•••••Raven's POV•••••

It has already been two days since I ran away from home and started living in Taylor's Family resthouse. Maura's room was right across mine and she was probably drooling without a doubt.

The clock in my room chimed 2:00 a.m and I was still wide awake. I just simply could not find the urge to sleep. My mind was tired, but it did not want me to sleep.

I was just staring at the ceiling the whole damn time like I was a girl who was only a step closer to the land of insanity. I still have classes tomorrow so I definitely need sleep, even just for a bit.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" I sat on my bed and leaned my back against the headboard. I roamed my eyes around the room, hoping to find something to do but I found nothing. "Maura did let me sleep in a room full of books. But I am not in the mood to read."

Suddenly, my phone rang. I picked it up and I stared at it for a moment when I saw who was calling.

"Ethan." His name registered on my phone and I was reluctant to answer it.

Probably he was bored. Or just in case I go back, at least he could let me know that he was on a business trip or something like that.

I did not answer his call and just let it be. He missed a call twice and never called me again, which was for the best because he was just wasting his time.

Ilalagay ko na sana ulit ang phone ko sa aking bedside table when it suddenly rang again. I started to feel irked.

When I looked at my phone, I was quite surprised when I realized that the name registered on my phone was someone else's.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Raisin. How are you?"

"It's 2:00 a.m. What do you want at this time, Blade?"

"Grabe ka naman, chillax! Nangangamusta lang yung tao, Raisin."

I just sighed and smiled because of his response.

"I told you not to call me that."

"Come on, please? Ang cute kasi, e. Raisin is cute, I mean it!" I heard him chortle on the other line. "Seriously, how are you? No matter how much I tried na bisitahin ka sa inyo, hindi talaga ako papapasukin ng kapatid mo. Pupuntahan sana kita kahapon pero may ginagawa kasi ako kaya hindi ako nakapunta."

Well, good thing na hindi ka pumunta. May ginawa rin naman ako.

"I am fine. It was not a big deal. Akala ko nga na galit ka, e."

"Bakit naman ako magagalit?"

"Because of how Ethan treated you. He has always been overprotective of me," Bumaba ako sa higaan at lumakad palapit sa bintana. Hinawi ko yung curtina para makita ko ng maayos ang bituin sa langit. "kaya ako na ang humihingi ng pasensya in his place."

"Wala kang dapat ihingi ng pasensya sa'kin, Raisin. Ako dapat ang humingi ng pasensya." He sighed on the other line. "When you fainted at the mall, I should've still gone with you even if your brother told me not to. Still, hindi kita dapat hinayaan. I'm really sorry."

I smiled when I heard him say that. It was just the typical Blade. We did not start off as friends, originally. I hate to admit it but as time goes on, we became really close to each other.

"You are an idiot, you know that? Stop saying nonsense such as apologizing to me when you have done nothing wrong."

"But─"

"When I say it is fine, it is fine. It means I can bear it. So, if I say that there is no need for you to apologize, then stop wasting your breath on it."

I heard a laugh on the other line. We may not be together right now, however, it really felt like he was just right beside me watching at the stars above.

"Fine, I'm convinced," he said. "You're watching at the stars tonight, aren't you?"

"How did you know?"

"Just a hunch."

There was a sudden silence on the other line. I waited for him to speak and while I was, I observed the stars one last time before deciding that I should really get some sleep.

"Blade?"

"Yeah?"

"I need to sleep. We still have classes. Talk to you tomorrow, I guess."

"Yeah, sure. Guess I'll just have to sleep also. Good night, Raisin."

"Likewise." I ended the call after that, closed the curtains, and went back to my bed.

My lampshade was on and I was about to turn it off when my phone throbbed in my hands. It was just a text message from Blade.

I had fun talking to you even just for a short while. I'm just so glad we could get to see the stars together. Good night, Raisin. See you tomorrow! Hope you'll be in a good mood.

Instead of getting offended by his last statement, I just chuckled. I put my phone on the table at humiga ulit sa kama. Unlike nung una, mabilis na akong nakatulog.

My mind was calm, somehow, as I slowly closed my eyes.

-----

"Good morning, Raven!" Maura greeted me with full of energy while preparing breakfast. "Umupo ka na at kakain na tayo."

I did what I was told and silently sat right across her. I was about to eat when I realized Maura was staring at me.

"What?" Kinakapakapa ko kaagad ang mukha ko. May dumi ba sa mukha ko?

"May mga eye bags ka. Hindi ka ba natulog kagabi?" Umupo na siya sa tapat ko pero hindi pa rin niya inaalis ang tingin niya sa akin.

"I slept late, okay? No need to look at me like that."

Magsasalita pa sana siya nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone naming dalawa. Nagkatinginan muna kami bago namin chineck ang phones namin.

It was Reo who sent us a message and Maura and I immediately checked it.

Good morning! Let's meet at the usual place. I've been given the permission to interrogate Manuel's brother, Benedict. DO NOT be late so we can interrogate him immediately. See you there.

"Speak for himself. Siya naman talaga ang palaging late sa ating apat," I heard Maura said. "Anyway, Raven, kakausapin na raw natin si Benedict. Do you think magsa-wait, ayos ka lang?"

I diverted my attention to Maura when she asked me that. My stare made her flinched for a moment.

"Raven, that look simply means that something's wrong. Ano bang problema?" I showed her the other text message that I just received, unlike from hers. "Holy shit."

Aside from Reo's message, I received another one from another person. I thought it might be odd for her to send me a message, but I think it was for the best. Quite risky, but probably worth the shot.

Ms. Saldoviana, it's me, Sunny Park. I have some information to share with you. Alam kong interesado ka sa impormasyon na ito kaya kung gusto mong malaman, magkita tayo sa school cafeteria after class. There will be no students in there after dismissal kaya wala nang iba pang makakarinig sa atin doon. I know you'll be having your friends with you pero if possible, si Ms. Taylor lang sana ang samahin mo since siya naman yung kasama mo nung nag-usap tayo sa restaurant. Sana pupunta ka. Be careful.

"Raven, pupunta ka ba?" I nodded. "But it could be a trap!"

"I know you are still cautious, Maura. Pero wala tayong choice. Gaya ng sabi ko, she is the only lead we have." I looked at her with a straight face. "We might as well take the chances."

She released a heavy sigh and said, "Fine, pero sasama pa rin ako sa'yo. Hindi kita hahayaan na pupunta do'n mag-isa."

-----

"Wait, you ran away from home?" Blade looked at me with a surprise look on his face.

"Oo nga sabi! Why are you so surprised?"

"How did your brother let you go ng ganun-ganun lang?" I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I already told Blade and Hades everything and the idiot Blade kept on asking me stupid questions.

"Whatever, Blade. Nakakapagod sagutin ang mga irrelevant questions mo."

"Paano naging irrelevant iyon?"

"Blade," Hades called him at napatawa lang si Maura sa gilid ko. "you do not want her to get mad, do you?"

"Oo pero-" He cut off his own sentence and ran his hands wildy through his hair. "Basta ang importante ay hindi ka na ulit kukulitin ng Ethan na iyon." Napatawa ulit si Maura dahil sa sinabi niya.

He was a complete idiot in and out. Although, I prefer him that way.

I also told Maura not to tell Hades, Blade, and Reo about Sunny Park yet. For sure if they know, they will be worried again and I do not want that.

Moreover, kanina pa kami dumating dito sa garden na usual meeting spot namin. Reo told as all via text message not to be late pero siya naman ngayon ang late. That mentor really needs to receive a piece of my mind.

"Anyway, where the hell is Sensei?" It was Maura who threw that question.

"That Reo really needs to get a piece of my mind," I said.

"Now, now. We know Sensei, he is always like this. We still have a lot of time kaya maghintay lang tayo." Hades leaned his back against the tree and closed his eyes, with hands in his pockets.

"Hades is right. May ginagawa pa kasi ako kaya wala kayong choice kundi hintayin ako." The voice came from our backs kaya napatingin kami sa aming likuran.

Our mentor was there, waving his hand at us like a complete idiot.

"Sensei, palagi naman talaga kayong may ginagawa, e," sabi ni Blade.

Tumawa lang siya kaya napabuntong-hininga na lang si Maura at Blade. I also felt Hades' presence right beside me.

"Anyway, I think we should interrogate Benedict right now. Marami pa tayong gustong malaman sa kanya," Reo said and placed his hands on his pockets. "and Raven, as much as possible, keep yourself away from him and just stay right behind us. Huwag kang masyadong lalapit sa kanya. He still hates all of us, lalong-lalo na ikaw. However, he's in his right mind right now kaya siguro ma-ko-control na niya ang temper niya."

"But just to be safe, right?" He nodded to me in a calm manner. "Okay, I will try my best."

"Then, it's settled. Let's go." He motioned to us to follow him and we did.

Every step we took was making my heart pound a little fast. I was not nervous at all. Although, it kind of looked like my heart was acting on its own. Siguro kinakabahan ang puso ko pero hindi ang utak ko.

In the amid of thinking about that, I suddenly recollected how hatred filled Benedict's eyes. You could not see anything else in it but sadness, loneliness, and most of all, anger. He truly loved his brother and yet I took him away from him.

Hindi naman ako nagsisi sa ginawa ko dahil siya ang unang nanakit sa amin. If I did not kill him, he would have killed all of us and other innocent people.

"Raven," I suddenly felt a cold hand on my shoulder that made me stopped walking. It was Hades who called. "we are here."

He pointed at the metal door with a rectangular peephole in front of Reo. Masyadong marami ang iniisip ko to the point na hindi ko na namalayan kung nasaan kami.

However, it looked like we were in an underground prison of Blandon High. It was kind of dark, but the torches on the wall were trying its best to give off light.

"Open the door, please." Tumango yung dalawang guards na nagbantay sa labas at binuksan yung pintoan.

Pumasok na kami nang pumasok si Reo. The cell was unlike what I was expecting. Malaki iyon, medjo dim at may isang kama lang at chair sa loob.

And the one who was sitting on the chair with chains on his hands and feet was none other than Benedict. Siguro, the only place na mapupuntahan niya ay ang kama niya. I bet he could not reach the door even because of the chains that were restraining him.

Reo stopped probably a meter away from him then gave me a meaningful look by his shoulder. I just nodded to him as a sign that I was just okay.

"Hello, Benedict. Kamusta ka na?"

"Seriously? Kinakamusta mo ako habang ako'y nagdudusa dito? You must be insane, Reo." Binigyan niya si Reo ng isang nakakamatay na tingin.

"We're just here to interrogate you, Benedict. Ayaw namin ng gulo."

He scoffed. "From the moment your beloved student stepped foot in me and Manuel's lives, ginulo na niya lahat."

Naramdaman ko ang pagiging alerto ng mga kaibigan ko sa gilid ko.

"Wala siyang ginawang masama. She just protected herself and us."

"Ipakita niyo siya sa'kin." Bahagya akong nagulat sa sinabi niya.

"I'm the one talking to you kaya ako ang kausapin ko."

"Kung hindi niyo siya ipapakita sa akin, hindi ko sasagutin ang mga tanong niyo."

I saw how Blade curved his fists into a tight ball.

"Walang hiyang gagong ito!"

"Blade, stop it!" Napatingin kaming lahat kay Blade nang susugurin na niya sana si Benedict. Luckily, my reflexes were fast at mabilis ko siyang napigilan. "I will talk to him."

"Pero, Rai─"

"Just trust me." I cupped his face using my hands. I managed to calm him down at hinawakan rin niya ang kamay ko.

I looked at Reo and my friends and nodded. Reo was hesitant, but he gave way for me to talk to Benedict. Pero ramdam na ramdam ko pa rin ang pagiging alerto nila.

I moved forward and that was how I saw Benedict's face clearly.

"Be careful," Reo whispered to me as I walked passed right him.

"You want something from me?"

"You can't bring me back what I want," Dahan-dahan siyang tumayo kaya mas laging naging alerto ang mga kasamahan ko. "Raven Saldoviana."

I flinched. The way he said my name was totally different and somehow... creepy.

"But you can do something that no one else can." Nagulat na naman ako sa sinabi niya.

Even if I was surprised, I tried myself not to stutter.

"Are you asking me to do something for you?" Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit pero he just took only two steps at hindi na siya masyadong makalapit sa akin.

The chains on his hands and feet were so thick at alam kong mahihirapan siyang sirain iyon.

"I am at kapag gagawin mo ang ipapagawa ko sa'yo, sasabihin ko sa'yo ang lahat ng nalalaman ko."

"You worked for the Kurodas and you are aware of what might happen to you."

"I have nothing else to lose." He smiled. It was literally the first time I saw him smile even though it was a blue smile. "So, tatanggapin mo ba ang alok ko sa'yo?"

"It depends. Ano ba ang gusto mong gawin ko?"

He chortled.

"Clever girl." He looked behind me. "What a clever girl you got here, eh?"

"Kaibigan namin siya. Of course, she's one of a kind." It was Blade who said that.

"Friends, huh? Any comments, Reo?"

"She is my student. She is the ace of my team." Napangiti na lang ako dahil sa sinabi nila.

I admit, I was flattered by their comments about me, especially the "ace" part.

"I see." He diverted his attention bacj to me and looked straight into my eyes. "Alam ko na kung ano ang ipapagawa ko sa'yo."

I battled against his stare and also looked directly into his eyes. He then plastered a smirk on his face.

"Bring me Angeleeka Buenavista's necklace."