NAPAMULAGAT siya nang marinig ang system. He thought he was just imagining things. But when he saw a purple hologram in front of his face, it was enough proof he was seeing the real thing.

"System!" Bumangon siya at niyakap ito kahit na lumusot lang talaga ang mga braso niya. "I missed you, system!"

Adamas smiled from ear to ear while staring at the purple hologram in front of him. Indeed, he missed the system. After all, it was his companion since he was created. Kaya no'ng nawala ito, nanibago siya.

"How have you been?"

[Response System: Work overloaded. Please, do not ask unnecessary questions.]

Napangiwi naman siya. "You should at least say you missed me too."

The system just ignored him and continued its job.

[One character found. Now evaluating Adamas Vondrov Riscarte.]

Nanatili siyang tahimik at hinayaan ang system na gawin ang trabaho nito. Muli siyang nahiga habang may lilang liwanag ang nag-s-scan sa buo niyang katawan.

[Adamas Vondrov Riscarte, the villain from Odds of Tribe has been successfully found.]

[Preparing for restoration.]

Kaagad siyang napabangon. "Restoration?! Wait! I don't want to go back yet!"

Sa lakas ng kaniyang sigaw, umalingangaw ito sa paligid dahilan para mapatakbo si Logan sa kinaroroonan niya.

"What happened?" alala nitong tanong.

But he didn't take a glance at the man and just focused on the system. "Hey! I said I don't want to go back yet. Tell me first what happened to Fictosa."

[Response System: The restart has been done successfully, but due to Zero almost wiping out the entire Fictosa again before everyone can gain consciousness, the system was forced to shut down and initiated a restart for the second time.]

Natigilan siya. Hindi siya makapaniwalang ikalawang beses nag-restart ang system. Muling nagsalita ang system kaya nakinig siya.

[Response System: The second restart didn't turn out well. Malfunction has sufficed which causes Personal Settings not to be in place. The system has also failed to respawn the characters at their right locations and regions which results in some of you to be sent in the real dimension.]

"I see." He nodded. "Because of that Zero, everything became a mess, huh?"

Hindi siya galit. Sa katunayan, natuwa pa siya dahil sa ginawa nito. Dahil sa ginawa nitong napakalaking damage, nagawa niyang makapunta sa totoong dimension at malaman ang nangyari sa kaniyang manunulat.

"Sino kinakausap mo, Mr. Adamas?"

Nilingon niya si Logan na nakatayo na pala sa kaniyang tabi. Bakas sa mukha nito ang pag-aalala na animo'y hinahatulan siyang baliw.

"I'm talking to the system." Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang system bago binalik kay Logan. "But it seems that you can't see it."

Logan just tilted his head in response, confused about what he was saying.

[Preparation for restoration is finally complete. Character's Personal Setting is ready to be occupied.]

"Hey! I told you not to take me yet!" He screamed again, causing Logan to flinch.

But the system didn't listen to him and continued to do its job.

[Transporting Adamas Vondrov Riscarte . . .]

Umakyat ang kaba sa puso ni Adamas nang makita ang isang imahe sa hologram. It was a progress bar. Kapag napuno ito at umabot ng one-hundred percent, tuluyan na siyang makakabalik sa Fictosa.

"I need to hurry, human."

"Saan?"

He looked at him. "I need to kill those culprits who push my beloved Noa to death fast."

Tumayo siya sa pagkakaupo.

"Are you going to hunt a-another one?" Bakas sa kaba nito ang boses.

"I just killed the second earlier. But you're right, I'm going to find the others. And . . ." Umiwas siya ng tingin nang sumagi sa isipan niya ang mga gulat na mukha nina Aivan at Asnael. "I think I'm missing something. I have to know first what it is."

Naglakad na siya papunta sa pinto pero bago niya pinihit ito pabukas, nilingon niya muna si Logan.

"You told me you had a character named Zero. May I know what is his role?"

Nagulat ito sa kaniyang tanong pero kaagad ding sumagot. "He's a villain. Why?"

Isang maliit na ngiti ang sumilay sa kaniyang labi bago tumalikod. If his guess was right, it may not be too far 'til Logan would see the fruit of his hardwork.

"Continue writing, human. No matter how many the discouragements are, keep going. There's someone out there fighting to get you in the place you deserve."

"Ha? Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

Hindi na niya pinansin pa si Logan. Lumabas siya ng apartment pero hinabol siya nito.

"Wait, Mr. Adamas!"

"What is it?"

His face was filled with hesitation. "D-do you really have to do this? You know . . . killing people?"

"What are you trying to point out?" He raised his eyebrows.

"I understand that you are hurt because Miss Noa died. But, Mr. Adamas, what you've been doing right now is actually wrong. Killing them is not the right way to give justice," Logan said. Bakas sa emosyon nito ang takot habang binibitiwan iyon.

"What do you want me to do then?"

"You said they hurt her. Maybe we could find something that we can use against them, and in that way, we can--"

"We can what?" He cut him off. "Are you trying to make me follow the rules in this dimension?"

"There is a right a way to give justice. There is a process, Mr. Adamas."

He scoffed. "Logan, are you insane?" Naglakad siya palapit sa lalaking natigilan. "Do you really know who I am? Do you think I was written as an angel? A good damn citizen who follows the process of justice?!"

Kinuwelyuhan niya ito. Nawala ang mga ngiti niya sa labi at pinukol niya ng masasamang tingin ang lalaki. "I am a villain. A terrible villain written with a belief to kill anyone who stands against his way. I am no good, Logan. And I'm not very patient with your suggestion. Either way, I will still end up killing all of them."

"Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo?" May boses na umalingawngaw sa kaniyang likuran. Sinundan iyon ng mga yabag hanggang sa may humarang na babae at pilit na inaalis ang kamay niya sa kuwelyo ni Logan. "Bitiwan mo nga siya!"

"Don't get in between, my reddy readsy." Winaksi niya ang kamay nito. Binalik niya ang atensyon kay Logan. "Do not forget, human. I am made with power. And my power is meant to end anyone who will oppose me. Killing will always be my first and last resort, so don't stand in my way."

"But it's not right," singit ni Gonietta at pilit na namang inaalis ang kamay niya. "Kahit kailan, hindi naging tama ang pagpatay. Hindi 'yan masasagot ang nangyari kay Noa."

Binitiwan niya ang pagkakahawak. He took a step back and gaze at the two. "Of course. Killing will never be right, so don't even attempt to be like me. I am no role model. I am made as an antagonist and an enemy. But you two aren't. I am not like you as how you are not like me. You two are humans, but I am tainted. You don't have the power to punish someone, but I do."

"Adamas--"

"We live different lives so don't push your beliefs on me! My world is crueler than yours. I am not from a genre full of butterflies, I was written in a world where it's do or die. It's survival. It's a world I have to defeat anyone who will try to steal what's mine. I am not a powerless being like you. What's right or wrong doesn't matter because what I believe will prevail!" He gritted his teeth. Salubong ang mga kilay niyang tinuro ang dalawa. "I like you both, so don't make a reason for me to turn my back on you. Keep your belief and I'll keep mine. I know you are in the right, but you will never get me to act that way. Only my Noa can if she'll ask me."

"Do you think she'll be happy if she knew what you are doing?" Logan blurted. "I don't think so."

"She told me to avenge her! My Noa will never write something she is not sincere about doing. You don't know her so stop concluding anything about whether she would be happy or not."

"She's human like us. And just like you said, we don't have the power to kill anyone."

"That is why she left the job to me because I can! She made me capable!" His jaw tightened as he was starting to lose his patience. They were going in circles. And he wanted to end this conversation now. "Listen, you two. I am flawed. I do have good traits out of my villain character and you, as readers, ought to see that and not manifest my terrible traits for it will not do you any good. You ought to judge the fictional characters and take in lessons. But you have no power to tell us what to do. You only get to learn from us. Do you understand?"

Hindi nakasagot ang dalawa.

"I may be real to you right now, but I don't actually exist. I am fictional. I am made for a purpose for readers to learn something, so don't make me act too far from my character. You don't have the power to order me that." He sighed.

"But you're killing people from this world," sagot ni Gonietta. "Wala ka sa mundo mo, Adamas. Wala ka ngayon sa libro. Nandito ka kaya hindi mo kami masisisi kung gusto ka naming pigilan."

Mariin siyang napapikit. Muli niyang minulat ang mga mata at tinitigan ang mga emosyon nito. Naghalong kaba, takot at konsensya ang bumabalot sa kanila.

"If you want to stop me, keep on trying then. Just know that I will never listen. And if you ever try to cross the line and hinder my revenge, you will not be on my safe side anymore."

Tumalikod na siya at lumabas ng apartment building. Nagtungo siya sa bahay ng kaniyang manunulat. Nagbabakasali siyang may mahanap siyang bagay na makakatulong sa kaniya para malaman ang rason sa mga nakakapagtakang emosyon ng dalawang lalaking pinarusahan niya.

Pumasok siya sa loob ng kuwarto nito.

His eyebrows furrowed when the room was so clean--the things were arranged, including the pillows and bedsheets. Hindi ganito ang mukha ng kuwarto matapos siyang umalis. Iniwan niya lang sa sahig ang mga papel dati pero ngayon, nasa ibabaw na ito ng desk.

Did someone clean this place? Did the two humans do it?

Lumapit siya sa table at naupo sa swivel chair na nandoon. Binaling niya ang tingin sa drawer na na nasa katabi lang ng table. Bubuksan na niya sana ito nang may narinig siyang mga yabag.

Mabilis niya itong nilingon.

He froze when he saw a woman, standing at the door and was also shocked while looking at him.

Kumunot ang kaniyang noo. Lalo siyang naestatwa sa kinatatayuan nang biglang tumulo ang luha sa mga mata nito.

"Adamas?"

MABIGAT ang katawan na bumangon si Logan nang tumunog ang kaniyang alarm. Alas singko pa lang ng madaling araw pero kailangan na niyang bumangon para maghanda sa kaniyang trabaho sa café.

Humihikab pa siya habang pumapasok sa banyo para maligo. Hindi na naman siya nakatulog nang maayos.

Sa dami ng nangyari kahapon, ang dami ring kailangan niyang isipin.

Una, ang kaguluhang ginawa ni Adamas sa café kahapon. For sure, the management would ask about it later. He needed to think of an excuse because if he told them the truth, he might be laughed at. Hindi niya puwedeng sabihin sa management na ang dahilan ng pagwawala ng kasama niya ay dahil sinabihan sila ni Stacey na maghanap ng totoong propesyon.

People don't really care much about them. Including the ones he was working with. They would probably be going to agree with Stacey.

Pangalawa, ang pamilya niya. Logan came from a province and he moved to the city to work and pursue his dreams. Mas marami ang opportunity rito kaya pinili niyang lumayo sa pamilya matapos niyang mangakong magiging successful siya.

Pero magpipitong taon na ang dumaan at wala pa ring nangyayari. He finished the course he wanted with flying colors two years ago, and found work close to his dream, but still ended up not seeing any results.

He still couldn't say he achieved something. Wala pa siyang naipapakita sa pamilya niya. At unti-unti nang nauubos ang kanilang pasensya sa kaniya dahil umpisa pa lang, tutol sila sa pagsusulat niya.

Maybe this is not for me?

Kaagad siyang umiling sa naisip. Tinapos na niya ang pagligo at nagbihis na. Nagluto na rin siya ng umagahan. Nadatnan niya si Adamas na natutulog pa sa sofa.

Hindi niya alam kung anong oras na itong nakauwi kagabi.

Ang pangatlong bagay na nakapagpapabagabag sa kaniya ay ang mga sinabi nito sa kaniya.

Nakakainis ang abilidad nitong nakakakita ng emosyon dahil nalaman nito ang nararamdaman niya kay Gon. And he couldn't believe that he considered thinking of confessing after Adamas encouraged him.

"Why does he always act so confident about everything he says?" naiinis niyang saad habang nagpriprito ng itlog.

Pati rin tuloy siya na-mo-motivate sa mga pinagsasasabi nito.

But their talk didn't end well.

Why did he even do that? Well, Adamas could be sensible sometimes, so he just took his shot to talk to him about his revenge. If they couldn't tell the authority, they might be able to stop him just by talking. He thought he could stop him. He thought he would listen.

But . . . he forgot once again that they were dealing with someone who didn't come from their world. Adamas was only sensible to things he was willing to hear. And that didn't include his anger toward the people who hurt Miss Noa Green.

He sighed. "Why are you so good but so bad at the same time?"

Tumunog ang phone sa bulsa kaya tiningnan niya kung sino ang nag-message. It was Ash.

Ash:
The café is closed today. The owner closed it for some reason.

He replied 'okay' before focusing on the fried egg. Pagkatapos niyang magluto, iniwan niya muna ito sa lamesa at bumalik sa kaniyang kuwarto. Dahil wala siyang trabaho, maglilinis na lang muna siya habang hinihintay si Adamas na maggising.

Nagwalis muna siya. He then rearranged the positions of his cabinets, drawers and tables to get a new feel. Isa-isa niyang tinanggal ang boxes ng cabinet upang ayusin ang pagkakatupi ng kaniyang mga damit. Sinunod niyang hinalungkat ang kaniyang drawer.

Nakuha ng atensyon niya ang isang maliit na kahon na naglalaman ng mga imahe. Napangiti siya at binuksan ito. Bumungad sa kaniya ang mga litrato nila ni Gon mula pa pagkabata hanggang sa paglaki.

"I will never forget how you slipped on this day." He chuckled while looking at the picture of him and Gon with their clothes full of mud. They were still in their first year of college, and it was the first time they experienced a foundation day.

Manonood lang dapat sila sa mga kalahok na maglalaro ng Tug Of War pero dahil hindi sumipot ang ibang miyembro ng kanilang organization, sila ang napasabak.

Maulan ang araw na 'yon at dahil sa soccer field ginanap ang laro, napuno sila ng putik.

His attention shifted when he found another photo. It was old and the corners of it was already damaged. But he could still see the people inside it.

There were two kids. One of them was him and the other one he once met at a family gathering.

"Ano 'yang tinitignan mo?"

"Ay, litrato!" Napaigtad siya nang may biglang nagsalita sa kaniyang likuran. Hawak-hawak niya ang kaniyang dibdib na nilingon ang babaeng tumatawa na ngayon dahil sa kaniyang reaksyon.

"Gulat na gulat ka naman." At tumawa ito ulit.

Inis niya naman itong tinignan. "Gon. Bakit hindi ka man lang kumatok?"

"Kumatok kaya ako. Hindi mo lang ako narinig."

"Paano ka nakapasok? Naka-lock naman iyong pinto."

"Nakabukas kaya."

"Ha?!" sigaw niya. "Nakabukas ang apartment ko?"

"Not entirely. Pero nakaawang siya."

Kaagad siyang napalingon sa direksyon ng salas. Hay nako itong si Adamas, mukhang nakalimutan pa ngang isara ang pinto. Sana pala hindi na niya ito binigyan ng spare key.

"Tingin nga niyan."

Nagulat siya nang biglang hilahin ni Gon ang kaniyang pulso upang tignan ang litratong hawak-hawak. Ramdam niya ang init ng palad nito.

Napako ang kaniyang mga mata sa nakangiti nitong mga labi. He could only see the side of her face, but he still ended up feeling marveled. Hindi pa naman sumisikat ang araw at hindi rin nakabukas ang bintana niya kaya nagtataka siya kung saan nangagaling ang liwanag na nagmumula sa babae.

It was warm. And her face seemed like a feather, soft and light, making him yearn to touch it.

Palagi talagang magaan ang pakiramdam niya sa tuwing malapit ang babae. Kahit gaano pa kabigat ang araw, nalilimutan niya ito kapag nakikita niya si Gon.

As he stared at her, he let out a small smile. Sumagi sa isip niya ang unang pagkakataong nagkita sila ni Gon.

If it wasn't because of her, he would never realize his dream. If it wasn't because of her, he might end up choosing the course he never wanted.

Gusto ng pamilya niya na mag-abogado siya. Hindi sila mahirap at may kaya naman ang pamilya niya para pag-aralin siya ng kursong iyon. Pero umangal siya at nagpumilit na kunin ang kursong Creative Writing. It was also where he promised he would not fail them.

And so they allowed him. They were fine not until his father got into an accident. Napunta lahat ang gastusin sa pagpapagamot nito. Malaki ang pera na nagastos sa operasyon at dahil nagtagal ng dalawang buwan sa ospital ang kaniyang ama, malaki rin ang kailangan nilang bayaran sa hospital. It went over a million. Sa dami ng nagastos nila, hindi na umabot ang pera nila at pinili na lang na mag-loan.

Nailabas naman nila ang ama pero hindi na bumalik pa sa dati ang pamumuhay nila. Hindi na nakakapaglakad ang ama kaya hindi na rin ito nakakapagtrabaho. Ang kaisa-isang bumubuhay sa kanila ay hindi na makakapagtrabaho pa kaya wala siyang choice kundi saluhin ang lahat bilang panganay sa apat niyang kapatid. Siya na ang nagpapakain sa kanila, nagpapaaral at siya rin ang nagbabayad sa utang nila.

And because he couldn't give the life they once lived, his family were blaming him for pursuing his dream than become a lawyer.

"Sino 'tong kasama mo? Ang cute ng face niya."

Napabalik siya sa reyalidad at napaiwas ng tingin nang biglang lumingon si Gon.

"Ewan ko. Hindi ko na maalala. I think isa siya sa mga anak ng Laurien."

Hindi na niya maalala pa kung sino ito pero alam niyang miyembro ito ng pamilyang Laurien.

His family and the Laurien were actually relatives, but due to the difference in their status, he had never been close with them.

Matapos ding mangyari ang family gathering, hindi na rin siya nag-abala pang makipag-close o kilalanin man lang na kadugo ang mga Laurien. Doon niya nakita kung ano sila talaga. His experience in that family gathering made him not mention the Laurien as someone related to him.

"Wala ka talagang paki sa kanila, 'no? Kahit na nandito sa bahay mo ang killer, hindi mo tutulungan ang kadugo mo?"

He just shrugged. "I tried, Gon. We tried yesterday, right? But it's Adamas. We really can't do something."

Napabuntonghininga si Gon.

"Let's not just get ourselves involved. Ang pakay lang ni Adamas ay ang mga taong nanakit kay Noa at hindi tayo kasali ro'n." Bahagya siyang umusog dahil masiyadong malapit ang babae bago nagpatuloy. "And rest assured, Adamas won't kill anyone innocent. He only kills people as terrible as him."

Because of what Adamas told him and the images he made him see, he realized that Adamas would be dealing with people who do ill doings--people who did Miss Noa wrong. And since Adamas was a villain, his way would never be right either.

It was stupid of him to think Adamas could act like how main characters do things.

Adamas' justice was cruel and would never be like how they define the word itself.