"Buenas tardes, saben dónde está la tumba de A-anastasia Bernardi?" (Good afternoon, do you know where Anastasia Bernardi's grave is?) I asked the man in his mid-50s as I approached the Montjuic cemetery.

Pinagmasdan niyang maigi ang aking mukha bago sumagot nang pabalang, "Por qué necesita saber dónde está su tumba? También es reportero?" (Why do you need to know where her grave is? Are you a reporter?)

I showed him the bouquet of silk peonies I was holding. "No, señor. Estoy aquí para hacerle una visita. De hecho, soy uno de sus admiradores." (No, sir. I'm here to pay her a visit. I'm actually one of her fans).

Bumaling ang kanyang tingin sa silangan. Nakakasilaw ang sinag ng araw kaya nilapat niya ang kanyang palad sa taas ng kanyang mga mata upang masilayan iyong maigi.

"Her grave was five blocks away; that actress has a lot of fans, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding it," he said in Spanish.

Nagpasalamat naman ako sa kanya bago nagsimulang lakbayan ang napakahabang daan. Kanina pa namamanhid ang aking binti sa kakalakad pero hindi ko na iyon ininda. I took the bus here, but when it stopped at the cemetery's entrance, I had no choice but to walk.

Tagaktak na ang pawis sa aking noo nang marating ko ang isang lapida na mayroong napakaraming bulaklak. Naroon ang litrato ng aktres at isang ginang na nakaupo sa harap nito. Dahan-dahan akong lumapit sa matanda na mukhang may malalim na iniisip.

"Buenas tardes," (Good afternoon) I said quietly, my gaze fixed on the old lady's poker face.

Hindi siya nagsalita. Ang kanyang mga mata'y taimtim na nakasentro sa lapida ni Anastasia. Marahan akong umupo sa kanyang tabi at inilapag ang bulaklak sa damuhan.

I brushed my hand across Anastasia's portrait. "Ella es... realmente encantadora." (She's really lovely.")

"Lo sé, no me cansaré de mirarla," (I know, I won't get tired of looking at her,) Malambing ngunit puno ng pagsusumamo niyang turan.

My heart sank when I saw her cry out in agony. Apart from her, I couldn't see any other visitors. She appears to have been sitting, or should I say kneeling, for more than an hour based on the way her legs tremble. This woman was dressed in a collared polo shirt. I haven't talked to her much, but she is a force to be reckoned with.

"S-she was only... 18 years old w-when she left our mansion," Naghahabol nang hininga niyang wika.

Nagulat ako sa aking narinig kaya mas minabuti ko na lamang na makinig. Paos ang kanyang boses pero napakalinaw sa akin ng lahat. Isa itong kwento ng isang ina na lubos na nagmahal sa kanyang pinakamamahal na unica hija.

"I really want her to be a lawyer, but she disobeyed me. Being an actor has always been her dream, but I can't support her because... she reminds me of my young and reckless self," she concludes hoarsely.

Her tears continue to stream down her cheeks as she tells her story, their story. "I was also 18 when I found out I was pregnant on her. I was a part of a talent agency and one of my sponsors... t-took advantage of my innocence, making me believe that he would help me in my career as an exchange. I was so stupid to believe him at that time because the next day, he v-vanished like a thin air." I heard her voice broke.

A part of me wanted to hug her, but I knew that it wouldn't be my embrace that would make her feel better. She is desperate for justice to be served for her late daughter. This lady was barely alive, and it showed when she pulled a cutter from her pocket, about to end her meaningless life, but I stopped her.

"Señora, p-por favor no haga esto!" (Lady, please don't do this!) pagmamakaawa ko habang pilit inaagaw ang matalim na kutsilyo sa kanyang kamay.

"Listen, s-she's the only reason I'm still alive in this deceptive world! Please make me... live with my child, I beg you!" she pleaded too.

Akmang itatarak niya iyon sa kanyang puso ngunit hindi iyon natuloy nang kumapit ako nang mahigpit sa matalim na bahagi. Ang pagdaloy ng dugo mula sa aking palad ang nagpatigil sa kanya. Maski ako'y umiyak na rin hindi sa sakit mula sa sugat na aking natamo kundi sa paghihinagpis ng ginang sa aking harapan.

"I'll exact my vengeance for your daughter's death, lady, and I promise you'll see the light again," Pangako ko sa kanya.

All I saw was a mother in pain. Her longing for her daughter reminds me of how my mother attempted to end her own life the night after my twin brother died. She was in her room at the time, silently staring at her pills while holding a glass of water. I saw how she took out all of the tablets in her hand and was about to swallow them all when I hugged her.

Hindi ko siya magawang sisihin dumaan man ang napakaraming taon. Simula pagkabata'y minulat niya na sa akin na ito lang ang kaya ko. Malayo sa kakayahan ng aking kakambal na si Callum.

How could I compete with my great twin brother when I'm worthless? I'm a moron who is easily duped by those around me. Even my first love, whom I thought would accept me, chose my friend, in whom I had the most faith. My life is a living farce.

"C-Clara, a-anong nangyari sa kamay mo?" bungad na tanong ni Belle nang makabalik ako sa hotel kung saan kami naka-check in.

I hissed, "May sugat. Obvious naman 'di ba?"

"Don't tell me you killed the Mafia already? Should we call Mr. R and tell him the good news?"

"I don't think Clara killed that bastard because he's still alive. In fact, he's now recruiting new associates to be part of his empire," Rick paused from typing on his laptop.

Nagmamadali kaming lumapit sa kanya at napahawak ng aming bibig matapos makita ang nangyayari. Rick was successful in hacking the camera of a live tournament. There are many people watching the scene and they are chirping loudly. The battle will begin in an hour, and the venue is nearly full.

"Clara, saan ka pupunta?!" Sigaw ni Rick bago ko pa tuluyang lisanin ang silid.

When I felt my injured hand go numb, I bit my lower lip. "I must fight in that battle at all costs."

"You can't," Mahinang bulong ni Rick.

"W-why?" I scoffed, "I can win that tournament, guys, trust me."

"Alam namin ang kakayahan mo, Clara, pero... may sugat ka pa. Marami pang paraan, wag lang 'to," Ani Belle.

Rick gripped his hand tensely. "The tournament has five levels, and each battle is a one-on-one match. Whoever surrenders first loses, and based on the profile of the participants, they were skilled martial artists and crime lords."

"That's pretty easy-"

Muling nagsalita si Rick, "And their main requirement is that all participants be all men, because that damn Roscoe Villamor doesn't want a girl in his group. This battle isn't going to be fair for you, Clara, so please don't make us restrain you."

Napalunok ako nung marinig iyon. Malalim kong pinag-isipan ang aking desisyon habang inaalala ang malungkot na mukha ng ina ni Anastasia. Lakas loob akong umupo sa vanity chair at tinanggal ang pagkakatali ng mahaba kong buhok. Humugot ako nang malalim bago kunin ang matalas na gunting sa harap ko at iabot iyon kay Belle.

"From now on, Clara Samonte is dead; remember the name Callum because that's the name who will kill that Roscoe fucking Villamor," sambit ko habang pinagmamasdan ang aking maamong mukha sa salamin.

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-Terrolicious

•Hello, CGS 9 readers! I'm glad to announce that I finally created a group page on Facebook. Kindly visit Terrorious' Rainbow Squad and try to answer filtered questions so you'll get accepted. See you there, my fam♡