The Unknown Man

Prologue

This is the updated and improved 2024 edition of "The Unknown Man". It is more polished and longer than the previous limited self-published version, which is no longer available. This edition also includes new scenes and additional chapters. Please note that this is a stand-alone story, but it can also be connected to other stories, such as the TGHF story.

...

DINARANDADO TRIBE

"I don't wanna go with you."

"But this is not your home, boy."

"This is my home, old man."

The old man, who had no eyebrows but had the same eye color as me, shook his head. He was from Manila, which I visited once when I returned to the Philippines after staying in New York for eleven years.

"Your parents will surely kill me if they find out about you, boy." Tumayo siya mula sa tipak ng bato at tumingin sa malayo. Nasa ekspresyon ang pagsisisi.

"Then don't let them know about me."

Ngumisi siya at nilapitan ako. Ginulo niya ang aking buhok. "You're a tough boy. Manang-mana ka sa akin."

He was my biological grandfather; thus, we were linked by blood. I was created through in vitro fertilization using his eldest son's sperm and his daughter-in-law's preserved egg cells thirteen years ago. The one who gave birth to me was a surrogate mother from New York. All of it was still a secret to this day.

"Are you sure you're okay here?" Grandpa asked me. "How can you manage to stay sane here? Mga wala sa katinuan ang mga matatandang babaeng kasama mo rito."

"Then why did you bring me here if you don't want me to stay here?"

Napailing siya. "Dahil hindi ko alam na mag-e-enjoy kang bata ka."

Yes, I was enjoying my life here. This was much better than the busy New York and Manila. At sa lugar na ito, sa batang edad na labindalawa, bilang nag-iisang lalaking nag-e-exist, ako na ang itinuturing na diyos ng mga taong isla rito—their 'bathala'.

Napailing si Grandpa. "Ang plano ko ay itago ka lang dito saglit, pero ito, ayaw mo nang umalis."

Walang may alam na pumupunta siya rito. Walang may alam ni isa man sa mga tribo rito na may malaking tagong helipad sa gitna ng gubat kung saan kinakatagpo ko siya isang beses isang buwan. Ang alam ng lahat ay may paparating na bagyo tuwing dumarating ang helicopter niya kaya nagtatago ang mga ito at hindi siya nakikita. Maigi na rin ang ganoon dahil bukod sa akin ay walang ibang taga-labas ang welcome sa lugar na ito. Lalo na kung isang lalaki.

"On your 13th birthday, I will join you in a brotherhood. An elite brotherhood that I helped to build."