I don't know how long I'm staring at this crumpled black paper. Fucking hell! It's been what? A week? Yeah. It's been a week since I received this letter from an unknown source. But I can't still get over about it.

Hindi ko alam kung sino ang nagbigay, kung anong motibo nito, saang organisasyon siya galing, at anong kailangan nito sa akin. Wala akong ideya. I don't even know if he's telling the truth. Kilala niya raw ang ulo ng Clemente Mafia. Nakilala ko na rin daw ito. It might be true. Or not. Ugh! I don't really know! Damn! It's like a riddle, a mystifying, misleading, and puzzling letter posed as a problem to be solved.

Though one thing is for sure... He knows almost everything about me. He knows who killed both of my parents. And that's one of my deepest, darkest secret I didn't share to anyone, except Max and accidentally, Gazelle. Of course, they didn't tell it to others, right? Or not. Oh, crap! I'm not entirely sure of everything. This is so fucking frustrating!

My thoughts were dit'ssurbed when I heard three knocks from the door. I quickly put the letter inside the pocket of Katy's pants that I borrowed. Or should I say, she let me borrowed. She has been lending me some clothes this past few days. Wala naman akong sinasabing pahiramin niya ako dahil kayang-kaya kong bumili. But anyways, hayaan na lang natin.

"Come in." Wika ko kay Katy. Well, I supposed it was Katy. Dalawa lang naman kami dito. And if it's the demon, he's not fond of knocking. Magugulat ka na lang andito na siya sa loob.

But to my surprise, Chris entered the room. Oh, I forgot about him. "Hi." Nakangiting bati nito.

I just stared at him, not returning the smile. "What do you need?" Taas-kilay kong bungad sa kanya. His smile didn't drop nor falter. Okay, I'm clearly showing him that I'm the kind of person that you should not approach. But why he's still this friendly?

"I'm paying you, girls, a visit. And also, giving some groceries." Still smiling. Wala na akong nagawa ng umupo ito sa kamang kinauupuan ko rin. "Are you find here? Do you want to transfer to a much more bigger place? My house is open for the two of you." He said with concern. It's happening again. He is too generous that I'm becoming suspicious. Ang alam ko ay siya rin ang nagbabayad dito sa tinitirahan naming apartment.

"Ayos na ko dito." I dismissed him. It's better if he leaves now. I'm not into this 'kamustahan'.

"Sigurado ka bang ayaw mong umalis doon sa restawran na pinapasukan mo? Tanong niya maya-maya. Nagtataka ko itong tinignan.

"Why?"

"Ah, nothing. I just think that you'll have a bigger opportunity in my company." Saad niya.

"I'm find being a waitress." Tangi ko sa pangalawang pagkakataon. Opportunity? I'm not looking for big opportunity in a job. I'm craving for my own freedom. Maaaring di na rin ako magtrabaho. I've already earned lots of money years ago in my bank accounts. And being a waitress is just a cover-up. I can drop that anytime I want. Kung sabagay, walang alam ang kausap ko tungkol sa totoong nangyayare.

I thought he'll stop this nonsense conversation. But no, this time he became serious.

"Aurora," he started. "I know we just met. But can we be friends and——"

"No." Walang kagatol-gatol kong sagot, cutting him off. Alam ko na kung saan patutungo ang usapan na ito and it's better not to hear that bullshit. Did some people like them really have screwed their brains that they actually thought of trying to befriend me? Duh!

He was taken aback for a while, looking at me sternly. "Are you always like that? I... I can't see any emotions in your eyes." He asked bewilderedly and kept staring at my face, making me do the same to him. If mine doesn't show any emotions, his eyes do. And I've caught lots of emotions I can't distinguish. Something close to admiration and amazement... Wait! What? Amazement? He still amaze about that?

"This only means I don't have those." I answered. Well, of course, I know to myself that it's not true. Magaling lang talaga akong kumontrol ng sarili kong emosyon. But, there are other times that I can't really hide it no matter how hard I'll try. And those times are the times I'm with that demon. Frustration reigns all over my system whenever his around. Damn that guy!

"For me, it's fascinating." He smiled at me, a captivating smile. And oh, I'm right! He was amazed by that fact. "Ngayon lang ako nakakilala ng taong kagaya mo: a gorgeous, brave girl that obliviously shows everyone that she can handle herself on her own, without the help of others. And I know she can. That's why I wanted to be her friend. She's one of a kind." Aniya habang nakatitig sa akin. I just look at him with a blank face.

"And that gorgeous, brave girl says no." I said nonchalantly.

Naiiling itong natawa. "Why not?"

"Why yes?" Balik-tanong ko. He raised his arm in surrender.

"Kumain na nga lang tayo. You still have a work to attend to," Natatawang saad nito and called me for breakfast.

And that goes my early morning activity: a breakfast with the two friendly person that I never wish to meet. Natapos ito na sila lang dalawa ang nag-uusap. Kasunod non ang pagpapaalam ni Chris dahil may pupuntahan pa raw ito. Hinayaan ko lang sila maghatidan sa labas. Well, It's none of my business. Pumunta na lang ako sa sala at nanuod mag-isa ng walang kwentang palabas.

Later on, "Aurora?" Katy called.

"What?" Bored kong sagot sa kanya at di na 'to tinignan pa. I don't know why many people were engrossed with this idiot box. And, yeah, my term for television is idiot box. 'Cause it always shows idiotic things like what I'm seeing now. What's with this animated cartoons? Tsk.

"May...may nang-iwan nito sa labas, oh. Para sayo ata, may pangalan mo eh." Wika niya. This time I look at her. She's standing near the door holding a...bouquet of white roses? "May nangliligaw ba sayo?" Tanong pa nito.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya para siguraduhin ang sinasabi nito. And it's true. I have my name on it but there was no sender's name. That made me doubtful already. First, wala akong manliligaw. And I would definitely kill the guy whoever will dare to do that courting-shit. Second, the sender is hiding his or her identity. This is so spinelessness. And last, what's this stupid bouquet of white roses for?

What will I do with this shit? These fresh roses that seem grew lusciously were arranged into perfection. And I hate perfection. Might as well destroy this crap.

"A-Anong ginagawa mo?!" Katy asked hysterically when I started disarranging the roses, breaking its stems, tearing them down the bouquet one by one.

When I'm satisfied, I gave all the mess to her. "Throw it." I commanded. Gulat ang pagmumukha niyang nakatingin sa akin. Kita ang panghihinayang niya sa mga rosas.

Pinagmasdan nito ang hawak niya at sinubukang ayusin. But it's worthless. "Bakit mo sinira? Sayang na——" Di niya na naituloy ang sinasabi nito ng may biglang nahulog mula sa hawak nitong sirang palumpon ng rosas. We both look at the ground. But then, I froze after seeing the thing that fell out of the bouquet. The clueless Katy picked it up and I was left, still staring at the ground.

"Oh, may sulat ka pa pala." Narinig kong komento nito. Dahan-dahan akong napatingin sa hawak nitong pamilyar na itim na papel. How will a gorgeous, pure bouquet of white roses carries such a dark letter? Maybe the sender intentionally chose white roses to make the black paper vivid. Dahil ang katotohanan ay talagang ang itim na liham ang nais nilang ipaabot sa akin. I'm still confuse on the first letter and yet here's the other one. Can't this damn letters stop?

Inabot niya sakin ang papel sabay sabing, "Sige, itatapon ko na lang 'to." Malumanay nitong saad, pagtutukoy sa bulaklak, at umalis papuntang kusina. I was left with my chaotic mind. Now what?

Well, now I'm holding another black letter. Still with my name printed in the same silver, elegant font style. I only have two options here; the first one is to immediately destroy the paper without reading it like what I did to the roses, tear and burn it into pieces, to avoid another headache. Or, open and read this damn crap to have another agony to think of together with the first one. It's easy to do the first one. But I'll surely itch on the 'what ifs' if I didn't read it. Darn! Bahala na.

And so, I chose the latter option.

Bubuksan ko na sana ito nang biglang gumalaw ang doorknob. Tinago ko ang 'di pa nabubuksang papel muli sa parehong bulsa na kinalalagyan ng unang liham. I know the door was locked but someone from the outside is trying to open it as the doorknob continuously wiggle. I'm about to get something hard for defense but the door already burst open with force like the bastard from behind is a professional door-opener. What the hell! That fast? Iniluwa nito ang seryosong mukha ni Devon na pawang papatay ano mang oras. And yes, technically, papatay dahil may hawak itong baril. Saglit itong nabigla ng makita ako sa bungad. Okay, anong problema ng isang 'to?

He forcefully grab my arm and drew me near him. His eyes roamed around me like he is checking something. He is too serious that I can't keep but to just stare at him. After that, he let out a sigh of relief. He is relieved for what? Nabawasan na rin ng konte ang pagiging seryoso ng mukha nito. Sunod niyang sinuri ang silid sa mabilis na paraan.

"You need to get out of here." Aniya pagkatapos, habang hawak pa rin ang braso ko at akmang hihilahin ako palabas. Pero agad ko itong pinigilan. I yank my arm back and shot him a questioning glare.

"What the fuck is going on?" I exclaimed. Basta-basta na lang itong papasok at sasabihing kailangan kong umalis sa lugar na 'to. Sa tingin niya basta-basta rin akong sasama? Hah! Moron.

"I'll explain later. But for now, you need to come with me." Wika nito. He sounds urgent. Like really urgent.

"At kung ayoko?" Nanghahamon kong saad sa kanya. Tila nagdilim naman ang aura nito. "Sabihin mo muna na kung anong nangyayare." Matigas kong saad.

Kunot-noong tinignan niya ako. Kita ang masidhing pag-aapura nito. "I said I'm going to explain later."

"Why not now?" Why later? Ano ba kasing nangyayare at nagmamadali ito?! At may hawak pa itong baril! Wala naman akong nararamdaman na kakaiba sa lugar.

"We don't have time!" He shouted. He looks really frustrated. Oo na, matigas talaga ang ulo. And I'm quite entertained actually, seeing the demon this frustrated because of my hardheadedness. I even crossed my arms to show him that I'm not going anywhere. Napapikit ito at huminga ng malalim, "Aurora." Punong-puno ng pagtitimpi nitong wika.

"Go to hell." Pagbabalewala ko at inirapan ito. Tumalikod ako at akmang aalis ng biglang hinigit niyang muli ang aking kamay. I'm about to pull it back again but then I quickly heard a clicking sound, feeling a cold metal around my right wrist that had been pulled. I gasp with anger when I saw a shackle on it that is connected to Devon's left wrist. I shot him a deadly glare. "You, demon!" I scream with rage. This freaking moron put handcuffs on me again! Argh!

"Now, you don't have any choice but to come with me." He said then threw something on the further side of the room. It's the key for this handcuff. I tried to reach it but I've been pulled back. Next thing I knew, I'm out of the apartment, out of that building. Damn.