｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. ARES

Seven of us already found the keys. My pair was Gucci who was currentlu shivering because of the thought of someone among us having a key either in the eye or in the stomach.

Napatingin ako sa girlfriend ko who was examining her stomach and eye, pinapakiramdaman siguro kung may metal siyang nakalagay doon. I could not help but to sigh — she was surely hiding something from me.

Pero mas nangingibabaw sa akin ang sakit. Was she really pregnant? Paano at kailan siya nabuntis? I did not want to jump to conclusions, however...

Did she cheat on me?

"Gucci, I'll just go to Tiffany," paalam ko kay Gucci at bumitaw sa yakap ko sa kanya. She tugged on my arm, not wanting to let go. "I'll be back, don't worry." I ruffled her hair.

Lumapit ako kay Tiffany who greeted me with her lovely smile. She then caressed my face and looked at me in the eye, tinitingnan din siguro kung nasa akin ang susi. Hindi ko lubos maisip bakit doon sa mga ispesipikong parte ng katawan inilagay ang mga susi.

How the heck would we we even get the key from the eye? Kakamayin?

"Love..." She looked at me. Napa-buntong hininga ako. I had to ask this. "The picture of the positive pregnancy test... Is it really yours?"

I saw how her eyes widened at my question. I knew we did it countless times pero we used protection naman. If it is hers or even if it's not, I'm willing to father it. Siguro kaya ko na rin magpakatanga if she ever really did cheat on me.

Napabuga ako ng hangin nang makita siyang umiling. I saw how genuine she looked so I believe na totoo naman na hindi kanya 'yun.

So my next question was... Who was she protecting?

"Is Chanel alright now?" Tanong ko. After the incident with Chanel, she refused to leave her side. She is also a medical student so I believed that she felt that it was her job to take care of Chanel.

Tumango siya as I took the chance to hold her hand. Her eyes were tired, I know that. I memorized every feature of her like a case in law school. She's the case I would never get tired of reading.

"Ikaw, love?" Tumingin siya sa akin. "Are you alright?"

Yumuko siya at umiling. I immediately wrapped my arms around her as soon as I heard her sniffing.

I could never get used to her crying. Kahit ilang beses na siyang umiyak sa balikat ko, I was hurt more than hers. Inalagaan ko siya, e... So why would the world be such a dick to her? Why would the world give her back to me damaged?

"Love..." I caressed her back. "I told you before that I'm your super bunny, right?"

I saw her smile a bit before looking at me.

"I'll continue to be that until death." I planted a kiss on her lips.

"Get a room." Napalingon ako kay Hermés na nakatingin sa amin ngayon kaya natawa ako.

He looked so disgusted. Palibhasa kasi ay malas siya sa lovelife. He could never move on from the woman he loved all these years. Hindi naman siya torpe... Pero tanga siya.

"Go to Dior," I teased him as he rolled his eyes, a blush creeping on his cheeks.

"Paano natin malalaman sino sa atin ang may susi sa katawan?" I asked him.

"That's why I'm here." Lumapit ako nang ibinigay niya sa akin ang dalawang papel.

"Have the others seen this?" Tanong ko at umiling siya.

"Kanina pa pala nasa ilalim ng vase 'yan," he answered. "I figured you should see this first."

I took the papers from his hand and read the first one.

Look at the eye of the woman born in the sixth deadly month.

"There is only one of us here who was born in June," I concluded and looked at Hermés who was nodding at me.

"Prada." I heard a hint of pity in his voice. "Her tongue was cut off then we'll take an eye from her."

I wanted to punch myself. I was a failure.

My friends did not deserve this. Prada... she was the one keeping us sane in the group. Kapag ako na ang nawawala sa sarili, she was there to tend to me. Anong ginawa niya at naging ganito ang hatol sa kanya?

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How can I keep myself from being insane if she is in that state?

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"Here's the next." Binigay sa akin ni Hermés ang isa pa. But I noticed how his eyes glistened with sadness.

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I found out why he acted like that when I read the second paper.

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The woman in love with the calculations of structures bear the third key.

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"Dior is a civil engineering student." I said and looked at Hermés, who since came here, never cried. But here he was, looking like a crying mess.

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"Ares, I can't do it." He begged me. "I can take something else... just not this."

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I have to say no.

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He, Tiffany, and Prada were the only one qualified here. And the girls cannot communicate to us well.

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Please, Ares, say no.

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"Okay, I'll ask Tiffany to do it. But, can you help her?" Tumango siya. Binigyan ko siya ng bahagyang ngiti kahit minumura ko na ang sarili ko sa kaloob-looban.

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Bakit silang tatlo ang napili ni Crow? What do they have to do with the murder?

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I looked at my friends who were scattered in groups. Kailangan ko ito sabihin agad... we only have less than 30 minutes left. Pero saan ba kami kukuha ng tools?!

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"Here are your tools." Anunsyo ni Crow na para bang narinig ang nasa isip ko. I looked at the counter and there laid surgical instruments.

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"Tangina..." Rinig kong sabi ni Apollo.

Lumapit ako kay Tiffany para sabihan siya. It had to be now or never. Alam ko sa sarili ko na pinapabagal ko lang ang oras dahil natatakot ako para kina Prada at Dior. Ah, if only I could stop time.

"Love, can you take the keys out of Prada and Dior?" Naestatwa siya sa pwesto niya nang marinig 'yun. She was never one to hurt someone intentionally.

"Please," pagmamakaawa sa kanya ni Hermés. He was even clasping his hands together.

"Gagi pre, bakit ka umiiyak?" Tanong ni Apollo at lumapit kay Hermés kaya napukaw ang atensyon ng iba.

I sighed — kahit pala anong isikreto ko, mabubunyag pa rin. Kahit anong pilit kong hindi ito sabihin sa iba, it had to come out. Kailangan nila itong malaman.

"What is really happening?" Tanong ni Gucci na kayakap ni Dior ngayon. I could not look at Dior. I felt so guilty.

Napapikit ako nang mariin. I had to be firm now.

"The second key is in Prada's eye while the other is in Dior's stomach." Parang tumigil ang mundo ng lahat at ang tanging naririnig lang ay ang hikbi ni Prada. Dior was left emotionless.

"Let's do it," walang takot na sambit ni Dior at lumapit sa amin. She was not even close to crying. Ang tanging ginawa niya lamang ay hawakan ang kamay ni Prada.

Apollo, Hermés, and Hades were bundled up in a corner. Sila ay umiiyak din. Zeus hugged Gucci while Chanel was comforting the three boys.

I wanted to cry too. So bad.

But if I cry, then all my friends will lose faith on surviving. I knew I was their strength. I was their pillar where they could cry on. Bawal masira ang suporta nila.

"Who wants to go first?" Tanong ni Hermés at itinaas ni Prada ang kanyang kamay.

"Wala bang ibang paraan?" Lumapit si Hades sa amin at hinawakan sa palapulsuhan si Prada para pigilan ito. His eyes looked so hopeful yet near to giving it all up.

Oh, Hades, how I wish there was another way.

"Crow, sagutin mo kami!" Sumigaw si Hades. At this point, his eyes were bloodshot. "Wala bang ibang paraan?"

"There is. Point to me who the killers are," simpleng sagot ni Crow kaya napangisi si Hades. Wait— What the fuck?

Hindi lang isa sa amin ang pumatay?

Para ba akong nanlamig sa pwesto ko. I noticed my friends being shocked at what they heard too. Paano ba namin... Kayang sikmurain na... May iilan sa amin na pumatay?

Kaibigan din namin ang pinatay nila.

"Aamin na ako!" Itinaas ni Hades ang kamay niya. "Ako ang pumatay kina Yves at Achilles." Hindi ko mapigilang kumuyom ang kamao sa narinig. Achilles was my fucking best friend.

Was he fucking serious?

"Gago?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Zeus at mabagal na lumapit kay Hades. "Is that true?"

"Nice try, little one." Natawa si Crow. "Let's continue the challenge."

So, hindi si Hades? My mind is failing me right now. Hindi ko na alam. I feel so lost. Isa lang ang mapapangako ko — Once I find out who killed them, I will turn into a murderer too.

"Tangina naman!" Galit na sigaw ni Hades. "Umamin na nga ako!"

"You're not the killer." Apollo said and prepared the tools for Tiffany. Kasama niya si Hermés na tinutulungan siya. "Umupo ka nalang diyan. Atupagin muna natin sina Prada at Dior."

"Fuck..." Sambit ni Hermés. "Walang anesthesia."

Putangina?

Hades slammed the wall and shouted curses towards Crow. Only a demon can think of inhumane acts such as this.

I felt so pitiful for Prada and Dior. Pakiramdam ko ay ang sama-sama ko; alam ko rin na ganoon ang nararamdaman ng iba sa sarili nila. How could we fathom seeing our friends suffering?

"Walang magtatanggal ng kahit ano sa katawan namin kung walang anesthesia!" Galit na sigaw ni Dior. She looked like she was holding all her patience at check tapos ngayon lang siya sumabog.

"Is that so, Ms. Aurea?" Tanong ni Crow. "Should I expose what he did?"

He?

Sino? Si Hermés ba?

Nanigas sa pwesto si Dior at saka tumahimik habang lahat kami ay nakatingin sa kanya. All were wearing curious faces. Dior was only looking down, avoiding our gazes.

"Dior, sinong he?" Tanong ni Hades sa kanya pero hindi sumasagot si Dior. Napayuko na lamang ang babae. She was not planning to say anything.

"Anong tinatago mo?!" Napatalon si Dior nang sigawan ito ni Zeus. Akma sana itong lalapit kay Dior nang pigilan ni Hermés. Of course, everything for her.

He could give it all up for Dior.

"Stop it," Hermés warned. "We'll take care of that fucking case later. Kailangan munang tanggalin ang mga susi."

I felt anger towards Hermés — isa siya sa mga dahilan kaya hindi kami makaalis dito. All of us were protecting something. Hangga't mayroon pa ring nagtatago, wala kaming patutunguhan.

I glanced at Zeus. Just like him, we're all tired of the secrets plaguing us.

However, just like everyone else, may pinoprotektahan kami.

Bumuntong-hininga si Hades at saka pinatakan ng halik sa noo si Prada. Katapos, niyakap niya ito habang umiiyak ang babae naming kaibigan.

"Upo kayo rito." Nag-ayos ng upuan sina Apollo at Zeus para makaupo sina Prada, Hades, at Tiffany. Si Hermés naman ay nakatayo sa tabi ng girlfriend ko.

"Nandito ako sa tabi mo, ha?" Hades softly said to Prada. "Kahit sirain mo kamay ko, basta gamitin mo 'yan kapag masakit na."

Tumango si Prada as she stared at Tiffany who was caressing her face. Nginitian lang ito ni Prada as Tiffany wore her gloves. Nakita ko rin na tumalikod sina Dior, Apollo, Gucci, and Chanel. They cannot bear to watch her.

Kaso nga lang, they could not escape her cries when the surgery started.

It was so painful for me to watch so I had to turn back. Sa bawat iyak niya, may tumulong luha sa mga mata ko.

What have we done to each other?

How much did we fall para umabot sa ganito?

Did we reach rock bottom?

"Putangina..." Gumagalgal ang boses ni Hades, pinipilit hindi tumingin sa mukha ng kaibigan niya. Sumilip ako and I saw Tiffany fighting her tears too. Only Hermés and Zeus were able to look at the scene directly.

"M-make it stop..." Iyak ni Gucci who was now being hugged by Chanel. Gucci, I wish I could make everything stop too.

Only Prada's cries were heard at those moments.

Prada has always been so strong. Hindi siya madaling pabagsakin but she was vulnerable at times too. She was like a mother and a sister to some, but to me, she felt like a buddy. She's the one who would willingly listen to your rants and problems.

And now, I'm hearing my buddy crying for her life.

Makaraan ang ilang minuto, the cries stopped. Prada was given an eye patch by Hermés as Tiffany handed her her key after cleaning it. Our friends asked her if she was okay pero hindi siya makasagot.

Nang makatayo siya, she ended up crying on Hades' chest. Hades, on the other hand, was trying so hard to fight his tears. It must have been so painful.

No, Ares, wala kang karapatang maawa.

Because your decisions led us to this.

"Hey, partner!"

Ngumiti si Prada at niyakap si Zeus. Among them, Prada felt like a mother to him. Siya ang pumuno ng mga pagkukukang ng mama niya. In return, kay Zeus siya nanghihingi ng advice about Achilles. Pero lahat naman nang 'yon ay hindi niya pinakinggan.

Wala e, marupok.

Tanda kong sinabi ni Zeus noon na itigil niya na ang setup nila kasi mayroon nang namumuong feelings. Pero, wala. Desisyon niya pa rin naman pala ang masusunod.

"Hoy, Zeus Kaelo Bechtel!" Saway sa kanya ni Hades.

Natawa ako nang umirap si Zeus dahil tinawag siya sa buong pangalan niya. Only Yves called him Kaelo. The others just called him that for the sake of teasing.

"Wala kang hahawakan kay Prada," babala nito sa akin as he nodded his head.

Of course, he was a decent person and kaibigan ko siya. However, I know that Hades was protective of her. Well, we all are. Walang pwedeng manggago sa mga babaeng kaibigan namin.

Before they met us, sila ang magkasama lagi. Their friendship was so unlikely. Nakakatawa nga kasi kinwento ni Hades na ang unang pag-uusap nila ay noong bumibili sila ng street food noong mga bata sila. Prada referred to kwek-kwek as 'neon balls'.

"Dior..." I called her as she flashed me a bitter smile. She sat down in front of Tiffany and that's where she lost it. Tiffany's tears kept pouring that I had to hug her.

Hermés... He was silent as he prepared the table for Dior to lie down. I know how hard it is for him to do this to someone he so loudly loves. However, alam ko na alam niya na ito lang ang paraan para makaligtas kami.

"S-sa ngayon, ako na muna please," bulong ni Apollo kay Dior pero narinig ko. "Hayaan mo akong samahan ka ngayon.

"Ano ba! Para namang mamamatay ako!" Dior tried to lighten the atmosphere pero sobrang nanlulumo kami sa mga nangyayari ngayon to even laugh. "Bawal akong mamatay kasi masamang damo ako."

"Oo, bawal ka talagang mamatay," sabi ni Apollo. "Maglalaro pa tayo ng valo kasama ni Hades."

"Bubuhatin niyo pa ako!" Hades chuckled but his eyes were full of loneliness.

Dahil malapit ang ugali nilang tatlo, sila ang madalas magkakasama. They always play mobile games after class at my house. Maganda raw sa amin kasi malakas ang Wi-Fi. Pinalayas daw sila sa library because they played there once.

"Dior, you can lie down," Hermés said and guided her to the table. He had to look away after that as Zeus and Chanel comforted him. I sat beside Gucci who was obviously afraid of what will happen to our friend.

Apollo kissed Dior's forehead as he sat beside her. He was holding her hand as Dior can only wait for the worst.

"Takte, para akong manganganak." Dior chuckled at herself, earning her a flick on the forehead by Apollo. Ganyan naman siya lagi, when she's faced in such a situation, it's either she shows anger or she cracks jokes.

But everyone is aware how broken she is.

It is as if everything backfires at her, no matter what she does.

"Bes, easy lang ha?" Dior smiled at Tiffany. "Alam kong marami kang sama ng loob sa akin pero now's not the time!"

Tiffany chuckled and gave her a hug before slipping on her gloves again. Since Dior is wearing pompers, kailangan niyang hubarin ang upper part ng damit niya to give access to her stomach.

"Boys, talikod," I ordered as they all obliged.

Just like Prada, we all heard her cries. It was echoing through the whole room.

Each scream sent shards to my heart. It felt like I was a failure. I failed to keep our group intact. Kung makikita ako ni mama, she would say I am a 'disappointment'. Just like how they branded my sister... Ganoon na ako sa paningin ng lahat.

"Putangina!" Dior shouted and I heard Apollo yelp, nahugot yata ang braso niya. "T-tapos na ba?"

Her voice was shaking and I could not help but to cry. Not just for this, but for doing something so bad to her.

I'm a coward.

Hindi ko masabi sa kanya ang ginawa ko. I knew she will loathe me forever for this. More than that, I'm afraid that her friendship with Tiffany will also be affected.

Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang nangyayari pero I know na hindi pa ako dapat lumingon. Dior will tell us if the operation is finished.

A few minutes passed as we still heard her screams, she was finally able to tell us na tapos na ang surgery. I turned around and all I saw was a bloody mess and a sweaty Dior.

I rushed over to Tiffany and helped her clean herself as Gucci helped me. Nilinis naman ni Chanel ang susi while Hermés took Tiffany away to let her rest.

"Ayos ka lang ba?" Apollo asked and Dior nodded, getting the key from Chanel.

"We're partners," saad ni Hermés. "How are you feeling?"

"Okay lang... Kaibigan naman kita, e." Sagot ni Dior kaya natawa ang karamihan. She looked at us confused. Baka tulog pa ang diwa niya.

"I meant, after the surgery," Hermés clarified himself. Dior was about to sit down but Apollo reminded her that it was best for her to lie down while she recovers.

"Hindi na ako manganganak," maikling sabi ni Dior at pinunasan ang pawis niya.

"Well done, little ones!" We flinched at the voice of Crow. "Let me announce your pairs and you can now head to your respective rooms."

Napalingon ako and saw five different doors that were not there earlier. This house was... confusing me.

"Room 1 for Gucci July and Ares Revaz
Room 2 for Dior Aurea and Hermés Bertillon
Room 3 for Prada Guillebaux and Zeus Bechtel
Room 4 for Tiffany Lamanie and Hades Van Doren
Room 5 for Chanel Sovanna and Apollo Andigre"

"Recharge your energy for tomorrow, little ones," Crow said. "Sweet dreams."

Lumapit ako kay Gucci who was looking so tired. We haven't eaten all day, most probably nagdedeliryo na kami. I beamed a small smile at her.

"Pahinga muna tayo, Gucci," I said as I helped her carry her handcuffs and guided her to our room.

I opened the door to let her in first. A black and gold design greeted us. It was a modern archaic, contrasting the room we woke up on.

Mabuti nalang at dalawa ang kama and there was a separate bathroom. Matutuwa siguro si Apollo dahil may banyo na.

What caught our attention was the white envelope on the table. I walked over to read it as Gucci went beside me.

Your advantage is one of you is exempted from the next challenge.

Not bad.

Pero paano naman ang mga nakakuha ng penalty? How bad were theirs? Hindi ko maiwasang mag-alala.

"Kuya, I think you should do it," sabi ni Gucci pero umiling ako.

"Kuya does not deserve it,"  I told her. "I did many wrongs in my life. Lalo na sa inyo."

"You should be exempted, Gucci," dagdag ko pero binigyan na lamang ako nito ng mapait na ngiti.

"What makes us different, kuya? We're obviously here to let the crows kiss our death."