This is the last chapter of Never Classic. Epilogue is next. Thank you for reading!

Chapter 50: If home...

I'm such an obsession.

It's unhealthy, but that's what I am. Maybe this is what Kristan meant when he said my beauty was a curse. I am not easy to handle. Only brave men could stand it, and real men deserve it.

"Hey there, honey. I'm sorry I am late," Lady Merryl pushed the glass door and immediately walked in to give me a peck on my cheek. She put her bag and a newspaper on the table.

"It's okay," I smiled at her as I placed the magazine back on the pile of other magazines. I crossed my legs and smirked at her. "You just almost lost your favorite customer."

"That's tragic," she chuckled and winked. "Anyway... let me get us some drink first. You have a lot of stories to tell me. You need to tell me everything."

"I'm not good at telling stories."

"You don't need to be good at it."

I sighed and just nodded. How long has it been?

Habang kumukuha siya ng inumin namin ay napukaw ng diyaryo na dala niya ang atensyon ko. I grabbed it from the table and read the front page.

"It's been seven months since Nathalia Cardinal allegedly vanished without a trace. Where is she now?"

Memories suddenly flooded my mind and drowned me back in that time. My lips stretched into a small smile. They are still looking for me.

"It's not easy to forget such remarkable woman," ani Lady Merryl nung mapansin na hawak ko ang diyaryo niya. "They will count the decades since you disappeared."

I flipped the page to read the content. "It's been almost seven months since Nathalia Cardinal suddenly disappeared. The management of the icon has just released an official statement confirming that her body is one of the remnants they unfortunately recovered inside the burned mansion where Mr. Dylan Carter's body was also found. Why it took them this long to confirm it? Is it really her or just another cover-up story? Is she really dead? Where are you now, Miss Nathalia Cardinal? The world is longing for you."

"Yes. She is dead," I whispered as I crumpled the newspaper. But it will take you time to realize it.

"You will always be remembered." Lady Merryl handed me a glass of wine. "You are a once-in-a-lifetime woman. Your legacy will surely live."

I took a sip on my drink. That's all I want. To be remembered. I know that time can possibly wipe my legacy in the modeling world entirely. But I'm still hoping I had accomplished enough to stand the test of time. I really hope so.

"I love this haircut," I pointed at the magazine. "I want this for me."

"I got you, honey..." Sinimulan na ni Lady Merryl ang pag-aayos sa akin. Kasabay no'n ay ang walang katapusang katanungan niya na sinagot ko sa abot ng aking makakaya. "How have you been?"

I took a deep sigh as I rested my back on the chair.

"Brixton did it," I whispered.

"He really did turn our world upside down. I knew that your brother was such a foolish man, but to come up with such a ridiculous idea? That's a new level of insanity."

I smiled at that thought. "Love pushes no boundaries."

"That's the first time I've heard that word from you after a long time." She gasped and laughed softly. "It truly is, though. Such a powerful feeling. Love."

Alam kong gulo ang naghihintay sa akin pagbalik ko, pero hindi ko inaasahan na gano'n kagulo. The letters they sent me failed to describe how messed everything up. That just made sense when I saw it personally. Even I couldn't fathom what was happening at first.

I was not that emotionally invested to my family. Pero nung nalaman ko ang sigalot na namamagitan sa dalawa kong kapatid ay nakaramdam ako ng kirot.

I strongly hated my father, but I hated him even more for what he did to us. He ruined our family. He made us turn our backs on each other. All because of his selfish motive.

I wouldn't say I could stop him on his plan if I were just around here that time, but at least I had made him realize how asshole he was.

I remembered how my heels broke while looking for my brothers in a complete different environment. Hawak ko ang naputol kong heels nung una kong makita si Oscar sa isang pagpupulong sa lugar na 'yon.

"The leaders are currently on a meeting, milady. Mas maaging maghintay—" Hindi na niya natapos ang sasabihin no'ng hinambalos ko sa mukha niya ang hawak kong heels. Napamura ito nung magdugo ang kanyang mukha.

Pumasok ako sa loob ng meeting room. Naabutan ko ang mga clan leaders na nagpupulong. Sa una ay hindi nila ako napansin. Napagitla ang lahat no'ng pabagsak kong nilapag sa lamesa ang sira kong heels.

"Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo?" pagalit na tanong ng isang pinuno sa akin. "Sino ka sa tingin mo para basta-basta na lang manghimasok dito?"

I just stared at Oscar. He just sat there and gawked at me.

"Lady Nathalia!" One of the leaders remembered me. He looked familiar, but I had no time to ransack my memories to remember him. "You are finally back."

"Who is she?"

"She's Lady Nathalia Cardinal, Lord Bardos. She's the only daughter of the late Lord Severo, sister of Lord Oscar Cardinal."

"That's all for now. Thank you for honoring me your time," Oscar adjourned the meeting.

Isa-isang nag-alisan ang mga pinuno. Napansin ko pa ang isang babaeng pinuno na nakamasid sa akin. Nginisian niya ako bago lumabas.

Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Oscar sa loob ng meeting room. Hindi pa rin natitinag ang titig ko sa kanya.

He stood up and tried to approach me. Natigilan siya nung mapansin na mahigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa heels. I wouldn't hesitate to strike him with it he moved closer.

"What is this place?" I asked in disbelief.

He smirked. "Why don't you ask our other brother?"

"We will go back to Nightfall Clan. You and Brixton will come with me," madiin kong sinabi na ikinatawa lang niya. "Hindi ako nagbibiro."

"I'm afraid that's not gonna happen anytime soon," naiiling na sabi niya. "You have been out of touch with us. It's not the same as it was before."

"Do you hear yourself, Oscar? You sound just like our father."

"Mas mabuting magpakalayo ka na muna. You have no business here anyway."

Nilapitan ko siya saka sinandal sa pader. Madiin ko siyang tiningnan at gano'n din ang ginawa niya.

"Ayoko lang madamay ka pa sa gulo na ako ang gumawa," sabi niya. "I'm suffering the consequences of my actions. Please. Just go."

I shook my head. "Hindi ako aalis dito nang hindi kayo nagkakabati ni Brixton."

"Nathalia..."

"We will fix this..." I whispered with emphasis.

I heard the door open. Wala sana akong balak na pansinin ito kung hindi ko lang narinig ang isang familiar na tinig.

"N-Nathalia..."

I turned around. "M-mom..."

"Nathalia!" Patakbong nilapitan ako ni Mama saka niyakap. "I missed you so much, my baby. I've been trying to contact you!"

In my peripheral vision, I saw Oscar leave the room.

"How have you been?" Suminghap siya saka pinunasan ang mga luha sa pisngi. "I'm sorry that you have to see the madness your brother made."

I shook my head. "It's not Oscar's fault, Mom."

"Of course, it's not! It's Brixton. He's our enemy."

"Mom!" I sighed.

"Mabuti na ring nandito ka." Nakangiti niyang hinaplos ang aking pisngi. "Join our force to defeat the devil. Para matapos na rin ang lahat. We will finally live in peace."

"Can you stop now, Mom?" Kumawala ako sa pagkakayakap niya. "You already made him suffer enough. Hindi ka pa ba tapos?"

"It's not enough, Nathalia. He needs to suffer more—"

"No." I swallowed. "That's not going to happen while I am around. I get that you hate him, given your history. But I am his sister. I have the right to protect him."

Humalakhak si Mama. "Do you hear yourself? That demon doesn't need protection! He's a force that needs to be stopped. That's why we are here. To end his reign!"

"I came here to fix this mess, Mom. If you will be a hindrance, I'm afraid we are not on the same side."

"Nathalia!"

I thought I made myself clear with that threat. Pero masyado nang malalim ang galit niya kay Brixton para hayaan itong magtagumpay. She did everything in her power to stop him. That eventually led to her unfortunate fate. Even until her last breath, she never regretted anything.

"I will get more ice," ani Lady Merryl saka sandaling tinigilan ang buhok ko. "I'm sorry to ask this, but can I call your mom the B word? That's her."

I just chuckled. Tumingin ako sa labas. Wala pa rin siya.

"I hope her death didn't make you sad. Just kidding!"

Napayuko ako saka pinaglaruan ang mga daliri ko. The topic of death triggered a memory of mine.

"I'm sorry for the girls..." Lady Merryl gently patted my shoulders. "They don't deserve it. I hope you are okay now."

"We won the war..." I sniffed and lifted my head. Mapait akong ngumiti. "It would have been more tragic if we also lost in the end."

"Right? But it troubles me now that we lost one of The Cloaks," makahulugan niyang sinabi. "When we won the war, we fixed the balance of our world. But it also left a hole now that The Cloaks are missing one member. That's an imbalance, and I don't think that's good."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What's the matter? Is it that bad?"

"What do you mean, Nathalia? The Cloaks are five. Losing one member can cause an imbalance on their part. It will eventually affect us, too."

"So... they need to replace The Fifth?"

Lady Merryl just shrugged.

"The Cloaks are just doing everything to protect us and keep our existence as secret as possible. If it were not because of them, we would have an endless battle with humans. There would be no peace."

"I know that..." I sighed. "Hindi naman totally na nagbago ang ikot ng mundo natin dahil sa bagong patakaran. It just gave us opportunity to see the next generation."

"Wait... there are also rumors circulating that you are no longer a member of Nightfall Clan. How legit is that, Nathalia?"

I smiled. "That's true."

That's what I have been dying to do ever since. My clan has already offered me enough comfort and protection. I will always be thankful for that. But I had to release myself to grasp the freedom completely.

I am a free woman now.

I have no destination.

I belong to no one.

But I am enjoying the company of someone.

For now, that's all that matters to me.

Who knows what will happen next?

Pinahiram ako sandali ni Lady Merryl ng purselas para makita ko ang sarili sa salamin. Malawak na napangiti ako dahil hindi ko rin na inakalang babagay sa akin ang gupit na ito.

"That pixie hairstyle made you look more regal. Is this the new Nathalia Cardinal?" Lady Merryl asked. "It saddens me that you are leaving again.

Hinubad ko rin ang purselas at binalik sa kanya. Saka ko siya niyakap nang mahigpit.

"Thank you for everything, Lady Merryl."

"I'm a strong independent woman. I will not cry." Hinigpitan niya ang pagkakayakap sa akin. "I will miss you, Nathalia. Please be happy."

"You, too..."

Narinig ko nang may bumusina sa labas.

She held my hand and squeezed it. Nakangiting nakatingin lang ako sa kanya hanggang sa pumatak ang isang luha sa kanyang mata.

"Sinusundo ka na..." aniya.

"I will miss you."

"You are always welcome here."

I nodded.

Tumalikod na ako sa kanya saka lumabas ng salon. Naabutan kong inaalis ni Kristan ang kanyang helmet. Gaya ko ay bagong gupit din siya. He was wearing a leather jacket, as usual.

He turned to me. Napansin kong nagulat siya.

"Your hair..." Napangiti siya. "I love your hair."

Sumakay na ako sa likod ng motorsiklo. Sinuotan niya ako ng helmet. Hinawakan niya ang mga kamay ko saka pinulupot sa kanyang katawan.

"Where?" he asked.

"To where your heart is," I joked.

"Then we have already arrived, milady."

I chuckled. "Stop being corny and just drive!"

"Like... anywhere?" he asked.

"Yes. You can take me anywhere."

Nag-umpisa na siyang magmaneho. Hindi ko alam kung saan niya ako dadalhin at hindi ko rin gaanong pinagtuunan ng pansin ang direksyon namin.

It was a long journey, but I enjoyed it.

Hininto na niya ang motor. Umalis ako sa pagkakasandal sa kanyang likod. Bumaling ako sa harapan. Natikom ang bibig ko nung mapagtanto kung saan niya ako dinala.

"You really fell in love with this place, huh?' I mumbled.

"Are you ready to meet them... again?"

If home is a feeling, that's with him.

If home is a place, that's Azalea Village.