- - FLASHBACK - -

｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. NARRATION

"Ang tagal."

Reklamo ni Ares as he waited for the faculty members to leave the room. Ngayon ang plano niya na nakawin ang funds ng university to help Achilles and Yves for their needs. Just what in the world were the university staffs doing? Having a meeting at 1 am?

Mahigit dalawang oras nang naghihintay si Ares because he had to make sure na walang sagabal at walang butas sa plano niya. The first thing he did was to take care of the CCTV cameras. If he were to do anything illegal, he should do it properly. Bawal may mapahamak dahil sa kanya.

Kaya nga he made sure that Dior got home safely.

Lumiwanag ang mukha niya nang makitang nagsisimula nang umalis sa office ang mga staff. He also stole the duplicate key from the storage room so it would give him lesser things to think of. Bilang din ang oras niya... the guards would do their rounds after 15 minutes.

When the coast was clear, dahan-dahang dumiretso si Ares sa office at saka binuksan ang naka-lock na pinto gamit ang susi. Nilibot niya muna ang tingin niya sa kwarto para masiguro na hindi siya mahuhuli. It was better to be sure.

He quickly yet calmly opened the cabinet containing the university funds, trying hard not to cause a noise. Siya nalang ang natitira sa building, other than the guards. Huminga siya nang malalim as he carefully placed the money in the bag. 100k lang naman... not all.

Ganoon ka-kampante si Ares sa ginagawa niya.

"Fuck." Nakakaramdam na ng panic si Ares nang mapagtantong hindi kasya lahat ng pera sa bag na dala niya. Umaapaw ito... and hindi siya dapat maka-iwan ng trace.

Nataranta siya when he checked the time. Five minutes na ang nakalipas. His plan was very time-restricted... late na siya ng two minutes. He tried to regain his composure as he sealed the bag. Dahan-dahan siyang lumabas ng opisina and looked around, making sure na walang tao sa area.

He was too focused on getting out safely kaya hindi na niya namalayan ang isang money bill na lumabas sa kanyang bag.

His next move was to get to the rooftop dahil may hagdan doon pababa ng school. That was also one of the few places na pinapatay ang CCTV camera tuwing ganitong oras. His plan was quick but precise.

However, this time, mas kailangan na niyang bilisan ang paggalaw niya dahil overtime na siya. Any moment now, mahuhuli na siya ng guard. He removed his shoes in order to not make any noise as he ran to the rooftop.

Hingal na hingal si Ares na nakarating doon but he had no plans to stop yet. Makakapagpahinga lang siya kapag nakauwi na siya nang ligtas. Muntik na siyang mahuli because he heard the footsteps of the guard.

Binalik niya ang kanyang sapatos as he slowly yet carefully dashed down the stairs. Malapit lang ang bahay niya kaya it was easier for him to get home. He had an easier path.

Nang makababa, kampante na siyang tumakbo pauwi sa bahay niya. He smiled triumphantly and waved his fist in the air as he realized that his plan was successful.

Mahimbing nakatulog si Ares as he was ready to give Achilles and Yves the help they needed.

- -

"Anong ginagawa mo?"

Tanong ni Dior as she stared Achilles who was gripping his knife tightly. Prada looked at him worriedly. Nasa cafeteria sila ngayong magkakaibigan except kina Yves, Hermés, Zeus, at Chanel. Kanina pa napapansin ng mga kaibigan ang bad mood ni Achilles. It was unlike him.

Diring-diri si Achilles sa sarili niya tuwing naaalala niya ang ginawa niya sa kapatid niya. He loved her so much kaya nasusuka siya sa sarili niya ngayon. Pinagsamantalahan niya si Yves... his baby sister. Mas nangibabaw ang galit niya sa sarili niya kaysa kay Hermés.

Oh, how he wanted to expose that son of a bitch now.

"May sasaksakin ata," sabi ni Apollo at pinagmasdan ang kaibigan.

"Sasaksakin niya 'yung kutsilyo?" Walang kwentang tanong ni Hades kaya napamasahe sa sentido si Gucci. Nakaka-stress ang mga kaibigan niya.

"Anong pananaksak niya?" Tanong pabalik ni Apollo. Litong-lito na si Tiffany ngayon sa pinag-uusapan nila, and to think na siya ang pinakamatalino sa kanila.

"Ewan ko, baka 'yung prutas," sagot ni Hades at napakunot ang noo ni Ares sa kanila. Kapag talaga nagsama-sama silang tatlo, walang matinong napag-uusapan.

"Putangina, kayo sasaksakin ko!" Napasigaw sa Achilles, iritang-irita na sa mga kaibigan. Napatakip ng mukha ang lalaki para ilabas ang stress niya.

"Are you ayos?" Tanong ni Prada, genuinely worried about him. Hindi marunong magalit si Achilles sa kaibigan at wala rin naman siyang ibang kinakausap kundi sila so she did not see any obvious reason bakit magiging ganito ang asta ng kaibigan.

Achilles wanted to cry at that moment. Dahil noong ginagawa niya 'yon kay Yves, only Prada was in his mind. Kahit walang namamagitan sa kanila, nagui-guilty siya para kay Prada dahil he knew that that his lips was only for hers.

Kung mahal na niya? He was not sure.

"Na-badtrip lang." Tumikhim ang bibig ni Achilles. Alam niya na kahit anong galit niya ay wala siyang magagawa. Hermés held them at gunpoint. "Sorry."

"Sinong babangasan?" Dior asked.

"Resbak kami, kuya!" Gatong ni Gucci.

"I know many pranks," dagdag ni Tiffany kaya napangiti ito sa mga kaibigan.

Kahit sila nalang ang totoo, Achilles said to himself. He would not trade them for anything else. Si Hermés nalang ang ipapamigay, mas maganda pa. He thought.

"Nasaan pala si Yves?" Tanong ni Apollo kaya natigilan sa pwesto si Achilles.

Hindi nga kayang harapin ng lalaki ang kapatid matapos ng nangyari kagabi. He knew that Yves was traumatized... not once, but twice. Kung alam lang niya paano gustong patayin si Achilles ang sarili niya habang ginagawa niya 'yon.

"Ewan, baka kasama si Zeus," malamig na sagot ni Achilles as he took his things at namaalam sa mga kaibigan. Nagtataka siyang pinanood ng barkada na maglakad palayo dahil ngayon lang naman ito nangyari.

Prada, on the other hand, wanted to follow him. Dapat nga ay sasabihin na niya ngayon ang pagkabuntis at pagkawala ng anak nila. However, she thought that it was not the right time. Achilles must have had many things on his plate at the moment.

She just hoped she would not be too late.

- -

"Yves, you really looked like you have seen a ghost."

Magkasama sina Chanel at Yves ngayon sa library. Takot na takot siyang sumama sa iba dahil baka makita niya si Hermés. She was traumatized at the presence and thought of him. Kailangan niya ng ibang kasama ngayon.

Chanel tried to make her at ease kahit hindi sabihin ni Yves ang dahilan bakit ganito ang inaakto niya.

"Ate..." Tumingin sa paligid si Yves, mentally praying na sana wala si Hermés. Hindi na niya kayang umuwi pa sa bahay nito... she would choose to sleep on the streets kaysa ganoon.

"Is someone bothering you?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Chanel at saka binaba ang binabasang libro. "Why do you look so scared?"

"Ate, ayaw ko na sa bahay ni kuya Hermés," mangiyak-ngiyak na sabi ni Yves kaya ikinagulat ito ni Chanel. Hindi pa kasi niya alam na nakikitira ang magkapatid sa bahay ni Hermés.

"Doon kayo nakatira?" Tanong ni Chanel. Bakit naman ayaw nina Yves at Achilles kina Hermés? They were friends, after all.

"Yes..." Sagot ni Yves. "Pinalayas kami sa dati naming apartment kaya nakitira kami kay kuya Hermés."

"Bakit ayaw mo roon?" Maingat na tanong ni Chanel. She was genuinely concerned dahil hindi naman pala-sumbong si Yves. If anything, she preferred to stay silent and persevere.

"He is hu-" Yves was cut off with Zeus' backhug. Naramdaman niya ang halik ng jowa sa buhok niya na ikinatuwa ni Yves.

Zeus... hindi ito kayang sabihin ni Yves sa kanya. Unlike Chanel, alam ni Yves na magiging impulsive si Zeus kapag nalaman ito. Baka mas lalong mapasama pa. She wanted someone like Chanel... calculated and organized.

"Ayan na pala ang jowa." Chanel chuckled and took her books. "Mamaya nalang tayo mag-usap, Yves!"

Natulala si Yves at pinanood maglakad palayo ang kaibigan. She wanted to tell her so much dahil hindi na niya alam ang gagawin niya. Even her brother was suffering... God, how they felt so betrayed that night.

"Babe?" Pinitik ni Zeus ang daliri niya sa harap ni Yves. "Are you really okay? Wala ka sa canteen kanina."

Akma sana siyang yayakapin ni Yves pero bigla itong lumayo sa kanya, nanggigilid sa mga mata niya ang luha.

Naalala niya kung paano siya hawakan ni Hermés at ng kapatid niya the night before. Tinrato siyang parang laruan. She looked so scared as she dodged Zeus' touch. Her boyfriend was quick to notice how she reacted.

"Babe, namumutla ka." Zeus pointed out, respecting the distance she left the both of them. "Tell me what happened."

"W-wala ito." Yves managed to flash a smile at her boyfriend after regaining her composure. "Nagulat lang ako, babe."

Zeus was not convinced. Alam niya ang girlfriend niya.

"Babe, boyfriend mo ako," Zeus softly said. Hahawakan niya sana ang kamay ng jowa pero stopped midway dahil baka hindi ito komportable sa kanya. Pero sobrang pag-aalala ang nararamdaman ng binata. Sigurado siyang may masamang nangyari. "You can tell me anything."

Masyado nang maraming tulong ang ibinigay ni Zeus sa kanya... even the 25k he gave to her. She felt that she was too much of a burden for him. At alam din niya na mas lalaki lang ang gulo kapag sinabi niya ito, pinoprotektahan din naman niya ang kaligtasan nila ni Achilles.

"Of course, babe." Ngumiti si Yves sa kanya. "I love you, okay?"

- -

"Omg, si Dior? May nilalandi nanaman?"

Papasok sana si Dior sa comfort room pero hindi na tinuloy nang marinig ang usapan ng dalawang estudyante sa loob. Kaklase niya ito sa isang subject pero hindi naman niya ka-close kaya nagtataka naman siya bakit pinag-uusapan siya ng mga ito.

Mga Marites talaga sa buhay niya.

"I think so!" Sagot noong isa. "Baka naman may balak mag-commit? Pansin ko close sila ni Apollo, ah!"

"Baka si Hermés!" The other one fired back. "Matagal na siyang may gusto kay Dior, e. Ewan ko ba, pangit ng taste niya."

Dior rolled her eyes at that. Ang ganda ko kaya, she thought.

"Either way, hindi 'yan nagco-commit," sabi ng isang babae. "Walang sigurado sa kanya."

Oh, she was wrong.

Dior was sure to elope with Apollo that night. Matagal na nila itong pinagpaplanuhan and this was already the day. Ngayon lang kasi naging sapat ang ipon ni Dior para mapalabas ang mga magulang niya. After that... she will run away with the man she is ready to spend her lifetime with. No turning back.

Kaso, sabi nga ng mga kaibigan ni Dior, everything backfires at her.

"Ms. Aurea, can you come inside the office, please?"

Magkasamang naglalakad sina Dior at Apollo nang tawagin ng isang staff ang babae. Sinabi ni Apollo na uupo muna siya sa gilid habang hinihintay si Dior. Papunta na sana sila sa parking lot to elope but Dior wanted to fix any responsibilities she might leave behind. They were both excited for their plan.

Nagtataka naman si Dior sa pagtawag sa kanya dahil alam naman niya na nagpaalam naman siya ngayon. Pumasok siya sa loob ng office at bumungad sa kanya ang disappointed na mukha ng University Treasurer. Mas lalo tuloy siya nagtaka... may ginawa ba siyang mali?

"Where were you last night?" Malamig na tanong ng treasurer sa kanya at saka sinenyasan ang babae na umupo sa harapan niya. Sumunod naman si Dior, nakakunot ang noo.

"Nasa bahay po ako ni Tiffany," sagot ni Dior. "Bakit po?"

"The university funds were stolen." Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Dior sa narinig. Unti-unting napaawang ang labi niya nang mapagtantong... inaakusahan siya. "Ikaw lang ang may access sa susi ng office."

Nanghihina na ang mga tuhod ni Dior ngayon. The last thing she needed was another more problem. Her life was slowly becoming better again... and she would be damned kung may mangyayari nanamang masama sa kanya.

She just... wanted a break from her exhausting life. Deserve niya rin naman 'yon.

"Inaakusahan mo po ba ako?" Diretsong tanong ng babae at tumikhim ang bibig niya nang tumango ang treasurer. "Wala naman po kayong pruweba, ah! Ipakita niyo nga po 'yung CCTV."

"That's the point, Ms. Aurea." Sumandal ang treasurer sa upuan niya. "May access ka sa mga CCTV camera. There's no doubt na ikaw nga 'yon."

"Akusahan niyo po ako kapag may malakas na kayong pruweba," mariin na sagot ni Dior. She was fighting back her tears. "Ginagawa ko po nang maayos ang trabaho ko para magkasweldo... hindi magnakaw ng pera."

Dignidad na nga lang ang natitira kay Dior... it was also taken away from her. She juggled everything... from her studies, to her jobs, to her social life, to her family, and to her friends. Ikagagalit ba ng mundo kung hahayaan muna nitong sumaya si Dior? She was barely hanging on to her end tapos ito pa ang mangyayari ngayon.

"The council has decided." Naluha si Dior sa narinig. "We will take your scholarship away. You may leave the room."

News spread like wildfire.

Nag-trending ang pangalan ni Dior sa bawat social media site as she turned off her phone. Mag-isa siyang umiiyak sa bahay niya, natatakot sa mga pinagsasabi ng mga tao tungkol sa kanya. Sanay na siyang matawag na pokpok... pero hindi criminal. Mas lalong namuo ang galit niya nang makita na dinadamay ang mga magulang sa nangyari.

Mapait siyang napangiti sa sarili niya habang tinitigan ang walang laman niyang wallet. She saved her money to pay for her parents' lawyer tapos ibinayad niya lang ito sa university kanina. Akala niya makakasama na niya ulit ang pamilya niya... her happiness had to be taken away from her again.

Ares... went to the bar that night. Hindi niya inisip na maaapektuhan si Dior sa ginawa niya. He should have been more careful dahil alam niya na may pinag-iipunan at sinusustentuhan si Dior. She was barely struggling to make ends meet and now, wala na siyang pera. Ubos na ubos na siya.

Physically, mentally, and financially.

TUKMOMOLS

Zeus:

gago talaga ng mga tao

dior, okay ka lang?

Prada:

let's stop the rumors from spreading please

protect natin si dior

Hades:

putangina may pruweba ba sila

Chanel:

Dior, pupunta kami diyan. Okay?

Wait for us.

Ares:

I'll talk to my father about this.

We will fix this, Dior.

Yves:

hindi 'yon kayang gawin ni ate dior!

Hermés:

Love, I'm otw.

Just hang in there please.

Tiffany:

DIOR SUMAGOT KA PLEASE

NAG-AALALA AKO GAGA KA

Achilles:

tangina magbigay muna sila ng pruweba

ipagkakalat nila e akusasyon palang

Gucci:

I'm reporting the posts now.

Paki-report din please.

Dior saw that she had 20 missed calls from Tiffany, 15 missed calls from Hermés, and... 30 from Apollo. Sa ngayon, ayaw niya muna talaga makipag-usap kahit kanino. Hiyang-hiya siya sa sarili niya. People judged her even before she got to defend her side.

Pangarap niya sumikat... pero hindi sa ganitong paraan.

Napatingin siya sa pinto nang makarinig ng katok. Dior had to suppress her cries as she wanted no one to know na naroon siya. Wala na siyang mukhang maihaharap... lalo na kung magtatanan pa sila. Her face and name was already over the internet, makikilala agad siya at a glance.

"Baby, ako 'to..." Apollo softly said, making Dior cry harder. The girl felt guilty... dahil sa kanya, hindi natuloy ang plano nila. They would not have their lives to themselves again. "Open the door."

Mabagal na naglakad si Dior sa pinto at saka binuksan ito. Agad niyang niyakap ang boyfriend niya habang humahagulgol. Her boyfriend caressed her hair as he cannot help but to tear up too.

At times like these, all she needed was her comfort. Apollo Keisuke Andigre.

"Baby, hindi ko 'yon ginawa," pagmamakaawa ni Dior kay Apollo nang makapasok sila sa loob ng bahay nito.

She was desperate for someone to believe her. Hindi niya kayang gawin 'yon... may prinsipyo siya. At, alam ng lahat paano niya pinagsikapan ang mamuhay kahit ang dami niyang problema.

"Naniniwala ako sa'yo." Apollo cupped her cheeks and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Kahit tumalikod ang mundo sa'yo, hindi ako. Mananatili ako sa'yo."

"Mahal na mahal kita," he repeatedly said. Oh, how Apollo loved Dior more than himself. Kahit ano ay kaya niyang gawin para sa kanya.

Nakatutuwa ngang pakinggan dahil Dior fell first, but Apollo fell way harder. He was already sure with her... dahil si Dior lang ang nagmahal sa kanya ng buo. He saw a thousand lifetimes with her.

"Sorry..." Dior's tears were overflowing. "Hindi natin natuloy."

"Mas importante ka," her boyfriend playfully scolded her before handing a glass of water to drink. "Aayusin natin ito, okay?"

"I love you," mangiyak-ngiyak na sambit ni Dior.

"Kahit ano pa ang mangyari... Pakakasalan kita." Apollo then planted a kiss on her cheeks as they both fell into deep slumber in each other's embrace.

The next day, the crows already kissed the death of Dior's parents.