Nasa isang lumang silid kami ngayon malapit sa Library, may mga iilan din na estudyanteng tumatambay rito kapag vacant time nila.

Naudlot tuloy ang pagbabasa namin ni Athena ng Hunger Games: Mocking Jay
dahil sa biglaang pagtawag sa amin ni Xavien, kaya dali-dali naman kaming nagtungo sa silid at naabutan sina Larken, Zeiro at Theorem na nakaupo.

Sa hindi kalayuan ay natanaw ko na ang pigura ng lalaki at nang makalapit kami ay saka lang sila nagpanimulang magsalita.

“So, bakit nga ulit tayo nandito?” kunot-noong tanong ni Larken at bahagyang nakangiti.

Tumayo naman sa lumang swivel chair si Xavien, na wala kaming alam kung saan ito nanggaling. “There's something that is bothering, but not alarming as I thought it would be to me—and for us.”

Napansin ko naman agad ang mahinang hagikgik ni Athena sa gilid ko sabay kalabit nito sa akin. “Ayan na naman siya sa sakit niyang main character syndrome.”

Agad ko namang siniko nang marahan ang babae pero tuloy lang ito sa pagngiti. In a split my brows knotted with a single thought. Ano bang mayroon at bakit may special meeting na nagaganap dito?

“Just get us to your point, Xave,” Theorem muttered. Halatang kanina pa naiinip dahil kami na lang palang dalawa ni

Xavien cleared his throat. “As expected, many students are questioning right now why the higher positions are not doing anything, despite numerous death cases here in Amethy High.” Xavien's voice was deliberate, as he slowly walked around; fingertips were crawling through his swivel chair. “The psychotic nurse, pretentious professor, a friend turned into a foe… and the killer who's high-minded to trick us all.”

“Even Council members are knotting their brows with puzzled looks as to why there's no single article or news about this…” he added, lowering his voice slightly as if the walls could hear. “And the more bothered they are… the question would dig into their thoughts.”

Zeiro's brows knotted. “Uhm, what do you mean by that?”

"Secrets, Zeiro. Secrets that are hidden behind perfect façades. The more we dig, the uglier it gets."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Zeiro habang nakatitig kay Xavien.

"I know, pero… bakit ngayon parang masyadong tahimik ang student council?
May mga nangyayaring patayan sa school pero parang walang gumagalaw.”

Theorem slowly nodded, agreeing to Zeiro’s statement. “Yeah, I never heard any news nor article regarding any incidents that happened here, kahit noong wala pa ako rito.”

“I've also searched anything, pero kahit iyong mga dating insidente na nangyari dito ay nawala na rin na parang bula,” saad ko. “Lahat nangyayari sa loob ay laging may media blackout. Kahit ang mga pulis na hunawak sa mga kasong ito ay tikhim ang kanilang mga bibig.”

Sa una pa lang na tumapak ako rito at makita ang isang insidente tungkol sa nurse na namatay, everything is aligned.

Like a… thin but unnoticeable thread.

Napangisi si Xavien, bahagyang nakayuko habang naglalakad paikot sa study room namin. Para bang may binubuo na naman siyang bagong analysis sa loob ng utak niya.

“We all know I’m also part of the Student Council. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: Amethy High cares more about its reputation than the very students it’s supposed to protect. Image first. Always. The student body? That only comes second.”

Napatingin naman kami sa kaliwang bahagi nang tumayo si Theorem.

"Or because… the council is benefiting  from the student's silent voice. Every death, every covered scandal—it keeps something bigger protected. The question is not who’s fucking dying, but who’s hiding from that… shadow.”

Mabilis lang din naman na natapos ang pag-uusap naming lahat, medyo mabigat pa rin sa pakiramdam dahil lahat ng mga taong nadamay sa insidenteng nangyari noon ay parang isang malaking laro lang sa kanila.

Wala naman kaming klase ngayon pero kailangan pa rin namin pumunta sa stadium dahil kailangan na naming mag-practice para sa gaganaping theatrical act. And of course, naimbitahan na naman ang lola niyo na walang sawang gumanap bilang isa sa mga karakter ng malikhaing gawa ni Shakespeare.

Hindi naman kasi ako makatanggi dahil isa ang A Midsummer Night’s Dream sa mga paborito kong akda ni Shakespeare. Bukod sa isang comedy act ito ay puno rin ito ng mga aral.

“Okay guys, we need to wrap things up here. Malapit na ang theater play natin. We don't have much time for silly things, kailangan na nating magmadali, so focus!”

“Yes, direk!” sabay-sabay naming sambit.

Wala pa ngayon si Xavien na isa rin sa mga gaganap. Kanina pa nga ako hindi mapakali dahil halos kalahating oras na ay wala pa rin siya.

My brows furrowed. Saan na naman kaya gumala ang lalaking ‘yon?!

Si Athena, abala sa pagbigkas niya sa mga linya nito, at natatawa na lang ako dahil hindi niya makuha ng tama ang tono ng kanyang sasabihin.

“Focused ba talaga o sadyang distracted?” biglang sumabat si Larken, dumungaw mula sa gilid ng kurtina. “Kasi kanina pa nakatingin si Zeiro sa ‘yo habang binabasa niya ‘yung mga lines niya oh.”

Napalingon naman ako agad, at totoo nga—nakatingin si Zeiro, pero mabilis siyang umiwas nang magtama ang paningin namin.

“Ewan ko sayo, Larken! Bumalik ka na sa pagba-basketball mo! Amoy araw ka na oh!” bulyaw ko.

At sa hindi inaasahan ay bigla nitong hinawi ang kanyang kamay sa aking ilong para ipaamoy sa akin iyong nakakadiri nitong pawis.

Halos mahulog ito sa kakatawa habang ako naman ay matalim ang tingin sa kanya.

“Gago ka talaga!” asik ko sa kanya pero patuloy pa rin ito sa pagtawa.

Bago ko pa man siya lapitan ay nahagip na nang mata ko ang pigura ni Xavien, bitbit ang isang maliit na box na may lamang mga props. Tahimik siya gaya ng dati, pero ramdam ko ang malamig na presensya niya. Ni hindi siya tumitingin sa amin, parang lahat ng oras niya ay naka-focus lang sa ginagawa nito.

Nakahinga naman ako nang malalim ng umalis ang loko sa harapan ko. Agad din naman akong bumalik sa ginagawa kong pag-memorize ng linya ko.

Pero gaya ng lagi—kahit wala siyang sinasabi, kahit walang emosyon ang mukha niya, ramdam mo ang bigat ng katahimikan niya.

“Ehem.” Athena cleared her throat, parang sinasadya. “You know, Amie, ang weird ng dynamics ninyo ni Xavien lately. Cold pero protective. Silent pero lagi ka niyang sinusundan ng tingin.”

I glanced at her and rolled my eyes.

“Shut up, Athena,” mahina pero mariin kong sabi.

Natawa na lang siya, sabay kunwaring basa sa hawak nitong papel. Hindi na tumingin sa amin si Xavien at nagsimulang kunin kay Viena iyong script niya.

Halos isang oras din ang lumipas ng makabisado ko na ang lines ko, ilang minuto bago ang rehearsal namin. Napukaw na lang ang atensyon ko sa floor director namin dahil kanina pa ito hindi mapakali at palakad-lakad.

Ilang sandali, tinawag nito ang isa sa mga kasama sa play na si Irish.

“Halos dalawang oras na, wala pa rin ba si Aida?!” malakas at awtoridad na sabi ng floor director. “Call her or else mapipilitan akong tanggalin—”

“N-nandito na po!” sigaw ng isang babae na kapapasok lang. Magulo ang buhok at marami pa itong dalang gamit. Halata sa mukha ang pagmamadali dahil hindi pa ito tapos sa kilay niya.

“Tulungan na kita.” Agad namang sumaklolo si Kayrie para tulungan ito sa bitbit ni Aida.

“Pasensya na po at natagalan ako, may emerge—”

“I don't need your excuse, Aida. Kung hindi mo naman pala kayang gampanan ‘yung role na ‘to, sana sa una pa lang nagsabi kana!” Mas nangibabaw ang boses ng lalaki kaya napukaw ang atensyon ng lahat.

Mabilis at kalmadong lumapit naman ang direktor para kausapin si ajg floor director na si Jerik. He immediately calmed himself. Hindi na nagsayang pa ng oras si Aida at kinuha ang kanyang manuscript.

I saw a glint of tears in her eyes, pero agad din namang nawala ang atensyon ko nang biglang kay kumalabit sa akin.

“You want some?” pag-alok sa akin ni Gerald ng dala niyang cupcake. “Libre naman ‘to, sponsored ng mga student council. Masarap pa.”

Bahagya tuloy akong nag-atubili dahil sakto at gutom na rin ako. To be honest, the smell of the cupcake was sweet and inviting. Kukunin ko na sana ito nang mapansin kong may nakatitig sa amin mula sa kabilang gilid ng stage.

Of course, it was Xavien.

Tahimik siyang nakasandal sa poste, arms crossed, expressionless as usual—pero ‘yung mga mata niya, madilim, matalim, parang hinahati ako sa dalawa. Hindi niya kailangan magsalita; that single glance was enough to freeze me in place.

Parang sinasabi ng tingin niya: Don’t take it. Bigla tuloy bumigat ang dibdib ko.

Nakahawak pa rin si Gerald sa cupcake, nakangiti at walang kamalay-malay. “Oh? Ayaw mo? Hindi ka pa yata kumakain since lunch.”

Nagpilit ako ng ngiti at itinulak pabalik ang kamay niya. “Uh, no thanks. Baka masira pa ‘yung boses ko, kailangan pa natin mamaya para sa play.”

“Really? Cupcake lang naman ‘to,” natatawang sagot niya. “Sige na, atsaka sayang naman kung tatanggihan mo ‘to.”

I bitterly smiled and shook my head. “Hindi talaga, Gerald. Salamat na lang…”

“Alright, ikaw bahala,” nag-aalinlangan niyang sambit, saka ito umalis at ibinigay sa iba ang cupcake.

Nakahinga naman ako nang malalim pero ramdam ko pa rin ang titig ni Xavien, kahit hindi ako nakatingin. Nang magtama ulit ang mga mata namin ay hindi ko inaasahan na nasa harapan ko na pala siya.

Isang manipis na pilit na smirk ang kumurba sa gilid ng labi niya. “Next time, be careful to buy on someone's word lalo na kapag hindi mo kilala ‘yung tao. Even if they offered you something nice.”

I smiled, but the latter declined it. “Cupcake lang—” bago pa kan ako magsalita ay bigla naman nitong hinarang ang dala niyang plastik sa mukha mo.

“I also bought cupcake, sayang naman kung hindi mo ‘to kakainin,” nahihiyang sabi niya.

I snickered at him. “Kaya pala…”

“Just take it, bago pa magbago isip ko.” Sabay marahan nitong higit sa kamay ko at mahigpit kong hinawakan ang plastik.

Nang buksan ko ito ay may tatlong cupcakes sa loob at isang cheesecake. Sinamahan niya na rin jg dalawang juice para sa amin ni Athena.

“Thank you ah, sana dinamihan mo pa!” sarkastiko kong sambit.

Athena, who had been quietly braiding a prop garland, leaned closer to me and whispered, “Kung makatitig si Xavien, parang ikaw lang ang tao rito, ano ba talaga mayroon sa inyong dalawa?”

I snorted. “Wala, kumain ka na!”

❛━━━━━━•(⚖)•━━━━━━❜

After a few hours, the play began smoothly. Students were performing on stage, the crowd clapped and laughed in all the right places, and even the instructor looked impressed.

Sa backstage, abala kami sa pagpapalit ng props at costumes dahil tapos na ang act and scene ko.

Larken, of course, kept making sarcastic commentary, arms crossed habang naka-upo sa director’s chair na hindi naman kanya. “Grabe, parang Romeo and Juliet na naging Romeo and Jovit. Kung ganito lagi, dapat nagdala na lang tayo ng karaoke machine.”

Napairap ako. “Tumigil ka nga, Larken. Hindi ka ba napapagod kakahirit?”

He smirked. “Never. Mas madali pang mapagod ‘yung spotlight kesa sa akin.”

Theorem, who was watching quietly beside him, chuckled faintly. Nasa gilid lang siya, tahimik as usual, pero kita sa mata niyang sinusundan ang bawat eksena. Kasama dapat siya sa play namin pero dahil hindi siya nakapasok sa casting on time, nanonood na lang siya ngayon. Honestly, part of me was relieved; kung nandito siya, baka masyadong intense ang aura sa stage.

Everything felt normal. Almost too normal.

At parang sinasadya ng mundo, doon ako kinilabutan.

The intermission came. Lights shifted. The atmosphere tightened with the sound of the violin transition.

The last act was about to begin. The performers: Gerald, Aida, Mavie, at Raze went on stage, full of energy. Gerald’s voice carried like he was born to perform, Aida matched him with grace, and the others followed smoothly. The audience clapped. Lahat ay tila naaayon sa plano namin.

Not until, I saw Aida's expression shift.

“G-Gerald?” Aida’s voice cracked mid-line.

Tuloy, napakunot ang noo ko. Gerald swayed unnaturally, parang may kung anong bangungot na bumabalot sa katawan niya. His hand clutched his chest, mouth gaping for breath.

And before anyone could react—my ears heard how his body swayed on the floor

THUD!!

He collapsed. Right there, in the middle of the stage. Audience screams suddenly erupted at halos bumalot ang pagtataka sa kanilang mga mukha.

The spotlight swerved, the audience gasped, and the play halted instantly. Chaos filled the theater. Some rushed to help, others stumbled back in horror.

“Shit,” bulalas ni Jerik na mabilis na tumayo. “This isn’t part of the script!”

I froze for a second. My mind screamed denial—but my gut knew. This wasn’t an accident.

Xavien stood abruptly, eyes narrowing like daggers. He didn’t even look shocked. Parang inaasahan na niya na mangyayari ito ngayon.

“Move,” he ordered, cutting through the chaos. His tone was sharp, and a bit commanding.

Ako naman, kahit nanginginig pa rin, I followed. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero automatic na sumunod ako sa kilos niya na para bang magnet.

Sa harap mismo ng stage, napagmasdan ko ang duguang labi ni Gerald. Foam traced his mouth.

My mouth almost agape. That was the first thing that clicked in my head.

“S-someone poisoned him,” I muttered.

Theorem knelt beside him, checking his pulse. He didn’t say a word—but the sharp shake of his head was enough.

“He's gone. Time of death 4:13 P.M.”

The room turned into a whirlpool of voices—students panicking, instructors were trying to calm them down, pero wala nang makakapigil.

Someone died. Right in front of us!

And I could already hear Xavien’s voice cutting through the noise.

“Lock the exits. No one leaves until we know who killed him. This is a murder!” he said with full authority.

“Gotcha!” saad ni Larken.

Ako naman ay halos hindi pa napro-proseso ang nangyari. Nakatingin lang ako kay Gerald na nakahandusay sa sahig, wala nang buhay. His lips were pale, foams staining his mouth, his chest unmoving. My mind screamed hindi totoo ‘to, but my eyes couldn’t deny it.

Beside me, Aida broke down completely. She fell on her knees, shaking Gerald’s limp shoulders. “Gerald! Wake up! This… this isn’t funny anymore! Stand up! Please—” her voice cracked, sobs swallowing her words.

Mavie and Raze stood frozen, their faces drained of color. Parang nawala lahat ng dugo sa katawan nila. Their eyes darted around, as if reality would change if they looked at someone else.

“B-Baka naman… baka naman inatake lang siya sa puso? Let’s not… let’s not jump into conclusions,” nanginginig na turan ng isang instructor na babae.

Xavien’s glare sliced at her. “Foam in the mouth. Labored breathing before collapse. That’s not a heart attack. That’s poisoning. And unless you want another student to drop dead, stay quiet and cooperate.”

Hindi na nakapagsalita pa ang guro at natikhim na lang.

My knees were weak. My stomach churned. Poisoning?! Kanina lang, Gerald was laughing, delivering his lines with confidence, sharing cupcakes with us.

At kung hindi ko tinanggihan ang inaalok niya sa akin kanina—b-baka ako ang nakahandusay ngayon!

“A-Amie…” Athena’s trembling hand gripped mine, her voice hushed and uneven. “This… this is too much. We need to get out—”

“No,” I whispered, swallowing hard. “We can’t.”

Larken, arms crossed, stepped closer to the stage. His usual sarcastic grin was gone habang tinitingnan ang wala ng buhay na katawan ni Gerald. “Damn. Whoever did this… did it right under everyone’s nose. Bold move. I almost want to applaud. Hindi ko nahalata ang galaw niya.”

“Larken!” Athena hissed, appalled.

He shrugged, though his jaw was clenched. “What? I’m just saying. A murder during a play, in front of an entire crowd? This isn’t some random act. This was staged, halata naman.”

Theorem moved beside Xavien, his calm demeanor contrasting the panic around us. He bent down, checking Gerald’s mouth carefully. Then he glanced at the half-eaten cupcake still lying on the stage floor. His voice was flat, but his words struck deep.

“It’s exactly what it looks like. Someone fed him death at kalkulado niya lahat ng galaw ng mga tao ja narito kanina.”

Whispers surged among the crowd. Students crying, others muttering in disbelief.

Aida, still clinging onto Gerald, looked up with tear-streaked cheeks. “S-sino naman ang gagawa nito sa kanya?! Who would… who would—” Her voice cracked again, swallowed by sobs.

Xavien’s eyes scanned everyone backstage, unreadable. He looked at each face like he was peeling layers, searching for lies.

“Whoever poisoned him didn’t want Gerald dead. They wanted someone else. And until we know who… everyone here is a suspect. All of us are suspects.”

I stiffened. His gaze brushed over me for a fraction of a second. Ibig bang sabihin…?

No! I shook my head, but the thought clawed at my chest.

Larken exhaled, smirking bitterly. “Well, isn’t this turning into our usual extracurricular activity? Another corpse. Another puzzle.”

Theorem nodded slowly, flipping open his notebook. “Then let’s start before the trail grows cold.”

We gathered everyone backstage. The cast, the props crew, the instructors. Lahat ng posibleng suspects. Larken stood by the curtain, arms stretched wide like a guard, while Theorem prepared a notebook.

Xavien started pacing, his baritone voice cold and deliberate.

“As expected, another case. Another death. And if you think this is just an accident—you’re all wrong. This was planned, and…” He looked at us with a hint of grin and surprise. “Everything isn’t about Shakespeare. More like a secret.”

“Secrets?” tanong ni Athena, nanginginig pa rin.

“Secrets hidden behind perfect facades. The more we dig, the uglier the truth gets.”

I almost shivered. Someone in this area… knows how to planned it perfectly, sobrang bilis at hindi namin ito napansin.

Zeiro, standing at the far corner, frowned. “Uhm, what do you mean?”

Xavien ignored him at first. Instead, he crouched by the small box of cupcakes—part of the snacks shared during rehearsals. Isa na doon ang kinain kanina ni Gerald.

“The poison wasn’t random. It was placed. And someone knew exactly who would take it.”

My heart dropped. I remembered earlier—Gerald offering me the cupcake, and Xavien’s piercing glare stopping me.

I swallowed hard, my eyes were darted at Xavien. Kung tinanggap ko iyon… ako na sana ang nasa kalagayan ni Gerald.

“Start with suspects,” Xavien commanded. “Who handled the cupcakes?”

A girl raised her hand nervously. “S-Si Marisse, sir… I mean, Xavien. She helped distribute them before rehearsals.”

Marisse, one of the stage crew. She was trembling, on the verge of tears.

“I-I didn’t know! I just handed them out. Hindi ko alam kung kanino—”

“Then who gave the box to you?” Theorem stepped into the scene.

She hesitated, biting her lip. “S-si… Amanda, ang sabi niya galing iyon sa isa sa mga council kaya tinanggap ko.”

Everyone turned to Amanda, and they were all shocked.

She raised her brows to us, offended.

“Excuse me? I was busy with costumes. Why would I poison Gerald in the first place?!” she exclaimed. “Wala akong kinalaman sa pagkamatay niya!”

Larken snorted. “That’s the problem with you people. Lahat laging ‘why would I do it?’ but never ‘how could it have happened?’”

Theorem tapped his pen, eyeing on him.

“Let’s look deeper. If the poison was in the cupcake, then either the entire box was tainted, or only one specific piece.”

“Only one,” Xavien answered immediately. “Because if the entire box was poisoned, more of you would be dead by now. It was calculated as I expected at mukhang matagal niyang pinagplanuhan na gawin ito.”

A collective shiver went down the room. Nanlamig tuloy ang palad ko.

“So… the killer knew,” bulong ko. “The killer knew who would eat ‘that specific one’.”

“Or who was supposed to eat it,” Xavien added coldly, his eyes stayed at me for just a fraction of a second.

Xavien stood tall again, his tone like a blade. “Gerald wasn’t the intended target. Someone else was.”

Theorem leaned forward. “The question is… who's the person that the killer intended to poison?”

Zeiro stepped forward. “Then let’s not overcomplicate it. Gerald ate it, Gerald died. The box came from Anastasha. That’s direct line evidence.”

Xavien scoffed, cold. “Too simple. Too careless. If you think a murderer would leave such an obvious trail, you’re insulting the crime itself.”

Zeiro bristled. “And if you think all criminals are geniuses, you’re underestimating human nature. People slip. They always make mistakes, noticeable mistakes.

“Not this one,” Xavien shot back. “Look at the canvas.”

We all turned to the corner of the stage—where a small painted backdrop had been left. A cryptic message was written in faint strokes, almost unnoticeable unless you were looking closely.

Theorem leaned closer. “Number-alphabet substitution cipher. Classic. Each number corresponds to a letter. Someone left this as a signature.”

We huddled around as Xavien quickly scribbled on the board, translating the code. The numbers unraveled into words.

“Sweetness masks the bitter end.”

“Confirmed. That’s not random,” Xavien murmured. “That’s… intentional.”

Zeiro smirked. “Then say it, Xavien. Who was it?”

But Xavien only makes a faint grin, eyes glinting darkly. “Not yet. You’ll know when I’m done.”

After an hour, Gerald’s body had already been covered by a white sheet, but the image of his pale lips, the foam at his mouth, and the half-eaten cupcake still stained the back of my mind.

Xavien stood center, arms crossed, his eyes cold and piercing as ever. Theorem was already flipping open his small black notebook, ready to write every detail. Zeiro, however, leaned against the backstage wall, arms folded, that smug but deadly serious look in his eyes as if daring anyone to lie.

“We need to cross out some of the suspects, para mapabilis ang kasong ito. We already got the alibi of the crew and it's verifiable dahil nandito kami noong mga oras na iyon” pahayag ni Xavien. “So there are only a few people left on our list.”

First suspect: Aida Velasquez, 19 years old, from STEM department. Isa sa mga kaklase namin at laging kasama ni Gerald sa mga theatrical plays.

“I was on stage with Gerald during the last act. Nakita niyo kami. I was… I was delivering my lines. I didn’t leave his side, wala rin siyang pinuntahan na ibang area.”

Theorem tilted his head, scrutinizing her like a predator. “You were his co-star. Convenient. Kung nandiyan ka sa tabi niya, that also means you had the best chance to slip him something before he collapsed.”

Aida’s lips trembled. “W-What? No! I… I loved Gerald, okay? Why would I—”

“Emotions don’t erase opportunity,” Zeiro shot back, tone sharp as a knife.

“Enough,” Xavien cut him off. “Next.”

Second Suspect: Raze Monterro, 18 years old, baguhan pa lang sa theater play. One of Gerald's aquitance.

“Anong ginagawa mo nung mga oras na magkasama kayo ni Gerald dito kanina?” tanong ni Xavien, nasa gilid naman si Theorem na animo’y isang kilalang detective.

Raze stepped forward, jaw tight, his sharp features lit by the stage lights. “I was handling the props for the last act. I wasn’t even close to Gerald during the scene. I just placed the goblet on the table tapos umalis na rin naman ako. Hindi ko naman siya nakausap during the whole time na nandito kami, even on our breaks.”

Theorem’s pen scratched the page. “And who handled the cupcake tray before Gerald’s scene?”

Raze’s eyes flickered, just for a second. “Not me. That was… Mavie.”

Kita ko agad ang pag-alma sa ekspresyon ni Mavie. She's from ABM department, one of the known student. Magaling sa ibat-ibang larangan, especially in arts.

Mavie stepped forward hesitantly, clutching her hands together. “I-I’m Mavie Delgado. I was assigned to bring in the cupcake tray for the banquet scene. I swear, I didn’t tamper with it! Sinunod ko lang naman lahat ng mga props master’s instructions ‘yun lang. Gerald was supposed to grab one cupcake to eat for realism. That’s all!”

I caught the way her voice cracked. Guilty? Or just terrified?

Xavien smirked faintly. “And you didn’t notice one cupcake looking… different?”

Mavie shook her head furiously. “No! They all looked the same! Hindi naman iyon mahahalata kung may lason iyon o wala.”

And the last suspect is… Jerik Emmanuel Estrada, 21 years old, already in his third second in theatrical course. Jerik has a tall, lean build—though not athletic, his posture gives him an air of authority when directing plays.

“Second year of floor directing, naging direktor kana rin sa ibat-ibang larangan,” saad ni Xavien, matalim ang tingin sa lalaki.

He snorted. “How come that I'm one of the suspects here? Hindi ko kilala si Gerald, and I hae nothing to do in his death nor into his life. I nist know him playing here for play, but not personally.”

“Well, based on your history. You know how everything works here, kaya king kay isang hindi umayon sa gusto mo… you'll know how to handle it well,” Xavien added, giving him a mocking face.

“What the fuck are you saying? Pinapalabas mo ba na ako ang pumatay kay Gerald?” he muttered, clenching his jaw tightly. “That's fucking absurd!”

“Oh, you fucking moron. Do you think I'll never know the trick you made?”

Nanlaki ang mata ni Jerik pero agad din naman iyong napalitan nang nagsasalubong niyang kilay.

“You're out of your mind. I'm not the killer,” mariing sabi ni Jerik.

Xavien finally stepped forward, iyong matalim niyang tingin ay para bang mga espada na tumatagos sa bawat isa sa mga suspect.

“The poisoned cupcake wasn’t just a random to kill one of us,” panimula ni Xavien, as if he's carving the words into our bones. “It was precise, deliberate… and staged. And the one who carried it in, who had the opportunity to make the switch, was Mavie.”

Mavie froze, her lips parting. “A-Ano? Hindi—hindi ko siya kayang—”

Theorem calmly adjusted his glasses, his voice slicing cleanly into her panic.

“You claimed you only ‘brought’ the tray. But witnesses confirm you checked its arrangement. You touched every cupcake—straightened them, you said. Which gave you a perfect chance to slip in the poisoned one.”

“I—I was just making sure it looked neat!” she argued, her voice breaking.

“Neatness doesn’t explain why Gerald’s cupcake had a different swirl pattern than the rest,” Xavien said coldly. His hand pointed like a knife toward the tray now under evidence seal. “Slightly tilted, slightly uneven. Enough for someone like me to notice. That was your mistake… or should I say both of you?”

Mavie shook her head violently. “No! You don’t understand—I didn’t come up with this! I didn’t plan it!”

Theorem narrowed his eyes. “Then who did?”

Her tears finally spilled, her voice trembling. “It wasn’t me. I was told… to do it. Napilitan lang akong gawin iyon dahil natatakot din ako…”

Gasps rippled across the room. My breath caught in my throat. Told?

Xavien’s voice dropped lower, darker. “By whom?”

Her lips trembled, her gaze flicking left—unconsciously—toward Jerik Estrada, the floor director.

The spotlight turned. Jerik stiffened, his fists curling tightly at his sides. “T-This is ridiculous. I had nothing to do with this! Bakit niyo iniiba ang usapan? We know she's the killer, nandiyan na ang ebidensiya!”

Theorem’s voice was a scalpel. Calm, sharp, merciless. “Plain as it is, you had ‘everything’ to do with it. You orchestrated the play, positioned the cast, controlled the flow backstage. You told Mavie to bring in the tray, hindi ba? You knew Amie would be near it—either rehearsing or checking props. You wanted her to be the one to eat the poisoned cupcake.”

I gasped. Ibig sabihin tama nga ang duda ko… ako ang isa sa mga gusto niyang patayin pero nadamay si Gerald…

My stomach dropped so fast I thought I’d collapse.

Jerik’s eyes flared. “You can’t prove that!”

“You aimed for Amie and Aida,” Theorem continued, relentless. “Because they’re the ones always standing out in council events. They speak, they lead, they’re visible. You hated that, didn’t you? You, the floor director—always in the background, always forgotten, while others take the recognition. Your jealously turned you see your own insecurities.”

Jerik’s mask cracked, veins standing out on his neck. “Fuck you—”

Zeiro take his own spotlight. “You manipulated Mavie to place the poisoned cupcake, but your plan failed. Gerald ate it first. That’s why you didn’t react immediately when he collapsed. That’s why you froze. Because in your mind, you knew—the wrong person had just died.”

“Alam mong hindi mo basta-basta mako-comtrol si Amie. And as long as I'm alive and breathing, no one can't hurt her,” Xavien added.

The silence that followed was deafening.

I couldn’t breathe. The words cut too close, too sharp, parang hindi ko kayang tanggapin.

Finally, Jerik’s composure shattered like glass at parang isang leon na handang lumapa ng tao.

“Oo, tangina ako nga!” he roared, fists slamming against the table so hard the sound echoed across the auditorium. “Yes, it was supposed to be Amie! Or Aida! Either of them—always stealing the spotlight, always being praised while people like me rot in the shadows! Do you know what it’s like, to work like hell and never be seen? To be invisible while they smile onstage?” His eyes locked onto me, burning with twisted fury. “It should’ve been you, Amie. Not Gerald.”

I flinched, my knees threatening to give out. But Xavien stepped between us, his cold glare shielding me like a wall. “Too bad, Jerik. In the end, your lies betrayed you. Just like how everything can revealed in your own theatrical stage.”

Jerik let out a guttural sound, half-scream, half-sob, before the guards finally restrained him.

Mavie had collapsed to the floor, crying uncontrollably. “I-I didn’t want to do it… he said he’d ruin me if I didn’t! He said I’d never be cast again, never be trusted—”

But no one looked at her with sympathy. Because in the end, she still placed the cupcake that led into Gerald’s death.

I stood frozen, my heartbeat pounding painfully loud, habang ramdam ko pa rin ang mga titig ni Jerik sa akin kahit dinadala na siya palabas ng hall.

It should’ve been you.

And in the corner of my eye, I saw Xavien still watching me—not with anger this time, but with something deeper. Something unreadable.

Something that made me wonder if this nightmare was only just beginning.

Just like how… I saw again in Gerald’s cupcake, the blue orchid disguising as sweet poison.