TRINITY

I can't imagine that someone will betray me. But I didn't expect that in everyone in this world, siya pa ang magloloko at pinaglalaruan kami.

"Tangina..." Bulong ko at tumakbo palabas ng restroom. Napaurong lahat nang makita ko na hawak ni Lilith ang cloak na suot-suot ni Scorpion nang ihulog niya ang isang lalake mula sa rooftop ng building two.

"Trinity!" She shouted. Hindi ako lumingon at patakbong lumapit sa kinaroroonan nila Huzein.

"Why? What happened?" Tanong ni Huzein nang makarating ako. I didn't waste my time, kinuha ko ang kutsilyo sa kabilang table.

"Oh, Lilith? Nakasalubong mo ba si Trinity? Ba't gano'n siya umakto—HOY HOY!" sigaw ni Alliana.

I lock her head using my left arm and the other one is holding a knife. Nakatutok ito sa leeg niya. Lahat na nasa cafeteria ay napatayo dahil sa gulat. Watch me, guys.

"Trinity!" Huzein shouted. Maging sila ay napatayo dahil sa gulat. Maging ang iba ay sumigaw na din peri napahinto ito nang marinig ang mahinang tawa ni Lilith.

"Do it," Lilith said and laughed. "Trinity Morgan, don't point the knife on me if you can't kill me."

"What if I do it?" I whispered to her eyes. Binaon ko ng kaunti ang kutsilyo sa lalamunan niya. Lahat sila ay napasinghap dahil doon.

"Wala ka na ding pinagkaiba sa kan'ya..." She alsow whispered. "Look at you, galit ka sa pumatay sa kapatid mo but you're also a murderer. I hate to say this but you deserve the pain you're feeling right now."

Nabitawan ko si Lilith nang may humila sa akin. Ang pang-upo ko ay sumalampak sa sahig. But now, I'm not holding the knife. Unti-unti kong inangat ang tingin ko para makita kung sino ang nagtulak. I expect that he will do this but still disappoints me. It's Lucien.

"Are you okay?" He asked to Lilith. Hinagot pa niya ang buhok nito ngunit inalis ni Lithuania ang kaniyang kamay.

I stood up and composed myself. I just found myself running away. Dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa garden ng school. Kung dati ay maaliwalas ito, ngayon ay parang wala nang buhay ang mga halaman. Kung baga, parang bakanteng lote na ito.

Umupo ako sa isang malaking bato at doon umiyak. I swear, I don't easily cry like that. I'm not a crybaby way back then but look at me now, crying just for a little things I've done. Did I regret what I did? No. Probably not.

Napahinto ako nang maramdaman na may yumakap sa likod ko at isinandal niya ang kaniyang ulo sa balikat ko. His familiar scent that's my comfort when I'm mad. His only tight hug can tame me, can make my soul at peace.

"I'm sorry, I should've been let him to hurt you like that. I should stick with you all around. Masyado akong naging kampante sa kaniya, my fist wants to punch him." Sabi niya at mas lalo niyang hinigpitan.

I'm not crying because of that. I'm crying because he made me felt I was capable of falling in love. Like love is for everyone. He changed my beliefs that romance was not for me. He painted my dull world and made it a colorful eye-catching one. I'm slowly accepting the fact that I like him. After what he did... I felt like I crashed into pieces. The only light in my room turns off and everything went dark. Sometimes he acts like he's really into me but sometimes he does the opposite. He's... Confusing the hell out of me.

I cried softly. Isinandal naman ni Huzein ang aking ulo sa kaniyang dibdib at dahan-dahang hinagot 'yun. We keep silence until he speaks.

"Are you crying because of what he did?" He asked. Umiling ako but he's right, I still don't want to admit my feelings. I heard him chuckled. "You can lie to yourself but not me, not your bestfriend for years Trinity."

"Alam mo naman pala, ba't ka pa nagtatanong?" Inis na sabi ko at siniko siya. He just laughed.

"You never know how much you love someone until he breaks your heart..." Bulong niya habang nakatingin sa malayo. "I experienced it, to be honest."

"Who's the lucky girl?" Tanong ko. Huminto na ako sa pagkakaiyak at nakatingin din sa malayo habang nakasandal sa balikat niya.

"Hmm... I'll tell you once I'm ready," sabi niya. Marahan akong tumango at ipinikit ang mga mata. Pagkatapos kong umiyak, nakakaramdam agad ako ng antok.

"What're you doing here, motherfucker?" Madidiin na sabi ni Huzein. Agad akong napadilat at tinignan kung sino. Kakarating pa lang ni Kace, Alliana, Lilith and Lucifer. Galit na nakatingin si Huzein kay Lucifer. But the latter didn't care. Lucien is looking at me straight to my eyes, he looks so worried.

"It's her decision if she will believe or not," inis na sabi ni Lilith ngunit sinamaan lang siya ng tingin ni Lucien.

"Trinity, are you—" Lucien said but Huzein cut his words. Uh-oh, makakasaksi ata ako ng away ngayon. Popcorn, please!

"It's none of your business," sabi ni Huzein. Hinatak ni Huzein ang braso ko at itinayo. "She's not fine, for the meantime please distance yourself to her."

"But I want to—"

"Talking to you, seeing you or feeling your presence makes her feel the pain again. I won't seat here and do nothing about my girl. You hurt her once, you'll lose her forever." Huzein fired back.

"Huzein, she's the one who started this shit! If she waited my explanation and settle this in calm way, hindi sana magkakagulo," singit ni Lilith.

"That's not about it, Lilith." Huzein said. Napatingin ito sa akin, ang galit niyang mata ay unti-unting humupa hanggang sa maging normal ito. He smiled weakly. "Let's go? You need to rest for the meantime."

"Saan mo siya dadalhin, Huzein?" Tanong ni Kace.

"In my dorm, I think she can process everything there," Huzein said ngunit agad na tumutol si Alliana.

"Uh, I know you're protecting her, Huzein. But It's dangerous if you'll keep her there. Remember that she's the Scorpion's target. Anytime, pwede siyang pag-trip-an nito na hindi natin alam. Anyway, 'diba dapat lahat tayo nasa dorm ko?" Alliana stated.

I heard Huzein sighed. My eyes are still looking on the ground. I don't want to look up and looking to Lucien's eyes, I might drown again with that gray eyes.

"So, I'll bring her to Alliana's dorm," He paused and turn his gaze to Lucien. "Just don't talk to her."

"But—"

"Didn't we agreed that I will let you take care of her, do things which is my job, make her smile and everything... But once you hurt her, there's no way you can have her again."

That's the last words of Huzein to them. Agad niya na akong dinala sa dorm ni Alliana. Sinabi niya ding babantayan niya ako kung sakaling may mangyaring masama sa akin.

"Are you okay?" Huzein softly said. Nakaupo lamang ako sa kama at nakatulala sa bintana. I still can't process everything.

"I saw the cloak... In Lilith's hands." Panimula ko. My voice cracked a little bit. "Nakasuot din ng cloak ang naghulog kay Oliver Delgado. When I saw Lithuania holding a cloak in the restroom... I lost my mind."

I paused for a second. Nakita kong hinila niya ang isang upuan papalapit sa akin at doon siya umupo. "And then? You can tell me everything what's bothering you, you always have me."

"And then... The history. Kung ano nakita niyo na nagawa ko sa kaniya. Maybe... Kaya ko lang naman nagawa 'yon kasi gusto kong bigyan ng hustisya si Tiffany. Sino ba namang hindi magagalit 'diba? If I lose my mind... Baka napatay ko na siya." I said and wiped my tears. "She's right, wala na din akong pinagkaiba sa scorpion na 'yon."

I heard him sighed. He stood up and pulled me for a tight hug. "I understand you, pero Trinity... Sa kagustuhan mong mahuli 'yang scorpion, pati mga taong gustong tumulong sa'yo nasasaktan mo."

"Y-yeah... You're right, I'm such a mess..."

"No, you're not." He disagreed. "You're not a mess, okay? You're not."

After that I layed down in bed while Huzein is singing a song for me. The song is entitled Mirrors by Justine Timberlake.

"Aren't you somethin' to admire,
'Cause your shine is somethin' like a mirror
And I cant help but notice, you reflect in this heart of mine..."

Honestly, I'm grateful to have Huzein. He lessen the pain inside me, he's willing to listen to all my reasons without judging me. Because of his voice, I slowly felt sleepy until I fell asleep.

HUZEIN

Ten minutes after, she fell asleep. I stopped singing and look to her angelic face. She doesn't deserve this. She's too pure to deserve the pain she's suffering. As much as I can, I will protect her... Even if it can cost my life.

"Huzein," tawag nang kung sino sa pintuan. When I look at it, it was Kace together with Alliana, Lilith and Lucifer.

"Let's talk in the living room. Not here, she just fall asleep." Sabi ko at agad na tumayo. But before I take a step, binalingan ko ng tingin si Trinity at nilapitan ang kaniyang mukha para halikan ang kaniyang noo.

"Nakakabitter, jusmiyo..." Bulong ni Alliana. Kace and Lilith chuckled but Lucifer just stared at me. It's my time, Lucifer. I need to mark my territory.

Paikot kaming nakaupo sa sahig. Ipinakita sa'kin ni Lilith ang cloak. Tama si Trinity, parehas ito sa nakita namin. Agad kong binalingan ng tingin si Lilith. She stared at me with a "what?" Face.

"Are you also thinking that I'm that fucking scorpion, Huzein?" Sabi niya habang nakataas ang isang kilay. Ibinalik ko sa kaniya ang cloak at pinagkrus ang braso.

"Explain."

"I went to restroom, right? Lahat ng cubicle, naka-lock kahit walang tao. Iisang cubicle lang ang nakabukas, bandang dulo. Then I saw this shit," she said and pointed the cloak. "After doing my thing, I get that shit but I saw Trinity entering the restroom. I hide it behind my back because I know she will think I'm the murderer. She managed to see the cloak and look, muntikan pa kami magpatayan."

Napansin ko ang band aid na nasa lalamunan ni Lilith. D'yan siguro tumama ang kutsilyo na hawak ni Trinity kanina.

"I'm still doubting..." Bulong ko habang hindi inaalis ang tingin kay Lilith. "Maybe is that your alibi."

Napatayo ito dahil sa sinabi ko. "It's my what? Alibi? Seriously Huzein. Just to remind you that you and Trinity reach out to me just to come up with this team. And now you're doubting me? So what's the point of this teaming up if one of us is the impostor? Gosh."

Agad akong napapikit. She's right, she has a point. I will believe her this time but if Trinity's safety gets involve, I'll kill her.

Napalingon kami nang bumukas ang pintuan.  It's Valerie. Hinihingal pa ito at gulo-gulo ang buhok niya.

"I... I cant take it anymore," Sabi niya at pumasok. Agad niya ding sinara ang pintuan. Lahat kami ay naalerto at nagsitayuan. "Chill guys, I'm not here to murder you all."

"Then what's with the surprise visit?" Lilith asked. Nang magtama ang paningin ni Val at Lilith, agad itong umiwas. Kita ko ang pagnginig ng kaniyang mga kamay. Yea, kung hindi ka sanay sa presence ni Lilith gan'yan mangyayari sa'yo.

"Aizel said... Hindi si Lilith ang nakita niya," sabi nito at tumingin sa akin. "I also can't believe of what she said to me. For how many years—"

"Just straight to the point, Valerie." Putol ni Lucifer.

"W-wait lang, patapusin mo muna ako!" Sabi niya at umiwas ng tingin kay Lucifer. Nag-umpisa na ding manginig ang kaniyang tuhod. Muli siyang tumingin sa akin, "be aware... Maybe the one you've protecting all the time is the one who started the chaos."

"What do you mean?" Alliana asked.

"Aizel said, the scorpion is a woman... A unexpected woman," she said and sighed. "Think whatever you want, I will believe in Aizel's words."

"Sabihin mo na tangina nagpapaligoy-ligoy ka pa," Kace commented.

"Aizel's description is a woman with a short hair, a fine nose, a seductive lips, perfect for short," she said. "And the woman is no other than—"

"Anong meron?"

Lahat kami ay napatingin sa pintuan ng kwarto. It's Trinity. Kinukusot-kusot pa nito ang kaniyang mga mata, halatang kagigising lang.

"I woke up when someone shouted, are you guys fighting?" She asked. Nanlaki ang mga mata nito nang makita si Valerie, "Valerie!" She exclaimed. Akmang lalapitan niya si Valerie nang tumakbo ito at binuksan ang pintuan. Dali-dali itong umalis ng dorm na hindi man lang nag-abalang isara ang pintuan.

"What the fuck..." Bulong niya at bumaling sa amin. "Naistorbo ko ba kayo? I'll go to the bedroom then." Akmang papasok na ito nang pigilan ni Lucifer. Takha itong tumingin sa kaniya but she managed to have a fierce face.

"Let's talk," sabi ni Lucifer. "Not here."

"And if I don't agree?" Trinity said.

"The only choices are agree or agree."

Agad na hinatak ni Lucifer si Trinity. Kitang-kita na pumapalag si Trinity ngunit wala siyang magawa. I want to stop them but I think it's the right time to tell Trinity everything.

Nang maisara na ni Lucifer ang pintuan, nagkatinginan kaming apat.

"So what're we gonna do with the knew information?" Lilith started.

"Investigate Trinity kaya?" Alliana suggested. Agad akong umiling.

"Kasama niya tayo everytime, hindi ako maniniwalang siya 'yon." I said. Lilith chuckled.

"Love is blind, isn't?" Sabi niya.

"Interview-hin kaya natin lahat ng naging biktima?" Kace suggested. Bahagya akong tumango, maging si Alliana din ay sumang-ayon. Tanging si Lilith lang ang hindi.

"Are you going to tell them how they describe the Scorpion?" Lilith asked. Tumango si Kace. Lilith chuckled. "As if they will tell the truth."

"What do you mean?"

Tumayo si Lilith at sumandal sa pader. Kumuha ito ng lollipop sa kaniyang bulsa at binuksan 'yon.

"Buti hindi ka nagkakaroon ng cavities n'yan?" Alliana commented.

"It's none of your business," Lilith fired back. "Anyway, can't you see? Are you that dumb?"

"Just be straight to the point, Lithuania." I said and yawned.

"Scorpion is framing us up." Sabi niya. Lahat kami ay nagulat. Napataas naman ang kilay ni Alliana. "What? Do I have to explain it why, grade twelve students?"

"You're talking like you're not a grade twelve student also," Kace fired her.

"Yeah, but my mind is in grade twelve level. What about yours?" She also fired back.

"Just explain it how."

She cleared her throat. "The first one is Kace. Nang mawala ang victim na pinuntahan ni Trinity, nakita niya si Kace sa hagdanan and she assumed that Kace is the murderer."

"Yeah, I remembered that. Actually that's the time I stole her first kiss." Kace proudly said.

"You—WHAT?!* I exclaimed. He laughed. "How could you, Kace Eliel Escarra?!"

"Well."

"Enough," singit ni Lilith. "The second one is Alliana. Naisip agad ni Trinity na ikaw dahil isa ka sa pwedeng magbukas ng bawat room sa buong Heilianthus University. Remember when she gave you a solid slap?"

"Ah, that? Naiiyak ako kapag naalala ko kasi ang sakit niya manampal. Literal." Alliana said.

"The next is me, she framed me up that it's me, the owner of this motherfucking cloak." Sabi niya at binato ang cloak sa amin. "Honestly, I'm amazed by her bravery. I liker her—"

"GOSH ARE YOU A LESBIAN?!" Alliana exclaimed.

"I liker her for my brother." Sabi niya. Lahat kami ay nakatingin sa kaniya na nagtataka.

"Who's your brother?" Kace asked. Same question, Kace.

"Lucien Feirro Hart or known as Lucifer," she answered and smirked at us. Binuksan niya ang pintuan at lumabas. Leaving us shock.

Gaya nang napagkasunduan namin, susubukan naming kausapin ang mga naging biktima. I believe there's fifty percent chance na magsasabi sila ng totoo.

"Look, sila ba 'yon?" Alliana said and pointed the two people talking in the garden. Kahit nasa malayo, kilalang-kilala ko ito. It's Trinity and Lucifer.

"Huzein, okay lang 'yan!" Tukso ni Kace.

Ano bang pinag-uusapan nila? Is Lucifer making a move again? Umiling ako and I shrugged off this idea.

TRINITY

For the nth time, I yawned. It's now passed 5 five o'clock in the afternoon and the sun is setting. Nagising lang ako sa ingay, dapat hindi na ako bumangon para tulog pa din ako hanggang ngayon. Darn it.

"So anong pag-uusapan natin?" I asked.

"I'll give you five minutes to ask me everything you want to ask, just fire away and I'll answer it honestly." He said.

"And how can I be sure that you're saying the truth and nothing but the truth?"

He chuckled. "I'm not gonna lie when it comes to you, Trinity."

"Okay then, let's start?" Sabi ko. He nodded.

"Let's start with this question, who are you?" 

He sighed. "Talagang hindi mo ba ako naalala? Kahit sa suot mong necklace?"

"I really have no idea what the heck you're talking about," I said.

"How about this?"

Nagulat ako nang may inilabas siyang salamin sa mata mula sa kaniyang bulsa. Ang nakaayos na buhok ay ginulo niya at ngumiti ng bahagya. "There, do you remember me now?"

"Wait... You're the guy who's giving me a love letter back then?" Sabi ko. He nodded.

"That necklace..." Sabi niya habang nakatingin dito. "I gave it to Huzein, sinabi ko sa kaniya na ibigay sa'yo. Yea, he did but you didn't know that your necklace is belongs to me."

Napatingin ako sa pendant nito. Ang pendant ng necklace ay heartbeat. Honestly, hindi ako mahilig sa necklace until Huzein gave me this one. Akala ko kay Huzein galing, all this time it's from him.

"When I saw you having a fight with one of the students when we're grade ten, there's an electrifying feeling inside me. It's rare, I never felt like this way. There's something to you that piqued my curiosity. It's like you're a mystery I want to unravel, a mathematical equation I want to solve, a theory I want to be proven. You made me feel that I am capable of falling in love. Even though we know that romance is not for us and it will never be."

I still can't process everything. What did he said? Suddenly, a song entitled Mirrors by Justine Timberlake played by the students nearby. Did he just—

"It's like you're the parallel of me, I admire you a lot. But maybe this..." He paused. Kinuha niya ang aking kamag at inilagay sa kaniyang dibdib. "Maybe this is not a admire anymore, maybe I..."

'Cause I don't wanna lose you now
I'm lookin' right at the other half of me
The vacancy that sat in my heart
Is a space, but now you're home

"Maybe you're?" I asked. Still dumbfounded.

"Trinity Morgan, this guy that's doesn't believe in romance is falling for you. What should I do?"