Warning: This chapter contains suicide. This may be uncomfortable for some readers so please, be advised. Prioritize one's state of mind all the time. Thank you.

"YEAH. They're right. It was my fault."

"My Noa, please, stop. It's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong." Kaunti na lang at tutulo na ang mga luha niya sa mga mata habang pinagmamasdan ang manunulat na nasa kama. Gabi na pero hindi pa rin ito natutulog. Or rather, she couldn't sleep. Yakap-yakap nito ang sariling tuhod at panay ang pagbulong sa sarili. Matapos nang nangyari kanina, hindi pa rin nito magawang iangat ang sarili.

"Why did I even think of living again?" Mapakla itong tumawa. Umagos ang luha nito sa mga mata at hinila ang sariling buhok. "I can never escape them. I can't . . . H-hinding-hindi nila ako lulubayan."

Ang ginawa ni Asnael at Azaliah ang naging dahilan para muling maalala ni Noa ang mga mapait nitong alaala. She tried living. She tried smiling again. And when she thought she was already healed, the people who caused her pain showed up again and tortured her once more.

And this was more than painful. Takot na si Noa. Takot na takot na itong bumalik na naman sa mga pinagdaanan dati. Takot na itong balikan pa ang sakit.

She didn't want another cycle of pain.

"I'm tired . . ."

Morning came and another doorbell crashed on her gate again. Hindi nakatulog si Noa. Magang-maga ang mga mata nitong umalis sa kama at nagtungo sa labas.

"Noa, stop." Adamas tried reaching her arm, but he just passed through. And it was more frustrating than before because he knew he was nearing to see the end.

Binuksan ni Noa ang gate at niluwa roon si Azure at Asnael.

Hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon ni Noa at nanatili lang blangko. Pagod na itong magpakita pa ng kahit anong reaksyon.

"You look wasted, Noa. Care to say at least hi to me?" Azure said while smiling sweetly at Noa. May hawak itong box sa kamay.

At hindi maganda ang kutob ni Adamas sa laman n'yon.

"Mukhang wala yata sa sarili si Noa," natatawang sabi ni Asnael. "Might as well give it to her quick. I'm kind of getting scared because of her face. Pfft. Scary."

Natawa rin si Azure. "Poor you. I hope you'll heal soon, Noa. And as a token of apology for what I did to you years ago, here take it. I was wrong for doing that and I'm really, truly regretting it."

Adamas clenched his fist. The damn man was clearly being sarcastic. He was mocking Noa.

Wala naman sa sariling tinanggap iyon ni Noa.

"Hope you'll like it." Tumalikod na ito at nakapamulsang nagtungo sa kotse.

Sumunod naman si Asnael pero bago pa man ito makalayo biglang hinawakan ni Noa ang braso nito.

"What?" He looked at her with disgust. "Didn't I tell you not to touch me?"

"I will kill . . ."

"Huh? What did you say?" Kumunot ang noo nito. Bahagya itong yumuko para marinig ang sinabi ng nakayukong si Noa.

Inangat ni Noa ang tingin. Sumilay ang ngiti nito sa mga labi bago nagsalita. "I will kill myself today. I just thought it would be nice to tell you. I hope all of you will rot in hell when I die. I hope somebody will punish you all and made you feel what I felt."

Napataas naman ang kilay ni Asnael pero kaagad ding tumawa. "You are the one who will rot in hell." Inalis nito ang pagkakahawak ni Noa. "Good luck killing yourself, murderer. I'm rooting for your success."

Kumaway pa ang lalaki bago tuluyang pumasok sa sasakyan. Bumalik na rin sa loob si Noa.

Kaagad na sumunod si Adamas habang ang puso niya ay unti-unti nang nababalutan ng kaba. Every time he took a step, his knees weakened. He didn't want to go inside Noa's room. He was afraid that it would be the last time he would see her Noa.

After he heard her words, Adamas figured there would be no more change of events. This would be the last time.

Naupo si Noa sa kama at binuksan ang box. Napasinghap ito nang makita ang loob. Punong-puno ito ng mga damit na pambata.

Tumakas sa mga mata nito ang mga luha at hinawakan ang tela. Inangat ito ni Noa pero kaagad na natigilan nang mapansin ang bigat nito. Basa ang ilalim ng mga damit.

If it was just normal water, Adamas would have been glad. But it wasn't.

It was water filled with the color of blood.

"Ha . . ." Isang tawa ang tumakas sa labi ni Noa. At nasundan pa ng isa. At isa pa. Hanggang sa napalitan ito ng hagulgol.

Mahigpit nitong niyakap ang telang hawak-hawak.  "I'm s-sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry . . ."

Napakuyom ang kaniyang kamao. Iniwas niya ang tingin habang patuloy na sinisisi ng manunulat ang sarili. Kahit gusto niyang lumabas sa kuwarto, hindi niya ginawa. Kahit takot siya, nanatili siya sa tabi nito dahil alam niyang labis na pag-iisa ang nararamdaman ng pinakamamahal niyang manunulat ngayon. Hindi niya ito kayang iwan.

"Here I thought I'd move on, but I'm still hurt. I'm not okay, Adamas. I'm not okay . . ." Matamlay itong naglakad patungo sa study table. Naupo ito sa swivel chair at pinagbubuklat ang mga bond paper na naglalaman ng hindi pa tapos na manuscript.

Nanginginig ang mga kamay nito. "I've b-been meaning to say this. Since that moment I've suffered at the hands of your family. I wish I could tell you this . . . I wish I could've s-said this . . ." Kumuha ito ng ballpen. "Wala silang ginawa sa akin kundi ang saktan ako, Adamas. I'm sorry, pagod na ako . . . ayoko na . . . I want to see you . . ."

Noa started writing on the empty piece of paper with her shaking hands and pained tears. May kinuha ito sa drawer bago tuluyang bumalik sa kama at humiga.

Tuluyang pumatak ang luha sa mga mata niya nang makita kung ano ang kinuha nito.

It was a cutter.

He fell on his knees as he watched the dark and clouded emotion swallowed his beloved author. He tried to hold her. He wanted her to feel she wasn't alone, but even at this moment, his power didn't allow him. Sinandal niya na lang ang ulo sa paanan ng kama at pinakinggang mabuti ang bawat paghikbi nito. Pinakinggan niya ito hanggang sa dahan-dahan itong nawawala.

Hanggang sa wala na siyang marinig pang paghinga.

She finally fell asleep with no hope of waking up.

He sobbed. "I'm sorry, I couldn't save you."

The room had gone cold, and it was only his cries filled the entire place. Creeping, the darkness started to hug the entire area until he could see no more. It didn't last a second when a blue flame appeared, crawling onto his body. It was the same sensation he felt the first time it clung to him.

It was soft like a lullaby, singing to him and making him fall asleep.

When he opened his eyes, the ceiling of Noa's room greeted him. He was lying on the floor while his tears were continually flowing.

He was back with a heavy heart.

[The extent of the gift finally diminished. Villain, Adamas Vondrov Riscarte, is back.]

[Character evaluating . . .]

"S-system, Noa is dead," ngumawa siya sa system. Sinubukan niyang igalaw ang mga kamay subalit hindi nakikinig ang katawan niya. He couldn't move.

[Character evaluation completed. Character is still distinguishable.]

[Response system: The extent of the gift's aftermath has started. You won't be able to move for 10,080 minutes due to paralysis. However, your ability to speak is unaffected.]

His tears continued to flow as the events he saw flashed in his mind. He realized now that his enemy was a whole family.

A family of heinous people.

They tortured his Noa, traumatized her and even wished for her death. If not the worst, they were more terrible that the villains he had met in Fictosa.

"I'll kill you . . ." His lips trembled. "I'll kill all of you!"

"I told you not to meddle with the humans."

Nakarinig siya ng mga yabag na papalapit sa kaniya. Huminto ito sa tabi niya. It was his sibling.

"Zaratras . . ." He sobbed. "They killed our Noa."

"And what? It's not like we can bring her back to life." Zaratras carried him in a bridal style. "Do not kill them. It is not your job to do that."

He gritted his teeth. "What else do you want me to do then? Watch them live without paying for their sins?!"

"For the second time, it's not your job to do that." His sibling glared at him. "You are a fictional character, Adamas. You are nothing more than that. What happened to our author is not our business anymore."

Nagsimula na itong maglakad palabas.

"You don't tell me what to do. You don't understand what I feel."

"I don't have to and I'm not interested."

Hindi na siya sumagot pa nang makaramdam siya ng pagkahilo. Biglang nandilim ang paningin niya at hindi niya na rin maramdaman ang lakas ng kaniyang katawan.

[Magic power is drained. Villain, Adamas Vondrov Riscarte, is subjected to recovery. Therefore, character will shut down until full recovery.]

After he heard the system, he fell asleep.

NAPAHIKAB si Logan habang naglalakad papuntang kusina. It was already eleven in the evening and he was still up, ready to get a coffee for another hour doing things that were relevant for his living. Hinahanda niya ngayon ang gagamitin niyang presentation sa classes niya bukas.

Natapos na rin niyang isulat ang plotline ng kuwento pero hindi pa talaga ganoon kapulido kaya ipapakita niya rin ito kay Gon bukas para kumuha ng opinyon. Siguro, ipapakita niya rin ito kay Adamas.

And speaking of that villain, he hadn't returned after leaving in the morning.

Where did he go again?

Nagkibit-balikat na lang siya at pinagpatuloy ang pagtitimpla. Handa na siyang bumalik sa kuwarto nang mapaigtad siya sa bigat ng katok sa kaniyang pinto. Para itong sisirain.

"Sandali!" He took a sip before walking toward the door. Muli itong kumatok na animo'y may trosong dala. "Sandali sabi!"

Salubong ang kilay niyang binuksan ang pinto. "What is--"

Napaigtad siya sa gulat at napahawak sa kaniyang puso nang isang tao na puno ng itim na tela ang sumalubong sa kaniya. Ang mga mata lang nito ang nakikita niya at kakulay iyon sa mga mata ni Adamas. Napababa ang tingin niya sa dala-dala nito.

"Here. Kindly take care of my brother." Inabot nito sa kaniya ang walang malay na si Adamas. "Make sure that his body is straightened when you put him down. Keep him warm and give him food to eat when he wakes up. And here." Hinagis nito ang isang litrato.

Pagkatapos nitong sabihin, hindi man lang siya nakasagot dahil kaagad na itong umalis.

Ilang minuto pa siyang nakatunganga sa pintuan bago tuluyang pumasok sa utak niya ang nangyari. Dali-dali siyang pumunta sa salas at ilalagay na sana si Adamas subalit naalala niya ang sinabi ng nilalang.

Make sure that his body is straightened . . .

He sighed and went inside his room. Doon niya nilagay si Adamas sa kama niya. Kinumutan niya ito bago nakapamaywang na tinitigan ang lalaki.

"Hindi man lang in-explain sa akin kung ano nangyari sa 'yo."

Nalilito tuloy siya kung mag-aalala ba siya o mananatiling kalmado dahil hindi niya alam kung natutulog lang ba ang lalaki o nasa kritikal na ang kalagayan.

Well, as if he could do something. He was dealing with a fictional character. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang mga patakaran sa mundo nila. So he might as well follow what that person told him to do.

He sighed again.

Bumalik siya sa kusina upang kunin ang kape niya. Dinala niya ito sa kuwarto at nagpatuloy na sa paggawa ng presentation.

Bigla siyang natigilan nang sumagi sa isipan niya ang nilalang na nagdala kay Adamas. Based on his appearance, that man could be Adamas' sibling, Zaratras. Minsan na itong lumabas sa libro ng Odds of Tribes. He also appeared as the villain, but he was only second to Adamas. He wasn't the final boss, but a character made only for the development of the main character.

But despite his role, he still garnered a lot of attention.

"Mukhang hindi lang si Adamas ang karakter na napadpad dito." Napahilamos siya sa kaniyang mukha. Magpapatuloy na sana siya subalit nakatanggap siya ng isang text message.

Muli siyang bumuntonghininga nang mabasa ito.

Putangina mo! Wala ka talagang silbi! Kahit maliit na pera lang hindi mo pa talaga kami mapadalhan. Wala kang kuwentang anak!

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wintertelle's note: Happy 5k reads! Triple update for tonight kasi baka hindi ako makapag-update bukas due to busy schedule. Bombarded ako ng mga gawain this week. This was also the reason kaya hindi ako nakapag-update kaninang umaga. But anyway, thank you for waiting. We're halfway with the story. See 'ya sa susunod na mga chapters. God bless and take care always (⁠つ⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)⁠つ