Morning arrived quietly in the City of Hudson. Not dramatic. Not loud. Just slow sunlight gradually slipping through narrow streets still wet from last night’s rain. The storm was gone now.
Only puddles remained on sidewalks, reflecting faded billboards and tangled electrical wires overhead.
Vendors slowly opened small stalls near the market district while jeepneys passed one after another carrying half-awake passengers to work.
The city continued moving.
As if nobody died the night before.
As if fear did not exist inside hotel hallways and dark parking lots.
Meanwhile, several kilometers away from the hotel—
Jeron sat cross-legged on the living room floor while eating instant noodles directly from the pot.
“Ma!”
His loud voice echoed through the small house.
“I said don’t shout
