｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. NARRATION

Half were distraught and half were feeling triumphant.

Bakas sa mga mukha nila ang nararamdaman ng walong magkakaibigan matapos makapunta sa kwarto na naka-assign sa kanila.

One thing was for sure.

May alam na silang sikreto ng isa.

There was no doubt that there will be tension in the room. Nakaupo ang magkakaibigan sa harap ng pabilog na mesa. Their faces became emotionless as they read the situation.

Something was about to go down. Sigurado sila roon.

"I hope your trip to the rooms was enough to give you a clue on who the killer is!" Hindi naiwasang mapangisi ni Hermés nang marinig ito. His eyes wanted to look at his former best friend but he thought better... It was best to attack him later.

"May alam ka?" Dior asked Hermés who just gave her no answer. She noticed that his eyes were grim and his face showed coldness. Dior already knew what that meant... she expected it to happen.

"Some of you went into your own rooms." Anunsyo ni Crow. "I'll give you an hour to meet and after that, we shall vote!"

Tiffany had to sigh at that. May bago nanamang mamamatay. Ares looked at her and held her hand since magkatabi sila. She instantly felt a sense of calmness on her body.

After all, Ares was Tiffany's super bunny.

"Ares, pwede bang mag-usap tayo?" Biglang lumapit si Apollo kay Ares kaya napatingin ang lahat. The minds of the others were being clouded with curiosity and assumptions.

What exactly did Apollo find out? They thought.

Ares nodded as he stood up and followed Apollo to a corner. Everyone watched the two law students converse about something... they wanted to know.

"Prada," tawag ni Hermés sa katabi nito. The girl was looking at Ares kaya Hermés confirmed that Prada went to his room.

"Did you find out something from Ares' room?" Maingat na tanong ni Hermés. Prada hesitated for a brief moment before nodding.

Hermés knew that Apollo was already doing something to get Ares into his side. However, he was true and thorough with his plan. Hermés wanted to expose Achilles' killer.

"Is it something related to the murder?" Hermés asked again... but this time, Prada shrugged. Hindi rin naman kumpirmado ng dalaga kung ano ang kinalaman noon sa pagkamatay nina Yves at Achilles.

She did not want her assumptions to swallow her at the moment.

"Kuya..." Gucci called out to Hermés who was just sitting beside her. He gave her a brotherly smile before humming.

"Kaninong room ka pumunta?" Tanong ng nakababata. Hermés scoffed and stole a glance at Dior who was silent since earlier.

"One clue. Lovers." Ngumisi ito.

"Ate Tiffany and kuya Ares?" Gucci asked. Hermés saw how Tiffany froze at that, making him chuckle at the sight. It was funny how his friends can be so easily deceived and fooled. Kaya ito nangyayari sa kanila.

She's hiding something too. He thought.

"No." Napaawang ang labi ni Gucci at Hermés' answer. Kumuyom ang kamao ni Dior as she tried to keep her composure. She understood that Hermés was mad but what he was doing now was straight up petty.

"Ayos ka lang?" Bulong ni Hades na katabi si Dior. Hades could not give a significant information since he only went to his room. Ayaw din naman niya i-expose ang sarili niya because he was only following the plan.

"Oo," maikling sagot ni Dior na kanina pa nakatitig kay Prada. She wanted to say sorry so many times... pero pinangungunahan siya ng hiya. She was ashamed of herself as she was not the friend who was beside her.

"Kay Prada ka napunta?" Tanong ni Hades as Dior nodded. Napangiti nalang ang lalaki dahil napagtanto na ng kaibigan niya ang sikreto ni Prada.

"You lied," sabi ni Dior at saka tumingin sa lalaking kaibigan who just sighed at her statement.

"Kaibigan ko, e," sagot nito kaya tinapik ni Dior ang likod niya at nginitian. She was not mad... if anything, she was mad at herself.

"Nahihiya ako sa sarili ko," bulong ni Dior na narinig naman ni Hades.

"Bakit?" Ani Hades.

"I should have been by Prada's side." Mapait na napangiti si Dior sa sarili niya. "Gusto kong humingi ng tawad pero wala 'yon magagawa para maibsan ang nararamdaman niya."

"Desisyon niya na hindi ipagsabi." Hades patted her back as he showered reassuring words at Dior. "Gusto niya munang ipaalam kay Achilles bago sa inyo."

It comforted Dior for a bit.

"Pwedeng huwag mo muna ipagsabi sa iba?" Hiling ni Hades sa kaibigang babae. Dior smiled and nodded. It was the least she could do for her friend who suffered so much.

It was her form of apology too.

Umayos ang pag-upo ng lahat nang makabalik sa kinauupuan sina Ares and Apollo. They were emotionless but anger was not seen in their faces. This made the others more curious about the information they know.

"What did the two of you talk about?" Gucci asked.

"We both have theories that we want to confirm," Ares answered. "That's why mag-uusap-usap tayo."

"Napunta lang ako sa kwarto ko," nanguna na si Hades at itinaas ang kamay.

"Ako rin." Gucci did the same as Ares nodded. Tiffany was already raising her suspicions at that. Why the hell would Crow not give clues to Gucci and Hades?

"Ikaw, Prada?" Tanong ni Apollo. Prada pointed at Ares as everyone noticed how his eyes widened and how he froze in his place at that.

"Ano ang tinatago mo?" Dior raised a brow at him. Ares shrugged and looked down, failing to keep his composure.

"Ares, sumagot ka," ginatungan ni Hades. Ares did not know how to maneuver his way out of the situation.

"I looked for many residences near the university para makalipat sila," Ares lied.

Dior and Hades were not a single bit convinced at what Ares said. Plus... his explanation was bullshit. It had no significance to the case at all.

Prada wanted to expose him so much but two things were blocking her from doing so. First, she did not want to be impulsive. And lastly, hindi rin siya sigurado sa theory na nabuo niya sa isip niya.

"Kanino ang nakuha mo, Apollo?" It was Hermés' turn to ask.

"Tiffany," kaswal na sagot ni Apollo at tumingin saglit kay Tiffany na natigilan sa pwesto. Apollo did not mention to Ares what thing did Tiffany burn.

"Anong nakita mo?" Gucci asked.

"Law books... balak atang mag-shift." Apollo chuckled at that... but he knew that her reason was deeper. Hindi niya lang kayang ipagsabi muna.

"Law books about what?" Hermés asked. Tiffany sighed and looked at Dior who was only watching. Dior did not want to hurt her best friend so she stayed silent.

"Revised Penal Code lang," singit ni Apollo. "Naka-highlight pa nga 'yung mga about coercion, rape, at violation of privacy."

"That means Tiffany wanted to know about what her penalties will be once she gets caught." Ngumisi si Hermés habang nag-aalburuto sa galit si Tiffany.

Tiffany wanted to punch him so bad. She wanted to become impulsive for a moment but she knows it would not do her any good.

Hindi niya rin madepensahan ang sarili niya tungkol doon.

"Hermés, wala kang pruweba," galit na sabi ni Ares. He, too, was restraining himself from hurting his friend. But, just like his girlfriend, he was angry.

"On the night that Yves was killed, it was a coincidence that Tiffany was in school too," Hermés said.

"At paano mo nalaman?" Dior asked, frustrated with Hermés' actions. Para bang nilalaglag nalang niya ang mga kaibigan niya.

"Hermés had the CCTV footage of that night in his laptop," Ares answered for him, his eyes glaring at Hermés who was smirking right now.

"Puta, kuya, bakit na sa'yo?!" Gucci was shocked at what Ares said. Dapat sa pulis 'yun binibigay, hindi sa estudyante!

"Tiffany was given a task by her prof," depensa ni Ares sa jowa niya.

"Same bullshit excuse. Sounds something like Apollo would say." Nandilim ang mga mata ni Apollo as soon as he heard that from Hermés.

Kaibigan pala kita? Hindi halata. Apollo thought.

"He also said that to me on the night Achilles died." Napaawang ang labi ng mga kaibigan nila while Apollo and Dior's faces were filled with anger.

"Tangina mo!" Tumayo si Apollo at nagbato ng suntok kay Hermés who did not hesitate to fight back.

This time, tinamad na ang lahat na umawat.

"Alam ko ang mga hilig mo, gago!" Sigaw ni Apollo habang sinusuntok ang kaibigan. "Baka ginawa niyo rin 'yon ni Yves."

Gucci did not know the situation... but she knew what Apollo meant by that. She was shocked and speechless. But most of all, she was disgusted at the thought.

"I saw your bloody shirt!" Hermés fired back as he punched his former best friend. "You killed Achilles!"

It was Prada's turn to gasp. Hades balled his hand into a fist when Hermés said that. Gusto niya ring makisuntok but he wanted to make sure if that was true first.

"I know Dior found out that Yves was three weeks pregnant!" Hermés kept shouting at Apollo. "That's why you killed Achilles!"

Prada's heart... was too broken that it was already irreparable. Nang marinig niya 'yon, wala nalang siyang magawa kundi umiyak. Hades held her hand to assure her na nasa tabi niya lang siya.

Gusto rin suntukin ni Hades si Apollo. But, why would he trust someone's words so easily?

"Tama na 'yan!" Saway ni Ares at ipinaglayo ang dalawa but they won't budge. Hermés even charged at Ares too.

"Your girlfriend was in the campus at the same time Yves was killed!" Hermés glared at Ares whose eyes turned a shade darker and immediately punched at him too.

"Takte naman." Hades rolled his eyes and separated the three away. "Tama na, punyeta!"

"Kung gusto niyong maglaglagan, walang suntukan!" Dagdag nito at pinanood ang tatlong lalaki na bumalik sa kanilang kinauupuan. He went back to his seat as the tension in the room died down.

"In the CCTV footage, Tiffany looked like she was running away from someone," Hermés explained. "It's impossible that she would look so scared because of something that her prof will ask her."

"Bakit ka muna may CCTV footage?" Gucci asked, being stressed out of the information she was consuming. The questions in her mind were slowly being answered as more questions filled her head afterwards.

"I wanted to investigate the situation too," kalmadong sagot ni Hermés, which almost convinced them all. Except for two.

"Plus... Tiffany is a med student. She knows how to properly decapitate someone's head," dagdag ni Hermés, and now, it was Dior's turn to scoff.

"Med student ka rin naman. So, alam mo paano magtanggal ng ulo ng tao?" Oh, Dior was so mad. No one could ever hurt her best friend.

Something Hermés could not relate to.

"Magkasama kami ni Prada noon," sagot ni Hermés to which Prada nodded. "We were studying sa bahay ko."

Amidst all these, Tiffany watched how pathetic and foolish are everyone, including herself, looked right now. If only she could talk.

"Apollo," Hermés called as Apollo glared at him. "Where were you exactly on the night Achilles died?"

"Pagkatapos ko sa klase, nagpunta akong bar." Apollo answered, observing the reaction of Hermés. "May pinagawa lang si prof bago ako nag-inom."

"Then, why did you have a bloody shirt in your room?" Dagdag ni Hermés.

"Nagsuntukan kami noong isang kaibigan ni Achilles... si Lucas," kaswal na sagot ni Apollo but Hermés was not buying it.

Because, why the heck would that bloody shirt be a clue to Yves and Achilles' killer kung iba naman ang sinaktan ni Apollo?

"Bakit kayo nagsuntukan?" Hades asked.

"Pinipilit ako ng gago na paniwalaan si Achilles kaya ayun sinuntok ko," Apollo answered as Dior watched him twist the truth.

Ares suddenly remembered something.

"Hades," He called as the latter looked at him. "You said before that you were with Prada on the night of Yves' death. Bakit kasama ka namin sa bar noon?"

"Hinatid ko muna siya kina Hermés. Mag-aaral daw sila," sagot nito as Ares nodded, still suspicious of him.

"Was Apollo with you that night?" Hermés asked. Tumikhim ang bibig ni Apollo, trying to keep his cool kasi baka suntukin niya nanaman ito.

"Oo, kasama namin sa bar," Hades answered. "Magkakasama kami nina Ares, Chanel, Zeus, at Tiff."

"Pero parang late na dumating si Tiff noon, sinabi ni Ares na susunod daw siya," dugtong nito kaya napangiti nang wagi si Hermés.

Sarap suntukin ng puta. Apollo thought.

"Time's up, little ones!" Nawala ang tensyon sa kwarto nang bumati si Crow. "You will now be given the time to vote. Please go to your respective doors."

"It's high time we identify a killer," sambit ni Hermés nang makatayo. Umirap si Dior rito, pinipigilan ang sariling suntukin ang lalaki.

But Apollo did not hesitate to do so.

"Huwag kang magmalinis, punyeta," mariin nitong sabi bago maglakad papalayo.

｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. ARES

"Ares!" My eyes fluttered awake when I heard my name being called. Ang sakit ng ulo ko... I wanted to hold it but stopped when I realized that my hands were strapped to a chair.

I looked at my friends who were moving their hands to remove their restraints. But something was wrong. Bigla akong kinabahan.

Dior was crying uncontrollably.

"Where's Tiffany?" I asked.

Everyone's tears can be seen, hindi sila makatingin sa akin. Nakayuko lang sila while my hands turned into a fist.

"Ares..." Mangiyak-ngiyak na tawag ni Dior sa akin. What... fuck... hindi pwede! I refused to believe the assumption forming in my mind. Hindi ko kaya... hindi ako makahinga... fuck, please no.

Buhay pa si Tiffany, right?

My love is still here, 'di ba?

"Tangina!" Sigaw ko as all the tears... those threatening to fall since the first day... flew out of my eyes. I did not only fail as our group's leader... but also as Tiffany's boyfriend.

"Putangina, Crow!" Anger was consuming me. "Ako nalang ang patayin mo! Ako ang pumatay kina Yves!"

Tiffany deserved to live.

Hindi ako.

I would give everything for her to live. She has too many things in her bucket list... her dreams... her plans... oh, how I love those about her. Kailangan niya pa maabot 'yon.

Kahit hindi na ako kasama, at least I know that she would get to live her life.

"Huwag na si Tiffany!" I cried. "Just kill me, instead!"

"Crow, I killed her!" Dior shouted. "I really killed her! Now, let Tiffany live!"

"You had all your chances to find out about the killer," Crow said. "You wasted it."

I did this to her. Hindi ko maiwasang umiyak because I knew I would never see her smile anymore. Her smile... that was incomparable to the moon.

- -

FLASHBACK

"Oh? Ano 'yan?" Dior asked as me and Tiffany walked towards her, with our hands intertwined. Balak kasi ni Tiffany sabihin muna kay Dior ang tungkol sa panliligaw ko.

I just confessed to her last night.

"Gago, na-crushback ka?" Muntik masamid si Dior sa kinakain niyang ice cream nang mapagtanto. What? Tiffany had a crush on me way before?

She did not even told me that she liked me back!

"Dior!" Saway ni Tiffany. I smirked at that, feeling thankful that Dior slipped her tongue. However, hindi ako kampante that Tiffany will be easy to me.

She's Tiffany Cleandra Lamanie, for Pete's sake.

"Nanliligaw na siya," Tiffany announced as I felt proud. Ang hirap hindi kiligin. Natawa si Dior nang makita ang namumula kong mukha.

Oh, how I'm too whipped for her.

My confident self turned into fear as I saw Dior's judging eyes. I expected this... of course, protective siya sa best friend niya. If I was in her place, I would do the same too.

"Bakit mo gustong ligawan 'tong si Cleandra?" I saw how Tiffany's eyes widened at Dior's direct question. Napatili si Dior nang paluin ito ng kaibigan.

"I love her," simpleng sagot ko. "I love her likes and dislikes, her dreams, her eyes, her smile, and her existence. I love life because of her."

"Anong maipapangako mo?" Dior asked. I stole a glance at Tiffany whose cheeks were as red as a cherry.

"That I'd love her until the end," I answered. "Hindi ko maipapangako na hindi ko siya sasaktan, not intentionally, but I will stay by her side."

Alam kong nagdududa pa rin si Dior. But, it's okay. I'll prove to her that her best friend is safe with me.

"Aasahan ko 'yan, Ares." Tumango si Dior. "Kapag nakita ko 'yang umiyak dahil sinaktan mo intentionally, gagawin kitang baog."

Natawa ako habang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Tiffany.

"Oh siya, alis na ako!" Dior waved at us. "Date na kayo, mga haliparot!"

"Shocks." Tiffany faced me, feeling embarrassed siguro sa kaibigan niya. "Pasensya na roon."

"Love... that's okay." I chuckled. "Kung ako si Dior, I will do the same."

"Let's date?" I asked her.

END

- -

Nanghina ang buong katawan ko when I saw Tiffany hanging on a crane. Pababa ito at nang tumingin ako sa pagbababaan nito, it was a pool of boiling water!

"Putangina!" I screamed as I begged someone out there to stop this nightmare. Not my love, please! I'm begging to God if He's real! Save the woman I love.

"Cleandra!" Nagpapumilit kumalas si Dior sa straps ng upuan niya. "Apollo, they're killing my best friend!"

Walang magawa si Apollo kundi tingnan lamang si Dior. Lahat kami ay walang magawa. We could not stop this impending doom.

"Crow, nagmamakaawa ako!" I was desperate, nothing else mattered to me anymore. "Spare her life!"

"Love..." Nakatingin lang ako sa umiiyak na mukha ni Tiffany as she looked straight at me. Hindi siya takot... she was smiling at me.

How cruel that this was the last time I'd ever see her smile.

Watch over me, love. Gusto kitang sundan.

"Fuck!" Nagwawala ako habang unti-unti siyang bumababa. Pinilit kong ilabas ang lakas ko para makawala sa upuang ito.

"I love you," Tiffany mouthed at me.

Everything flashed back into my mind. How I courted her and how she said 'yes' to me. I also remembered how we promised to marry each other in the future. We also had bank account we shared for us to use when we live together.

I did not want the next lifetime.

I wanted this lifetime to be ours.

Nawala lahat ng pangarap ko para sa aming dalawa as I heard her screams when she reached the boiling water.

"Tiffany!" Dior cried as she saw the burned body of our friend. Hindi ako makatingin... I could not bear to see her like that.

I lost my dream.

I failed to keep the moon safe with me.

"The crows kissed Tiffany her death. She is an innocent."