Winty's note: Hi! Thank you so much for waiting (⁠つ⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)⁠つ

JASIA woke up at dawn to ready herself for her rehearsal. Imris' class were on break, so she got to focus on her practice. Pagkalabas niya sa kuwarto, dinaanan niya si Isabella upang kumbinsihing doon muna ito manatili kina Xibel. Ayaw niyang mag-isa lang dito ang babae dahil baka may maisipan itong hindi maganda sa sarili o baka magkaroon na naman ito ng atake. Isa pa, nasaksakihan niya na rin no'ng nakaraan kung gaano kapanatag si Isabella kay Xibel kaya naman mas mainam na doon muna ang babae.

At mabuti na lang dahil pumayag ito.

Iniwan niya ito sa bahay ni Xibel bago dumiretso sa kompanya. It was still 7:30 but Ameri was already there, hugging all the space while practicing her routine.

"Good morning," bati niya rito bago umupo sa sahig at sinuot ang kaniyang pointe shoes.

Tumigil naman ito sa pagsayaw. Inirapan siya nito. "There's nothing good in the morning kaya kapag mukha mo ang nakikita ko."

Isang tawa lang ginante niya. Mukhang bumalik na ito sa dating Ameri.

"Mukhang okay ka na."

"Of course! I would never going to cry again for that man. Ew!" Lumapit ito sa kaniya habang nakapamaywang. "And guess what, Jasia? His toothpaste commercial is cancelled!"

"Oh my gosh!" Napatakip siya sa gulat na kaagad ding napalitan ng tawa.

Humalakhak din si Ameri. "Oh my gosh talaga. Deserve niya 'yon!"

Tinalikuran na siya nito at bumalik na sa routine. Siya naman ay nagtungo sa bar upang mag-warm up muna. While she was doing the basic ballet positions, she was glancing at Ameri's swift move. Her hands were like feathers, and as she glided across the room, the sound of her shoes was never brass, but rather, soothing. How did she do it?

Napansin siya nitong nakatitig. Tiningnan naman siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa. "What?"

Umiling siya. "I'm just admiring how you move."

Tinaasan naman siya nito ng kilay na kaagad ding napalitan ng isang ngisi. "You should be. I'm the swiftest ballerina, after all."

She couldn't agree more. Ameri was indeed the swiftest she had seen.

"But your moves are way sharper than mine. You can adapt quick. I like that about you." Tinaas ito ang isang paa. "Love your feet too. Tough muscles right there."

Natigilan naman siya sa sinabi nito. Ito ang unang pagkakataong pinuri siya ng babae nang walang halong kahit anong pangungutya o bahid man lang ng pagmamalaki. Matapos din ng araw na sinamahan niya ito sa condominium, parang nawala na ang malaking pader sa pagitan nila.

Jasia thought that maybe this time, they could be good friends.

Naglakad papalapit si Ameri sa kaniya. "Jasia, I don't like owing anyone, especially to my rival. So if you have anything you need, tell me."

Napaisip naman siya. Wala naman siyang planong humingi ng kapalit subalit sumagi sa isipan niyang may nakatatandang kapatid nga pala itong si Ameri. At ang kapatid niyang iyon ay isang sikat na journalist.

May ideyang pumasok sa isipan niya.

Makahulugan niyang tiningnan ang babae. "Actually, I have something to ask of you."

XIBEL sat on his usual treacherous sofa as he watched the Character Restoration progress. It was now at fifty-five percent. And it was just getting faster day by day.

"Huwag kang malikot. Nakakainis na nga 'tong buhok mo sa sobrang kapal, ang likot mo pa."

His gaze towards the floor, he watched the two women banting. Isabella was busy tying Imris her into a bun.

"Bakit kasi ang kapal nitong buhok mo? Nakakainis may naalala ako sa 'yo. Palitin mo nga 'tong mukha mo!"

"It's not my problem!" sagot naman ni Imris.

No'ng hindi niya pa nakikita si Isabella, pansin niyang magkamukha si Imris at Jasia. But he never really thought of questioning the woman for he couldn't sense anything that would make her a mother. She was too focused with her career. But now that Isabella was here, she and Imris were way more similar.

The eyes, the shape of their foreheads, and the plump on their cheeks mirrored their blood with perfection.

Xibel wanted to be furious at her, but he couldn't bring himself to feel that way. This couldn't also be the cause of the system, but rather, his own kind of guilt. Isabella had gone through a lot. How she was betrayed, fooled, and taken for granted were things that were stopping him to loathe the woman.

How worst she might have felt at that moment? How does she feel now? He wanted to ask those questions. He wanted her to tell him everything, but what was the purpose of asking if Isabella already put that feeling into him?

He was her agony. She put everything worse, crumpled it, and threw it on his character.

He finally undersand why she created him this way. And he was wrong for thinking Isabella couldn't find any satisfaction from him, that he only wanted him to suffer.

The only reason he could think of now why the story had been moving so slow was because Isabella still couldn't find herself a closure. She couldn't move on from her grief, thus, he couldn't end him too. She was too conflicted about her thoughts and what she felt towards herself.

Eyes looking low, he sat on the floor beside her. Napansin siya nito kaya lumingon ito sa kaniya.

"You might have been feeling so disgusted," he muttered.

"At you?" Nagpakawala ito ng isang tawa. "Weird nga, e. Wala akong maramdamang kahit ano sa 'yo. Siguro dahil pinasa ko sa 'yo lahat ng sama ng loob ko.

"What's sama ng loob?" tanong ni Imris. Umupo ito sa lap ni Isabella.

"Hala, tsismosa talaga ng mga bata. Patulugin mo nga 'tong anak mo, Xibel."

"You're the one who needs sleep, Ate. Look at your eyes." Tinuro nito ang mukha.

"What about my eyes?"

"It's sad."

"Ang dami mong sinasabi." Hinilamos nito ang kamay sa mukha ni Imris. "Pumunta ka nga ng kusina. Sabihan mo si Arator, pagluto ako ng manok. Nagugutom ako."

"Chicken!" Nagningning naman ang mga ni Imris. "Okay!"

Patalon-talon itong tumakbo papuntang kusina hanggang sa sila na lang dalawa ang naiwan.

"Isabella," he called her.

"Ang hina talaga ng boses mo. Ano?" She put her elbow on the sofa while facing him.

"I know you already have an ending stored in me."

She flinched. Ilang saglit ay napahakhak ito. "How are you so sure? Ni hindi nga ako makapagsulat ngayon. Hindi ko pa alam kung ano gagawin ko. Sana pala nag-outline ako, 'no? Para 'di ako maghirap kakaisip ngayon paano ko tatapusin ang story."

"Since when did you become an organized writer, anyway?" He sighed and leaned. "You are messy all throughout."

"Totoo 'yan. Magulong-magulo rin ang buhay."

Napaigtad si Xibel sa gulat nang bigla itong sumandal sa kaniya. Her head on his shoulder put Xibel back to the times he was with the humans. Hindi niya ito inalis at hinayaan lang ang babae.

"Xibel, do you hate me? May pagkakataon bang hiniling mong iba na lang ang nagsulat sa 'yo?"

Namayani ang katahimikan sa kanila nang hindi siya agad nakasagot. Ilang saglit bago siya bumuntonghininga. "I hate you for hating yourself. But I am in no position to choose who could be my writer."

"What if nga kung puwede, ipagpapalit mo ba ako?" Umalis ito sa pagkakasandal at liningon siya.

"Why are you spouting questions like a kid now?" He pushed her forehead away with his index finger.

"Sagutin mo na lang kasi tanong ko."

"No."

"Sige na!"

"Shut that mouth." He crossed his arms and looked away. Isang bulong naman ang narinig niya sa kaniyang tabi na ginagaya ang salita niya.

What a child, he thought.

"How about you, Isabella. Do you hate me?"

"Minsan. Pero kadalasan, nalulungkot ako para sa 'yo." Isang malalim na hininga ang binitiwan nito. "Hindi ka sana minumura ng mga reader kung 'di ka naging villain."

"Finish the story, then. I am dreading every day because I haven't seen my ending yet." He glanced at her. "End it, so it will end your misery too. It wil save the both of us, Isabella."

"Do you think so?" A small smile crept over her face. Her eyes were dark and tired. "But I'm afraid."

He touched some strand of her bangs. "Don't be. You were already brave enough to use me as a personification of your pain. Everything will be okay."

Nawala ang ngiti nito matapos mariniga ng huli niyang sinabi at napalitan ng isang hikbi. Namuo ang mga luha nito sa mga mata.

"Why are you suddenly--" Bago niya pa ito mapatahan ay niyakap nito ang kaniyang braso at doon binuhos ang pagngawa.

"Hindi ko alam, Xibel. Hindi ko na alam!" Ramdam niya ang higpit ng hawak nito at ang manggas niyang unti-unti nang nababasa.

Hinayaan niya na lang muna itong humagulgol. He couldn't say anything to make her hush, but he also thought that it wasn't what she wanted.

She needed his presence instead. And so, he rested his other hand on her back, slowly patting it and letting her fall down into slumber.

"I couldn't wish you a happy dream, but do rest, my creator."

"Papa! Chicken!"

Napaangat ang kaniyang tingin nang makita si Imris na may dalang malaking bowl. Sinenyasahan niya ito gamit ang kaniyang kamay na hinaan ang boses dahil natutulog na si Isabella.

"Oops! Sorry!" Napatigil ito sa pagtakbo at dahan-dahang inapak ang mga paa sa marmol na sahig. Nang makalapit, inilapag nito ang bowl sa sofa bago sinilip ang natutulog na si Isabella. Tinuro nito ang luhaang mukha ng babae. "Why Ate is crying?"

He glanced at her worried face. He couldn't possibly tell her the reason.

"She is crying because of your face."

Kaagad naman napahawak si Imris sa mukha at sinamaan siya ng tingin. "What's wrong with Imris' face? I'm pretty!"

He chuckled and patted her head. "Of course, you are."

"Tell me I'm pretty, Papa!"

"You are the prettiest."

Naudlot ang kanilang pag-uusap nang may kumatok sa pinto. Napakunot ang kaniyang noo dahil hindi ito si Jasia. Bago pa siya makatayo ay tumakbo na si Imris papalapit doon upang pagbuksan.

"Wait, Imris!" pigil niya dito pero pinihit na nito pabukas ang busol.

Kaagad na nagsalubong ang kaniyang mga kilay nang makita ang isang delivery boy na may matamis na ngiti sa mga labi.

"Pizza delivery!" bati nito sa kaniyang anak.

"Wah! Pizza!" namamanghang sagot ni Imris.

Samantalang siya ay hindi napakali. Dahan-dahan niyang inalis ang pagkakayakap ni Isabella sa kaniyang braso bago naglakad papalapit sa pinto. He didn't even know what a pizza is, so how come he would be delivered with one.

And from the way this man speaks . . . he already had a hunch. The aura he had too was someone he knew.

"Do you like pizza, my dearest?" Inabot nito ang dala-dalang kahon sa kaniyang anak pero pinigilan niya ito.

"What is your business here, Rasheed?"

Napatigil ito sa ginagawa at pinukol ang atensyon sa kaniya. Tinaas nito ang dalang kahon. "Delivering you a pizza?"

"Spare me with your lies." Binantaan niya ito gamit ang kaniyang nag-aapoy na kamay. "Or do you want me to burn your body in hell?"

"Whoa! Chill, mister necromancer." Tinaas nito ang isang kamay. "How am I, a simple person, can match an immortal being like you? A necromancer at that."

He just scoffed. He knew he was faking it. Even though his expression was painted in fear, he knew better that Rasheed loved acting.

"Honestly though, I do not have any ill intentions. I just want to check the family you have built." He glanced at Imris. Muli nitong inabot ang pizza. "What a cute little one. Want this?"

"Stop bribing my child."

"I'm not. This is a sincere gift." Yumukod ito upang iabot ang kahon.

Gusto niya mang kunin ito sa kamay ni Imris subalit paano niya naman magagawa iyon kung nagniningning na sa tuwa ang mga mata nito?

"Thank you po!"

"You're welcome." Rasheed smiled.

"If that can harm her--"

"It's just food. Don't worry." Sinilid nito ang kamay sa bulsa. "I really just want to check on you and leave with a warning."

Napataas ang kaniyang kilay. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I want to get a new role. So spare me, mister necromancer, if I will have to interfere with your business."

"Do not be too vague. State what you want." He was starting to lose his patience. This villain just won't cut to the chase. "I will kill you if you try to harm what's mine."

Rasheed chuckled. "You are acting like Adamas now." Napahawak ito sa puso na animo'y nasaktan. "You, villains, are always threatening me when I haven't done anything bad."

"Don't lump me in with that fool." He crossed his arms. "He is a slave to love."

"Aren't you one?" Muling sumilay ang maamo nitong ngiti. "Celestialiana, I mean. You can't even move on. You keep on wondering why she betrayed--"

"I do not want to hear her name from your mouth." Tumalikod na siya. "If you got nothing else to say, leave."

"Actually I still have one. Your little one will be taken away from you three days from now."

"What?" Kaagad siyang napalingon ngunit naglalakad na si Rasheed papunta sa kaniyang motorsiklo.

"I suggest you let them have her." Sumakay na ito. Muli siya nitong binigyan ng makahulugang tingin. "Or else, she'll die."