The following days went like a cold breeze of air.

Ibinalita sa TV na magkakaroon daw ng low pressure area, that may end up as a potential typhoon, kung sakaling sumabay ito sa isa pang paparating na bagyo.

Hearing it from the TV made me feel a little bit anxious and concerned about our schedules. Wala kasing pasok sina Kurt at Reinald samantalang morning classes lang ang mayroon si Martin. Clyde on the other hand, decided to skip classes dahil daw may project silang kailangang tapusin for a major subject.

Ending, ako itong kailangang pumasok nang mag-isa sa Arcana.

Dalawang araw pa lang ang nakalipas mula noong magkaroon kami ng pag-uusap nina Ryu at Cris, and within that two days, Cris already left me freedom to plan for my own.

At dahil doon, napansin kong maraming bagay ang nagbago sa pakikitungo ko sa mga tao matapos no'n, as much as possible I keep myself from being involved into matters that I can't control lalo na at nadala na ako sa nangyari.

I did ask some few question from Kyle as well, something that she wasn't expecting for. Sorry siya nang sorry sa nangyari na para bang karumal-dumal na krimen ang ginawa niyang pag-setup sa akin sa tulong ni Ryu.

She kept telling me not to tell what they did to anyone as it may cost her job at Dormisteryo. Kahit daw kasi isa iyon sa plano nila para ma-infiltrate ang Dormisteryo for this kind of plan, Kyle admitted that the schedule and the workload was easy to manage, let alone the conversation about the salary.

Hindi naman ako nagalit sa kaniya. Para sa akin, she did her job well despite the shortcomings of it. Kung hindi ko lang nalaman ang lahat, they might as well keep toying with us. Pero malamang hindi na nila magagawang biktimahin ang mga tao sa unit 16 ulit.

The rest of dormers of unit 16 used the lock Clyde bought for everyone. Excited na excited pa nga silang lagyan ng lock ang mga drawer na pagmamay-ari nila.

Habang ako naman ay pinagmamasdan lang sila mula sa salas noong abala sila sa paglalagay ng padlocks.

Clyde even asked me, "Nasaan na yung lock mo? Akala ko gagamitin mo?" he was curious.

I just nodded my head. "Gagamitin ko yun, kaso hindi ba hassle kung may lock ka sa cabinet o sa drawer mo? Like you need to have the key whenever you go para mabuksan iyon kaagad?"

"Well," Clyde paused for a moment, clearly thinking what I just said. "We can use the lock kung sakaling aalis tayo o matutulog sa gabi?"

I shrugged. "Edi mamaya ko na ilalagay yung lock ng sa akin. Total hindi naman ako aalis."

"Ikaw bahala," sambit pa ni Clyde bago niya ako iwanang nanunuod sa ginagawa nina Martin.

Pansin ko na maraming tanong si Clyde kamakailan lang. It all started when I started questioning them about Casey. Pinipilit ko kasi silang magbigay ng sagot tungkol sa nangyari, pero gaya ng paulit-ulit nilang sagot, it's either they won't pay attention to my question or they would shrug it off.

Kulang na lang talaga at pilitin ko silang umamin sa nangyari.

Pero ano bang alam ko? Wala pa talaga akong alam tungkol sa tunay na mga pangyayari na naganap dito sa Dormisteryo. The connections between all of them, and the reason why Casey suddenly disappeared.

As I closed the door behind me to prepare on going to Arcana, tiyempong kabubukas lang din ng pintuan ng unit 12 sa di-kalayuan, a familiar face looked back at me.

Ang taong iyon walang iba kung 'di si Azi.

"Uy pare ko'y, kamusta?" he showed me a wide smile that may seem fake.

I nodded. "Goods naman."

"Papasok ka na rin ba? Sabay na tayo," he gestured for me to come along.

May magagawa ba ako?

"Sige," I started walking.

Sabay kaming naglakad ni Azi pababa ng hagdan, at kita ko kung gaano siya kalinis sa mga oras na ito. I can't seem to see the Azi that traumatized me few days ago.

"Kamusta naman ang stay mo rito?" he asked me.

"Ayos naman," simpleng sagot ko.

"Mabuti ka pa, maayos. Doon sa unit namin, hindi ko sila makasabayan, alam mo yung mga trip nila? Ibang iba sa mga nakasanayan ko," dagdag niya pa.

"Sabi mo nga, ayaw mo nga ro'n," aniko.

"Hindi mo pa pala nakakalimutan yung nangyari sa banyo?" napakamot siya ng ulo. "Pasensiya na pala sa inasal ko. I was so irritated that time. Hindi ko na na-take yung anti-depressants meds ko."

I was a bit confused. "Umiinom ka ng gamot?"

"Yeah, it was prescribed to me by my father's doctor. Kailangan ko raw mag-take nun to pacify a side of me na hindi ko ma-control."

"What do you mean?"

He shrugged. "Well, most of the time, this is how I act. Ganito ako kumilos, malayong-malayo sa balahurang Azi na nakita mo noon. You'll only see that version of me whenever I forgotten to take my medicines," aniya.

"So hindi talaga gano'n ang ugali mo? Kasi sa totoo lang, gulat na gulat ako noong sagot-sagutin mo yung mama mo, tapos ang dami mong sinabi tungkol sa mga nakatira dito sa Dormisteryo."

"Totoo naman din kasi, hindi ka ba nakakaramdam. Alam mo sa sarili mo kung may itinatagong sikreto ang mga taong nakakasalamuha mo," he said. "If I'm going to be honest, kahit ikaw, alam ko may tinatago ka."

I didn't say anything. He was right at some point.

"Pero hindi ko na trabahong mangialam tungkol doon," aniya.

I was a bit confused about this side of him. So basically, he's taking meds to sedate the wild side of him, or in other words, something that he needs to control. I knew there's something wrong when he's acting differently than before.

It would be legal enough to say that I have two first impressions of him. One for each side that he was showing.

As we reached the main lobby, Kyle was there busy doing her job. She greeted the two of us but she didn't engage for any small talk. She was acting up like that after our confrontation about what happened.

Siguro ay para na rin ipakita niyang may respeto siya sa akin at siguro ay paraan lang niya iyon para humingi ng paumanhin mula sa mga nagawa niya.

Azi on the other hand has no idea about what happened.

Sa paglabas namin ng Dormisteryo, bumati sa amin ang makulimlim na kalangitan. "Mukhang uulan nga ngayong araw," aniko.

"Tama ka pare ko'y, pero sana naman hindi tayo abutan ng ulan ano?" ang tanong niya sa akin.

"Bilisan na lang natin maglakad," sabi ko pa sa kaniya.

We agreed on walking faster on our way to Arcana. Marami kaming mga nakasabay na mga estudyante, puro may mga nakahandang payong sa kani-kanilang mga kamay.

They must have watched the morning news as well.

"Ngapala Azi, ba't naman sa Dormisteryo ka mismo pinatira ng papa mo?" ang tanong ko sa kaniya dahil maayos naman ang pakikitungo niya sa akin ngayon.

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "It's all because of my case. Hindi niya matiis yung mga sinasabi ko sa tuwing nagbabago ang pakiramdam ko sa katawan ko," he answered. "At dahil maraming kilala si papa, o sabihin na lang nating koneksiyon, my father asked one of his associates to bring me into a place called Dormisteryo at doon daw ako sa unit 12 mag-stay. For some reason, my father didn't tell me the reason why. Basta ang sabi niya lang, doon ako dalhin, at doon ako titira hangga't dito ako sa Arcana nag-aaral ng college."

"Siguro dating nakatira sa Dormisteryo ang papa mo?" I curiously asked.

He shrugged. "Knowing him, he was a graduate from one of the prestigious college university near Dormisteryo. Malamang sa malamang, puwedeng doon nga rin siya nag-stay noong kabataan niya."

"Then maybe you're in good hands? Maybe he's just trying to give you the freedom to live on your own?" ang tanong ko sa kaniya.

Tumawa lang si Azi. "Pare ko'y, walang kalayaan sa nangyari sa akin. Again, my father appointed me to live in a specific place, and in a specific unit. Nasaan yung freedom dun?"

"Ito," I gestured my hand as if telling him na itong kasama niya ako e kalayaang nagagawa niya nang mag-isa. "You may be living against your will at Dormisteryo. Pero hindi ka naman niya pinagbabawalan sa anuman ang gusto mong gawin di ba?"

Natahimik si Azi. "Fair point. Pero hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung anong pumasok sa isipan ng papa ko."

"Yun nga lang, hindi talaga natin malalaman. Puro hula lang puwede nating gawin sa anumang dahilan na mayroon siya," sabi ko pa.

Hindi ko lubos-akalaing matino naman palang kausap si Azi. I hope he'll never forget to take his med starting from now on. Mas gusto kong kausap itong side niya na ito.

"Gano'n talaga ang buhay, pare ko'y," aniya.

I let go of the topic, knowing that I couldn't get something from Azi about his father's past. All I know, may beef sa pagitan nilang dalawa that was needed to be settled with before it gets long overdue.

Mabuti na lang at yung mga parents ko, ginawa ang lahat para iligtas ako mula sa bagay na hindi naman ako ang may kasalanan. They knew it was never my intention to hurt someone, wala sa pamilyang Reinhart ang magbabalak na manakit ninuman.

In fact, in our bloodline, marami sa pamilya namin ang may propesyon na tigapagligtas ng buhay. Most of them are doctors, rescuers, and of course, a family of lawyers. It might sound bias to have one in the family, but justice is justice in the eyes of the law.

I just escaped one unjustified verdict against me. Alam nilang lahat iyon, ngunit masyadong malakas ang kalaban. I don't have a choice but to leave that place with a new name to hold on to.

For now, as long as I can keep this secret, I'll go with the flow.

Narating na rin namin ang gate ng Arcana at sabay na rin kami ni Azi na pumasok sa loob. As usual, there are some guards who did a quick check of our belongings, and even scanned our IDs. Walang outsider na makakapasok dito sa ganitong klase ng security.

We both walk on our way to our own class and Azi decided to part ways from me when we reached the first turnover. "Dito na ako, pare ko'y," he gave me a quick salute as he left me alone on the sidewalk.

I just smiled, knowing that I could see the good in him finally. Hindi ko na siya dapat na katakutan pa o kaya'y bigyang pangamba. I now understand the reason behind his personality, another mystery in Dormisteryo was finally solved at last.

When I was finally alone, I pulled out my phone and dialed a certain phone number.

It rings a few times before someone picked it up. "Hello," the voice from the other side said.

"Ako 'to, Cris," sabi ko. Lumingon pa ako sa paligid, nagbabakasakaling may nakatingin sa mga ikinikilos ko. "Nasa Arcana na ako ngayon."

"Yes, I know. Kyle already reported to me na papasok ka na ng school. May kasama ka raw, si Azi. Sino siya?" Cris asked me.

"Why didn't you ask Kyle about that? Mas kilala niya mga dormers sa Dormisteryo?"

"Kyle doesn't know them personally. We can dig people's background, but we can't read their minds," ang sagot niya sa akin.

"Then dig something from Azi. Start from there gaya ng ginawa ninyo sa akin, maybe who knows? He can be an ally?" I smiled, knowing that Cris can be easily taunted this way.

"Sure. I'll let Ray handle that for now. Kung ayaw mong sabihin kung sino siya, hahayaan muna kita riyan. Pero sa ngayon, inaasahan kita mamaya sa napag-usapan nating tagpuan. Magkakaroon tayo ng maliit na meeting kasama ng ilan sa mga kasamahan ko," aniya.

He was talking about a certain place where his group do their rendezvous. "As if I had a choice," I looked up to the sky. "But what about the weather? Can't we do a rain check for now? May bagyo pa namang parating."

"Well, Kent. As if I had a choice with that too? We need to create plans for you, time is of the essence here. Sa bawat araw na lumilipas na wala tayong nakukuhang impormasyon mula sa mga kasama mo sa unit 16, mas lalong bumababa ang tsansa nating malaman ang tunay na nangyari kay Casey. We can't delay this, trust me. I never intended to do something like this at the first place," ang sagot niya sa akin.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako. "I know, and I clearly understand," I clenched my teeth before adding some few words. "Magkita na lang tayo mamaya. I gotta go," then I ended the phone call without waiting for his response.

We have nothing to talk to anyway. He will just keep defending himself about doing the right thing for Casey, for his girlfriend, for the missing girl from Dormisteryo.

~~~

Sa kalagitnaan nitong araw na ito ay nagsimulang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan. It was really strong to the extent that the class for this afternoon has been postponed.

Maraming nadismaya dahil karamihan sa kanila ay gusto yung susunod na klase samantalang yung iba na ayaw nito e narinig kong tuwang-tuwa na lumabas ng classroom.

Kesha was not around, maybe she has no class today that we would be sharing. I wonder what she's doing as of this moment. I hope despite the weather, she would still go to Dormisteryo para magkausap kaming dalawa mamaya oras na makauwi ako. I wanna know her more.

It would help me understand the things that were at stake here. Kung makikilala ko si Casey mula sa taong mas malapit sa kaniya, siguradong maiintindihan ko kung ba't ko siya mas lalong kailangang tulungang mahanap.

I can't deny the fact though that I already considered that she might be long dead already. Imagine, she's gone for months and there was no leads whatsoever about her whereabouts? Sa tingin nila may pag-asa pa kayang makita siya ulit?

I'm not pessimistic but that's reality for me.

Yung mga dati kong kaibigan sa hometown ko, they all know that I'm dead already, and that's a fact that I want them to believe. So hindi na sila mag-e-expect na babalik pa ako, because they know I'm gone.

Sa case naman ni Casey, being missing for months is a sign na wala na talaga tayong chance na makita siya ulit. Isa pa, she just disappeared in thin air, that I kept making myself think na talagang imposible.

Kaya para sa akin, ito lang ang theory ko sa mga nangyari, with the information that I have so far. Casey might have ran away to live a different life with the help of someone, otherwise she might have been murdered and her body has been kept somewhere hard to locate.

Two possibilities that I can think of, two possibilities that nobody else can deny.

I left the classroom from my final class for today and I decided to go to our little club's meeting point. It was the safest place to have a small group to meet up, the library.

Cris told me before leaving Ray's unit that time that their group usually meets in the library first. Doon daw kami sunod na magkita para malaman ko kung paano ang magiging kalakaran na dapat kong sundin at gawin para sa kanila.

Cris told me he has some names to introduce to me and they already gave a huge part within their group. He mentioned to me that one of them has already created a short biography for Casey, not her whole life though, but the part of it when she attended classes here in Arcana.

Hindi ko tuloy alam kung anong mai-a-ambag ko sa grupo. Oo, I can be their eyes for the dormers of unit 16. Pero bukod doon, ano ang gagawin ko para mapaamin sila kung may ginawa nga silang masama?

What are the questions that I should ask them?

I was creating scenarios in my mind like I'm a certain detective from a crime novel who would confront the bad guys. "Saan ninyo dinala si Casey?" I usually imagined myself casually asking that.

But I know it won't work that way. Things should be handled differently.

Meanwhile, the rain in Arcana became stronger than earlier. Sa isang iglap, marami nang mga estudyante ang makikitang basa ang suot na uniporme dahil sumuong sila sa ilalim ng malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan.

I wasn't in a hurry knowing that I would reach the library earlier than the others because my last class was already done and the rest has been postponed.

Alam ko na rin kung saan yung library dito sa campus since I had downloaded a digital copy of Arcana's campus map. May mga detalye pa nga silang idinagdag sa downloadable copy nito, like some places where you'll get clean water, o hindi kaya mga lugar sa campus na puwede kayong tumambay nang walang sisitang mga professors o guards sa inyo.

Ray told me about the downloadable map by the way. No one else among my dorm mates mentioned anything about this to me. Pero wala naman akong masasabi sa kanila tungkol doon, it's my responsibility to look for the map myself.

So when the library building came into view, I felt a small achievement. May ilang mga estudyante ang dumidiretso doon pero marami ding lumalabas ng pintuan. I guess there would be an expected crowd inside already.

Wala akong payong na dala at wala naman akong nakikitang shaded pathway to go to the library kaya walang lingon-likod akong tumakbo gaya ng ibang estudyante papunta sa library.

Para akong basang-sisiw nang makarating ako sa tapat nito. Mabuti na lang at may bubong na roon kaya tumayo muna ako sa labas para magpagpag ng basang buhok. I can't just enter this place with myself wet from rain.

As I was busy drying myself, someone's cold hand touches my nape. "Kent," I almost flinched upon hearing that voice.

"Cris?" I was surprised seeing him dry, then I realized he was holding a folded umbrella on his right hand. "Nandito ka na pala?"

Cris shrugged. "Our classes got postponed. I assumed everyone else's did as well," he looked into the door to the library. "Have you seen Ray here?"

Umiling ako. "Kararating ko lang talaga."

"Good, let's wait them here," aniya.

"Matanong ko lang, sa loob ba tayo ng library magmi-meeting?" I asked him.

He shook his head. "No way in hell. This place is only our meet-up point. We have a much safer haven to do our meetings."

"Saan naman yun?"

"Enough questions, just wait the others and we'll lead the way," aniya.

Napatango na lang ako dahil alam kong hindi naman siya matinong sasagot sa tanong ko. "Okay," bulong ko pa.

We stood a few meters away from each other like we were a total strangers. Medyo awkward, pero mabuti na rin na ganito lalo na at may hinihintay lang naman kaming dalawa. I can't think of something to ask him, it's been two days since our last conversation, he let me do my own thing within that time frame.

He said there was no pressure, I'll just do my part and we will not have any problems to face with. Kaya sumunod ako nang mabuti sa mga ibinilin nila.

"Don't let them catch you or suspect you," bilin ni Cris sa akin bago ko lisanin ang unit 6 nang gabing iyon. "They knew already that someone's after them. They just don't have an idea who it is."

Remembering his reminder made me think of one person.

Someone in Dormisteryo clearly knows something about Cris's group. Ramdam ko kung sino sa kanilang apat na kasama ko sa unit 16 ang may ideya sa mga nangyayari.

I'll deal with that person later, but for now, Cris and I patiently waited in front of the library. Few minutes later, we both saw Ray walking into our direction, may hawak siyang payong habang sukob nito si Kyle sa kaniyang tabihan.

"Pasensiya na kung late kami," ani Kyle kay Cris.

Cris nodded. "Kamusta si Kesha?"

"Ayun, busy. Pero pumasok naman siya sa shift niya kahit na malakas ang ulan," ang sagot ni Kyle sa tanong ni Cris. "Nothing to worry about."

Kyle looked at me and she just nodded her head and smiled. "Hi, Kent."

It was awkward to respond so I acknowledge it with a nod as well. Napaka-redundant na nga ng pagtango sa isa't isa kung tutuusin, pero ano pa bang magagawa namin?

"I already contacted Z already," biglang sambit ni Ray habang nakatingin sa hawak niyang cellphone.

I frowned for a moment, Z? Is that a person's name?

"When he's gonna be online?" ang tanong ni Cris sa kaniya.

"Z would be online any moment now," ani Ray.

Ray didn't give notice of me, para lang akong palamuti na nasa tabihan ni Cris. He must be disappointed of being caught so early, nag-e-enjoy pa naman yata siyang magnakaw ng briefs sa unit 16.

"Sabihin mo kay Z na si Nessi na lang ang hinihintay natin at magsisimula na tayo," utos ni Cris kay Ray.

"Sure," Ray walked away, leaving the three of us standing with fair distance from one another, before putting his phone over his ear. "Hello, Z. Si Nessi na lang ang kulang, alam mo naman kung gaano pa-espesyal yung babaeng iyon," I even heard him saying.

Napaka-awkward na talaga ng sitwasyon, knowing that this would be my first time meeting Cris's small group. I couldn't imagine it would be like this.

Muli na naman kaming naghintay nang ilan pang minuto, hanggang sa wakas ay dumating na rin ang Nessi na tinutukoy nila.

Nessi is a girl, the same height as mine, and she was wearing a red jacket. Mahaba ang kaniyang buhok, abot ito hanggang sa kaniyang balikat, and I noticed as well that she had a small tattoo on her exposed cleavage that was in a heart shape.

"Guess I was late?" Nessi went to hug Cris but Cris didn't react in any way.

"As usual," pasubali pa ni Kyle.

Nessi just gave her a sharp look before smiling at her. "So who's this Kent you're talking about?" Nessi slowly caressed Cris's face but Cris wasn't looking at her.

Dahan-dahang inalis ni Cris ang kamay ni Nessi mula sa kaniyang mukha at saka rin niya inalis ang pagkakayakap nito sa kaniya. "Enough with this, Nessi. We already talked about this, right? Remember your limits."

Nessi pouted. "Fine, just introduce me to this Kent whatever Harada this guy is."

Cris then pointed his hands into my direction. "Nessi, this is Kent. Our new ally," clearly Cris gotten the confusion from my eyes. "And Kent, this is Nessi, siya ang tinutukoy kong biographer na nagsulat patungkol sa buhay ni Casey."

Nessi's eyes widened upon seeing me. "Hi!" she waved her hands before walking into my direction. "It's nice meeting you," she didn't wait for a handshake, agad niyang dinakma ang kamay ko para makipagkamay.

"H-hi," utal kong turan sa kaniya.

"I guess I'll get to know more about you mamaya," Nessi gave Cris a quick look. "Ano pang hinihintay ninyo? Tara na. Baka mabagot pa si Z sa inyong tatlo, sige kayo."

Cris nodded and he started walking away. "Tara na guys," aniya.

Sumunod sa kaniya si Nessi at niyakap pa nito ang kanang braso ni Cris, samantalang kaming tatlo ni Kyle at Ray ang naiwang nakasunod sa kanilang likuran.

"Sino si Nessi, ba't gano'n siya kumilos?" ang tanong ko kay Kyle.

"Ah, well, to tell you the truth, Nessi is obsessed of Cris. Basically a stalker," ang sagot ni Kyle sa akin.

Ray on the other hand tapped me on my shoulders. "If you think na magaling akong maghukay ng impormasyon tungkol sa nakaraan ng isang tao? Ibahin mo si Nessi."

"Bakit?"

"She knows a lot of things about the people she's obsessing with, and if you're one of the people around that person, siguradong aalamin din niya ang buhay na mayroon ka," ang sabi pa ni Kyle.

"If that so... puwede kayang?"

"Yup, I know what you're thinking, and not gonna lie, it could be. Gaya nga ng habilin sa amin ni Cris, just keep your friends close, and your enemies closer," bulong naman ni Ray sa akin.

Now the two possibilities that I had in mind had created another branch of possibility. Another set of what ifs, another mystery that needs to be solved...

Is Nessi a huge puzzle piece in Casey's disappearance?