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｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. NARRATION

"Ayos ka na, tukmol?"

Tanong ni Hades kay Apollo na kapapasok lamang sa school. Dalawang araw nag-absent ang binata dahil pagka-guilty at pagkalungkot sa ginawa niya kay Achilles. He just told their friends na may sakit siya.

Hindi nga makatulog si Apollo because of what he did... To the point he resorted to sleeping pills.

"Namiss mo ata ako, tol?" Apollo chuckled at umakbay kay Hades. Apollo subtlety looked around, trying to find his girlfriend pero hindi niya makita. If only alam niya na Dior was already in the tech room, taking care of the CCTV.

All those just for their plan to work.

"Nandito ako pero bakit may iba ka atang hinahanap?" Pa-cute na ngumuso si Hades sa kanya. Hindi na tuloy maipinta ang mukha ni Apollo ngayon. Parang gusto niya na palang mag-absent ulit. 'De, biro.

"Apollo!" Ngumiti si Ares at tumakbo papalapit sa kanila. To be honest, Ares was very lonely. He felt that his friends knew something pero siya nalang ang natitirang walang kaalam-alam sa mga nangyayari. He felt useless as a leader. But, this time, he wanted to spend time with them.

"Magba-bar kami mamaya nina Chanel at Tiff," Ares said. "Sama kayo?"

Hindi naman pinalampas ni Apollo ang pagkakataon na asarin si Hades dahil sa ex nito. Ngumiti ang lalaki kay Hades, nang-aasar, habang sinamaan siya ng tingin pabalik. Ares chuckled and shook their head at them.

"Sama ako." Apollo nodded and wrapped an arm around Hades' neck. "Ikaw, pre, sama ka na rin! Bonding tayo!"

Pinakyuhan ni Hades si Apollo at saka iniwan ang dalawa. He went to a place where he could not be seen and swiftly pulled his phone out. Their plan was already underway.

OPERATION: SOCO

Hades Van Doren:

tanginang gc name 'yan

kahit kailan talaga dior

Dior Aurea:

pwede ka lang bumoses kapag may ambag ka

may ambag ka ba?

wala

Hades Van Doren:

hoy hoy hoy

kung wala ako edi wala rin si yves

Dior Aurea:

excuse me

binigay lang sa'yo ang role na 'yon dahil hindi ka pwede sa iba

makakalimutin ka na nga, hindi mo pa alam kung saan ang tech room

Gucci July:

JUST SHUT UP

we need to focus

kuya hades bantayan mo si yves

i'll bring the materials to our locker

Dior Aurea:

noted ssob

kinukuha ko na rn ang access sa tech room

Hades Van Doren:

yes yes papunta na ako sa gate

goodluck mga lods ko

Ibinalik ni Hades ang phone niya sa kanyang bulsa at tumingin sa labas ng bintana. The walls of their university were made of glass kaya naman madaling makita ang mga taong pumapasok sa school.

Sa hindi kalayuan ay nakikita na niya si Yves. Muntik niya pang hindi makilala ang babae dahil balot na balot ang katawan nito.

Nagmadali siyang tumakbo papunta sa gate. That was his best chance of talking to Yves without anyone watching them. Lalo na, maaga pa naman. Late madalas pumasok ang mga estudyante sa paaralan nila.

"Aba, tangina nga naman," bulong ni Hades sa sarili niya nang makitang lumapit si Zeus kay Yves. Nananalangin siya na sana hindi sumama si Zeus sa babae dahil malalagot siya kina Dior at Gucci lalo na't maapektuhan ang plano nila.

"Ang rupok mo, Zeus hayop," dagdag ni Hades nang halikan ni Zeus sa noo si Yves. Bigla niya tuloy naalala ang mga oras na magkasama silang umiinom... at umiiyak sa ex. "Alis ka na, pucha..."

Uminit ang ulo ni Hades when he saw that Zeus was still with her. He had to act quick. Bawal ma-kompromiso ang plano nila kaya agad namang lumapit si Hades sa kanila.

"Huy..." Bati ni Hades sa kanila.

"Uy, tol, musta?" Tanong ni Zeus kay Hades habang bahagyang ngumiti naman si Yves sa kaibigan.

"Pwede ko bang makausap si Yves?" Napakunot ang noo ni Zeus as soon as he heard that from Hades. Yves, on the other hand, was glad dahil baka may chance na siyang ipaliwanag ang side niya.

"Bakit naman?" Zeus asked again. "Pwede mo naman siyang kausapin dito kasama ako."

"Tungkol kasi kay..." Bumuntong-hininga si Hades, natutuwa sa sarili niya dahil ang bilis niyang makaisip ng sagot. "Prada... at Achilles."

Nakita ni Hades paano nalungkot ang mga mata ni Yves doon. Kaso, agad ding nagalit si Hades sa sarili niya dahil baka mas hindi siya kausapin ng babae. Panigurado malungkot pa rin si Yves sa pagkawala ni Achilles.

"Hindi pa siya han-" Yves cut Zeus off.

"Ayos lang, kuya. Mauna ka na, Zeus." Yves managed to smile at Hades at inaya sa isang tabi. "Let's go?"

Tumango si Hades at pinanood na maglakad palayo si Zeus.

"Papakinggan ko ang side mo." Nakita ni Hades paano lumiwanag ang mga mata ni Yves. She was so glad! After all these silencing, someone is now actually wanting to know her side... Or, so she thought. "Mamayang 9pm, after ng klase ko. Doon sa likod ng school. Huwag mo nalang sabihin sa iba."

Hades felt guilt for a moment.

"Of course!" Yves gave off a genuine smile while tears brimmed her eyes. "Thank you so much, kuya."

Sa kabilang banda naman, Gucci's bag was unnecessarily much heavier today. Dala niya ang mga bagay na gagamitin nila for their plan. Kinailangan niya pang tanggalin ang mga libro niya just for their tools to fit.

"Sobrang sipag mo naman, Guch!" Natawa ang kaklase ni Gucci sa kanya. "Dami mong dalang libro, ah!"

"Oh, you have no idea," hingal na hingal na sabi Gucci habang buhat ang bag niya.

"Want me to help you?" Tanong ulit ng kaklase niya but Gucci was quick to shake her head. Kakayanin niya ang bigat basta lang walang makaalaam ng plano nila. It was illegal... therefore, it was risky.

"I can do it." Ngumiti si Gucci. "Thank you."

Pumunta si Gucci sa locker niya at saka ipinasok ang bag doon. Binuksan niya ang bag and inside there was another bag. Balak nila na dalawa ang dalhin tapos ilagay sa magkaibang locker for less suspicion.

"Hay salamat. Nabawasan din." Nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga si Gucci at sinara ang locker while carrying the other bag. Napatalon siya sa pwesto niya nang makita si Hermés sa likuran niya.

"Kuya, nanggugulat ka!" Yves exclaimed, making her friend laugh. Mas lalong kinabahan ang babae nang lumapit si Hermés sa kanya.

"What's that?" Turo ni Hermés sa dala niya.

"Wala. Ilalagay ko lang sa locker ni ate Dior," Gucci answered, trying her best not to show any signs of nervousness. "Pinapadala niya kasi."

"Let me carry it for you," alok ni Hermés at inagaw kay Gucci ang bag. She was quick to take it back while nervousness was swallowing her whole.

"Ako na, kuya!" Gucci said. "It's okay. I can do it!"

"Samahan mo nalang ako sa locker ni ate Dior mo." Hermés chuckled, making Gucci more nervous than ever. "We'll put it there."

Wala nang nagawa si Gucci at sumunod na lamang kay Hermés while she was carefully minding the bag at kung titingnan ng kaibigan niya ito. She silently prayed na sana walang pakialam si Hermés sa nilalaman ng bag.

"I'll take it!" Maligayang sabi ni Gucci at agad na inagaw ang bag mula sa mga kamay niya.

"Damn, that's heavy." Hermés chuckled. "Ano ba ang laman niyan?"

Weapons. Gucci thought.

"Just girls' stuff," Gucci simply answered as she smoothly slid the bag inside Dior's locker.

On the other side of the building, Dior was mindful of the time. There were three things assigned to her. One, figure out the new passcode of the tech room. Two, examine the CCTV cameras inside. And three, get to class on time.

Sigurado sila na maibabalita ang pagkamatay ni Yves so they had to take extra measures para hindi sila mapaghinalaan.

"1004..." Agad na sinulat 'yon ni Dior sa notebook niya. It was the passcode of the tech room. Hindi naman siya nakatago but she smoothly passed on that way para lang makita niya ang passcode up close.

Her next job was the hardest.

Ni hindi niya nga maisip paano ito gagawin. How could she walk inside that room and check the CCTV cameras without being caught? Napasabunot si Dior sa buhok niya habang nag-iisip ng paraan. Napatingin din siya sa orasan as she felt panic taking over her.

She only had 15 minutes before her class starts. Bawal siyang tumigil... time was always their biggest enemy, after all.

Napangisi siya nang makaisip ng paraan. Nagmadali siyang pumunta sa kwarto ng mga security guards. Before that, she made sure na walang makakakita sa kanya. Agad siyang kumuha ng uniform ng guard and put it on.

Mabuti nalang ay malapit sa pwesto niya ang locker ni Hades. She looked around and as soon as she is assured that the coast is clear, binuksan niya ang locker nito at agad na ipinasok ang pinagsuotan niya.

Everything was according to plan. Gucci said that the security guard would only check the cameras at this time for five minutes. And now, those minutes were done. It is now Dior's time to take the limelight.

"Guard!" Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Dior nang tinawag siya noong guard na kalalabas lamang sa tech room. Nervousness was starting to consume her, lalo na noong lumapit pa 'yon sa kanya. "Pakibantayan muna mamaya 'yung tech room, ah?"

Tumango si Dior as she tried her best not to show her face. Nakita niya rin paano bumaba ang tingin noong lalaking guard sa kanya. Akala niya ay tinitingnan nito ang dibdib niya but he looked at the nametag.

"Okay, Arevalo?" That was the name of the guard who owns the uniform. Tumango si Dior at agad na pekeng umubo para lang umalis na itong tao sa harapan niya. "Yikes, pahinga ka katapos, Arevalo!"

Nakahinga nang maluwag ang babae nang umalis na ang guard. She was quick to punch the passcode on the door as she went inside. Tiningnan niya agad ang mga CCTV camera and saw where they were placed. She was about to move the placements of the cameras when she saw something.

"Pucha..." Napamura si Dior nang bumungad nanaman sa kanya ang isang passcode. She looked around, looking for a possible combination for the password. She tried her luck and used the old passcode but it was not correct!

"Tangina..." Dior whispered to herself as she was about to panic again. Napangiti ito nang makita ang isang hint from the paper in front of her.

The university was acclaimed as the best by the International Board last 1990.

"Clout chaser talaga..." Natawa si Dior before punching those numbers in the laptop. She smiled triumphantly when the combination was correct. After, she followed Gucci's instructions about the camera angles.

And now, they were ready.

- -

"Class, you are dismissed. Good day!"

Hades was supposed to be happy dahil tapos na ang klase nila... but he was the complete opposite. It was an understatement to say that he was nervous... he was much more than that. Kanina pa mabilis ang tibok ng puso niya at pinagpapawisan pa siya.

"Pre, ayos ka lang?" Tanong ng kaklase niya na naging kaibigan na niya rin, si Lucas.

Kagustuhan ni Lucas na mapasama sa barkada nila for God knows what reason... Kaso nga lang, naiilang ang karamihan sa kanila because of his actions. They felt something was weird with him but they could not point what.

"O-oo," maikling sagot ni Hades habang inaayos ang kanyang mga gamit. Tumingin siya sa oras at napagtantong mayroon nalang siyang limang minuto bago makipagkita kina Dior at Gucci. The plan was going as planned.

The plan to kill Yves Moreau.

Nagmadali siyang pumunta sa school garden dahil doon nila napagpasyahan na magkita-kita. Nakita niya kung paano lumibot ang tingin ng mga kaibigan niya para hanapin siya. Agad-agad siyang lumapit kina Dior at Gucci.

"There you are," sabi ni Gucci habang nakipag-high five si Dior dito.

"Kanina pa kayo?" Hades asked as Gucci nodded. Wala naman talagang pasok ngayon si Gucci but her org requested for them to be at school to prepare for a project. Ayun na rin ang dahilan ng dalaga para pumasok sa university, even though she had no classes.

"Katatapos lang ng klase ko," Dior answered as she fixed the straps of her backpack, halatang nagmadali rin. Lalo na, sabog-sabog na rin ang buhok niya. She ran fast.

"Saan tayo magtatago?" Tanong ni Hades. 9PM pa ang pinag-usapan na pagkikita nila kay Yves... at 5PM pa lamang. They had to stall themselves for a while before continuing on with their plan.

"Oo nga, Guch..." Dior said. "Anong gagawin? Arcade tayo?"

"No!" Gucci exclaimed. "Dapat masigurado natin na wala dito sina Zeus and ate Prada."

"Ay, sus..." Sambit ni Hades. "Kung si Prada pala ay wala namang problema, pero paano si Zeus? Nagkakamabutihan na ata sila ni Yves?"

Napakunot ang noo ni Gucci while Dior's eyes widened. Hindi nila inakala na... ganoon karupok si Zeus. Grabe... magkaibigan nga sila ni Gucci.

"Tangina?" Dior said, still shocked.

"I'll handle Zeus." Kahit pilit na magseryoso ni Gucci, hindi tumakas sa paningin nina Hades at Dior ang kalungkutan sa mga mata ng kaibigan. Hindi tuloy maiwasang isipin ng dalawa na... kahit ba patay na si Yves, magkakaroon ba ng chance si Gucci sa kanya?

Sa totoo lang ay hindi alam nina Hades at Dior kung ano ang dahilan bakit ito gustong gawin ni Gucci. Sure, she loved Zeus but... kaibigan niya si Yves. Why would she go this far for a man? They knew that Gucci was an independent and a strong woman.

So, why would Gucci July kiss her best friend's death?