Zeke's POV

Wow.

This world is interesting. It looks like my world, but a whole new experience.

People living here are not stars;they just belong to the middleclass society. Some of them may be paupers, but let's not talk about them.

I'm mesmerized about how simple this life may be; a star's life should always include grandeur ideas and lifestyles.

I looked around at the surroundings. It's dark outside; stars are shining brightly in the sky.

I glanced at my watch. 1:00am. Hmm. I have time.

I parked my car somewhere near the gate and walked until I reached the downtown. I was about to venture deeper but someone touched my shoulder.

Adrenaline rush came and I'm about to hit the guy hard but he shouted. "Teka lang! Chill ka lang!"

I calmed but I won't let my defenses down. "Sino ka ba kasi?!"

Hinimas niya muna yung batok niya bago nagsalita. "Ako pala si— teka nga! Sino ka rin ba kasi?!"

I was caught off-guard. Jusko. Hindi niya pwede malaman pangalan ko. "Aah. Ako si Zachary. Zachary Mendez."

Napakamot naman siya ng ulo. "Mendez? Diba dapat Megrez yun..." Narinig ko ang huli niyang sinabi.

Bakit kasi Mendez ang pinili mo, Zeke?! Nako. Nagulat ako ng nagsalita ulit siya. "Oke. Ako nga pala si Phoenix. Phoenix Caelum Garcia. Nice to meeeeeeEEEEeeeeEEEEEeeeeEEEEt you!" Maingay na sambit nito.

"Shh wag ka ngang maingay!" Bukod kasi ang sakit nito sa tenga, making noises in the town at midnight is dangerous. And I might get caught. Mahirap na.

"Okay po senpai. Hihi." Tawa niya. I just rolled my eyes. Ganito ba kabaliw ang isang pauper? "Teka, bakit ka nandito? And saan ka galing?" Tanong niya.

I felt a chill running down my spine as he waits for an answer. I can't just say I came from the stars! That's crazy. I need to use this "Zachary Mendez" name for disguise.

I was supposed to tell something but then I realized, why am I here?

"Ehem. Ano kasi, wala lang. Gusto ko lang." Psh, Zeke! Such a lame excuse!

But it looks like Phoenix didn't mind. He even clapped his hands! "Ang cool mo, senpai. Hehe crush na kita— aray!"

Before he could even finished his sentence, I hit him hard. What's with him? Is he crazy?

Napatawa lang si Phoenix na labis kong ikinabahala. "It seems like you came from a very far place." He said seriously.

I suddenly became nervous. "I am from a far place." I nervously said. What if may alam siya? I can't risk my identity here. It's too dangerous.

Phoenix smirked under the moonlight. "Tsk tsk. You came in the wrong time, bro." Naglakad siya papunta sa direksyon ng Gate of the Other World at ako naman ay sumunod.

Teka, bakit papunta kami dito?!

"Phoenix—"

"Mas maganda ang lupa kesa sa bituin, Zachary. Nalo na pag umaga." Napatigin ako sa kaniya at nakita ko siyang nakatitig sa mga bituin.

I also looked at the stars and I smiled. So this is what it feels like, seeing your world from the world of mystery.

"Try going here, Zachary when the sun rises. You'll like it here." I saw Phoenix looking me intently into the eye and I felt nervousness crawl in my spine. He then gave me a smile. "Go already, Zach senpai! You need some rest."

I nodded although I can't comprehend. Phoenix is so mysterious, just like his world. Papunta na sana ako ng Gate of the Other World ng hinarap ko ulit si Phoenix.

"Who are you?" I asked him.

Phoenix smirked. May split-personality ba 'tong taong 'to? "If there is one thing that you should know Zachary is that I'm not like you."

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"Gosh Zeke! Where have you been?!" My mom screamed as she saw me walking towards my room.

I'm too tired. There is a lot of things that bugs my mind and I can't figure it out! Gusto ko matulog, yun lang.

I ignored my mom and locked the door of my room tightly before I lied down in my bed. I looked at the clock.

4am

Oh. That's why. My mom usually wakes up at 4am because of her paperworks. I bet she doesn't even care why I left home— she just wants to know where am I in order to track me.

I closed my eyes and reminisced the hours before sunrise.

Phoenix.

God. He is so mysterious. He acts weird and crazy but a few minutes later, he began to say something even weirder.

"Who are you?" I asked him.

Phoenix smirked. May split-personality ba 'tong taong 'to? "If there is one thing that you should know Zachary is that I'm not like you."

What the hell did he just say?

"Do you really know me?" I asked once again.

Phoenix gave me a questioning look. "Hoy Zachary. Tanga ka ba? Kakakilala lang natin oh! Anong pinagsasabi mo diyan?"

Wow. He just made me look like I'm stupid.

"Then what do you mean earlier?!" I confusedly asked. Hindi ko talaga siya maintindihan!

"Ahh. Yung 'I'm not like you?' Aba Zachary. You went in the middle of the town kasi gusto mo lang. Okay ka lang? Hindi ko gagawin yun! Dapat pupunta ka dito dahil gutom ka! At mas masarap ang pagkain pag umaga! Tsk. Ano ba ang iniisip mo?" He said. I stared at his eyes and it seems he knows something. His eyes reflect the starlight.

I sighed again out of surrender. Hindi ko makaya ang split-personality ng lalaking to! "Fine. I'll go ahead."

"Nice meeting you Zachary."

"Nice meeting you Phoenix."

I opened my eyes and looked at the clock. It's 6am already. Woah. 2 hours ko pala iniisip si Phoenix?

Don't get me wrong. Phoenix is so mysterious. Parang lahat ng sasabihin niya may double meaning. He's a smart person to be a pauper. Maybe a middle-class?

God. What if he is a star like me?

I can't take this anymore!

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"Zeke. We're asking nicely. Where have you been?" My dad sternly asked me.

Honestly, I've never been close with my dad. He treats me like I'm his daughter, which obviously I'm not!

"Somewhere, Dad." I tried to polite. He's still my dad after all. He just don't act like it.

I stood up from the dining table and headed to my room. Call me disrespectful but I don't talk to my parents that much. Besides, they only want to chat with me because they need something.

I saw the rose in my veranda. I smiled in the sight of it. I picked it up, gently avoiding its thorns. It's so beautiful and mesmerizing.

I suddenly remembered what butler said.

"The world is lovely yet dangerous, Zeke..."

You're right, butler. It is dangerous.

And I'm gonna find out why it is lovely.