- - FLASHBACK - -

｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. NARRATION

"Basta sa Boracay, 18 shots na ako ah!"

Natawa ang lahat sa sinabi ni Hades. Napagkasunduan ng magbabarkada, except kina Yves at Achilles, na pupunta sila ng Boracay after their exams. Pambawi na rin nila kay Gucci since hindi natuloy ang debut niya because of the incident. Good thing, pumayag ang parents ni Gucci at napa-refund and buong event.

Nagpupumilit pa kay Ares sina Yves and Achilles na sumama sa gala nila ngayon para makapagpaliwanag sa mga kaibigan nila. But Ares... he did not know who to believe anymore. Everyone was in different sides at hindi 'yon kayang gawin ni Ares. Among all, siya ang dapat na nasa gitna to mediate the situation.

"Namo, Hades! Sa Boracay ka pupunta, hindi sa Switzerland!" Saway ni Apollo at pinagmasdan ang mga tinitingnang damit ng kaibigan... balot na balot. Si Apollo ang naiinitan para kay Hades.

"This is fashion," mayabang na sabi ni Hades at pumunta kay Prada para ipakita ang damit niya.

"Guch, bagay ba 'to sa akin?" Tanong ni Dior sa nakababata habang pinapakita ang floral tube and bottom na coordinates. Tumango ang dalaga at naglabas ng ganoong damit pero iba naman ang kulay.

"I think mas bagay sa'yo ito, ate," sambit ni Gucci as she handed the clothes to her friend. Pinasalamatan siya ni Dior at saka tumakbo papunta kay Tiffany.

Nang lumingon si Gucci, nakita niya si Zeus sa isang gilid.

These past few days, hindi na talaga umiimik si Zeus. Makikita lang nilang magkakaibigan ang binata sa school na puno ng pasa. He was back to his old ways again. As much as gustong mapawi ni Gucci ang sakit na nararamdaman ni Zeus, that pain was impossible to be removed by her.

"Zeus!" Nakangiting tawag ni Gucci sa kaibigan niya na walang buhay na tumingin sa kanya. Lumapit ang babae kay Zeus na may dalang button-down polo. "This fits you... I think."

"Wala akong pera, Guch," ani Zeus... not really interested with buying clothes at the moment. He was too devastated to even function. Napabuntong-hininga si Gucci, feeling very sad for her friend. But, she just wanted to make him feel better.

"Libre ko na, Zeus!" Gucci smiled. Zeus smiled a little before ruffling her hair. Tumango ito at saka kinuha ang damit na hawak ng babae. She watched him go to the fitting room.

Hindi maiwasang isipin ni Gucci ang ginawang pagtataksil sa kanila nina Yves and Achilles.

Zeus looked so happy with Yves... he felt like he had the world. He was something else with her presence. Zeus was the epitome of love. Pero ngayon, he looked so in pain. Na para bang hindi siya nagmahal ni isang beses sa buhay niya.

Witness si Gucci kung paano nilabanan ni Zeus ang depression niya. It was a long and tough ride... pero nagawa niya. With what Yves did... she just willingly shoved Zeus back into the nightmare he used to live in.

Napakuyom ang mga kamao ni Gucci... oh hell, she was mad.

Naalala niya ang plano nila ni Hades... the deadly plan. Ilang araw na silang nag-uusap tungkol dito and they already crafted the perfect plan to execute it without anyone being caught or affected. Sa totoo lang, gusto pa nilang magsama ng isa pa but they had to carefully choose who.

"How do I look?" Napalingon si Gucci as soon as she heard Zeus' voice. Tumigil ang mundo ng babae as she looked so lovingly to the boy. Oh, Yves... look who you wasted.

"You look great," Gucci complimented, making Zeus smirk. "Mukha kang tambay sa Hawaii."

"Gagi." Zeus laughed. "Sige, kuhanin ko na ito!"

That laugh is fake. Gucci thought.

Gucci then looked at Hades who was waiting for Chanel to finish fitting her dress. She needed the plan to be quick and on the move. Kahit naman may plano na sila, wala pa silang galaw at all.

"Pst," tawag ni Gucci kay Hades at sinenyasan ito na lumapit sa kanya. The boy looked around first before following the girl to the corner where no one could hear them.

Alam ni Hades na magkaiba sila ng pinapanigan ni Chanel. He was on Zeus' side... while Chanel was on Yves'. Soon enough, kakausapin na talaga ni Hades ang jowa niya. Hades did not like the idea of his girlfriend defending a cheater and a groomer.

"Did you already get the blueprint from your girlfriend?" Gucci asked. Mahalaga ang blueprint ng university para sa plano nila. Dito rin kasi nakalagay kung anong mga lugar ang mayroong CCTV camera at security.

"Hindi pa, e." Hades shook his head. "Hihingin ko mamaya. Nagmamadali na ba tayo?"

"We have to do this quick." Tumango si Hades sa sagot ni Gucci. Magsasalita pa sana si Hades nang mahuli sila ni Prada.

The reason why Hades went on with Gucci's plan.

- -

"Heto, mahal."

Iniabot ni Chanel ang blueprint kay Hades. Architecture student si Chanel and one of her projects was to make a sketch of the university. Hiningi niya ang kopya nito kay Dior who was a civil engineering student.

Nasa dorm sila ni Hades since he insisted na doon muna sila. He planned to talk to Chanel about the issue with Yves and Achilles. Ayaw niya na mapasama siya.

"Salamat, mahal." Hades was nervous to turn into a criminal... but it soon faded away tuwing naaalala niya ang panggagago na ginawa ni Achilles. "May sasabihin ako."

"Hmm?" Chanel asked as she removed her jewelries.

"Hindi ka ba naniniwala na nagloko si Yves?" Tanong ni Hades. Alam ni Chanel ang patutunguhan ng usapang ito. As much as she wanted to tell her boyfriend the truth, she had a plan of her own. Just like Hades, bawal maging impulsive dito.

"No." Nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga si Hades nang marinig ito mula kay Chanel.

"Kapag ba nakita mo akong nasasarapan sa halik ng iba, hindi ako nagloloko?" Hades tried to sound as calmly as possible... pero nakikita niya sa utak niya ang malagim na video nina Yves at Achilles.

"Hades, let's not talk about this." Chanel sighed.

"Mahal, mali ang pinaglalaban mo, e." Hades said. Mali ang ginagawa at iniisip ng girlfriend niya. Hades felt on the way Yves looked at Zeus na... hindi na siya. "Mahal ni Yves si Achilles."

"You don't understand." Chanel was already getting irritated, pakiramdam niya ay ipit na ipit na siya sa gitna. Any minute now, sasabog na siya.

As a matter of fact, bihira lang magalit si Chanel.

"Ipaintindi mo sa akin." Hades was staring to get impatient too. "O kaya kay Zeus."

Hindi rin naman maintindihan ni Chanel si Hades. Achilles got Prada... his best friend... pregnant and she also suffered a miscarriage. Bakit hindi siya magagalit kay Achilles? Hades was mad at Achilles' irresponsible dick.

But, after all, hindi talaga magkakaintindihan sina Hades at Chanel dahil parehas lang din silang nagtataguan ng sikreto.

"Nakita ko paano umiyak si Zeus noong nag-inuman kami," dagdag nito.

"Gusto mo bang humalik din ako ng iba para maranasan mo gaanon kasakit?" Nagulat si Chanel sa sinabi ni Hades... at nagulat din siya. Wala na sa sarili si Hades, he was already spitting out nonsense.

"Are you for real?" Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Chanel as tears brimmed her eyes. Never did she think na kaya 'yong sabihin sa kanya ng boyfriend niya.

"M-mahal, I'm sor-" Hades was cut off by Chanel.

"Aalis na ako rito." Chanel spat. "We're over."

And just like that, each one of them fell into shambles.

- -

"Just hear me out."

Naiiyak na sabi ni Yves nang makasalubong niya si Zeus na naglalakad pauwi. Papunta nanaman si Zeus sa laban na inischedule niya ngayon. He was certainly back to his old self. Isang linggo na ang nakalipas nang magbreak ang dalawa, Zeus certainly did not want to talk to her.

Nakita niya... kung paano nasarapan si Yves sa mga halik ni Achilles.

That was enough to say na hindi na si Zeus ang mahal niya.

"Zeus! Please!" Sigaw ni Yves.

Pinagtitinginan na sila but Yves could not care less. Not only did people think that she is a cheater, nakalat na rin sa buong university na pinagsamantalahan niya si Hermés. Wala nang naniniwala kay Yves... pati ang kapatid niya. Hindi na rin sila nagpapansinan ni Achilles because of that.

Hindi rin naman tanga si Achilles. He saw how his sister looked at him.

The same way he looked at Prada.

"Three years, Zeus!" Yves shouted. "Itatapon mo lang ba ang three years na samahan natin?!"

Napatigil si Zeus and scoffed. Why the hell was his ex girlfriend trying to turn the tables now? Si Yves ang unang sumira sa relasyon nila.

All Zeus did was fix something that he never broke.

Ayos lang kay Zeus na magmukhang tanga para kay Yves... but how Yves betrayed him was not it. Hindi niya 'yun kayang tanggapin.

"Don't try to play the victim here." Zeus hissed as anger filled his eyes. Never did he got angry at Yves... pero ayun nalang ang nararamdaman niya tuwing nakikita o naririnig niya ang babae. "Ikaw ang nagtapon ng three years natin."

"Pinanood mo akong lumuhod sa'yo para ayusin ito. Ilang gabi akong hindi makatulog kaiisip anong ginawa kong mali sa'yo. I felt that I was the most useless boyfriend ever... na wala akong kwenta sa'yo. While I was fucking crying myself to bed, nasasarapan ka lang sa mga tanginang halik ni Achilles." Hindi namalayan ni Zeus na tumutulo na ang mga luha niya as he said those words.

"Wala kang karapatang sabihin na ako ang nagsayang ng three years natin. I loved you more than myself. I loved life because of you. Minahal ko ang bawat gusto mo, ang ayaw mo, ang pangarap mo, at ang mga mahal mo. Kaya, sabihin mo sa akin saan ako nagkulang!" Dagdag niya. Ngayon lang niya nailabas ang mga nararamdaman niya kay Yves.

He was honestly so tired.

"And, to think that I even planned to propose to you once I become a pilot." Zeus scoffed at naglakad paalis, leaving a crying Yves alone.

Sa kabilang banda, nagulat si Achilles dahil nasa rooftop din si Prada. Hindi ata siya napansin. Nagpapahangin siya... the only place in the world where he could breathe and forget everything for a while.

Pero ito ngayon siya, his heart was trembling as he stared at the woman he loves... and also the woman he hurt the most.

"P-prada..." He wanted to explain himself.

Napalingon si Prada at nakita siya. Her lips parted at that before walking away. Achilles was quick to hold her wrist, stopping her from doing so. Hindi makaharap si Prada dahil unti-unting tumutulo ang mga luha niya... not knowing that the boy was a crying mess too.

"Pakinggan mo naman ako..." Achilles sounded like he was begging. Hindi na niya hihingilin na pakinggan siya ng mga kaibigan niya... kahit si Prada nalang. The only woman who loved and stayed with him kahit gaano pa kagulo. "Hindi ko ginusto 'yun."

"I-I saw how Yves looked at you," nagawang sambitin ito ni Prada at saka humarap kay Achilles. Si Prada ang unang nakakita kung paano tumingin si Yves sa kapatid niya. She was so sure of it... pero hindi niya inakalang masakit pala noong nalaman niya na totoo ang mga suspetya niya.

"Hindi ko siya mahal, Prada," Achilles said.

Ikaw... ikaw ang mahal ko. He wanted to shout that to the world so much.

"Sobrang sakit na, Achi..." Napahawak si Prada sa dibdib niya... her heart carrying all the weight of her pain now. Sinikmura niya na maging fubu lang ni Achilles, pero may nahanap na siguro siyang iba. Hindi lang dahil doon ang nararamdamang sakit ng babae. She was devastated for their lost baby too.

"I was so crazy for you." Prada let out a fake laugh. "Umasa talaga ako na baka sakali, you will fall for me. That one day... fucking will become making love for you. I was too bound by this imagination in my head na hindi ko na kinaya when reality hit me. That, it is possible that you will use the word 'making love' on another person."

If the world was not too unfair for them, inamin na ni Achilles na mahal niya si Prada.

"I was too invested on the thought na baka may pag-asa ako. Hades even told me to give up this shitty dream of mine that eventually, mahuhulog ka rin sa akin. I settled for loving you from afar... but damn, it hurts. Kaya from now on... just stay away from me. I want to prioritize me first," dagdag ni Prada at saka iniwan si Achilles sa rooftop.

Two former lovers, at the same exact moment, crying their heart out to the pain the world inflicted on them.

- -

"Ayaw ko ng gulay."

Ngumuso si Tiffany nang pilit na nilagyan ni Ares ang kanyang plato ng gulay. Nasa cafeteria ang buong barkada maliban kina Hades, Prada, Yves, at Achilles. Nalaman na ng grupo ang nangyaring hiwalayan nina Hades at Chanel kaya ayaw muna nitong sumabay sa kanila sa tanghalian... Prada went with him to make sure that he's okay.

"Love, this veggie is good," pilit ni Ares. "Trust me."

"Pakipot ka pa, bes," pang-aasar ni Dior at saka kumagat sa ulam niya. "Sabihin mo lang na gusto mong sinusuyo ka ng jowa mo."

Kahit papaano naman ay natawa ang malamyang barkada niya. Ever since that incident, their smiles never reached their eyes. Naging limitado nalang ang kasiyahan nila... parang illegal maging masaya.

But, some of them were confident na maaayos din ito soon. They will return back to their normal selves.

"Bes, kapag ako ang nagsalita, baka hindi mo magustuhan ang sasabihin ko," biro ni Tiffany kung kaya't tiningnan ito ng masama ni Dior. Apollo had to look away at that. Dior stuck her tongue out before letting the couple be.

"Chanel, ayos ka lang?" Tanong ni Apollo.

Chanel looked so devastated and hurt. Alam ng lahat gaano niya kamahal si Hades at ganoon din naman ang lalaki. Hades even saved up his money para lang sa plano nila na mag-live in after graduation. Chanel already made her plans that all included him.

Sa isang iglap, nawala lahat.

Tatlong taon nilang minahal ang isa't isa. Chanel even remembered how she played hard to get kay Hades noong nanliligaw ang lalaki sa kanya. But, more than that, she watched Hades stayed with her despite her attitude. Ni minsan ay hindi niya pinakitang pagod siya o 'di kaya nahihirapan siya. Hades even said that Chanel's personality is perfect.

"I'll be okay." Chanel gave them a reassuring smile as Gucci held her hand.

"Mahal ka namin, Chanel," Zeus said and their friends followed after. That was enough to bring a smile on Chanel's face.

Pero, hindi rin maiwasang isipin ng babae kung may chance ba na magkabalikan sila. Once all of these was over, would destiny bring them back to each other? Dahil, alam ni Chanel na hindi niya kakayaning mamuhay without Hades. He was the air she breathed.

Her eyes darted to Hermés.

The sole reason bakit ito nangyayari sa kanila.

Under the table, kumuyom ang kamao ng babae. This had to stop... kailangan nang malinawan ang mga kaibigan nila about the real truth. She wanted to expose the monster Hermés is. Pero, alam niyang hindi niya ito kakayanin mag-isa. She needed someone calculated too.

At, isang tao lang ang kilala niyang ganoon.

"Tiff..." Bulong ni Chanel kay Tiffany. "Can we talk?"

- -

"Chanel..."

ㅤ

Napalingon si Chanel nang marinig ang pagpasok ni Tiffany. Chanel decided that they meet in the classroom before their class starts dahil late naman pumasok ang mga estudyante rito. As much as she was concerned, this classroom was by far the best place to have a private conversation.

Sa katotohanan, Tiffany was nervous of what Chanel would say. Akala ni Tiffany ay alam na ni Chanel na siya ang nagspread ng video. Noong una, Tiffany was not having regrets of posting that.

Pero ngayon, seeing how it wrecked each one of them, she just wished she could turn back time when it never happened.

"Oh my God... Tiff!" Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ni Tiffany as she saw a panicking Chanel in front of her. Tiffany tried to regain her composure dahil baka malaglag niya ang sarili niya at that moment.

"Anong meron?" Tanong ni Tiffany when she saw Chanel looking around. Wala namang gaanong architecture students ang nakasalubong ni Tiffany when she entered their building. Baka hindi early bird ang mga nag-aaral ng ganoong kurso. 'De, biro.

"We have to do something about the video." Napahinga ng malalim si Tiffany nang masuri niya ang mukha ni Chanel. She did not know na siya ang nag-upload ng video sa internet. But, ayaw din ni Tiffany ang plano ni Chanel, knowing that she was siding with Yves and Achilles.

That was against her principles.

"I am not defending a cheater, Chanel!" Singhal ng kaibigan kaya mas lalong na-stress si Chanel. As expected, si Chanel lang ang nakakita noong uncut video and edited version ang naka-upload sa internet kaya ganito ang reaksyon ng mga kaibigan niya.

"Iimbestigahan ko ito." Tiffany nodded at what Chanel said. Of course, Chanel would make a plan to pacify the situation. Dahil kalat na ang issue sa buong university, she had to move in ways where no one will get hurt. It was better to be calculated than be impulsive.

Kaya nga pinili niya si Tiffany to help her.

"Tiff, may kailangan kang malaman." Agad na napatingin si Tiffany kay Chanel. The tone of her voice... did not sound good at all. Biglang kinabahan si Tiffany sa sasabihin ng kaibigan.

"I saw the uncut video." Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Tiffany. "The one uploaded in the internet... is the edited one."

Nahulog ang puso ni Tiffany nang marinig 'yon. Biglang sumagi sa kanya ang mga alaala kung paano siya gumawa ng anonymous account at sa pag-upload ng video. She was confident back then... just to find out na kasinungalingan ang ipinagkalat niya.

The smartest one became the fool so suddenly. She ruined many lives because of her stupidity.

That was Tiffany Cleandra Lamanie's biggest mistake.

"Hermés... he forced Yves and Achilles to make love." Napatakip ng bibig si Tiffany while tears flowed from her eyes. She was shocked... and betrayed. She felt devastated and broken dahil sinira niya ang buhay ng mga kaibigan niya... just like how Hermés wrecked them.

Indeed, they were all deceived.

Nanghina ang mga tuhod ni Tiffany as those thoughts sank in to her. Their friend... Hermés... is a monster. Ang kaibigan niyang sobrang pinagkatiwalaan niya, he was a demon. Hindi tao ang makakagawa noon... that was too inhumane.

They let Hermés Bertillon kiss their death.