I went straight to the garden after witnessing the dramatic reunion of Milka and Demi. Ngayon ay tahimik kong pinagmamasdan ang paligid. Matingkad na ang sikat ng araw. I haven't eaten anything yet and my stomach has been grumbling for ages. Napahalukipkip ako at nag-angat ng tingin sa kalangitan.

Hindi ko maiwasang maisip ang kapatid kong traydor. I no longer recall him as my brother but I couldn't help but wonder, kung sakali bang walang nangyari, magiging katulad ba kami nina Demi at Milka? Would we stand for each other too?

I scoffed. As if. He never stood for me after all.

"Sabi nila rito kita mahahanap."

I didn't turn around. She walked towards me until I finally saw her shadow beside me.

Demi chuckled. "You really love this place, huh. Kumusta ka na?"

Inirapan ko siya. "Ang plastic mo."

"Nahawa lang ako sa 'yo," aniya pa at binigyan ako ng mapangasar na ngiti. "Gusto ko sanang magpasalamat kaso nagmamaldita ka na kaya huwag na lang siguro."

"Dami mong sinabi."

I kept my eyes on the sky. Ilang minutong namayani ang katahimikan sa aming dalawa hanggang sa binasag niya ito.

"You probably sneaked on my bedroom already, nahanap mo ba ang sinabi ko?"

Umiling ako. "Your room was a wreck. Gusto mo naman palang magpakamatay, ba't hindi ka na lang lumapit sa 'kin nang matuluyan na?"

"There won't be any suspense then," pabiro niyang sagot. "But yeah, I thought you'd find it without my help."

"Laging nakabuntot sa akin 'yang kapatid mo."

Tumawa lang siya.

"I used to have nightmares before. Nightmares of Mikaela and I begging for life in front of a faceless man. It used to haunt me at night and I couldn't tell anyone dahil wala naman akong naging kaibigan maliban sa kapatid ko," she paused to look at me, "I'm sure you saw the drawing I hanged on my wall."

Tumango ako. Yeah, that creepy charcoal drawing hanging in her bedroom.

"What about it?"

"There's a hidden compartment on the wall behind that frame. I made it with my power."

Tila unti-unting naliliwanagan ang utak ko sa sinabi niya. That explains why there's something strange about that drawing. Kaya pala.

"Ara, nando'n ang scroll. You have to take it yourself. Headmaster Boris decided that I should keep a low profile for a while. I can't be seen, not yet." Demi held my hand. Marahan niya itong pinisil. "Magtatago muna ako malayo sa akademya habang hindi pa tuluyang nalilinis sa publiko ang pangalan ko. Please, Ara, uncover the truth with whatever information that scroll contains. No matter what. Alamin mo ang totoo. Save this kingdom."

My mouth couldn't find the right words to utter. Save this kingdom. I can't. Hindi iyon ang layunin ko. Hindi iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito.

I faked a smile. "I will."

I was taken aback when Demi suddenly embraced me in her arms. "Thank you, bitch. Bisitahin niyo ako ni ate sa bago kong tirahan ah. Hihintayin ko kayo."

"Yuck. Your sweat."

Pabiro ko siyang tinulak na ikinahalakhak lang nito. Hindi ko lubos akalain na ganito pala siya. Magkapatid nga sila ni Milka.

Tinaasan ko ito ng kilay. "Mag-ingat ka. Huwag nang tatanga-tanga."

"SHE will be staying in the woods, I heard. Pero maayos naman ang tirahan niya. Wala nga lang siyang kasama," wika ni Rhysan.

"But Headmaster Boris gave me his permission to visit on weekends. Sumama kayo sa akin ha." Milka nodded habang bini-braid ang buhok ni Shaye.

Rhysan, Shaye, Milka, Third and I are in the dining area right now. We just finished lunch after sending Demi back to the office. Ayon sa sinabi ni Demi sa akin, I'm sure by now she's on her way to the woods, to her temporary home. We asked Boris for some guards to accompany her pero sigurado akong sinusungitan niya lang 'yon ngayon.

"Sure. Ba't naman hindi?" Shaye responded while checking her braids.

"Zale, ano ba?!"

Napalingon kaming lahat sa living room nang marinig ang sigaw ni Estelle. We all stood up and hurried to her direction. Naabutan namin si Zale na inaawat ni Carwell, habang si Sin ay nakasalampak sa sahig at nakahawak sa panga. Estelle was on the corner, looking bewildered at the two men in front of us.

"What's happening?" tanong ni Rhysan.

"Zale, stop. Calm down, man," Carwell tried to calm him down.

But Zale was persistent to attack Sin again. "Gago 'yan e! Hindi ako umalma sa inyo ni Milka dahil pinagkatiwala ko siya sa 'yo, dahil mahal ka niya! Tapos malalaman ko na pinagsabay mo pala sila ng Aubrey na iyon?! Man up, Sin! Ang laki mo na pero ang liit pa rin ng utak mong gago ka."

Nakakalas si Zale sa pagkahawak ni Carwell. He quickly jumped on Sin and gave another punch. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang ganito. So different from the Zale we used to know.

"Both of you, kumalma nga kayo!" Estelle tried to stop them again, but no one paid attention.

"Ang iingay niyo," rinig kong wika ni Snow sa likuran ko.

"Tang ina mo. Huwag mo 'kong pagsalitaan ng gan'yan. Wala kang alam!" Sin was about to hold his hands up to summon his weapon when Genesis intervened.

Pumagitna ito sa kanila. "Woah. Chill, dude."

"Guys, stop!" Rhysan yelled. "Sa tingin niyo nakakatulong kayo?!"

"'Yang kaibigan niyo ang pagsabihan mo, Flowel. Wala naman akong ginagawang masama sa inyo."

Zale's face darkened even more. "The fuck? Talagang magmamalinis ka?"

Napatiim bagang ako. Really? Magpapatayan sila dahil dito?

Tahimik akong tumalikod at bumalik sa kusina. Matapos ay muli akong nagtungo sa sala at humarap sa dalawa. I handed them the knives I took from the kitchen.

Matalim ko silang tinitigan. "Oh, magpatayan kayo. Walang aalis nang walang namamatay."

Nakakabinging katahimikan ang bumalot sa amin. Zale stared at the knife on his hand. "Ba't natahimik kayo? Gusto niyong pag-untugin ko kayong dalawa?"

Wala pa ring nagsalita. Naiinis kong pinulot ang jacket kong nahulog sa lapag dala ng gulo nila kanina. "Gumising nga kayo. Hindi na kayo mga bata."

My eyes went on Sin. "Sumama ka sa 'kin."

Nilampasan ko sin Shaye at lumabas na ng dormitoryo. I headed to the garden. Sinigurado kong walang ibang sumusunod sa akin maliban kay Sin.

"Are you happy?" I asked, as soon as we reached the garden.

"What?"

"Sinaktan mo na nga si Milka. Gumawa pa kayo ng gulo sa dorm."

He scoffed. "'Yong Zale na 'yon ang pagsabihan mo. Masyado siyang nakikialam."

"Zale is Milka's boyfriend before she met you on Forthill. How do you expect him to react?"

"Hindi ako makapaniwalang ang lalaking 'yon ang may hawak ng kapangyarihan ng tubig. He doesn't deserve it," aniya. Bakas pa rin ang pagkainis sa boses.

"And who are you to say who deserves which?" walang emosyon kong tanong. "Matuto kang lumugar, Sin."

"Says the traitor."

Napantig ang tainga ko. I glared at him but he just smirked at me, na ikinayukom ng kamao ko.

"What are you talking about?" malamig kong wika.

"Don't try to deny it. Narinig ko kayo ni Genesis," he paused to move his face closer to mine, "Aurora B—"

Tila natigil ang paghinga ko. I didn't give him another second to spill whatever he's supposed to. Kusang umangat ang kamay ko na nakahawak ng mariin sa leeg niya.

"N-natatakot ka ba, Ara?" He was choking at the force of my hand, yet he still had the guts to mock me.

He tried to let go off my grasp but hell knows I wouldn't let that. Palihim niyang kinumpas ang kamay sa gilid niya na hindi nakatakas sa mga mata ko. I smirked and controlled his hand with my shadow strings.

"What else did you hear?" I felt my eyes twitch and changed its color to pure black. My body went light. Tila lumulutang ako sa kawalan kasabay ng paglabas ng itim na pakpak sa likuran ko. Ang dating Ara na kinamumuhian ng lahat.

Sin's eyes widened in terror and shock. Napawi ang ngisi niya. Nanginginig niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko na mahigpit pa ring nakahawak sa kaniyang leeg.

"What else, Demetrio?" muli kong tanong. My voice was colder than it usually is. Hinigpitan ko ang pagkahawak. "Speak."

Nandilim ang paningin ko. The atmosphere went heavy and the sky started to roar. Unti-unting dumilim ang kalangitan na tila may namumuong bagyo. Naging marahas din ang ihip ng hangin na halos tinatangay na ang mga bulaklak sa paligid namin.

"L-let me go... A-ara, s-stop... I-i can't..." Sin was barely breathing. Ngunit tila ayaw pumasok sa isipan ko ang mga katagang binitawan niya.

I want to shut him up. My urge to silence him forever is surging like poison waiting to burst inside me. I want to kill him. I want to kill. I want his smirk gone, his breath gone, his existence gone. Walang pwedeng makaalam ng sekreto ko. Wala. Hindi ako papayag.

I clenched my jaw, saka ako ngumisi ng napakalawak. "Ano, Demetrio? Why don't you start reciting your last words?"

Sin was almost violet when somebody pulled me. Malakas at marahas ang paghila nito sanhi ng pagbitaw ko kay Sin. His weight made a thud on the ground while I turned around to face the intruder.

Napaatras ito nang magtama ang mga mata namin. "Belacour..."

Natigilan ako. Mistulang nagising ako sa reyalidad nang makita ang takot sa mga mata niya.

I blinked, and blinked, and blinked, until my eyes switched back to its normal color. My weight came back and my wings vanished. Bumalik din sa dati ang atmosphere ng paligid. But the sky was still angry. Sumasayaw sa kalangitan ang kulog at kidlat na tiyak kong gumisiging sa mga tao rito.

Nilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid. Wala na si Sin, pero si Carwell ay nanatili pa ring nakatitig sa akin.

"Leave." Hindi siya nagsalita. Tulala lamang ito. "I said leave!"

He stepped back. Akala ko ay aalis na siya, but he didn't. "W-what are you?"

Mas lalong lumakas ang kabog sa dibdib ko. This is not in my plan. Killing Sin wouldn't cost a sweat but Carwell… I cannot kill him. Hindi ko kayang ipagkait sa kaharian na 'to ang prinsipeng maaaring makaahon sa kanila mula sa baluktot na pamamalakad ng hari.

I can't. I don't want to.

"P-pakiusap, umalis ka na."

I failed to suppress the anxiousness in my voice. It was breaking. My voice was breaking. So as my heart. Hindi ko alam kung bakit tila pinipiga ang dibdib ko sa bawat segundong lumilipas. Pakiramdam ko'y bumabalik sa akin ang mga emosyong matagal ko nang pinatay.

"Bingi ka ba?! Ang sabi ko umalis ka na! Umalis ka na! Hindi ka ba nakakaintindi?! Putang—" My mind went blank when Carwell locked me in his arms. Sinubukan kung kumalas ngunit mas lalo niya lang hinihigpitan. "A-ano ba?! Let me go! Leave!"

I wanted to curse him, to push him away. Pero hindi ko magawa.

"It's okay. It's okay, Ara..."

I could feel the corner of my eyes starting to heat up, hanggang sa unti-unti nang tumulo ang mga luha ko.

Carwell was caressing my back. For seconds, I didn't move until my body begun to lose its balance. I let myself fall weak. Nawalan ng lakas ang mga tuhod ko but he was quick to catch me. Marahan niya akong inalalayan patungo sa ilalim ng puno na madalas kong tinatambayan.

He sat down beside me. Silence prevailed in the garden for a minute or so but there was hesitation on Carwell's face. I could feel the tense in his aura as if I were a ticking time bomb that he shouldn't lay a hand.

"This will be our little secret," I whispered, trying so hard to conceal the vulnerability in my voice.

"Why?" Walang bahid ng kayabangan ang boses niya. It was soft and gentle.

"Hindi normal para sa mga tulad niyo ang isang katulad ko." Bahagya akong natawa. Pekeng tawa.

Sino ba namang makakalimot sa tinanim nila sa utak ko? That I am a child of a demon. That I am a monster. At kahit kailan hindi ako magiging normal sa paningin nila.

"Your eyes and your wings... Paano nangyari 'yon?" Reluctance was evident on his voice. Ni halos hindi siya makatingin ng diretso sa akin.

"I had the same question years ago."

Tama ba? Tama bang ginagawa ko 'to? Tama bang pinapakita ko sa kaniya ang kahinaan ko?

But I am already weak. He has seen who I am. Paano ko iyon matatakasan?

Tumayo ako at humugot ng malalim na hininga. Carwell's eyes were on me as I positioned myself in front of him.

His eyebrows furrowed. "What are you doing, Ara?"

Kinumpas ko ang mga kamay upang kontrolin ang seguridad ng paligid. Our eyes were like magnets resisting to break the contact. Ngumiti ako, ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, hindi na peke.

"Showing you who I am."

My eyes slowly changed its color. Naging itim ang mga mata ko at unti-unting nabuo ang itim na higanteng pakpak sa aking likuran. Kasabay no'n ay ang pag-akyat ng mga tila itim na ugat mula sa aking kamay patungo sa aking braso.

I felt my body changed, my weight, my senses — everything. For a second, I stared at him. I waited for a curse, for a yell, for a judgement. I waited for fear and disgust to fill in his gaze.

But he didn't. There was no fear. No disgust. No judgement. He looked at me exactly as the way he stares at the Ara he knows. And for the first time in my life, I felt seen. I felt safe.