COCOONS started to digest the humans who fell victim to his threads. Adamas didn't let one of them live and took out the life of three people. But it wasn't as satisfactory as the first victim for the colors he had seen were different.

Asnael had a warm heart.

But what was the use of it if the damage had been done? If his Noa was still alive today, he might have forgiven him. Pero hindi na. Huli na ang lahat para humingi ito ng tawad.

His warm and regretful heart could no longer reach the person he wanted to convey his sincere apology.

Lumabas na si Adamas sa kotse. Ilang minuto muna siyang nanatiling nakatitig sa kotse at sa tahimik at madilim na kalsada. Ang malamig na hanging dumidikit sa kaniyang balat at ang ingay na nalilikha ng mga tangkay ng kahoy sa gilid ng daan ang nagsilbing awit sa nalilito niyang puso.

"Why was your last apology directed to me?"

As someone gifted with the ability to see the colors of emotion, Adamas saw clearly how the guy felt. When Asnael first saw him, his color became a subtle orange--a light one to represent surprise--which immediately turned into a dark green. A color of agony and regrets.

Why? He also once saw the subtle orange from Aivan.

Handa na siyang umalis ngunit napatigil siya nang may maramdamang aura. Napaangat ang kaniyang tingin dahil sa pigura na biglang nagpakita at tumuntong sa kotse.

Nagulat siya ngunit kaagad ding napangiti.

"Zaratras!" bati niya sa kaniyang kapatid. Balot na balot ang buo nitong katawan at ang tanging mata lang nito ang makikita.

"Adamas, what are you doing?" Hindi maganda ang tono ng boses nito. "I've heard from the villains that you're trying to avenge our author's death."

"It's true. What's wrong with that?"

"Stop what you're doing." Tumalikod ito sa kaniya. "It was never a part of your character to kill the people who pushed her to death. You might not be able to return to Fictosa if you continue doing that."

"I don't care. And I don't think I will allow myself to return without doing anything for her." He clenched his fist. "I can't live again in Fictosa without giving her any justice!"

"You're not giving her any justice. She's dead, Adam. And killing those people who hurt her won't change anything. Whether you avenge her or not, she will never know." Matapos nitong binitiwan ang mga salita ay nawala na si Zaratras.

Nagsimula na rin siyang maglakad paalis. It wasn't because he wanted Noa to know of his vengeance, but because he wanted to level the line of fairness. He wanted to extinguish the people who hurt her and never live this life anymore. He wanted them to be gone just like what they did to Noa. And that was what fairness meant to him.

What they did to her should be done to them as well.

And the strong urge to do that could never be forgotten easily just because of Zaratras' words. He would stand on what he believed.

Napagdesisyunan niya nang umuwi habang iniisip pa rin ang nangyari kanina. Ang mga nakita niyang emosyon ay nanatili sa kaniyang utak. Nais niyang mahanap ang rason kung bakit naging ganoon na lang ang emosyon nila nang makita siya.

Umakyat siya sa second floor ng apartment building at nagtungo sa room number ni Logan. Kakatok na sana siya subalit nakaawang ang pinto. Handa na siyang pumasok sa loob ngunit nakarinig siya ng boses.

"Magpapadala nga ako next week. Kakabigay ko lang sa inyo ng suweldo ko no'ng nakaraan tapos nang hihingi na naman kayo."

Narinig niya ang boses ni Logan sa loob. Sumilip siya sa pinto at may kausap ito sa phone. Hindi niya marinig ang boses sa kausap pero dahil sa emosyong pinapakita ni Logan, alam niyang hindi ito maganda.

"Ma, naman. Napag-usapan na natin 'to 'di ba?" Bakas sa boses ni Logan ang pagod. "Ayokong tumigil sa pagsusulat, Ma. Hindi ko kaya. Saka hindi ako nagrereklamo. Ang sa akin lang, bigyan niyo 'ko ng oras kasi hindi araw-araw sumusuweldo ako."

Adamas hissed when all he could hear was mumbling from the phone. Hindi niya ito marinig nang maayos kahit anong dutdot niya.

Damn, it's hard to be nosy sometimes.

Napakurap siya nang mapansing natigilan si Logan. Hawak-hawak pa rin nito ang phone sa tainga subalit ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito ay parang nawalan na ng buhay. Muli na namang umusbong ang kulay ng emosyong nakita niya kanina. Ang emosyong parang kinakain si Logan.

Hindi ito nagustuhan ni Adamas. Hindi niya gusto ang emosyong umaaligid sa lalaki kaya bago pa ito lumala, tinulak niya nang malakas pabukas ang pinto upang lumikha ng ingay at mabaling ang atensyon ni Logan sa kaniya.

"I am back, human. May Adoba ka? I am starving to death." Hinimas-himas niya ang tiyan habang naglalakad papalapit sa lalaki.

"Magpapadala ako next week. Sige na, bye na." Pinatay na ni Logan ang call bago ito sumagot sa kaniya. "I didn't cook Adobo, but I made a chicken soup."

"Chicken soup? Okay! I want to try that!"

Naglakad naman si Logan papunta sa kusina kaya sinundan niya ito. Nandoon pa rin talaga ang emosyon ng lalaki at hindi pa rin nawawala. The color turned a little darker than earlier. And it seemed that he just barely stopped it from devouring him.

Umupo siya sa upuan ng lamesa at hinintay si Logan na magprepara. Kaagad niyang nilantakan ang chicken soup at rice matapos nitong nilapag sa lamesa.

"Whoa! This is so good! It tastes like I'm up in the moon!" Hinigop niya ang sabaw at nagpakawala ng isang malakas na dighay.

"You're overreacting again." Umiling-iling ito at nagtungo sa refrigerator.

He thought he would give him a soft drink, it was the kind of drink his father used to have. Alcohol.

"Do you drink?" Nilagay ni Logan ang isang bottle. "Okay lang kung hindi. I can drink alone. But it would be nice if you drink with me."

"I will not refuse you."

Napangiti naman ito sa sinagot niya at kaagad siyang binigyan ng isang baso. Sabay silang uminom dalawa.

"Ah! This tastes like hell!" Napangiwi siya dahil sa mapait nitong lasa. Magrereklamo pa sana siya pero nang tignan niya si Logan na kaagad nilagyan ang baso nito at tumungga ulit, napatahimik siya.

He was carrying something heavy.

Minsan nang nasabi ni Noa sa kaniya sa isa sa mga sulat nito na palaging alak ang tinatapat ng mga tao kapag may mabigat na problemang dala-dala. His father, Azlan, drank alcohol too, but for a different reason. He was just an alcoholic.

What should I say? He thought as he watched Logan continue to refill his drink as if he was just drinking a bottle of water. Logan looked well-behaved, so he never expected he could drink like that. May kinuha ring maliit na box ang lalaki sa bulsa. Isa itong pakete ng sigarilyo.

He lit a piece of it after drinking.

Sumagi sa isipan niya si Gonietta kaya nagkaroon siya ng ideya.

"So, human, when are you planning to confess to your girlfriend?"

Umiinom ito habang sinasabi niya iyon kaya agad itong napaboga. Natalsikan ang kaniyang mukha dahilan upang uminit ang dugo niya.

Sinamaan niya ito ng tingin. Mariin niyang pinahid ang kamay sa mukha habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa lalaki.

How dare he showered him with alcohol mixed with his saliva? Even Noa never wrote him to experience this kind of humiliation!

"Insolence but I'll let that slide. Just remember, there will be no second time around." He hissed. Pinagsaklop niya ang mga kamay upang pigilan ang sariling masuntok ang lalaki.

"S-sorry." Napakamot ito sa ulo. "Nagulat lang ako sa sinabi mo. At saka sinabi ko na, hindi ko nga siya girlfriend."

Namula ang dalawang tainga nito kaya napatawa siya.

"Whatever you want to say, but when will you going to confess to her?"

Umiwas ito ng tingin. "Anong confession? Ano ba i-c-confess ko? Ba't ganiyan na lang bigla tanong mo?"

"Because you love her." Inagaw niya ang bote at nilagyan ang kaniyang baso. Tinungga niya ito at muling inulit ang sinabi. "You love her, human."

Tuluyang naging pula ang buong mukha nito patungo sa leeg. Kung gaano kapula ang mukha nito ay ganoon din ang nangyari sa kulay ng emosyon ng lalaki. Just like what happened in the café, it overshadowed the lurking and weird emotion he had.

Napayuko si Logan at hindi nakasagot. Pilit itong nagpopokus sa paninigarilyo subalit nagulo na ang isipan sa kaniyang sinabi.

He was mumbling something.

"What are you saying? I can't hear you." Napunta ang tingin niya sa kamay ng lalaking may hawak na sigarilyo. May mga kakaibang marka sa pulso nito pero hindi niya makita nang tama dahil sa suot nitong long sleeve.

"H-hindi ko siya mahal."

"Oh, really?" Napahalakhak siya. "Come on, human. An obvious emotion like that should not be kept hidden."

Inangat nito ang ulo at inis siyang tinignan. "Why are you so confident that I'm in love with her? How did you know?"

"Are you forgetting what I told you? I can see the color of the emotions."

"Maybe you're just mistaken."

Nilapat niya sa lamesa ang baso na hawak-hawak at tinignan ang lalaki. Isang ngiti ang sumilay sa kaniyang labi. "Human, I can never be mistaken, especially with this kind of emotion. I know very well the color of love for I was created through that."

"I guess Miss Noa really loves you."

"Of course she does!" mabilis niyang sagot. "But don't change the topic here."

"What do you want me to say?" He drank again before meeting his lips with the cigarette. "I don't plan on confessing to her."

"Why not?"

He sighed. "I don't have any chance. And besides, we've been friends since kids. Ayokong sirain ang pagiging magkaibigan namin dahil lang sa nararamdaman ko para sa kaniya."

"Why would you two be ruined?" Pinilig niya ang kaniyang ulo. "I don't think that will happen."

"Basta, Mr. Adamas. Mas importante sa akin ang pagkakaibigan namin. At saka kuntento na naman ako sa kung anong mayroon kami kaya okay na 'to. I'm not going to make a move." Tumungga ito ulit.

Sinulyapan niya ito. Lies.

"If that's your decision, then so be it. Just know that you are not like me who can see through anyone else."

Kumunot naman ang noo nito. "What are you trying to say?"

"Don't conclude too much. Only you see the many perspectives when you write, but right now, you only get to see yourself." Inagaw niya ang bote at siya ang umubos.

"I don't get it."

"You're so slow for a writer. My wordy Noa is not like that." He shook his head while clicking his tongue. Tumayo na siya at napagpasyahang pumunta ng salas para matulog.

Pero bago siya umalis, sinulyapan niya muna ang pagod na mukha ni Logan.

"Take heart, human. It's okay to fight for what you want."

Iniwan na niya si Logan. Kaagad niyang tinapon ang sarili sa mahabang sofa para matulog. The sofa was soft, but he wished it could be more softer and flexible like her thread-made sofa in Fictosa.

He could build one, but the spaces in the room weren't big enough to accommodate another.

He closed his eyes as he thought of his beloved Noa. He was ready to sleep when a familiar voice suddenly spoke.

[Welcome, villain.]