Read with BonusRead with Bonus

IDENTITY: THREE

ALEX POV

The sound of the hair dryer filled the room. It's 5:33 on a Thursday morning. I'm still sleepy, but I had to wake up because we still have a class at 7:30. It's always been my daily struggle every morning. Sometimes, when I'm too lazy, I don't go to school. For me, missing a day is not a big deal. It's just one day! What can happen in a single day?

I glanced at my phone, which I hadn't noticed playing my favorite song earlier, probably due to the loud noise from the dryer. I checked the time and found out it was already 6:00 in the morning. It meant I still had an hour to prepare and walk to school. After a few minutes of grooming, I finished. I was about to wear my uniform when I realized something.

"Oh right, I'm suspended!"

I couldn't help but laugh. I threw my uniform on the bed and lay down. I looked at the ceiling, remembering what I had done earlier. The struggle with the cold water, and fixing myself up, all for nothing.

Wait. What about Maica? Hahaha, maybe she woke up early too! Hahaha, she's so paranoid. Speaking of her, I saw her in my dream. What's that supposed to mean?

A knock on my door stopped me from wondering. I looked at the door and waited for the second knock. Tok! Tok! Tok!

"Alex?" a familiar voice of an elderly woman called out to me. Based on her voice, she's probably in her 60s to 80s.

Lola Vemine?

I quickly got up from my bed and headed to the door. I unlocked it, twisted the knob, and slowly opened the door. Lola Vemine greeted me. She is the owner of this boarding house and also my guardian. She said she knew my parents, so she took me in. At first, I was shy around her when I first arrived, but eventually, I started liking her. She's like a real grandmother to me. Even though we're not related by blood, I could feel a connection, as if we're somehow related. Maybe we are related... somehow.

"Yes, La?" I asked her, raising my eyebrows. I call her "La" when I talk to her. But when addressing her to other people, I call her Ms. Vemine.

"I just wanted to check on you. Are you okay here?"

I was touched when she asked me that. No one else cares about me except Lola and Maica. In our class, I'm the so-called loner because no one wants to be friends with me due to the rumors about me killing a student from the school we're staying in.

To be honest, no one wanted me around, aside from Maica and Lola Vemine. But I never hated myself because of that. In fact, I liked it. I preferred being with just Maica or Lola. I could feel their sincerity in wanting to be with me, and I'm so grateful for that.

"I'm okay, La. How about you?" I replied, smiling at her.

"I'm perfectly fine, dear," she answered with a smile on her face. "Why aren't you getting dressed? You might be late."

I immediately felt nervous, embarrassed, and scared. I haven't told her yet. "Uhh... well... you see, La..." Come on, Alex! You'll be found out! "We don't have classes. Our teacher got sick." I tried my best to look her in the eyes so she wouldn't suspect anything.

"Is that so? So you're just going to mope around here?"

"We have plans with Maica."

"That's good because your new neighbor, who just moved in, asked for a favor."

"What's that?"

"He wants to explore to get to know the place, but he doesn't know anyone to accompany him. Is it okay if it's you?"

I knew it. This day was supposed to be an Alex and Maica Hangout day! Why is there an intruder? But I don't want to reject Lola.

"Okay."

"Thank you, dear! I'll inform him."

"Uh... sure."

Lola immediately left with a wide smile on her face. She went to the door next to my room. She knocked on it, and someone inside opened it. I stepped out a bit to see who owned the room.

As I walked out, the first thing I noticed was his nose. Damn! So sharp! I didn't regret looking at him. For some unknown reason, I suddenly had a headache. It felt like something pierced my head, causing me to lose my balance. I could feel myself falling, but with my fast reflexes, I managed to grab onto the wall. But I ended up sitting down.

"Alex?!" Lola shouted in panic when she saw me on the floor while leaning against the wall, my eyes closed. My head still hurt, but not as much as earlier. "Alex, what happened?" Lola asked worriedly, but I couldn't answer. I was too focused on easing the pain.

"It might be a thunderclap headache; it's just normal for teens at this time," the man explained. Even with my eyes closed, I could sense that Lola was worried.

"Sorry, Sky, it seems Alex won't be able to accompany you,"

"No, La!" I interjected. "It's okay. I can handle it. My brain probably just got shocked, that's all." I don't want to be a burden to this old lady. She has given me more than enough, and I don't want to repay her through this.

"Are you sure?"

I slowly opened my eyes, and Lola Vemine's worried face greeted me. Behind her stood a man about my age, wearing a leather jacket and a black and white shirt, paired with black skinny jeans and white shoes. He looked like a typical college boy or a campus heartthrob.

I tried to get up, even though my head still hurt a bit. When I stood up, I slowly let go of the wall, which I almost knocked over. Luckily, Lola was holding onto me.

"It doesn't seem like it. You should rest, and I'll get you some medicine," the old lady suggested.

"No need, La."

"Don't be stubborn."

"She's right, Alex," Sky agreed. "Taking a rest would be a better idea."


I'm in my room right now, lying on my soft bed with my eyes closed. My head still hurts a bit, but unlike earlier, the pain was bearable. I wanted to sleep, but I couldn't. The thing is, Sky was sitting on the side of my bed. Lola left him to watch over me while she went to get the medicine.

What does he think I am, a child?

"Do you like to draw?" Sky suddenly asked in his deep voice. I don't know, but every time he speaks, my head hurts more. And I could feel the vibration of the air coming from his mouth.

"Sometimes," I replied briefly.

"And how often is that sometimes?" Why does it feel like I'm being interrogated? What does he care? "Sorry. I'm just curious." Curious, he says.

The whole room suddenly fell silent, and all I could hear were the sounds of passing cars and nearby noises.

"She must be a nice friend."

Who? Maica?

"A great friend," I replied, opening my eyes and reaching for my cell phone. I was surprised to see five messages from Maica's mom. It's strange to receive a message from her. From what I remember, Auntie only texted when something was going on.

I quickly opened the messages, thinking about what might have happened. It may be bad, but it's better to make sure. Besides, my dream. I knew there was something behind that dream.

The first message was sent an hour earlier. That's the time when I was lying down. Maybe because my phone was on silent.

From: Tita

09-21-19

6:45 am

Alex?

From: Tita

09-21-19

6:47 am

Is Maica with you? She kinda left her phone.

I breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Tita's message wasn't bad news after all. I thought it was something serious. I proceeded to open Tita's third message and found out that Maica had just left her phone at home. The fifth message was a favor from Tita, asking me to text her when Maica and I meet.

To: Tita

09-21-19

7:08 am

Sure, Tita.

After sending the message, I lay back down. I let out a big sigh and relaxed my body again.

"Alex?" Sky called out to me.

"Hmm?"

"I-"

Sky was cut off from speaking when the door suddenly burst open. Startled, I stood up and looked towards the door. I was surprised to see Maica holding onto the door, catching her breath, sweating, with a bruise on the right side of her lip.

"What the?! What happened?" I asked with concern. I quickly left the bed and went to her. I cupped her cheeks, and then I saw the bruises more clearly. Not just on her lips but also on her left cheek, as if someone had slapped her.

I saw Sky staring at us in shock as if his brain hadn't processed what was happening. I looked back at Maica, who was now crying. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her, but my anger towards the person who did this overshadowed everything.

"What happened, Maica?"

She just stared at the floor while sobbing. I noticed both her hands were clenched into fists as if holding a grudge against someone. And I think she does. I let her cry for a moment. All I could do now was comfort her. After a few minutes of crying and comforting, she finally stopped. Just then, Sky arrived followed by Lola. Lola Vemine instantly showed a shocked face when she saw Maica and quickly went to her side.

"What happened, dear?" she asked and sat beside her. Sky just stared at us, trying not to get involved.

"I just tripped, La," she lied. I knew that excuse was useless because Lola never easily believed lies. I knew she joined in.

"Next time, be careful when walking. Your beautiful face is a waste if you get hurt," Lola said, making Maica smile. "Okay, Alex. You take care of Maica. I have things to attend to. There's a new tenant." With a nod, I said goodbye to her. Lola stood up and walked out of the room. I followed her gaze until she was gone.

I returned to Maica, who was still silent. I could feel her trembling from fear of whoever did this to her.

"Here's the kit and the water you asked for, Alex," Sky interrupted me. He placed it on a chair and approached us. I was about to take the compress when Sky spoke. "You should do ice compress first before applying heat," he suggested, so I quickly took the ice bag and gave it to Maica. She promptly took the ice bag and placed it on her bruise.

I was about to ask her again when she spoke. "That b*tch."

Which b*tch? Trisha?

"Who are you referring to?"

"Who else? She really managed to get me beaten up."

"You mean Trisha?"

She didn't nod, but the anger in her eyes was enough to confirm my guess. "She messed with the wrong girl. She's gonna pay for this." Her fist tightened, and she was shaking with anger.

I got scared.

I was afraid of what she might do or what might happen to her. I didn't want that dream to become a reality.

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter