Sinong demonyo naman ang nasa likod ng cheap na pasabog na 'yon? 

Hanggang sa makarating ako sa unit ko, that's the only thing I've thinking of. Imposible naman kasing mga faculty members ang may pakana no'n, 'cause why on Earth they will make a treasure hunt activity tapos kalansay lang naman ng tao ang laman no'n?

Siraulo ba sila?

There's no way that the facilitators of the game did that, dahil sigurado akong may ibang tao ang gumawa no'n.

Things like this started right after Trisha entered the story. Nagkabuhol-buhol na ang sinulid ng buhay ko mula ng dumating siya, and there's no doubt, she planned that explosion who just startled all of us.

"Walanghiya talaga," bulong ko sa sarili bago ko hinigop ang kape na kakatimpla ko lang. Nasa mood kasi ako magkape ngayon, that's why I make one for myself.

In the midst of sipping my cup of coffee while binge-watching, my phone suddenly vibrated. Kinuha ko ito, only to see Dylan's text message for me.

Are you okay? Feel free to knock on my door if ever you need someone to talk to. I'm always by your side. Always remember that, Magi.

Instead of typing a reply for his message, I just turned my phone off. Although I needed someone to have a conversation with, I think it's not him who I should run to.

Ang dami niya nang nagawa para sa akin at hindi ko na halos alam kung paano 'yon susuklian. He's been so nice to me and whenever I'm seeking for a shoulder to lean on, he hurriedly comes over to me to volunteer himself.

He has a good heart and I am just lucky to have him in my life.

I never imagined that the hate I was feeling in our first meeting would just turn like this.

Pero ayokong abusuhin 'yong freedom ko na porke may problema ko ay siya agad ang tatakbuhan ko. I'm not that selfish because I still consider that he has his own problem; hindi ko hahayaan na umikot sa akin ang mundo niya para lang i-comfort ako.

Once again, naistorbo ang panonood at pag-m-monologue ko nang mag-vibrate ang phone ko. But this time, someone's calling me.

It's Eli.

Utilizing the conversation we had earlier, I assumed we're okay kaya naman sinagot ko kaagad ang tawag.

"Why?"

[Could you spare me some of your time? Let's talk, Magi.]

I was astounded by what he asked. Gusto kong pumayag na hindi. I'm still having a second thought kung papayag ako, when---

"I-text mo na lang sa akin kung saan," I replied before the call ended.

Finish na, pala-desisyon ang bibig ko kaya wala nang atrasan ito.

Agad kong pinatay ang TV bago ako kumuha ng coat sa kwarto ko since medyo malamig sa labas ngayon. Wala naman ako sa ibang bansa, but because malapit na ang BER months, si Amihan ay nagpaparamdam na.

Sa isang soju haus restaurant nakikipagkita si Eli which happened a place near the condominium where I'm staying at. Nilakad ko lang 'yon at agad rin naman akong nakarating.

As I entered the place, kaagad kong nakita si Eli na nakaupo sa may table malapit sa counter, so I walk towards him.

"Nandito ka na pala." Agad siyang tumayo bago ako ipaghila ng upuan na kaharap niya. "Pasensya na kung naistorbo man kita ngayong gabi."

"What do you want to talk about?" straight-forward kong tanong.

He sipped on the small glass filled with soju before he filled the glass of mine. Sinenyasan niyang inumin ko 'yon, and that's what I did. Aaminin ko, I'm not into beverage kaya hindi sanay ang dila ko sa mga ganitong inumin.

"Masaya lang ako," he started talking kaya ang balak kong pagsasalin muli ng soju sa baso ko ay naudlot. "After all the pains you've suffered because of me, I'm glad to see you survived." 

"All thanks to you, Eli. Thank you for being the enormous disaster in my life. Because of what you did, you initiated me to be a better person.

Thanks to you because I learned to not beg for a relationship in which I don't receive the same efforts I give."

Nag-iwas siya sa akin ng tingin upang itago niya sa akin ang pag-iyak niya. He's the same person I've met before --- he doesn't like anyone to see his weakness.

"Sorry," nahihikbi niyang sambit. "Patawarin mo ako kung hindi ko natupad 'yong mga pangako ko sa iyo noon.

I'm sorry for not being the perfect boyfriend to you, for not being the person who was always by your side at times when you have a problem." 

"Patawarin mo ko for being selfish... for not worrying about how you feel sa mga reckless actions na nagagawa ko. You've been supporting me and my dream, but I failed to return the favor to you. As my trade-off, sinaktan pa kita dahil sa sobrang pagkabulag ko sa kasikatan. Believe me or not... I regret everything I did to you."

"If you ever think that I'm saying this para kaawaan mo ko para balikan, you're mistaken. I already accepted that we are fated to be separated..." This time, he forced himself to curl a smile in his lips. "Ang mahalaga lang sa akin ngayon is to make everything right. Hindi man ganoon kadali to earn your forgiveness... but I'm willing to wait."

"Just... just be happy with him, Magi."

Hindi na ako nakatiis at tumayo ako sa upuan. Hinila ko ang upuan ko para tumabi sa kaniya bago ko hinawakan ang mukha niya at iniharap sa akin.

He's crying. Ang sakit sa dibdib na iniiyakan niya ako ngayon.

"We all made mistakes, but what's more important is that… you learned from it." I forced myself to smile. "Nagalit ako sa iyo noon kasi sa kabila ng pagsuporta ko sa pangarap mo ay naramdaman ko kung paano naglaho na parang bula ang interes mo sa relasyon natin. 

That's what I'm feeling back then. Ginawa mo akong tanga kakahintay na baka sakaling magbago ka. Naghintay ako na bumalik ka sa dati; but you failed me… paulit-ulit mo akong binigo, Eli.

Little did you know, I was in deep pain. Far from lying low, my life became directionless. Not until Dylan found me at my mess." 

At this moment, I have no choice but to allow myself to cry in pain also. While reminiscing the past, hindi ko mapigilang masaktan.

"Thanks to him, I found my worth... once again. If you think that I'm slowly getting into him, I'm sorry.

Sa mga panahong ikaw ang kailangan ko, kaharap mo ang camera para sa shooting mo, hindi ba? Sa panahong gusto kitang makausap, puro presscon ang dahilan mo. 

Hindi mo ako masisisi kung mahanap ko sa ibang tao 'yong hinahanap kong atensyon mula sa iyo. Patawarin mo ako, Eli. We're both at fault here, 'cause I broke my promise to you... na ikaw lang ang lalaking mamahalin ko hanggang dulo."

I wiped his tears and managed to grin at him. "Maybe our love story has come to an end, Eli. Thank you for giving a sweet yet sour memory of my life.

I will treasure our memories forever, and I'm wishing you to find the right woman who deserves your love."

He hugged me so tight. "Ang hirap man para sa akin na pakawalan ka, pero kung doon ka sasaya, magsasakripisyo ako." Bumitaw siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin. He looked at me with his bare face. "Though it hurts, I'll pray the best for you, Magi."

"I will, too." Ngumiti ako sa kaniya kasabay ng pagbagsak ng luha mula sa aking mga mata. Ipinapangako kong huling beses na ito ng pag-iyak ko kay Eli.

'To Eli, thank you for being one of the best memories of my life. You were the book that's too inestimable to let go, but I'm setting you free for you to find the best one who should own you.'

Mukhang hanggang dito na lang talaga kaming dalawa. But at least, nagkaroon kami ng maayos na closure.

Eli and I are the couple in fiction books or movies that readers and viewers failed to have. 

---

"When evaluating an algebraic expression first, look for the symbols which show the innermost work. That can be expressed by use of parentheses or brackets. If both parentheses and brackets are present, the parentheses are usually the innermost and should be worked first."

Nakaupo ako sa upuan sa harapan while watching at Eli, discussing our lesson for today. Unang araw ng hell week namin ay kaming dalawa kaagad ang sumabak para sa teaching demonstration.

Although handa naman ako mula pa kagabi, still, I can't help but to feel nervous. Feeling ko kasi kapag nakasalang na ko sa harap ay ma-m-mental block ako bigla.

"Example." Nagsimula na siyang magsulat sa whiteboard.

24 + [46 – (2 × 11)]

"Sa given na ito, we should solve what's inside the parentheses first, bago 'yong nasa loob ng bracket. And ganito ang mangyayari."

24 + [46 – 22]

"Next step, solve the numbers inside the bracket."

24 + 24 = 48

"That's how you do it." He started to clear the table before passing the marker to me.

"Now let's jump on translating words into numbers.

Always remember, an equation has an equal sign between two algebraic expressions. So, if we have a sentence that tells us that two phrases are equal, we can translate it into an equation. We look for clue words that mean equals. Some words that translate to the equal sign are..."

I faced the whiteboard and started writing the words: is equal to, is the same as, is, gives, was, and will be.

"Let's have an example." I click the next slide of the Powerpoint presentation of our lesson. "The sum of 6 and 9 is 15."

6 + 9 = 15

"We all know that the word sum means 'to add up' or the word 'addition'. The answer of the two numbers that was added is called the sum, kaya ang operation na ginamit ay addition.

And as it mentioned, the word 'is' means 'equals.' That's how easy it is to translate phrases to an algebraic expression."

That's the cue that our presentation has officially ended. Madali lang ang topics namin since we are aspiring secondary teachers who will be handling Mathematics in high schools.

Our classmates, together with our professor had given us a round of applause as we headed back to our seat. Medyo kabado pa rin ako at nanlalamig ang kamay, pero at least naitawid na rin namin ni Eli ang nakakatensyon na teaching demo ngayong linggo.

"Congrats!" sabay na bulong no'ng dalawang babaita sa tabi ko pagkaraan na makaupo ako sa upuan.

"Thanks," I mouthed before I turned my gaze on Alice and Christine na kasunod naming sasalang sa teaching demo.

I rotated around my chair to seek Eli's behavior who happened to be sitting at the back of my chair. I glanced at him and smiled, vigorously.

"You did a great job," I mumbled.

"Ikaw rin, Magi. I'm so proud of you." 

Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ko nang dahil sa sinabi niya. I was about to return the compliment on Eli, when Dylan suddenly stood up from his seat.

Sa gitna ng pagngingitian namin ni Eli, nagdaan siya at nagpaalam na pupunta raw sa restroom.

"He's jealous. Right after the class, suyuin mo na, huh?" he whispered while chuckling. "I know him for a long time, at alam ko na kapag bigla na lang siyang mag-w-walk-out, tiyak nagseselos 'yon."

Natatawa naman akong tumango bago ako bumalik sa pagkakaayos ng upo. I'm just so happy that we survived the teaching demo, pero hindi ko naman inaasahan na gano'n ang mararamdaman ni Dylan.

He's so grouchy!

---

"Congrats!" As soon as we arrived at the cafeteria, Warren and Yuwi, with Israel just welcomed us there.

Sinagot ko ang apir ni Israel, gayundin naman sa kanya si Eli.

I just can't help but smile once again, kasi parang naubos na 'yong awkwardness ng barkada towards Eli. Nakatulong din siguro 'yong kemerut na open forum namin noong nag-treasure hunt kami.

"Hindi niyo kasama si Dylan?" Warren asked.

"Nagpaalam lang kanina na pupunta ng restroom pero 'di na bumalik. Baka na-flash kasama ng ihi niya." Eli chortled.

Ang sama.

"Lilitaw rin 'yon kapag nagutom. Kumain na lang tayo, tutal minsan lang tayo magkasabay-sabay na kumai," ani Yuwi at nagsiupuan na kami sa isang medyo may kalakihan na table.

"Ang dalang pala no'ng halos araw-araw, e sumasabay ka sa amin na kumain," rinig kong wika ni Julia habang may kinakalkal sa bag niya. "Para lang magpalibre, siyempre."

"Ako na ang bibili. Handa niyo na mga pera niyo." Nakatayo si Israel habang hinihintay kaming mag-abot ng pera.

One piece of burger and soft drinks lang ang pinabili ko since hindi naman ako masyadong gutom. Tiyaka I'm afraid to lost my appetite mamayang lunchtime kung magpapakabusog ako ngayong breaktime.

"May kakaiba kasi sa atmosphere niyong dalawa... kanina pa habang nasa klase, kaya gusto ko… or naming malaman kung ano 'yon." Delancy opened the conversation while poking her fingers at me and Eli, who happened to be my seatmate in this table on behalf of Dylan's absence.

Chor.

"What kind of atmosphere?" I asked, sarcastically.

"Baka stratosphere, Magi," pabalang na sagot ni Julia. "Siguro kayo na ulit, 'no?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong pa niya.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Eli before we laughed in chorus. "Mas malawak pa yata sa wattpad readers ang imaginations niyo." 

"Magi, 'di kami nakikipagbiruan," walang-emosyon na sambit ni Yuwi.

"Hindi rin kami nakikipagbiruan, bro," Eli uttered. 

I glanced at him, muntik na kong malaglag sa kinauupuan when I see him smiling at me from ear-to-ear. "Just because we look good together, doesn't mean we're in a relationship again."

"E, ano nga kasi?" halatang naaatat na tanong ni Warren.

"Dami namang paligoy-ligoy," si Julia naman ang nagsalita.

"Magi means so much to me and I want her to keep forever. Offering her a friendship will suit the best, at least, there's no rejection... there's no break-up."

I smiled as I kept my gaze stuck on the table. Kitang-kita ko sa peripheral vision ko na nakatingin si Eli sa akin ngayon, but I don't want to meet his gaze.

"Talaga bang friends na lang kayo?" Someone caught our attention kaya't sabay-sabay kaming napalingon sa kaniya. "Ang tagal kong nagmukmok sa restroom kasi akala ko kayo na ulit. Buti na lang narinig ko 'yang sinabi mo, Eli."

Napasapo ako sa noo ng marinig ang sinabi ni Dylan. He's a little bit childish to think na nagmukmok siya nang dahil lang doon.

What a joke.

Sakto rin ang dating ni Israel kaya 'yong kalahating inis na nararamdaman ko kay Dylan ay mabuting ikain ko na lang. Ang sakit niya sa ulo.

Few minutes had passed before our long breaktime ended. We were about to go to our respective classrooms when suddenly, three men approached us, uniformly.

"Pwede ba kayong sumama sa lab namin to get your fingerprints?" the man in the middle asked.

"For what?" tanong ni Dylan.

"We're investigating the case of Miss Serrano's grandmother's death. Kailangan namin ng fingerprints niyo in case na may evidences na lumitaw.

It's not like we're suspecting you, but all of you are included in the persons of interest," sambit no'ng isang lalaki at tiyaka lumagpak ang tingin sa akin. "Including you, Miss Serrano."

"Fingerprints lang naman ang kailangan nila. Wala namang mawawala kaya tara na!" ani Warren.

"Yes, at nakuha na rin namin 'yong fingerprints nina Mr. Harris and Mr. Alec." 

"Let's go, habang breaktime pa namin," I uttered.

Sumakay kami sa van na dala nila patungo sa laboratory. May halong kaba ang nararamdaman ko ngayon habang inaalala ang napag-usapan namin ng lawyer that night.

"Well then, let's catch the culprit," may diin na sambit ko. 

"I have listed all the persons of interest," the lawyer said. "And I included the names of your friends, Magi."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What's the sense na isasama mo sila sa kailangang imbestigahan? I am a hundred percent sure na wala sa kanila ang pumatay sa lola ko." 

"We're not sure about that," he said and looked at my eyes. "Sa mundo ng krimen, 'yon pang tao na hindi mo inaasahan na gagawa ng masama, siya pa ang mapapatunayang may-sala."

Ayokong isipin na isa sa mga pinagkakatiwalaan kong tao ang gagawa ng ganitong bagay. There's no way that they will dare to murder my grandmother, to think that they've known me so much.

Alam nilang lahat kung gaano kahalaga sa buhay ko si lola.

As soon as we arrived at the laboratory, we underwent scanning our fingerprints through a machine or classic equipment. Whatever the term was, basta 'yon na iyon.

Isa-isa kaming sumalang para makuhanan ng fingerprint hanggang sa matapos na kaming lahat. Saglit lang naman ang naging process kaya inihatid na rin nila kami sa campus pagkatapos no'n.

"Ang weird lang kasi bakit nila tayo paghihinalaan? Kaibigan tayo ni Magi, at malabo naman sa katotohanan na isa sa atin ang gumawa no'n, 'di ba?" Warren asked.

"Kaya nga," Israel second the motion.

"Intindihin na lang natin sila. Trabaho ng private investigators na siguraduhin at plantsahin ang lahat, kaya hayaan na lang natin sila," Delancy said.

"Pero sana wala sa atin ang gumawa talaga ng bagay na 'yon," Eli said. "I can't imagine how hurtful it was for Magi, if ever."

Eli was right. Kung isa man sa kanila ang nasa likod ng krimen na nangyari sa lola ko, baka hindi ko kayanin na tanggapin 'yon.

---

Pasalampak akong humiga sa kama nang makarating ako sa unit. I was emotionally and physically exhausted, kaya siguro ganitong naibagsak ko kaagad ang katawan ko sa kama.

Things are still swirling on my mind, about who was the person behind the assassination. Until now, wala pa ring lumalabas na ebidensya at hanggang ngayon, 'yong taong pumatay sa lola ko ay may freedom pa rin --- na hindi niya deserve!

"Malaman ko lang talaga kung sino ang taong 'yon, I will make her taste how sweet the lava of hell is."

*phone vibrated*

Kinapa ko sa ulunan ko ang phone ko nang maramdaman kong mag-vibrate ito. It was just another text message coming from Dylan.

Come over to my unit, please. I need your help, Magi.

Mas mabilis pa sa alas-kwatro na bumangon ako sa kama at nag-ayos ng kaunti bago ako patakbong lumabas ng unit ko. Kabado sisenta ko hanggang sa makarating sa tapat ng unit ni Dylan at akmang papindot na upang mag-doorbell nang maabutan kong bukas ang pinto ng unit niya.

"Why the hell was his door open?!" kinakabahan kong tanong sa sarili at kaagad na pumasok sa loob ng unit niya.

Nakakapagtaka naman na ang dilim sa loob. Wala ba siyang kuryente... o baka 'di siya nakapagbayad ng bills niya noong nakaraan kaya brownout dito?

What the hell?

"Dylan? Nasaan ka ba---"

I haven't finished my statement when suddenly, the chandelier in the living room lights up. Nakita ko siya na nakatayo na ngayon sa harap ko, wearing his wide smile which hides the beauty of his eyes.

The place was surrounded by petals of roses, as well as the sofa. In short, ang kalat ng unit ni Dylan. Parang binagyo ng petals of roses ang unit niya, sa totoo lang.

"What's this mess?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong ko. "Kaya mo ba ko pinapunta rito, para walisin lahat ng iyan?"

"Kakatapos lang ng red days mo, mayroon ka ulit?" 

I punch his chest. "Ano ba kasi 'to, huh?!" naiinis kong tanong.

"Gusto ko lang naman mag-date tayo rito. Tapos kaya maraming petals of roses, para kunwari romantic."

"You're insane," sambit ko. "You don't have to mess up your unit like this para lang masabing romantic ang place na 'to. Enough na sa akin ang presence mo just to consider this place as romantic."

Nagulat ako ng mahinang hampasin niya ang braso ko. "Ano ba, Magi! 'Wag ka ngang ganiyan. Kinikilig ako sa iyo, e!"

I just rolled my eyes at him bago ako naupo sa sofa na punong-puno ng petals of roses. "What do you want now?" 

"Simple lang," I heard him say. Now, his voice comes back to normal. "I want you to wear this." 

Napalingon ako sa kaniya at kaagad na sumalubong sa akin ang isang kwintas na may isang napakagandang pendant. Without letting me know, Dylan walked to my back before placing the necklace on my neck.

I touched the pendant and it was so… so smooth and shiny. (Please see the media of this chapter, for the clear illustration of how the pendant of the necklace looks like.)

"What does the pendant mean?" I asked as I revolved around to face him. He sat next to me while grinning. "Ang ganda kasi, e."

"You really want to know?"

I nodded. "What is it?"

"Be my bride, Magi." 

Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko at pinaningkitan ko ng mata si Dylan. "No thanks. I-g-google ko na lang ang meaning nito!" 

---

Couple of days had passed before the private investigator contacted me. May update na raw about sa kaso ni lola. That's why he ordered me to come over to his place. I was with Delancy, bitbit ang kaba na nararamdaman ko.

"Hang in there, Magi. Everything will be alright, and naniniwala akong mabibigyan mo rin ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ng lola mo," Delancy stated while brushing my hair.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, I will do everything just to put that person inside the prison. I will make that person's life a living hell."

Few minutes had passed before we finally confronted the private investigator. He was clasping a bunch of documents in his hands and settled them on his table. 

"Are there any updates?" I didn't hesitate and went straight to the point. "Have you caught who was the culprit?" 

The private investigator rubbed his chin before he spoke. "A witness suddenly revealed himself yesterday." 

"What? There's a witness?" I surprisingly asked. 

"Yes," he answered. "He confessed that he saw a man inside your house while dabbing the floor full of bloodstains." 

I can feel that my hands are starting to shiver, which makes me so uneasy. Now I know what's his gender, the only one left is what's his name. I was so close to uncovering the truth and the justice was so tight from my hand to reach. 

"He saw the guy thrash a piece of cloth he used on the grass, and so he picked it to use as evidence. Ibinigay niya sa amin iyon and we traced the fingerprints attached to it.

Among those fingerprints we've collected from persons under investigation, dalawa sa kanila ang nag-match sa fingerprint na nakuha namin doon sa piece of cloth."

Delancy and I glanced at each other with novelty. Does this mean two persons are involved in the crime?

"The witness asserts that he only saw one person inside the house, so the suspect is only one. Either one of those two is the suspect that we have to catch."

"Who were the two suspected people that matched the fingerprints?" I asked courageously. 

"These are their faces," he handed me the papers kung saan naka-print doon ang mukha ng dalawang suspected persons sa case ni lola.

No way. This is unbelievable!

Why am I seeing Dylan and Eli's face here? Does this mean one of them murdered my grandmother?