His Ephemeral Signs

Prologue

00 : Stare

JULIAN

“Perez, Julian?”

The pen hovered in my hand, a breath away from the paper, as my name echoed through the room. Slowly, I lifted my head, feeling an odd weight tug at my chest.

“Present po,” mahinang tugon ko, barely a whisper. Ma’am gave a quick nod, her attention elsewhere, continuing with the attendance. I turned back to my desk, my focus scattered, trying to finish tomorrow’s assignment. Pero kahit anong pilit, parang walang nangyayari. Every thought was slipping away.

Before I knew it, I was staring blankly into space again.

I already lost count kung ilang beses akong natulala sa kawalan. The words I was writing felt hollow, meaningless.

Because of him.

Bakit ba siya tumingin sa akin ng gano’n?

I sighed, feeling a familiar heaviness settle inside me. I started gathering my things, hoping that maybe, by keeping myself busy, this restlessness would fade.

A few more minutes and school would be over. Ma’am was wrapping up the attendance—nakalimutan niyang gawin kaninang umaga at naalala niya ngayon lang bago uwian. Sa totoo lang, it was a welcome distraction from the chaos in my head.

Matapos ang ilang sandali, we were dismissed. “Class dismissed. Cleaners, please stay. Subukan niyong tumakas ulit, paglilinisin ko kayong lahat bukas,” ma’am warned, though her words barely registered. I was too lost in thought.

Tahimik akong lumabas ng classroom, my feet carrying me towards the library without me even thinking. But as I walked through the hallway, the scene from earlier kept replaying in my mind.

Lunch break.

Tahimik lang ako sa sulok ng canteen, eating alone, minding my own business. Then, my eyes wandered, kahit hindi ko ginusto.

Napatingin ako sa kanila.

A group of boys, all laughing loudly, full of energy, so carefree. I tried to turn away. Mas mabuting umiwas na lang kaysa mapansin pa ako. It wasn’t worth the risk. Alam naman ng lahat kahit hindi ko sabihin—may mga bagay na hindi na kailangan pang pag-usapan.

That I’m gay.

I was about to shift my gaze somewhere else when it happened.

Damien King.

Our eyes met, just for a second, and the world seemed to stop. His gaze—sharp, unflinching—met mine. He looked as startled as I was. But only for a fleeting moment. His expression quickly hardened, unreadable, cold.

Napalunok ako, feeling the weight of his stare. It wasn’t just a casual glance—it was intense. Parang may sinasabi ang mga mata niya na hindi ko maintindihan. His eyes felt like they were seeing through me, reading something I wasn’t sure I wanted to reveal.

Then, one of his friends called out to him, shattering the moment. I looked away quickly, my gaze dropping to the food tray in front of me.

Did he just... stare at me?

Napailing ako ng ulo sa naisip. No. It couldn’t be.

Damien King is as straight as a ruler. There’s no reason for him to look at me that way.

Pero bakit... gano’n ang tingin niya? Like there was something unsaid. Like he wanted to tell me something... but couldn’t.

Or am I just... being delusional?

I stopped walking, my feet frozen in place as the thought sunk in. I lowered my head, a familiar ache creeping into my chest.

Tama. Bakit niya nga naman ako papansinin? We barely know each other. We don’t even talk.

And why would someone like Damien King... even notice someone like me?

It doesn’t make sense.