LITHUANIA

We just witness someone's dead and heard her last words before she passed away. The student council takes care of there lifeless body. I'm still wondering where do they put this bloody bodies?

The whispers from the students started while looking at Trinity who is shock. My attention diverted to someone who is now shouting to Trinity.

"Sabi ko sa inyo! She's playing the victim all along!" She shouted. I decided to get a lollipop from my pocket and remove the plastic.

I guess, the show starts here.

I heard everybody scream when Trinity throw a solid punch to the latter. Akmang pipigilan siya ni Huzein nang may pumigil din sa kaniya.

Napatingin sa akin si Huzein na nanghihingi ng tulong. I just nodded and walk towards them like a model. Lahat ng tingin nila ay nalipat sa akin. I stood up infront of this bitch and take out my lollipop.

"Accusing someone without evidence?" Marahan akong umiling, "that's a dumbest thing I ever heard in my entire life," I coldly stated. I saw her hands trembling. I smirked.

"B-baka magkasabwat kayo!" She stuttered. I chuckled and look to Trinity who's looking to that bitch like she's going to burry her alive.

"Let's go Trinity, wala kang mapapala d'yan," I said and turn around, start to walk away. Pero hindi ko naramdamang sumunod si Trinity.

Paglingon ko ay nakita ko siyang tumakbo palabas ng cafeteria. Her hands are on her face, pinupunasan ang mga luha. May nakita pa akong pumatak na luha galing sa kaniya sa sahig.

Nakita kong pumiglas si Huzein sa pagkakahawak sa kaniya ng isang lalake at sinundan din si Trinity. Sina Kace at Alliana naman ay inayos ang lahat at pinabalik sa kani-kanilang pwesto.

I sighed and decided to go outside. I need to do something. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa din nakikita ang CCTV footage na ikinabit namin. Kailangan ko ding pakinggan ang mga bugs nila. Just to make sure I'm not taking care of a snake in my fence. Kahit na sinabi kong pinlano ito lahat ni scorpion, hindi mo pa din maipagkakaila na baka may isa sa kanila na alagad din.

Pumunta ako sa girl's dormitory. I saw Trinity and Huzein talking in the garden. Mukha silang seryoso, paniguradong malala ang pinag-uusapan nila. Pero tinuro lang naman siya, hindi ba? Sinabi lang naman na siya si Scorpion, if you know yourself more than anyone else, dapat hindi ka affected.

I sighed and continue to walk. Inilabas ko ang susi at binuksan ang dorm ni Alliana. Agad akong pumunta sa kwarto at inilabas ang laptop.

I click some things and then it lead me to the CCTV cameras. I clicked the video noong midnight. Sa tingin ko, sa ganitong oras lumalabas ang murderer. They said, while the cat is away, the mice will play. But hell no, we're not the mice.

Isinandal ko ang likod ko sa dingding at pinagkrus ang braso. Tahimik ang hallway sa building Two, ito muna ang inuna ko dahil dito madalas nakikita ang bangkay. Pero wala naman akong napala matapos ang thirty minutes.

Akmang isasara ko na ang laptop nang may mapansing isang pigura. If I can remember, I saw this person. Unti-unti itong naglalakad papalapit sa CCTV camera. Paniguradong hindi niya ito mapapansin dahil tago ko itong nilagay.

Papalapit siya ng papalapit. Mas lalong naging klaro sa akin kung sino siya. Kahit na nakasuot siya ng cloak, hindi pa din maipagkakaila ang hourglass figure niya. It's the same cloak na nakita ko sa restroom.

"So it's her..." I whispered. "The Scorpion."

Nang makatapat ito sa camera ay napahinto ito at dahan-dahang ibinaling ang ulo sa CCTV. She's wearing a black face mask. Pero kahit na nakasuot ito, halata ang kaniyang pagngiti.

Agad kong inilapit ang mukha ko at tinignan ng maigi. It can't be. Her eyes, her hourglass figure. The goddess like face. I blink twice and paused the video. Napahawak pa ako sa ulo ko dahil hindi ko ma-process agad ang nalaman ko.

No, it can't be.

"So the accusations are right all along..." Bulong ko. "Trinity is the Scorpion. The question is... How?"

______

TRINITY

Dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa school garden. Patuloy pa din ang pagtulo ng mga luha at panay din ang pagpunas ko. I sighed and look up in the dark sky.

"Trinity!"

Agad akong napalingon at nakita kong si Huzein na papalapit sa akin. Pinanood ko siya hanggang sa makarating siya sa harapan ko. I caught off guard when he pulled me for a tight hug.

The feeling inside me... It calms like how it used to be. Alam ko sa sarili ko na I'm completely in love with Lucien, pero ano ito?

I pushed him a little bit pero mas hinigpitan niya ang pagkakayakap. I sighed. Then my face turns to emotionless one and my tears starts to flow through my face.

Ramdam kong hinagod ni Huzein ang likod ko, "it's okay... It's gonna be okay..."

"No, it's not..." Bulong ko. "Siguro... Siguro palagi akong nilalapitan ng disgrasya? Look, lahat nalang ng mga namamatay, sa harapan ko nagaganap—"

"Shh," he interrupted. Humiwalay ito sa pagkakayakap at tinitigan ako mata sa mata, "it's not your fault, okay? It's not."

"But... But what if it's my fault? Baka ako nga ang punot-dulo ng lahat, kasalanan ko. Kasalanan ko kaya may namamatay, Huzein!"

"No, it's not your fault and it will never be!" He shouted. "You have nothing to do with this, okay?"

I look down, "they're right..."

"No, and they will never be right. I will prove them. WE will prove them," madiin niyang sabi. Inangat niya ang aking baba hanggang sa magtama ang paningin namin, "listen, if everybody thinks you're the mastermind. I won't and I will never. You always got me, okay? You will never walk alone here."

I slightly open my mouth but no words come out. He look at me softly.

"Even if the world is against you, I will be there for you. It's us against this shit, okay?" Sabi niya. I slowly nodded. "You look exhausted, let's go to Alliana's dorm?"

I nodded. Nauna na itong maglakad sa akin ngunit napahinto ito nang magsalita ako.

"Thank you, Huzein. Your words and presence means a lot to me," I sincerely said. I heard him chuckled. Humarap ito at lumapit sa akin. Nagulat ako nang akbayan niya ako.

"Remember that I'll be there for you anytime, anywhere," he answered, "Trivago."

We both laughed kahit it's not really a joke. It's a slogan from the airlines. Maya-maya ay nakarating na kami sa dorm ngunit wala doon si Lilith. Agad akong humiga sa kama matapos maligo. Si Huzein naman ay nagpapatugtog habang nagbabasa ng libro.

My lips form a small smile, ngayon ko lang napagtantong ang swerte ko sa kaniya. Agad din akong nakaramdam ng antok.

______

HUZEIN

"I mean, Lilith. Paano?"

"Accusations ba ito?"

"Listen guys, I have a powerful evidence." I heard Lilith said. Agad kong binalingan si Trinity na mahimbing ang pagkakatulog. The door opens, revealing Lilith, Kace and Alliana. It's now passed six o'clock in the afternoon.

"What accusations?" Tanong ko. Ang tatlo naman ay nagulat.

"Uh, akala ko natutulog ka?" Alliana asked.

"As you can see, we're talking and I'm not snoring," sagot ko at tumingin kay Lilith. "Mind to explain?"

Lithuania sighed. "Let's go to the rooftop."

"What?! I can't leave Trinity alone!" Tutol ko. She sighed.

"Join us if you want to know who the fuck we're talking about or stay here and be a dickhead. You choose," she said. Kinuha niya ang kaniyang laptop at phone.

I sighed, "but how about—"

"If you are worried about Trinity, there's a five CCTV cameras that are hidden, a four bugs in every corner of this room and there's a mini microphone in Trinity's necklace. Just saying, baka kasi puro ka dada at hindi mo alam," she interrupted.

I sighed. Inilapag ko ang hawak kong libro at pumilas ng sticky note para magsulat ngunit agad na umangal si Kace.

"P're, mas maganda kung 'wag ka na magpaalam sa kan'ya. Babalik din naman tayo agad," Kace said.

"What's with your actions, guys? Is there something wrong?" I asked.

"THERE IS something wrong, Huzein." Lilith answered. "If you know what is it, then let's go to the rooftop."

Agad itong tumalikod at lumabas ng dorm bitbit ang kaniyang laptop at phone. Sumunod naman ang dalawa sa kaniya. Kace look at me and nodded. I sighed. Bumaling ako kay Trinity na mahimbing pa din ang tulog.

Are they doubting her? But why? Akala ko ba klaro na sa lahat na plano ito ng scorpion para sirain kami?

Lumapit ako sa kaniyang pwesto. I lead towards her and kiss her forehead. Itinapat ko sa kaniyang tainga ang bibig ko at may ibinulong.

"I'll be right back..."

Matapos ay sumunod na din ako kina Lithuania sa rooftop. Pagdating ko ay seryoso silang nag-uusap at nakikinig.

"Sit here," utos ni Lilith. Ipinapaupo niya ako sa tapat niya. Magkatabi si Alliana at Lilith habang katapat naman ni Alliana si Kace. I sat down beside Kace and look at them.

"So, mind if you spill the tea?"

Kace chuckled. "What's with the rush, Huzein? Hindi naman mamamatay si Trinity kahit iwan mo siya doon."

Agad na napakunod ang noo ko dahil sa narinig. "What're you talking about? Look guys, walang nagbabantay sa kaniya doon kasi—"

"Hindi siya mamamatay dahil siya naman si Scorpion." Putol ni Alliana. Agad na napatikom ang bibig ko at gulat na tumingin sa kanila.

"I knew it." I answered and click my tongue. "Didn't we talk about this na hindi na natin pagdududahan ang isa't isa? How can we make a team work here if every moves we made, dudang-duda kayo? Ang lala naman ng trust issues niyo guys."

"I'm expecting this reaction of yours but you need to believe us," Lilith said. Iniharap niya sa akin ang laptop.  Nanlaki pa ang mga mata ko nang makita kung sino ang babaeng nasa likod ng cloak.

She really looks like... Trinity. Exactly Trinity. How she grins, ang kaniyang buhok na hanggang balikat at may kaunting bangs pati din ang kaniyang katawan. Siyang-siya.

"I arrived in the hypothesis that it's Tiffany Morgan playing us," Lilith said. "Medyo suspicious dahil siya ang naunang victim. But why? Dahil sa boto na inakala natin na kung sino ang mananalo, siya ang hindi mamatay and the rest ay magiging malamig na bangkay? O dahil manipulated ang result para maalis agad siya and siya ang scorpion?"

"But how will you explain her cold body that we found in laboratory room?" Muli kong tanong.

"Simple, hindi mo ba alam na nawala ang hospital records, her body at so on na kailangan para sa kaso? Pati din ang mga pulis na nagsiyasat sa katawan niya, naging bangkay na din. So, sino ang maaaring gumawa nito?"

"You're out of your mind, Lithuania." Sabi ko at tumayo. "How will you explain the cloak thing? Paano niya nagagawang pumatay habang kasama tayo?"

Nakita kong kumuha ito ng lollipop sa kaniyang bulsa at binuksan 'yon, "obviously, may kasama siya. At baka ikaw din? We never know unless we want to dig it deeper."

"What the fuck? Me? After accusing Trinity, ako din?" Galit na sabi ko at napahilamos. "I'm going back to Trinity. Discuss what you want to discuss, kung false accusations lang naman wala na akong pakialam."

Ilang hakbang palang ang nagagawa ko ay muli akong napahinto nang magsalita si Lilith.

"Tsk, tsk. Love is blind, isn't? But what about this evidence," Lilith said. Agad akong lumingon at tinignan sila.

From Lilith's pocket, inilabas niya ang naka-plastic na phone na halatang galing kay...

"It's Tiffany's phone..." Bulong ko. Maging sina Alliana at Kace ay nagulat ngunit hindi ito nagsalita.

"Exactly," sabi nito. "I tried to trace it and I attempt to call it until a while ago. While the four of you are away, nasa dorm ako and I tried again and again. The phone rings inside our dorm at nakalagay sa bag ni Trinity. So, explain it. Why?"

I gulped. "I-its only a set up! I won't believe at you, Lilith!"

She laughed. "Then be blind because of that stupid love of yours."

"Just accept the fact that Trinity is the real murderer here, bro, so we can make a step on how to drown her," Kace stepped in.

"Huzein, in this situation, love or justice, anong pipiliin mo? Magmahal ng kriminal o bigyan ng hustisya ang namatay na tao?" Alliana asked.

Bumaling naman ang tingin ko kay Lilith na hinihintay ang sagot ko. Her cold gray eyes demands me to obey her. But my inner voice says no.

I sighed. "So, what if I agreed, anong plano ang gagawin natin?"

I heard the two saying yes ngunit napakunot naman ang noo ni Lilith.

"I won't risk everything I planned just for your "What if", Mr. Adriatico." She answered. "It's only a yes or no, honey."

I gulped. If I say yes, what will happen? If I say no, what will also happen? I sighed. Indeed, it's hard to pick between love and justice.

For the nth time, I sighed. "Yes, I agreed. "

Ang dalawa ay napahiyaw at nag-apiran pa. I saw Lilith smirked.

"So what's the plan?"

Umayos ng pagkakaupo si Lithuania habang nakatingin pa din sa akin. Hindi mawala ang ngisi sa kaniyang mga labi.

"We need to eliminate her."

Pinag-usapan namin kung paanong plano mga kilos na ipaplano namin. I saw Kace's face looks different. Kapag nakikita mo ito ay palaging bright ngunit ngayon ay walang kaemo-emosyon.

"That's all for today," Lilith said at tumingin sa kaniyang phone. "It's almost seven o'clock in the evening, let's get back before Trinity woke up—"

Just then, the door in rooftop opens. Revealing Trinity's figure. She's with her usual emotionless face at nakayukom ang kaniyang kamao.

"Am I late?" She coldly asked.

We all caught off guard. Trinity just form a small smile while looking at us one by one. And when our eyes met, I saw nothing but pain. Did she heard everything we discussed?

"Looks like y'all are ready to leaving, I guess I just arrive on time." She added.

We heard Lilith let out a fake cough, "cut the crap, scorpion. What do you want?"

"Arriving with that conclusion without knowing someone's side? Uh-oh, It's not what I imagined in Lilith," she answered.

"There are proofs for that accusation, Trinity," Kace said.

"Yeah, I heard everything," sabi niya at humikab pa. Dinig ko ang pagmura ni Alliana dahil sa sinabi nito. Hindi ko man lang maigalaw ang sarili ko na para bang nabuhusan ako ng tubig.

"H-how?" Alliana asked.

Trinity chuckled, "alam niyo bang ako ang gumawa ng mini microphones niyo at hindi lang sa laptop ni Lithuania naka-connect 'yan? Pati din sa phone ko, fyi."

"What the fuck..." Bulong ni Lilith but she managed to composed herself.

"Wait, let me play it." She said. Inilabas niya ang kaniyang phone at may pinindot dito.

"Trinity is the Scorpion." It's Lilith's voice.

"I mean, Lilith. Paano?"  Alliana asked.

"Accusations ba ito?"  Kace.

"Listen guys, I have a powerful evidence."

"Wait nga, fast forward natin," Trinity said. May pinindot muli ito dito.

"I won't risk everything I planned just for your "What if", Mr. Adriatico." She answered. "It's only a yes or no, honey."

"Yes, I agreed. "

"So what's the plan?"

"We need to eliminate her."

Matapos nito ay mula sa likuran ni Trinity ay may inilabas itong kutsilyo at ibinato malapit sa amin. Muntikan na itong tumama kay Lilith.

"Kill me now." She demanded. Ngunit walang kumilos sa amin, "oh? Ano nga ulit plano niyo? Lasunin ako? Go on, I'm giving you a permission to kill me now. Look oh, binigyan ko pa kayo ng weapon. All you have to do is kill me and you're done."

I gulped. I'm trying to be soft as possible, "Trinity—"

"Oh, shut up Huzein Reiss Adriatico. Do you want me to repeat what did you said? "listen, if everybody thinks you're the mastermind. I won't and I will never. You always got me, okay? You will never walk alone here."  and "Even if the world is against you, I will be there for you. It's us against this shit, okay?" you should've told me that you have a blood of Clown that's running in your veins."

I stunned. She look hurt, she sounded hurt. It's all my fault. I smiled weakly, wala na ba akong maitutulong sa kaniya? She really needs Lucifer more than me.

"Ngayon lang ako naniwala sa sinabi nila na "it's not the backstab hurts, it's when you know who's that person stabbing you from behind," and guess what? They're my friends."

She yawned. "I'll give you two options, kill me or I'll kill myself."

"TRINITY!" Me and Alliana shouted.

"What?" She innocently asked. Tumingala pa ito sa langit, I saw tears coming from her eyes. "I want to be with him, bakit hindi nalang 'diba? Killing me is the best opportunity you can give to me. At least, makakasama ko na siya. It matters to me."

"Ayaw niyo ba? Okay, ako nalang gagawa," she added. Nagulat kami nang may ilabas itong kutsilyo mula sa kaniyang likod at gumawa ng hiwa sa kaniyang braso. Mabilis kaming kumilos, nakuha ni Lilith ang kutsilyo ngunit dumudugo na ang kaniyang braso.

"Fuck," daing ni Trinity habang nakatingin sa braso niya. Akmang lalapitan ko ito nang titigan niya ako ng masama. Bumaling siya kay Kace, Alliana at Lilith bago tumalikod at bumaba.

Agad na kumilos ang mga paa ko na sundan siya. I heard Lilith scream "don't" but I won't let her to do that again. Malay ba nating ulitin niya?

I bowed to protect Trinity at all cost to her parents but look at us now. Bakit ko nagawa 'yon? Why am I so stupid? Damn it, Huzein.

I saw her heading to the garden. Agad din akong pumunta doon at naabutan siyang nakatingin sa kalangitan habang unan-unan ang isang braso under the Narra tree.

"Stop right there," she said when I was three steps away from her. "What're you doing here, you should join them and plan to kill me."

"I'm here for you, Trinity..." I said as soft as possible.

"Cut the crap, Huzein. I don't need you. I will never need you." Kalmado niyang sabi habang nakatingin pa din sa kalawakan.

"I know."

"You know? Then leave," she commanded.

"I won't."

"Bakit ba ang tigas ng ulo mo?" Inis niyang sabi at sinamaan ako ng tingin. Unti-unti akong lumapit. "I said, stay where you are!"

"I won't."

"Fuck it, Huzein. Leave me alone!" Sigaw niya at tumayo. I grab her wrist before she can move. "What the hell do you want?"

"You. I want you." I said smoothly while looking deeply to her eyes but all I can see is pain. "I know it's a wrong time to confess but I want you to know that I'm in—"

She laughed like I just cracked a joke, "in love with me, you mean? Then bakit ka pumayag sa gusto nila? I know you defended my name but pumayag ka sa huli, it's the end that matters."

She aggressively pulled her wrist out of my hand, "gan'yan ba ang pagmamahal? Kung gan'yan ka lang din naman magmahal, sa'yo na 'yan."

Pinagpag niya ang kaniyang suot at muling bumaling sa akin, "I don't need your love. Besides, someone owns my heart." Unti-unti itong inilapit ang mukha sa tainga ko at may ibinulong. "And whatever you do, you can't replace that someone."

Tumalikod na ito at nagsimulang maglakad palayo. I painfully smiled while watching her walking far away from me, from my reach.

This is the moment I knew that I can't replace Lucien to her life.