There's only one place that comes into my mind.

I made my way out of the hospital with a heavy heart. I caught sight of Sandro kicking his car and pulling his hair out of frustration. Tila sinisisi niya ang kanyang sarili sa mga nangyari ngayong araw.

Kung bakit alam ni Auxen ang plano namin, hindi ko alam at ayoko nang alamin. Wala na akong pakialam.

Sandro seemed nervous as soon as he saw me.

"Gaia." he called me, surprisingly sounding apologetic.

My eyes darkened. "Take me to General Trias. What we're looking for is not here." Hindi ko na siya hinintay na sumagot at pumasok na ako sa loob ng sasakyan.

Not before staring at me in askance, he complied. My companion drove the car astir. Without questioning my command, he carefully brought us to our destination.

The truth is about to divulge itself.

I was disheartened. I couldn't help but apprehend the possibilities. More than anything else, I was worried about Atticus. All of this will surely destroy him.

I don't know if he can handle the fact that his brother and fiancèe, who cheated on him, are the same people responsible for my death. Kaya ba niyang ipakulong ang sarili niyang kapatid at ang taong mahal niya?

Why did you have to be an accomplice?

I cannot twist the truth that Gaia Venice took part on killing me. Yes, she's not the one who stabbed me multiple times... but she was there. She was with Auxen. She even hid the weapon used to take my life.

Why, Gaia Venice?

And the fact that she just watched and did nothing to help me keeps tearing my heart asunder. Sobrang sakit.

Hanggang ngayon, hindi parin nasasagot ang tanong ko kung bakit ako nanghimasok sa away nina Gaia at Auxen. I have this feeling that we're not total strangers, that I have something to do with them in the past.

That's what I need to know, and my gut tells me that the answer dwells in that particular room. Malakas ang kutob ko.

After instructing Sandro with the direction, we arrived at our destination: the mansion of the Venice family. I didn't deign to wait for him and quickly stepped out of the car. Wala na akong inaksayang oras at pumasok na ako sa loob.

I was welcomed by the pitch darkness. I took my time ambling in the house. My hand carefully traced the ornaments, feeling nostalgic all of the sudden, as if I've been here all along.

Like it wasn't my first time here at all.

My lips quivered when I finally reached that room. The unfamiliar language was still carved on its door. I did not bother to read it again.

I just wanted to go inside. I had to.

I barged into the room which was unexpectedly open.

My heart clenched at the sight of the room. It was almost empty, but it was filled with an air of gloom, pain, and loneliness. There was a chain and a bowl in the corner, the ones used in feeding an animal. I also caught sight of a metallic whip, its form evidently rusting in due time.

Npatakip ako sa aking bibig nang mapagtanto kong puno ng natuyong dugo ang paligid. The smell of the dried blood made my own stomach churn. Pero mas nagulat ako nang makita ko ang bagay na ipinunta ko rito.

It was the knife.

Maingat itong nakasilid sa loob ng isang plastic. Nakapatong ito sa may bintana, at kitang kita ko ang bakas ng dugo rito. Wala sa sariling inabot ko ito at tuluyan na akong napahikbi. This will prove everything.

Tumalikod na ako at pumihit paalis. Ngunit gano'n na lamang ang gulat ko dahil kasabay ng pagbukas ko sa pinto, ang nakatutok na baril ni Sandro ang sumalubong sa akin.

"Il Bambino Adottato." He spat those words as if they were poison. "I can understand it since my wife Vinnie is a native Italian."

I stared at him in astonishment.

"It all makes sense now." Mas hinigpitan pa niya ang pagkakahawak sa kanyang baril. Natulala lamang ako kay Sandro at hindi ako nakapagsalita. "This is where you held her captive the whole time, right?"

"Wha-"

"Il Bambino Adottato. The Adopted Child."

Nabitawan ko ang hawak ko sa sobrang gulat. Kitang kita ko ang pag-usbong ng galit sa mga mata ni Sandro, na para bang napakalaki ng kasalanang ginawa ko sa kanya.

"You tricked me. I did not see through your false pretenses." puno ng hinanakit niyang sambit sa akin. "I've always felt that something was wrong with you. Kahit kailan, hindi kita pinagkatiwalaan. I felt sick just by being around you, Gaia Venice. Pero pinakisamahan kita dahil ikaw ang mapapangasawa ni Atticus."

I was rendered speechless.

"Stellar was your adopted sister. You hid the truth from us. Tama rin ang hinala kong may namamagitan sa inyo ni Auxen. The night when you were found unconscious was the same night that Stellar was murdered. Auxen called his brother, saying that he accidentally stumbled across you when in reality.. Magkasama talaga kayo noong gabing iyon."

That was the night before I was placed in this body. Kaya ba nasa ospital si Gaia Venice nang magising ako sa katawan niya?

"When I tracked all the cars near the crime scene, yours was also parked in the vicinity. Pero hindi ko iyon sinabi kay Atticus dahil ayaw kong isipin niya na pinaghihinalaan kita. I should have reconsidered."

I was about to confute when we heard footsteps emerging from behind. Both of us flinchrd at his arrival.

"Put the gun down, my friend."

Atticus...

Naglakad siya palapit sa amin at huminto siya sa tabi ni Sandro nang hindi inaalis ang titig sa akin. Napaiwas naman ako.

"This woman has been deceiving us! Stay away from. I hate to break this to you, but your brother and this wench are also the ones responsible for Stellar's death." Sandro assailed without restraint.

Atticus clenched his jaw. "I want us to talk in private. Leave."

"But you-"

"Leave, Sandro!"

Bakas man ang pagtutol, dahan-dahang ibinaba ni Sandro ang baril niyang nakatutok sa akin. He was obviously upset as he stormed out of the room. Naiwan akong kasama si Atticus sa loob ng silid.

His eyes stayed on me. None of us dared to break the silence. It felt like I didn't have the right to say anything at all.

"I cannot find the right words to say."

A sob escaped from my lips when tears streamed down to his cheeks. Hindi ko kayang tignan si Atticus ngayon. Sobrang sakit niyang panoorin. Mas lalong sumikip ang dibdib ko nang punasan niya ang kanyang mga mata at pilit na ngumiti sa akin.

"Gaia Venice, hindi ko alam kung saan ako nagkamali para gawin mo sa akin ito." His voice cracked. "What did I do to deserve this? How could you break your faith to me?"

Napapikit naman ako. I don't know what to tell him.

Dahil hindi ako si Gaia.

Kahit ilang beses pa niya akong tanungin, hindi ko rin alam ang sagot. Bakit nga ba humantong sa ganito an lahat?"

"Am I not enough to make you happy, love?" Tila nawala sa isip niya na hindi ako si Gaia at ako si Stellar na nandito sa katawan ng babaeng mahal niya. Muling tumulo ang mga luha niya. "Of all people, why does it have to be my brother?"

We both stood frozen in time, unable to move.

You don't deserve him, Gaia.

What seemed to be eternity ended. I was taken aback when he took something from his pocket. My lips parted when I saw that ring. That's the same ring that he...

"Yes, Stellar. This is the same ring I showed you, the one that I can't remember when and for whom I bought for."
He placidly stated, referring to his memory lapses. "They found this... on your finger."

Silence.

"Do you remember when I asked Sandro to track down an unregistered number for me?" Nanliit ang mga mata niya. "The night when Gaia was found unconscious and mildly injured, an anonymous number called my phone. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to answer it."

My mouth froze.

"Yesterday, I discovered that the number was yours." He stared intently at me. "That night before your murder took place, you called me."

Ang sikip ng dibdib ko. Sobrang sakit. Hindi ako makahinga.

"And you died wearing this ring on your finger, Stellar." Atticus pursed his lips. "Sino ka ba talaga sa buhay ko?"

---