"Been a long time, Keira." Matamis siyang ngumiti sa'kin. Napahawak ako sa aking shoulder bag, handa nang hugutin ang baril nang akalain kong yayakap siya sa'kin. Mabuti na lang ay hindi.

"A-anong mayroon?" He sounded so soft as if he didn't do anything brutal! How could a killer sound so calm knowing they haunted many families in their sleep? "I mean after all I've done—"

"Past is past, Jayson. I'm not here to bring things up but to make things a little light between us. Besides, it just came to me, I don't wanna hold more grudges towards you anymore and found out that the first step to that is... I don't know, reconciliation?" I laughed nervously.

"Oh, is that so? Well, it is still shocking for me to hear that from you, though. Uhm... Coffee?" He offered, opening the door wide for me to come in. Rule number one today, Keira. Never ever let yourself step inside a killer's roof because you will never make it out alive.

"Oh, I'm actually planning to have a walk with you, if it's okay? With coffee maybe... Isa pa, 'di ba, may karera ka ngayon? The Dash Racing Circuit isn't that far from here. We can have a little walk trip," I convinced him more and glad he agreed. Kinuha niya lang ang bag niya sa loob saka kami nagsimulang maglakad.

Bawat segundong humahakbang ako kasabay siya ay parang binibilang ko ang oras ng buhay ko. Hindi ko maintindihan ang kinukwento niya dahil ang tanging naririnig ko na lang ay ang pintig ng puso ko sa sobrang takot para sa sarili. No, Keira. You need to make it out of this situation alive. You're one of the evidence, a witness.

"How about you?"

"H-huh?" Balik ko sa wisyo. "How are you and, uh, Joaquin?" tanong niya muli.

"We're good, he's doing good. He's getting ready for the race today, too."

"Glad you met someone better, Keira." Ngiti niya. Ganoon na lamang din ang ginawa ko. Marami pa kaming napagusapan na para bang normal na nagkikita kami araw-araw. Hindi rin namin namalayan na kaunti na lang ay malapit na kami sa Dash Racing Circuit.

"Aggy, can you hear me?" mahina kong sambit sa maliit na walkie-talkie na laruan. Hiniram ko pa 'to sa kapatid ni Lexi.

[Agatha: I can't see Alva anywhere, but Joaquin's already here.]

"Please, make sure he's safe."

"Oo naman. Gusto ko na ng pamangkin sa'yo," biro niya pa. Mabuti na lang at hindi ganoon kalakas ang tunog ng laruan. Para lang akong kumakausap ng bag.

"Aggy!" suway ko. Napailing na lang ako. Unti-unti ko na ring nakikita ang mga pulis. Isa-isa na silang kumakalat sa paligid namin nang patago, and from that moment, I know I need to point the gun now.

"Is everything okay?" tanong ko kay Jayson dahil parang kanina pa siya may hinahanap sa bag niya. "The race is already starting."

"I think I have to go back for a little minute. My house is only a walking distance from here. I forgot my racing suit. I can keep up with the race. It can wait anyway." Kibit-balikat niya at nilagpasan ako. "But this can't." And the moment I heard a loud click from behind, I pulled the gun from my shoulder bag and face him. He's pointing one at me, too.

"Where are you going back exactly?" mariin kong sabi. Mayamaya'y may narinig kaming boses mula sa malayo, galing sa mga pulis. "Surrender now, Jayson Perez! You're under arrest for committing a crime of murder! We have evidence linking you to the crime and you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."

Napangisi si Jayson habang pinagmamasdan ang dami ng pulis. "I knew it." Lipat niya ng tingin sa'kin. "I knew you're really up to something. You wouldn't show up yourself out of the blue in front of me after what I did to you and your best friend." Tawa niya nang nakakatakot.

"I already pulled myself out of that and you can't use that against me so I can put the gun away. Surrender now, Jayson," mariin kong sabi muli nang lapitan ko siya. Mula sa dibdib ay inilipat niya ang pagkakatutok ng baril sa aking noo.

"Make me," hamon nito. Lumalapit na rin paunti-unti ang police. I promised myself last night that I will not shoot him but I didn't promise that I won't lay a foot. Mabilisang front kick ang ginawa ko upang mabitawan niya ang baril. Hinabol ko iyon nang maharangan siya agad ng mga pulis.

"You will pay for everything, Jayson!" Tutok ko sa kanya ng dalawang hawak ko. "From getting my best friend pregnant to killing everyone with no remorse! Karma will come for you!"

"Only if I get caught." Mayamaya'y may kinuha siya sa kanyang bag na kulay berde. "Sorry, I will not make it to the race and so are you." Umamba ito. "And by the way, the racing suit you got from our hideout doesn't fit me. It's not mine, and it's for you to find out who owns it." Mayroon siyang tinanggal doon at tuluyang inihagis sa gawi ko.

Napatili ako nang hilahin ako ng pulis at inilayo ro'n. Malakas ang pagsabog na sa tingin ko ay nakarating sa Dash Racing Circuit ang tunog kaya tumatawag na ngayon si Aggy. "Have you seen Alva around?" Hingal kong tanong. I already figured out who Jayson was referring to!

[Agatha: Hindi pa rin.]

"Because she's inside Jayson's racing car! She's the one who's driving! Ako na ang bahala kay Joaquin. I'm on my way!" Patay ko na sa tawag at dali-daling nagtungo ro'n. Bumungad agad sakin ang malaking screen kung saan pwede kong mapanood ang nangyayari sa karera, kasabay no'n ang malakas na pagpreno ng isang sasakyan at tumilapon.

Nilibot ko ang aking mata at nakitang marami nang mga kareristang nadisgrasya at sasakyang nasira. May mga ambulansya na rin na sunod-sunod nagsidatingan. The whole circuit looks like a whole damn mess!

[Announcer: Here goes number 26 leading the track! But number 66 ain't letting it!]

Nabalik ang tingin ko sa malaking screen. I saw how Alva's car bumped Joaquin's. Malakas iyon dahilan para mapunta sa likuran ang sasakyan niya. Napapikit na lang ako nang makarinig na naman ako ng malakas na pagpreno.

Napatili ako sa gulat nang biglang may humila sa'kin dahil may papalapit na sasakyan sa aking gawi at sumabog. "Keira! What the hell are you doing?!" Iniharap nito ako sa kanya at nasilayan ang kanyang pinsan.

Nang mapagtanto kong nasa pwesto ako ng team nila ay agad kong inagaw ang wireless microphone sa crew chief. Nagulat ang lahat sa ginawa ko pero hindi ko na iyon pinansin. "Joaquin! Can you hear me?!"

[Joaquin: Keira? Keira, what the hell are you doing there? What's going on?]

"Get out of the race! You're auntie's trying to kill you!"

[Joaquin: W-what?]

"Just listen to me! Get out of there!" Hindi ko na narinig pa muli ang kanyang boses nang agawin sa akin ni Raven ang equipment. "Keira, what the hell is going on with you?!"

Sa sobrang gulo ng nangyayari ay hindi ko na rin maipaliwanag sa kanya. Mayamaya'y dumating na rin si Aggy. Parehas kaming may mga gasgas. "Keira, we finally caught her! Where's Joaquin?"

Tinignan ko muli ang screen at nakitang pito na lang ang natitira sa karera and one of them is Joaquin. He's still there and so is Alva. Last 10 laps for the last seven drivers. Nang tignan ko muli ang aking paligid ay hindi ko na mabilang ang mga sasakyang sumabog.

Eight Laps... Six Laps... Three Laps...

Isang malakas na pagpreno ang narinig naming lahat. Hindi namin nakita kung kaninong kotse 'yon dahil sa kapal ng usok. Nagsunod-sunod pa ang prenong 'yon at agad akong inilayo ni Aggy at Raven. Gano'n din ang ibang team na malapit sa amin.

Nang humupa na ang usok ay tinignan ko ulit ang malaking screen pero hindi ko na makita ang sasakyan ni Joaquin sa daan bagkus sunod-sunod na ambulansya na ang nasaksihan ko. Kumawala ako sa pagkakayakap sa'kin ni Aggy at sinundan ang isa sa mga 'yon.

Tumambad sa akin ang sabog na sasakyan nang marating ko na kung saan iyon tumilapon. Papalapit na sana ako sa pwesto na 'yon nang harangan ako ng mga tao dahilan na rin para maabutan ako nila Aggy.

"JOAQUIN!" I exclaimed as I saw the people finally got him out of the race car. His face was full of blood as was his body. I can't hear any voices except mine and the car brakes I heard are still echoing inside my head.

I'm down on my knees...

"Keira, he'll be okay. Shush..." Naramdaman ko na hindi na braso ni Aggy ang nakayakap sa'kin kaya tiningala ko iyon at tumambad sa akin si Kuya Kenzo. "K-kuya..." No words are coming out but cries.

I almost lost him before because of this. I witnessed a dying friend. I don't want to lose people anymore. I don't want to lose him either. Him... Who's been a part of me since then...

☕

"I can't believe you did all of these. I don't know what to say," ani Kuya Kean habang nakatayo kami sa tapat ng pinto ng korte. "It might have been years ago but I can still remember that day when I told you not to engage with things like this."

"I'm sor—"

"You solved a very big and serious crime, and captured big names, kept evidence without being killed." He chuckled. "Some really don't make it out alive but you did it fearlessly." Ramdam kong nakatingin na siya sa'kin. "I'm proud of you."

Gulat akong nilingon siya dahil sa kanyang sinabi. I never seen his eyes being that soft as he looked at me. It's always dark, parang palaging galit sa akin dahil sa katigasan ng ulo ko. "H-hindi ko naman 'yon magagawa lahat kung wala si Aggy." Napayuko ako.

Naiwan siya sa ospital. She volunteered herself to look out for Joaquin for a while together with Raven habang nandito ako ngayon. Dapat ay kasama ko siya ngayon dahil dalawa kami ang nagresolba nito.

Mayamaya'y pumasok na kami ni Kuya Kean sa loob. All families of the victims are here, too. Ramdam ko ang bigat ng hangin sa loob nang pumasok na rin ang mga kriminal. All eyes can tell how they still grief for their loved ones, and I grief with them, too. As I look at the criminals in their eyes, hindi ko sila nakikitaan ng awa o pagsisisi, maliban na lang sa isa — takot.

The hearing finally started, Me, already standing in front of everyone with the evidence: The notebook, the anklet and camera bag, the bulletin board from their hideout, the portrait and polaroids, the diary of Heayah Roanilla, and lastly, the racing suit. The courtroom was filled with gasps and whispers when I finally revealed everything, leaving everyone on the edge of their seats.

"I found the notebook when the Womenscape, a famous business of the De Veras was under renovation. A mistake made by Anton Loza." Turo ko sa lalaking mukhang nasa 40s na. Kung noon ay naka-buzz cut siya, ngayon wala na siyang buhok. Haha...

He even looked like he's on drugs. May witnesses din sa mga kasamahan niyang construction worker no'ng nirerenovate ang Womenscape. One of them told everyone in the courtroom that he was suspicious since then.

"Anton himself admitted in the interview that he was planning to leave the notebook somewhere in the shop to frame Joaquin as ordered by her own family member, Alva De Vera." Lipat ko nang tingin sa kanya. "Connecting the dots why she was always missing because she is busy collecting victims in every country with the help of the owner of the notebook, Jane Pre Yszo, or Jayson Perez, his real identity. Smart of him to jumble his name."

Kinuha ko ang anklet. "And smart of you to wear highcuts all the time just to hide this." Inangat ko iyon. "Unfortunately, maybe the camera sided with us to reveal truths and colors. Maybe even cameras snitched on its owner, too. Just like what she did why her own brother was murdered."

Sunod kong iniangat ang lalagyanan ng camera. Nang magtama ang tingin namin ay ngumiti na lang ako. "Aira Mae Pumaras, wala talagang sekretong hindi nabubunyag." And that shocked the hell out everyone.

Sunod kong inangat ang memory card ng camera at iilang litrato. "Aira and Anton were spying on people, and I'm one of those list of target. So as Mr. Joaquin De Vera, Alva's nephew." Nilingon ko siya ulit at matalim pa rin ang tingin niya sa'kin. "They want us dead because I have the notebook with me all those years, and she..." I pointed at Alva again.

"She wants to kill a family member to rule over the businesses the De Veras have. She kills for greed."

Habang nagpapatuloy ako sa aking mga ibinibunyag sa harap ay patuloy din ang bulungan at ang hindi mapakali sa upuan na mga nanonood. Parang gusto nila akong tanungin isa-isa. Nang matapos na na ako sa harap ay sumunod na ang mga pamilya ng biktima. Walang salita ang makakapagpaliwanag kung gaano nila pinagdadaanan ang poot at galit, pagsisisi at pangungulila sa mga mahal nila.

Hanggang makapagdesisyon na. The hearing of truth had come to an end, leaving a lasting impact on all those who are inside the courtroom. Ngunit hindi ro'n natatapos ang sigaw at iyak ng mga taong nawalan. Matapos nilang mahatulan ay lumabas na ako agad dahil hindi ko na kayang pakinggan ang mga iyon.

"Keira." Rinig ko sa boses ni Kuya Kean.

"K-kuya... Pakiramdam ko kulang pa rin ako."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, justice is served but that doesn't take the pain of all of them away. Kung kaya ko lang ibalik pati ang mga nawalang buhay..."

Natahimik saglit ang pagitan namin ni Kuya saka ko naradaman ang kamay niya sa aking balikat. "Sometimes no matter how hard you try to make things better, some things are still, just impossible, and that's reality."

Hindi ko na napigilan at unti-unti nang bumagsak ang luha ko. "How will you fix things after it has been cut?"

Hindi ko iyon masagot at nakatingin na lamang sa repleksyon naming dalawa sa bintana. "Exactly," ani Kuya kahit wala akong sinasabi. "But remember that good things still happen, only if you know how to fight the demons inside."

☕

"Keira, kumain ka muna." Alok sa akin ni Aggy ng sopas. Kanina niya pa iyon ginagawa sa'kin.

"Wala akong gana."

"Simula kahapon na dumating ka ay wala kang kain. Sa susunod ikaw naman ang nakahiga r'yan." Pilit niya ulit pero hindi ko na pinansin. Wala talaga akong gana sa lahat ngayon.

It's almost one week since that incident happened at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya nagigising. Ang dami niyang sugat na natamo. Nang makita akong umiiyak ulit ni Aggy ay inabutan niya na lang ako ng tubig.

"Dehydrated ka na kakaiyak. Alagaan mo rin ang sarili mo. Keira, magiging maayos din ang lahat." Yakap nito sa'kin bago ako iwan sa kwarto.

Hinawakan ko ng mahigpit ang kamay ni Joaquin at hinalikan iyon kasabay ang mas lalo kong pagluha. "Please, wake up..." I whispered. Hindi na ako makahinga at halos hindi ko na rin maiangat ang aking ulo dahil hindi ko na kayang tignan ang mga sugat niya.

Joaquin, I lost you once, and I don't want another round of it, this time for a lifetime.