I am alone in the meeting room which is between the hunters and the sandigs barracks. Understandably though since I arrived early. Isagani said that he will meet us here, so I asked the others to come two hours early. Seems like the five of us will have the same challenge. So it's either as extreme as Jade and Migo's challenges or, something boring like Cielo's tasks.

A few minutes after, Jade and Migo arrive. They quietly sit on the chair in front of me, which is strange. When there's only the three of us, they always include me in their playful banter. Jade has bags under her eyes, she might have cried last night after hearing that Renz is expecting Cielo to be pregnant. And Migo, well, he's glancing from time to time at Jade and then he will scowl at the state she is in.

"We need a Babaylan in the team," I say to the two.

I watch the two stare blankly at me. Ugh, these two. This is not the time to wallow in their emotions, especially Migo! He's the one who warned us, shouldn't he be the one panicking about our situation?

"I never dreamed to become a doctor," Jade says.

"Are you going to invite Mayumi to the team?" Migo asks.

Damn! Why is it that I feel alone in this quest for information? No, there's Cielo, so that makes the two of us. Ugh, if only she did not steal Renz from Jade, then this would be easier.

"Jade, we know you are in a relationship with the Rajah." I watch Jade look at Migo and then glare at me, but I continue, "We need you to ask him to transfer Cielo into the Babaylan workgroup."

"I am not with the Rajah," Jade says. "Not anymore."

"Who ended the relationship?"

"I did."

"Then go back to him. Apologize and rekindle that fire. Your relationship with him is important. Seduce him to give you things."

Jade stands up and slaps me across my face. I expect this kind of reaction from her. I turn to look at her. She's flushing with anger. But I know I am in the right.

"Renz and Cielo's relationship is detrimental. But yours and the Rajah are something that we need. And you know that."

"I'm not that type of woman!"

"And I am asking you to be that type of woman. He's interested in you, he will give you things. However, I am not sure of the limit of what you can ask from him. First, try asking him to make Cielo a Ba--"

"Aian, you should stop now or I will also get angry," Migo cuts in.

F*ck these two. Can't they understand the predicament that we are in?!

"I'm saying that you two should stop playing around with emotions and start acting like an adult."

"Aian!" Migo shouts. "Right now, I am angry at Renz, so stop, or I will get angry at you too!"

"You big buffoon! Do you think I am in a state when I can play friends with you?! Get angry at me, I don't care, you need to wake up and look around this place! You are too comfortable! We are not in a f*cking paradise!" I scream, huffing in anger.

Yeah, I lost it, but I don't care, I need them to wake up. I need them to come back. We've been relaxing for far too long. We need to really take a look now.

I turn to Jade. "And you! You need to gather yourself. You've been depressed and wallowing in your grief for far too long! You're too selfish to only care about what you feel! And your pride even pushes you to use the Rajah! So, f*ck you! You need to take responsibility for that!"

Migo raises his fist to punch me but he stops and controls himself. I snort. "What?! Hesitating to punch me? Come on, do it! Then wake up from your f*cking illusions! You even thought you had a sister! How delusional can you get!"

Migo's hand loosens on my collar and he whispers, "I have a sister, I know of it. I did not dream of her existence."

"Then, tell me how she looks like!"

"I... She..."

"You can't! Because you f*cking don't have one! Ask Jade, she knows that you also don't have a sister!"

Migo lets me go and takes a step back, looking back and forth between Jade and me. He looks dazed and unstable.

"What the heck is wrong with you, Aian!" Jade scolds and goes to Migo.

Migo is clutching and shaking his head. "No, no, no," he whispers under his breath.

Jade massages his back and looks murderously at me. "Shhh, it will be okay, Migo."

"I have a sister. Her name is, what is her name?" He looks at Jade as if she can tell him the name of a sister that doesn't exist.

"Migo, you'll remember her, okay? Just relax."

What the f*ck! She should've straight up told him that he doesn't have one! Why is she reassuring him like this!

"I have a sister, right?" he whispers.

Instead of answering, Jade reaches out and hugs him. She glares at me and she looks protective of him. Then she mouths, "Damn you!"

After a few minutes, the confusion is gone from his face. He's smiling now. "Why are you comforting me when it should be me doing that for you," Migo says.

"I'm fine, Migo. You don't have to worry about me," Jade answers.

He caresses her face and gently touches the bags under her eyes. "Look at this. This is not how a person who's doing okay should look like."

"Last night crying will be the last. I promise you."

This is it. This bubble with only the two of them is something I cannot enter. I feel so out of the loop in their lives when I should be close to them. From the way Jade is protective of him, and how it reverses, does it mean that it's been happening for quite a while and Jade never told me? How could she! She should have depended on me more. Whatever the thing with Migo, we should have talked about it.

Now, my anger abates. I feel like I am not their friend at all. I feel bad and exhausted, that I feel stupid for lashing at them.

"Does Cielo approves of becoming a Babaylan?" Jade interrupts my thoughts.

"Yes," my voice sounds low. "She's aware of the need to have a Babaylan among us. But it's hard to talk to her lately. She's too busy as a Cleaner."

Jade supports Migo to a chair and comes closer to me. "I will ask him, but I can't make any promises," she whispers. "I don't have a hold on him," she adds.

I nod. Damn, this is tiring.

"Also, don't pull that off with Migo again," she warns.

"I won't. I will just let him live in a lie if that's what you want," I answer and Jade glares at me.

Suddenly, the door opens and Renz comes in. It is too late when Jade and I see Migo rushing over to Renz and punching him in the face. Renz hits the door.

"I told you not to hurt her!" Migo howls at him.

Renz massages his cheeks and stands up. The pain looks nothing to him. Maybe it's because of his training with the other sandigs. Renz and I had been on it for weeks, so we are now physically stronger than Migo. Besides, his and Jade's challenges are harder so their hunter's training is not as hard as Renz and mine.

"I'm not sure what you're referring to," Renz says.

"Asshole," Migo says. His voice is full of rage. "I saw her crying last night!"

Renz scowls, surprise is visible on his face. He knew Jade is not the type to cry easily. Is he thinking that Jade loves him after all?

"What—" Renz starts.

"I want you out of her life," Migo says, cutting him off.

Renz seems annoyed but then he sneers at Migo. "And what? So you could freely screw her?"

I take a step forward, angry as well, but I stop myself when Migo punches Renz again. He reels back this time. And a smile forms on his face. Damn. I guess Jade and Migo's closeness is one reason those two broke up. Renz and I might feel the same way, that is, that we can't enter that restrictive bubble that Jade and Migo are in.

"Best friends, huh. I'm correct in not believing in that phony relationship. I'm sure one of you is keeping that afloat, and I'm sure as hell it ain't Jade."

"Don't you dare put dirt on our friendship!" Migo is seething with anger.

"I am being honest. You are too attached to her. Have you stolen a few kisses when she's unguarded? She's open to exploitation."

Migo raises his fist again but Renz allows him to hit him. I don't know why, though. Are Migo's punches so light that it doesn't matter to him how many he receives? Or is this some kind of retribution?

Then Migo raises him through his collar and pushes him against the table.

"I've been in a lot more relationships than you can count and those relationships always end."

Migo is not bragging. He's making a point to him. Although, Renz might take it as bigotry. And like Renz, I also understood his mentality. I've always asked why he didn't make a move on Jade. Seems like he's more afraid to lose her friendship than to lose her to some other man.

Then Renz laughs. "You hypocrite and coward!"

This time, Renz pulls Migo closer and in a soft voice, he whispers, "So you admit. You want to f*ck her."