"Gabriel?"

My eyes widened in horror when I realized what happened to Gabriel. Pinuntahan ko iyong pwesto kung saan siya natumba kanina pero wala man lang bakas na naiwan. Kusang bumagsak ang mga luha ko.

Gabriel looked like he was in a lot of pain.

"Gaia? What is it?" There was a hint of worry on the voice of Atticus. Alam kong sa isip niya, tinatawag na niya akong Stellar. He just can't verbalize my real name because Sandro was here.

Mas lalo akong napaiyak habang nagpapalinga-linga sa paligid, sinusubukang hanapin si Gabriel.

Atticus gently took my arm. "Love,"

Nilingon ko siya. Bakas ang pagtataka sa mga mata niya. I glanced over Sandro's direction. He seemed worried but more than that, he was confused by my actions.

Baka iniisip niyang nababaliw na ako.

Pero hindi ko na iyon pinansin pa. For the meantime, I quietly retreated to my room. I slumped myself on the bed then cried silently under the sheets.

Gabriel, I hope you're okay. Naisip ko na lamang. But every time his face flashes to my mind, I'm starting to have doubts. Kasi nakita ko iyong sakit sa mga mata niya. Kung saan siya nasaktan, hindi ko alam.

Your life is in danger. Umalingawngaw sa isip ko ang kanyang babala. Nabanggit din niya na gusto niya akong tulungan ngunit hindi siya pwedeng makialam. But then again, he told me that he wouldn't be able to show up because he has to face a punishment for warning me.

Kung bawal pala, bakit mo pa ako binalaan? Stupid.

Halos mabaliw ako kakaisip kung ano na kaya ang nangyari sa kanya. Several hours passed, but no Gabriel popped out.

"Hey,"

Nagising ako sa marahang tapik sa balikat ko. Bumungad sa akin ang nakangiting mukha ni Atticus. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." I assured him.

Inalalayan naman niya akong makaupo. "Hungry?"

"Medyo." I answered in all honesty.

"Anong gusto mong kainin?"

Kunwari'y nag-isip ako. "Hmm...  Ikaw sana, kung pwede." Hindi ko napigilan ang tawa ko dahil nanlaki ang mga mata niya.

He blinked twice. Unti-unti naman siyang napangiti at ginulo niya ang buhok ko. "Baliw ka, Stellar."

"Sayo, oo."

Napakamot siya sa pisngi. "Anong meron at nilalandi mo ako?"

Both of us laughed to his statement. He told me to fix myself and head to the dining. Aniya, naghanda na siya ng hapunan at kakain na kami.

I did my wake-up rituals and hurried to the the dining room. Nakaupo naman si Atticus doon, tahimik akong hinihintay.

"Where's Sandro?"

He shrugged. "Kanina pa siya umuwi."

"Bakit pinauwi mo siya agad?" Hindi man lang niya pinakain. Kung amo ko 'to si Atticus, magrereklamo ako sa kanya!

"Sandro's married. May asawa siyang kailangang uwian." He raised a brow. Napatango na lang ako.

Sa kalagitnaan ng hapunan, nabanggit sa akin ni Atticus na pupuntahan namin bukas iyong mga persons of interest sa kaso ko. My heart raced wildly upon exploring the possibilities. Kung talagang nasa panganib ang buhay ko, sa paanong paraan?

We ate our dinner in delight. Muli kong naalala ang mga nangyari kanina, ang pagkawala ni Gabriel at ang babala niya. I tried my best to be positive and to remain optimistic. Everything that happens... is the will of God.

"Stellar?"

"Hmm?"

"Earlier," I could sense the hesitation on his voice. "Would you mind if I ask?" He queried, referring to my emotional breakdown when Gabriel disappeared.

I smiled. "Please, don't ask."

Napatigil naman siya sa sagot ko pero maya-maya'y napatango rin. He returned my smiled. "I understand."

Gabriel once told me that I shouldn't entrust the secret of his existence to anyone, not even to Atticus. That's why I have no choice but to wait for him alone. By myself. No matter how depressing it may be.

Kinabukasan, iniwan ako ni Atticus sa unit namin mag-isa. May susunduin daw kasi siya na mga kasama namin kaya babalikan na lang daw niya ako. Isang oras na akong naghihintay at hindi parin siya bumabalik.

I was just about to go back to sleep when my phone rang. Akala ko si Atticus na iyong tumatawag pero nagkamali ako.

Yvonne calling...

Shit.

Nawala siya ng panandalian sa isip ko, pero hinding hindi ko makakalimutan si Yvonne. Tandang tanda ko pa iyong araw na nagharap kami. Kakaibang takot ang naramdaman ko noon.

He's the man that I fear the most.

I cleared my throat before answering the phone call. Hindi ako nagsalita at nanatili rin namang tahimik ang kabilang linya. He was the first one who broke the silence.

"I'm waiting, Gaia Venice."

"Ano ba talagang gusto mo?" I said through gritted teeth.

Humalakhak siya. "I guess you really did hit your head. Let me remind you, then." nanunuya niyang sabi. "You promised me. At naiinip na ako, Gaia. Until when do you plan on playing house with Atticus? When will you call the engagement off? I'm losing my patience."

My brows furrowed to what he said.

Promise? Call the... engagement off?

Hindi ko agad naintindihan ang sinabi niya. Sandali akong natahimik at napaisip nang malalim hanggang sa magsalita ulit si Yvonne na mas lalong nagpakaba sa akin.

"I don't know what's taking you so long to do it. Ano ba talaga ang gusto mo? Wait, no. Sino ba talaga ang gusto mo, Gaia Venice?"

Napaawang ang bibig ko sa sinabi niya.

"You're exerting so much effort to hide the truth. Kailan mo ba balak aminin ang totoo? Bakit takot na takot kang malaman nila? You even got rid of your-"

Pinutol ko ang sinasabi niya. "Stop."

"No, you need to-"

"Stop! Just leave me alone, you asshole!"

Pinutol ko ang tawag at halos manginig ang kalamnan ko sa galit nang dahil sa nalaman ko. Hindi ako makapaniwala.

It finally makes sense to me.

"She was supposed to marry that man. But for some reasons, He delayed the wedding. Sooner or later, you'll know why."

Parang sirang plaka na nagpaulit-ulit sa tenga ko ang sinabi ni Gabriel noong unang beses na makilala ko si Atticus. Kung gano'n, ito ang dahilan?

Someone knocked on the door. Binuksan ko ang pinto at bumungad sa akin ang nakangiting mukha ni Atticus.

"Are you ready? Let's go." he briskly told me.

And I felt so sad.

Because he didn't deserve it.

He was someone who made the world a better place.

Atticus made this world even more beautiful than it is.

"Do you love her, Atticus?"

He was taken aback by my question.

The pang on my chest, the stabbing feeling every time you show me how much you love her... Alam kong mahal na kita dahil hindi ka naman mahirap gustuhin.

My eyes watered with tears. "Do you?"

His face softened. "Mahal ko si Gaia, Stellar."

Pero hindi ka niya mahal, I wanted to tell him but I decided against it. I could only blink back the tears and give him an apologetic smile. Hindi ka niya mahal, Atticus.

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