Tahimik kaming naghiwalay ni Alaric nang gabing iyon, ngunit hindi ako makatulog nang makahiga dahil sa mga bumabagabag sa isip ko.

We were in the middle of a battle at hindi ko na alam kung paano magwawakas ito. Nakakapagod at habang tumatagal ay mas dumadami ang nadadamay. But I need to do it, in order to give an end to the wickedness of those people.

Kailangan iyon, not just to spare my family but also other people.

Nang mag-umaga ay wala ako sa sariling bumangon at agad akong magpanic no'ng makitang wala na sa tabi ko ang mga anak. Agad akong lumabas ng kwarto at nagmamadaling pumunta ng kusina, only to see Dane and Astraea laughing with Alaric.

He was smiling so widely while talking to the two at sinusubuan pa talaga si Dane ng sandwich. But then, it's my first time seeing him smiling so bright like that ever since I came back.

I sighed and smiled before going near them, nginitian naman niya ako.

"Good morning," bati niya. "Let's eat breakfast."

Tumango ako't ngumiti bago tumabi na sa mga bata.

After eating, Alaric told me to follow him inside the study at ginawa ko nga iyon dahil mukhang may sasabihin siyang importante.

"I talked to Denver last night." Bungad niya nang makapasok ako.

Agad namang nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Nag-usap pala sila? Was that how he learned about what happened to me?

"He told me everything, including his mission."

Tumango ako. I'm already aware of that mission even though I only know pieces of it.

"He also told me what happened in Germany and how your father did everything in his power to protect you. Nang dahil sa mga nasabi niya sa akin, I was able to put some puzzle pieces together. We're finally close to knowing who's behind everything that happened to your family. Just one more step... and it will be over."

I furrowed my brow. "How? Paano nga ba 'to matatapos? I will do everything just to finally end everything."

"Ikaw... ikaw ang kailangan nila, Klio. But there's no way we'll let you meet them after everything they did. Masyadong delikado ang sitwasyon para sa iyo." Seryoso niyang sagot and that made me figure out that him and Denver already has a plan.

"Pero ako ang kailangan nila, 'diba? Just let me do it, Alaric. I'll do it right this time." Matapang kong saad na agad namang nakaani ng iling mula sa kanya.

"No way! Hindi ko na mapapatawad pa ang sarili ko kung may mangyari na naman sayo."

I smiled. "Well, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself too kung mas marami pang madamay sa gulo na 'to... especially the people dear to me. So please... just let me do it."

Mariin pa rin ang pag-iling niya sa akin. But no, I won't give up just because he don't want to include me.

Laban ko 'to e at ako rin ang dapat na tumapos.

"Look, Alaric. You and Denver will protect me, right?"

Tumango siya. "We'll protect you but we'll not put you to danger."

Umiling ako. "That would be difficult, kahit naman nasaan ako, sinusundan pa rin ako ng kapahamakan. So please, let's just end this. Nakakapagod na e."

Alaric sighed. Pareho naman kaming nabulabog nang marinig ang pagtunog ng telepono sa 'di kalayuan. Alaric immediately answered it.

"Hello."

"Yes, she want to do it."

"Hell, no!"

"Damn...what? I don't get fucking get it."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Is he talking to Denver?

Alaric closed his eyes tightly when the call ended, agad naman siyang lumapit sa akin.

"There will be an event tonight at an hotel in Pampanga. Denver already pulled some strings and deployed a message that you will be there later. So most probably, something will happen, or the culprit will show himself to you personally."

Tumango ako. "You'll go there with me?"

"Yes, we'll both go there with you. Hindi ka namin hahayaang mag-isa, Klio."

"Okay, then. I'll start preparing for later."

He nodded and turned his back ngunit may isa pa pala akong nakalimutang itanong sa kanya kaya muli ko siyang tinawag.

"Alaric."

He immediately turned his back to face. "Hmm?"

"Do you..." kinagat ko ang labi ko at agad ko namang napansin ang pagbaba ng tingin niya roon. "Uhm, do you already have a hunch kung sino ba talaga ang may gawa ng lahat?"

He sighed and gave me a sad smile. "I have, but I'm still hoping that he's not, because it's gonna be hard to accept, Klio." Aniya at tuluyang nang umalis sa tapat ko.

What he answered bothered me almost the whole day, kahit no'ng papunta na sa party ay halos nasa isip ko pa rin iyon.

What we're going to do is kind of frigtening but we need to do it.

"Here, wear these." Alaric handed me an almost seemless earpiece at isang watch na katulad din ng binigay niya no'ng nakaraan. "I think you also gonna need this." He added and handed me a gun, an agad ko ring itinago sa ilalim ng gown ko.

"Thanks. Nasaan na nga pala si Denver?"

"He's already in the building, the security and my men are already on standby too."

Tumango ako. "Okay, then."

I was already oriented of the plan at ang tanging gagawin ko nalang ay magawa ito ng tama.

Nang makarating sa venue ay agad akong bumaba mula sa sasakyan, I also immediately saw Denver at agad akong naglakad palapit sa kanya.

"You ready?" He asked with his worried eyes.

Tumango ako at hinawakan ang kamay niya. "Yes, I am. Salamat nga pala."

He shook his head and gave me a smile. "Halika," aniya at hinila na ako papasok.

"Good luck, Klio. You can do it."

I got startled when I heard a voice inside my ear, nakasuot nga pala ako ng earpiece.

"Thanks, ingat ha." I uttered before averting my gaze to Denver.

Tumango siya sa akin at sabay na kaming naglakad papasok ng venue. People immediately greeted us at hindi naman nakalampas sa amin ang judgmental nilang mga tingin.

I just sighed and continued walking. I surveyed the hall after that, trying to find any traces pero wala naman akong nakita bukod sa ilang mga kakilala. As planned, Denver and I parted ways after that, I tried talking to some people at nang magsawa ay bumalik sa table.

"Klio."

When I looked up, agad akong sinalubong ng nakangiting mukha ni Denver habang nakalahad ang kamay sa akin.

Ngumiti ako at tinanggap iyon. We then moved to the dance floor and started dancing to the rhythm of the music.

"Alam mo ba kung ano ang first impression ko sayo?" He chuckled.

Umiling naman ako. "Bakit? Ano ba?"

"Suplada, mataray, maarte, masama ang ugali," sunod-sunod niyang banggit na ikinasama ng tingin ko.

"You're so bad!"

He laughed. "Una lang naman iyon e. Kasi habang tumatagal, mas lalo kong nakikita kung gaano ka kabuting tao kahit na ang hirap ng pinagdadaanan mo. I've seen you struggle, I've seen you cried, but you still didn't give up. And that's what made me admire you."

"Hoy, bakit ka ganyan?" I asked and chuckled.

"Hayaan mo na, gusto ko lang talagang sabihin sayo, kasi baka hindi ko na masabi e."

Agad ko siyang sinamaan ng tingin. "Gago ka! Huwag kang ganyan! Pinapakaba mo 'ko!"

"Don't be, we're gonna protect you. Ngayong gabi, gusto kong bumawi sa mga pagkukulang ko sayo, sa mga kapalpakan ko." He paused and sighed. "Muntik ka nang mapahamak no'ng mga nakaraang araw dahil sa mga pagkukulang ko that's why I want to make it right now." He smiled and pulled my waist closer.

"Denver," I uttered with my trembling lips.

"I also want to apologize for everything I did in the past. For being so competitive, manipulative, liar...and for hurting you." He smiled again and made me look at him. "I just wanted to be noticed and loved by you, and when we got married, naramdaman ko namang mahal mo 'ko, Klio. That made me feel so happy."

He stopped dancing and held my hand.

"But true love cannot be forced, Klio. Because if you forced it, that's not love." He continued and held my face with his right hand. "Be happy, Klio. Be with someone you truly love. Alaric's a good man and all his efforts through the years just proved how great his love for you is. He deserves you and you deserve each other."

"Denver," I uttered and a tear fell from my eyes.

"Ssshhh, don't cry." Aniya at lumapit para halikan ang butil ng luhang tumulo mula sa mata ko. "Everything will be fine, Klio."

I don't know why, I wanted to cry more.

"I guess it's time." He smiled again and let go of my hand. "Let's do this right now. Best of luck." Aniya.

Another tear fell from my eye at agad ko itong pinunasan bago ako tumalikod sa kanya. Mabilis akong naglakad papuntang hallway just like what stated in the plan.

"On the way," I uttered as I saw the balcony, kung saan walang tao.

My heart was beating fast because of nervousness as I leaned on the railings.

"Be tough, Klio. He'll be here soon." I repeatedly whispered to myself.

And they were right, seconds later, I heard a voice behind me and when I looked back, I immediately saw the smirking face of William Chavez.

So, it's him?

"Oh, hi." Aniya at lumapit sa akin.

"Hello," ngumiti rin ako pabalik.

"So you really came back, huh?" The side of his lips rose. "Kung ako sayo, hindi ko na ginawa 'yan."

"Bakit naman? E nandito nga ang may pakana ng lahat." I smirked.

He laughed like a madman. Tangina, adik ba 'to? Being a mastermind suits him but it still felt weird.

"Oh, that? I bet you still don't know about what really happened that night. I pity you but I think it's better that you don't know it because it will just make your heart shatter more, sweetie."

I clenched my fist.

"Oh, I like that expression." Aniya at mas lalong natawa. "Sabagay kahit ako naman magagalit e. Imagine, nadiin ka kahit hindi na hindi naman ikaw ang may gawa. Ang bobo nga nila, hindi nila alam ang nangyari, pero ako... alam ko kung ano ang totoong nangyari. Nando'n ako e, I even got a taste." He laughed again and I almost got the gun underneath my gown because of what he said.

Tangina... is he the one who sexually harrassed me?

"Just a taste!" He laughed again. "Iyong matandang 'yon kasi ang damot! Tangina, lakas pala ng pagnanasa sayo!" He continued which made me furrow my brows.

"What are you talking about? Sino ang kasama mo?"

Hindi ko na napigilan ang galit ko at nilapitan siya't hinatak ang kwelyo.

"Fucking tell me, Chavez! Or I'll fucking kill you!"

He laughed again. "That's quite scary but I'm not the real enemy here, Klio. Sa katunayan, I'm doing you a favor by coming here." He winked and pushed me at agad naman akong tumama sa railings.

I immediately heard Denver and Alaric's voice inside my ear but I didn't have time to comprehend them.

"You were about to escape that night, right?" He smirked and squatted in front of me. "That old man learned about that and sent me there to stop you before you go out, ang galing ko nga nagawa ko! And because I'm lusting so hard for you, I stripped your clothes, injected a sedative on you, and tasted you a bit. Kaso dumating ang kapatid mong isturbo at gustong mag-ala superhero kaya ayon hinampas ko ang ulo, pero oy, buhay pa! Nawalan lang ng malay!"

Nanghina ang katawan ko. Si Rachel? She came inside my room to save me?

"And that old man came, nakita niya ang ginawa ko at sinapak ako. Akala ko pa man din ililigtas ka, kaso ang gusto pala ay siya na ang makatikim. So he started doing what I did. He tasted every inch of your body but before he could penetrate you, your dumb sister did a fucking stupid stunt to save you. She snatched the knife from me and attempted to stab me and that old man, but she failed miserably. Siya pa ang nasaksak ng matanda. Medyo nagulat naman ako kasi syempre fiance ko, maganda, at magaling din naman sa kama, kaya..."

I couldn't take it anymore. Before he could mutter another word to disrespect my sister, I already shot his arm.

"Damn, feisty." Aniya habang sapo ang tama. "You shot me, huh? Paano ba 'yan? Hindi ko na sasabihin kung sino ang matandang iyon."

I shot him again at galit na galit ko siyang itinulak sa sahig.

"Tangina, sabihin mo..." I angrily uttered and pointed the gun to his temple.

He smirked. "There's no need, Klio. Because he's already here." Aniya at tumingin sa likod ko.

And when I turned my back, I couldn't believe who I just saw.

"Ninong Larry?"