Before we resume, I would like to remind you
that this story will tackle heavy and mature
themes such as violence, blood, abuse, incest,
and grooming. Please read at your own discretion.

｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. ZEUS

FLASHBACK

"Babe, pakinggan mo naman ako!" Dire-diretso lang akong naglalakad habang hinahabol ako ni Yves. It had been two days since the video went viral and since our squad were divided into two sides.

Whether Yves cheated on me or life fucked the both of us.

"Pinilit lang ako ni kuya Achi!" Naririnig ko siyang umiiyak habang sumasabay sa paglalakad ko. I scoffed. That was impossible. Hindi ako tanga. Before this, dumidistansiya na siya sa akin. Nagkakalabuan na kami.

She did not even look at me that way anymore.

So much love... Those were her eyes when she looked at me before. Subalit ngayon, para kay Achilles ko na nakikita.

Ayun ang hindi maintindihan nina Chanel at Tiffany. I was aware that they were siding with Yves on this one. Ano namang silbi ng pakikinig ko sa mga kasinungalingan ni Yves when her actions spoke louder?

"Gucci brainwashed you... Didn't she?" Doon ako napatigil. Namumula na ako sa galit sa sinabi niya at humarap sa kanya. How dare she? Magkaibigan sila!

Bago pa kami nagkakilala ni Yves, Gucci was the one in her life! Why the fuck would she speak that way on her best friend?!

"Bago ka mag-akusa ng iba, panindigan mo muna 'yang ginawa mo. I don't know what to do with you anymore," sabi ko at tumalikod ulit para maglakad palayo.

"And oh..." Tumigil ako saglit.

"Stop calling me babe." Binigyan ko siya ng pekeng ngiti. "We both know you're not sincere with that."

END

- -

Napabuntong-hininga ako bago maglakad papunta kay Gucci na nahihirapan sa posas niya ngayon. My eyes were avoiding hers all these time. I was guilty with what I did. Kahit naman mahal niya ako sa ganoong paraan, hindi naman ako gago para itulak siya palayo na para bang hindi kami magkaibigan.

Matagal ko nang alam. However, amongst everything, mas nangingibabaw ang pagkakaibigan namin. Alam na niya ang lahat tungkol sa akin at wala akong pinagsisisihan sa mga nangyari.

I knew I would never look at Gucci the way she looked at me kaso simula nung nangyari ang panloloko ni Yves, napapaisip ako... What if things went differently? Paano kung kay Gucci ako napamahal? Would I be happiest with her?

Kaso wala, hindi ko kayang palitan si Yves sa puso ko. Siya lang talaga.

"Need a hand?" Tanong ko as she looked at me with the coldest eyes I ever saw from her. Ngayon ko narealize na I was slowly losing my friends.

I lost the love of my life.

Pero huwag naman sana ang iba pang nagmamahal sa akin.

"I'm sorry, Gucci," nakayuko kong sambit, hindi makatingin sa kanya dahil sa hiya. I could not imagine what she felt that moment She must have been hanging on to me as a friend who would never betray her.

Originally, pinakamalapit kami nina Yves and Gucci, lalo na same year din kami sa university. But now that Yves is gone, kami na ni Gucci ang nag-aalaga sa isa't isa.

As for Achilles, kay Hades siya pinakamalapit. Pero kapag usapang katarantaduhan at tagay, lagi niyang kasama sina Hades, Apollo, at Dior.

"Let's look for the keys." Napaangat ako ng tingin and saw her smiling at me. Binalik ko ang ngiti sa kanya and carried the chains of her handcuffs. "Be careful. Mabigat 'yan, Zeus."

"Tangina..." Sambit ko as she chuckled. "Buti nalang nagwo-workout ako."

"Workout, you mean fighting?" Natawa si Gucci and rolled her eyes. I pouted a little at her. Singhal ko, "Basher ka talaga!"

Nagsimula kaming maghanap sa likod ng stage since everyone were looking underneath the tables and chairs. I noticed that the handcuffs were that heavy at mahihirapan si Gucci maghanap sa lagay na ito.

"Gucci... Upo ka muna kaya?" I suggested. It was so hard for her to move lalo na asthmatic siya. The handcuffs looked like it was pulling her arm off.

"No, kaya ko," she refused and walked past me. Hindi siya nabigatan, pre? Ganyan siguro kapag strong independent woman. Charot.

"Gucci, is the fire really your photo?" I finally had the urge to ask that. It was bugging me all these time.

Tumingin ako sa paligid ko bago tinanong sa kanya. I am not naive... And alam na alam ko na almost everyone were lying about their pictures — ni hindi nga ako sigurado sa pinili kong picture.

She shrugged while I just sighed. She probably did not trust me now, too?

Napako ang tingin ko kay Apollo na kasama si Hermés sa kalayuan. Parang nagbabangayan sila. Napangisi ako, I know too damn well kung alin ang litrato ni Apollo. His photo was... The game changer of this challenge.

And boy, he would be wrecked so hard kapag in-expose ko ang sikreto niya.

"Mine is really the picture of Yves and Achi," pagkaklaro ko sa kanya as she looked at me with a bitter smile.

"I know." Tumango siya. "Ikaw lang ang hindi nagsimungaling."

My jaw dropped at that. For some reason, nakaramdam din ako ng pait sa puso ko. So, nagsinungaling din si Gucci? At this point, hindi ko na rin alam sino ang pagkakatiwalaan ko sa kanila.

Wait...

"Hindi kay Dior 'yung pera?" Parang natigilan din siya sa sinabi ko at napatingin sa akin. Ngayon lang din siguro niya napagtanto agad.

"Everything's in shambles," sagot niya. "I know more than half. I just theorized on the others."

Tumango nalang ako at naghanap sa kabilang side ng stage. Ano bang itsura no'n? Baka susi ng kotse lang ng sasakyan ni Ares ang makuha ko.

Edi maganda.

Ang hindi ko pa rin maintindihan ngayon ay sino ang kumuha ng mga litrato? Wala sa amin ang nasa photography club o kaya ganoon kumuha ng litrato. Hindi ko lubos maisip na mayroong snitch sa amin.

Pero kung sina Yves at Achilles nga kaya kaming traydurin, paano pa kaya 'yung iba?

At bakit parang alam ni Crow ang buong nangyari? Mas alam pa nito kaysa sa akin ah. I was aware that some of my friends were suspects pero hindi ko naman inakala na nasa amin talaga ang killer!

The thing I was worried about was... My temper.

Kahit gaano ang galit ko kina Yves at Achilles, I could not fathom staying mad at them. Mahal ko sila... Mahal na mahal. Kaya sa panahong makikilala ko na kung sino ang killer, baka ako ang makapatay.

They took Yves away from me.

Muntik akong mapatalon nang may kumalabit sa akin. Napatingin ako kay Chanel na tahimik na tumabi sa akin. Putangina, bakit nanggugulat?

"You good?" I asked her and she nodded. Bakit ba siya naghahanap dito? Baka wala akong matulugan mamaya ah! Hindi naman sa competitive ako pero pagod na pagod na talaga ako. Ang sakit din makuryente, ha!

"You lied about your picture, right?" Nagtanong ulit ako as I watched her stare at me before nodding. It felt bittersweet... Dahil akala ko magkakaibigan kami rito. At this point, we were strangers to each other.

May kanya-kanya pala kaming pinoprotektahan. That just meant we all had a part to play on Yves and Achilles' death.

She was obviously protecting someone else.

I was protecting the friendship all of us had.

"Bakit kaya tinanggal ang dila niyo?" Tanong ko sa kanya na para bang may maihahain siyang sagot kung bakit hindi makapagsalita sila nina Prada at Tiffany.

I already had a theory in mind. And, I know for sure na magsisinungaling siya if ever na sinabi ko. Kahit anong gawin ko, walang silbi kung walang bababa... Kung walang aamin. We would be running in circles.

"You know everything, huh?" Tumingin lang siya sa akin bago umalis.

I chuckled and went back to Gucci who was sitting on the stairs attached to the stage. Napagod na ata itong bunso namin.

"What do you want to do after we get out of here?" Tanong ko, sumuko na kahahanap sa tanginang susi na 'yan! Sa sala nalang ako matutulog!

"IF we get out of here." I frowned at her answer.

"By the way..." Dagdag niya. "I found a key."

Pinakita niya sa akin ang isang gintong susi na may diamond sa gitna. Ang yaman naman ng dumukot sa amin, putangina. Sana ol.

Sana tinulungan niya nalang ang mga mahihirap kaysa pinahihirapan kami. Ang daming nangangailangan ngayon pero ginagamit niya ang pera niya sa walang kwentang bagay. Sana inilaan nalang niya sa libre at kalidad na edukasyon, problema sa trapik, at korapsyon.

Crow for President.

"Paano mo naman mahahanap ang pair mo rito?" I asked while examining the key. Wala namang number na nakalagay nor palatandaan.

"I don't know," she answered. "Hopefully, I'll get to rest."

Determinado na tuloy akong maghanap ngayon. Once we get out of here, isasangla ko ang susi. Mark my word.

"Nakahanap na si Tiff!" Maligayang sigaw ni Hades so we went to them. I looked at the key and this time, the color was bronze. It also sported a diamond on the center.

"May pair na kayo?" I asked them.

As soon as I said that, Chanel suddenly crashed to the ground. Agad kaming lumapit sa kanya as I saw her forcing something out of her mouth.

Parang nagsusuka siya.

Lumapit ako para makita nang maigi anong nangyayari sa kanya. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Fuck?

"Mahal..." Natatarantang sabi ni Hades, hindi mawari ano ang gagawin. "Anong nangyari?"

"Give her space!" Hermés ordered, one of our medical students here. Tumayo si Hades at pinalitan ni Hermés ang pwesto niya.

Chanel was already gagging and her face was so red.

"Chanel, look at me." Pinanood lang namin ang dalawa kahit nakikita ko nang naiiyak si Hades at ang mga kaibigan naming babae. Hermés led Chanel to a place where there is greater light.

Nakita kong napahawak sa bibig si Tiffany nang makita ano 'yon. Nakakunot ang noo ko. Puta, anong nangyayari?! Tangina mo, Crow, papatayin kita kapag may ginawa kang masama sa kaibigan ko!

"One of the keys is in Chanel's throat." Nangilabot ako as soon as I heard that from Hermés.

"Fuck?" Ares cursed as he could only watch the two.

Fucking demonyo. That was the correct description for Crow.

"Chanel, stand up please." Sumunod si Chanel sa mga sinabi ni Hermés.

"May I? My arm has to be put across your chest, Chanel." Tumango si Chanel at Hermés' permission.

He stood behind her and placed an arm across her chest. Hermés bent Chanel over the waist as he delivered five separate back blows between her shoulder blades with the heel of his hand.

Makaraan ang ilang segundo, Chanel spit out the key as she fell to the ground, gasping for air. Hades was so quick to rush over to her. Pinalupot niya ang kanyang braso sa likuran nito at pinatakan ng mga halik sa kanyang buhok.

"I love you..." Paulit-ulit na bulong ni Hades kay Chanel sa bawat halik. "Huwag mo akong iiwanan. Lalabas tayo rito nang ligtas."

Really, Hades?

"Let her breathe first," Hermés ordered sa mga kaibigan naming akmang lalapit din kay Chanel.

Dior took the key and wiped it using the table napkin and the alcohol on the corner of the table near us. Lumapit ako sa kanya to see the key. It was silver.

"Hey, Zeus?" Tawag sa akin ni Dior kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. She was only smiling bitterly at me. "I'm sorry."

"What for?" Napakunot ang noo ko sa kanya. I did not remember her doing something bad to me. Kaso dahil sa mga sinasabi niya, I was starting to suspect her.

Was the picture of the money really Dior's?

"Just... Sa lahat ng nangyari." She smiled and headed to Chanel to give her her key. Yumakap din ito saglit sa kaibigan before heading to Tiffany.

"Kasama ko si Chanel," nakangiting sagot ni Apollo at inakbayan si Chanel which earned him a glare from Hades. I chuckled at their childishness. "Hoy, kalma! Tropa ko 'yan!"

Sana may mang-asar din kay Apollo.

I was walking around the place when I saw something shimmering on the brim of my eyes. Lumiwanag ang mata ko nang makakita ng susi. I immediately picked it up.

The color was gold.

Masasangla ko ba ito?

"May nahanap na ako!" I exclaimed as they all went to me. "Guess I'm your partner, Guch?"

Ngumiti siya sa akin kaso nawala rin 'yon nang makita ang susi ko. Kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya. Ayaw ba niya akong kasama? I had to sulk at that.

"Don't sulk," she chuckled. "Hindi tayo partners?"

"Ha?"

"Hatdog," panggagago niya sa akin. Natawa siya lalo nang irapan ko siya! Tinaas niya ang susi niya para makita ko. "My key has a diamond on the center. Iyo wala..."

Napaawang ang labi ko nang pagmasdan ang mga susi namin. Oo nga! So, sino kaya ang partner ko?

Nevertheless, may kwarto na ako for sure. Sana nga lang maayos 'yon.

"Crow said that there are either penalties or prizes depending on the room," singit ni Ares. "Mag-ingat kayo."

Akala ko pa naman makakatulog na ako nang mahimbing.

I looked at Prada who was pointing something to Ares. Napatingin din ako as I saw three paintings. Familiar ito... Nakita kong pinagmamasdan ito ni Prada nung debut ni Gucci.

But now, they looked slightly different.

Because this time, the women in the paintings had a separate red cross on the throat, the right eye, and the stomach.

"Oh my God..." Narinig ko ang buntong-hininga ni Ares as he bumped his head on the wall. Nakararamdam na ako ng kakaiba. As if something bad will happen.

"Anong meron?" Tanong ni Dior and Ares looked at us with dark eyes. He pointed at the paintings. Nanlaki ang mga mata nina Chanel, Tiffany, at Dior nang maintindihan agad ang ibig sabihin nito.

Pero hindi ko maintindihan.

"These marks are on the throat, eye, and the stomach," panimula ni Ares. "The first one of the key was found on Chanel's throat."

"The other two keys are inside the eye and stomach of one of us," dagdag niya.

Indeed, the crows were already kissing our death.