"Who am I? You sure you want to know? The story of my life is not for the faint of heart. If somebody told you this was a happy tale, If somebody told you I was just an average, ordinary guy, not a care in the world. Somebody lied. But it wasn't always like this, it all started with a girl..."
We see a thirteen year old girl with blue hair riding on a bus.
"Frida Suarez, the woman I've loved since before I even liked girls."
A guy sits next to Frida and they smile at each other. His name is Carlito.
"I'd like to say that's me sitting next to her. Aw! Heck, I'd even take the fat idiot behind them."
"Hey! Stop the bus!"
A thirteen year old boy with curly brown hair is running after the bus.
"That's me."
"Stop the bus! Please!"
"Catch a cab Rivera!" The fat boy shouted.
"Stop!"
"Stop the bus!" Frida said to the driver. "He's been chasing us since Woodhaven Bolivard."
The bus stopped. Manny quickly caught his breath and got on.
"Thank you! Sorry I'm late!" Manny said.
"What a geek!" A student said.
"You're so lame Rivera!" Another said.
One kid tripped him. Everyone laughed at him and threw trash at him.
"Hey! Lay off!" Frida said helping him up. "You okay?"
"Yeah."
The bus pulled up at a science lab. Everyone gathered up in a group as the teacher gave out instructions. Another car pulled up, inside was Dr. Chipolte and his son Davi.
"Hey Davi." Manny said.
"Hey."
"Davi, you forgot your bag." Dr. Chipolte said.
"Oh thanks." Davi said. "Manny, this is my father."
"Hi I've heard a lot about you." Dr. Chipolte said shaking his hand.
"Get honor to meet you sir." Manny said.
"Davi tells me you're quite the science wiz, you know I'm something of a scientist myself."
"I read all your research. You're working on a serum made from the DNA of deceased warriors."
"And you understood it?"
"Hey! Let's go!" Vice Principle Chakal said.
"Glad to meet you sir." Manny said catching up to the group. "He's not so bad."
"Yeah, if you're not a genius. I think he wants to adopt you."
They went into the lab. It was filled with all sorts of computers, mechanics, and genetic material. There was a case filled with different objects.
"Over here." The guide said. "Scientist are working on mystical items said to infuse anyone who wears them with great power."
"Cool!" Carlito said tracing out to grab one.
"Hey! Don't touch!"
"This is incredible." Manny said. He pulled out his camera and started to take pictures. "Did you know that this lab has the largest collection of mystical items?"
"Manny, why would that interest me?" Davi said.
Carlito pushed Manny to the ground and laughed.
"Leave him alone." Davi said.
"Or what? Your dad will sue me!"
The students continued to look at the exhibits. Well some of them did. Others just talked and gossiped. As for Manny, his main focus was on Frida.
"Ya gonna talk to her now?" Davi said.
"Oh no! I can't!"
"Come on. If it weren't for me she wouldn't have been your first kiss."
"We were ten years old and it was done through truth or dare."
"Still it worked, didn't it?"
"Class move along." The guide said. "So far there are fifteen chemically designed mystical objects."
"There's fourteen." Frida said.
"I beg your pardon?"
"One's missing."
"Mmm...must have been misplaced. Class if you see a belt lying around do not be alarmed, it is harmless but don't touch it! It is designed to attach itself to the first person it comes in contact with."
But Manny barely heard the message. He just kept taking more pictures of the lab.
"Hey can I take your picture for the school news paper?" Manny asked Frida.
"Sure. Yeah."
"Great!"
"Where do you want me?"
"Over here."
She made a pose.
"Don't make me look ugly."
"That's impossible." He took a few shots. "Perfect."
He took few more pictures.
"Is that good?"
"Great!"
"Frida come on." Her friend called.
She left to join her friends. Manny smiled shyly, then something shiny caught his eye. Lying in a corner somewhere was a belt with a sliver buckle. A T was engraved on the buckle. He bent over and looked at it. Suddenly the belt sprung up and attached itself to Manny's waist.
"Hey! What the?"
He grabbed the belt and tried to pull it off but it wouldn't come off. He tugged and pulled but it was no use, it was stuck to him like glue.
"Aw man! If they catch me wearing this I am in so much trouble."
For the rest of the trip he tried his best to keep the belt hidden. After that he raced home while trying to think of a way to hide it from his parents.
"And The Lord said: Let there be light." Rodolfo said screwing in a lightbulb. "And voila! There is light."
"Just don't fall on your butt." Maria said.
"I'm already on my butt Maria. I can't believe they laid me off."
"Oh Rodolfo, you'll get another job."
"Let's look in the paper and see... Wanted ads. Computer salesman, computer engineer, computer analyst! I'm too old for computers and besides, I have a family to provide for."
"I love you, and Manny loves you." She said smiling. "You're the most responsible man I've ever known. We've been down and out before but somehow we survive."
Manny came running through the house and bolted upstairs.
"Hi sweetie. You're just in time for dinner."
"Sorry Mom, I'm not hungry." He said.
"You okay?" Rodolfo said.
"I don't feel well, I'm gonna sleep."
He went into his room and tried to get his belt off. He felt hot and sweaty, his heartbeat increased. Then he passed out on the bed.
