I look at my hands. The crying has been so much that I feel numb. The tears also refused to fall now. I stand up and wipe my skirt. I comb my hair with my fingers and ensure that there are no tears. I touch my cheeks. I can do nothing about its puffiness. It will take time before it abates. Hopefully, no one will realize how much I am wounded.

When I enter the plaza, the feast is already starting. The music blares in the background. There are dancers in the middle, lovely women who are flawless and gay.

I reach the table where everyone I know is, except Cielo. They might have allowed her absence due to the crab poisoning. Once seated, they do not comment on how I look and I don't want them to. I grab a pitcher of alcohol, drink straight from it and drown myself with half of its contents.

Right after, I go to the stage and dance with the other women. I really believed that when Renz kissed me, there is something I could salvage. But there's nothing anymore. I twirl and almost fall if not for a pair of arms that caught me on time. I smile sweetly at the stranger, as sweet as I could manage, without showing the hurt. Maybe, that's what guys like, girls who smile even when there's no reason at all.

He smiles back and takes my hands. We dance together while I ignore the feel of his hands on my body. He pulls me closer. I can feel the bulge between his legs. I giggle at the realization that someone still desires a woman like me.

"Lady, come to my house," he whispers. His hands go up and down along my back as if he's a masseuse.

I giggle again and whisper, "And what are we to do at your house?" I tilt my head to him and wind my arms around his neck.

"Pleasure," he whispers back.

"Oh!" I exclaim and he pulls me closer so I can feel him better.

Suddenly, someone kicks the Hirayan from me.

"If you're not gonna behave, I will force you back to the Babaylan's residence."

It's Migo. He is angry. Seeing his state of mind, the Hirayan decides not to force his desires on me and instead, leave.

"What are you doing here? You should be with Mayumi at the Babaylan's residence. Just go away." I dismiss him.

"Luckily I came. You're a mess."

I snort. His left arm is still in a bandage. It's only his right arm that he can use. It's still weak though. "Said by someone injured."

"I am not in pain anymore, but seems like you are."

I smirk. "Pain? I am numb, idiot."

I walk away and I hear him click his tongue then he reaches for my arm.

"What!" I recoil from him and hit his healing arm. He winces at the pain. I feel guilty but instead, I say, "That's what you get from trying to stop me."

"You're not in a state that you should be partying," he insists.

I turn to him. "What should I do then?!" I bite my lips to stop the tears. Am I too obvious? "Tell me!"

"I don't know, yet. But for now, you need to take a rest."

I laugh, although it's laced with pain. "Are you going with me to my room?"

"Yes, if only I can carry you back, I will. Damn this injury," he answers. "After that, we'll talk about it like we've always done before."

My shoulders drop and I approach him. I meant to seduce him but with this kind of response, I feel guilty for even thinking it.

"I'm sorry," I whisper and lean my forehead on his chest. He reaches for the back of my head and with his only functioning arm, he pulls me closer and hugs me.

"You'll forget about him. I assure you. When we get back to our time, we will be so busy that you would question the you today for feeling like this."

I pull back and look at him. Sometimes, he knows how to act like a caring friend.

"Now, let's return to our designated table. Else, Aian will be in a fight without me. You know how hopeless he is with fighting," Migo chides.

However, the tension at our designated table is higher than on the dance floor. Aian is clutching Renz's collar. He is gritting his teeth and his other fist is tightly closed into a fist. Laya is standing up, awkwardly smiling between the two men while holding Aian's clenched arm.

"If you did something to her, I swear, you--" Aian says.

"Oh, shut up, you already punched the guy, what else can you do?" Laya interjects. His strength alone is enough to stop Aian from giving Renz another punch. When Laya sees us, "Migo! come help cool your friend down?"

"I'd rather have him heated up," Migo refuses.

"Fine. This requires a very long, serious conversation tomorrow," Laya says. When both Aian and Renz continue to glare at each other, he adds, "Are you going to stop this threatening vibe or should I call the other sandigs now?" he warns.

Fortunately, the two sit down. I sit between Aian and Laya and pour the two a drink. I also pour myself one and drown it in just a few gulps. I continue serving the two and Migo with the alcoholic drink that we now know as Lambanog. It still has its milky white color and who'd know that this drink has a high alcohol content.

However, Laya assures us that the Kalahay workgroup, which handles all the food in Hiraya, adds water or something else to the drink, to lower its potency. They haven't lowered it enough though, because the morning of the last feast was the worst hangover that I ever had.

When someone hits the drums, we all turn our attention to the dais in front of us. An old man is on the platform. He is standing and massaging his throat. Behind him is Rajah Sinagtala.