｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. DIOR

FLASHBACK

"Siya siguro ang pumatay kina Yves at Achilles!" Sigaw ng isang estudyante. "Sabagay criminal ang mga magulang! Tingnan mo, ninakaw pa ang school funds!"

"O kaya galit siya kay Yves!" Bulyaw ng isa pa. "Malandi 'yan e baka type si Achilles!"

Patuloy lang akong naglalakad at isinuot lang ang hoodie at airpods ko para hindi na sila marinig. Bigla ko lang naramdamang nasa sahig na ako nang may babaeng bumunggo sa akin.

"Shit, I touched a criminal!" The girl hissed and looked at me disgustingly. "Thief na nga, mamamatay tao pa!"

It felt new.

Sanay akong masabihang malandi or prositute but never a criminal. Alam kong hindi makatarungan ang akusahan ako nang ganoon-ganoon na lamang pero wala, e. Mahirap maging ako. Napangiti nalang ako nang mapait sa sarili ko.

"Wala ka nang pwesto rito, Aurea." Napapikit ako nang mariin nang tawagin nito ang apelyido ko. "You're a nobody now."

The irony of this whole situation was that sila ang pumipilit na makasama ako before at nagpapareto pa sa mga kaibigan kong lalaki. Now, I just felt so lost. Everyone was against me na para bang ako ang automatic na may kasalanan ng lahat.

"Nakakadiri ka, you know that?" Tanong sa akin ng babaeng katabi nito at inilayo nang onti ang bumunggo sa akin.

"I don't even know bakit ka natanggap in this university in the first place." Umirap sa akin ang isa pang babae. "You're just trash here. You never should have been alive."

Alam ko. Hiniling ko rin 'yon nang ilang beses. Pinagtangkaan ko na rin ang buhay ko noon pero ang daya ng mundo. Ayaw akong paalisin.

Nakilala ko ang mga kaibigan ko... siya... kaya ayon, kahit masakit, nandito pa rin ako.

Maglalakad sana ako palayo nang may humila sa buhok ko. Gusto kong lumaban pero wala akong lakas. These days were draining me. Kahit ano namang gawin ko, walang mangyayari. My problem was still existing kahit labanan ko siya.

"Aalisin niyo 'yang kamay niyo o isusumbong ko kayo sa principal?" Napalingon ako nang makita si Apollo na may hawak na cellphone. Vini-videohan ata ang pangyayari. Hermés was beside him.

"We can also sue you," dagdag ni Hermés kaya binitawan ako noong babae.

"Thanks." Ngiti ko sa mga kaibigan ko at naglakad papalayo. I knew that they were following me but I did not care. Simula noong naakusahan ako, they refused to leave my side. Kailangan ko raw ng backup lagi.

Sana hindi nalang nila ako tinulungan.

I did not even know if I deserved it or not.

END

- -

Naramdaman kong may yumugyog sa akin kaya nagising ako. It was Prada. Napansin kong nakatali ang mga kamay namin sa chains at may metal collar pa rin kami.

Umiiyak ang mga kaibigan ko sa hindi malamang dahilan. Ano ba kasi ang nangyari?

Ang naalala ko lang ay naglalaro kami ng chess tapos natalo kami. Katapos noon ay sabi ni Crow na magbobotohan daw kami.

Tangina.

Nanlamig ako nang maalala kung sino ang binoto ko. We did not know who the other voted. Binigyan lang kami ng papel at ipinasulat sa amin kung sino ang gusto naming binoto.

Napatingin ako sa binoto ko.

I'm so sorry, Hades.

Napalunok ako nang mapansing may hindi ako makitang mukha. Bigla akong tumayo at napagtanto na nasa isang cell kami.

"Tangina, tangina..." Natataranta kong sinabi at hinanap ang nawawalang kaibigan ko. Umiiyak lang sina Apollo at Tiffany pero mas dinig ko ang iyak ni Gucci. Fuck...

"Nasaan si Zeus?!" Mangiyak-ngiyak kong sigaw habang tumitingin sa paligid ko na para bang mahahanap ko si Zeus doon.

My friend...

"B-binoto niyo siya?" Nagcrack ang boses ko as I got my answer when they stayed silent. Alam ko na they will be killed if they did not vote but, damn, it hurts.

Ang sama kong kaibigan.

Napaluhod nalang ako habang umiiyak. My heart was being torn to pieces. Ang daya-daya ng mundo.

We lost two people we love in one day.

Sana ako na ang kasunod. I could not take this anymore.

Mas lalong lumakas ang mga iyak ko nang makitang ipinasok si Zeus na bugbog sarado. I immediately ran over to Gucci who was hyperventilating.

"A-ate..." Umiyak si Gucci sa akin. "They're going to kill him."

I know, Gucci.

"Ate, make it stop." Nagmamakaawa si Gucci sa akin pero wala akong magawa kundi yakapin siya at takpan ang mga mata niya.

The guards strapped his hands to the higher part of the pole. I wanted to cry when the guard pulled out a whiplash.

"Fuck you, Crow!" Iyak ni Gucci. "You monster!"

My friends did not deserve this.

Nabiktima lang din naman kami ng mga kasinungalingan nina Yves and Achilles. Pero bakit kami ang nagbabayad ng mga kasalanan nila?

"Don't look, Gucci," I whispered to her but she shoved me off.

Gucci ran over to the front of the cell where the barriers blocked her from going to Zeus, her best friend and the love of her life. She was very strong.

Kahit hindi siya ang nasa puso ni Zeus, he was in hers.

"Zeus!" Gucci's cries rang over the room. She was kicking the cell doors na para bang may mangyayari.

"G-gucci..." Hades' tears were visible when he tried to pull Gucci back.

"Kuya, they're killing him!" Hagulgol ni Gucci kaya mas lalong nawasak ang puso ko. Zeus was so young.

He did not deserve any of this.

"Gucci, don't look at me," Zeus told her as I saw the guard preparing his whiplash. Napatakip ako nang mukha because of so much emotions. "Please."

"Crow, ako ang pumatay!" Tumayo si Gucci at sumigaw sa speaker. "Now, let him go!"

"Fuck you, tangina mo!" Sigaw nang sigaw ni Gucci habang umiiyak lang kaming lahat. "Umaamin na nga ako!"

"Ah!" I gasped when the guard started whipping Zeus. His blood were scattered all over the place as I tried to pull Gucci away.

All I heard were Gucci and Zeus' cries.

Hindi ko magawang tingnan si Zeus kaya napatingin ako kay Ares na nakaupo lang sa gilid. He wasn't crying but he looked so tired.

Ares, gusto ko na ring magpahinga.

Pero bawal pa.

Masiguro ko lang na makakaalis siya rito nang buhay, I would expose all of the secrets I know. I was aware na lahat kami may pinoprotektahan. So, kailangan lang namin magtiis.

"Ares, a-alagaan mo ang... mga babae natin!" Nanghihinang sigaw ni Zeus kay Ares who finally shed a tear. "Bigay mo a-ang plushie ko kay G-gucci kapag kumikidlat."

No, Zeus, you fight.

Give Gucci your plushie yourself.

"T-tangina mo, lumaban ka!" Apollo shouted as his eyes flooded with tears. "Hindi kami aalis dito nang wala ka!"

"Stay with us." Hermés knelt down, crying as he begged his friend to fight. We were a crying mess.

I just want to rest.

Pero nauna na si Zeus.

We stared at his lifeless and bloody body as we heard the cell door click open. Gucci immediately ran to Zeus as she held him in his arms.

"I love you," she cried as we all watched her mourn for her best friend. "Wake up, wake up... please."

We lost a friend. We lost a brother.

And, I will lose my mind.

I hugged Tiffany and Prada who were crying at the dead body of our friend. Prada took this harder... they were very close.

"Let's live for Zeus, okay?" I gave them a bitter smile as they both cried harder.

Wala bang wishing well dito? Wish ko lang na makaalis na kami.

Ayaw ko nang hintayin ang araw na wala nang natira sa amin. We promised that we will grow with each other and our children will be friends just like us.

Pero paano na ako magiging ninang sa anak nina Chanel at Zeus?

"The crows kissed Zeus his death. He is an innocent." My heart sank at that. Two innocents were taken from us already. Nakakagago.

"Let's have you eight rest first." Dagdag nito.

- -

Nang magising ako, everyone was silent. The silence was not comfortable at all, especially since we lost someone very dear to us. It was deafening. Gagong-gago na kami sa mundong ito.

I immediately darted my eyes to Gucci. Sumakit bigla ang puso ko... her eyes were bloodshot. Agad akong lumapit at niyakap siya but she refused to hug me back.

Nakatulog ba ang batang ito?

"Sinong bumoto sa inyo kay Zeus?" The room suddenly went cold as soon as Gucci asked that question. Everybody avoided her gazes.

"Sino?!" Nabigla ako nang tumayo ito at umiyak. She was eyeing everyone. She was so devastated.

"Kuya Hermés..." Lumapit ito kay Hermés na para bang naliligaw na bata. "Did you vote for him?"

Bigla nitong kinuyog si Hermés kaya napatakbo ako papunta sa kanya at inilayo ito. At this point, we did not need to fight.

Kailangan na naming magkaisa.

"I did not vote for him," sagot nito at saglit na tumingin kay Hades. Hades noticed this as he scoffed.

"Ako ang binoto mo?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Hades na nakaturo sa sarili niya. I gulped at that.

"Anong pruweba mo na ako pumatay?" Tumayo ito at lalapit sana kay Hermés nang bigla itong harangan ni Apollo.

"Pwede ba?" Apollo looked so tired. "Tama na muna. Pagod na kami."

"Kung pagod kayo, edi sana sinabi niyo na kung sino ang pumatay!" I flinched when Hades shouted. That was when Ares intervened.

"Wala tayong mapapala kung mag-aaway tayo," saway nito. "We are not the enemy of each other. Please remember that."

Hindi nakaiwas sa paningin ko ang ngisi ni Prada when he said that. Ano ang alam ni Prada?

What was Ares hiding?

"Good morning, little ones!" Bati ni Crow.

Umaga na pala? Tangina, ilang araw na pala kami rito. Hindi man kami hinayaang maligo ng tangang 'to.

Feel ko dugyutin si Crow.

Amoy dugyot din ang pangalan, putangina.

"Walang good sa umaga," dulong ni Hades and rolled his eyes. Umupo nalang ito sa tabi ni Prada na ipinapakalma siya ngayon.

"I hope you had a great sleep." Umirap ako at that. "Eat your breakfast first before we proceed to your next challenge."

Bumungad sa amin ang maraming pagkain. However, it was way too familiar. Ito ang lunch namin sa university lagi. Shuta, paano niya ba nalalaman ang mga bagay tungkol sa amin?

Nananadya ba 'to?

"Gago." Narinig kong mura ni Apollo as he saw the foods. Nagkatinginan kami ni Tiffany and it seemed that she also understood what I wanted to say.

We all sat down on the chairs surrounding the dining table. Mukhang gutom na gutom na ang mga kaibigan ko. Ayaw ko kumain... I was still hesitant.

"Hep!" Nabigla ako sa sigaw ni Apollo. "Dior, bago ka magsalita, gutom na ako kaya kakainin ko ito."

"Hindi naman ako magsasalita." Kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya at saka kumain.

None of us were talking... we were that tired. Losing two friends in one day was so draining. Ni hindi ko nga alam paano ipapaalam sa mga magulang nila na they're dead.

If I even get out of here alive.

"Are you okay?" Hermés, na katabi ko ngayon, asked me as he ate his bacsilog. It was rice with bacon and fried egg, perfect for quick dining. Paborito niya 'yon, e.

"Hindi." Binigyan ko siya ng ngiti at saka pinagpatuloy ang pagkain. "Ikaw?"

"They are my friends." Umiling ito at sinagot ako. Inalok pa niya ako ng almusal niya. "Want some?"

"Sorry, diet ako." Pampagaan ko ng pakiramdam niya. Wala lang talaga akong ganang kumain.

"We're in danger tapos ayan pa rin ang nasa isip mo." We both chuckled at that.

E syempre naman, kapag ba namatay ako, pwede ko pa rin bihisan ang multo ko? Isa lang ang masusuot kong damit at ang magiging itsura ko sa afterlife. I need to look best.

"Sana ol," sabi ni Hades at nakatingin siya amin ni Hermés. My jaw dropped as I saw someone's eyes turned a shade darker.

Tangina naman, Hades!

"Shut up." Ngumiti si Hermés at saka pinagpatuloy ang pagkain ng almusal niya.

Makaraan ang ilang minuto, we were done. Compared to yesterday, hindi hamak na mas masarap ang pagkain ngayon.

Baka dahil favorite namin.

"Sino ang iboboto natin sa posas ngayon?" Tanong ni Gucci as she ate her biscuits. Damn, I almost forgot about that 'most suspected' shit.

"Ako na," pagpapaalam ni Ares at pinunasan ang bibig niya at ng kay Tiffany. Napangiwi ako sa kaharutan nila. Pati ba naman sa pagpunas ng bibig, by partner?

"Please don't treat this as a joke, little ones." Umepal nanaman si Crow. "I made this penalty para matulungan kayo na mahanap ang killer. Once you found out who, you're free to go."

Tempting.

But seeing the faces of my friends... no.

"Ako ang pumatay," I simply said. "Tutal criminal ang mga magulang ko."

"No, you're not," Hermés interjected. "You were just accused."

"Pero nagnakaw ako," laban ko and I saw Ares sigh at that. Ares was suppposed to help me with the case kaso madaya ang hustisya... Ayaw sa akin ng batas.

"Ako na ang kukuha ng penalty," Ares said and raised his hand. Pinilit ko pa siya na ako nalang pero ayaw niya talaga.

- -

We were already in a room full of doors as Ares struggled to carry his handcuffs. Ayan kasi, ayaw makinig sa akin. Hindi pa naman nagwoworkout 'yon.

"Baka isa sa mga pinto rito ang daan paalis?" Bulong ko kay Tiffany but she just shrugged at me.

"Welco—" Nagulat kami nang biglang nagsalita si Crow.

"Ay, puke!" "Mama, patawad!" Sabay kaming napasigaw ni Hades kaya napamasahe sa sentido si Ares while Prada laughed.

Nangwa-warshock, amp.

"Your mom is not here." Tumawa si Crow. "So, let me introduce to you the next challenge. This challenge will help you find more clues as to who the killer is."

Napataas ako ng kilay doon.

"These doors lead to a room, specifically... your rooms." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Crow. What the fuck? Paano kami nakapunta roon?

"Huwag mo nga kaming niloloko!" Sigaw ni Apollo but it did not look like Crow was joking.

"You will either go to each other's room or your room." Anunsyo nito. "I predetermined which room each of you are going to."

Fuck. Tangina!

I wanted to beg to let me have my own room. Gusto kong magdabog at magwala because of this fucking challenge!

No, Dior. Wala naman sigurong pupunta sa kwarto ko.

Biglang may pumasok na guard na may dalang kahon. Ano nanaman 'yan?

"One of you will have a huge advantage," dugtong ni Crow. Nakakaintriga, ha. "That one will go to two rooms. The other being the choice of the winner."

Sana makuha ko.

I really need the answers to my questions.

"If you please." Nagsimula na kaming bumunot ng papel as I slowly opened mine. I sighed as I saw that I wasn't the one who will receive the advantage.

"I got it." Napalingon ako kay Hermés na itinaas ang papel niya at lumapit sa guard. Lahat nakatingin sa kanya... at lahat naiinggit.

Of course, we wanted to finish our theories.

"Congratulations, Mr. Hermés!" Maligayang bati ni Crow. "You can pick your second room later."

"For now, little ones, you may now go to your doors!" He concluded. "The doors have your names but that doesn't mean na makukuha niyo ang kwarto niyo."

I looked around and saw the door where my name was placed. Pumikit ako nang mariin at hiniling na sana ang kwarto ko ang makita ko.

Kung kwarto ko, matutulog nalang ako.

Here goes nothing.

Pumasok ako at bumagsak ang puso ko nang makitang hindi ko ito kwarto. It was a color of red and black... and alam ko kung kanino ito.

So, who the fuck went to my room?

I looked around the room and saw Prada's picture with Achilles. She looked so happy and so... in love. Biglang namuo ang galit sa puso ko nang maalala ko ang video na nagtatalik sina Achilles at Yves.

Nakakadiri.

What caught my eye was the document and a picture in the table. Nanghina ang mga tuhod ko nang mabasa ito. I covered my mouth as I tried hard to not cry. Achilles is a... monster.

Fuck, fuck fuck!

He got Prada pregnant!

Prada suffered a miscarriage... she was three weeks pregnant. Tangina, tangina, tangina! Naluha ako nang mapagtantong I never knew anything to begin with.

Lahat ng alam ko... Were they false?

Hindi lang si Prada ang nabuntis niya...

Even his own sister.

Umupo ako sa kama ni Prada at umiyak. I felt so stupid! Ang tanga tanga ko! Ayun pala ang dahilan bakit galit na galit si Hades kay Achilles.

Bigla akong naiyak para kay Prada. She suffered by herself... Hindi siguro niya ipinaalam kay Achilles. I felt so useless as a friend!

I should have noticed!

Prada, I'm sorry.

Your friends failed you. We were supposed to have our first inaanak. Kung nabuhay siya, ituturing ko siyang parang anak ko.

Minumura ko si Achilles sa isip ko kasi fuck his irresponsible dick! Ibubuntis niya ang mga kaibigan ko tapos hindi niya paninindigan! Fuck you, Achilles!

Natigilan ako nang mag napagtanto. Prada... she was lying about her picture. Hindi siya 'yung silhouette sa harap ng apoy.

Hades told us that the picture of the dead fetus was his. He was protecting Prada all these time... hindi si Chanel.

So, kanino ang nasa harap ng apoy? Was Gucci telling us the truth that the picture was hers?

Who the fuck destroyed the evidences of the crime?

Napatulala nalang ako sa galit... sa sarili ko, kay Achilles, at sa mga kaibigan ko. I could not imagine how Prada felt when her child and its father died.

Habang buhay akong hihingi ng patawad kay Prada.

The crows, indeed, should have kissed Achilles' death. Not ours.