The Secret Beneath Her Name

Chapter 10: dawn

EXT. BUS TERMINAL - DAWN

Gray light. JEEPNEYS sleeping. VENDORS setting up taho. One COFFEE STALL open. RADIO plays static, then news.

NYX, 19 now, sits on a plastic bench. Backpack. No luggage. Hair shorter. No scar — makeup covers it. The SKELETON KEY is gone. Instead, she wears LILIA’S ROSARY, but the key bead is empty. Just a hole.

She holds the LEDGER. It’s THINNER now. Like a notebook with all the pages torn out. The cover is plain. No skin. Just cloth.

COFFEE VENDOR

(stirring a pot)

Early trip, miss?

NYX

Early everything.

The vendor slides her a paper cup. Free.

COFFEE VENDOR

You look like you haven’t slept.

NYX

(smiles, small)

I slept. First time in years.

PA SYSTEM crackles.

VOICE (O.S.)

Boarding Victory Liner 8-0-3 to Manila. All passengers to Gate 2.

INT. BUS TERMINAL - CONTINUOUS

Nyx stands. Lines up. CLERK at the gate checks tickets.

CLERK

Name?

NYX

(beat)

Mireille Santos.

CLERK writes it. M. SANTOS. Tears off the stub.

CLERK

Seat 14-C. Have a safe trip, Miss Santos.

Nyx takes the stub. Walks toward the bus.

PA SYSTEM (O.S.)

Last call for Miss Revenar. Miss Nyx Aurelia Revenar. Please proceed to Gate 2.

The line STOPS. People look around.

Nyx keeps walking. Doesn’t turn. Doesn’t flinch.

OLD WOMAN in line tugs her sleeve.

OLD WOMAN

Miss? I think that’s you.

NYX

(glances back, calm)

Wrong name.

She gets on the bus.

INT. BUS - CONTINUOUS

Nyx sits by the window. 14-C. The LEDGER on her lap.

Outside, the sun breaks the horizon. Liwayway. Dawn.

She opens the ledger. One page left.

She takes a ballpoint. Writes:

INSERT: Liway De Los Santos was born. Nyx Aurelia Revenar was bought. Mireille Santos was chosen.

She closes the ledger. Shoves it in her backpack. Zips it.

BUS DRIVER

(over intercom)

We’re leaving in one minute. Last chance to get off.

Nyx looks out the window. BAHAY REVENAR is gone. In its place: a vacant lot. Grass. One BLACK TREE in the center. No shoes. Just morning.

The bus ENGINE STARTS.

NYX

(to herself)

The secret beneath her name…

She laughs. Once. Quiet.

NYX (CONT’D)

…was that it wasn’t hers.

The bus pulls out.

FADE OUT.