Sunday morning when Sebastian and Vian texted me, magkita-kita 'daw kami sa Marcos hotel. I decide to wear my new deep v neck jumpsuit, and pair it with my scarpin heels.  Dumeretso ako sa hotel nila Sebastian, sa may food court ng hotel nila. Marcos hotel greet me with their high class architecture, no doubts this hotel is one of the most visit hotel in Luzon.

While waiting for them, I decide to visit the small library shop next to Marcos hotel. Actually, Marcos hotel is just ten minutes walk in our house. Paglabas ng looban makikita ko na agad ang hotel. Napangiti ako nang malanghap ko ang amoy ng libro, been a while since reading kinds of books. I didn't expect na meron palang book store dito sa Bulacan, Herosville. Most of the places wala ng mga ganito ngayon, I mean the old styles book store. As in puro libro lang, and then! My favorote part is pagbukas ko ng pinto maririnig ko ang bell, and also the smell of the books!

I go to history section, since it's my favorite since elementary days. Hindi ako magsasawang balikan ang nakaraan, it's actually fun to learn our old cultures and perspectives. "Morning. Did you know if may book dito about the history of Bulacan, Herosville?" Pagtatanong ko sa isang lalaki na nakaupo habang nagbabasa, I think he's reading Da Vinci Code that I was going to read after him! Haha! "The red book, infront of you." He said and back to reading again. Wow, focus yarn.

As he said, kinuha ko ang nasa harapan kong libro. Silly me, I didn't saw the book infront of me. The book is just decorate plainly, it's titled, Herosville 1900. The book contains hundread chapter, maybe I can bring home this book with me. "It's easier if you search it." The guy beside me commented, hindi siya nakatingin sa akin pero napagaling niyang mag comment.

"Did I ask for your opinion?" I asked while rolling my eyes. But to answer his question, kids nowdays used technology, in one click ayan na agad sagot. But for me, I want the old culture where kids reads book to know the answer to their questions. Isipin mo na lang kung paano pag mawalan ng internet.

Anyways, I continued my readings. The first chapter is about why Herosville named Herosville. It says, old Bulakenyos believe in love and poetry. That's why many Bulakenyos is so makata.  Anyways, pinangalan siyang Herosville because Eros is the god of love, while Helios is god of sun, that Bulakenyos believe na tuwing sikat ng araw may bagong simula para sa lahat. That has actually great meaning.

Thought, Herosville build in nineteen's many people believe na nung binuo ang Herosville puro kamalasan na ang nangyari sa Bulacan. It says dapat ang pangalan lang ng lugar na 'to ngayon ay Heros, but because of crimes na nangyari dati it names Herosville. Anyways, ville means villain, dahil 'daw sa laging pagbalita na may nangyayaring krimen dito sa bayan ng Herosville noon.

But their's a positive side of Herosville. Bulacan is home town of some of the Pilipino heroes, like Marcelo Del Pilar. I'm started to planning to visit his home by next month, konting tour lang ba. "Hello po, can I take home this book with me po?" I asked the librarian. The old lady nod her head and gave me the fill up form. It says na may limang araw lang ako para ibalik ang libro, and if I didn't finish it within five days I should bring it back again in Herosville Library then fill up another form. I write my name, address, number, and also the book I'll take home.

"Hija? Ikaw 'yung apo ni Theia? 'Yung anak ni Geia Pascua?" I laugh then nod my head. Been years, since I aslo heard my mother's name. "Yes po. Been a while po since nakauwi dito sa Bulacan, Lola Milda." I said while looking at her name tag. Napangiti ako habang nakikipag kuwentuhan. Lola Milda just asked me some common questions, like saan ako nag-aaral o ilang taon na ko. And the famous question is: "Aba'y hija ka'y ganda mong bata. May boyfriend ka ba?" Umiling ako sa tanong ni lola, I believe in the word study first.

"Ikaw hijo? Anong kukunin mo ulit na libro?" Napatingin ako sa kinakausap ni lola Milda. Siya 'yung lalaking katabi ko kanina. They talking about the book, sa nakikita ko ang kukunin niyang libro ay ang Herosville Legends. Looks, boring. When it's done the guy greet his goodbye.

"Ingat ka 'rin! Sa susunod ulit, Picus! Batang iyon talaga!" I stop when I heard a name. Wait? Picus?! It's that the Picus I know?! Magtatanong sana ako when I saw Sebastion text. Damn, I'm an hour late. I immediately back in Marcos Hotel. I saw Sebastian and Vian in food court eating donut.

"I didn't see your text! I'm sorry!" I apologize. I enjoy reading the book in library, dahil sa pag en-enjoy ko I decide kanina na i-mute ang phone ko then hindi ko namalayan one hour passed! "Hmm. It's okay. Nakita kita kanina na papunta sa library. I know, reading is fun. Lagi 'rin akong napunta d'yan kela Lola Milda." Napangiti ako sa sinabi ni Baste. How thoughtfull of him.

"It's also fine with me. I also love reading." Gosh! Akala ko magagalit sila sa akin. Maybe I should wait them for more than one hour next time, haha! 

"Alam kong nagigipit ka namin sa sitwasyon na 'to. But, I want you to stay with us just a month. Kalangan namin ang tulong mo. Stay..." Nanlaki ang mata ko nang biglang hawakan ni Baste ang kamay ko. What? How can I resufe this man? He's showing his puppy smile! I rolled my eyes and also hold his hand. "Better kung forever na tayong ganto." I said and smirk.

"Let's be serious here both of you." Ngumuso ako nang sawayin kami ni Vian, I let go of his warm hand. "We need you just in a month Circe. Help us to find her." I understand them, but hindi na nila kailangan gawin 'to. Levi and Picus known what I need para tumulong ako sa kanila. Maybe the others don't know about the deal. May kapalit lahat ng 'to.  "Don't worry, I'll
help."

"The heck? Nag me-meeting kayo ng wala ako?!" I gasphed when I saw Theo, the wild dog is here, tatahol na naman. I just drink my mango shake, and listen to what Vian trying to explain.  "About Julie? Wala namang mangyayari, ba't kasi hindi pa sabihin sa mga Pulis?" Theo said while drinking my drink, tangna sa kakapalan yata ng mukha siya ang nangunguna.

"Saka panay ang tahol ni Quezon. Nagmumukha siyang suspect sa paningin ko." Is he even a friend? Anyways, based on my observation their's two people in the group that Theo don't want, first is Levi and second is ang katabi lang niya Sebastian. "Parang ikaw naman ang tahol ng tahol Theodore." Vian commented that made me laugh, savage pre!

"Sige lang. Kampihan niyo si First President." Theo replied, pagkatapos no'n ay tumahimik na siya and focus to his phone. Habang ako ay busy sa pagbabasa ng conversation ng iba. It was Picus app. It's really fun to read Theo and Phoebe's convo. Even in text nakikipag away si Theo. Pati babae pinapatulan.

"Circe?" Napabalik ako sa realidad nang tapikin ako ni Baste. I immediately apologize because I space out. "I said I while ago is we can't report it to the Police." Nagtaka akong napatingin sa kanila. Bakit naman hindi? Naka report na nga si Juliette Zamora as missing person. At mas tutukan ang inbestigasyon dahil Tito ni Juliette ang Mayor. Lahat ng ebidensya ay tatangapin para mahanap si Julie.

"We can't. Dahil wala sa amin ang cellphone ni Julie." Oh, right! I remember Levi told me that yesterday. Nawala 'daw ang messenge na tinext ang address ko. "Can you describe Julie's phone?" Tumango naman si Vian na tila alam niya ang itsura nito. Pinakita niya sa akin ang isang picture ni Julie na kung saan mirror shot ang style. Makikita sa replesyon ang kulay purple niyang phone case na bulaklakin ang design. Wow. So ang hawak kong cellphone ay hindi pala talaga cellphone ni Julie? Now, why Picus lied about this?!

I frustatedly brush my hair, we all done talkinh. Since it's sunday today, I always go to church. I text Picus to come with me, since I aslo want to asked him! After ten minutes of commute nakarating ako sa simbahan ng Herosville. The churc is big, and very classic. Malapit 'rin lang pala siya sa school, I should really explore Herosville.

Napatigil ako sa pagtingin nang makita si Picus. As usual he's wearing his black outfit. "Hmm, this." He said and giving me a black jacket. Why he gave me one of his hoddie? "Para hindi ako kahina-hinala." Wika niya at iniwas ang tingin sa akin. Napangisi na lang ako, we're couple again.

"Did you go to church? It's not likely your personality." Napangiwi ako sa sinabi niya. Napaka judgemental naman nito! "Since I was a child, I go to church. Galing ako sa pamilya ng maka dyos." I said and chuckled. I remember I'm four years old back then why mom wanted me to persue choir, dahil gusto niya akong lumaki sa simbahan. And when she died in cancer when I was ten her last word is: believe in God. Simula no'n, I always go to church every sunday.

"Even I'm not a better person, I still believe in him. And still praying. Afterall, hindi lang naman mabubuting tao ang pwedeng magdasal." Thought, nowdays ang problema ng mga tao is hindi na sila magdadasal because they believe they are bad. But nooo, anyone can pray even you're good or bad, anyone deserve to forgive by praying.

"Good point. I guess starting now I go to church everyday." He said then we both chuckled. I hold his hand at saka dumeretso na sa loob ng simbahan. Nice, para akong may jowang AI. Haha!

When we finish praying umalis na agad kami. Dumeretso kami sa na bahay niya sa kagubatan. He's busy hacking something right now.

"About Julie's phone, hindi talaga ito 'yon?" I asked, I saw him stop. I heard his robatic sign then nod his head. He gave me pink phone! While Julie's have purple phone.

"Yeah. Her phone disappeared with her." Nginiwian ko lang siya, he can tell me the truth. Nagpakahirap akong i-solve 'yung mga codes sa phone na binigay niya. "But, the phone your holding is somehow connected to her phone." Kagaya ng sabi niya ay lahat 'daw ng pictures or notes na ite-take ng phone ni Julie ay mag se-save 'rin sa phone na 'to. "It's true that her phone is high security." Sabi niya ay hindi 'rin 'daw magagawan ng paraan alisin ang passcodes ng cloud.

"Kanino ba 'tong cellphone?" Hindi siya umimik at sinabing ang cellphone 'daw ay kay Julie 'rin. Wews, may tinatago sa akin ang isang 'to. Maybe my guts are right, I should not trust this man somehow. Maybe I need to fake that I believe in him? He's more likely be a psychopath than Levi.

"Don't you trust me?" He asked that made laugh. Kakasabi ko lang kanina sa isip ko.

"I do trust you. Somehow I have guts not to tust you pero I'll choose to trust you."

My heart tell me I should trust this man.