"A teacher, huh." I stopped from walking outside the room when I heard Alastair had spoken. He never left his chair even a bit nor walked out when I made an outrageous activity a while ago.

"Class has been dismissed, Alastair. Go and proceed to your next class." I told him however, alam kong hindi susunod ang mokong na ito.

Instead of staying and wait for him to stand up, I decided to walk again. Nang makalabas na ako ng room ay saka lamang ako tuluyang nakahinga ng maluwag. Napahawak pa ako sa aking dibdib dahil sa lakas ng kabog ng aking puso.

I didn't realize that I'm not breathing properly a while ago. Not because of teaching my students but the way Alastair looking at me and piercing me.

He's suffocating me to death and I think it's not healthy. I know what's the meaning of this but I never thought that it will be too hard to hide.

I'm having a fucking crush to Alastair and damn, it's freaking dangerous and unwise to feel.

"Leaving so soon?" I was startled as Alastair whispered on my ears. I literally moved away from him from his unexpected move.

Hindi ako sumagot sa tanong niyang hindi ko alam kung tanong ba o statement. I continued walking even if his presence is really piercing my soul and body. Gosh, paulit ulit ka, Asia Graham!

I walked away from him... again. Halatang sobra na itong nagtataka sa ikinikilos ko lalo pa't narinig ko siyang napamura ng bahagya pagkaalis ko sa tabi niya.

I made my pace faster as can I feel him following my path. Mabilis kong winawagayway sa sahig ang walking stick ko without observing the people around me. Some of them ay nasasaktan ko dahil natatamaan ko ang mga paa nila but after no'n mapapairit ang ilan dahil sa taong kasunod ko.

Tangina, ba't ba siya nakasunod sa akin?

I was about to hit into a wall when I felt his hand covered my forehead. Nagitla ako sa nangyari at napaatras. But by doing that, tumama naman ang likod ko sa katawan ng binata.

"S-Sorry." Paghingi ko ng paumanhin.

"Mierda! You're literally a hard-headed woman." Atungol nito sabay hawak sa kamay nitong natamaan ng pader. The wall is rough, malamang, gumasgas ang kamaong bahagi ng kamay nito roon.

I winced in pain upon thinking it visually.

"I should go." Iyon lamang ang aking naiutal pagkatapos ay muli akong naglakad.

But this time, he didn't let me to walk even a single step. He pinned me into the wall and he leaned his body closer to me. I gulped as I feel his body heat.

Sige dikit mo pa. Tusukin mo ko!

Fuck! Ano ba itong mga naiisip ko?!

"You're avoiding me." It's not a question nor an opinion. It's a full snarling statement. "Perché?" Why?

"I'm not. You're thinking too much, Alastair." Tugon ko sa kanya at gusto kong palakpakan ang aking sarili sa naging tono ng boses ko. I was able to hide my hidden fury.

"Ahuh," he replied but his tone was not convinced at all.

"We are inside the premises of the University. I'm your professor, is there any other way for us to talk like we used to?" Usap nga ba ang namagitan sa atin kung puro katahimikan naman ang binabato nito? Sampalin ko ito, eh.

I moved my head backward when I felt his face is now moving towards me and gosh! Is this the moment that he will kiss me?

Dali! Ang bagal kingina!

"What are you doing?" I asked him with a stern expression. Tibay mo, Asia!

"Smelling you, I guess? I love your scent, Bella Cieco. What perfume you're using?"

Pati pabango tinatanong? Pawish ko po, gusto mo ba? Dikit ka lang sa akin. Hihi

"I'm not using anything at all." I replied with a serious tone. "I hope you don't mind, please put some space between us. Respect me as I'm your professor."

I tried to push him but his hand immediately caught my hand and pinned it on the wall. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa ginawa niya.

This is rape! Please help... help us not to get caught. Hihi!

"You might be my professor. But you're only that person inside of that room. Outside of it, you're my Bella Cieco."

Pakiramdam ko lahat ng dugo sa kadulu-duluhan ng paa ko ay umakyat na sa mukha ko. Ang tamis ng mga matatalim mong dila, Alastair. Halika't mabali natin iyan at nagiging paasa ka!

I was about to say something when we heard a loud noise. Isang irit ng babae. She's screaming in horror.

Natigilan kaming dalawa nang magsimulang magtakbuhan ang ilang estudyante upang suriin kung saan nanggaling ang sigaw.

Alastair and I both started to go there as well. Mas nauuna siya sa akin pero I can feel that he's waiting me as well.

When we reached the place where the scream came from, I can hear each and everyone of them gasping. Some of them are happy what they were seeing and some of them were just gossiping.

I stomped my right foot to feel the vibration and visualize the things and people around me. Napakunot noo ako when a certain vision reaches my senses.

Someone from the ceiling is being tied on its neck and blood is continuously flowing beneath the subject.

I was kinda shock when I realized who is the student. He's the one who waived in front of my face a while ago. What was he doing there lifeless?

"What happened here?" I heard Alastair's authoritative compulsion engulfed on the whole area.

"I just saw him there when I went back to get my make-up kits." The woman who screamed answered robotically.

Other than that, no one responded.

"You all know that killing your own colleagues is prohibited unless you're taking the final exam. And you know what is at stake once you break this absolute law."

Wow twenty nine words. Humahaba na ang sinasabi niya, ah.

"Who did this?" Alastair used his compulsion again. No one answered and that's a big question.

It's either the suspect is not here or the culprit is someone like me whose compulsion from his words are being nullified.

Let's set aside the latter. It's a hypothesis that needs several trial and error to conclude.

"Everyone, leave this place." I ordered them as their teacher. But no one's following me.

"Is there a team who can handle this?" I asked Alastair whispering.

"Yes, the Investigativo Club will do the work and figure out what happened." He replied and my forehead crumpled.

"Investigation Club?" Iyon ang pagkaintindi ko.

"All of you! Move away and go back to your respective activities." Alastair ordered in one stance.

Sabay ng paglabas ng ilang estudyante ang siyang pasok naman ng mga tinutukoy ni Alastair.

Their six of them and they immediately put the things that need to be placed inside of this room. One of them walked straight to Alastair.

"Thank you for your help of pulling them away, Boss. We'll take in-charge of it." Anito ng isang binata na piyok ang boses.

Nag-usap pa ang dalawa at ako nama'y pasimpleng dumiretso sa biktima.

I touched the body who's hanging and before I could get a hold of it, someone already held my hand.

"What the hell are you doing?" Alastair asked. "Don't touch anything or your fingerprints will be traced and might accused you as the prime suspect."

Hindi na ako sumagot dahil may punto ito. Wala akong gloves at baka ako pa ang masisi sa nangyari.

Pero there is something about the dead man that I couldn't resist of knowing. I should be staying myself away from this incident but there's something wrong with happened to him.

"Alastair, if you're now in a standing position. Can you measure what part of his body you could reach your normal eyesight?"

Magsasalita pa sana ito upang pigilan ako ngunit mariin kong hinawakan ang braso nito.

I heard him letting out a big sigh and I grinned. Pabebe ang yummy na ito!

"His belly part." He replied and he immediately grabbed my hand and started to pull me again somewhere. "Let's go, it's not your job to know who's the killer."

Mariin akong nagpupumiglas sa hawak niya. Ano bang problema nito't nanghihila na naman?!

"Let me go, Alastair! I still need to go to the faculty office. Damn it!" I whined and I'm dead serious right now.

"Shut up, Bella Cieco. Just follow me." He only responded.

Kakalbuhin ko na ito talaga! Ang kulit pa sa makulit!

Patuloy lang ako sa pagpiglas at nararamdaman ko na ang tinginan ng ilan sa aming dalawa. At sobrang nakakahiya na ito!

I was about to put a little more strength nang may humawak naman sa kabila kong braso.

Pakiramdam ko mapupunit ako sa gitna sa nangyari at hindi ko talaga inasahan iyon.

I want to know who pulled me back but I decided not to open my Lenses. Mabilis kong napagtanto kung sino ito.

His scent is somewhat remarkable already on my mind and it's a type of scent that is very addictive. Ang taong ito ang inaasahan kong darating na sa lugar na ito.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Ramdam na ramdam ko ang bigat ng pagkakatanong niyon ni Alastair nang mapansin ngang may nanghila sa akin at mapagtanto kung sino iyon.

"I'm here to talk to her. And it's none of your business, Mr. Aldeguer." Nicholas replied with the same intensity of tone.

I can really feel that there's an ongoing battle of staring between them. Iyong tipong kung nakakamatay lang ang tingin ay kanina pa ako nakahandusay rito.

"Let go of her hand," mariing utos ni Alastair kay Nicholas.

Nicholas didn't respond nor talked back. I'm just waiting for him to let go my hand but... it didn't happen.

Isang bagay na kinatigil ng mundo ko.

Hindi rin naapektuhan ng compulsion si Nicholas?

"Ikaw ang dapat bumitaw Aldeguer." At last, Nicholas replied.

It seems like Alastair has been stunned as do I. Hindi ko rin inaasahan ang nangyari.

I'm the only one who can't be affected by Alastair's compulsion. Iyon ang sabi sa akin ng Supremo. At mukhang hindi na nalang ako ang hindi naapektuhan.

Hindi ko na napansing nabitawan na ako ni Alastair at napansin ko na lamang ang aking sarili na hila hila ni Nicholas. Sa sobrang pagkagulat na rin siguro ng binata at tila nanalo si Nicholas sa laban nila ng titigan.

"Where are we going?" sa wakas ay nagawa ko nang itanong sa binatang kasama ko matapos ang nakakagulat na pangyayari. Nawala rin sa isip ko ang nangyaring patayan kanina dahil sa nasaksihan ko rin kinalaunan.

"Kailangan mong i-explain ang lahat sa akin ang plano mo, Asia. You put me in this situation so you better explain and make me understand why the hell am I here?" tugon nito sa aking tanong.

Napansin kong nasa loob na kami ng elevator. I'm pretty sure that we are still at Villa Agonia.

The elevator didn't stop at any floors at tuluy-tuloy lamang iyon umaakyat paitaas. I therefore conclude na gusto niya akong makausap sa rooftop area ng naturang building.

We stopped in the middle of the area and walk away at me few inches apart. Ramdam ko ang frustration nito lalo pa't bahagya itong sumigaw.

"What the hell is happening, Asia? Pati ang mga kamag-anak ko ay nadamay! Dapat ako lang!" sigaw nito sa akin.

Hindi ko ito sinagot bagkus ay nanatili lamang ako rito na nakatayo at seryosong nakatingin ang mata sa sahig.

Ano ba ang dapat sagutin? Yes, it's my fault. I've been greedy to use him. The least thing that I can do for him is for him to stay here inside of this school. Leaving him there outside would only mean of his death.

What I did made him mad at mabilis ako nitong hinawakan sa magkabila kong braso. "You better explain now, Asia. Sa mga araw na sobrang stress ako ay baka hindi ko matantyang masaktan kita kung hindi ka magsasalita."

"You need to stay here for you not to be chased by death." Iyon lang ang sinabi ko sa kanya. Dapat napagtanto na nito iyon. "I believe you were properly briefed."

"Yeah, this is the only way para hindi nila ako mapatay lalo pa't ginusto ng Aldeguer na iyan ang patayin ako. Kung hindi ko tatanggapin ito ay paniguradong hindi lang ako ang mamamatay rito. Idadamay rin nila ang buhay ng mga kamag-anak ko at maging ang kompanyang itinayo ng mga magulang ko."

"Then, it settled. You will study again here and you will survive." Anas ko sa kanya.

"Pero hanggang kalian?" tanong nito sa akin.

Ako naman ang napabuntung-hininga. Hindi rin ako sigurado. Pero may natatanging paraan upang maalis siya sa sitwasyong ito.

"I don't know the answer until when but there's a way." I uttered.

Nabaling ang atensyon nito sa akin.

"Ano iyon?"

"You need to have a bargain with the future Mafia Boss, Nicholas. Oath and promises are something that this organization makes them alive. May isang salita ang mga tao sa loob ng isang Mafia. Hindi sila madalas tumatanggap ng isang kasunduan hangga't hindi nila nakikita na makikinabang sila ng malaki roon. You need to think of a way how to bargain with the Boss. In that way, you can escape this hell."

"And you?" he asked. "Don't you have any plan of escaping this place?"

"I've already made a bargain about my condition. So, do you." Seryoso kong tugon at muling nanumbalik ang oras na pumayag ako sa kagustuhan ni Supremo.
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"ANO'NG sinabi mo?" hindi ko makapaniwalang tanong sa matandang nasa harap ko. Baka namali ang aking pandinig at hindi tama ang aking unang narinig.

"Alastair has been exposed to Apollo." muli nitong tugon na nagpahina ng tuhod ko.

So, iyon ang rason kung bakit nagkaroon ng inhumane prowess ang binata. Apollo can definitely make it happen. Pero ang malaking tanong ay paano?

"P-Paano siya na-exposed?" nautal kong tanong rito.

Hindi kaagad sumagot ang Supremo. Bagkus ay bumuntung-hininga ito pagkatapos ay nilagay ang magkabilang braso nito sa lamesa habang ang mga kamay nito'y magdaop at nakadikit iyon sa bibig ng ginoo. He's maybe weighing if he would tell me the answer.

"Ask Alastair, Premiere. I'm not in the right position to tell you his tale. Once you agreed to be his mentor and nurture his ability, you would be able to know the history about your question."

Nag-igting ang aking panga sa aking narinig, kung hindi ko iniisip na baka kilala na niya ako at marahil iniisip nitong hindi na ako tatanggi pa sa alok nito. Pero iyon na nga ang nangyayari.

I couldn't believe what I've heard about Alastair. Hindi ako makapaniwala na parehas kami na may pinagdadaanan nang dahil sa Apollo. Hindi ko inaasahang hindi ako makakatanggi sa alok ng Supremo gayong kailangan kong malaman kung paano na-exposed ang binata ng Apollo.

Dapat siya lang. O baka marahil...

"I'll say yes." tugon ko sa alok ni Supremo and his lips curved upward, tanda na natutuwa ito sa narinig at sa aking desisyon.

"What made you say yes?" tanong nito na puno ng kuryosidad. Tila hindi makapaniwalang napa-oo niya ako nang ganoong kadali lamang. Tila mas inaasahan pa nitong dadaanin ako sa dahas upang pumayag lamang sa gusto nito ngunit hindi na nga umabot pa sa ganoon.

Nabaling ang aking paningin sa bintana sa likod ng ginoo bago sinagot ang tanong nito.

"I was quite curious as well, what made me so special about not being affected by Alastair's compulsion. And also..." tiningnan ko siya direkta sa mata. "I'm quite curious about the Apollo you're talking about. It seems too precious for you. I'd want to know the limitation of Apollo's effect to Alastair's being."

Tumawa ang Supremo. Tila nasisiyahan sa tinatakbo ng kanilang usapan.

"Ang akala ko'y mahihirapan akong kumbinsihin ka sa gusto kong ipagawa sa iyo." Tapos at kinuha nito ang wine glass na nasa lamesa at ininom ang laman niyon. "Don't worry, once we found out the reason why you're not being affected by his compulsion and make sure that he would have the symbol on his skin... I'll grant your wishes. You would be alive getting out of this place and we will never bother you anymore to join Privus. We will never cross your way and you would be free from our claws. I think that's a good offer, eh?"

Bahagyang nagningning ang aking utak sa narinig kong makukuha ko sa pinapagawa niya sa akin.

Shit, bahala na.

"That would be enough." Tugon na may pagsang-ayon. Hindi na rin masama.

"That settled then," wika nito at pagkatapos at tumayo ito at nilapitan ako.

Napatayo naman ako nang ilahad nito ang kamay nito. Tanda ng isang kasunduan sa pagitan namin dalawa.

Tinanggap ko ang pakikipagkamay nito. The moment our palms touched each other, a vision erupted my mind.

A man in black cloak, he's holding me and Alastair using his both hands while gripping our necks. Both of us were being gripped few meters above the ground. The man in cloak has a remarkable strength.

A negative sign had visibly shown on  Alastair's right wrist. My tattoo on my cleavage part on the other hand showed mischievously as well.

I couldn't breathe to the point that I faced the sky. I was shocked as I'm seeing the sun being covered by the moon. But I was more scared to witness that the moon broke through from the sun. Because when the moon unleashed itself underneath of the sun, the sun itself turned into two. It moves separately, leaving the moon in between.

I immediately removed my hand from Supremo. Tila ito'y nagulat rin sa biglaan kong galaw.

"Are you okay?" he asked me.

I just couldn't believe from what happened. Ano iyong nakita ko?
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"Are you okay?" napabalik ang aking atensyon kay Nicholas when he held my shoulders. Napakurap ako ng minsan bago ko sinagot ang tanong nito.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" tapos ay naramdaman ko ang haplos nito sa aking balikat. Nakita siguro nito ang pamumutla ko.

"Bella!" rinig kong sigaw ng kung sino sa kung saan.

Naramdaman ko ang pagbitaw ni Nicholas sa aking balikat at nilingon rin ang taong biglang dumating.

I can actually feel Alastair's furious state sa bigat ng bawat hakbang nito palapit sa amin dalawa ni Nicholas.

Nang makarating ito sa aming dalawa ay ramdam ko ang pag-iigting ng panga nito. Masama ang tingin nito sa amin at hindi ko naman matanto kung ano ang rason.

Na-miss yata ako nito. Psh! Drama ah.

"What are you doing here?" tanong ni Alastair sa akin. "Let's go. I thought you're going to the Faculty office?" anas nito pagkatapos at hinila ako palayo kay Nicholas.

Natigil naman ang tuluyang pagkaladkad sa akin ng binata nang maramdaman ko naman ang paghawak ni Nicholas sa kaliwa kong braso.

Napasimangot na ako ng tuluyan. Ano? May tug-of-war of ba? Bakit ako ang lubid? Ganito na ba ako kaganda? Gosh, hindi ako aware.

"We're not yet done talking. You're being too rude bro." Angil ni Nicholas sa binata.

Jusko, heto na mag-aaway na sila.

"Don't you bro me, asshole. And I don't care if you have things to discuss with her. She needs to go. Let her fucking go." Wika ni Alastair at inutusan si Nicholas.

"I'm not your slave nor your subordinate, Aldeguer. You don't tell me what to do."

Muntik ko nang makalimutan. At dahil sa nangyari na naman, napakunot ako ng husto kay Nicholas.

How come that he's not being affected by Alastair's compulsion?

"Why... why you're not being compelled?" nanggigigil na tanong ng binata kay Nicholas.

"What?" takang tanong naman nito.

The question needs to be answered right away. Ang akala ko, sa pagdamay ko kay Nicholas sa mundong ito ay magagawan ko agad ng paraan upang iiwas siya at ilayo. Ngunit the moment that this event happened, wherein he's not being affected by Alastair's compulsion. It means a lot to doubt the identity of this man.

I need to know more about Nicholas. I need to verify if he's... and I hope he's not been affected by Apollo as well. Dahil kung tama ang aking hinala... my vision when I touched Supremo's hand might have something to do with the three of us.

And that vision? It means a lot and I'm nervous thinking about the meaning of it. Dahil isa lang ang maaaring ibig sabihin niyon.

Chaos.