Beep… beep… beep…

“Drive faster!” Kris gripped Yani’s hand as though the latter was slowly drifting away. His spiritual energy kept pouring through their connection, glowing from the gallons being transferred.

The ambulance was cramped, and only Kris was accompanying the injured man. Supposedly, in times like this, the team leader is the one to be present at the scene. However, Kris lashed out at everyone, and took Yani’s body in his arms without any intention of letting go.

Kris kept eyeing the monitor. He was afraid that looking away for a short moment would result in another disaster like earlier. The bleeding was somehow controlled with the help of the Damage Control unit and their quick response. However, each moment lost still accounts for blood pooling down the sides of the bed. The air was quick to be covered with metallic scent, and this only increased the repetition of beats in Kris’s chest. He too was bleeding and in need of spiritual energy. But, he couldn’t think about himself right now. Not when he’s the reason his friend’s on the verge of crossing to another world.

“Can’t you drive any faster?!” His breathing multiplied.

“I’m trying my best! Give me 10 minutes.” The damage control agent pressed harder on the pedal—even overtaking each car that came their way. 

“Please, Alon. I can’t-” 

Through the rearview mirror, Alon was a witness to the rare sight of a perturbed Kris. His eyes were glassy and wide—threatening the loss of control over his emotions. Alon swept back his light brown hair with streaks of a lighter color, and with a sigh, maneuvered the vehicle off-road. “I got you.”

Seeing Yani in this state only spiraled Kris to remember his flaws all over again.

Flashback, Three Years Ago

Kris and Kalis were sent on a small-scale mission in Bacolod city. They were told that the corn field was being cursed by a Mangangaway that envied its bountiful harvest the previous season. Now, the head of the Hiligaynon division, or otherwise called their mother, asked Kalis to supervise Kris in learning how to properly cast a protective layer surrounding the area.

They walked around the browned lot, and cast out smoke and chants that eventually raised an indivisible barrier. While walking around, Kris couldn’t help but think about his mother’s words upon assigning the mission.

“Kalis, teach him properly.”

“Make sure to be as strong as your sister. Don’t put our division to shame.”

“I still can’t see any potential in you.”

“Don’t burden your sister.”

The thoughts stirred an uncomfortable feeling within Kris. And because of the consistent reminder of his incompetence, he decided to act on it. I’m better than this. I can prove it.

When they took a break, Kris decided to act on his own. He ventured beyond the field, and looked for the rumored Mangangaway so that he may take her down by himself.

When he found a hidden bahay kubo, he prepared his bamboo stick, and creeped around. But, the Mangangaway already sensed him from afar.

Suddenly, he found himself in a trap—surrounded by dark energy.

He couldn’t breathe.

“L-Le- Let me g-”

The Mangangaway revealed herself to him, and she began laughing. “Trying to protect that field? No chance!”

Just when Kris was about to faint, Kalis called out, “Kris!” She stepped in the scene, and used her own powers to force an attack against the Mangangaway. 

One thing led to another, and after the fight, Kalis took on the loss, and laid on the ground without any bit of consciousness. Kris held her in his arms—crying loudly. 

The Damage Control unit managed to arrive on time. However, this incident honed Kris into never breaking any rule or command ever again.

Present Day

Yani found it hard to bring his eyes to view the source of the consistently beeping noise beside him. Even when he tried to force himself to sit up, his body wouldn’t work with him. What’s happening?

With increased efforts, Yani was finally able to put a lever between his strength and aim to move. He pulled his head back against the soft pillow upon meeting with a brightly lit room in white. His sight switched to the heart rate monitor, and he finally discovered the root of the repetitive sound. Ahh, right. I got impaled. How thrilling.

He moved his head down to where a weight felt benign. It was Kris—asleep and using his arm as a pillow. If Yani wasn’t paralyzed by the pain, he would’ve caressed the latter’s hair. Instead, he chuckled in a hoarse manner.

This sound instantly alarmed Kris’s great senses. “Yani?” He turned his head up. When he found the latter with eyes open, he gripped on his hand. 

Yani was about to joke around, but Kris had tears gradually trickling down his cheeks. Yani’s quirky expression changed into one of concern. “Hey, why are you-?”

Kris sniffled. “You’re ok?” He leaned forward, placing his hand on Yani’s shoulder. “Y-You’re fine, right?” 

Yani simply nodded.

When Kris realized that he was sharing too much of his vulnerability, he quickly wiped his tears away, and collected himself. “That’s… great. I’m glad.”

“What happened? Did you defeat the aswangs?”

A pause.

“...No. We didn’t.” He looked down at the white sheets. “When you lost consciousness, the others attacked them together. But still, we lost them.”

“So when’s our next mission?”

Kris shook his head. “It’s nothing that you need to know.”

That answer had Yani taken aback.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re not joining us.”

“No way. You all need my seventh sense to know who is who. We almost got them.”

“No. You almost died.”

“But I didn’t.”

“You could have.”

“But next time, we could jus-”

Kris couldn’t hold back. He slammed his fists on the sheets and shouted, “There is no next time! We don’t need you, so stop acting so high and mighty. You’re… just a burden to us.”

Another pause.

Then, Yani, with all of his strength combined, placed his hand on Kris’s head—caressing the agitated man’s hair with his thumb. He didn’t want to stress the latter even more. He understood that the sentence was expelled out of worry.

Kris began crying again. His soft skin glistened with regret, and the wrinkles on his face formed with self hatred. “I’m the reason why you’re hurt. I kept hesitating the whole time- You almost died because of me! Why do you not hate me?!” Soft hiccups disturbed the flow of the air conditioning. 

“Thank you for saving me, Kris.” Yani’s gentle smile reflected on Kris’s eyes. “I’ll do my best next mission.”

Instead of arguing further, Kris just proceeded on crying, and Yani was there to make him feel appreciated regardless of what had happened.

Three Days Later

Kris took a scoop from the congee he made. To ensure that it wouldn’t burn the tongue, he gently cooled it down with a blow. Waiting for the spoonful to enter his mouth, Yani already had it wide open. Yani’s strength already came back, but Kris pampered him regardless. And in all honesty, this act of service spoiled the injured man. Finally, Yani’s mouth savored the light taste of his meal—comforted by the refreshing influence of the broth. The congee was far from being a specialty, but since it’s the only thing Yani’s stitched up stomach approved of, he valued it like a gourmet meal.

The door to the NCIP clinic’s private room opened with the entire Tagalog division. Isagani and Rafael had wide smiles on their faces, one with a basket of flowers, and the other with a basket of fruits. Cielo and Pauline held a handmade poster using bondpaper and colored markers—greeting Yani’s recovery. And all together, they chanted, “Welcome back, Yani!”

This made Yani filled with joy. Kris told him stories about how worried the entire team was. They often messaged Kris asking for updates, and even sat under the Balete tree beside the building—praying for the gods and goddesses’ blessings.

Cielo hopped on to Yani’s bed—hugging him tight. “Our mangkukulam! We’re glad you’re safe huhu!” She mimicked a cry while swinging him side-by-side.

“Ahk-” Despite his small chuckles, Yani felt his wound linger a sting. This led to Kris furrowing his brows, and protectively pulled Yani away from the girl. “Stop it. He’s still hurt.”

Cielo raised both of her hands, and took a step back—eyeing Kris. “Oof. Apologies, Mr. Espiritu.”

Kris simply glared at her.

Yani let out a chortle, and shook his head while pinching Kris’s shirt. “I’m fine. It’s just a little sting.”

While Isagani and Rafael were placing the baskets on the bed-side table, and Pauline pasting the posters on the wall, Cielo broke the news. “I found a lead.”

Kris turned his head toward her. “Not here. Let’s go outside.”

Yani shook his head again. “It’s fine. I’m practically healed now. I want to hear it.”

Everyone's attention turned to Cielo.

She continued, “In Laguna, three children were playing after dusk. Only two returned, and they said that the other one was fetched by her parents.”

Rafael followed. “And let me guess. The parents didn’t know about it.”

“Correct.”

Yani eyed Kris for permission, and the latter nodded. Yani spoke up, “Kris and I have an idea.”

Three Days Later

The village had already been evacuated. Alon and the rest of the Damage Control unit framed it to be about a landslide preventative measure.

Kris wrapped his hand around Yani’s arm. “Don’t strain yourself. If it gets bad, run.”

“I will. Don’t worry.”

Then, two mocking voices transcended around the empty village.

“Don’t strain yourself. If it gets bad, run~~~”

“I will. Don’t worry~~~”

Rafael and Isagani instantly blocked the path toward Yani. Guided by Kris, Yani prepared himself for their plan—stocking up his dark energy. Of course, the aswangs removed themselves from the shadows and cackled around while casually approaching the group.

The fake Yani held his stomach. “Mmh, I had a great meal the other day. Maybe today’s meal would be even better.”

The fake Kris rubbed the other one’s stomach. “Aww, darling. You have no mercy at all.”

“Only for you, my sweets.”

Instantly after the sweet skit, they strutted forward—advancing to Pauline all at once.

“Come to life.” Ten life-sized figures of Rafael and Isagani shielded her from the attempt. The colony swung their weapons at the two mischievous entities, but their claws were sharp enough to cut through. Making and controlling so many puppets at once almost drained Pauline, but she refused to back down. She pulled out five more, and this time with the sharp teeth and claws that mimicked the aswangs. The five figures were nearly as quick, and caught up with the battle. They all stranded the pair who were forced to stay back and fight claw on claw.

But soon, Pauline’s energy reached below the threshold. This marked the sign for Cielo to take over, and allow Pauline to rest in the inner circle.

Cielo threw dozens of bottles up in the air. “Bless me with a rain of salt.” The sky poured down her wishes. They now have a protective layer blocking the view and entry of the pair.

“Yani” snorted. “Seriously? You think that’s enough to stop us?”

“Kris” followed along—wiping fake tears from his right eye. “At most, that would give us a sunburn!”

They both smiled with their fangs shining on display. And together, they lunged for the grainy wall. But when they did, they were met with a sword and a dagger puncturing their skin. And through those scars, they felt an immense burning sensation.

“YOU LITTLE PESTS!” The fake Yani screamed from the pain—holding “Kris” whose wound was charring like coal being lit. 

The salt rain slowly dissipated, and the aswangs speedily ran around, and entered the circle—mimicking different members in each second. Now, the group was put on a halt—not knowing who to target first. But then, Kris spoke up. “Yani, it’s time!”

Yani, who stood at the center of it all, uttered, “Usog.”

Dark energy bursted out of his body—attacking not only the aswangs, but all figures within the area.

Everyone’s body met with the dry soil—clutching their stomachs—feeling their insides churn, and their meals coming back up their throats. The pain was nearly indescribable. They were overflowing with dark energy that they strongly felt the need to push out.

Yani grabbed this opportunity to run around—placing his fingertips on everyone’s skin. 

He first touched Kris. The memories of Kalis, his Theology backlogs, and the blurry faced man he admired and continuously gatekept from Yani’s seventh sense. Safe. He pulled back on his usog. Kris coughed, and stood up with a slight tremble. “Keep going.”

Then, Pauline. Memories of carving, entering the division, and a man she admired with his face blurred out. Damn. Is it a trend to blur faces in this organization? After being released, Pauline rose up, ran to a tree, and vomited. “All good.” She wiped her mouth, took a sturdy branch from its stem, and joined the other two.

Isagani was up next. Memories of gore, violence, romance, and malice. Got you. Right beside Isagani was Cielo. Yani held them simultaneously, and their memories were conclusive. “It’s them.”

Kris raised his bamboo stick, and Pauline mimicked with a stick on her hand. Together, they uttered, “Conducting bugaw.”

With a loud bang, this day’s mission ended in a success.