Peter Pan and the Lost Fae of Neverland

[03] TRES

"Never make a deal with a fae."

He can't remember a lot of things in his past, but for some unknown reason, that warning was etched into his mind.

Someone holding his hand after another performance, them walking side by side. A fragment from what little memories he had of his time as a stage actor. Alam ni Peter na mula ito sa kanyang kabataan dahil naalala niyang inangat niya ang kanyang ulo para tingnang maigi ang nagsalita.

In his perspective, adults were faceless giants.

"Bakit po?"

Matagal bago sumagot ang matandang babae, which Peter later on assumes was his parent. Hindi na masyadong maalala ni Peter ang kabuuan ng naging tugon nito maliban sa iilang salita.

"...dahil ang mga fae ay masama. They trick you into trusting them in order to trap you into their realm. Never trust a fae, Peter. Pare-pareho lang sila."

Those same words stuck in Peter's head like a leech that won't let go, sucking in all his other memories and happiness along with them.

'Di nagtagal, siya na mismo ang nag-imbestiga ng tungkol sa mga fairies o mas kilala sa bansag na "fae" sa Eastwood. Surprisingly, their town once believed in fairies and other kinds of paranormal creatures in the past. Ayon sa impormasyong kanyang nasagap sa mga lansangan, isang alamat na lang ang mga ito. Isang kwentong panakot sa mga batang pasaway na dati'y nagpupunta sa kakahuyan. Stories of fae traps and missing children were popular decades ago, but those stories soon died out like a flame to a candle.

Hindi na muling inusisa pa ni Peter ang mga kwento, lalo't wala naman siyang nakikitang rason para alamin pa ang mga detalye nito.

"Hindi 'to totoo... imposible."

Tila ba nagulat si Jester sa kanyang sinabi. The fae tilted his head quizzically, as if trying to comprehend the intention behind Peter's words. Nadi-distract pa rin si Peter dahil nakalutang pa rin sa ere ang lalaki, wings glowing against the dark backdrop of the night.

"Anong hindi totoo?"

Peter smirked. "Hindi ka totoo! None of this is real," he gestured the entire setup using one hand, the other still holding on to the clocktower's spire for support. "Nananaginip lang ako! Isang magandang panaginip! You think I believe in fairies? Well, think again!"

"Peter Pan..."

"And stop calling me Peter Pan! My name is just Peter! Just a homeless boy who doesn't fucking know what to do with his life anymore!"

"Well, whether you like it or not, this isn't a dream... Wala ka man maalala sa buhay mo sa Neverland, hindi mo pa rin matatakasan ang mga problemang iniwan mo roon."

Sumasakit na ang ulo ni Peter sa mga sinasabi ng isang 'to. If Jester was just a product of his lonely imagination, then Peter commends himself for doing a good job with the details. Huminga siya nang malalim, ayaw magpatalo. Sumulyap siya sa ibaba at tinibayan ang kanyang loob.

"This is a dream, and I'll prove it."

Jester's eyes widened when he started to let go of the clock tower's edge.

"Hey! Are you crazy?! Wait, don't‐--!"

Buong tapang na binibitiwan ni Peter ang pagkakahawak niya sa tower at ipinikit ang kanyang mga mata. Sa kabila ng pagiging kalmado niya, unti-unti ring nabubuo ang pag-aalinlangan sa kanyang isip. The longer he fell, the more anxious he became. Bakit ba parang nauubusan na siya ng hangin? Bakit hindi pa siya nagigising?

No, no, no... this can't be happening!

Oh, fuck.

"SO THIS ISN'T A DREAM?!"