"Life is never completely without its challenges."
- Stan Lee

×××

"Good morning, Paris!"
Maligayang bati ng kakagising lamang na si Isabella sa alaga nitong pusa. The kitten's name is Paris, at kasalukuyan ito ngayong nasa may paanan ng dalaga.

"This is definitely going to be another great day, isn't it Par?" Aniya pa, habang nakasuot ng isang wagas na ngiti. Mahahalatang naunahan na sa pagkakaroon ng good mood sa unang gising niya palamang.

"Meow!" Sagot lamang sa kanya noong alaga niyang pusa.

Her name is Maria Isabella Christina Grace M. Rizal. A young filipino girl who lives in the city of New York, alongside her tito, tita and her cousin Rudolph who's just a few years younger than her.

Matagal nang naninirahan sa New York ang dalaga kasama ang kanyang pamilya. In fact, mas naging matagal pa nga ang stay niya rito kaysa noong nasa Pilipinas palamang siya.
But even though matagal na sila sa States, parati pa rin silang nagsasalita ng tagalog, o di kaya nama'y taglish kapag sila-sila lamang ang naguusap-usap.

After the tragic incident that have happened to Isabella's real parents ay isinama na siya ng kanyang tito at tita sa States, at mula noon ay sa States na sila nanirahan.
Both Isabella's parents died in a fire accident that have happened on their own home years ago. She lost her parents at the age of six, and for being just an innocent little girl back then, she felt like it was the most horrible and terrible thing that have ever happened to her.

Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi ma-to-trauma kapag nawala ang pareho mong mga magulang, lalo na kung ika'y isa palamang musmus na bata.

Years passed, she overcame depression and loneliness.
Although her parents can't be with her anymore, maswerte pa rin siya't nagkaroon siya ng mga mapagmahal na mga tito at tita, na halos ituring na talaga siya bilang isang tunay na anak.
At alam niya 'rin sa sariling, kung nasaan man ngayon ang tunay niyang mga magulang, ay mahal na mahal pa rin siya ng mga ito.

Her tito is the younger brother of her mom, and her tita on the other hand, is her dad's younger sister.
Kaya nama'y gano'n nalamang siya ka-close sa mga ito.

Isabella yawned and stretched both of her arms as the light coming from the window peaks at her.

"Isabella! Rudolph! Gumising na kayo! Time doesn't wait for anybody, alam niyo yan! Mali-late na kayo sa school!"
Tawag sa kanila mula sa may kusina ni Divina. Rudolph's mom and Isabella's tita, na abala lamang sa pagluto ng adobo. A popular filipino dish that every filipinos, and filipinos by heart love the most.

"Already awake na po, tita!" Sagot ni Isabella rito.

Matapos iyon ay isang halik mula sa maliit na ilong ng kanyang pusa ang kanyang huling ginawa, at pagkatapos ay inayos na muna ang kanyang hinigaang kama.
After a few minute ay dumeretso naman ang dalaga sa bathroom upang maligo't makapag-ayos na sa sarili.

+++

"Wow, parang ang saya-saya mo yata today ate ah?" May halong pagtatakang tanong sa kanya ng pinsang si Rudolph.

Kanina pa kasi nito napapansin ang positibo at masiyahing enerhiyang nanggagaling mula sa kanyang pinsan matapos itong makapagbihis.
She's always been like that, but this time, he felt the difference.
She was even more cheerful.
"Wait, let me guess.... Sinagot ka na no'ng nililigawan mo 'no?" Pabiro pa nitong tanong.

Kasalukuyan sila ngayong nasa hapagkainan at sabay-sabay na kumakain.
Naghahanda na sila para sa trabaho't eskwela. And as usual, New York greets them with different kinds of noises coming from the outside of their house apartment.

Isabella then, shrugged both of her shoulder as an answer.
"I'm not exactly sure why, pero... Parang feel ko lang talagang maging masaya ngayon eh, with no specific reason. I mean, is it really that weird?" aniya.

"Weird? No. Of course not," aning muli ni Rudolph, sabay kagat doon sa kinakain niyang chicken adobo legs.
"It's creepy," pahabol pa nitong sabi.

"Very funny Dolph," says Isabella wearing a now bored expression.

Dahil dito'y napatawa nalamang ang mag-asawang sina Vina at Kevin.
"Who knows sweetie, maybe it's a sign na... magiging lucky ang araw mo ngayon?" Says Vina.
"Diba hon?"

"True," pagsasang-ayon naman ng asawa niyang si Kevin.
"A positive mood always ends up into a more positive and charming outcome, ikanga ng grandparents niyo," aniya pa, quoting the infamous sayings of their late grandmother.

"Naah. I told you guys, ngumingiti-ngiti lang yan kasi sinagot na siya no'ng nililigawan niya," aning muli ni Rudolph, na nagsasalita pa habang puno ang bibig.

Dahil dito'y bahagyang na-annoyed nalamang ang inang si Vina sa inaasal ng anak.
"Dolph, what did I tell you about eating while your mouth is full?" Aniya.
"---and, wait... is it true, Bella? May nililigawan ka? That's so not lady-like of yours."

"Nililigawan? Tito, tita, wag ho kayong magpapaniwala diyan kay Dolph. And isn't that a boy's thing only?" Says Isabella.
"I'm really just in a positive mood, that's all! I can't explain why, but... Who cares? Wag lang sanang sirain ni Rudolph," pagpaparinig pa ng dalaga sa pinsan.

"It's 2018, sis! Things have changed!" Aning muli ni Rudolph na ikinailing nalamang ni Isabella.

"Kids, kung ako sa inyo bibilisan ko nalang ang pagkain ko riyan. Mag-a-alas otso na sa New York! You don't want to be late on your first day of school right?" Says Kevin.

"Dad, what are you talking about? It's almost half-a-year na simula no'ng first day of school," takang nasabi ni Rudolph.

"Dolph, every morning always feels like it's the first day of school. Believe me, lalo na kung highschool ka, at parati pang late. What more kapag college ka na," muling sabi pa ni Kevin, na ikina-sang-ayon naman ng asawa nitong si Divina.

Makalipas ang ilang minutong pagkain ay nagsi-handaan na ang pamilya Rizal upang pumasok na sa kani-kanilang trabaho't eskwelahan.

Nauna nang nakaalis sina Isabella at Rudolph, but Rudolph took another road to meet his friends on the other side of the street. Same with what Isabella always do, since nasa may kabilang street din ang kaibigan niyang si Primrose.

At habang naglalakad naman papuntang Midtown High, ilang blocks lamang ay nakasalubong niya na nga ang inaasahang kaibigang si Prim.

"Prim! Good mor--"

"Hold it right there!" Pag-puputol ni Primrose sa sana'y sasabihin ni Isabella.
"No time to waste Belle! You have to come with me--"
Sabi pa nito at bigla nalamang patakbong hinugot si Isabella papaalis mula roon at agad na lumiko papunta sa may kabilang street. Isang bagay na mahahalatang magkahalong ikinataka at ikinagulat no'ng dalaga.

"W--Wait... Chill out Prim! Where are we going? This isn't the right way to school! What are you--" Tanong niya sa kaibigan.
But after a few seconds, may biglang napansin ang dalaga mula roon sa lugar na tinatakbuhan nila...

Puno ng mga nagkukumpulang mga tao.

But what caught her attention the most were the two people right in the middle of the crowd... Fighting.

Parehong tumigil sa kakatakbo ang magkaibigan nang makarating na sila roon.
At mapapansin sa mukha ni Primrose ang excitement habang pinapanood ang nangyayari, but Isabella on the other hand was just worrying..

Because those weren't just regular people fighting.
It was a super-hero and a super-villain!

"W--Why did you drag me here? Come on Prim! We're gonna be late for school! It's just some kind of hero and villain face-off. Can't you just wait for the Daily Bugle to show it on tv later?" Reklamong ani ni Isabella. Halatang kanina pa kinakabahan sa oras, dahil baka nanaman sila pagalitan ng kanilang teacher kapag ma-late nanaman sila sa klase.

"Dude, it's not just some kind of hero and villain face-off. It's a SPIDER-MAN and villain face-off!" Says Primrose, still couldn't handle all the excitement.

Isabella sighs.
"Don't you DARE put the blame me, if Mr. Jordan sends the both of us to clean the whole library again, just for being late!"

++

"Just give it up man! And let go of that little girl! You're not going anywhere else! And I'm not letting you!" Wika noong binatang naka-suot pa ng pulang suit mula ulo hanggang paa, resembling a spider, na kilala ng lahat sa alyas na 'Spider-Man'.
Sinusubukan niyang kausapin nalamang iyong lalake. Dahil kinakabahan siyang kung mag-away sila'y madamay pa iyong mga taong nakapalibot sa kanila.

Pinagsabihan niya na ang mga itong lumayo, ngunit bagkus ay mas dumarami pa ito.
An obvious situation since they're in a very public area. He even saw two of his schoolmates being curious along with the others.

Kasalukuyan sila ngayong nasa gitna ng isang park. Sa may mismong gilid ng isang monument fountain.
Kanina pa hinahabol ni Spider-Man iyong lalakeng naka-suot naman ng isang wari ba'y cheap na maskara ng isang anime character na si Eren Yeager. Kani-kanina lang kasi ay may hinold-up itong jewelry shop, at tinangay lahat ng mga pera't alahas. At may dinukot pang batang babae bilang hostage.

Because of the guy's incredible reflexes ay nagawa nitong matakasan ang mga pag-atake sa kanya kanina ni Spider-Man.
Ngunit ngayon ay bigla nalamang siyang na-corner nang dumugin sila ng napaka-raming mga tao, kasama na ang mga pulis na ngayo'y nakatutok na rin sa kanya ng mga baril.

The angry masked man gritted his teeth.

Habang patuloy lamang sa pag-iyak noong batang babaeng dinukot niya kanina. Nagpapalinga-linga ang lalake sa buong sulok, nagbabakasakaling may matatakasan pa siya, ngunit talagang wala na siyang ibang makita pang open area mula roon.
Kaya nama'y may bigla itong naisip na paraan.

Mula sa kanyang bulsa'y may kung ano itong bubunutin na sana.
Ngunit hindi niya pa man iyon tuluyang nakukuha mula sa kanyang bulsa'y kaagad na siyang sinaputan ni Spider-Man mula sa buong katawan, at kinuha iyong bata mula sa kanya, gamit lang din ang sapot.

"Not so fast man! My spidey senses is alot more quicker than you think!" Ani ni Spider-Man.

"Are you alright, little girl?" Tanong niya naman doon sa iniligtas niyang bata. The little girl nodded slowly, still crying.

The other guy just stood silent for four seconds before speaking another word.
And then after that, he smirked and laughed. Synically.

Ang ginawa niya kanina'y paglibang lamang kay Spider-Man at sa mga taong naroroon, dahil ang kanyang tunay na plano'y talagang hindi niya pa nagagawa.

"Oh really? Then I'll bet your spidey senses also sensed THIS!"
By just a blink of an eye, nagulat ang lahat nang bigla nalamang lumaking parang isang higante iyong tao.
Mas malaki pa sa isang normal lamang na building.

Dahil dito'y kaagad na nagsi-takbuhan ang mga tao papalayo.
Kasama na rito ang magkaibigang Prim at Isabella.

"I told you this was a bad idea!" Sigaw ni Bella sa kaibigan.

"What are you talking about? The best part is still about to happen!" Nakangiti at nababalutan pa rin ng excitement na ani naman ni Primrose.

Spider-Man started swinging away dahil sa sobrang lakas ng naging impact noong transformation no'ng lalake.
He even saved six people along with the little girl whom was still riding on his back, putting them on a much safer area.

"Okay, whatever you guys do, do not move! Just stay right here till help arrives. I'll try taking care of everything," sabi niya roon sa mga tao, at muling binalikan ang nangyaring kaguluhan.

"Thank you, mister ladybug!" Pahabol pang wika noong iniligtas niyang batang babae, mistaking his name Spider-Man for Mister Ladybug.

++

Going back to the park, patuloy pa rin sa kakatawa iyong lalake. Destroying everything that comes in his way.

Spider-Man re-enters the battle field to try and stop the rampaging villain, trying his best to web the giant guy's full body upang sana'y hindi na ito makagalaw pa. Ngunit kahit anong gawin niya'y dumudulas lamang ang kanyang mga sapot dito.

At doon niya lamang din napagtantong may kung anong suot rin palang transparent suit iyong lalake. Na wari ba'y isang web-proofed costume.

"You really think, that you could web me the second time around? Huh? Spider-Bug!? You're not the only one with super senses around here!" Aniya, at pagkatapos ay muli nanamang tumawa.
"Now take this!"

The giant man then, tried kicking the hero away using his giant foot, ngunit bago pa man siya nito matamaan ay kaagad nang naka-iwas si Spider-Man.

"I've fought someone like you before! So don't underestimate me just because you're way bigger! Why don't you pick on somebody your own size!?" Muling bulyaw ni Spider-Man dito, trying to make a corny pun.

"Oh really? Like who?" The giant guy asked, smirking.

"...Like me!"
Isang boses ng dalagita ang narinig nitong nagsalita mula sa may malapit. At dahil dito'y kaagad na napalinga-linga iyong higanteng lalake mula sa kanyang sulok, hanggang sa mapatigil ang kanyang parehong mata roon sa nakatayong building malapit lamang sa kanya...

Mula sa may pinakatuktok nito'y may nakita siyang dalagang may suot-suot pang koala hat, may dala-dalang sling bag, na sa unang tingin palang ay mahahalata mo nang parang isa palamang itong minor de edad na typical high school kid.

She smiled, as the giant man stared at her in confusion.
"You?" Takang tanong nito, sabay agad na napatawa.
"And what will a little girl like you ever gonna do? Punch me in the face to death?" Muling natatawa niyang tanong.

Mas lumawak naman ang mga ngiting nakakurba mula sa labi no'ng dalagita...
"Plenty," says the girl.
"But I can start by punching you in the face just like you requested!"
At mayamaya nama'y nagulat ito nang bigla nalamang tumalon papalapit sa kanya iyong dalaga mula sa may rooftop noong building.

And then, in just a single punch in the face, the giant guy suddenly almost looses his balance.

"Float on!" Sigaw naman noong isa pang dalagang naka-suot pa ng gothic-like na outfit, habang hawak-hawak pa nito ang kanyang wari ba'y isang staff na puno ng mga mahika.

She casted a floating spell upang lumutang sa ere iyong kaibigan niyang sumuntok doon sa higanteng lalake kanina, rescuing and backing her up.

"You little brats--!!"

Because of the incident, the giant man wanted to take some revenge and tried to attack the two girls, ngunit bago pa man iyon mangyari'y may isa pang babae ang bigla nalamang sumulpot mula sa likuran noong dalawa. And just like the other two, she was floating in mid air. But it wasn't because of the gothic girl's spell, it was because of herself that was floating. And her whole complexion was glowing in different kinds of colors at the same time.

Sa kanya pumukos bigla ang mga mata noong higanteng lalake, an action that he soon regretted, dahil bigla nalamang siya nitong inatake mula sa kanyang dalawang mata, releasing a colorful and powerful beams through both of her hands.

Napasigaw sa sakit iyong lalake, at muli nanamang nawalan ng balanse dahil sa sakit, dahilan upang maisagawa na nila ang sunod nilang plano upang mapatumba iyong higante.

Like, literally.

"Spider-Man! Talkback! Now!"
The gothic girl shouted, at pagkatapos ay kaagad na napatakbo papalapit doon sa patumbang higante si Spider-Man at ang isa pang binatang kanyang kasamang kilala sa alyas na Talkback.

Pareho silang nag-tungo sa magkabilang binti noong higante, and then, Spider-Man quickly created a web line and shoots the other edge to Talkback, na siya namang agad nitong tinanggap, creating a web-like rope upang kanilang matisod iyong higanteng lalake.

Dahilan upang ito nga'y tuluyan nang matumba.

+

"All right man! High five!" Spider-Man exclaimed, making a high five with Talkback.

"You stupid little children!!" Muling sigaw noong higanteng lalake, at nagbabadya na muli nanamang tatayo

But Talkback's flexibility avoided it from happening. Atleast, not as a giant man.

His fistigons, a custom-made, weaponized gauntlets created by himself immediately shoots the size enhancement button on the giant man's suit, that were secretly placed in the middle of his chest, breaking it. Dahilan upang muling makabalik mula sa kanyang orihinal na laki iyong tao.

Napamura ito sa sobrang pananakit na kanyang natamo mula sa buong katawan.
He tried getting up for the second time, ngunit muli lamang siyang napahiga nang may isang average-sized na dinosaur naman ang bigla nalamang tumalon at dumagan sa kanya, even releasing an enormous roar!

"Easy! Easy girl!" Wika noong kadarating lamang na babaeng nakasuot pa ng eyeglasses, trying to calm down the dinosaur, na mahahalatang kanyang pagmamay-ari.
"I'm pretty sure biting this guy's head off will give you nothing but diarrhea," aniya pa.

"D--D--Dinosaur!?" Nauutal na naisawika noong nagulantang na lalake.

"Not so tough now, huh? Giant-Man?" Says Spider-Man.
"And by the way, these are my new friends! From L.A! Say hi to them!" Aniya pa, referring doon sa limang kabataan at sa isang deinonychus dinosaur na tumulong sa kanya kanina.

++

Matapos iyon ay unti-unti nang nagsibalikan mula sa scene iyong mga taong tumakbo at nagtago dahil sa nangyaring insidente ilang minuto lamang ang nakakalipas, kabilang na rin dito sina Isabella at Primrose.
But first of course they made sure na talagang ligtas na.

"W--Wait! A--Are you sure its already safe?" Isabella asks, still afraid to come out, dahil baka hindi pa natatapos ang mga labanan.
They kept themselves hidden behind a giant tree with some others, and witnessed everything that have happened.

"Yes. Now relax Belle! This is the best part yet! We're finally going to witness another epic victory done by the heroes!" Ani ni Prim.

"You always say that!" Says Isabella.

Matapos na muling makiusyuso no'ng dalawang magkaibigan doon sa pangyayari ay may halong pagtatakang napatanong si Isabella kay Primrose.
"By the way... Who are those other guys?" She asks. Referring to the other five heroes na tumulong kay Spider-Man, dahil ngayon niya lang din nakita ang mga ito. At sa unang tingin niya palamang sa mga ito'y mahahalatang halos kasing edad niya lamang sila.
Plus, they were fighting bad guys, possibly referring themselves as one of the heroes, but they aren't wearing any suits or costumes, kagaya ng kay Spider-Man. Isang bagay na talagang ikinataka ng dalaga.

"Oh them? They're new ones. Not affiliated with the Avengers," says Prim, and started to introduce the others by their hero names.
"The girl with a koala hat is called Bruiser, she's super strong, like Captain America but minus the super soldier serum. The gothic girl with a super cool staff, full of magic is called Sister Grimm. She's kinda like Wanda Maximoff, but her powers doesn't come out from her literal hands but through that staff instead. That glowing girl besides them is called Lucy-In-the-Sky, and from what I've heard, I think she's a half alien, a beautiful one of course! The guy wearing a gun-like gloves that shoots things is called Talkback. He doesn't have any kind of super-powers, but he's an awesome weapon inventor!
The dinosaur is named Old Lace, and I believe that her consciousness is connected telepathically to that other girl wearing glasses. She calls herself Arsenic by the way, and whatever she commands or do, the dinosaur will follow her," pagpapakilala nito sa lahat.

"Wow. How did you know all of those information?" May halong pagtataka at pagkamanghang tanong ni Isabella.

"Just a while ago! I've recently just heard about them. They're from L.A!" Sagot ni Prim.
"And there's actually six of them! Don't know where the other guy is though. And I only know little information about him," aniyang muli.

"Is it not Spider-Man? The sixth one?" Asks Isabella.

"Definitely not. Spider-Man isn't affiliated in any super team. He currently works alone. Although, there's been rumors that he almost got recruited in the Avengers! But... Meh. Rumors will always be rumors," says Prim.

"Oh~kay? And what are they called anyway? This new team of super-teenage heroes?" Muling tanong ni Isabella.

"Their team? Well..." Napaisip muna si Primrose rito, dahil nakalimutan niya kung ano nga ba ang tawag sa hero squad nila...
"I--I believe they're called... the Stowaways?... Err..." sagot muli ni Primrose.

Bahagya namang napahinga ng malalim ang isang binatang kanina pa pala nakatayo mula sa likuran nila, nang marinig ang huling iniwika ni Primrose.
"Actually, it's the Runaways," wika nito.

Dahil dito'y parehong napalingon mula roon sa lalake ang magkaibigan.
"The Runaways? Wait... How can you be so sure?" Tanong ni Primrose rito.

The guy smirked before answering the question.
"Easy. Because I'm the sixth member," aniya, at pagkatapos ay umalis na mula roon upang samahan ang mga kaibigan sa gitna.

Dahil dito'y parehong gulat na nagkatitigan nalamang ang magkaibigan sa isa't-isa dahil sa nangyari.
"Wait... That's him?" Isabella asks.

"You've gotta be kidding me! A-Wild? the super genius leader of the Stow-- Runaways spoke to us!?"

+++

"Man! I'm seriously gonna be late because of you!" Reklamo ni Spider-Man doon sa kanilang nakalaban.

"But thanks to our help, atleast you're not gonna be super late!" Ani ni Talkback.

"To be honest, I thought he's gonna be very hard to beat. But that didn't even took us five minutes to defeat him," wika naman no'ng pinakabata sa kanilang si Bruiser.

"It's because we made a team effort," says Arsenic, the girl with glasses, habang hinihimas pa ang ulo ng kanyang alagang dinosaur na si Old Lace.

"And with my amazing plan," ani naman ng kadarating lamang na si A-Wild. Ang lalakeng nakausap kanina nina Isabella at Primrose.

"Yeah whatever, Wilder! Even without your plan, we would still be able to defeat Giant-Man. Remember, our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man did the first move! He definitely deserves more credit than us!" Aning muli ni Talkback.

"No man. Just like what Gert said, it was a team effort! It wasn't just me! You guys were all awesome too!" Says Spider-Man.

"Okay, guys? Can we all save it for later? The people here are getting crowded, and Spidey, aren't you gonna be late for school?" Wika noong kanina'y umiilaw na babaeng kilala sa alyas na Lucy-in-the-Sky.

"O--Oh yeah! Right!"

"You stupid web-heads!" The former giant-man shouted, still lying on the ground, with Old Lace's foot on his stomach, preventing him from moving.
"You children may have won for today, but I'm telling you! This will never be the end of me! I will hunt every single one of you down until the very e---" hindi na naipagpatuloy noong nanggagalaiting lalake ang kanyang mga sinasabi, dahil agad lamang na nilagyan ng sapot ni Spider-Man ang kanyang bibig, pati na rin ang kanyang buong katawan, upang hindi na siya makakilos at makapagsalita pa.

"Sorry man! I know you still have alot of monologues to say, but I'm really-really gonna be late for school. Plus, these guys still have somewhere else to go, and we're all busy! So let's just save the chat for another time, 'kay?" Ani pa ni Spider-Man, dahilan upang mas mainis lamang sa kanila iyong lalake.

"You know what, you're really awesome, Spider-Man!" Ani ni Bruiser.
"Why don't you become an official member of our team already?"

"Molls, Peter isn't a runaway kid like us," says Sister Grimm.

"Yeah. Nico has a point," ani namang muli ni Lucy-in-the-Sky.
"His loyalty is around this area. Staying as 'the' one and only, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is his thing."

"Yeah," Spider-Man agreed.
"But atleast, for a short period of time, I kinda became an honorary member! Just like my time in the Avengers."

++

"Thank you, Mister Laybug!" Pagpapasalamat noong batang babaeng nailigtas ni Spider-Man kanina, habang kasama pa nito ang halos mangiyak-ngiyak nang magulang.

"I--it's actually 'Spider-Man' but... yeah, sure! No problem! You take good care of yourself now okay?" Sagot naman nito sa bata, sabay gulo-gulo pa sa buhok nito.

++

Mula sa may mga crowd nama'y mahinang napapatili nalamang si Primrose, habang tinititigan ang kanyang mga idulong superhero, lalo na si Spider-Man mula sa may di kalayuan. Gustuhin niya mang lumapit, hindi niya magawa, dahil sa mga nakabantay na mga pulis. Ipinagbabawal ang ibang mga taong makalapit doon sa kakatapos lamang na gulo.

"Belle! He's so handsome isn't he? And his voice, it's so manly!" Ani Primrose.

"He's wearing a suit from head to toe, Prim. How can you tell he's handsome? And his voice? It sounds more girly to me than manly," ani naman ni Isabella.

"Oh shush Belle! I know an attractive guy when I see one," ani ni Prim.
"O--Or hear one."

Mayamaya lang ay una nang nagpaalam si Spider-Man doon sa mga tao, at aalis na sana, ngunit hindi pa man ito nakakalayo ay walang-ano-ano'y bigla nalamang lumapit sa kanila si Primrose...

"W--Wait!" Ani Primrose, na ikinagulat naman ni Isabella.

Kaagad na nakalusot si Primrose roon sa mga nakabantay na mga pulis. Nang sana'y hahabulin na ni Isabella ang kaibigan upang pigilan ito'y siya naman ang hinarangan noong mga nagbabantay.

Prim managed to get near the heroes dahil sinenyasan ni Spider-Man ang mga pulis na ayos lang daw.

After that, all Isabella could do was wait.

Habang pinapanood ang kaibigang makipagusap doon sa mga super-heroes.

Nakita niya pang kumuha ng isang sketch pad si Primrose upang mangolekta nanaman ng mga signatures mula sa mga bayani.

She's always been like that.
Always treating superheroes like a bunch of celebrities.

Isabella knows how Prim loves superheroes so much.
She even loves super-villains.
Ngunit hindi iyong klase na kagaya sa mga heroes.

Kumbaga, iniidulo niya lang din ang mga ito dahil sa mga nakakamangha nitong mga kapangyarihan, hindi dahil sa mga masasama nitong gawain.

In short, Primrose is a huge fangirl when it comes to all things super.

Her favorite heroes are Spider-Man and Thor.

+

Habang pinapanood ang kaibigan ay mahahalata naman sa mukha ni Isabella ang kaunting pag-seselos.

She may not be like Primrose, who charges into anything without hesitations and have the energy to burst out whenever a hero is nearby, but just like her friend, she's also a huge superhero fan.

Hindi niya lang talaga ipinapahalata.

Lalo na't, simula bata palamang ay sobra na talaga siyang mahiyain.

+

A minute later, habang hinihintay niya pa rin ang kanyang kaibigan ay may parang napansing kakaiba si Isabella mula roon sa isa sa mga taong kasama niya.

Kanina niya pa kasi napapansing parang sunod-sunod na ang pag-ubo noong matandang babaeng katabi niya.

"Uh... M--Ma'am?" Sinubukang kausapin ni Isabella iyong matanda, ngunit agad-agad lamang itong biglang umalis, na ikinataka naman ng dalaga.

Sinundan niya ito ng tingin habang naglalakad paalis, at laking gulat niya nang bigla nalamang itong matumba sa may di kalayuan.

Kaya nama'y dahil sa pag-aalala'y agad na nilapitan ni Isabella iyong matanda at tinulungan itong makatayo ulit.

"M--Ma'am? Ma'am are you alright? What's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Do you want to go to the hospital?"
Sunod-sunod na naitanong niya roon sa matandang patuloy pa rin sa pag-ubo.

"Hi--Hindi ko na kaya..."
Wika nito, na nagpagulat sa dalaga nang magsalita ito ng tagalog.

"P--Pilipino ho kayo? L--Lola, teka, dito lang po kayo ah? Hihingi lang po ako ng tulong doon sa mga--"

"W--Wag na hija," says the old woman, and then, looked at Isabella straight in the eye.

"Ikaw talaga ang pakay ko kaya ako pumunta rito," wika nito, na mas nagpagulo lamang sa dalaga.

"A--Ano po? Ako? P--Pasensya na po, hindi ko po kasi kayo nakikilala eh."

"Isabella Rizal," mahinahong sabi sa kanya noong matanda.
"Iyan ang pangalan mo, hindi ba?" Muli nitong tanong.

Bella paused for five seconds before speaking another word.

Maraming mga tanong ang bigla nalamang umukupa sa isipan ng dalaga. Kagaya nalamang sa tanong na, bakit siya nito nakikilala. Eh unang beses niya palamang itong nakikita.

"L--Lola... Paano niyo po ako nakikilala?"
Isabella asked once more.

Ngunit muli lamang na umubo ng sunod-sunod iyong matanda. At mahahalata sa mukha nito na talagang parang ito'y nahihirapan na, sa kung ano man nitong iniinda.

"P--Pasensya ka na hija, pero... W--Wala na akong mahabang oras pa upang magpaliwanag," anito.

The old woman then placed her hand on Isabella's chest.

"Hija, balang araw, matatanggap mo rin ito bilang isang regalo," huling iniwika pa noong matanda, at sa gulat ng dalaga'y bigla nalamang nag-ilaw ang kamay nitong idiniin mula sa kanyang dibdib.

"Te--Teka... S--Sansali lang po!--"
Pagpipigil naman ni Isabella sa matanda, ngunit sa isang iglap niya lamang ay bigla nalamang itong nawala na parang bula...

Ngunit ang mas nagpagulat sa dalaga'y nang sunod niya nalamang na makita ang sariling nasa isang napakadilim na lugar na pala.

All of the other people... The heroes... Her bestfriend...

All gone...

Tanging siya nalamang at ang nakakabulag na kadiliman...

Dahil dito'y nagsimula na siyang magpanik.

"H--Hello? C--Can anybody hear me? HELLO? PRIM!?"

Sigaw na siya nang sigaw.
At umaatake na rin ang trauma niya mula sa kadiliman...

She tried everything she could.

She named almost every person she knows...

Ngunit no'ng mga oras iyon ay wala talagang may sumasaklolo sa kanya.

Not even the person who may or may not have put her into that situation...

Isabella was slowly drowning...

Drowning Into the pool of the abyss...

With nothing, but only the endless screams of darkness...

"ANYBODY! HELP ME!!"

T o B e C o n t i n u e d . . . . . .

×××

Chapter 1
Cast & Characters
(In order of appearances)

•

Zonia Mejia as Isabella Rizal
Paris the Cat as Herself
Lea Salonga as Divina Rizal
Zaijan Jaranilla as Rudolph Rizal
Christopher de Leon as Kevin Rizal
Olivia Rose Keegan as Primrose Reid
Tom Holland as Peter Parker (Spider-Man)
Allegra Acosta as Molly Hayes (Bruise)
Lyrica Ocano as Nico Minoru (Sister Grimm)
Virginia Gardner as Karolina Dean (Lucy in the Sky)
Gregg Sulkin as Chase Stein (Talkback)
Old Lace as Himself
Ariela Barer as Gertrude Yorkes (Arsenic)
Rhenzy Feliz as Alex Wilder (A-Wild)

[ Other Characters ]

•

Giant Man
The Little Girl
The Little Girl's mom
Mysterious Old Woman

×××

MCU Characters that have appeared in this chapter:

• PETER PARKER/SPIDER-MAN
- (from Iron Man 2, Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home, What If...?, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man)

• Molly Hayes/Bruise
- (from Runaways)

• Nico Minoru/Sister Grimm
- (from Runaways, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man)

• Karolina Dean/Lucy in the Sky
- (from Runaways)

• Chase Stein/Talkback
- (from Runaways)

• Gertrude Yorkes/Arsenic
- (from Runaways)

• Alex Wilder/A-Wild
- (from Runaways)

• Old Lace
- (from Runaways)