Bernardo was born with a brave heart in the Caribbean Empire. He had a beautiful soul and a mesmerizing voice. He went to the coast every day to swim like a whale and to look for sustenance for his family, which only consisted of his elderly grandfather, Rogelio, who was missing a leg. And his little sister Patricia, who was unable to walk. 

— "Patricia was born unfortunate. A real shame," commented the neighbors.

San Luis was a neighborhood known for its dire poverty. The majority of its dwellers resided in dilapidated wooden houses with mud floors. They lived day-to-day, struggling to make ends meet, with hardly any time to contemplate their futures or aspire for better. Education was scarce, and the ability to read and write was a luxury few could afford. Life was tough for everyone, and the residents of San Luis were no exception. They had to work hard to earn their daily bread and had little left over for anything else. Children were often named only in the fourth grade, and many suffered from malnutrition and disease. Despite all of this, the people of San Luis remained resilient. They woke up each day with hope, greeting each other with a smile and always caring for themselves.

Bernardo's story is a tale of resilience and determination. Despite being born into poverty, he nurtured a dream—to become a musician. Bernardo's passion for music led him to compose songs and master the accordion. He would take to the streets of San Luis, singing merengue to the fishermen by the coast, bringing joy to their hearts. His music echoed through the town's avenues, attracting crowds of people who would stop to listen, some even dancing to the melodies of his accordion. Bernardo was more than just a talented musician; he was a beloved figure in San Luis, known for his generous heart and kind nature. Unfortunately, poverty was a constant obstacle, preventing him from pursuing his education or receiving formal training. Bernardo's story is a testament to the human spirit, showing that even in difficult circumstances, one can find hope and joy through the power of music.

One sunny and crowded day, Bernardo went out to sell his fish in the streets in a wool basket covered in salt to keep the meat fresh. He was pouring out every last drop of sweat in the piercing sun. His shoulders were numb with the stick he crossed from shoulder to shoulder with the baskets on either side. Despite his exhaustion, Bernardo continued to smile and shout to the public. 

— "I sell fresh fish! Five pesos a fish, five pesos a fish!" 

But the carts and the crowd produced so much noise that everyone could barely hear his voice. He threw the baskets on the ground and began to dance and sing. 

— "Fish, I sell fish for five pesos a fish."  

Then everyone turned to look. Some laughed amidst the hustle and bustle, while others stopped. No fish was left in his baskets. Some even gave more pesos for his fish. I'm sure they were delighted with his enthusiasm and his beautiful voice. On his way home, very happy, he crossed in front of a school. Only boys from good families were wearing fancy uniforms and expensive shoes. Outside the school gate were many children from San Luis, with pieces of board, dirty towels, and shoe polish, lined up in rows, waiting for the prestigious students from Bellas Artes, Mount Sinai. Bernardo was noble at heart, but he could not help feeling an enormous and deep sadness, realizing that as a footwear cleaner, it would be the closest he would ever get to Mount Sinai. Bernardo longed to go to school, wear shoes with good soles, and have stylish uniforms, but it was an illusion, a delusion beyond measure. When the Mount Sinai students walked out, Bernardo felt a pang when he saw a young boy. He had coppery brown hair, and his fingers were very long and elegant. His nose was long and thin, his skin was fair and even, and his eyes were unusual for Bernardo. They looked like the eyes of a tiger. His eyes were honey-colored and sometimes turned golden when the sunlight shone in them. 

— "Who is he? What is his name? What kind of art does he do?" 

Bernardo wondered while his breath came in short gasps, and his heart raced. He had never felt anything like that in his short years of life. Bernardo was just a child. He didn't understand anything about the world, and a dangerous longing awoke that day. That longing was more unattainable than his dreams of being a musician. It seemed that there was nothing in this world that Bernardo could freely desire. Then, the handsome boy felt uneasy and looked around, but to his luck, the owner of the gaze that penetrated him from a distance was already gone. 

Bernardo suddenly bolted away from there without grabbing his baskets. He clutched his chest as if trying to keep his heart from escaping his body. His mind was in a state of disarray, unable to grasp the emotions that were coursing through him. He felt a strange mixture of joy and despair, an inexplicable sensation that seemed to tear him apart. He couldn't comprehend the reason behind this tumultuous feeling, but he knew it was real and overwhelming.

Bernardos's small room was shrouded in darkness, with only a faint glimmer of light filtering in from a crack in the ceiling. He huddled under a tattered blanket pieced together from an assortment of scraps, was barely visible in the shadows. The blanket, which covered him from head to toe, was thin and provided little warmth in the cold, damp room. His heart was still pounding, and thoughts of the school and the boy kept playing like a never-ending movie. Amidst the confusion in his mind, a solitary tear trickled down his cheek as if he had subconsciously realized that he would never be able to reach the music or the boy he longed for. However, he knew that no one could take away his voice or the passion that drove him to sing every day, whether on the coast or in the bustling avenue.

On the other hand, the mysterious boy who stole Bernardo's heart, Dai Garcia Inoue, was dismounting from his car, a Chevrolet Bel Air, in front of his Victorian-style mansion with an unusual Japanese-style door. Dai usually expressed bitterness; even for his age, he seemed to carry a lot of pain and resentment. Since that day when his mother was killed by a mysterious man in a luxury car, Dai has not stopped wearing that dark countenance wherever he goes. But everyone knows that the regime had discreetly shot Nana Inoue on suspicion of being part of the "Quisqueyanos." That is why, at an early age, Dai was already an active revolutionary against the tyrant known to the people as "The Boss." He secretly sent money and supplies to groups organized against the government. At only seventeen years old, Dai suffered from insomnia and slept with a Walther P38 pistol under his pillow. He was determined to overthrow the regime and end the oppression of the people. He dreamed of a better future for his country.

Bernardo and Dai were very different; their hearts, minds, and worlds had opposite directions. However, some souls cannot help but meet, even if it is not their destiny to be together.

As Bernardo's gaze pierced through the air, it landed on Dai, who stood far away. Dai felt an extra uneasiness and frantically began to scan his surroundings. Bernardo, feeling embarrassed, bowed his head and leaned it on his knees, facing away from Dai. The reckless boy stealing all of Bernardo's sighs may have misinterpreted the feeling of being watched as that of a mysterious killer on the prowl. Dai would never have imagined that it was a poor boy from the coast who could not take his eyes off him. And so, he continued, still preoccupied with the strange encounter. 

Dai's heart was pounding as he got into his car, his senses on high alert. The fear and paranoia that had been gnawing at him all day were still very much present, and he knew he couldn't let his guard down, not even for a second. He put his hands in his holster and kept his hand on the handle of his pistol, ready to defend himself immediately. The gun's weight was reassuring and terrifying, a constant reminder of the danger lurking around every corner.

It was hard to believe that Dai had been an innocent and carefree teenager just a few months ago, with no idea of the dangers that awaited him in the real world. But now he knew better. Dai had seen things that had shattered his innocence and left him with a deep sense of mistrust. He knew that in this world, people would take advantage of his naivety and see him as an easy target.

Dai's world was harsh and unforgiving, where survival was paramount. He had learned to be careful, to always be on the lookout for danger. He knew he couldn't afford to let his guard down for a second. He was entering his 17th spring but felt he had already lived a lifetime. In this world, there was no room for innocence or good intentions. It was a world where only the strong survived, and Dai intended to be one of them.