Jester's room inside the Fae Sanctuary had one flaw: the door was only a silk purple curtain.

Kaya noong bigla na lang pumasok ang isang Lost Boy sa loob ng silid, agad na napapitlag si Peter at napatigil sa pagkain. A lanky blonde male wearing fox fur barged into the room and pointed a pistol at Peter.

"Walang kikilos!"

Agad na nataranta si Peter na naging dahilan para mabitiwan niya ang kanyang kutsara at tinidor na yari sa kahoy ("fae things", as Jester explained). Kamuntikan pa siyang mabulunan nang biglang lumapit ang lalaki at umakyat ng kama para titigan siya mula ulo hanggang paa. Napalunok na lang nang wala sa oras si Peter, hands up in defense.

What in Neverland is happening right now?

"HAY! I cannot believe you're Peter Pan! Seryoso ba? Final answer? You look so... so..."

"So what? Ayusin ang sagot," Jester warned beside Peter, surprisingly calm but there was a protectiveness in his eyes.

"SO HUMAN!"

The blonde explained dramatically, pistol still in hand. Napataas na lang ng kilay si Peter sa sinabi nito.

Tama ba siya ng dinig?

"Um... because I'm human?" Kung hindi pa obvious.

"Ah! You even sound like HIM!"

"Like what?"

"Like our PETER PAN!"

"Because he is Peter Pan," Jester tried to intervene. Mukhang malapit nang maubos ang pasensya ng fae sa isang 'to. "At pwede ba, sinong nagsabi sa'yong pwede kayong pumasok sa kwarto ko?!"

Samantala, hindi alam ni Peter kung anong gagawin o kung paano kikilos habang nakatutok sa kanya ang baril. Maya-maya pa, nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang lalo nitong inilapit ang pistol. His breath hitched when the blonde suddenly pulled the trigger, making Peter tumbled back in fear while covering his face.

Pero imbes na putok ng baril, isang tunog ng torotot ang umalingawngaw sa buong silid.

'W-What the fuck was that?!'

Peter uncovered his face, confused and crazed at the sudden change of atmosphere. Doon niya napansing nakangisi na ang blonde habang pinapaikot ang pistol (torotot?) sa darili nito. He was casually lying on Jester's bed like he owned the place, chin resting on one hand as he eyed Peter like a prey.

"Grabe, mukhang totoo nga."

"Ang alin?" Malapit na rin talagang masapak ni Peter ang isang 'to. Bigla-bigla ba naman nanggugulat, mabuti na lang talaga at wala siyang sakit sa puso!

"Na wala kang maalala," simple nitong sagot at inangat ang pistol. "You made his prank pistol back then and gifted it to me on my birthday. Well, not really my birthday since we don't know the dates on our birth certificates, but anyway... nilusob natin ang Jolly Roger noon at ninakaw ang isa sa mga baril sa koleksyon ni Hook. Dahil ayaw mong aksidente kong mabaril ang kung sino, ginawa mo na lang torotot ang pistol na 'to para may panakot ako sa ibang mga pirata at mermaids. You said you'll always recognize the sound and save me just in time because you know I was the least trained in the Lost Boys back then."

He then stared at Peter accusingly.

"But you don't remember any of that, do you?"

Peter suddenly felt guilty shaking his head. "No... I don't recall any of that. Sorry."

At doon niya nakita ang galit at hinanakit sa mga mata nito. Ang parehong emosyong nakita niya kagabi kay Tootles noong kamuntikan na siya nitong patayin. Bago pa man makapatanong si Peter, agad nang tumayo si Jester at pinaalis ang Lost Boy.

"Enough with the games, Slightly. Pwede bang mamaya niyo na kulitin si Peter? I know how much you fucking rascals missed him, but he's still having breakfast. Give him a break," Jester sternly said. "Labas."

Pagak namang natawa ang blonde at sinimulan nang maglakad papalabas ng silid. But not before stealing one last glance at Peter, a sarcastic smirk etched on his face.

A sly fox.

"Ah, you just be mistaken, fae. We didn't miss him. In fact, we want him dead. Anyway, enjoy your breakfast!"

*

Kabadong lumabas ng silid si Peter at kahit pa siguro nasa likuran lang niya si Jester na parang isang bodyguard, hindi pa rin siya nito mapo-protektahan sa matatalas na tingin ng Lost Boys sa kanya.

'What the hell did I ever do to them?'

He wished he could just remember. Para maintindihan din niya kung bakit ganito na lang ang galit sa kanya ng mga ito. Hindi pa nakatulong ang iilang mga magugulong alaaala na bigla na lang sumusulpot sa isip niya. So far, none of these fragmented memories can explain why they wanted him dead the moment he returned to Neverland.

They descended the wooden staircase from the second level of the sanctuary. Peter can feel the death glares coming from their audience below.

"Don't worry," Jester suddenly touched his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "They can't harm you. Dadaan muna sila sa bangkay ko. Kung hindi mo pa naitatanong, masyadong narcissistic ang mga fae para mamatay na lang nang basta-basta. Kailangan aesthetic pa rin kami hanggang huling hininga."

"Not helping, Jester."

When they finally reached the landing, Peter was immediately greeted by the two brothers---or at least they look like brothers based from their matching racoon outfits?

"Baka naman hindi siya si Peter Pan?"

"Baka naman niloloko lang tayo ng fae?"

"Pero anong mapapala niya?" The older one curiously asked while assessing Peter's feet.

The younger of the two grinned while poking Peter's ear. "Baka naman may hidden agenda? You know what they always say, never ever ever trust a Neverland fae!"

"Hey, hey. Cut it out, you little bastards!" Jester suddenly kicked them away. Napabuntong-hininga ito at mahinang ipinaliwanag kay Peter, "These are Buddy and Rusty. Sasakit lang ang ulo mo kaya mabuti pang 'wag kang makinig sa mga sinasabi nila."

Sa kabilang dako, napansin naman ni Peter na umismid ang isang pang Lost Boy.

"Not like you remember them, anyway. Peter Pan with amnesia? That's priceless. Pwede ka nang aktor."

Tumalim ang tingin ni Jester sa lalaki at hinawakan si Peter sa braso, as if claiming him from an invisible threat.

"Shut up, Nibs."

Pero sa hindi malamang dahilan, hindi nakaramdam ng takot ngayon si Peter sa Lost Boys kahit pa anong sabihin ng mga ito. Namamayani ang kuryosidad niya para rito. Ang daming tanong na gumugulo sa isipan niya. His mind suddenly flashed the scene on Neverland mountain, envisioning those six kids as these six savage and barbaric beasts is almost impossible.

"You've just arrived in Neverland," Jester then led him to the nearby waterfall at the heart of the sanctuary. "It's best to ask for our ancestors' blessing. For your protection, too."

"Is this a tradition here?"

"In Neverland? No. In Fae Sanctuary? Yes," he responded. "Lalo't ito ang magiging tahanan mo sa mga susunod na araw hanggang sa makumpleto natin ang mga alaala mo. Nagkasundo na rin kami ng Lost Boys na malaya silang makakabisita rito... unfortunately."

Jester glared at the crowd behind them. Hindi alam ni Peter kung anong naging pag-uusap ng mga ito noong panahong nawalan siya ng malay, pero mukhang hindi pa rin naisasantabi ang namumuong galit sa kanila. A truce between Jester and the Lost Boys... what an odd sight, and Peter suddenly wondered, 'Hanggang kailan kaya nila kayang mag-plastikan?'

Following Jester's instructions, Peter held a palm out facing the waterfall.

He closed his eyes, feeling the strange magic against his skin. Like another hand intertwining their fingers with his. His feet were in the water, merely inches away from the source. Halos mabingi si Peter sa pintig ng kanyang puso sa kanyang dibdib kasabay ng pag-agos ng tubig pababa sa kanyang kinaroroonan, pero alam niyang wala siyang magagawa kung hindi gawin ito.

Nandito siya sa Neverland para alamin ang misteryo sa kanyang pagkatao at ibalik ang kanyang mga alaala.

'But will Neverland accept me again?'

The answer came in the form of gasps and silent curses.

"Peter..."

Nang marinig niya ang pagtawag sa kanya ni Jester, he immediately opened his eyes. But instead of a spectacular and clear waterfall in front of him, Peter's eyes widened in shock to see the waters turned into a muddy brown color. Long gone were the warmth and magic, replaced by the cold and unknown dread.

It was a lifeless feeling, Peter was certain.

"I think that's enough evidence that he's the real Peter Pan," Nibs commented from the edge of the waters.

"Because even Neverland doesn't want him back."

---

"A voice said, Look me in the stars
And tell me truly, men of earth,
If all the soul-and-body scars
Were not too much to pay for birth."

---Robert Frost, "A Question"