｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. GUCCI

"We're going to vote for your most suspected killer," Crow said that made shivers run through my spine. "Huwag kayong mag-alala, the suspects will have a chance to defend themselves."

Zeus held my hand. Hindi ko magawang ngumiti sa kanya because, sa tinapang-tapang ko buong buhay ko, this was the only time I felt vulnerable.

Oh, oo nga pala. This was only one of the two times.

"At the count of three, ituro niyo ang sinususpect niyo." Tuturo ba ako? This feels so unfair. They're my friends.

"Three..." Lahat kami ay pumapalibot ang tingin sa isa't isa. We're all panicking.

"Two..." This time, kay kuya Ares na kami nakatingin. We need a leader now more than ever.

"One..." No one pointed.

Gusto kong mapangiti sa tiwala namin sa isa't isa, because our friendship seemed so lost since that happened.

"We're not voting," mariin na sinabi ni kuya Ares.

Makaraan ang ilang segundo, Zeus and kuya Hermés were screaming on the ground. Their bodies were shaking. They were being electrified!

It felt like something was clogging mg lungs. The asthma was kicking in again. Pero naka-focus lamang ako sa mga kaibigan kong naghihirap. Zeus was hurting.

Hahawakan ko sana ang kamay ni Zeus but he shoved his hand away. Kahit nanghihina siya, he was trying so hard to get away from me.

"Masasaktan... ka..." Parang hindi na makahinga si Zeus when he said that and I still had the audacity na kiligin.

"Boboto tayo! Tangina!" Hindi na rin mapalagay si kuya Apollo since his best friend, kuya Hermés, was suffering too. "Ares, sabihin mo boboto tayo!"

"H-huwag kayong bumoto!" Zeus blurted out.

"Fuck!" Napamura si ate Dior nang makita ang nangyayari. She was looking worriedly at kuya Hermés before turning to kuya Ares. "Bumoto na tayo please."

"Fuck you, Crow! Kapag nakita kita, trust me I will turn into a killer." Sumabog ang napakanipis na pasensya ko.

I saw kuya Ares glancing at ate Tiffany, nanghihingi siguro ng confirmation. Napabuntong-hininga si ate Tiffany before nodding. Ate Chanel and ate Prada also nodded at him.

"Crow, we'll vote." Nang masabi ni kuya Ares 'yun, the electrifying stopped.

Agad akong lumapit kay Zeus para yakapin siya. He was hurt before... Way too in pain. So why the fuck does he deserve to experience this now?

It's like killing him all over again.

"Are you okay?" He nodded as I let him bury his face on my chest. Just like me, he was rarely vulnerable. The last time I saw him vulnerable was when he was in a relationship with Yves.

I felt his tears.

"So, let's start again! Shall we?" Umiinit ang ulo ko sa bawat tawa ni Crow. Walang nakakatawa. Para kaming mga laruan dito na walang magawa kundi sumunod sa mga kalokohan niya.

"Three... two... one..." We were all now pointing someone else who will get hurt in place of us. If this isn't the cruelest thing you can do to a group of friends.

I felt so betrayed.

Ate Prada, ate Chanel, and kuya Hades were pointing at me. Kuya Ares was pointing at himself, kuya Hermés was pointing at kuya Ares too. Ate Tiffany was pointing at kuya Apollo. Me, ate Dior, and kuya Apollo were pointing at ate Prada. Zeus was pointing at kuya Hermés.

Tila bang hindi kami magkaibigan ngayon.

"Exactly what I expected!" Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Crow. What does he mean by that? "Now, the nominees, you will be given the floor to defend yourself. As for the others, feel free to ask them questions."

Why was he expecting? He knows that we will lie about the pictures and he used that to manipulate others in picking an innocent person. Fuck!

"Let's start with... Apollo!" Napayuko nalang si kuya Apollo. He was trying to avoid our gazes.

"Si Tiffany ang bumoto sa akin." Nagpakawala siya ng buntong-hininga bago umangat ang tingin. "Sige, magtanong na kayo."

The problem was... Hindi namin alam ang dahilan bakit binoto ni ate Tiffany si kuya Apollo. Paano namin siya tatanungin?

Ate Tiffany looked at kuya Ares and pointed at kuya Apollo's pockets. So, she saw something. Tumingin ako sa reaksyon ni kuya Apollo but he did not look fazed at all. As always, he was so chill about everything.

"Apollo, may I see?" Kuya Ares asked and stood up. Tumango si kuya Apollo and tumayo rin. All of us looked at them with worried expressions but one stood out to me.

That one looked at him with a different feeling.

Lumapit si kuya Ares sa kanya at saka kinapkap ang pockets nito, as well as his pants. Kuya Ares and kuya Apollo then walked back to their seats quietly.

"Walang naroon, love." Kuya Ares gave ate Tiffany a reassuring smile.

"I have a question." Nagtaas ng kamay si kuya Hermés. "The pictures were given as clues in relation to the murder. Since yours is a sex room, what is your connection to what happened to Yves and Achilles?"

Grabe, hindi ko 'yun naisip.

"Kailangan ba may connection ako?" Ngumisi si kuya Apollo, mukhang naiinis sa ginagawa ni kuya Hermés ngayon. After all, they were best friends. "Kung ganoon pala, edi lahat tayo rito pinatay sina Yves at Achi?"

It felt like we were pulling each other down. Napatingin ako kay Zeus... Would he betray me too?

"Baka sex room ang ginawang representation sa pagchuchukchakan nina Yves at Achi," singit ni kuya Hades. The term, ha. Tumango nalang si kuya Hermés at saka nanahimik na. Hindi ko alam ano ang iniisip niya.

Kuya Hermés was always hard to read.

"Next up is Hermés!" Maligayang sabi ni Crow pero mas mukhang nakita ko ang ligaya sa mukha ni kuya Apollo. Parang may maghihiganti.

"Mauna ako," sabi agad ni kuya Apollo. Sinasabi ko na nga ba. "Nakatira ka kasama nila pero bakit hindi mo man lang napansin na may namamagitan na?"

"I don't monitor their lives, Apollo," kalmadong sagot ni kuya Hermés.

"So, bakit sa'yo ang picture na may video recorder?" Tanong ko. None of this was clicking at all.

"You do know na pinagsamantalahan ako ni Yves, right?" Sagot niya sa akin then I heard a gasp from Zeus. Hindi niya ito ine-expect.

I knew all this time. All of us did except him.

"Baka naghihiganti ka sa kanila?" This time, it was ate Dior that asked. That was when kuya Hermés lost it.

I know that this question hits hard since the one asking him is the one he loves. Masakit siguro sa part niya na pinagbibintangan siya ng mahal niya.

"If I knew, I wouldn't tolerate." Mahina na ang boses ni kuya Hermés. "But I'm also not a petty person. Dior, I was beside you all these years. Why are you suddenly asking me as if you never knew me?"

"I don't know who to trust now," malamig na sagot ni ate Dior kaya napabuntong-hininga nalang si kuya Hermés.

"I trust you." His voice was low but audible enough for me to hear it.

Of course, love will make you stupid. Ang tali-talino niyang tao but he was willing to let his guard down for someone who did not love him back.

"That was... emotional. Next is Ares!" Nagsalita nanaman si fucking Crow.

"Why did you point at yourself?" Zeus asked this time.

"It was better for me to take the penalty kaysa kayo pa." Binigyan kami ng bahagyang ngiti ni kuya Ares. Ganyan naman siya lagi, he always puts everyone before himself.

He is so selfless.

"Then, bakit ka tinuro ni Hermés?" Tanong ulit ni Zeus.

"Your picture is the one with a boy and a girl. You said that was a date with Tiffany pero all those pictures are meant to be associated with the murder," paliwanag ni kuya Hermés. Kuya Ares sighed before clarifying himself.

"We were on a date nang nabalita sa amin ang nangyari kay Yves." Sagot nito. "The principal called us."

Alam niyo? Kuya Ares was never good at lying.

"Kasama ka namin sa bar," kuya Apollo concluded. "Nangyari 'yung murder bago pa nakarating si Tiffany sa atin. Nagsisinungaling ka, gago."

I heard gasps everywhere. Napaawang ang labi nina kuya Hades, ate Chanel, at Zeus. Magkakasama sila noon sa bar, as far as I could remember.

"Apollo," kuya Ares took a deep breath. "I did not say that it happened at the time Yves was killed. Tiffany and I left all of you after we hung out in the bar at doon kami tinawagan ng principal."

Nanahimik na si kuya Apollo but I knew he was still thinking about it on the back of his mind.

"We're about to finish! Next up is Prada." Paano naman makakasagot si ate Prada e hindi siya makakapagsalita?

"Paano ba 'to..." Kuya Hades was scratching his head, also trying to figure out the situation. "Ako nalang ang sasagot! Kasama ko naman siya noon."

"Proxy ka, pre?" Natawa saglit si kuya Apollo and that was when kuya Hermés smacked him lightly. Mukhang okay naman na sila.

"Ang picture mo ay 'yung silhouette sa harap ng apoy," panimula ni ate Dior. "There are two things that point to you. Una, sinabi ng investigator na sinunog ang bangkay ni Yves."

I watched ate Prada's reaction who remained emotionless while ate Dior was talking.

"And ang isa naman, the evidences were destroyed," dugtong ni ate Dior. "So alin ang ginawa mo roon?"

"Magkasama kami ni Prada that time ka--" Kuya Hades was cut off.

"Magpakita ka ng 1 o 2 gamit ng daliri mo, Prada," kuya Apollo butted in. "1 kung 'yung bangkay o 2 kung 'yung mga ebidensya."

Tumaas ang kilay ko nang pinili niya ang pangalawang sinabi ni ate Dior. All of these... were not clicking at all. Was she lying?

"Kung kasama mo si Hades when the murder happened and you burned the evidences, what were originally the evidences?" Ate Dior asked again.

"Itak at tela," maikling sagot ni kuya Hades.

"Nakita niyo 'yung mga pumatay?" Tanong ni kuya Apollo.

"Hindi na namin naabutan," sagot ni kuya Hades.

"Okay! Lastly, your baby Gucci." I had to roll my eyes at that. I was not originally the baby.

"Takte, ako rin pala ang representative ng mga bumoto kay Gucci," kuya Hades said as he eyed ate Prada and ate Chanel. Inirapan naman siya ng dalawa.

"Paano ka naman makakaharap sa sunog e asthmatic ka?" That was the moment where I felt that everyone were pointing at me.

Na ako ang may sala.

"I can," I answered. "Just to remove the evidences, kayang kaya ko."

"Akala ko sinusunog mo ang mga alaala mo with Yves?" My soul felt stripped when it was Zeus who asked. Just as what I expected, he could easily turn his back on me.

Kayang-kaya niya akong traydurin for the woman he loves.

"Those are evidences too," I calmly answered. "I'm an easy suspect dahil malapit kami sa isa't isa. And..."

I could not look at him. How could I tell Zeus I was secretly in love with him all these years? Hindi ko na matuloy ang sinasabi ko.

"Nakita mo ang mga pumatay?" Tanong ni kuya Ares. Umiling ako.

"Baka naghihiganti ka kay Yves kasi in love ka kay Zeus." Hindi ko namalayang aambang na ako ng suntok kay Hades not until kuya Hermés stopped me.

The secret I was fucking protecting for so long was exposed in just a blink. Nabibwisit ako. Nakakagalit. Kung makapagsalita siya, parang may alam siya. He knows nothing.

Hindi niya alam kung ilang beses kong sinikmura na sumama kina Yves and Zeus while I was secretly head over heels for him. Hindi niya alam kung ilang gabi akong iyak nang iyak... Na sana ako nalang ang pinili niya. All that to protect our friendship.

Tiniis ko ang lahat para walang masira.

"We'll talk this through, Gucci." Inalalayan akong umupo ni kuya Hermés pero hindi ako sumunod. "Calm down."

"Gago ka ba?" Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. Putangina, ubos na ubos na ang pasensya ko. Hindi ko matingnan si Zeus dahil sa nararamdaman kong hiya sa mga sinasabi ni kuya Hades.

"Galangin mo ako!" Tumayo si kuya Hades at tinuro ako nang pagalit. "Mas matanda ako sa'yo!"

"Matanda your bullshit!" Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinugot ang collar niya. Napansin ko na inilalayo ako ni kuya Apollo but I would not budge.

"Kaibigan ko rin si Yves," I sternly said. "Oo, in love ako kay Zeus. But that's not enough for me to kill my best friend!"

The secret was out... Zeus knew everything now. Alam ko rin na he would see me as a suspect too. Ang dali naman para sa amin na talikuran ang isa't isa na para bang wala kaming pinagsamahan.

"E, 'di ba mas galit ka pa nga kaysa kay Zeus nang mapanood mo 'yung video?" Tanong nito sa akin na nagpakulo nanaman sa dugo ko.

Don't you notice na walang nagme-mention sa pagkamatay ni kuya Achilles?

"Don't talk shit about me." Ngumisi ako sa kanya. "You were just the same kay ate Prada and kuya Achilles."

Namumula na ang mga mukha namin sa galit but his face softened when ate Chanel suddenly hugged him. Hope all.

"I'm sorry, mahal," sambit ni kuya Hades kay ate Chanel nang makalayo sila. Ay? May callsign pala ang mag-ex?

I stole a glance at Zeus who was staring at me but avoided it when our eyes caught each other. Of course, hanggang sa susunod na habang buhay, it is always Yves.

I knew I lost too much when he prayed for her on all of his next lives.

"Umupo na kayo." Napamasahe sa sentido si ate Dior as I obeyed her. I was still glaring at kuya Hades, though.

"Huwag ka ring magmalinis, Dior!" Sarkastikong tumawa si kuya Hades. "Sigurado ka bang nagnakaw ka lang?"

Oh no, bad move, kuya Hades.

Ate Dior was caught off guard for a moment but then came charging to kuya Hades. Napasigaw ang iba nang biglang sinuntok ni ate si kuya! Ate Chanel was obviously panicking right now while kuya Hermés just watched.

"Dior!" Kuya Apollo quickly held her back.

Wow, this time, hindi nauna si kuya Hermés. He was always quick and immediate to her, but could wait for so long for her to love him back.

"Wala akong ninakaw at wala akong pinatay. Putangina mo." Dinig na dinig ko ang gigil sa boses ni ate Dior. "Kung naniniwala kang ginawa ko 'yon, hindi pala kita kaibigan. Para ka lang chismosa sa tabi-tabi."

"That was something!" Narinig ko ang fucking tawa ni Crow kaya uminit nanaman ang ulo ko. I wanted to look at Zeus pero pinangungunahan ako ng kahihiyan ko.

I had the nerve to hang out with Zeus and Yves while I was in love with him. Pero, Yves... Ako ang unang nakakilala sa kanya e.

I set my eyes on him first.

"And now, please point to the person you think is the killer," anunsyo ni Crow. "It's just a LIGHT punishment, don't worry."

Ulol, hindi niya ako maloloko.

"In three..." Compared before, our faces were now filled with determination to vote.

Para bang may mga nasagot nang tanong sa isipan namin.

"Two..." Oh boy was I so ready for betrayals. At this point, our friendship will just be broken as if it never happened.

"Three..." I closed my eyes at that.

Pagdilat ko, all of them were pointing at me. Mapait akong napangiti sa sarili ko. So much for having each other's back, huh?

Pero ang pinakamasakit ay pati si Zeus nakaturo sa akin.

I was always there for him. Always... I protected him from every potential pain. Hindi ko naman alam na ako pala 'yung sasaktan niya.

Napangisi nalang ako.

I darted my eyes to some people. People who are just as dirty as I am.

"Ms. Gucci July, let the crows kiss your... hmm... wrists."