comforting, telling him it will be fine, that she’ll be fine. But on the third day, the words he heard from his mom were the words he didn’t want to hear. "I don’t want to live like this. I can’t forgive myself for dragging those innocent people. Please, don’t be like your dad, Andrew."

And that was the last words Andrew heard from her mom. The next day, they found her dead, hanging herself inside the room. It was a traumatic experience for Andrew. He told Allen everything. Even Allen couldn’t believe it at first, but he swore to him he’ll keep it a secret.

"I will never be like dad," Andrew promised the day they buried her mom. "I won’t." He then clenches his fists as tears started falling from his eyes. A warm hand then grasped his fist and unfolded it. The hand held his and interlocked with it.

“You won’t,” Allen murmured as he held Andrew’s hand tightly.