Prologue

BEAU HAYES ACKEHURST HAS A STORY TO TELL...

August 24, 2042...

The whole internet, especially the social media, was sent into chaos after the release of Beau's story. The book entitled "Those Who Ran Away From Home" authored by Shiloh Amelhia Greene who directly communicated with Beau... before he died.

Beau's story took the internet by storm because of the revelations in this book and unexpected truths he never told to people and the lies he always said. Indeed, the story turned unexpectedly.

"Candace!" Marianne, one of the managers of Syntax Press Co., shouted as she tried to find her secretary. "Nasaan na si Shiloh? Where the fuck is Shiloh Greene?"

Syntax Press Co. is the writing and ghostwriting firm where Shiloh Greene was working for almost five years. Shiloh loves her job and she thought that this is the only thing she could do. Pero ngayon, hindi siya mahagilap ng mga kasamahan niya. Walang nakakaalam kung nasaan siya.

"Naku, Miss Torres... Hindi namin ma-contact si Shiloh," sagot ni Candace kay Marianne. "Subukan po namin niya na i-contact—"

"Aba, punyeta! Dapat lang!"

Mainit ang ulo ni Marianne. Hindi niya alam kung paano nila iha-handle ang media. The press wanted Shiloh's statement. They wanted her words. They have been bombarded by the reporters for the last few hours since the book of Beau Hayes Ackehurst was published.

"Oh my gosh!" sigaw ni Karen, isa sa katrabaho ni Shiloh. "Sold out na agad iyong book. Jusko! They're asking for a reprint."

"Weh?" singit ni Thomas.

"Eto tingnan niyo! Mukha ba akong sinungaling?"

"Hoy shuta! Oo nga 'no!"

"Shiloh hits the jackpot!" Candace commented.

Nakatingin sila ngayon sa tablet ni Karen at panay ang pindot sa mga article patungkol sa sinulat na libro ni Shiloh at ang mga topics na may tags na pangalan ni Beau Hayes Ackehurst. The topics had been trending since last month and weeks, but today the book was released... the attention that the book, Shiloh, and Beau, garnered double, even triple, the attention than last week.

Nagtaas-baba ang dibdib ni Marianne at padabog na naglakad papunta sa mga nagchichismisan niyang katrabaho. Agad na sumingit siya sa usapan.

"Letse! Magsitahimik muna kayo, pwede ba?" padabog niyang sabi at kinuha ang tablet na pinagpipiyesthan nila. "Ang dapat niyong gawin ay hanapin si Shiloh."

"Aren't you happy with Shiloh's success, Madam Marianne?" tanong ni Candace sa boss niya.

"Truelalo madam! Shiloh's success is a success to Syntax Press," sambit ni Karen.

"T'saka baka magkaroon pa tayo ng mas maraming customers," ani Thomas.

Huminga nang malalim si Marianne, pilit pinapakalma ang sarili niya. "Hindi niyo naiintindihan. I am happy, ok? Kahit matapos natin away-awayin si Shiloh sa firm na 'to. But the press and media keeps on bombarding us. Nagtatanong sila ng tanong na tanging si Shiloh lang ang makakasagot."

Hinampas ni Karen ang balikat ni Thomas. "Bilis! I-contact mo na si Shiloh."

"No need."

Napalingon sila nang makita si Shiloh na nakasuot ng simpleng puting shirt at faded blue jeans. Shiloh was wearing shades, to hide herself from the interviewers and media persons.

"Shiloh! Where did you go?" tanong ni Marianne.

"Just somewhere..."

"Hindi ka ba nakita ng media?"

"I don't know..."

Nagkatinginan si Karen, Candace, and Thomas. Napansin nila ang kakaibang tono sa boses ni Shiloh. Shiloh seemed tired, spiritless, and in a bad mood—far from the typical Shiloh who's always energetic and optimistic.

"Shiloh, the press and the media... They wanted a statement from you," Marianne said.

Shiloh looked at Marianne with disbelief. "For what?!"

They were left shocked as they heard Shiloh's voice raised.

Agad naman na-realized ni Shiloh ang nagawa niya. Kaya pinilit niya ikalma ang sarili niya mahinahon na nagsalita, "I'm sorry... I-I just don't have energy for this. I-I don't know what to do..."

Nagulat sila nang makita ang pagtulo ng luha ni Shiloh. Maging si Shiloh ay hindi namalay ang pagtulo ng mga luha niya. She couldn't remember the last time she got rest from crying. Ever since she knew the truth, and after Beau's death. She just doesn't know where to pull some strength to continue.

She just wanted to run away from the pain...

"I am sorry... I can't do this anymore."

Kumunot ang noo ni Marianne. "What do you mean, Shiloh?"

"I am going to quit. I am sorry, Marianne."

Marianne was left dumbfounded as Shiloh said those words and walked out. Pero hindi na nila hinabol pa si Shiloh. Alam nila na may kung anong bumabagabag dito sa ngayon. Shiloh was acting unusual, she seemed bothered and confused.

"Shiloh..." tawag ni Thomas pero nakaalis na si Shiloh nang tuluyan. "Shit! Paano na tayo ngayon?"

"Just let her be..." sabi ni Marianne.

"It was surprising that she's leaving, that she wanted to quit," sabi ni Karen. Umikot niya habang nakaupo sa swivel chair upang ibalik ang tingin sa monitor ng computer niya. "You know... kung may nagmamahal sa writing more than anyone else, si Shiloh iyon."

"True."

"Remember when we told her to quit, but she didn't," sabi ni Karen. Humalakhak pa si Karen. "And look at her? She booked Beau Hayes Ackehurst."

Huminga nang malalim si Marianne at hinilot ang sentido niya. Nagkakagulo na ang buong Syntax Press matapos mailabas ang libro. Pero hindi pa rin nila alam kung ano ang meron sa libro ni Beau para pagkaguluhang ng ganito ng mga tao, at maging si Shiloh ay sobrang naapektuhan.

Shiloh's the most optimistic and passionate writer in Syntax Press Co. and everyone knew about it. She's hard working despite the harsh critiques of her. But now, it seemed like the fire inside Shiloh was washed away... for unknown reasons.

"Paano ba ni Shiloh na-book si Beau? Like... I just can't imagine," biglang komento ni Karen.

"You know her, she's surprising and unpredictable," sagot ni Thomas.

"Correct! Kaya 'di ka na dapat magulat pa kay Shiloh," ani Candace.

Umupo si Thomas sa tabi ni Karen at nagsalita, "Alam ko naman na popular si Beau, pero grabe ang clout ng book. Ano bang meron do'n?"

"Hindi mo pa ba nabasa?"

"Busy ako sa task ko."

"Basahin natin next time—"

"Finish your tasks first," Marianne said and rolled her eyes. "I don't want to hear of any complaints about freaking backlogs."

"Yes, madam!"

Bumalik na si Marianne sa office niya. Huminga siya nang malalim pagkatapos ay sumandal siya sa swivel chair. This day was exhausting and draining for her... and she thought that maybe Shiloh felt the same way too.

Inutusan niya si Candace na itaboy ang press at media dahil sobra na silang nakakagambala. Marami pa silang dapat tapusin kaya hindi pwedeng ma-distract sila sa mga media person. Of course, they wouldn't listen. But at least there were fewer now compared to a while ago.

"Candace," she called her secretary.

"Madam?"

"I'll just go outside for a while. Text me kung may problema."

"Got it!"

Umakyat si Marianne sa rooftop ng building ng kompanya nila. This is always her favorite spot because it's relaxing to stay here, especially now that the sun is setting down. There's always something special in sunsets for Marianne and she loves to watch it from the rooftop.

Ipinasok niya ang kamay sa loob ng bulsa ng black pants niya. Kinuha niya ang box ng sigarilyo at ang lighter niya.

"Holy shit!" Nagulat si Marianne nang makita niya na di lang siya nag-iisa sa rooftop. "Shiloh, why the heck are you here? Don't tell me that you will jump?"

Shiloh shook her head and just stared at the sunset as she rested her hands on railings. "Stupid me to think that I can get out without being bombarded by those people."

"Running away, huh?" Marianne chuckled. "Isn't this your dream? To be a star writer and to have a breakthrough novel."

Shiloh laughed. "Beau used to tell me: 'People ran away for different reasons...' Maybe you're right, this is my dream." She stared at Marianne directly. "This used to be my dream. But now that I have it, I don't want it. Probably, you're right, I am running away."

Marianne took steps to get beside her. "I-I couldn't understand. Why is that?"

"Because there's alway a point in our life when you realize that this is not what you wanted."

Marianne looked at Shiloh, worried. "Shiloh..."

Shiloh gave her a small smile. "Because when you reach your dreams and you finally realize that there is something more important than that. That you need more than that."

Marianne sighed heavily. "You seemed very bothered since the announcement of the publication of Beau's book. Ano ba talagang nangyayari sa 'yo, Shiloh?"

"It's not that interesting... or maybe it is."

Sinindihan ni Marianne ang sigarilyo niya na nakaipit sa kanyang daliri. "Cigarette?"

"I don't smoke."

"'You're no fun!" Marianne commented. "So... ano ba talaga ang nangyayari sa 'yo, Shiloh? This is not you."

Marianne was Shiloh's head manager and she knew very well how Shiloh acts. She's energetic and sometimes too positive. But right now, she's sulking and the person beside her feels like a different person.

"I never had a complete family."

"Huh?"

Shiloh turned her head and smiled bitterly. "I always wanted a family. But, I'm not going to have that. Maybe not in this lifetime."

"And it has something to do with Beau?"

Shiloh chuckled. "How many chances do you think that when you ride a bus, you will be sitting beside your old elementary classmate or an old teacher? Or a stranger connected to you but you weren't aware of that yet?"

"I can't understand you," Marriane said, confused. But then she answered, "I guess it's less than one percent. But it's clearly not impossible."

"Exactly."

Marriane's forehead creased. "W-What? I-I can't... Damn it! Can you just fucking tell me?"

"Beau and I are connected. His story is also my story."

Marianne's jaw almost fell on the floor. She was shocked when she heard that coming from Shiloh's mouth. 'What are the chances... that they are connected.'

"What do you mean, Shiloh?"

"You haven't read the book, have you?"

Marianne was taken aback. She was hit by the realization why she couldn't understand what's going on with her because she hadn't read the book yet. "Yeah..." Shiloh laughed when she saw how the curve of Marianne's lips turned into a straight line. "B-But I have plans to read it. So..."

"How many chances do you think that Beau's story and mine are intertwined? Less than one percent, right? But, it's not impossible... and surprisingly it is."

"Shiloh..."

"People out there might have read and finished the book I wrote for Beau. They know what's really going on and they want my words... They wanted to know from me."

As the day drew to a close, the sun began its gradual descent, painting the sky with a breathtaking palette of warm oranges and soft hues. The fading light caressed the horizon, casting a gentle glow that embraced the world below. There was a moment of silent between them.

"I wanted to know too..." Marianne uttered and looked at Shiloh intently. "I wanted to know what's on your mind."

"You know..."

"What?" Marianne asked.

"Beau's story answered the biggest question in my life."

"H-How?"

"I told you, his story is my story... and I wasn't even aware of it."

Shiloh smiled at her. While Marianne was left confused.

"Because Beau Hayes Ackehurst has a story to tell... and I am part of his story."

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