THEY went home after bringing Gonietta out of the rooftop. Natutulog ito ngayon sa sofa habang ginawang unan ang lap ni Logan.

Naupo naman si Adamas sa couch bago nagsalita. "Didn't I tell you not to go up? You don't really listen."

"I can't stay put."

"And where did you get the plushie? You went home?"

Tumango ito bago bumuntonghininga. "I just got the feeling that I need to get it. Malakas kasi ang kutob ko na baka nakaapekto ang sinabi ko sa kaniya."

"Don't leave her and make sure to check on her from time to time," saad niya kay Logan bago tumayo sa couch.

"Are you leaving?"

He nodded. "I still need to do something."

"Babalik ka pa ba?" Bakas sa mukha nito ang kalungkutan. Logan knew his time in the real dimension was almost over.

"We'll see." He glanced at the progress bar before walking toward him. "Do you have a photo of your mother and Gonietta's parents?"

Kahit na nagtataka ay tumango ito.

"Show it to me."

Kinuha naman nito ang phone sa bulsa. Pinakita nito sa kaniya ang mga imahe ng taong hiningi niya. Pagkatapos niyang makabisa ang kanilang mga mukha, tumalikod na siya.

"Thank you. I'll get going."

Naglakad na siya papunta sa pinto. Pinihit niya ito pabukas. He was ready to step outside when a figure of a woman just came in front of the door. It was Anais.

Tinaas nito ang kamay. "You left your veil. Bumalik ako sa hospital kanina pero wala na kayo."

"You're just right in time." He let out a small smile and got the veil out of her hand. Hinila niya ang babae palabas ng apartment.

"Where are you taking me?" nalilito nitong tanong.

Saka lang siya sumagot nang nakalabas na sila. "I want you to take me somewhere."

"Saan?"

He pointed his finger at Anais' neck and a thread immediately stabbed her. Bahagya pa itong napaigtad sa pagkabigla. "What is this?"

"Follow the direction the thread is telling you," sagot niya at naunang pumasok sa kotse.

Sumunod naman si Anais. Kagaya ng sinabi niya, sinunod ng babae kung ano mang rota ang sinasabi ng sinulid. Una silang nagtungo sa isang club kung saan naroroon na naman ang kapatid ni Logan.

Pagkarating niya, kaagad niyang pinasok ang club at walang pagdadalawang-isip na hinila ang buhok ng babae.

"Ah! Binitiwan mo nga ako!" angal nito. Sinipa siya nito subalit parang kagat lang ng langgam ang sakit.

"You're going home with me." Kinaladkad niya ang babae palabas.

Dahil sa kaniyang ginawa, napatingin ang ibang tao sa loob. Sumugod din ang mga kasamahan ng dalaga pati ang boyfriend nitong sinuntok niya. Bakas pa rin sa leeg nito ang iniwan niyang suntok.

Humarang ang boyfriend nito pero kaagad niyang pinakita sa mukha ng lalaki ang kaniyang kamao. "Do you want to get punched again?"

The guy immediately recognized him. Nabalot ng takot ang emosyon nito. Napalunok ito at napako sa kinatatayuan. Hanggang sa malampasan niya ito, wala itong nagawa kundi ang tumayo na parang poste.

"Babe, help me! Help me, please!" sigaw ni Hina.

"No one's going to help you, kiddo," he said.

When they reached the outside, he opened the back seat of the car and immediately threw the woman inside. Pumasok din siya at tinabihan ito kung sakali mang subukan nitong tumakas.

"Who is she, Adamas?" Bakas sa mukha ni Anais ang pagkagulat.

"She's Logan's stubborn sister. We're going to take her home."

Kaagad namang umangal si Hina. "No, please. Please, don't listen to this guy. He kidnapped me!"

Nagtangka itong sumigaw kaya tinakpan niya ang bibig nito ng kaniyang sinulid. "She's my accomplice, kiddo. So shut your mouth and don't do something that will annoy me." Naiisip pa lang niya ang ginawa nito kay Logan, gusto na niya itong ipakain sa kaniyang mga sinulid. If only he wasn't his sister.

Hina's face turned pale because of his threads. Namuo ang kulay ng takot sa emosyon nito dahilan upang hindi na muling nagpumilit itong lumabas. Naupo ito nang matuwid katabi niya.

Inutusan niya si Anais na umalis na at magtungo sa kanilang susunod na destinasyon.

He remained silent as his mind continued to envision how he'd going to execute judgment on Gonietta and Logan's parents.

What they did and how they treat their son and daughter were totally outrageous. And Adamas wouldn't be going to let it slide. Lalo na't umabot na sa puntong muntik nang kunin ng dalawa ang sariling buhay.

If he was their parent and he made them almost kill themselves, he would feel ashamed. He couldn't fathom living knowing he almost bring death closer to his own kids.

I swear. I will make them feel how you two suffered because of them.

Mahaba-habang byahe bago sila nakarating sa probinsiya kung saan nakatira sina Logan at Gonietta. Sumuot sila sa isang mabatong daanang hindi natapos na masemento. Tumigil si Anais sa harap ng isang two-storey house at may puting gate.

It was Logan's home.

"Stay here," utos niya kay Anais. Sinuot niya ang veil bago lumabas ng sasakyan habang hila-hila si Hina.

Inutusan niya itong pindutin ang doorbell. Naghintay sila ng isang saglit bago may nagbukas sa kanila.

Kaagad na uminit ang dugo niya nang masilayan ang lasing na ina ni Logan. May hawak itong bote sa isang kamay. Napapakamot pa sa ito sa ulo habang tinitingnan sila.

"Anong kailangan--" She wasn't able to finish her word when she saw her daughter. "Hina! Umuwi ka na rin sa wakas."

Hindi siya nito pinansin at dumiretsong yakapin ang anak sa kaniyang tabi. "Sabi na, e. Nagsisinungaling lang ang kuya mo na pumunta ka raw sa club."

Adamas' little patience immediately broke off. Kaagad niyang sinunggaban ang leeg nito at mariing hinampas ang likuran sa gate.

"Ma!" hiyaw ni Hina.

Napalabas din sa kotse si Anais.

"Don't try to interfere." He warned her before looking at the suffocating woman. "You, woman. Answer me. Why did you choose to become a parent?"

Hindi ito makasagot. Nakahawak ang mga kamay nito sa kaniyang braso at pinipilit siyang itulak. Pero imbes na luwagan ay mas lalo niyang diniinan ang pagkakasakal. Wala siyang pakialam kung magkasugat pa ang leeg nito dahil sa kaniyang mga kuko.

"The nerve of you to bear children but you can't take responsibility until the end. How dare you put all your responsibility on Logan? How dare you waste his money on some worthless drinks? Do you not have any shame?!" Bumakat ang ugat sa kaniyang panga. Nanginginig ang mga labi niyang binibitiwan ang mga katagang iyon. Ang tumataas niyang galit ang dahilan kung bakit  gustong-gusto niyang bawian ng buhay ang babae.

"I could kill you right now but I am not going to because I care for your child's feelings. How about you, woman? When will you be back to your senses? When will you start caring for your children again, huh?" He let go of her neck and slapped her cheeks instead. Napaupo ito sa lupa. "If Logan can't open your eyes, I will."

Hinila niya ang buhok nito upang maitayo. Nanginit ang mga palad niya nang gamitin ang kapangyarihan. Tinawag niya ang isang sinulid at tinusok ito sa leeg ng babae.

[You are using Thread of Truth. 10% of your power capacity will be deducted.]

He once used it on Logan for him to understand why he killed Aivan. Now he'd make his parent see what his son had been through. From his scars to his tired face; from how early he wakes up to overworking himself; Adamas let them flow towards the mind of Logan's mother like a fast-forward theater.

Ilang saglit, isa-isang tumulo ang mga luha sa mata ng babae. The color of her emotion started to turn into a muddy brown, showing how regrets started to creep into her soul.

Binitiwan na niya ang babae. Tinanggal na rin niya ang sinulid sa leeg. "Contemplate on that, woman. You are not the only one who is wounded. Contemplate then change."

Tumalikod na siya at naglakad papalapit sa kotse. Tinawag niya si Anais. "Let's go."

Sumunod itong pumasok at pinaandar ang sasakyan. Bakas sa mukha nito ang pag-aalala dahil sa kaniyang ginawa.

"W-will they be okay?"

"They will be."

Wala pang sampung minuto ang lumipas nang tumigil sila sa isa na namang bahay. Kaagad siyang lumabas at tinungo ang pulang gate. The house seemed to be lively today because of the loud music. Music of celebration and a time for everyone to be merry.

Inakyat niya ang gate. Tumakbo kaagad siya sa pintuan at malakas na sinipa ang pinto. Natumba ito dahilan upang bumungad sa kaniya ang mga mukhang gulat na gulat sa kaniyang ginawa. Isang babaeng nasa 20s ang may hawak ng mic. Habang ang dalawang tao na man na may edad na ay nakaupo sa sofa. Sa harapan nila ay isang malaking lamesa na punong-puno ng iba't ibang mga handa.

"You are all unbelievable. Your eldest almost killed herself today yet here you are, celebrating your second daughter's achievement endlessly."

"S-sino ka?!"

Adamas ignored Gonietta's sibling and rushed toward the table. With his strength, he slammed the table to her parents. Naligo ang buong mukha pati ang katawan sa mga samu't saring putahi na hinain nila. Hindi kaagad nakagalaw ang dalawa dahil sa gulat.

"Stupid parents and stupid parenting!" Kinuha niya ang ulo ng lechon na natapon sa sahig. Hinati niya ito bago hinagis sa pagmumukha ng dalawa. "How dare you invalidate your child's feelings! How dare you dictate what she should feel!"

"Ano bang problema mo?!"

Isang mabigat na bagay ang tumama sa likuran ng kaniyang ulo kaya napalingon siya. Binato siya ng babae ng mic.

"Do not interfere." Kinuha niya ang mic at binato pabalik sa babae. Kaagad itong napasigaw nang tumama ito sa noo. "You're out of this, favorite child. This is not about you."

Binalik niya ang tingin sa dalawa na hanggang ngayon ay nakatunganga pa rin. Bakas sa mga emosyon nito ang gulat at pagkalito.

"Looking so confused is not what I want to see. I want you to be regretful about how you treated your first child." Hinila niya ang mga buhok nito upang kaladkarin paalis sa sofa.

"Ah!" Napasigaw ang dalawa ngunit hindi iyon nagtagal nang ibinagsak niya ang mga mukha nito sa sahig.

"You all treated her very poorly. You ignored her efforts nor celebrated her wins."

"Gon was never mistreated by mom and dad!" singit ng kapatid.

Parang kinalikot sa inis ang puso niya matapos iyong marinig. Nilingon niya ang babae. Kung hindi lang siya nakasuot ng veil, natanaw na siguro nito ang nanlilisik niyang mga mata.

"Shut your damn mouth! You don't know anything nor understand what is the feeling of being mistreated because you never got to experience it. The attention is all yours and you are so focused on that. You are so focused that your sister doesn't have any spotlight left!" he screamed. His lungs were already burning with range but he doesn't seem to be contented. "And who's fault is that?! Of course, it's none other than your damn parents!"

Adamas unleashed his threads and used his Threads of Truth. He unraveled in their mind what Gonietta did earlier, what words she said and how she truly felt at that moment. If this wasn't enough to wake them up, he would not get out of this household.

But in a span of a minute, their emotion started to turn upside down. The second daughter was dumbfounded, and the parents were circled in shock. Ngayon lang nila napagtanto kung ano ang mali sa ginagawa nila.

"I'm sorry . . ." the mother uttered. Napatakip ito sa mukha dulot ng mga luhang nagsisimula nang lumabas.

"I don't need your apology. Go say sorry to Gonietta instead." Tumayo na siya at naglakad na patungo sa pintuan. Tumigil muna siya saglit at pinasadahan ng tingin ang tatlo. "Never repeat what you did wrong. Be fair."

And he left the Ran household.

Pauwi na sila ni Anais sa apartment. Sa araw na ito masiyadong maraming nangyari. At para sa kaniya, ito ang pinakamahabang araw na nangyari sa kaniya sa totoong dimensiyon. Tahimik silang bumabyahe nang magsalita siya.

"Anais."

"Yes?"

He looked at the woman. "You're the only one left. And this would probably be the last time that we will see each other, so I want to tell you something."

She glanced at him. "What is it?"

"My Noa had been thankful for you until her last hours."

Bigla itong napapreno pagkatapos niya iyong bitiwan. Nilingon siya nito. Kaagad na namuo ang mga luha nito sa mga mata.

"You are really so strange. You can't shed a tear for your family yet to my Noa, you're too softhearted." He let out a smile. "Thank you, Anais, for taking care of my Noa."

Nagbagsakan ang mga luha nito sa mga mata. "But I wasn't with her in her last hours. If I was there, I could have prevented it f-from . . . from happening."

He had the same thoughts. Adamas wished a million times and made several 'what ifs'. But they couldn't do anything to bring her back to life anymore. Noa is dead.

Until now, it still stung his heart every time she thought of her end. The pain was still there, and it may take a very long time before he would heal. And despite having heartache, his character remained because not once he forgot who he truly is and what place he was in his Noa.

"Don't blame yourself. You were never one of the reasons why she died."

Pinahid naman nito ang sariling luha. Isang maliit na ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi nito. "If you keep saying things like that, you will just remind me of my brother."

"Whatever you think of. I'll be leaving anyway." He crossed his arms.

Hindi naman kaagad sumagot ang babae. Napayuko ito habang pinaglalaruan ang mga kamay. May balak itong sabihin sa kaniya ngunit nahihiyang magsalita.

"What? Spill it quick."

"Ahm . . . c-can I touch your face?"

Natigilan siya. Tinitigan niya ang babae na hanggang ngayon ay nakayuko pa rin at hindi siya tinitingnan.

He sighed. "Fine."

Anais quickly looked up. Napangiti ito at kaagad na hinawakan ang kaniyang mukha. Hinaplos nito nang buong ingat ang kaniyang pisngi na para bang kinakabisado siya. Muling tumulo ang mga luha nito sa mga mata at bigla siyang niyakap.

He didn't push her away. Instead, he hugged her back. "I'll let this slide, human."

Hinaplos niya ang buhok nito upang patahanin ang babae. Siguro ang rason kung bakit hinayaan niya itong yakapin siya ay dahil kitang-kita niya kung gaano kakapal ang emosyon ng pangungulila nito sa kapatid. Her longing was too strong that it reached him. Even though he wasn't Adamas Laurien, at some point in his heart, he felt that this longing was for him.

And for now, he would accept those as for him. He would accept her emotion in order to lessen her loneliness.

"Anais," he whispered. "Aivan Laurien holds a lot of mental health facilities. I want you to take over that. Use it with sincerity, please. Do not let people experience what happened to my Noa. Help them."

"I will." Humiwalay na ito sa kaniya.

Biglang lumabas ang hologram ng system sa kaniyang harapan kaya napunta roon ang kaniyang tingin.

[Character Restoration progress: 98%]

It was almost time.

"Anais, change of course." He glanced at the woman. "Don't take me to the apartment anymore."

"Where do you want to go?" humihikbi nitong tanong.

"To her grave. Take me to where my Noa is."

---

winty's note: who's ready for the finale tomorrow? Aaaa see 'ya sa final chapter (⁠つ⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)⁠つ