A stranger at the threshold
1066 Words
As Levi stepped out of the car, a cold breeze struck her face like a slap—sharp, unwelcome, but undeniably real. The air was clean, too clean, like it had never been tainted by smoke or city noise. She looked around slowly. On her right, endless rice fields stretched into the horizon. To her left, the shadows of towering coconut trees stood like silent guards. There were a few scattered lights, but not enough—darkness still clung to the land like a secret.
“f**k… I’m literally in the middle of nowhere.”
Her voice trembled, laced with disbelief. She hugged herself instinctively, not from the cold—but from the dread creeping in. This wasn’t a home. This was exile.
She didn’t belong here. Not in this forgotten patch of land, not in this life. Anger surged in her chest, wild and sharp. How could her father do this to her? How could he send her here—away from everything, everyone?
There was no one she could call, no place to run. Not even Mang Ben. She didn’t want him to get fired because of her, and besides, he wasn’t the enemy. He was just the messenger.
She clenched her fists.
“Come on, Levi. We have business to finish.”
Her voice was barely a whisper. This wasn’t about comfort. This wasn’t about home. This was about revenge. Nothing else.
She took one step forward—and sank. The concrete had ended right at the car. The path ahead was pure mud. She stumbled, barely catching herself, and let out a frustrated scream.
“Okay ka lang, hija? Nakalimutan kong sabihin sa’yo, maputik ang lugar na ‘to!”
Mang Ben called out, concern in his voice.
Of course he’d been here before. She could hear it in his tone. And yet… she’d never once asked. It wasn’t his fault. None of this was.
“All good, Mang Ben,”
she muttered through gritted teeth, though bitterness laced her voice.
Thank God she changed her heels into sneakers earlier. Just the thought of her Louboutins drowning in this swampy trail made her want to scream again. Every step squelched beneath her, heavy and exhausting. She cursed under her breath—at the mud, at the silence, at the poverty she wasn’t used to. After what felt like a thousand steps—though she knew she was being dramatic—she finally stepped onto concrete again and nearly collapsed with relief.
She turned to look at Mang Ben. He walked as if on clouds. Effortless. Familiar.
Of course. Her father had probably dragged him here many times. Too many times.
“Lead the way, Mang Ben.”
She didn’t try to sound polite.
He nodded and moved ahead.
They passed two small buildings—storage rooms, maybe. They looked abandoned. Broken. Shadows clung to them even under the weak glow of the lights. A chill crept up her spine. The air felt different here. Too quiet. Too still. She hurried to keep up with Mang Ben and nearly slammed into him when he suddenly stopped.
“Andito na tayo, hija,”
he said softly.
Levi tilted her head and looked past him. And froze.
This was the house?
A small, wooden structure stood before her, looking like it had been pulled straight from an old horror film. Four creaking stairs led to a narrow balcony where wilted hanging flowers swung lazily in the breeze. A swing swayed slightly, as if someone had just stood from it. The house was made entirely of aged wood, its color long faded by rain and time. The door in the middle looked heavy, untouched, unwelcoming.
Her heart sank.
This wasn’t just different from what she knew—this was another world entirely.
Tears threatened to sting her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
“Focus, Levi.”
She inhaled, steadying herself. Not now. Not ever. She wouldn’t break. She had no room to break.
Mang Ben hauled her luggage up the creaking stairs and knocked on the door—once, twice, three times. Silence. Levi’s irritation flared.
What the hell is taking so long?
She rolled her eyes, gritting her teeth. Was the man deaf?
Finally, the door creaked open—slow, hesitant. The sound alone sent a shiver down her spine. Something about this place felt haunted.
“Oy, Kuya Ben, ikaw pala!”
The voice was deep, smooth, but slightly hoarse—like velvet mixed with gravel. Levi’s skin prickled. A strange electricity settled in her chest. She couldn’t see him yet—Mang Ben was still blocking her view—but suddenly, she needed to.
“Inihatid ko lang si Levi.”
“Ganon po ba? Pasok po kayo.”
Their attention turned to her. Finally.
“Ipapasok ko na mga gamit mo, hija. Mahamog sa labas. Pumasok ka na rin.”
As Mang Ben stepped aside, Levi’s breath caught in her throat.
The man standing in the doorway was nothing like she expected. She had imagined some old, hunched, forgettable figure. But this—this man looked carved from marble. Broad shoulders. Long hair tied at the back. A tattoo that snaked up his neck and disappeared beneath his shirt. And his eyes—God, his eyes. Cold. Intense. Dangerous. She couldn’t even tell what color they were, but they pierced right through her.
“Pasok, bago dumating ang mga lobo,”
he said with a half-smirk.
Seriously? Wolves? She wanted to scoff—but part of her actually shivered.
She hated how he looked. She hated how he sounded. She hated the way her body reacted to all of it.
“Who are you trying to scare, huh?”
she snapped, sarcasm sharp as ever.
The man smiled—slow, amused, knowing.
She stepped toward the door, her legs wobbling slightly. She blamed the mud. Not him. Not his eyes.
Standing beside him made her feel small. Too small. She was just 5’3” and he was a damn giant. As she moved past him, he leaned down, just enough for his lips to nearly graze her ear.
“Gusto ko ‘yan. Palaban.”
Her breath hitched. She stood frozen as he walked away, cool and confident, like nothing had happened.
She stared ahead, speechless.
What the actual f**k just happened?
Well, Whatever this was... it was war.
- Writer
