Liam got off the bus as it stopped by the small gazebos the tenth graders had been working on. The gazebos were arranged in a row by section names and now lit up, complimenting the gloomy surroundings. It might be because of the winds changing these past few days that everything seemed dim. Most of the people wore such despondent looks the whole week and how ice-cold the winds had gotten was still kind of strange to Liam.

He waited for the last car to get past along the sidewalk, then walked across the road, the noisy student body making his eyes half-closed as they all went through the gates. He clenched his jaws and clutched his bag's shoulder straps as he heard some girls talking about typical feminine stuff.

He gritted his teeth as he bumped into the gate post when a girl whom he never identified penetrated the crowd. The girl made sharp turns until she got out of sight. Liam cursed under his breath and dusted the powdery debris off his hoodie. He wondered when the school principal would notice the bricks falling off the gate posts. He only visited the school in a few instances knowing he was not even that helpful in the division's office as Liam had heard over the chat of the thirteenth-grade teachers yesterday.

He continued to walk through the crowded pavements and set foot at last on the dewy school field. There was a school fair going on regarding next week's Arts interschool meet. The main attraction in the meet was always the abstract expressionism where participants seemed like dancing to the rhythm of the splatter of paints.

Liam put his cold hands into his hoodie's pockets when a gust of wind slapped his tall, sort of meager frame. He let out a cloud of breath and went behind the railings before the rows and columns of scarlet booths where the student body started to flock.

He stopped in front of a booth of some ninth graders and pouted with cheap exertion at what they had done. The booth design was autumnal and Liam raised a brow, then nodded at the consistency of their forearm-tall pa​pier-mâ​chés depicting the Trojan War with the warriors around the Trojan Horse that was painted khaki. He stared at the leading warrior of the attacking vanguard — Agamemnon. The view got him stuck in his position, the simple yet expressive facial details.

"Hey," one of the boys in the booth spat out.

Liam turned to him.

"Would you like to, you know, buy one of these?" the boy added, then sighed.

"Not really," Liam said before walking away, traipsing through the still eardrum-shattering student body.

He heard the boy's loud nuisance with someone as he jumped over the railings, getting exposed to the high noon sun that did not make his covered flesh sweat. His own body seemed unable to produce its heat as well with the current weather.

"Liam!"

Liam turned to where he had heard his name from. A cheerful smile and waving hands greeted him. He smiled at Tahir, then ran across the soft field. He had always admired how cheerful Tahir was every single day knowing he had a very traumatic early teens, as Tahir had told his friends. Tahir was an Indonesian-born guy and Liam was the one he first had spoken with when he transferred to the academia of Malvar — his little, quite isolated town. Tahir had learned the Philippine language with ease and had made friends in no time. He made their circle of friends smile and laugh. He was one tough man, Liam would give it to him.

Liam halted before him, breathing all the chilly clouds out of his lungs. "Hi, Tahir."

"What happened to your mouth?" Tahir asked.

Liam dodged Tahir's approaching hand when he tried reaching for his bruised skin. "Nothing, let's just go."

Tahir snickered. "Okay?"

Liam's cold spittle seeped into his tight teeth gaps. He followed Tahir's rather fast steps while tightening his grip on the tepid inside of his pockets. They went past the school cafeteria and entered the gymnasium with a blaring crowd in it. They saw their friends sitting on the benches around a table reading papers and writing. The three boys already started with their team project. Liam and Tahir walked towards them and sat down in the empty spaces.

"What are you guys up to now?" Tahir took Ken's gazette with little aggression.

"Where have you Tahir gone?" Cedric asked.

"Our output for next week if ever you don't know that." Ron clicked his tongue. "Which we know you really don't."

"Wait, what is this everyth——"

"The hell is that, Liam?" Ron looked at Liam with a crumpled expression plastered on his face, cutting in Tahir's words.

Liam touched the bruise on his face and gave Ron a half-pint smile. "Nothing. I just, fell down the stairs."

"Really, dude?" Ron closed his eyes in slow motion. "Because you also had one last week. Is that even a bruise? That might be a hickey from the sea witch in Andersen's mermaid story."

"Shut up, Ron, and continue to think of an excerpt that— What are you doing, Ken?" Cedric slapped his seatmate's drooping shoulder.

"That hurt, Ced." Ken moved closer to Cedric and handed him a piece of paper, his nose scrunching. "What does this word mean?"

Cedric began dictating some terms to Ken as Ron closed his eyes, his nape leaned on the bench backrest and his arms pointing to the ground. Cedric was an achiever. He had stayed on the top of honor rolls every quarter — academic year. He was always a representative of their high school in interschool academic competitions. He even lent a hand — brain, Liam reckoned — to them whenever they needed it. On the other hand, his words were like the sharpest of the swords. He was a frank person, preferring straightforwardness over flowery words.

Tahir browsed the Internet using Cedric's laptop while Liam watched some girls laughing while aiming for the basketball ring. The girls were in their Physical Education uniforms and a group of other ladies was cheering by the court.

After some time, Lukas entered the gymnasium and settled down across Liam's seat. He threw Liam a mysterious look, then sighed. He crossed his arms and inclined to the backrest. Liam had always known Lukas had known why he sometimes go to school with bruises. He hoped he would never bring it up to the other boys.

"Where did you go, Luke?" Ken asked, his voice cracking in the last syllable.

Lukas just shook his head, then went back to gazing at Liam. Liam looked away from his friend's fixed eyes and helped out Tahir with paperwork instead.

After a few minutes, they all already finished their work. It was an activity day, so the teachers were present just to supervise the students. Liam put his stuff back into his bag and got off the bench. The same went for the others as Lukas and Ken pulled the table out of the court.

Ron put his backpack on with an audacious grin. "Guys, let's celebrate."

"Celebrate what?" Cedric said. "I'm sure Tahir didn't even lend a hand to Li——"

"Hey!" Tahir exclaimed, rolling his eyes.

"Guys, it's my birthday, come on." Ron put his hands on his hip.

"Oh, Ron," Ken stated. "Your birthday is literally in three days."

"No, I mean, yes." Ron glanced at Lukas, then back to Cedric. "I want to celebrate it early with you guys because Dad told me we'd have a road trip on that day."

"Really? Can I somehow join?" Tahir stomped once in his place, his eyes wide open and lips curving.

"Shut up, you—" Cedric paused, "You have a place in your mind right now, Ron? I mean, I'm not really going straight home anyway."

Tahir and Ken agreed to Cedric. Lukas just stood by the rickety Tahir, still staring at Liam — his bruise, he guessed. He had to zip his mouth up. Liam could feel Lukas was doing that, but his chest felt like bursting every time he shot him with those intent eyes.

Liam moved a step forward and rubbed his nape. "I'm sorry, Ron. I guess I'll pass for today."

"What the heck, Liam?" Ron's brows furrowed. "It's my— You know what, you're coming."

"He indeed is coming," Lukas blurted out.

Liam looked daggers at Lukas. "No."

"You're coming," Lukas added, rolling his eyes. "I'll drop you off at your house, don't worry."

"It feels like you have disgust or whatever towards me, Liam," Ron uttered.

"What? No," Liam replied.

"Then come with us," Ron spoke in addition. "This is literally once a year happening. Don't disappoint me."

Liam gave Ron a minuscule nod. "Fine."

"Fixed," Ron said with drooped shoulders. "Let's go."

Ron turned back and went through the doorway of the gymnasium. The other three followed suit while Liam was paralyzed in his position, Lukas' eyes pinning him down to his position. He then moved forward and passed by his friend. Lukas caught up with him in no time and went closer to him, not overtaking his rather slow pace.

"The hell did you do?" he whispered to him.

"Didn't do anything," Lukas retorted.

Liam clenched his jaws, his breathing sort of unstable. "I know you saw what happened to me the other night you offered me a lift."

"I did."

"Please, just keep it to yourself."

"Dad is a," Lukas cleared his throat, "lawyer."

Liam uttered a sigh at the idea. He knew Lukas' father was a lawyer--a counselor in specificity. He had met him a couple of times and he was the one best paterfamilias every child would dream of having. He knew nothing about him although he — the De Torreses in general — was kind to him.

"Stop it," he told Lukas.

Lukas did not respond and instead, hastened his pace. They got out of the gymnasium and off the field. The wind was still biting it felt like it was winter, which was absurd for the Philippines had two seasons as a single fact and nothing more. Liam followed the guys through the unguarded gates and walked along the sidewalk.

A sport utility vehicle approached their direction and screeched to a halt. A man in a black suit got out of the vehicle and went to Ron, passing the keys to him. Ron uttered his gratitude and the man turned left, walking away from them. Tahir cheered with a loud voice, then Ken followed suit.

Ron was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He had his first car when he was sixteen and even owned two expensive bikes he later sold. In their circle, he was the most brotherly. He liked to know why you got these and those. Contrary to his likable characteristics besides financial luck, he was a reckless guy. He always got into brawls and accidents. He was flirtatious and opportunist in addition, but indeed a madcap.

They hopped in Ron's car as Ron put an ear-pounding heavy metal on, making Liam utter a contemptuous sigh. Cedric rode shotgun. Ron grabbed the steering wheel and maneuvered the car while singing along to the thunderous music with Tahir and Ken who were sitting in the open back passenger compartment.

Liam opened the window and took a deep breath in. The hair on the back of his head raised, causing him to part close the window. The weather had gotten more biting. It almost felt like people were in a Western country which sounded rather weird, Liam thought.

A couple of minutes died off and the boys found themselves bouncing back and forth on their seats. Liam glanced outside the car and his lips quite parted as rows of tall trees met his cold eyes. He also saw the gravelly course they were heading. The inclination of the surface became more raised, meaning they were in a mountainous place. The trees grew thicker as Ron drove with cautiousness and small profanities.

"Where on unholy Earth are we, Ron?" Cedric pulled his window down.

"El Halcon." Ron winked with a thin grin.

Tahir and Ken shouted at the back, laughs chiming in their loud yelling. El Halcon was a mountain range and had the highest peak of Malvar. Liam smirked at the noise filled with laughs and continued to swoon over the lush vegetation of the area. The more Ron managed the steering wheel, the more slanty and rough the course got. The vehicle's hike ended later on and Ron pulled up in the lit parking lot.

They got out of the car and the spellbinding, quaint village of different buildings blessed their eyes in an instant. There was a bridge built above a small stream that seemed to flow from the higher, distant peaks of El Halcon. They went over it, then Liam's eyes feasted on the terraces of blue, tile-framed pools. There were huts and two-story buildings everywhere. There were eateries, bars, and even classical musicians were scattered. A lot of tourists were in the area, so Liam stuck to his friends.

They passed along a trail of trees embellished with pill-small bulbs of assorted lights and got to the crowded stairs. They ascended and entered a two-story building with a Babylonian pastel interior. Ron gave a woman in a traditional Chinese dress a card. The woman inspected it and smiled at Ron before leaving.

Ron led the others upstairs where a minibar and an open area was leading to the second floor's wide pool. Tahir and Ken jumped right into the water with their clothes still on while Cedric investigated the fridge.

"Happy birthday to me!" Ron yelled with an earsplitting loudness, his fists balled and swaying in the air.

"Happy birthday, Ron!" Tahir and Ken shouted back in unison.

Ron turned to Liam and Lukas, smiling. "You guys have fun, please."

"Of course, we will." Liam hugged him and caressed his back. "I wish you all the best, Ron. Happy birthday."

Ron then traipsed away and helped Cedric with the food and beverage preparation. Lukas walked towards the open area and took his shoes off. He then sat on the wet tiles and submerged his legs in the pool. Liam crouched by him and witnessed Tahir and Ken's rabble in the water. He touched the water's surface and his body tingled at the contact.

"How long will we stay here, Ron?" he asked with a low voice. "This outing looks pricey."

"Overnight," Ron replied.

"What?" Liam cleared his throat. "I've got to be home before seven."

"We'll spend the night here," Ron added. "It's Saturday tomorrow."

Liam rose to his feet and sat on a wooden stool. "I have work tomorrow."

Lukas went in his direction and grinned at Ron. "Don't worry, Liam is staying."

Ron glanced at Liam with sleepy eyes, then nodded before giving a hand to Cedric. Lukas looked at Liam with his now darker irises. He settled down on the next stool.

"What?" Liam broke the silence.

"What?" Lukas mimicked with a quieter voice. "It's our friend's birthday and you're acting like you don't give a damn about him."

"I care about him, Lukas. I love him."

"Love him by making him feel like shit?"

"Lukas, what are you talk——"

"You fear your father." Lukas lifted his lower eyelids. "Get out of that house already, Liam."

"What the hell?" Liam whispered in rage. "Don't meddle in other people's life ever again."

"You don't pity yourself, huh?"

"Pity who? I'm not hurt."

"Just by saying that, you are." Lukas stood up. "No offense, but your father is . . . somewhat shitty."

He then walked away and helped Cedric with cooking. Liam just stared at his smiling face, his jaws clenched and fists clutched at his seat.