Hindi ako nakagalaw mula sa kinatatayuan ko. Totoo ba ang narinig ko? He did that because...he wanted justice? Totoo ba iyon?

Why...

Bakit niya itinapon ang buhay na meron siya para sa bagay na iyon? Isa siya sa mga pinaka naapektuhan dahil sa nangyari noon, pero bakit...

Hanggang ngayon ba nakatali pa rin siya sa nakaraan?

Maraming bakit sa isip ko. It felt sad to think about it, lalo na kung totoo iyon, at hindi ko rin alam kung ano ba ang gagawin ko kung totoo nga.

For ten years, pinilit kong mamuhay ng normal at malayo sa nakaraan. I lived happily despite everything, nagawa ko iyon because Denver was beside me. Pero siya? Kung sakali mang totoo iyon, I couldn't imagine the hardships he's been through. Law school is already like hell and to climb to where he is now must be really difficult.

I know wala pang confirmation kung totoo nga iyon but I already feel guilty. Alam kong hindi ko kasalanan but I just couldn't help it. I feel guilty for living like nothing happened while someone's striving to get justice for my disappearance.

"Are you okay?"

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang may magsalita sa gilid. It's Alaric and I don't know how to face him anymore after what I heard.

"Here, your wine." Aniya at inilahad sa akin ang dala niya. Mabilis ko iyong tinanggap at walang pasubaling ininom.

"Oh, you must be really a party girl!" He uttered and chuckled na mas lalong nagpasidhi sa nararamdaman ko.

Gusto kong itanong. Gustong-gusto ko nang itanong pero hindi... hindi pwede.

At may parte rin sa akin na natatakot malaman ang totoo. Kasi hindi ko alam kong paano ko matatanggap e.

"Excuse me, restroom lang ako." Mabilis kong sabi at agad na lumayo sa kanya.

Sapo-sapo ang dibdib na animo'y naging tambol dahil sa lakas ng tibok nito ay hinanap ko ang CR. There, the tears I've been trying to hold back fell and I let them fall silently.

After letting out what's bugging my chest, I went out of the cubicle.

I made sure before going out na maayos na ang sarili ko kung kaya't nakataas noo na uli ako no'ng lumabas. But right when I went out, I was greeted with awfully familiar faces, at mukhang nagulat din sila sa presensya ko.

Agatha and Kyla.

It's been a while. And while I looked at them, I was reminded again of what happened back then. Katulad noon ay hindi ko pa rin sila masisi, ngunit hindi rin ibig sabihin no'n ay nakalimutan ko na ang katotohanang kinaibigan lang nila ako because they thought they could use me. But then... that's not worth a grudge with. Kasi ang babaw.

Tila nakakita ng multo na umatras sila. Gusto kong ngumisi but I maintained my composure.

"Excuse me, Miss?" I smiled. "Uh, you're blocking my way, I'm sorry." Kalmado kong sabi.

"Ay, hala. Sorry!" Natatarantang wika ni Kyla at gumilid.

"Thank you," I uttered and smiled again.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad but before I could go farther ay narinig kong muli ang boses nila.

"Miss?" Agatha called.

Lumingon naman ako nang nakakunot noo.

Ano? Familiar ba? Mukha bang multo? For a while, I wanted to laugh.

"Nothing, sorry. May kamukha ka kasing kakilala namin." Aniya at tumawa.

"Ah." Tumango-tango ako. "A friend?"

Umiling siya. "Ah, hindi. Isang kriminal."

Muli akong tumango. "Uh, too bad. Malas ko naman kung gano'n." I chuckled.

Agad naman silang napaatras no'ng naglakad ako pabalik sa kanila.

"By the way, Penelope Aranjuez nga pala." I smiled and held out my hand. "I hope we can be friends."

Shock and fear immediately registered all over their faces.

I sighed. Ano namang nakakagulat doon?

"Oh, sorry, ayaw niyo ba? Okay lang naman." I drew back my hand and smiled again. "Sige, mauuna na ako sa labas. Nice meeting you two.

Hay, I suddenly wonder what's going inside their minds.

When I went back to the ballroom, my eyes immediately spotted familiar faces.

Xandrick and his family. William. Ninong Larry. The Manjarrez family.

Wow. What a small world? Reunion ba 'to?

I smirked and walked confidently towards the crowd. AJ's eyes immediately widened when he saw me ngunit agad din iyong bumalik sa dati. Hindi rin siya lumapit which I appreciate.

Tahimik akong pumwesto sa gilid at kumuha ng wine, while silently observing the people around me. Denver's out of sight but I'm sure he's already investigating somewhere.

As I looked at them, I noticed some changes with Liam. Compared to his innocent features back then, he looked mature and strong now. And about what happened back then, ako pa talaga ang nasisi, huh? Like I wasn't the victim at all.

After Rachel's death, I was told that a video of him violating me inside that bar spread in the internet and was interpreted in a wrong way, and due to that ay mas lalo akong nadiin. They say that I am envious and I actually want him for myself kaya ko pinatay ang kapatid ko, which was so nonsense at all.

I took a sip of the wine. And there's Xandrick and his family, still looking great as ever. Hmm, may kinalaman kaya sila?

The sudden pulling out in the arranged marriage may have affected the relationship they have with father which makes them have motive to do that.

I was in the middle of observing them when the lights went off. It made me feel surprised and panicked because I'm afraid of the dark. Kinalkal ko ang purse na dala to get my phone but before I could do that, I felt a presence behind me. It was dark ngunit pinilit kong lumayo.

Agad naman akong napasigaw nang makarinig ng putok ng baril. Hindi lang isang beses kundi tuloy-tuloy.

Anong nangyayari? Si Denver. Nasaan siya?

Pumwesto ako sa isang sulok at binuksan ang bag ko para kunin ang phone. I dialled his number but he wasn't answering. Nagsimula na akong kabahan dahil doon at mas lalo naman no'ng may pumwesto sa harapan ko.

Kahit madilim at hindi kita ay alam kong may nakatutok sa akin na baril. My reflexes immediately reacted at agad akong nagpakawala ng sipa, but I couldn't do it right because I'm wearing a gown.

"Bitawan mo siya."

Napatigil ako nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses na iyon and the next thing I knew, nakabulagta na sa harap ang tao.

"Denver!" I ran and hugged him.

"You need to leave this place already, Nel. Mali tayo ng plano, you shouldn't be here." He said as he pull me with him, hindi ko alam kung saan kami pupunta but I trust him.

"Anong nangyari?" Nagtataka kong tanong.

He sighed. "The person behind everything that happened in your family is here and he now knows your back."

I clenched my fist.

"Sino siya?"

"Hindi ko alam, Nel. And that's what I'll be doing. I won't leave this place without knowing who he is. For now, use our car and drive back to the safe house. Don't worry, the security will tail you."

Bumuntong-hininga ako. I understand his point pero...

"Paano ka?" I asked with worry in my voice.

"Don't worry about me, Nel. I can manage to get out of this. Now, leave." Aniya at mas lalong binilisan ang lakad namin.

When we got out ay agad niya akong sinakay sa sasakyan.

"See you later, don't forget that there's a gun in the car and you can use that when something happens..." he uttered and gave me a kiss.

Nag-aalala ko siyang tinapunan ng tinging muli. I really hate to do this pero alam ko rin ang pinupunto niya. If in case something happens, one of us should survive.

"Mag-iingat ka, Denver." I uttered before starting the car.

I drove away immediately following what he instructed. But it was in the middle of driving nang biglang may naramdamang tumama sa gulong ng sasakyan, the vehicle immediately reacted and drove into circles because of that. Mabuti nalang ay agad ko iyong nahinto bago tumama sa malapit na poste.

When I stopped the engine ay agad akong ginapangan ng kaba but I remembered Denver saying na may nakasunod sa aking security kaya lumingon ako. However, I saw none. Instead, I was caught off guard when two black SUVs suddenly surrounded my car.

What is this? Who are they?

Doble-dobleng kaba ang gumapang sa akin nang may mapagtanto.

Did they beat the security? And what now? Papatayin na ba nila ako?

No. Hindi pwede. May pamilya ako. Kailangan ako ng mga bata.

Dahan-dahan ay inabot ko ang baril sa compartment. I know how to use it dahil naging hobby na namin ni Denver na pumunta sa mga shooting range. But never did it cross my mind that I would be using my shooting skills in a situation like this.

"Seems like she's inside."

"Check her."

Mabilis ang sumunod na nangyari. I shoot on them but I made sure na hindi sa critical area tatama ang mga bala. Because I can't do it... I can't kill. Ayokong patunayan ang sinabi nilang mamamatay tao ako.

But I think shooting them was a wrong move dahil mabilis na naubos ang bala ko. And just when I had only one bullet left, another SUV arrived.

I thought it's a reinforcement at katapusan ko na, but I was surprised to see a familiar face.

Alaric.

Mabilis niyang pinagbabaril ang mga naroon and he easily defeated them. I was holding my breath as I watched him shoot and move.

Takot ako. Takot na takot. Kasi akala ko katapusan ko na. But he came... he saved me.

I felt my knees weakened when blood gushed from my left leg and that's when I realized I was also shot. But before I could collapse on the ground, nakalapit na siya para saluhin ako.

My tears fell and I hugged him tight.

I don't know. I just want to feel his warmth again.