The Green Between Us(SOON) 1628 GANG Series#1

Prologue

Faelan Verdis

The sun was sinking low na, its golden light draping across the fields like a soft promise. Everything felt in place—the air was cool, amoy basil at damp na lupa, and the bees were making their slow, chill rounds through the sunflower rows. I exhaled slowly, hands resting on my hips as I looked around the farm. This land wasn’t just soil and plants. Every seed I planted had meaning, and every crop I grew had a purpose.

Tapos biglang may narinig ako.

Crunch. May mga footsteps sa malayo—sa part ng field kung saan walang dapat na tao. My body tensed agad. I turned toward the sound, and just like that, yung peaceful feeling ng gabi? Nawala.

At the far end of the field, near the lettuce beds, I saw something move—isang lalaki, crouching near the plants. And beside him? A GOAT. Naka-yuko, chowing down on my lettuce as if walang pake sa mundo.

Anger flared sa dibdib ko. Mabilis pa sa isip, I started walking toward them, boots thudding against the soil. My heart was pounding in my chest—hindi ko alam if it was disbelief, anger, or both.

Sino bang gago ang pumapasok sa farm ko with a goat?

“Hoy!” I called out, voice sharp. “Get that goat off my crops!”

The guy turned, parang sobrang chill lang, like wala siyang ginawa. No panic. No rush. Parang si mayor pa siya ng farm ko.

Meanwhile, the goat? Tuloy lang sa kain, tearing through the lettuce with a satisfied snort.

“Good evening,” sabi nung lalaki, brushing a few leaves off his sleeve. His hair was a mess, parang mahangin, and his clothes? Mukhang sobrang gamit na gamit—like more nights under the stars than under a roof. His whole vibe was relaxed, to the point na nakakainis.

“Just passing through,” he added, parang okay lang na sinabi niya ‘yun.

“Passing through?” I repeated, frowning. “Your goat is eating my lettuce.”

He looked down at the goat, who gave a happy little bleat, as if it knew how proud it was of itself.

“Yeah,” he said with a shrug. “He gets curious.”

Curious? I clenched my fists. “Pare, that ‘curious’ goat is ruining my crops. Hindi puwedeng hayaan mo lang siyang gumala dito.”

He crouched down beside the goat, fixing the rope around its neck. Yung goat pa, pumalag ng konti, then finally gave in, parang, Okay, tapos na ang adventure ko.

“I’m Kaeran,” the guy said, introducing himself, as if this was a casual meet-and-greet. “Kaeran Silas Windfield. I run the animal rescue down the road.”

Of course. I’ve heard about him—yung lalaking may malaking puso para sa mga hayop pero walang konsepto ng boundaries. The one who believes every animal deserves freedom, kahit minsan hassle na sa ibang tao. And now, the price of that freedom? My crops.

“Bro, I don’t care if you run a zoo,” I said, voice tight. “This is my farm, and your goat? Hindi siya welcome.”

Kaeran gave me a small, infuriating smile, like he knew exactly how much he was testing my patience. “They’re not just animals,” he said, gently scratching behind the goat’s ear. “They deserve a life where they can be free.”

“Free?” I raised an eyebrow. “Eh they’re free right now—to destroy my hard work.”

He stood up slowly, still holding the rope. He looked at me, steady and kalmado, with those eyes—green and gold, like forests and fields mixed into one gaze. Walang kahit anong apology sa tingin niya. Instead, it was calm confidence, the kind that made me grit my teeth.

“I’ll make sure he stays out of your way,” he said, tugging the goat lightly toward the treeline.

I stood there, fists clenched, watching as they walked away into the sunset. Akala ko, I’d feel better once they were gone. But I didn’t. The quiet returned, but it wasn’t the peaceful kind.

His words stayed with me, like burrs stuck sa hem ng jeans after working in the field.

This wasn’t over. Alam kong hindi pa ‘to tapos.

I let out a sharp breath, turning back to the lettuce beds, checking the damage. As I ran my fingers over the torn leaves, one thing was clear—Kaeran Silas Windfield might have left my farm tonight, but may iniwan siyang something.

A feeling I couldn’t explain.
And somehow, I just knew—this wouldn’t be the last time I’d see him.