Peter Pan and the Lost Fae of Neverland

[01] UNUM

"To die will be an awfully big adventure."

Peter Pan delivered the lines with ease, voice firm and full of certainty. He was pleased to see the reactions of the audience whose faces were casted in shadows. The swell of happiness made him light-headed. The spotlights almost blinded him, but he cared more about his proper posture than anything else.

Nakatuon ang atensyon nilang lahat sa kanya. Nakatingin ang mga tao. Sa malawak na espasyo ng teatro, napuno ng mga palakpakan at papuri sa batang nakilala sa kanyang karakter. Roses and paper bills were thrown at his feet, the stage soon became an altar filled with promises of remarkable and extraordinary things.

Of a future as bright as the second star to the right.

Peter remained in that position for as long as he could---head hung low, eyes focused on his feet, arms rigid on his sides. Pinanood lang niya ang kanyang anino sa sahig na tila ba gagalaw ito kung hindi niya ito mababantayan nang maigi.

His shadow slowly faded away.

Peter felt his arms go limp as the applause slowly died down. The spotlights dimmed until he can no longer see anything than his own reflection on the puddle of rain at his feet.

Peter watched the younger version of himself slip away like a memory he can't quite hold on to.

Replaced by the face of a young adult man who witnessed enough horrors the world has to offer.

"Growing up is never a happy experience."

Napalitan ng isang nakababahalang katahimikan ang loob ng teatro. Nabibingi na siya sa tunog ng kanyang sariling paghinga. Makalipas ang ilang sandali, nag-angat ng tingin ang binata. Naglaho ang marangyang damit at napalitan ng pinaglumaan ng kanyang ama. Doon siya binati ng malamig na katotohanang matagal nang walang dumadayo sa teatrong ito. Napaglipasan na ng panahon at tuluyan nang nagiba ang kisame nito.

Peter stared at the sky, the evening breeze sent a shiver down his spine with the aftermath of the rain.

The seats are empty.

The theater is dark.

"But why do I still keep acting?"

Paano ba humantong sa ganito ang buhay niya?

Naagaw lang ang kanyang atensyon ng pagkalam ng kanyang sikmura. Hindi pa pala siya kumakain buong araw, at hindi niya nagawang bumili sa labas nang dahil sa ulan kanina. Napasimangot si Peter at agad na pumasok sa trap door. Sa maliit na espasyo kung saan kalimitang nagkakaroon ng costume change ang mga aktor, kinuha ng binata ang natitira niyang pera at ang jacket na matagal-tagal na mula noong huling nalinisan.

He swiftly stepped out of the theater with his best foot forward and into the streets of Eastwood, pulling the hood down to cover his face.

*

Isang mabigat na dahilan kung bakit bibihirang lumabas si Peter ay dahil ayaw niyang pinagtitinginan siya ng mga tao sa lansangan.

Oh, what an irony to have the child star now be terrified of attention!

And to make matters worse...

"Teka, parang pamilyar ka? Dati ka ba sa teatro?"

Peter froze like a deer caught in the headlights. Mabilis niyang nilapag ang kanyang pera sa counter at dali-daling kinuha ang bag ng tinapay bago pa man siya kwestiyunin ulit ng tindero. Peter rushed outside the bakery, bumping into several people who gave him nasty looks. Napansin pa niyang iginilid ng isang ina ang kanyang anak para hindi siya nito madikitan.

As if Peter has an infectious disease that can cause an outbreak if left unattended.

But in all honestly, he's used to it by now.

Sa ilang taon nang pamumuhay nang ganito, mapipilitan ka na lang maging manhid sa panghuhusga sa'yo ng ibang tao. At this point Peter wants nothing more than to just be invisible to everyone and live out the rest of his empty life in that abandoned theater. Away from people and far away from any kind of adventure. Wala na siyang mga pangarap sa buhay at hindi na niya nanaisin pang maging pabigat sa sinumang taong makakasalamuha niya.

Peter stared walking quickly, zooming past other strangers on the sidewalk as he kept his head low.

"Malapit na... konting tiis na lang, makakauwi ka na," bulong ni Peter sa kanyang sarili at bilisan pa lalo ang paglalakad.

For a brief moment, he had an urge to catch a glimpse of himself in a window's reflection. A quick glimpse, just to see if he needed to take a shower inside the public gym again. Mula noong nahinto ang operasyon ng teatro, nahinto na rin ang supply ng tubig at kuryente sa lugar. Hence, Peter had to take matters of hygiene into his own hand and seek out all available resources.

Just one tiny glimpse.

There.

For the first time in a month, Peter saw himself again. Kapansin-pansin na mas namayat siya mula noong huli niyang nakita ang kanyang repleksyon.

'I really do need to eat on time,' he thought to himself.

But something else caught his attention. He squinted his eyes and gasped.

Why is there another face in the reflection?

Nagsimulang humakbang papalayo si Peter sa bintana. Maya-maya pa, mabilis na siyang kumaripas ng takbo pabalik sa abandonadong teatro. While he was running down the streets, people kept staring at him as if he were crazy. Pero tuwing susulyap si Peter sa mga bintana, nakikita niya ang bulto ng isang lalaking lumilipad habang sinusundan siya. Pero tuwing lilingon siya, wala namang sumusunod sa kanya. Siya lang ba ang nakakakita nito? Minumulto na ba siya? Shit! Maybe he really is crazy?

"Lumayo ka sa'kin!"

Peter ran as fast as his scrawny legs can take him, dropping the bag of bread on the street as he crossed the road.

Mabilis niyang binuksan ang lumang gate at dumiretso sa loob ng abandonadong teatro. Pagod at hinihingal siyang lumundag pabalik sa trap door at isinara ang takip nito.

Peter started panting, his heart racing with every breath. In his weak state, he lit a candle beside him and shivered alone in that space, with the collection of a few blankets and memorabilias from his early years.

'Wala na kaya siya? Hindi naman nagpupunta ng teatro ang mga multo, 'di ba?'

He sighed, wiping his sweat with the sleeve of his jacket.

That was when Peter heard the whistle. Nanindig ang mga balahibo niya sa braso nang marinig ang pagsipol ng sinumang nilalang na nasa loob ng teatro. He suddenly remembered the superstitions that whistling backstage is considered a jinx, rooting from the fact that whistling cues the stagehands to change the scenery by hoisting ropes. Napalunok ang binata nang maramdaman niya ang yabag ng mga sapatos sa itaas, kung nasaan ang main stage. Do ghosts wear shoes now?

Suddenly, the footsteps stopped.

'Is he gone now?' Kabadong naghintay ng ilang segundo si Peter bago napagdesisyunang silipin ang itaas.

Using the ladder, Peter quietly lifted the trap door, just enough to let him peek outside. It was still dark in the theatre, and to his relief, nobody seems to be on stage. He sighed. Baka nga imahinasyon niya lang ang lahat!

Until a bag of bread dropped in front of him.

Sa gulat ni Peter, mabilis niyang binuksan ang trap door at inangat ang kanyang tingin. Pero imbes na isang kalangitang napupuno ng mga ulap at bituin, isang pares ng kulay lilang mga mata ang sumalubong sa kanya. Nakahalukipkip ito, na tila ba kanila pa siya hinihintay magpakita mula sa kanyang munting lungga.

And the man... was flying in the air?

Purple eyes shone in the dark abandoned theatre, a predatory smirk on his ethereal face. The wings behind him glowed ominously, a warning to stay away.

"I finally found you, Peter Pan."

---

"Trauma is the villainous hooked hand
reaching out to snag me, to hold me back
Keeping me in this fairy cage,
tormented by endless flashbacks."

---Sarah Blakely, "Peter Pan"