Note: Please be reminded that the

medical procedures here may beinaccurate. This is a mix of fictionand reality.

- - FLASHBACK - -

｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. NARRATION

"How are you holding up?"

Tanong ni Hermés matapos sumipsip sa alak nito. Magkasama sila ni Prada sa bahay ng babae ngayon... he was genuinely concerned for her. Kahit masama ang mga ginawa ni Hermés, he had enough conscience to give sympathy for his friend.

"It's heavy," nanghihinang sagot ni Prada before drinking from her glass. Ever since the incident in the rooftop, the girl avoided Achilles in any chance she got. Ganoon din naman dati, but the difference was, Achilles was avoiding her too.

Ganoon naman ang gusto ni Prada. She wanted Achilles to give her space... para naman unahin na niya ang sarili niya. She did not want to depend her happiness on him anymore. But, why was she so sad?

"Didn't you notice it?" Prada asked Hermés, who was caught off guard for a minute. Ang alam lang ni Prada ay nanirahan ang magkapatid kina Hermés, so surely, may nakita siya dapat, right?

"What?" Tanong ni Hermés. The boy was careful not to say something that will get him on the edge of the cliff. He had to think twice before talking... after all, siya ang dahilan bakit nagkaganito ang takbo ng buhay ng mga kaibigan niya.

"How Yves looked at him," Prada answered. Hermés took a deep breath. Naniniwala si Prada na imposibleng siya lang ang nakapansin noon... malaki ang mga mata ni Yves, making it so expressive. Madaling mahalataan.

"There was something different." Hermés mastered faking his feelings and emotions. Kaya, nagagawa na rin niyang magsinungaling. "I just did not expect it to be Achilles."

"You ignored him before, why?" It was Prada's turn to freeze in her seat. Si Hades lang ang pinagsabihan niya ng sikreto niya... it even took her a while to say it to him. Si Hades na ang pinakamalapit sa kanya. She was hesitant to tell it to Hermés for some reason.

"Just... shit about my feelings." The girl managed to fake a smile at inubos ang kanyang beer in one shot. Ayaw niya rin namang ma-judge ng mga tao. Bakit magpapabuntis ang babae sa kanyang fuck buddy na hindi naman siya mahal? She was afraid of those.

Mas lalo na ring ayaw niya na ma-disappoint ang parents niya.

"How are you feeling?" Napakunot ang noo ni Hermés sa tanong ng kaibigan. "Are you getting better now? Matapos kang... pagsamantalahan ni Yves."

Muntik nang nakalimutan ni Hermés ang kasinungalingang sinabi niya sa mga kaibigan.

"I'm recovering." Hermés flashed a reassuring smile at Prada who stared at the stars. "It got me sleepless too."

"We're here for you, ha?" Prada asked with a smile as Hermés nodded.

It was fascinating to see someone believe their own lies... na kaya nitong baliktarin ang buong mundo. Their worlds stopped when that happened, at wala nang naging tama after that. They were running in circles dahil lang ipinagkakait sa kanila ang katotohanan.

If only Prada knew... na ang kasama niyang uminom ngayon ang dahilan bakit pilit na ipinaglalayo ng mundo sila ni Achilles. Prada could have gotten her happy ending, Gucci could have celebrated her most memorable birthday, and the group could have reached their dreams together.

Kung hindi lang sa mga kasalanan at kasinungalingan ni Hermés.

- -

"Lumayo ka sa akin!"

Saway ni Dior habang padabog na naglalakad palayo. Kanina pa siya sinusundan ni Yves pamula pa nang matapos ang klase niya. Balak kasi ni Dior na magkasama silang kumain ni Tiffany dahil hindi na rin sila gaanong nakapag-usap since the video incident.

Pilit na gustong kausapin ni Yves si Dior dahil gusto niyang ipaliwanag ang side niya. Almost no one... wanted to listen to her. Mas lalo na si Gucci. She was the first one to shove her away. Yves... just wanted to be heard.

Madaya sa part niya na inakusahan agad siya ng mga paratang hindi purong katotohanan.

"Ate, paniwalaan mo ako!" Yves cried while tugging Dior's arm who just shoved her away. Dior hated groomers and cheaters the most... so why would she let Yves twist the truth? Mas lalo nang pinagsamantalahan daw nito si Hermés.

Dior was fuming.

Sa kanilang dalawang magkapatid, mas disappointed si Dior kay Achilles dahil malapit siya rito. He acted like an older brother to her dahil only child lang ang babae. He made sure that no one could hurt her. Bawal siyang gaguhin.

Dior thought that Achilles was decent. Pero, wala. She was even the first, among her friends, to watch the video of him fucking Yves. It marked her for life.

Naawa siya kina Prada at Zeus dahil wala namang ginawang masama ang dalawa kundi mahalin sina Achilles at Yves. Na-witness ni Dior kung paano naging pure love ang pagtingin nila sa isa't isa. She just wanted her friends to be happy.

Alam din ni Dior na magkaiba sila ng panig ni Tiffany. Her best friend was on the siblings' side. But, they do not know what she saw.

Iba na ang pagtingin ni Yves kay Zeus. Hindi na katulad ng dati.

Isa rin si Dior sa mga nakainuman ni Zeus... she saw how he was so wrecked and, at the same time, so desperate na ayusin ang relasyon nila. Even after the incident, Zeus was even thinking to fix their relationship kahit niloko na siya ni Yves.

He was that in love with her.

"Ate, nahihilo na ako..." Sambit ni Yves as her walking got slower. Napatigil si Dior at that and went to her once friend. "Stop, please..."

Napakunot ang noo ng babae when several thoughts clouded her mind. Her lips parted at the one conclusion she formed. Out of all the causes of her headache, hindi naman siguro ang iniisip niya, 'no? It couldn't be... right?

"After class, mag-uusap tayo sa building ko. Magpahinga ka muna," Dior advised as Yves managed to flash a smile at the girl before leaving.

"Nangungulit, bes," Dior said when she got to her best friend, Tiffany. "Siya raw ang pinagsamantalahan."

Tiffany wanted to refute pero naalala niya ang mga sinabi ni Chanel sa kanya. They had to fix this decisively... and hindi padalos-dalos. Kahit naman malapit si Dior sa kanya, she did not want to risk a plan that could possibly save them from the disaster they were experiencing now.

"Want to talk about it in my house later?" Tiffany asked, wanting her best friend to release her stress. Alam niya na mabigat pa rin ang pakiramdam ni Dior... this month was the worst for her. Ang daming nawala sa kanya. She was suffering too.

"Susunod nalang," Dior answered. "May dadaanan pa ako mamaya."

After classes, bumuntong-hininga si Dior as she took her things and headed straight out of the classroom. Pinag-uusapan pa rin siya ng university... without remorse sa mga bagay na nawala sa kanya. Para sa iba, criminal pa rin siya.

"Ate!"

Kahit na pagod na si Yves kahahabol sa mga kaibigan niya, she did not want to back down. Naniniwala siya na, in time, maririnig din ang side niya. She believed na balang panahon, lalabas din ang totoo.

"Mag-uusap tayo after you fill this container with your pee." Napakunot ang noo ni Yves nang ipakita sa kanya ni DIor ang isang clear container. Ano naman ang ibig sabihin noon?

Yves parted her lips when she realized... Agad siyang umiling at napatakip ng bibig as tears threatened to escape her eyes. No... it couldn't be.

Dior coldly watched while her once friend panicked at the thought. Mas lalo tuloy namuo ang galit ni Dior sa puso niya. Was Achilles that stupid enough not to use protection? O, balak talaga niya na sirain ang buhay ni Yves?

"Do it," Dior ordered as she softly handed the container into the hands of the shaking girl. Masakit para sa puso niya na magmatigas sa kaibigan but she had to do it. Wala na siyang natitirang dahilan bakit pa siya magiging malambot kay Yves.

Yves went inside the cubicle. Painfully, she let the tears flow from her eyes. Natatakot siya para sa sarili niya... pero nangingibabaw ang galit niya for herself. Bakit hindi niya naisip na maaari 'yon mangyari?

She may be pregnant but more importantly... kanino galing? Kanino kina Achilles at Hermés?

- -

"Bakit nandito 'yan?"

Turo ni Hades kay Zeus na naglalasing ngayon at tiningnan si Gucci. Nasa bar ang tatlo ngayon... balak sanang pag-usapan nina Gucci at Hades ang plano pero sakto ay naroon din pala si Zeus. Napatawa ng sarkastiko si Hades... naroon ang taong hinding-hindi pwede makaalam ng plano nila.

"May problema ka, tol?" Sinamaan ng tingin ni Zeus si Hades. Napamasahe sa sentido si Gucci at saka hinila paupo si Hades.

"Pwede bang... manahimik kayo?" Gucci was getting stressed out. Mukha kasing magsusuntukan sila any time at mas lalong ayaw 'yon ng babae. Mas pipiliin niya na umuwi nalang kaysa sa awatin sila.

Lalo na, sina Zeus at Hades ang pinakamalakas sa grupo.

"Paano na 'to..." Bulong ni Hades as he took a seat beside Gucci. Nakagitna ang babae sa dalawang lalaki but Zeus could not care less. Siya ang nauna rito kaya dapat lang 'yung dalawa nalang ang umalis.

He wanted to spend the night alone.

"Iwanan niyo nalang ako!" Nagtataka na si Hades sa inaasta ni Zeus ngayon. "Lagi naman akong iniiwan! Sorry na, ganito lang kasi ako!"

"Nakainom ba 'to?" Hades whispered to Gucci. The girl looked at Zeus worriedly... not for him but for his sanity.

"No." Gucci shook her head. "Unang glass niya 'yan."

"Dinaig pa ng lasing," bulong ni Hades sa sarili niya at pinanood na lamang si Zeus na magmukhang lasing kahit nakakaisang baso palang naman siya. Naaawa na siya sa kaibigan niya... ganito ata ang epekto ng walang tulog.

"Umalis na kayo!" Parang bata na bulyaw ni Zeus sa mga kaibigan niya. Hindi na rin mawari ng dalawa kung lasing ba ito o ganito lang talaga siya.

"Doon nalang tayo mag-usap sa bahay ko, Guch." Inalalayan ni Hades si Gucci at saka binuhat ang bag ng babae. Nabigla naman si Hades nang bigla itong sinipa ni Zeus.

"Wala kang gagawing masama kay Guch!" Masama itong tiningnan ni Zeus kaya natawa si Hades. Akala naman ng lalaki ay galit sa kanya ang kaibigan! Mukha kasing makikipagsuntukan si Zeus sa kanya.

"Oo na, gago!" Tawa ni Hades. "Ako na susundo sa'yo mamaya, hinayupak ka."

"Huwag na!" Umiling si Zeus. "I can handle myself."

Hindi kumbinsido si Hades sa sinabi ng binata kaya napagpasyahan niya na susunduin niya pa rin matapos nilang mag-usap ni Gucci. Pinanood na lamang ni Zeus ang dalawa na umalis ng bar.

"Ay, kaibigan ko 'yun ah..." Turo ni Zeus nang makita si Dior sa labas ng bintana ng bar. Hindi naman talaga lasing si Zeus... he just acted that way for some reason. "Gabi na, shit. Delikado. Masundan nga si Dior."

Napakunot na lamang ang noo nito nang sinundan niya ang babae. He saw his friend walking into the hospital alone.

Lingid sa kaalaman niya na nasa likod lang si Achilles.

- -

"Doc, sa kaibigan ko ito. Can I get this sample tested?"

Dior asked before handing to the doctor the urine sample. Tumango ang doktor at saka ibinigay ito sa kanyang nurse. Sa totoo lang, ilang araw nang nakikita ni Dior na nagsusuka si Yves. When the girl said na nahihilo siya kanina, her suspicions was slowly deeming her right.

"Miss, maghintay nalang po kayo sa labas." Ngumiti ang nurse sa kanya. Dior returned the smile and sat on the waiting area just outside of the laboratory. Kinakabahan siya para sa kaibigan niya... at mas lalo na kung sasabihin niya ba ito.

She might be impulsive pero sa ngayon, she was too scared to move. Hindi niya alam paano ipapaalam sa mga kaibigan niya ang matutuklasan niya.

Should she tell Yves first? O kay Tiffany? Or better yet, Chanel? Tiffany and Chanel were the best bets... dahil sila ang may kapasidad na mag-isip ang pinakatamang paraan na i-manage ang sitwasyon. As much as possible, ayaw ni Dior na kumalat ito.

"Miss, ready na po 'yung results," anunsyo ng nurse. Dior stood up and walked over to her. "Si Doc po ang magpapaliwanag sa inyo."

Nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga si Dior at saka pumasok sa kwarto. Dior was nervous... lalo na noong nakita niya ang masayang mukha ng doktor. Masaya ba siya dahil walang buntis o dahil meron?

"Miss Dior, your friend is pregnant!" Para bang napagbagsakan ng langit at lupa si Dior sa narinig. Contradicting the doctor's happy face was her dark expression.

"P-po?" Dior's voice cracked.

"Your friend is three weeks pregnant." Ngumiti ang doctor, making Dior lose her mind.

Hanggang sa paglabas niya ng ospital ay tulala siya. She was thinking of so many things... pero mas nangingibabaw doon ang galit niya kay Achilles. How can he do that to his sister? Just what kind of a monster is he?

"Fuck, fuck!" Napasigaw si Dior habang naglalakad. Mabuti nalang ay walang tao at madilim ang daan. She was unnoticeable. "Fuck you, Achilles!"

"Dior..." Nanigas sa pwesto ang babae nang makarinig ng pamilyar na boses. It was him... the one she thought was the father of Yves' baby.

"Putangina mo!" Dior turned around as she charged at Achilles, ready to punch him. The boy was quick to hold her hands to stop her. "Binuntis mo ang kapatid mo! Fuck you and fuck your dick!"

Achilles' world stopped.

Sinuntok siya ni Dior at saka binigay ang document of the results of the pregnancy test. Naluluhang binasa ito ni Achilles... he became speechless. Wala siyang masabi... pero ang daming tanong sa isip niya.

Above all, hindi niya alam sino ang ama... Kung siya ba o si Hermés?

"Ang daming pangarap ng kapatid mo..." Dior teared up while looking at Achilles who was glued to the ground. "Kapatid mo 'yun, tangina!"

"I-i'm sorry..." Achilles' voice cracked. Ayun nalang ang kaya niyang sabihin. Alam naman niya na kahit sabihin niya na baka si Hermés ang ama, they would not believe him one bit. He was the antagonist in this situation.

"Baby?" Apollo's voice was heard. "Bakit ka umiiyak?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Apollo nang makalapit siya. Kumunot ang noo niya when he saw Achilles in the ground crying. Napatingin siya kay Dior na patuloy na umiiyak at kasunod naman ang papel na nasa sahig. Tumaas ang kilay ng lalaki at saka pinulot ito.

What he read wrecked him.

"Putanginang bayag 'yan..." Apollo scoffed. "Putangina mo, Achilles."

And that was it... Apollo's worst mistake.

"Apollo, stop!" Dior panicked when she saw her boyfriend landing consecutive punches to Achilles. Wala siyang balak tumigil. Apollo's eyes turned a shade darker. His eyes were filled with so much anger and rage.

"Baby!" Sigaw ni Dior habang hinihila palayo si Apollo. But the boy would not budge.

"Mapapatay mo siya!" She shouted once again, bringing Apollo back to his senses. Although, they were too late.

Nanghina ang mga tuhod ni Apollo nang makita na hindi na gumagalaw si Achilles. His face and body was so bloody that he could not be recognized anymore.

Apollo Andigre thought that... he killed Achilles Moreau.

"U-uwi na tayo..." Dior cupped Apollo's cheeks as he can only stare at her. Nawala na siya sa katinunan nang mapagtanto ang ginawa niya. In his eyes, he believed that he is a criminal. "Let's go, Keisuke."

Amidst all these, Zeus watched them. Nakita niya kung paano nalaman ni Achilles na siya ang ama ng dinadala ni Yves, kung paano ito umiyak, at kung paano ito muntik mapatay ni Apollo. Lumapit siya sa lalaking nakahilata sa sahig at tinitigan ito.

Yes, he was mad at him. But, he was not heartless.

Inakay nito si Achilles at saka dinala sa pinakamalapit na ospital. He did not want anyone to see them kaya nagsuot si Zeus ng mask at agad na umalis before Achilles wakes up. He even asked the nurses not to disclose his identity.

Nakahinga siya nang maluwag nang malamang buhay pa si Achilles. After all, masamang damo siya. But, what rang on Zeus' mind was Apollo's shocked face, thinking that he killed Achilles.

Apollo Andigre is an innocent.

- -

"What happened to you?!"

Bulyaw ni Yves nang buksan ang pinto. What stood in front of her was Achilles who looked so beaten up. Duguan ang damit nito at maga ang mukha niya. He even sported a black eye. Kung hindi lang siguro ito nakasuot ng nametag, hindi siya makikilala ni Yves.

"Pagod na ako." Hinihingal si Achilles at saka tuluyang pumasok sa apartment nila. Hindi ma-process ng lalaki sa isip niya na... nabuntis niya ang kapatid niya. If not him, for sure, it was Hermés.

"Who did that to you?" Tanong ni Yves at saka naghanda ng ice pack. She was worried... hindi lang dahil she romantically loved him, but also because alam niya ang balak ni Dior. Sigurado siya na nagpunta ito ng ospital.

But, she did not want to hear it.

Takot si Yves sa katotohanan.

"Apollo." Biglang sabi ni Achilles at saka tinanggal ang damit niyang duguan. Sa totoo lang, sobrang sakit ng katawan ng lalaki ngayon. He just wanted to rest... kahit isang gabi lang na mayroon siyang peace of mind.

Pwede na rin siguro ang rest in peace para sa kanya.

"Buntis ka." Tila bang tumigil ang mundo ni Yves nang marinig ito mula sa kapatid. Nabitawan niya rin ang hawak niyang ice pack. Pinanood lang ni Achilles kung paano natigilan sa pwesto si Yves... she was even facing back from him.

On the other hand, Yves was... going crazy. Ang dami-daming tumatakbo sa isip niya but all she wanted was her peace. Dahil pa sa narinig niya ngayon, alam niya na mas lalo na siyang mawawalan ng pangarap at ng magandang kinabukasan.

Bawal ito mangyari sa kanya.

She was mad at Achilles... but most importantly, to herself. Hiyang-hiya na nga siya sa sarili niya ngayon. What more if nalaman pa ng buong university na nabuntis siya? Either by her brother or by the demon disguised as her friend.

However, the world would look at the brother.

Wala nang pagmamahal ang natitira sa mga emosyon ni Yves ngayon. Only rage filled her... sa isang iglap, nawala na ang ningning sa mga mata niya tuwing nakikita o naririnig niya ang kapatid niya.

She wanted to... end him.

"I know." Ngumiti si Yves sa kanya at saka lumapit. Napakunot ang noo ni Achilles sa reaksyon nito. He was expecting her to be shocked but not nonchalant nor calm. At, mas lalong hindi niya in-expect na kaya siyang sakalin nito.

"Yves!" Yves was choking her brother so hard. Lahat ng lakas ni Yves ay ibinuhos niya sa pananakal kay Achilles. She even had to place a cloth on her mouth to suppress his screams.

For the first time in their lives, Achilles' strength was no match for Yves' rage. Kahit anong depensa nito sa sarili niya, nangingibabaw pa rin ang lakas ng pananakal sa kanya ni Yves. At the moment na nagawa niyang sumulyap sa kapatid... he did not see an ounce of love in her eyes.

It was full of hatred.

Mapait na napangiti si Achilles nang makita 'yon. His sister became a monster too. Dahan-dahan niyang ibinaba ang mga kamay niya at saka tumigil na sa pagdedepensa sa sarili niya. Hinayaan nalang niya na maubos ang hininga niya.

They said that the moment before you die, a montage of memories with the people you love would flash in your head. Naalala niya ang mga alaalang masaya siya kasama ang mga kaibigan niya, nagtatawanan sila, and most importantly...

Prada.

The love of his life.

Sa susunod na habang buhay. I'll call you tangi by then. Achilles thought as he slowly closed his eyes, and waking up the afterlife where there is no Prada nor his friends.

Yves just kissed Achilles' death.