Isa's POV

My eyes fluttered as I lowered the champagne in my hand.

"Three drops," bulong ko kay Bella. "Three drops to summon me."

'Okie.'

Sumandal ako sa mesa sa likod ko dahil sa patuloy na mabagal na pag-ikot ng pananaw ko.

"But it makes me dizzy," dagdag ko.

I counted ten seconds before my vision started to straighten, and I could finally see clearly.

'Ten seconds?' tanong ni Bella.

Mahigpit kong pinikit ang aking mga mata at napailing. "Mmm." Pagmulat ko, napakurap-kurap ako at sinubukang tumingin sa malayo para tignan kung maayos na nga ba talaga ang paningin ko.

And two seconds of nearsightedness.

'Noted.'

And my feet hurts...

'Ah, haha... Kakasayaw natin 'yan.'

How many songs did you dance to?

'Di ko binilang, ih, kaya hanggang sa nauhaw ako?'

Glancing down at the mask in my hand that I carried on a wrapped in black ribbon, I remembered I did not carry a dagger with me because Paige, unsurprisingly, confiscated it.

Binaba ko ang baso sa mesa at sinimulang tanggalin ang itim na ribbon mula stick. Hiniwalay ko rin ang mask nito at gamit ang talim ng stick, binutasan ko ang magkabilang dulo ng mask kung saan ko pinasok ang ribbon.

'Woah,' ani Bella. 'Talino mong magtago ng weapon, Isa!'

I snickered and wore the mask around my head, tying the ends of the ribbon on the back of my hair. After securing it tight, I carefully dropped the stick inside my left glove. It fell until its blunt end touched the tip of my middle finger, and it's sharp end rested along the inside of my arm.

"Bella-"

Nilingon ko si Zack na may dalang dalawang cupcakes.

One red velvet, and the other one, chocolate.

Napatigil siya.

Nagpalitan kami ng blankong tingin at habang tinititigan niya ako ay dahan-dahan siyang napakain ng red velvet cupcake.

"Gusto mo?" Inabot niya sa'kin ang chocolate.

Umiling ako.

"May orange jam na filling," sabi niya pa.

'Hala! Gusto ko 'yan!' sigaw ni Bella sa aking isipan.

Umiling ulit ako.

"Sigurado ka?" Kinisap-kisapan niya ako.

"Busog ako," sagot ko.

Sinundan ito ng ilang segundong katahimikan sa pagitan namin.

Nginitian niya ako. "Kakain nalang ako ng ice cream malapit sa dessert table," paalam niya bago tuluyang umalis.

'Sundan mo! Kain din tayo!'

Later, after I finish.

Pagkalipas ng isang minuto ng pagmamasid sa mga tao, umalis na ako mula sa champagne table at nagsimulang maglibot habang nakatuon sa mga lalaking estudyante.

It should be easy to find him, even though I haven't got a glimpse of what he wore except the back of his long jacket which was black.

All I need to do is look at each one of the men who wore black coats and pants, and see if it's him just by how tall he stood, and the width of his shoulders.

Isa-isa kong tinignan ang matatangkad na mga lalaki, na may malalapad ding mga balikat. Nakasuot ng mahabang itim na coat, kapares ang itim na pants at itim din ang buhok sa likod ng mask.

"Tch." I clicked my tongue after growing impatient, for spending a few minutes wandering around the crowded hall without seeing him.

Napagdesisyunan kong gamitin ang kapangyarihan ko.

Nagtipon ang mga anino sa aking paanan at namuo ng pudla kung saan ako nahulog, at umangat mula sa sahig ng corridor na nasa labas ng ceremonial hall.

I checked on both ends of the corridor.

Nothing.

Shadows crawled to cover my entire body and transported me in the middle of our living room at the dorm.

Luminga-linga ako.

Still no one.

Darkness overwhelmed my sight again, and light only passed through the moment I found myself standing at the center of our training field behind the house.

My eyes automatically drifted to a gently moving sillhouette inside the dark greenhouse.

Pinaningkitan ko ito.

Wait.

Napatigil ako.

Is that...

I took a few steps to the side to get a glimpse of who he was with.

'Sino 'yan?'

Napaiwas ako ng tingin bago pa malaman ng kapatid ko kung sino ang nakita namin.

Nothing we were meant to see.

Muli kong ginamit ang aking kapangyarihan para lumitaw sa guest wing ng Academy.

As far as I know, he came here to fetch Raphael, because he was invited to join the masquerade ball too and celebrate with us.

But still, nothing.

Napabuntong-hininga ako at bumalik sa dating kinatatayuan ko sa loob ng ceremonial hall.

Nagsimula ulit akong maglakad-lakad, hanggang sa maikot ko na ang buong hall, at dumating ako malapit sa isa pang champagne table kung saan natagpuan ko sina Reign, Amber at Ash na magkasama't nag-uusap-usap.

Tinago ko ang aking presenya nang di nila ako mamalayang dumaan.

Saka ako biglang napatigil.

Reign...

Henri always stares at Reign when she's not looking, doesn't he?

Umatras ako nang ilang hakbang.

Nagpalikod ako sa mga estudyante at aurai na dumadaan habang nakamasid sa babaeng tila sinawsaw sa ginto ang katawan dahil sa suot niyang gown.

Bahagya siyang nakaharap sa'kin at nakatalikod sa dance floor.

Pagkatapos, inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa paligid niya, at naghanap ng isang pares ng mga matang nakatuon sa kanya.

I did find one, but he was wearing a navy blue suit.

I found another one too, near the dance floor who wore a black suit but it was not Henri.

And then a third one, standing by another table with a group of friends.

Then a fourth, a fifth, a sixth...

I mentally scolded myself soon after for underestimating Reign's popularity among the male population of our students.

And as I was about to stop counting them, I noticed a dark figure near the furthest table, his tall height and broad shoulders casting a shadow on the student that was behind him.

He stood still while holding a glass of champagne that he calmly sipped.

Napansin ko ang isang estudyanteng papadaan na nakasuot din ng itim na gown. Tumabi ako sa kanya at sumabay sa kanyang mga hakbang nang hindi pa rin inaalis ang aking tingin mula sa lalaking nakatitig kay Reign.

After a few seconds of camouflaging behind the student, I found myself a spot in the crowd where I could see him completely.

Henri wore a vintage ensemble. His black long-tailed coat was decorated with swirling patterns of gold. Underneath was a black vest and even beneath it was a white dress shirt with a ruffled collar hanging by his chest. And for the bottom, a pair of black trousers and shoes.

His eyes were duller when no light shine upon them. And they had a shadow of their own, as dark as the black mask he wore that was decorated with golden leaves.

Dinama ko ang talim na nakatago sa ilalim ng silk glove ko.

If I'm going to stab him by the side of the neck, then the blood will stain his white shirt.

Kumunot ang aking noo.

Then I'll pierce his carotid artery from behind his neck. I'm sure my weapon can reach it.

Finding out he was an enemy was as easy as investigating the founders' guest quarters while they were out for the Olympics.

My sister found out about it on the first day, unintentionally, when she teleported inside their quarters to look for our parents. She overheard them talking to a certain 'him' before I asked her to leave immediately because I knew we were not meant to hear it.

Our suspicions grew and while they were all away to watch Vance's chariot racing on the second day, was when we decided to go back to their place and figure out what they meant and who they talked about.

We found nothing unusual, except a crumpled brown envelope under Aunt Kara's desk in her room.

It looked average, nothing special. But inside, was perhaps the most interesting information.

Behind the papers about the reports of what they found from the Orion's headquarters, I saw Henri's personal information, medical and school records. As well as a couple photos of him captured by different CCTV cameras from all around the mortal realms, dating back to before he was enrolled in the Academy.

There were also pictures of him, only a few, where he was found with the company of other people.

People who were included in the list of suspected organization members.

Natawa ako nang mahina nang maalala ang nakolektang description ng CAP tungkol sa namumuno sa organisasyon.

After recovering deleted files and burnt records, the founders were able to list down what the chief of the Orion organization was possibly like, according to some members who were stupid enough to write a word about him and was smart to erase it, but are stupid again for not disposing it properly.

I laughed because I'm impressed by how he looks like him now.

According to his own members' description, the chief of the organization, the single individual on top of their big heirarchy, the man behind their operations, was...

A young man, around his early twenties, with black hair, brown to golden eyes, black and thick brows, always glowering lips, but can manipulate which emotion to show just by changing the way he gazes.

One of their members, who was a female, must have had fallen in love with him, as she burnt a journal where she described him with a face sculpted by the gods and she assumed he was one.

I checked her records.

She's dead now.

She was terminated by her own superior. Ordered to be burned alive inside the incinerator, along with the dead bodies of her victims.

The chief was also recognized to be a very private person. Appearing in important events, but only talking to the officers directly below him: the grandmasters, who were their specialists that overlook their goal of gathering power.

Lastly, all the reports say he's always seen wearing a long and black coat, with a high collar that he wears like a sort of mask when he looks back at you from his side, giving the impression that although you can look at him, he does not want to be seen.

Is it because of pride? Because he's a son of a primordial and thinks that the eyes of a mortal are not worthy to look at him completely? Or is it only for privacy? Who knows what his coat and collar means to him.

But what I know, is that he was an enemy. And although he's also wearing a long black coat right now, his collars are low, revealing a vulnerable part of his neck.

Nagdagdag pa ako ng ilang segundo ng pagmasid sa kanya, para malaman ko kung napapansin niya ba ako. Dahil kung oo, eh di kanina pa niya sana sinalubong ang tingin ko.

Pero sa tagal kong nakatayo at nakatitig sa kanya, hindi niya ibinaling ni isang sandali ang kanyang atensyon mula kay Reign na sinundan niya ng tingin patungo sa desserts table kung saan alam kong nandoon si Zack.

Naglakad ako paikot sa hall, papalapit sa kanya, habang dahan-dahang inilabas ang stabbing pin mula sa suot kong glove.

I began to imagine what he could possibly do to deflect my attack, and what I could do in response.

My sister told Zack about Henri's identity, and though he didn't take it well at first and she had to strap him, he only calmed down after she said she planned to kill him tonight.

But I am going to be the one to kill him because Bella's obviously more obedient to the founders than me, and prefers to kill him only after they have announced him an enemy.

Itinago ko sa kapal ng aking palda ang stabbing pin at marahang hinagod-hagod ang pahabang tulis nito. Umabot ang aking hinlalaki sa dulo nitong dinapuan ko lang, pero nahiwa na agad ang balat ko.

May lason din ang dulo ng blade nito, dahil hindi sapat lang ang masaksak ang isang kalaban.

Someone like him...

Deserves to bleed to death within five to fifteen seconds, while under the pain of being stabbed from both outside and inside his body.

Hinigpitan ko ang aking pagkakahawak sa stabbing pin.

His last moments in this world should be torment, of thorns wrapping around and growing inside him.

Raphael's POV

"Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter..." I whispered as I read my copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray, written by Oscar Wilde.

It's my latest read, and I just bought it from a bookstore at the mall.

The book tells the story of a man who sold his soul for eternal beauty.

He then burned himself in the end, after a series of unfortunate events. Such as one of his lovers committing suicide through poison.

Oh, and he also stabbed the painter that genuinely appreciated him.

I haven't finished it, of course. I just skipped to the pages where everyone met their deaths, to see if it is indeed worth my time.

And it is.

Another beautiful tragedy.

Dahan-dahan kong ibinaba ang libro na nakatapat sa aking mukha para malinaw na tignan ang babaeng dumaan sa aking unahan. Mahigpit na nakahawak ang kanyang kamay sa gilid ng kanyang palda, at nangangalit ang mga mata niyang nakatuon sa lalaking nakatayo malapit sa isang mesa.

Oh, well.

Mula sa pagkakasandal sa pader, umayos ako ng tayo at sinarado ang libro na agad ko ring ipinasok sa ilalim ng puting suit jacket ko.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pag-aayos ng puting maskara ko nang mahagilap ko ang kinang ng isang matulis na bagay na nakatago sa kanyang kamay.

I smirked and carefully made my way towards her, quickening my steps to catch up to her.

She was at least ten feet away from my unbothered nephew when I called.

"Hello, Isabella."

Napatigil siya.

Umikot siya paharap sa'kin sabay tago ng talim na nasa kamay niya.

Hindi ko ito sinulyapan nang mag-akala siyang hindi ko ito nakita, o kung alam niyang nakita ko na ito, wala akong pakialam dito.

"Raphael," bati niya sa'kin gamit ang mas seryosong boses.

"What's someone like you doing behind the crowd?" tanong ko. "I just saw you dancing with brother Zack."

"He-" Sandali siyang napahinto. "Nagutom siya at nauhaw ako."

Napangiti ako. "Can I have you for the next dance, then?"

Umiling siya.

"Would you like to grab a glass of champagne?" I suggested otherwise.

And she still shook her head.

Now. This would be the first time I get rejected by a girl, twice, and so I patiently accepted my fate and tried for a third offer.

"A breather?" suhestyon ko. "Outside the hall where there's less music and more air?"

Nagkasalubong ang kanyang kilay, dahilan na marahan akong natawa.

"It's because you look tensed," paliwanag ko. "I thought perhaps you needed it."

"Hindi na kailangan," sabi niya.

How strange, I thought.

Because even the spirits of the Underworld vie for my attention. And every time I ask something, they would always agree and submit to everything I say. As long as I say it kindly, like I always do.

"You look like you need to do something," mahinahon kong puna. "Are you sure it was none of the aforementioned?"

"No."

Natawa ulit ako nang mahina. "Funny," sabi ko. "For a moment I thought you'd use that big needle to stir a champagne bottle."

Halatang ipinagtaka niya ito. "What big nee-"

Kusa siyang napatigil nang maintindihan ang sinabi ko.

Matagal-tagal niya lang akong tinitigan, hanggang sa ilahad ko ang aking kanang kamay.

"Weapon, please," tugon ko. "I have read the Academy's rules and regulations, and you're not allowed to bring one during formal events."

Tinignan niya lang ang nakabukas kong palad, habang yung isang kamay ko ay nakapalikod.

"Did I say that right?" I asked.

Hindi siya sumagot at nanatiling nakatuon sa aking kamay. Kapansin-pansin din ang paninigas ng kanyang panga habang tumatagal ang pagtingin niya rito.

Mas lumalim ang kanyang paghinga nang iangat ang kanyang mga mata sa'kin.

"You can't stop me," saad niya.

I looked at her, completely bewildered by her statement.

"Give it to me, Isabella," tugon ko, sa pangalawang pagkakataon.

"No."

"Or I will separate your soul and take you to the river of lost spirits," I threatened, while also concerned. "Where you and your sister will never remember who you were or if you even existed."

Lumapit ako sa kanya dahilan na mapaatras siya, at palihim akong napangiti sa reaksyon niyang ito.

"A soul like yours' do not belong in this realm," I reminded her, while taking a few steps closer to drive her away from her target. "I know that you know that."

She stopped when her back landed against the wall.

"So, give it to me." Tumigil din ako sa harap niya. "Before you cause a commotion, ruin the celebration, and anger the lunar deities."

"You're protecting him," aniya.

"I am not," giit ko. "I am only protecting my mother and my sister's home."

"You're one of his men," she realized.

I chuckled lightly. "Please," natutuwa kong sambit. "I am only but his uncle. A close relative."

"Then why aren't you doing anything to stop him?"

Hindi maipagkakailang napatigil ako sa tanong niya.

"Because he is not yet an enemy," sagot ko. "And he is still family."

"You're too kind, Raph." She gave me a sarcastic smile. "But he's already an enemy to me, and certainly not family."

Isabella Salvatori.

Ever since I first met Bella, I have always wondered why she seemed strange to my eyes.

And for years I thought I was only hallucinating, every time I see Bella moves her lips to speak. Because I could also see another pair of lips pursed behind them.

And when she stayed at Hades' castle, I'd see her sleeping and the next second, awake, only for me to see her sleeping again.

She'd smile at me, but she'd also frown at the same time.

She was very confusing, because she would show two emotions at once, and I still could not figure out how she could change with one blink of an eye.

Until I met Isa, two years ago, in England.

After she drank the poison we concocted together, Bella slept for three days and Isa, who did not want her sister to skip meals for a day, took control of her body to feed it, take care of it.

It was fascinating, to see soul twin sisters sharing one body.

"Don't make it any more difficult for me," pakiusap ko sa kanya.

I am assuming Father already knows about her condition because why wouldn't he?

Thanatos is the god in charge of everyone's souls.

I have yet to talk to him, but he seems to be oblivious about it. Clearly unconcerned. So I did not give it much of a thought too.

"You're the one making it difficult for me," aniya. "So stay away, Raphael."

Nagbabanta ang boses niya, habang ako naman ay nagsusumamo pa rin.

"Isa-"

"You can take my soul and drown me to the river of lost spirits," anunsyo niya. "For hell I care, as long as I could kill him tonight."

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at pagod na pinakawalan ito.

Dorian Gray, the main character of the book I'm reading, sold his soul for eternal youth.

While she...

She's trading her soul to kill.

"You can't-" Kumirot bigla ang aking tagiliran.

Nakakunot ang aking noo nang mapayuko rito at nakita ang kamay niyang hinatak ang mahabang talim na tumagos sa damit ko.

Tinignan ko siya.

At tila hindi pa kuntento, sinaksak niya ulit ako sa gilid ng aking hita at muling hinugot ang talim mula sa katawan ko, bago ipahid ang dugo sa kanyang itim na palda habang binibigyan ako ng nababagot na tingin.

"I told you," sabi niya.

The scent of my blood touching poison burned my nose. Smoke rose from the holes she left on my skin because of my blood that does not mix well with poison and other deadly liquids.

Nagtangka siyang umalis kaya itinukod ko ang aking palad sa pader para pigilan siya, at para na rin sa biglaang pamimigat ng isang binti ko na tila binuhusan ng asido mula sa loob.

Napayuko ako at napahawak sa tagiliran kong dumudugo.

Lumiwanag ang palad kong nakalapat dito pero panandalian lang dahil sa binti kong nagsimulang mamanhid at nagtatangkang bumagsak.

Sinalubong ko ang blankong mga mata ni Isa.

"It's a poison my sister made for me," pagbibigay-alam niya. "A concentration of each type of poison and venom." Pinaningkitan niya ako. "As many as you can name."

Madali niyang inilihis ang kanyang atensyon mula sa'kin, kaya mabilis ko ring hinawakan ang kanyang braso bago pa niya matuloy ang balak niya.

Tinignan niya ako.

Hinigpitan ko ang pagkakawahak ko sa kanya, at dahan-dahang ipinihit ang aking duguang kamay hanggang sa kumibot ang isang mata niya dahil sa sakit.

Sinubukan niyang gumalaw kaya itinulak ko ang aking balikat sa dibdib niya at walang-ingay siyang idiniin sa pader, nang walang makapansin sa'min.

Nagpumiglas siya. Patagilid akong bumaon sa kanyang haparan nang hawakan ko ang kamay niyang nakahawak din sa talim.

"Let go-" She wrapped her arm around my neck and pulled me but I only spun around to crush her shoulder with the back of my shoulder and continued to hold her body trapped in between me and the wall, while I struggled to break the weapon free from her tightly clenched hand.

"Give me the weapon, Isabella," Malakas kong siniko ang gitna ng kanyang dibdib dahilan na mamilipit siya sa sakit.

"Over my dead body-" She hardly breathed before taking a step to the side and turned around behind me, pulling her hand away from my grasp and came in close in stabbing my neck once she faced me, if it weren't for my hand that stopped her.

Behind her, I noticed a few students look at us so I jerked her hand over my shoulder and quickly grabbed her by the waist to look as though we were dancing on our own.

I pulled her body close to mine, at the same time pushed her hand up and over my head, then roughly lowered it in the tight space between us.

With the blade pointing to the ground, we exchanged sharp glances, and grappled with each other's hand.

I tried to throw her weapon away while she tried to resist.

Nabigla ako nang iuntog niya ang kanyang noo sa aking ilong dahilan na mapahaltak paatras ang aking ulo.

Ow!

Pinakawalan niya ang sarili niya saka ako na naman ang tinulak sa pader.

Umilag ako sa dulo ng talim niyang dumaplis sa aking tenga at bumaon sa pader.

Napansin ko na naman ang mga estudyanteng napatingin sa'min kaya agad kong kinuha ang kamay niya sabay hawak sa kanyang likod at inikot siya nang siya na naman ang muling napasalpok sa pader.

Inabot ko ang nakaangat niyang kamay na may hawak ng talim at nang hatakin ito pababa ay siniko ko ang kanyang mukha papihit sa direksyon na binabaan ng mga kamay namin.

Nagkataong lumuwag ang hawak niya sa sandata kaya nagawa kong agawin ito, pero sandali lang dahil kasunod niyang tinuhod ang aking puson.

Seriously?!

"Excuse me."

Sabay kaming napalingon sa estudyanteng lalaki na lumapit sa'min.

"Would you like to join the dance club?"

"Thank you." I was still recovering from the pain of being hit near the groin. "But I'm not a student."

"Sayang." He smiled. "How about you-"

Isa fell back inside the puddle of darkness that she summoned on the wall. I grabbed her hand and got pulled inside the shadows and the next thing I knew, I found myself outside the hall with the tip of her weapon pointed at my artery in the neck.

Binitawan ko ang kamay niya.

"Let's talk this out, Isa," suhestyon ko.

At saka ko naalalang nasa labas na nga pala kami kung saan walang taong nakakakita sa'min.

Palihim akong nakahinga nang maluwag.

Finally.

"No."

The moment she answered, I spread my large wings behind me and surrounded us with white feathers, that burst into white mist that then turned into clouds.

"Where am I?" naiirita niyang tanong. "Where are we?"

I calmly lowered myself on top of the clouds and comfortably sat with crossed legs. "Heaven."

Nilabas ko ang aking libro at binuksan ito sa huling pahina na nabasa ko. "Kidding." Nakangiti kong tugon sa kanya nang hindi siya binabalingan ng tingin. "We're under my wings."

"Would you like something to drink?" tanong ko. "Like tea? While I read you my book?"

"I'm going to kill you."

A white veil floated in front of me, carrying two paper cups of tea. "My domain is a safe place, Isa," I said as I grabbed a cup. "I made it in a way that even I can't summon any weapon or objects that can hurt a person, except maybe a few drinks and foods, a couple of books, and a very specific weapon."

Which means all my sharp piercings are gone, and her heels, too.

I sipped on the tea while watching her try to guess what my weapon is and tried to summon it.

Kinisap-kisapan ko siya.

She knows not all weapons are sharp, right?

I looked at the floating veil in front of me, and then glanced up at her.

"Tea?" I offered again.

She gave me a suspicious look before running to attack.

The other cup of tea disappeared and the veil quickly lengthened to wrap around her body, and another one appeared around her feet to make her trip.

She fell on her knees in front of me.

Nginitian ko siya. "Hi."

"Your weapon is a fucking veil?" She sounded offended.

"I don't know how to use sharp and hard objects," paliwanag ko. "I don't have to."

"Of course." She finally remembered. "You have the power to kill anything with just a touch." Then she smiled, threateningly. "So why don't you do me a favor and kill yourself, Raphael?"

I was about to answer when a certain thought crossed my mind.

"Are you, maybe, pertaining-" Nanliit ang aking mga mata sa pagtataka. "That you want me to touch myself? Right in front of you?"

Sinimangutan niya ako.

Clearly, she regretted asking me to kill myself, and looked like she'll never say it again.

Her faced twitched in annoyance as she tried to break herself from my veil.

While I took another sip of my tea and read my book again.

Resting in peace has always been my most favorite thing to do, and by that I mean resting on top of clouds while reading a book in peace.

"Did you know that reading can relax you?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Try dying."

I grinned. "Only after I figure out what's the most beautiful way to do it."

"It's to get stabbed to death."

Sinulyapan ko siya mula sa likod ng aking libro.

"Or beheaded," dugtong niya.

Patuloy ko lang siyang pinagmasdan.

"Or would you like to drown in acid, Raphael?" aniya. "Because I could help you."

Remembering our moment earlier, I suggested. "How about we do it again?"

Nag-abot ang kanyang kilay.

"Dance," dugtong ko. "I mean."

"We did not," giit niya.

I gave her a knowing smile. "It felt like it."

"Please," she said, wide-eyed, and her voice being the emptiest it has ever been. "I would rather jump to the river of lost souls myself, than dance with you."

Mahina akong natawa at determinadong napasabi sa kanya, "Allow me to change your mind."

She blinked a couple of times, relaxing her eyes, before her lips slowly parted to whisper, "What?"

Bumaba ang aking tingin sa nakaawang niyang bibig, at di naiwasang mapangiti nang salubungin ang nagtataka niyang tingin.

"Nothing," sambit ko.

"You said something."

Muli akong natawa. "I asked if you would allow me to serve you tea."