Introduction

My nightmare started like this. A Boy General (probably in his 20's) was wearing a blue uniform and was talking, to a muscular, hairy, tall, and black creature. It was hanging into an acacia tree. And was smoking a big pipe of cigarette.

The creature fiercely looked at the General eyes.

He could have run when he had the chance. But he just stood there serenely. Like it was a casual conversation.

The General speaks with audacity to the creature, "Long time no see, my dearest friend."

The creature gritted its teeth, "Miong, what do you want this time?" it clasped its sharp claws.

He smiled and then sighed, "Guardia Civils are planning to recapture the areas in which we had occupied. I need your help to delay their advances."

It semi-crooked smiled, "Hahaha!!! There puny weapons are no much for my impenetrable strength."

The general eyes became weary, "But please do it in secret. If someone finds out I befriended a Kapre…I mean an indestructible creature, I'll be hanged for sure."

The Kapre thumps its fist, "Generations from now we will be call myths. People won't remember the contributions we had embedded in this world. "

The impact of its fists almost made the general fell to the ground. Fortunately, he was able to grasp a tree nearby.

His blue uniform slightly torn. I know a woman whom everyone calls the great survivor. Because she was able to survive typhoons and massive storms. Miong was experiencing the same situation.

The creature sniffed curiously like there was a buffet. "Should we talk in private, Miong?"

Miong raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

The creature growled. He lunged at me, opening its sharp claws. My fight or flight mood didn't do any good. So, I was preparing to die.

But…

All I can see was a white background being shredded like there was no tomorrow. I heard Chess Board pieces clattering. My green eyes widened. I saw two Grade 12 students playing chess.

They had managed to yield the chess pieces as ammo before the librarian has arrived. "At least nakatulog ako ng 1 hour." I instinctively wanted to scold them but that would decrease my willpower.

Hi, my name is Steph and l love to Vape. Wow!!! Great starter, isn't it? It's not that

I'm addicted. I have this coping mechanism. Basically, it's embedded in my DNA. (I'm gonna talk about that later.)

My baby-faced rest in my shoulders, zoning out to a shelve fill with books. I slowly stretched my arms to avoid numbness. Five grade 12 students were smirking at me intentionally, saying offensive stuff like: Autistic yan, Hindi siya marunong maki-pag-interact sa ibang tao, at spoiled yan.

(That one is true. What? At least I was honest. Unless you want me to be pretentious, well, be my guest for all I care.)

I wore a pink blazer which is kinda sexist if you ask me with a white uniform embedded with a symbol I don't really care about; from the waist down a skirt.

Frankly, it is too short for me. Ouch. That's why I always take off my heels whenever I'm in the library. Feet aching like there was no tomorrow.

I have a white stone necklace on my neck. My grandma says when the time comes…the time comes.

I despise the person who is responsible for the making of the heels.

My pale skin has been shivering for a long time, if only the staff will have the decency to change the temperature into something much warmer.

Ironically, I hate change, especially the inevitable. It forces me to have an anxiety meltdown. Knowing me, I would probably obliterate the one who invented Filipino Time. Can we be as punctual as Japan?!

Ok, let's see here, what other issues do I have with myself? For one thing is my sensory deficiency. I hate loud noises. It aggravates me like crazy. If I hadn't gotten out of the acquaintance party 3 years ago, I would have destroyed the lights and systems with my bare hands.

(Trust me, for someone who is girly looking, teachers have been telling me I have the strength of a lion.)

Can you guess why do I have all these symptoms? It is because I have been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome ever since I was only 10 years old. My parents kept treating me as a princess ever since that day. They would shower me with gifts I don't really need just to underline the fact that I have Asperger Syndrome.

But I kept telling them that I was just in the spectrum. I'm not handicap, I can still go to school all by myself. One time, I begged my driver to let me ride a Jeepney to school. And then my parents found out. It turns out my driver was wearing a small Bluetooth earphone on his right ear. I'm gonna be extra careful next time. I chided myself.

I had been extra-careful on my body guards ever since that day. At least I have had a

little privacy on my school. If you consider every person glancing at you every time you do something wrong or good. You see, Kapres have high strong level of aura to humans.

Para ba kaming mga artista??? Absolutely not!!! We were like animals inside a zoo, wherein people from all around the world stare at us. We, I'm not the only one who is gifted.

Do I hang out with them, no because I'm asocial. But I had had many friends before but they were just so insecure. Friend number 1: Katrisha Joyce Santos, was my first friend in this school, a Filipino-Spaniard that I thought was my friend.

I kept a Diary so I listed down the number of times she has betrayed me or taken

advantage of me: Lying about the School WIFI being down.

Considering the fact that I can explicitly see the WIFI symbol on her phone even though she said that she downloaded her videos.

Two, whenever I do something amazing, she finds a way to belittle it. In our presentation about old technologies, I was mimicking Steve Jobs for his presentation about the first Iphone in 2007, I was enthralled because the class were applauding me except for my loving friend, Katrisha.

She raised her hands and mocked me because I was mimicking how Steve Jobs will drink a bottle of water first before presenting.

Third, how she constantly ignores my suggestions and telling the professors I don't contribute much at all.

The Professors will empathize with her. It's ok Ms. Santos, I understand your situation.

People on the Spectrum tend to zone out. You'll be doing all the hard work but feel free to share the credit to Steph. I gritted my teeth, if only I can transform right there on the spot, I would have Slash Katrisha like crazy.

But my transformation don't' come out so naturally. It never does.

A good looking, nerdy with glasses shaped into rectangle, fit in shape, guy whistled in front of me, and then stares at me suspiciously, "What flavor is it, this time?"

My cheeks became red." Sir, are you implying something out of me?"

He studied my expression like I was some kind of famous-celebrity from social media. Then, made his glasses crooked on purpose

to intimidate me. "Smells cheesecake to me," he sighed with astonishment. "It amazes me how you are still alive, considering the fact how many times I have caught you vaping.

I innocently smiled at him. "Sir, I don't know what you are talking about."

He mimicked my smile. "You could have been smarter hiding it." My hair got ruffled by him.

"Hey!!!" I protested. "It's unethical for a professor to do that to his students. I'm gonna report you to the dean, again."

He sighed mockingly. "Oh, please. Would it be like last time you reported me for making the acquaintance party late for an hour..?"

They were silenced between us.

"Yes"

I can see a smirk in his face. "I have told many times about the technical difficulty that had occurred during that night."

"But it clearly stated at 9pm so—" I didn't finish my sentence because he lingered pass through me.

Another though just opens into my mind: Have many coffees did Rizal or Luna drunk just to be awaken on the injustices of our Spanish Overlords.

Sir. Azor is my professor in Sosci. He has been teaching us about the Philippine revolutionary ever since the first semester. Through what method. Is it by the board? No. Is it by a projector? Also no.

He was teaching us through a virtual reality device. Great. That way we can experience the insufferable barbaric acts the Spanish Empire did to my ancestors, and how we fought back like a lion to regain our freedom back.

We were a dozen students and 80 percent were girls, meaning a lot of people in the class hated my guts. Especially, Alice, that kept glaring at me for being Ms. Perfect. It must have been hard for her because the school has been flooding with her achievements, especially when she visited Malaysia: her caramel skin, embodies a necklace with shape like a stone.

I'll be bewildered if the stone was mine. Why do I mean by that? You see, even Half-Kapres can be forced to be friends with other people if they had yielded my successor's stone.

The first president of the Philippines, Emilio Aguinaldo, had befriended a Kapre during his time. Legends has it, Emilio's Kapre had helped him block the bullets being thrown to him by the Spanish Soldiers.

Well, enough about that. Let's get with my virtual reality goggle.

Sir. Azor stamped down his desk like he owns it. He was looking at me at strange way,"Ms. Laquez, I have been trying to tell you that you can't sit-in in our class again."

Whoah. It hadn't occurred to me about that. You see, people in the spectrum, especially people who were diagnosed by Aspergers

tend to be forgetful, well, we can't help it if we kept zoning out whenever we are overwhelmed by situations or people—especially obnoxious people. Iba talaga Kami. HAHAHAHAH. Sir. Azor was my professor in Sosci.

I tried to make my cheeks rosy as I can to persuade my teacher to let me stay in the class. I really wanted to experience Philippine History with the V.R goggles.

Alice smirked a lot of malicious comments about me. If I hadn't drunk my chamomile tea a while ago, I would have punch her gladly. 50 percent of my classmate grasp the opportunity to take a nap while the teacher was embarrassing me.

Prof. Azor wink at me, but I don't really know why. Was he flirting with me or indicating a gesture that: Ako na ang bahala sa iyo.

The trees rustled unexpectedly. It couldn't have been my appearance, because I have

stayed in this class long enough. Maybe there's another Half-Kapre outside the class.

"Anyway… If you answer my four questions, I will let you stay. But if you can't answer my four questions, you will go straight to the dean's office."

Bad trip. I should have made my cheeks rosier. On second thought, just thinking about it is making me icky.

"Ok, I'll try my best." I prompted.

The professor lingers towards me staring at me like I was a rare specimen.

"When did the Philippine flag first hoisted?"

I stood up with pride and dignity. But somehow someone managed to shout something at the back.

"Hahaha, Austistic yan. She can't possibly know the answer."

I was used being underestimate. Luckily, Philippine History is my Forte. I pretended to not know the answer easily—so that the professor wouldn't give out harder questions.

"According to Dr. Ambeth Ocampo, the flag was hoisted during the battle of Maylapan, Cavite on May 28, 1898. When Spanish forces there surrenders to them."

"Lucky guess," Sir. Azor smirked. "You wouldn't have a tiny Bluetooth earphone inserted into your ears, while someone telling you the answer, would you?"

"Uh, no sir." I said like I was asking a question.

I mumbled for about ten seconds. "May we continue?"

He raised another eyebrow and fixed his glasses. "Ok who is the First Prime Minister of the Republic of the Philippines?"

Surprisingly, everyone woke up, lingering their eyes towards me. People don't really notice one of the brains of the First Philippine Republic because they are more familiar with Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, and the ever so famous, Dr. Jose Rizal.

"Hahahaha," Alice glared at me "There's no way you will be able to answer that!!!"

"Apolinario Mabini."

"As expected from Step—I mean good for you, Ms Laquez."

Someone shouted Favoritism at the back.

"Ok let's get ready for the Virtual Reality."

"One, two, three…Fuego."

"Today we are going to the reenact the Battle of Pinaglabanan using the Virtual Reality googles.

"Why do you have a toy guy with you po?"

Sir. Azor smirked at Alice. "It's for a surprise"

Simultaneous gun shots were fired.

I spotted 10 Guardia Civiles. Each of them strung an old version of the Remington gun; good enough to mutilate somebody. (I read a lot of History books.)

All I got was a bolo. Stupid Virtual Reality goggles. I hid in a near bush so that I wouldn't be one of my other fellow Katipuneros who were dead by sight, excluding, Alice whom was next to me. I patted my head.

Unfortunately, Alice was next to me when I crawled hiding on a green bush.

I did the unthinkable. I tried to talk to Alice. "So what's our plan?"

She was flabbergasted. "Ok, let me search some strategies. Oh wait, it's 1896, the internet wasn't invented yet."

"So in real life you would rather let us get killed by Guardia Civiles than outsmart them."

"Magsilabasan kayo diyan mga Indio (The lowest race of the Philippine Colonial Period). I'm sorry I need this to be accurate."

I tried to recall some tactics I have read from Gen. Luna so that I can lure them all into some trap while Alice was readying to surrender without any hesitation whatsoever.

"Ready five of our cannons right this instant. We'll make them surrender into submission."

I heard some matches being light up. "Fuego!!!!!!!!!"

Five cannonballs wheezed on us like lightning storms. I could have destroyed them all with my Kapres Powers if it was acceptable for a person to become Half-Kapre. I wished the Philippines is more open-minded.

But I think Millennials will gladly accept who I'm if I'll try to be a deterrent for the government. The point if someone finds out that I'm a Millennial Half-Kapre, then my life will be over.

"Anak ng Siopai naman." I muttered to Alice.

"We won't stand a chance, Steph."

"Wow, you know my name." I raised an eyebrow.

"I have no choice to cooperate with you. So I'd better know your name."

"Ever heard of the Negros Revolution 1896?"

"Gaga, do you think I care about our history."

"Because you only care about your followers in Facebook."

That was uncalled for. To think that we are hiding from a massive force of Guardia Civils (my classmate and teacher.) ready to annihilate us or mutilate us for the sake of teaching. And here we are bickering like there was no tomorrow.

I couldn't really comprehend what to do.

"Give me your bolo. I have an idea."

Alice was startled. "Ok so what's your brilliant idea this time?"

"Halt indios, give up you are outnumbered and outgun!!!!" Prof. Azor acting was quite impressive at the same time offensive. But what can you do about this timeline. It was 1896.

Alice whispered. "Anak ng Pu..."

I was kind of proud what I did. I pushed Alice into the ground so that they can see us. And held Alice as Hostage. My Bolo lingering into her throat, as her sweat drifting downward.

"Steph, if you want to surrender just do it with ease, please."

"Gag—" she wasn't able to finish her sentence, I gagged her with my panyo (handkerchief.)

"Oh shut up Alice. Go back to Malaysia for all I care."

"Ok it's your funeral." Sir. Azor Shrugged. Guardia Civils were readying to shoot us."

"Aponten, Fue.."

I had thrown my bolo to Sir Azor before he could even make the final move. Drop dead into the ground, blood drooling into his mouth. The Guardia Civils were in shocked.

As they looked their dead commander AKA professor we run into our rendezvous. (What it's better to have a plan than going to the battle field stupidly.)

We crawled into the ground. Alice was fine. Traumatize but I think she was find.

"What thanks Laquez?" she said sarcastically.

I snapped. "Thanks Laquez, is that all you can say to me. It this wasn't real, I would cut your throat rather than saving the both of us."

"Then you have proven that you're psychotic."

"Me psychotic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I shouted as high as I can, but not as high for the stupid Guardia Civils to find us."

"If I'm psychotic then you are egotistical, narcissistic, and pretentious!!!!"

"Wow. Sorry I wasn't born with a golden spoon in my mouth."

"Why do you hate me? You have everything you could ever have. Your Facebook page is flooding with your pictures in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia."

"I envy you ok. Ever since you transfer here to our school; boys were staring look like you're a goddess."

"What?" I asked curiously

"Yes you. Filipinos are biased towards skin type. What can a caramel brown skin have a chance with your porcelain skin. We are whitewash. That's why!!!! You're wealthy, accelerated, and I don't know almost everything I ever wanted.

Before I can even reply gunshots were wheezing into out surroundings. I miss 2020. I miss my Smartphone. My Bluetooth earpiece. And mindlessly scrolling down Social Media so that I wouldn't have to think about my excruciating existentialism.

"Labas!!!"

Wow, Labas." That's all they could ever think of. We have had many Spanish class last semester.

I made a telescope with my hand to sneak up the enemy. The enemy has positioned themselves strategically. Cannons and Remington guns were reloaded. The scorching heat of the sun was burning my ever so pale skin. I didn't know what to do. It's badly enough that I had shown my Kapre strength to Alice. Now I'm gonna fail History.

"Okay!!! If you won't come out within 10 minuto we will fire without any mercy at all!!!"

It might have been my imagination but I think someone tries to give Sir. Azor a Basic book on how to speak Spanish.

Furthermore, I just noticed that we have more than one life in this game. So that is a win for us.

Then it hit me. This was Virtual Reality so they wouldn't care less to kill all of us. For someone who has Asperger it's a burden not to know social cues easily.

Then I talked to Alice sympathetically as much as I can.

"Dude, Virtual Reality lang ito."

Alice didn't answer me back which is really nonchalant of her if you asked me.

Then she sighed. "I'll give up. I don't care about having a good grade in Sosci. Prof. Azor will play favorite at you even if you don't win."

I knocked Alice to make her unconscious. What? I needed to fight my classmates with full strength and think of a plan. And Alice might get in the way.

I have less than 10 minutes to think of a plan. Or maybe 5 before my anxiety comes back to me. It was 1896 so maybe I can make a Fire with this current timeline. I picked two rocks to do the thing for you to make fire. (I got 79 in Science when I was in grade 5) I brainstormed some plans to distract them.

But before I could think of a plan, I was suddenly back inside our classroom together with some students and our professor.

Sir Azor "That's enough I was only testing your cortisol level. Steph might die because of too much stress"

"What!!! But I almost had them." I said unsatisfyingly.

"Yeah and we almost got sued by your parents." Alice raised an eyebrow.

I still don't get it why the tree branches were rustling. It hadn't occurred to me during the Virtual Reality. There must have been like me or a full blood Kapre.

The battle ended earnestly with my classmates complaining. Here are their words for you to decipher. "Ano ba naman si Steph, napaka Austistic? Way to go Steph Laquez. Can we at least keep the VR glasses for us to compensate the result. This is a betrayal in the name of Mother Spain.