The night came. Tuluyang binalot ng dilim ang kakahuyan. Tahimik ang paligid ng bahay nila Duke at wala akong nakikitang anumang paggalaw maliban sa pagsayaw ng mga sanga ng puno.

I never felt so calm my whole life. Staring at the darkness from the balcony has never been so peaceful. Ngayon ko lang ulit naramdaman ang kapayapaan sa puso ko pagkatapos mamatay nila Ama at Ina. But never, never in my dreams I've imagine this scene in my head. Me, in a house full of wolves... I've never wished for this. Simula nang maging Assassin ako ay umikot na sa pagpatay ng mga lobo ang aking buhay.

All my life, since my parents died, I planned for getting the revenge to those people whom I thought killed my parents. Buong buhay kong itinanim ang galit na iyon sa puso ko. I've loved the revenge so much that peace never found a way into my heart. Puro sakit, galit, at hinagpis lang ang bumubuhay sa'kin.

I thought that was it. Kung makakapaghiganti na ako ay pwede na ang lahat, na kaya ko na ulit bumalik sa dati kong buhay. But I was wrong.

It's the revenge that slowly kills the soul. The hatred, the agony. And it was Duke's love who made me realize that doing the same thing to the people what made you suffer won't give you a peace of mind. It was his love which gave me peace.

We're all gathered here at their cozy living area, maybe for a little discussion about the possible threats of the hunters. Ang pinakauna doon ay si Uncle Rayman, Gesa's father. Wala na kaming naging balita sa kanya at ni hindi kami nakapagpaalam noon. If we can't find him earlier than them, maaari nila itong gamitin laban sa amin.

I glanced at Theron. Tahimik itong nakaupo at nakatitig lamang sa coffee table. I don't know what's going on his mind. Alam kong mahirap sa kanya ang kanyang ginawa. I've talked to him earlier, telling him he should go home because that's where his family is and I will forgive him if he'd turn his back on me, but he refused to. Ang sabi'y wala ng silbi pa kung babalik siya doon. He'll be labeled as a traitor to the clan.

Dumating si Ylva at Karleen sa sala na may dalang kape at ibinigay nila iyon sa'min. I guess this will be a long night of discussion. Maging sina Nicholas at Bryan ay nandito ngunit nagbabantay sa labas kasama ni Hansel. Sina Audrey at Mela naman ang nagbabantay sa likod ng bahay.

"You okay?", biglang tanong ni Duke sa'kin. He's slightly brushing his finger on my hands while leaning on my shoulder. I could even feel his breath on the side of my neck. Kanina niya pa ito ginagawa simula nang maupo kami sa sofa, and I can't help but stare at his hands, firmly holding mine. It was like my world he's holding and my whole life depends on him. Tumango lang ako sa kanya bilang pagsagot.

But I guess, I'm not. Hindi ako magiging komportable hangga't hindi natatapos ang gulong ito, hanggang walang maging kasagutan sa mga tanong ko.

"Venus and I... we know each other.", Duke's mother Solene spoke. Nabaling sa kanya ang aking paningin nang marinig iyon. Maging ang atensyon ng lahat ay napako sa kanya. She's sitting beside Fabian, Duke's father, across our place. Itinigil din ni Duke ang kanyang ginagawa sa kamay ko at tahimik na hinintay ang kanyang ina. Maging si Vil ay napaayos ng upo nang marinig iyon.

"We usually spend the days talking about stuffs, dreaming about the unreal, planning our future. Fabian is with us the whole time. Sabay-sabay kaming kumain, mamasyal, at gumawa ng kahit na ano.", she added, slightly smiling as she reminisce their past with my mother. Nakatingin lamang ito sa kanyang kamay habang nagsasalita. Fabian gently stroking her hands at her back, tila naghahandang aluin ang asawa sa maaaring mangyari.

"She's sweet and kind and loving. She has this positive aura of pulling everyone around her. Marami siyang kaibigan, including us, with Fabian.", dagdag nito. Tila nagbabalik ang ngiti ni Ina sa aking ala-ala. Her vibrant and capturing smile, her expressive eyes, and the way she laugh at father's silly jokes. Parang isang palabas na iyon na lumitaw mula sa pinakalikod ng utak ko.

"Maybe that's why Leandro fell in love with her.", aniya. I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my father's name. So, this is about how they've met before. Wala akong ala-ala tungkol sa pagkwekwento nina Ama at Ina tungkol sa kanilang dalawa. All I know is that they love each other unconditionally. I know. For a short moment of time, I've felt the love between them. Natatandaan ko kung paano tumingin si Ama sa kanya at kung papaano siya alagaan ni Ina.

I remember them, promising to each other before every sunset. I remember the time they celebrated their wedding day and we had a special dinner in our backyard. Hindi ko alam ngunit hindi matigil ang pagragasa ng ala-ala sa utak ko. Maybe because I've pushed them too far for so long that I'd never thought about their love. I've been doubting about love when they died. Masyado akong nalinlang ng paghihiganti hanggang sa nalimutan ko ang kanilang pagmamahal sa'kin.

"Fabian and I saw their love for each other. Kahit tutol ang mga magulang ng dalawa ay hindi nila iyon inalintana. Nandoon kami sa mga pinakamasasaya at pinakamalungkot na ala-ala nilang dalawa bago sila ikasal. Nakita ko kung paano sila lumaban sa bawat pagsubok, sa bawat problema. Venus' love Leandro so much and Leandro's madly and crazily in love with her. It was the greatest love I've ever saw my whole life. A love that risks, fights and endures.", she added. For a moment, I wished that I can see their past. I want to see the glistening love they have for each other. Gusto kong balikan ang mga panahong buhay sila at kasama ako sa pagmamahal na iyon.

"But fate is cruel to them.", aniya. "Kung kailan pa sila masaya ay saka pa sila maghihiwalay.", her voice cracked and her sobs started. The graceful and mighty alpha female disappeared. All I can see is a friend longing for her friend's smiles and laugh. Inalo siya ng kanyang asawa habang binigyan naman siya ni Karleen ng maiinom na tubig. Hindi ko pa man naririnig ay nagsimula ng sumikip ang dibdib ko dahil doon. I know what happened. I know the tragedy because I was there. And the feeling of being left alone, the feeling of losing two of the most important people in your life still haunts me.

Saglit na hinawakan ni Duke ang kamay ko, dahilan kung bakit natuon doon ang aking atensyon kahit na nakita kong tumayo ang kanyang ina at pumanhik sa ikalawang palapag. Hindi man siya nagsasalita ay alam ko ang ipinapahiwatig noon.

After my parent's death, I promised myself not to cry anymore. That I need to be strong, and weakness must not have a part in me. Kahit na basag ako sa mga panahong iyon ay kailangan kong magpakatatag para sa kanila. I can't remember the last time I cry, but hearing these things... it feels like the wounds slowly opening again and my eyes starting to sting. But having Duke beside me, I am not afraid to be weak. His touch feels like my safe heaven. Tila sinasabi ng mga iyon na hindi ko kailangang maging matatag sa bawat oras, that I still need to burst this sadness out before it will consume me.

Bumalik ang ina ni Duke sa sala bitbit ang isang maliit na baul. Inilagay niya ito sa coffee table sa harapan ko at bumalik sa pagkakaupo. I stared at the brown wooden chest for a minute before she told me that I have to open it. Napatingin ako kay Duke dahil doon. He silently nod, encouraging me to open the mystery box.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago gumalaw upang kunin iyon. I don't know what's inside this. Maaaring naglalaman ito ng mga bagay na gugulo sa buong pagkatao ko o makakasakit sa'kin, ngunit hindi ako magdadalawang isip na buksan iyon. If ever I'll fall in my knees, I have Duke, and he'll catch me before I could even stumble.

I slowly opened the chest in my lap. Inisa-isa kong tinignan ang laman noon, karamihan ay mga sulat at gamit. I saw a wolf pendant inside and a foldable knife.

"That's is your mother's necklace. Ibinigay sa kanya ni Leandro noon.", Solene explained. Tumango ako at itinabi iyon sa ibabaw ng coffee table. I was about to close the chest when I saw a notebook at the bottom of it. Dali-dali ko iyong kinuha at inilabas. I scanned the insides of it. Nakita ko ang pamilyar na sulat kamay ni Ina sa lahat ng pahina nito. This maybe her diary.

"Paano napunta sa inyo 'to?", I can't help but ask her. Nagkatinginan ang mag-asawa bago tumingin sa'kin.

"Ibinilin sa'min ni Venus na kunin iyan kung sakali mang mamatay siya.", Fabian was the one to answer. My brows creased in confusion, waiting for their additional explanation.

"Nandoon kami noong namatay sila. I saw how they died. Nakita ko kung paano namatay ang dalawang matalik na kaibigan ko.", Solene added between her sobs. "I was few steps away pero wala akong magawa! They're helpless. I'm helpless. Masyado silang madami... and Venus. She told me to go away. She doesn't want our help! Kahit sa huling panahon ay ibang tao pa rin ang nasa isip niya.", dagdag nito. Mas lalo akong naguluhan dahil doon. Gusto kong magtanong ngunit tila nablanko ang isip ko sa kanyang isiniwalat. My lips parted but words didn't came out. My mind is in chaos and I can't organize the right words to say.

"The red pill, they injected it on Venus.", she added. Tila paulit-ulit iyong isinisigaw sa tainga ko.

"Dr. Alvarad injected it to her. It was her and Chief who killed your parents. Hindi kami, Gabriel. Hindi!"