"Kakailanganin mo ito," He insisted, handing me an earpiece. "for a better connection!" Dagdag nito.

Maagap ko itong tinanggap. "Sigurado ka bang hindi ka nasundan?" Tanong ko rito, naniniguro. Habang nagmamasid sa paligid.

He insisted that we should meet personally so he can lay his plans, thoroughly. This man lived his life preparing ahead for a probable scenario.

Lahari's an inborn genius, but this one, I can't help but to be amazed at how he put up everything at hand.

"He told me that day, he was so proud of the person I become." Natigil ito sa pagaayos ng kaniyang mga gamit at tumingin sa akin.

"He knew that his life will be at risk but he went on without any hesitations." He might not be here with us physically, ganoon pa man alam kung sa labang ito, he's with us.

"Don't put justice on your hand." He silently has uttered.

I stood up, preparing to leave when he spoke again. "H'wag kang gagawa ng bagay na sa huli'y pagsisisihan mo." I look at him. "I know you're hurt at ganoon din ako—"

I left even before he finished his words. Though I heard it...

But, real justice shouldn't begin with blood.

Sinimulan niya, tatapusin ko lang...

I needed to wait until midnight. I'm in Frondo's room, tahimik lang akong nakikinig sa klasikal na musika, nakasandal sa paanan ng kaniyang kama. Iniintay ang nakatakdang oras.

"Simply because we're married…"

I cannot believe that a single sentence was capable of ruining everything that I had planned in the future. What a great pretender, napaniwala niya akong mahal niya ako. Kung alam ko lang sana na mauuwi ang lahat sa ganito sana pala hindi ko na sinundan 'yung mga batong nagkalat. Eh 'di sana hindi ko siya nakilala.

When the sirens buzzed, I wore the earpiece that he gave me.

"Haunt do you hear me?"

Heard someone on the line, "Hmmm…"

"Do everything that I say, please, do not do things out of plan!" He uttered. Sa tono ng pananalita para lang akong nakikipagusap kay Frondo.

"Hmmm…" Tanging naging tugon ko, napapatango pa na tila kaharap lang ang kausap.

Tumayo na ako at naglakad palabas. Taimtim lang akong naglalakad sa pasilyo. Hanggang ang tingin ay mapunta sa mga letrang nakahanay sa gitnang bahagi ng admins building.

"Haven Academy," I whispered.

Things have changed in just a snap. It's no longer just about going after a hundred percent mark, appeasing family's demands. No longer about doing things that makes shits happy sating shits desires. We're now facing a broader concept of the word living, that never once had we imagined.

I can't seem to see the ending. Hopefully, it was on Right's favor.

"It's now on air." Spy uttered.

"On my way," I replied, tangkang magmamadali na sana ako nang makakita ng isang bulto ng tao sa daraanan ko.

"Show yourself!" And she obliged. She steps out of the darkness making herself visible. "M-mrs. L-lilac?" Gulat kong naibulalas.

Seeing her, everything makes sense now. "Is it you all this time?" It's almost just a whisper but I know she heard it right.

She took a deep sigh as she then snaps her fingers. And just like that, her real shade showed. She's been hiding her true self all this time. Never have I thought that things will turn out to be like this.

I wonder on what's been driving her, is it justice? Or, revenge?

"Nakilala mo na sila?" Tanong nito. Saglit akong natigilan, pinapakiramdaman ang nangyayari. And instead of answering her, pagod akong naglakad palapit rito. At hindi naman ako nito binigo nang salubungin ako ng yakap.

"Mama..." I uttered as tears found their way out my tired eyes. Doon ko lubos na naramdaman ang sobrang pagod.

Pagod sa lahat ng nangyari. Pagod sa lahat ng nangyayari. At pagod sa mga mangyayari pa.

Of all kinds of people, why does it have to be me? Just like the old times, I burst into tears within her embrace… like I'm somewhat six, again.

Umiyak lang ako habang yakap niya, nanatili naman itong tahimik, caressing my back. I know that she’s not my real mother, and that we’re too far blood related. But  I can’t stop myself, there is something in me, na sabik na sabik sa presensiya ng isang ina… and I found it in her.

"Forgive my interference get a grip of yourself Haunt we're running out of time." Narinig kong sambit ni Spy sa kabilang linya.

I withdrew from her hold, "I needed to go." Sambit ko, wiping my tears away. Paalis na ako nang matigilan muli.

"Lahari," She started. "It's you. I was on searched of you that day, bigla-bigla ka nalang tumakbo kung saan. It's you who found him first in the street unconscious. And it's you who begged me to save the young child." Pilit kong hinalukay sa memorya ang sinabi niya. Ngunit wala akong matandaan. Hindi ko tuloy malaman kong ginagawa niya ba ito para pagaanin ang loob ko. O 'di kaya'y para---

"Nakita mo akong gumamit ng mahika, kaya't kinailangan kung tanggalin iyon sa iyong memorya." Nagawa nitong sagutin ang nasa isipan ko. "Daven, kung ano man ang naging desisyon ni Lahari wala kang kasalanan doon, he did it on his own will. At alam kung kahit magawa mang ulitin ang nangyari, paniguradong uulitin niya lamang muli ang kaniyang naging desisyon. Huwag mong hayaang talunin ka ng iyong emosyon."

Hindi ko na nagawa pang tugunin ang sinabi niya, and chose to leave instead. My hands were trembling, my breathing range. I relaxed myself, trying my best to focus my mind to what was planned.

"T-thank you," Spy whispered. He heard it.

Napayuko ako, "Will you be fine?" Pagiiba ko sa usapan.

He hacked all the government's systems social Networks and Medias. The film of truth is now on air. It was an old compilation of the things that happened under the late great Juanito Bonifiero's regime, compiled on a cassette.

Told you he's well-prepared. Devoting your whole life to a particular interest, who wouldn't?

Ang simula ng lahat. Nang makita ko ito, halos 'di ako makapaniwalang totoo pala, totoo palang may buhay na payapa.

Everyone's living at peace. From the sun, who's rising from the east, turns everything at ease. And as darkness invades caused of west, it makes everyone at rest. Up to the north to which things release at sort, now, bravely take the path down south, believe and you won't feel doubts.

"I'm secured." He replied. "Be careful." He added.

At midnight, the world has light up and speaks its concerns.

Because of what was happening, the government's got alarmed and shaken. I can clearly hear the recorded voice of Spy being broadcast on the radio while the film’s on air on the televisions.

The plan is to divert their attention sa nangyayari. In that way, mababawasan ang p'wersa nilang nakabantay sa timog, and I will take that chance para sirain ng tuluyan ang puwersa nila.

Panahon na para sa paglaya. No one deserves to be kept that way. Such gems shouldn't be treated unlawfully. Everyone must have the right to live and breathe freely.

"Haunt, kung maiiwasan, iwasan." Nadinig kong sambit ni Spy. "A minute, on your left," He uttered.

And he's right, they're coming. Six soldiers on their way to be killed. I didn't move, "Haunt!"

"Oo na!" Tugon ko as I started to take the other way. I turned right. I heard him sigh. Tsk!

Ilang sandali pa ay natahimik ang nasa kabilang linya. I even closed my eyes, pinapakiramdaman ang paligid. Kahit saang anggulo bantay sarado. Ito malamang ang nagpatahimik sa kaniya. Ngayo'y naririnig ko na ang mga buntong hininga niya.

"Haunt,"

"I know." I turned right this time, tatlo agad ang sumalubong sa akin. Guns pointing at me as the man on left fires,

"Haunt!"

I quickly dodge the bullet, "Still t-there?" Tsk! I took off my earpiece and shoved it on my pocket. I will deal with him later.

Naging sunod sunod na ang pagkalabit nila sa gatilyo ng iba’t ibang klaseng baril na hawak nila. I keep on dodging each bullet palapit sa kanila. Mabilis kong pinagsisipa ang mga baril na hawak nila nang makalapit.

I forbid myself not to go beyond punches and kicks.

Mabilis akong kumilis patungong kanan at magtago sa isang puno ng maramdamang tila may mahapding nagmula sa kaliwang tagiliran ko. Nang makita, I was damn hit by a bullet.

Mabilis din akong umalis at nagpatuloy. I was welcomed by eight soldiers on my way. Ganoon lang ang ginawa ko, iiwas, sa tuwing madadali saglit na magpapahinga sa isang puno bago muling magpatuloy.

This time, seven soldiers blocked my way, I didn't fight, pilit ko lang iniiwasan ang mga balang nagraragasa patungo sa direksyon ko. I fell down nang may muling makalusot at tamaan ako sa kaliwang balikat. Shit lang! Mauubos ako sakaling pilit ko lang iniiwasan. I needed to fight!

A group of six soldiers appear on my left, and another six on my back, I sighed. Damn it! Narinig ko pang tumawag ng backup ang isa sa gawing kanan ko. Sinusubukan nila akong pasukuin.

Paano ba 'yun hindi ako pumarito para sumuko. At lalong hindi ako narito para mamatay.

"Hands up!" They demanded.

Hindi ako sumunod, mabilis na dumating ang requested backup nila. What to do? They weren’t taken aback by my fangs and bloodshot eyes, pagod nadin ako. Dadanak na ang dugo Lahari, forgive me.

As I was going to fight off, isang malakas na huni ng ibon ang pumukaw sa paligid. Napunta doon ang atensyon nila, lalo pa ng lumipad palapit sa amin si Igo. I took that moment and transformed myself to a furry wolf.

"Awooooooooo!" My roar thundered.

They fire off and to my defence Igo winged creating a counter attack shutting down each bullet. He didn't enclose me to his wings this time. We stood there, back to back.

Ilang sandali lang ay tila nagbago ang ihip ng hangin, nagulat ako ng kusang yumuko ang mga militar at ibinaba na ang mga hawak na baril.

At higit pang nagulat nang ang isla sa gitnang lawa ay biglang nagliwanag, Iyon ang huli kong natandaan bago tuluyang nilamon ng dilim ang aking diwa.

~~~