Beginning this year, Yani didn’t expect that he would end up hiking mountains with the goal of fighting against the supernatural. But now, he’s once again on a trail bound for Mt. Makiling in Los Baños, Laguna. And this time, he’ll be faced with the toughest challenge yet—dealing with not one, but two aswangs.

In contrast to the mysterious energy of his previous climbs, this mountain’s atmosphere felt a lot more comforting. It’s almost as if they were being watched over.

Yani nudged at Kris’s side. “Hey, what’s with this strangely comforting ambiance?”

“What ambiance?”

“The “I feel like sleeping” kind of ambiance.”

“Does this mission bore you?”

“Not like that!”

“Then what?”

Yani pulled Kris closer. His body shook from the abruptness. “Why are you holding me?”

“Just let me-” Yani wrapped his arms around Kris—even snuggling up to the latter whose skin is nearly unfamiliar with affection amidst their walk.

“W-What are you doing?!” Kris tried to pull away as hard as he could.

“Making you understand what I’m feeling.”

A tint formed on Kris’s cheeks. 

A second passed, and it turned into a blush.

Another second, and it turned into a flush.

“I- I get it, Yani! Let me go.” He couldn’t even reprimand like he always does. A short circuit ignited in his system, and he somehow got himself trapped in it.

Yani stayed for almost three seconds of silence from the malfunctioning babaylan. Kris simply looked ahead on their walk—unable to speak further. This made Yani smirk. Cute.

Yani gave one last tight squeeze, and pulled away. “So… What’s with that feeling?”

Kris almost wanted to hiss at the taller man. He couldn’t believe that Yani would just quickly move on with the topic despite putting him on a humiliating pedestal.

Kris took a shaky breath before answering. “What you’re feeling is probably the presence of Maria Makiling.”

“Oh, the girl from the legend?”

Kris pinched Yani’s arm.

“Owwie! What was that for?” 

Kris caressed the part he hurt. “Be respectful. She’s not just a fictional character. She’s a diwata.”

“Diwata? Like a guardian spirit?”

“Yes.”

“So you think she’s protecting us right now?”

“That’s very likely.” Kris looked at the girls walking in front of them. “Those two already asked for her guidance after finding out that our mission is here.”

“But I thought Maria Makiling no longer blesses humans after falling in love with a mortal and getting betrayed by him?”

“That’s not it. She only stopped appearing to humans in hopes of not getting hurt again. But, she still helps through the shape of making this mountain bountiful all year round.”

“She could still care for humans even after what she went through?”

Kris halted on his footsteps, and placed his hand on Yani’s chest. “Reminds you of someone?”

If there was something Kris would like to uncover in this world, it would be where Yani’s limits rest upon. It is normal for humans to garner pettiness, anger, and resentment. He knew that very well from how to this day, he holds negative feelings toward the people that wronged him. However, Yani doesn’t seem to have any basin to gather all of those things. His previous bullies, distant classmates, the tiyanak, the vengeful ghost, and even Kris himself. Yani always learned to understand a different perspective.

“Your goodness will bite you in the ass someday.”

“You already pinched my arm, and now you wanna bite my cheekies?”

Kris pulled out his bamboo stick.

“Woah, easy there…” With a nervous voice, Yani held the stick through covering Kris’s hand.

Then, they both chuckled together. Kris thought, You’re making me silly too, shithead.

The group was still quite far from the village they ought to investigate in. And yet, the centuries old trees surrounding them began rattling.

“Guard up.” Rafael uttered, and moved beyond their circle along with Isagani as a protective layer. They walked slowly—facing outward to prepare for an attack.

Voices started to chatter around the area.

“Darling, did you gift me this meal?”

“Of course, my sweets. All for you.”

The giggling echoed through.

Cielo looked at Yani and Kris. “Those voices…”

Kris held his bamboo stick out—protecting Yani. “They’re ours.”

The laughter began rising in volume.

“Which one should we eat first, my sweets?”

“How about the weak one?”

“The weak one?”

“The guy wearing a black hoodie.”

Kris stepped back—making Yani enter the innermost part of the protective circle. 

But then, “Yani” whispered directly into his ear. “Are you sure you’re protecting the right one, my sweets?”

This made Kris turn around in a blink of an eye. “Yani…?”

It wasn’t.

“KRIS!” Everyone’s head turned towards the voice’s direction. Yani was now held tight by “Kris.” But, this one had long claws and knife-like teeth. “Kris” opened his mouth, and an arm-length tongue came out—traveling through Yani’s neck.

He was scared.

For the first time in his occult-driven life, he felt scared by the possibility of death.

“LET HIM GO!” Kris’s hazel eyes burnt crimson. He boosted his attack forward—a bloodlust forming in the pit of his stomach.

“Kris, it’s a trap!” Rafael screamed when he saw how “Yani” and Yani switched places in a snap.

But, it was too late. When Kris headed for the direction of the shapeshifters, “Yani” clawed him—leaving a deep wound on his arm, and another one incoming.

Yani, still rattled, couldn’t read the scene. But, he tried. “Usog!” Before Kris received another claw, the imposter’s head began squeezing tight. This allowed Isagani to carry Kris back to the protective circle.

The shapeshifters got back on their feet. Then, with the speed of light, they began running and phasing around the group—pausing to aggravate them further.

“Do I look great?” With Isagani’s body.

“You look amazing, darling.” With Pauline’s body.

“How about now?” In Cielo’s body.

“I could gobble you up!” In Yani’s body.

“I think I want to eat this one too.” In Rafael’s body.

This was already a headache for them, but they couldn’t even focus on any of the targets since they all had to look back at Kris who was bleeding out. Kris noticed this. “I’m fine, ignore me. Focus on the enemy.”

Cielo nodded. “Don’t spread out, or we’ll get confused. When they come close, attack.”

“Got it!” Everyone spoke simultaneously.

When the creatures noticed that they weren’t breaking formation, they stopped running around them and chose a different strategy.

In the form of Isagani and Rafael, they both attacked head on. Pauline had a small wood carving on her hand, and she used it as a shield against “Rafael’s” sword. Stepping back with each attack, the small figure had a tiny knife, and began fighting with the help of Pauline moving it around.

“Isagani” targeted Cielo, but thankfully, she managed to dodge and enter the inner circle with Isagani fighting himself. One of the two same-looking persons spoke up, “Cielo, stab him already. I’ll hold him off for you!”

The other one spoke, “No, stab him! He’s the fake one.”

In front of the Catalonan became the most confusing scene. Same voice, same coily bun, and same body. Cielo looked between the two—stuck on who to pursue.

Yani held Kris’s arm, and wrapped it around with a torn cloth from his shirt. “I think it stopped bleeding.”

“Thanks. Stay put, I’m going to help.”

“What? No, you’re injured.”

“Conducting bugaw.” Kris launched himself to one of the two Isaganis. And with his great guess, he found out that it was the fake one. 

“Isagani” smirked. “How’d you know?” It schemed while using his sword to block Kris’s stick.

“I didn’t. If it was Isagani, he’d block my attack. If not, you’ll reveal yourself.”

“Hm, clever.”

They both sliced through the air—and an explosion of energy rang across the forest. With each interaction by their weapons, either sparks or amber flew as a result. But then, “Isagani” shapeshifted into Yani. 

For a millisecond, Kris paused.

This made the latter take on the advantage and use its claws to send Kris a step backward. “I knew this form was your weakness.”

“Shut up!”

The sparks and amber kept spilling around.

Yani couldn’t bear to watch anymore. His usog is now rendered useless for he couldn’t pinpoint who is who. As the battle continued, the aswangs kept shapeshifting into different ones of them. The only way for him to help is by determining who the aswangs are, and that is through touching them physically with his seventh sense.

Despite the idea being great in theory, the execution is crucial for victory. Yani stepped out of the circle and began running around—touching all of the people around him. When he touched “Cielo,” he noticed different sets of memories.

Killing humans.

Eating them.

Exploring with its lover.

Having fun.

The being had no remorse at all. For them, humans were merely animals to hunt and feed on. Yani would understand if it’s a necessary part of their diet, but it’s not. They didn’t need humans for nutrition, the couple simply enjoyed seeing these people suffer. “Kris, this one here!”

Kris ran to “Cielo,” and spun mid-air to slice through it. And suddenly, “Cielo” turned into Yani. 

This made Kris hesitate.

And that second of hesitation was all the aswangs needed.

From the real Yani’s back, a figure in the shape of Kris stabbed its five piercing claws until it emerged up to his front.

It was cruel.

The milliseconds of Kris not yet landing to take Yani in his arms.

It was vile.