Tondo, Manila — Late Evening
The alleys in Tondo changed when the sun dipped.
What was narrow became dangerous.
What was loud became silent.
And what was quiet? That's where people bled.
Kael walked alone. Hoodie up, hands in his pockets, steps silent. His eyes locked forward—fixed on the open corner ahead. A flickering light buzzed above a half-shuttered hardware store. A group of teens leaned against the wall beneath it, laughing too loud, spitting on the ground, feet tapping like they owned the block.
Six of them. All older. Shirts half-buttoned, the smell of smoke trailing from their circle.
Kael didn't hesitate. He moved like the world hadn't taught him to be afraid.
But halfway down the block, a second set of footsteps fell in behind him.
"You don't have to follow me," Kael said without turning.
"Didn't say I was," Levi replied. "I just came in case you needed backup."
Kael let out a low breath — something close to a smirk.
"Right. Backup with a bruised face and a glass jaw."
"It was one time," Levi muttered. "And he sucker-punched me."
Kael didn't answer. But the corner of his mouth twitched again — that rare, fleeting ghost of amusement.
They stopped ten steps from the group.
The laughter died quickly. One of the older boys straightened up. Another cracked his knuckles. One leaned forward, squinting.
"Oi. You lost, kid?" one of them barked.
Kael stepped forward once. Levi held position at his side.
"No," Kael said calmly. "I'm right where I need to be."
The tallest one stepped out from the group — maybe sixteen, lean muscle under a dirty sleeveless shirt. His eyes flicked between the two younger boys.
"You got a death wish or what?"
Kael's eyes didn't flinch.
"I came to ask for something simple."
The boys exchanged glances. Some chuckled. One took out a lighter and flicked it just for the sound.
"I want you to apologize," Kael continued. "To him."
He nodded toward Levi.
"Look him in the eye. Say it like you mean it. And we walk away. You never hear from us again."
The gang leader smirked, stepping forward with a swagger that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"What is this? A school play?"
Another one spat near Kael's foot.
One moved to shove Levi, but Kael shifted—
Fast.
He stepped aside, reaching behind his back in one smooth motion.
Click. Whip. Snap.
A pair of homemade nunchaku snapped into his grip — iron pipe and bike chain welded together, black tape wrapped tight around the handles. They weren't flashy. They were brutal.
The first swing cracked straight into the eggs of the guy who'd stepped forward.
A howl. Collapse.
The second spun into the ribs of another, dropping him like a folding chair.
One came from behind—Kael twisted and struck underhand into the jaw.
Three down in four seconds.
The others hesitated. Too late.
Kael's movements were sharp, tight, practiced — like someone who'd done this a hundred times in his head before doing it once for real.
A boy with a pipe rushed in—
Crack.
Kael disarmed him mid-swing, the nunchaku slapping the weapon aside and biting into his wrist. The pipe clattered to the concrete.
"Move," Kael warned.
He didn't.
So Kael dropped him.
Meanwhile, Levi grabbed a thick piece of wood from beside the shuttered store — probably part of a broken bench. One of the remaining punks charged at him, cocky.
Levi swung hard — wide and ugly — and clocked the guy in the side of the head. The wood cracked in his grip. The gangster crumpled.
"Holy sh—" Levi blinked. "That worked."
The last one turned to run.
Kael whipped the nunchaku low, wrapping them around the guy's ankles.
Yank.
He slammed into the ground, skidding across concrete.
Silence.
The street was filled with groans, blood, and disbelief.
Kael stood in the middle of it all — calm, not even breathing hard.
He spun the nunchaku once, then slid them behind his back again, locking them in place.
Then he crouched beside the gang leader, who clutched his ribs and spat blood.
"Say it."
The boy glared at him, teeth red.
"Say it."
"...I'm sorry," the boy muttered.
Kael stood.
"Good enough."
He turned to Levi, who was leaning on the broken wood, still catching his breath.
"You alright?"
"Yeah," Levi panted. "I told you... I'm your backup."
Kael didn't reply. Just nodded.
But this time…
he smiled