CHAPTER ONE

"You are now under arrest for committing such an unacceptable crime," my jaw dropped from what he said while cuffing my hands again. 

I was dumbfounded for hours after we were attacked earlier in the conference room. La vie's who found me laying on the floor unconscious, my neck was already treated.

Tinanong ko sila kung sila rin ba ang gumamot sa sugat ko, but turned out hindi raw sila gumawa noon.

I bet that red eyes hot-freaking guy dumped me with respect.

Hindi pa rin ma alis sa isipan ko nang halikan niya ako sa leeg. Every time I remember—it gives me shiver like how I felt when it was still fresh. I crave for more with his lips.

"Pakawalan mo ko," walang ganag sambit ko sa kanya dahil alam kong makakawala rin ako sa prosecution ng VS. "I don't even know why I'm being prosecute, so did you cuffed my hands?"

He smiled and it's creepy. "The President asked me because of what you did," kumunot ang noo ko sa naging sagot niya.

Ano naman ang kinalaman ng pinsan ko dito? Why would he let his cousin being prosecuted? We are a family damn it!

"Tell him to fuck off," I rolled my eyes and laid my feet on the table instead.

"There's no need Chloe the great," napaigtad ako ng tayo nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses niya.

"Fuck you Dwight! Fuck you!" ka-agad ko siyang sinugod ng sipa at suntok, but in the end he turned me down on the floor.

I groaned in pain when I felt my back was triggered.

"I would never just let you to attacked me like that Commander, my looks will be wasted if you ruin my image." Then he laughed like he didn't see me down here.

What an asshole.

"Explain why the fuck I'm in this cuffed which is not even gold?"

Ngumisi siya. "You still don't realize why?"

I frowned at him.

"You bombed the fucking conference room, and hindi ka man lang ba nagtaka bakit hinimatay ka?" I can feel it in his voice that there was a mixed tease in it!

"Wait... what? Did I really do that?" nagtatakang tanong ko dahil wala akong maalala sa nangyari kaninang umaga.

"You killed the half of them with your own-made bomb!" may galit sa mukha niya na medyo nang-iinis sa 'kin, at na-asar ako 'dun.

"Oo, gumagawa ako ng bomba but hell! There's no way I'm using it!" I rolled my eyes, the moment I unlocked the cuffs on my hands—I threw them out on his face.

"Mierda!" that was a thanks in curse dahil na nahuli ng mga kamay niya ang posas.

"You're always brutal!" reklamo pa niya at naglakad ako palapit sa kanya. "And you're always accusing me without investigating! You should have known first!"

"I am no a Lawyer," walang emosyong sabi niya. "Yeah, because you're a doctor."

Bumuntong hininga ako.

"I'm telling you the truth. Hindi ako ang nagpasabog ng bomba, I just make— produced and distribute to them inside the VS. Nothing more, unless I'm alone and dying." Seryoso na sabi ko.

Tanggap ko pa ang pag-bibiro niya sa mga bagay-bagay na 'ming magpinsan, I also loved being teased with some kind of stuffs, pero sa oras na hindi na tama ang ginagawa nila sa 'kin— hinding-hindi nila magugustuhan ang ugali ko.

Accusing someone for fun is no good. It may affects anyone differently, kaya hindi ako gumaganti pabalik.

"But it was true Chloe, hindi ako pupunta rito dahil lang sa maling akala. They got evidences since they found your fingerprints on it." I chukled.

"Of course, they would because I held it!" hiyaw ko.

"No, it's not the only one." Umayos siya sa pagka-upo at sumimsim muna siya sa kanyang tsaa bago nagpatuloy. "They got a CCTV footage of you throwing it."

"What?" how could I fucking do that? I can actually kill everyone in a minute, bakit ako gagamit ng bomba?

"Pinsan kita at mahal kita bilang pamilya, pero mas mahalaga ang hustiya ng mga inosenteng namatay na nadamay sa ginawa mo. I couldn't blame them for blaming you because the the CCTV was so clear," then he took his iPad and handed it on me.

"Take a look at this," tahimik ko yung kinuha mula sa kamay niya at kunot-noong pinanood ang video.

A tall woman around 6'2 ft. was wearing a black midi leather skirt with a slit on the side, makikita rin ang extra na baril at kutsilyo sa kanyang hita na-nakadikit roon— wearing a black tube top with a cover-up blazer in black, she was wearing red ankle boots.

She has this mid-wavy brown hair, she has bangs as well.

Because it's me.

While looking at myself in the video, I was pointing my gun at the man who was in his 30s. I couldn't remember that I met this guy, and I'm even curious about what we are talking about. But it looks like, it was important.

I gasped in shock to the point I almost loosened my grip on the iPad when I pointed the gun at his head.

Hindi naman bago sa 'kin tumutok ng baril sa mga tao, pero iba 'to eh and I couldn't even remember a thing.

Seconds later, naisahan ako 'nung matanda at ipininda ako sa pader. Sa pagka-alala ko hindi matanda ang gumawa sa 'kin ng ganoon kanina, it was a good-looking man.

As I continue to observe, I know there is something wrong going on with all of us. They're messing around.

I was thinking of the next scene that would happen, he was supposed to be cuffing my hands as he point his sword at my neck, and that kind of sensual doing.

It was me—throwing the bomb from waste where it was designated as a belt. And that's where the time I fainted and here I am; in this place.

"It's a clone," I bit my lower lip and returned the iPad.

"Unfortunately, you are the right commander." There is something with his smile, and it's fucking weird.

"But... do you know who the guy you're pointing at?" nagtaas ako ng kilay.

"Yes," umiling ako. "It was Lorenzo," he was just smiling and didn't say a thing.

I thought it was the guy who has red eyes but turned out that it was my sister's lover.

NAPABUNTONG hininga akong napahiga sa aking kama na walang saplot maliban sa undergarments na black. Hindi ko na mabilang kung pang-ilan na akong huminga ng malalim na paulit-ulit.

My phone caught my attention dahil kanina pa kasi itong tumutunog at naiirita na ako sa ingay. Inis kong kinuha iyon mula sa side table.

Bye Sucks Sang Gwen☠️⚔️🏹💣🪦🕯️🔫

Elouise: who the fuck changed the group chat name again?
Gusto mo na bang mamatay?

Clarke: oy @Ethan gusto mo na ba daw mamatay sabi ng lalabs mo HAHAHA

Elouise: ikaw ang uunahin kong patayin ngayong gabi @Clarke 

Ethan: I don't want to fucking die Aguilar unless you die first.

Gab: ayan na naman sila @Nero

Nero: @Gab enjoy your last day bud. Joaquin will kill you for leaving him yesterday

Zorel: @Ethan ramen night today in case you nakalimot hehehe

Gab: conyo girl

Clarke: we should not miss our ramen night!

Elouise: Clarke's right you bastard.

Ethan: wala akong pera @Zorel. Kay @Zade muna kayo marami siyang pera
Saw her earlier at the bank with tons of cash.
Btw, I have a name @Elouise.

Zade: I just literally woke you fucking assholes! Yes I have tons pero hindi ko naman sinabi na libre iyon ibigay—kung magbabayad ba naman kayo, pwedeng-pwede.

Elouise: what matters right now is we should not miss this gathering so @Ethan you better pay @Zade.

Saive: I'll pay. I know you all are just waiting for me to be alive the fuck in here.

Clarke: buhay na si comms @everyone

Dwight: alive but pissed.

Rio: who pissed my baby?

Nero: tangina screenshot na 'tin 'to

Zorel: I did a couple of times already. In case he'll check through my phone to delete it.

Rio removed a message.

Ethan: too late bud @Rio

Saive: I'm no one's baby

Elouise: you can't fool us best friend.

Saive: I fool no one, but I end what has to end.

Zorel: go cry about it @Rio

Gunther: he'll say the 'wrong send' card in a moment

Rio: sorry it got slipped. So it's a wrong send, was about to send that to my baby.

I immediately turned off my phone and didn't bother to open it again anymore. I went off from my bed and prepared myself for tonight's gathering at l'amour absence; the famous ramen restaurant to all of the known members of VS.

I picked a simple black slip dress with a pair of stiletto heels. I looked at myself in the mirror—questioning why the hell I'm making myself look too good. Put heavy makeup on my face, especially on the eye part to make it look wide(since I'm a singkit), tied up my wavy hair, and let my side bangs out on each side.

I drew out a deep breath and tried to get back my sense again of why I'm doing this. I should be convincing myself that it's not because of that bastard, but damn it.

Inis kong kinuha ang la cagole sling bang at hindi pinansin ang mga taong nakasalubong pababa mula sa house na 'min at walang imik na nagmaneho patungo d'on. When I arrived at the veneu, ang mga baliw kong kaibigan ay lahat napahinto sa kanilang mga ginagawa at tinignan ako.

"Bad mood kaagad si commander," Nero immediately opened the fucking tease that will continue to rot me up until the of the time we are going to have.

"The baddass commander is here," and of course, my Aguilar will be present.

"Best friend!" Martinez is here pala? She's going to rot me in hell again!

At syempre si Romero ay hindi mawawala. A fucking royalty. "Chloe, yung likod mo, dumudugo," uupo na sana ako sa upuan ngunit natigilan ako sa sinabi niya.

Mahina lang iyon para marinig ko, ewan ko na lang kung may nakarinig mang iba 'non.

Did he just mention my life? Tinitigan ko lang siya at binigyan ng matalas na tingin, just to warn him not to open up more about it; gladily he understood what I did. He's the only one who knows me behind inside our circle.

"Cousin," si Gunther na bumati lang at nginitian ko naman at tuluyang umupo sa upuan ko.

Everyone continued their chit chats, nakikinig lang ako at sumasagot minsan. Hindi ko kayang makisama sa kabaliwan nila sa ngayon dahil sa nangyari na nakaapekto sa mood ko ngayong gabi, I feel like it has a big impact on me.

With that one message got me. Really? Bakit ako nagmamarupok?

Later on, Zorel, Zade, and Gabriel arrived together with Dwight. The four got one bucket of drink each, making me chuckle in annoyance. I hate this part. They know how bad I am at drinking alcohol, If I'm stressed I could finish all those buckets, and now they are tempting me to do it again like years ago!

"The great escape!!!" Zade made the idiots alive and began chanting.

"Hand me the Isabella Whisky please," Zade nodded at Elouise and immediately handed her the bottle of Bacardi. "Give me my Tequila Ley," as always, the fucking Romero will always drink his fave.

I have been thinking of what drink I should grab. Paninindigan ko ba ang pagka-lasingera ko? I know it's bad for my health, but then I remembered I had enough money to sustain my existence and I think that's okay naman diba?

It's my life that I should live with. But the limitations are always there that I'm aware of. 

Not in my moving on phase, because I do not want anyone to interfere with me in that phase of my life. "D'Amalfi Limoncello Supreme is good since it's a high-end brand of alcohol, but I don't think it will help me cope this time. Give me a bottle of Jägermeister instead, please..." 

Zade and Gab looked at each other, Dwight shrugged like he didn't hear me say those, Zorel was just looking at the three like— waiting for them to hand the drink. "What? Oh, have I forgotten to say please?"

Zorel shocked his head with a 'no' but the faces of Zade and Gab make me confused so badly, especially the fucking face of Dwight.

"Guys... just give me the fucking bottle please, or else I'll—"

Natigilan ako sa pagsasalita ng may dumating "Or else what?" nilingon ko siya.

He was looking me straightly in the eyes while pouring the jager on the glass shot, and then he placed it on where I was seated. My heart began to pound loudly and I could clearly hear it, my body starts to feel the heat the moment he sat beside me. "Or else what, Saivey?"

I gulped so hard and tried to look away from his gaze.  "I'll leave, so I could fucking rest." I cleared my throat.

"You just got here Commander, stop making lame excuses," si Romero na naman. I couldn't help to roll my eyes at him. Andami na niyang nalalaman tungkol sa buhay ko, and I don not even know why we became friends out a sudden.

"I know but it doesn't mean that I will be staying here for long," pambato ko sa kanya at tinignan si Rio.

"I'm leaving, so please enjoy the party. I'll just the gifts through your bank accounts," I wore my sling back and I wasn't hesitating to leave even though I'm aware na it was kind of disrespectful.

"You stay Cousin," I froze when I heard him. Napabalik ako ng tingin sa kanilang lahat, Gunther was chugging the bottle of tequila while looking at me with his deadly eyes. 

I sighed. Fine, I'll stay for the sake of our friendship. Bumalik ako sa upuan ko at walang sabing kinuha ang isang baso ng inumin at lumagok ng walang preno. I drank everything and placing it back on the table, sabay sulyap sa lalakeng nasa tabi ko.

Naparolyo ako ng mata sa inis. "I hate you too," my jaw clenched I fisted my palms. Hindi ako nagsalita at hindi siya pinansin, ang ginawa ko, nagpa-buhos muli ako ng inumin sa glass shot; same procedure parin.

"You're a member of the River 8 team," napatigil ako sa pag-inom dahil sa sinabi niya, my lips remained on the verge of the glass shot while thinking about where did he find out about it.

I cleared my throat and just ignored him like I don't hear anything from him kasi drunk ako. I heard him chuckle in annoyance, and that was the plan to make him pissed, and he really is.

"I'm not," hindi ko alam bakit biglang lumabas iyon sa bibig ko. Bigla na lang akong nagka-mind blowing dahil sa iniisip ko. I remembered something that could change everything because of what I just said.

Shit. I have to take it back. I have to make lame excuses!

Shit. Shit. Shit! I'm fucking doomed!

"I mean... stop talking to me, I'm not into you and you're not even my type." I bit my lower lip and took another glass of drink, dahil alam kong isa yung malaking kahihiyan na madadala ko habang buhay.

"I apologize, I was just asking... did that make you uncomfortable?" kailangan pa ba iyan itanong?

Duh. I just gave a stare as a yes, hoping for him to get what I was trying to say. 

"Is that Alastair?" rinig kong sabi ni Zorel habang nag-uusap sila ni Martinez, ganon din siya kaya lumingon at nagtama ang aming mga mata, agad akong umiwas at napunta ang gawi sa isang de Perio.

Shit. Dumagdag pa tong isang 'to eh. Pati ba naman dito may responsibilidad ako? Well, sino ba naman ako para mag reklamo eh I was informed the day before our friendshipsarry.

Habang sumisimsim ng alak ay kaswal kong hinawakan ang aking batok. I put down the glass and tied my hair, I looked to the other side where a group of people on that one couch was drinking.

This is how I give my sign as a commander. It may seem like I was seducing this guy beside me, but if you'll ask the members, It was a fucking senyales na they should be alarmed.

"Ah, so you're into that guy" kaagad napalitan ng inis ang mukha ko dahil sa sinabi niya. "You know what?" hindi ko na napigilan ang mag taas ng boses dahil naiirita na talaga ako sa kanya.

"Know what?" at talagang sumasagot pa talaga siya ha. "You are so annoying! Stop talking to me!" napalakas ata ang sabi ko dahilan ng pag lingon nilang lahat sa 'kin (sa table lang naman namin).

Ngumisi siya at narinig ko ang mahina niyang tawa. Sasabat pa sana ako pero hinyaan ko na lang, I'm glad he did shut up, but the thing is... that this guy is staring at me from head to toe. Tinigilan niya 'nga ang pakikipagdaldalan sa 'kin. But I wasn't inormed and didn't have the time to overthink that he'll be staring at me like this, and like he was judging my whole existence.

AVRLBNZ