༒︎Chapter 01༒︎

❀ How We Met ❀

Present Day...

SHAWN-

Life is colorful, or so they say. I won't argue with that, really. Though, everyone sees it differently. Some see it in bright hues, while others in dull shades. Good things happen to some while bad things happen to others. But that's completely normal. That's what paints life with contrast. There's conflict, but there's also love. There's sadness, but there's also joy.

But my life? It's kind of a whole different palette. A bit more... action-packed. Yelling here, shouting there. A chase here, a chase there. You know, the usual chaotic scenery you see in Mexican movies. That's just how it is with mine. And guess who I play chase with?

The police. Hahahaha! They make the best playmates.

But when the cops aren't around, my other playmates are the people I "borrow" things from. And sometimes, even my fellow thieves decide to get in on the fun.

See? Being a criminal isn't all that bad. It's actually really fun.

Oh, right. Name's Shawn Jonathan Espejo, by the way. A thief. One who'll drive you crazy. Not just because you wouldn't probably beat me in a game of tag but also with my ridiculously good looks. Yeah, self-proclaimed, I know. Cut me some slack.

I'm just your average guy. Just a little rough around the edges but I'm friendly. Sure, I cause trouble, but I try to avoid real fights. Violence? Not my thing. Getting hurt? No thanks. I just steal and enjoy the thrill of the chase. Call me a coward if you want, but that's my golden rule.

And guess what? I regret nothing of it. I love this life. I'm actually famous now! My face had thousands of likes on Facebook. It was posted by a News Page, yeah, but still, thousands? Damn, not many get to have likes that much. I had been on the run for about three years now that you'd think I'll probably have my own "WANTED" posters, but no. Not even a bounty. It's almost insulting. Like, come on, am I really not worth the trouble? Hahaha!

"Help! Thief! Somebody stop him! Police!"

A woman's panicked screams rang out behind me. Let's just say... I helped myself to her bag. People are so selfish these days. They won't even give you something without you having to force it from them. So I did her a favor and took it off her hands before she could refuse.

I glanced back mid-run, grinning as I caught sight of her flailing on the pavement like a toddler throwing a tantrum. Hahaha!

But my smile went even wider when I spotted my playmates — the chubby cops.

God, it cracks me up real bad every time I see their fat bellies bounce as they run after me.

"Hey! Stop right there!"

I smirked at them and kept on running. We all knew how this would end. Why did they even bother anymore? It's like they forgot I was a parkour expert. High walls? Easy. Rooftops? My playground. Narrow alleyways? A walk in the park. These fatasses stood no chance against me.

Their stomachs led the way before their legs could even catch up. But least I was helping them burn some calories!

And so, the game began again.

I sprinted into an alleyway, bumping against people along the way, muttering sorry's. And since we were just starting, they somehow managed to keep up. But the moment I scaled a rooftop, they were done for. I had to admit, though, they were getting better. Chasing me every day must've been good training.

But even with that... they still couldn't catch me.

Hopefully.

Since I was starting to feel a little tired, I decided to end the game. I scaled a high wall and, just like Spider-Man, flung myself over to the other side.

Game over.

"Shit! He got away again!"

I heard one of them shout in frustration. As their voices faded in surrender, I exhaled and leaned against the wall, catching my breath.

That was intense.

Once my heart calmed, I rummaged through the stolen bag. My face twisted in disappointment to see a bunch of make-up kits. That woman was like eighty. Why was she carrying all these things?

I kept searching until I finally found what I took the bag for. A wallet!

I held it up like a trophy, kissed it, and flipped it open. My eyes nearly popped out.

5,000!

Jackpot.

Grinning, I hugged the wallet and looked up at the sky. "Thank you, Lord! I knew You wouldn't let me down."

I pocketed the cash and tossed the bag aside. But just as I was about to leave, I froze.

Five guys stood in front of me-street thugs, all my age. They just kinda looked old but yeah they're my age. And I'm not that old yet.

Each one of them carried their own weapons like metal pipes and baseball bats. They had cigarettes in their mouths, tattoos, tattered jeans and jackets. You know, the whole gang package.

The leader, which I've known after encountering them for so many times, smirked, a cig between his lips. "Damn, you hit the jackpot today, huh, Shawn?"

I forced a casual smile. "Looks that way."

He scoffed, as his friends chuckled darkly.

"Well, bad news for you. Hand over the cash, and maybe we'll let you walk out of here in one piece."

He gestured at the money in my pocket with his bat.

I lifted the bills, inspecting them as if considering it. Then, without hesitation, I shoved them into my pocket again and flashed them a smug grin.

"Yeah, no. I need this more than you do."

The leader clicked his tongue. "If you won't hand it over..." His smirk twisted into something nastier. "We'll just beat it out of you then. Boys, get him!"

They stepped forward, smacking their weapons against their palms.

I glanced around looking for a way out and it seemed like I had two. A narrow alley with a dead end to my left and a tall wall behind me.

Bad area. No easy escape routes. If I ran, they'd catch me in no time.

Unless...

My eyes locked onto a large crate stacked against the wall and I smirked immediately.

Perfect.

Without a second thought, I bolted. My foot hit the crate, and I launched myself upward, gripping the top of the wall.

Got it!

I glanced down at the gang as they just stood there, gaping at me.

Idiots.

I shot them a mock salute. "Better luck next time, boys."

Then, I dropped to the other side.

"You idiots! Go after him!" their leader roared.

But by the time they scrambled to climb, I was already melting into the crowded streets.

I glanced behind me and groaned upon seeing some of them running out of the alley.

How the hell did they get over that wall?

As they were busy looking around for me, I made my way out of the busy streets, removing my disguise which composed of a black hoodie and a bandana, to easily blend in with the crowd. One member of the gang passed by me and surely enough, he didn't recognize me.

When they all finally got out of my sight, I let out a deep sigh before walking away.

I went inside a mall and grabbed some foods for me to eat and of course paid it with the lady's money. And afterwards, I went back home to my apartment. It was kind of old and some things require a lot of fixing. Explains why not many people rent this place anymore. But it was the only place I could afford so I complaining is the only thing I could do. It was far from the main road too so it kind of served as a hideout from the police for me.

When I got to my floor, I immediately opened my room. The moment I did, I was greeted by the sight of my messy and extremely dirty space.

And when I say messy, I mean really messy. Clothes were scattered all over the floor, most of them unwashed, with underwear and socks tossed around carelessly. On the table, food wrappers were everywhere; junk food, plastic cup noodles, and more. It wasn't just the table, either; the sink was also a disaster, filled with unwashed dishes. At least there weren't any flies buzzing around yet.

My apartment wasn't that big, just the right size for me. After staring blankly at the mess for a few seconds, I finally decided to step inside. I kicked off my shoes, sending them flying somewhere, then shut the door and went straight to the table, pushing the garbage away before dropping off the groceries I had bought which was composed mostly of cup noodles and ready to cook foods. I ain't got no time to cook.

I wasn't hungry yet, so I figured I'd eat later. After that, I headed to my bed-which, at this point, I had practically turned into a trash bin underneath-and laid myself down. I grabbed my phone from under my pillow and checked the time and for any notifications. And what was I even expecting? It's not like I had a girlfriend who would send me a text.

Seeing that it was only ten in the morning, I decided to take a nap.

I guess I got a bit tired from all that running earlier, so I thought might as well sleep for now.

I closed my eyes, and before I knew it, I had already dozed off.

MYTCH-

If other people's lives are colorful, mine isn't. Not even a shade of gray. If you really want to know why, try putting yourself in my situation. Imagine this: I've been wandering around this city for a week now, and I still haven't found a job. I'm on the brink of getting crazy! Why do we even have to work to earn money? Where would all the money even go if all people decided not to work anymore? Might as well just give it to us!

And to make things worse, my family is falling apart. I don't even have to explain it in full detail, just imagine a life that is a complete mess. Just last month, my father left us. No, he didn't pass away-he just moved away... to another family. As the eldest of three siblings, I had no choice but to spend my summer working just to support the family he abandoned. It's frustrating, but I have to do it.

At least it's summer vacation, so things aren't that hard yet. I'm already in college, and my younger siblings are both in high school. My mother's job isn't exactly stable either but we get by with every day's life from what she earns from it. We have a small food stall, where she sells homemade rice cakes and barbecues. Sometimes, she takes on extra work like doing laundry or babysitting. Luckily, my siblings are old enough to help out in their own ways.

Right now, I'm applying for a job at a Jollibee outlet. But by the looks of it, my chances of getting hired are slim.

I was practically begging in front of the manager, my pride long gone. "Please, sir. Just hire me. Any job will do. I'll even clean the bathrooms if I have to."

I was this close to getting on my knees, but deep down, I already knew, no matter how much I begged, I wouldn't be accepted.

The manager clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed. "I already told you, there are no job openings! Are you deaf?"

I knew it...

"Sir, please-"

"For crying out loud— Guard! Get this woman out of here!"

The office door swung open, and out came the security guard. Oh, great. Not this guy again. He was already giving me a hard time earlier, refusing to let me in. What did he think I was? A runaway mental patient? Excuse me, do I look crazy to you? I'm gorgeous, thank you very much.

He stepped closer, probably thinking he could grab my arm and drag me out. But the moment he reached for me, I yanked my arm away and shot him a sharp glare.

"Don't touch me," I snapped. "I can walk out on my own."

With one last roll of my eyes, I turned around and stormed off, making sure to give them both a final, dramatic death glare before leaving.

Once I was outside and far enough away, I stopped and glanced back at the restaurant and raised a middle finger in its direction. I hope you all go bankrupt.

Scoffing to myself, I turned away and kept walking.

I checked my watch and grimaced when I saw the time. It's already ten in the morning?! No wonder it was already so damn hot.

I kept walking along the side of the road under the scorching sun until, out of nowhere, my stomach let out a loud growl.

Seriously? I'm already hungry this early? What kind of bullshit...

But whatever. If I was hungry, I was going to eat. No one cared anyway.

I continued walking until I finally spotted a small eatery. Without hesitation, I stepped inside, placed my order, and wasted no time digging into my meal.

Oh, right, let me introduce myself. I'm Alicia Mytch Alcantara. Just call me Mytch. You already know about my life, so I guess I should tell you a bit about myself. I'm just a typical girl, not too flashy, but not a total prude either. Just... normal. Not the kind to turn heads, but still pretty.

I'm 18 years old. I started college early since I didn't go to a K-to-12 school. I'm taking a Medical Technology program because, well, that's what I'm good at, playing doctor. Just kidding, it's my passion.

As for my hobbies? Pretty basic. I either read Wattpad stories or binge-watch Korean dramas. I'm obsessed with both. Honestly, even though I've never been in a relationship, it feels like I've already experienced everything.

After finishing my meal, I got back to job hunting.

•••

After nearly three hours of searching, I still hadn't found anything. Now, I was sitting under a waiting shed, exhausted, waiting for a ride home. My body felt like it had been completely wrecked.

The sun was beginning to set, and the city lights slowly flickered to life. The air had cooled down, making the atmosphere more bearable, almost relaxing.

I was lost in thought when someone suddenly sat beside me. Glancing to my side, I saw a man, completely covered up. He wore a black hoodie, black pajama pants, and a pair of Adidas sneakers that looked far from new. He sat there quietly, and if I didn't know that this was basically the trending streetwear look these days, I might've thought he was a thief.

Not wanting to overthink it, I shifted my focus back to the road, watching the passing cars.

For a moment, everything was peaceful-until, out of nowhere, someone yanked my shoulder bag, the one I'd been carrying all day.

My eyes widened in shock. Whipping my head around, I barely had time to react before I saw the very same man who had been sitting beside me sprinting away... with my bag.

He is a thief!

"Hey! Give that back!" I shouted.

But instead of wasting time calling for help, I launched myself after him. If he thought I was just going to let him ruin my already shitty day, he had another thing coming. Maybe he assumed that just because I was a girl, I wouldn't chase after him? Ha! He picked the wrong victim. I'm the type who wouldn't hesitate to climb a tree even in a skirt. I even won a marathon back in elementary school! If this was a game of endurance, well, bad luck for him, I can hold my breath underwater for five minutes!

I've had enough bad luck today. I don't need more!

Chasing him was no joke, though. I had to admit–he was good. He clearly knew every shortcut in the city and jumped over obstacles like it was second nature. But did that mean I was going to let him win? Hell no.

We ran for nearly an hour before he finally led me to a steel bridge. Below us, a river raged with powerful currents. My entire body screamed in protest, but I could see that his pace was slowing, too. I refused to stop now.

I knew I hadn't reached my limit yet. Summoning every last bit of strength, I pushed myself even harder, sprinting toward him.

"Hey! Asshole!" I yelled.

He turned around at the sound of my voice, his eyes widening in surprise. Maybe he couldn't believe I was still chasing him? Well, too bad for him—he messed with the wrong person.

He tried to pick up speed again, but it was too late. I was close. So close.

And then, I jumped.

For a split second, time seemed to slow down. I reached out, arms extended, and tackled him with everything I had.

He hit the ground with a thud, landing flat on his back with me on top of him. I didn't even care that it was an embarrassing position. Instead, I quickly straddled him, pinning his arms down with my knees to make sure he wouldn't escape. My anger surged, and before I could stop myself, I punched him-hard.

He was wearing a facemask, so I couldn't see his face. Not that I cared. Instead, I grabbed the collar of his hoodie, glaring daggers at him. He stared right back at me, his piercing eyes and thick brows standing out even behind his mask. If I weren't so furious, I might've taken a moment to admire them.

But I was furious.

"You son of a bitch!" I snapped. "You made me run for an hour! I'm only eighteen, but I already feel like I have arthritis!"

I punched him again before pulling out my phone from my pocket—a battered keypad phone held together by rubber bands.

"You're screwed now," I growled. "I'm calling the cops."

Just as I was about to dial, his voice cut through my frustration.

"Before you do that, maybe you should think about your bag first."

Something about his voice made me pause. Slowly, I turned my gaze toward him–then to my bag.

His left hand was empty.

His right hand...

My breath caught in my throat.

He was holding my bag with only his pinky finger.

And worse... his hand was dangling over the edge of the bridge.

If he let go, my bag would plunge straight into the river below.

My heart pounded as I met his gaze again. I wanted to punch him, but the risk was too high.

"Don't you dare," I warned.

He just laughed.

"Let's make a deal," he said. "Don't call the cops, and I'll give you your bag back."

I hesitated. I hated the idea of letting him get away with this. But... my bag.

After a tense moment, I sighed in defeat and shoved my phone back into my pocket. He remained on the ground, watching me.

"There. Happy now?" I muttered.

"Good girl," he replied, his eyes glinting mischievously.

"Give me my bag."

"Get off me first. You're heavy. I feel like I'm being crushed by a sack of rice."

"Excuse you! I only weigh forty kilos!"

"Sure, sure. Now, get off."

"Nope! Not until you hand over my bag!"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Are you serious?"

"Give me my bag first!"

"Aren't you embarrassed? People are watching."

I frowned and looked around. True enough, people were stealing glances at us as they passed by. Some were just staring, others were taking photos, and one woman was even covering her child's eyes.

"Come on, sweetheart, let's go," the woman said, guiding her kid away.

"But, Mom, what are they doing?"

She didn't answer, just dragged the poor kid away.

I sighed, turning back to the guy.

"See?" he said smugly.

"I don't care! Just give me my bag!"

"No? Alright, then. I'll just drop it."

"Wait, no!"

"Then get off me!"

"No way! For all I know, the moment I stand up, you'll run again! I'm exhausted!"

"And you think I'm not? I'm just as tired as you are. And because of a girl, no less."

I just glared at him.

"Fine. How about this? Hold onto my hoodie so you know I won't run away."

I eyed him warily. After a moment of hesitation, I grabbed onto his hoodie, then finally stood up. He did the same, but the moment I reached for my bag, he pulled it away from me.

"Haha, not so fast."

He lifted it higher, out of my reach. I scowled.

"Give it back!"

"Hold on a sec."

"No! Just give it to me!"

I jumped to grab it, but he dodged effortlessly. Frustrated, I kept reaching, only to realize too late that I was practically pressed against his chest. My hands were gripping his shirt, our bodies barely inches apart.

Then, our eyes met.

There was something about the way he looked at me—like his gaze had some kind of hypnotic pull. For a moment, I felt trapped in it.

But then-

A strong gust of wind blew past us.

"Oops."

Alarm bells went off in my head. As if on instinct, my gaze snapped to his hand.

And my eyes widened in horror.

He had let go of my bag.

"NO!!!"

In a painfully slow motion, I reached for it. But it was too late.

I watched helplessly as it tumbled off the bridge and straight into the raging river below.