"WHAT was he talking about?" Alastair asked when I gave him one of my bath towel. Both of us are shivering because of the rain.

"Take a bath first." I replied leaving his question ignored.

I can really feel his glares and it's something that I couldn't stand.

"Answer me." He demanded.

Napabuntung-hininga ako sa tanong niya. One thing that you should know about Alastair and I think it's something that its obvious is that he's persistent to the things that he wants to know. Hindi ka niya titigilan hangga't hindi niya nakukuha ang sagot na hinahanap niya.

I decided to take a sit. I lazily sat on the nearest sofa and I bit my lower lip.

"I don't know what was he talking about." I answered back.

"Anastasia..." he called with his warning tone. Do'n na pumitik ang pasensya ko.

"Alastair, I said I don't know why he said that he's thankful that I helped him! Okay?! Don't ask anything about it because I will only repeat what I have just said." Sabi ko sa kanya na may halong ngitngit. "Please, you go first."

Hindi ko alam kung naniwala na itong hindi ko alam ang sinasabi ng putaragis na iyon dahil hindi na nag-react pa si Alastair. I'm still waiting for him to say something.

"No. You go first." Sansala nito sa akin. I groaned in frustration. Padabog akong tumayo at nagpatiuna na upang maligo.

Kung ayaw niya 'eh 'di huwag!

I'm in the middle of putting my lotion when the door from my comfort room opened. Niluwa niyon ang bagong paligong si Alastair. I focused myself on my business and I didn't mind his presence.

"Can I stay here?" He asked. I remained my stoic expression and didn't give any answer. Kahit sa loob loob ko'y sumisigaw ang Go lang! Gushto mo tsabi pa tsayo. Hihihi!

Magdedma dedmahan muna tayo, Asia. Ang kulit niya 'eh.

I stilled when I felt him hugging me side ways! Hindi ko napansing tumabi ito sa akin sa kama at yinakap ako.

Fuck! Ang init ng pisngi ko potaena!

Alastair put his head on my left shoulder. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang paghinga nito dahil halos isubsob nito ang mukha nito sa leeg ko.

"I'm sorry for being nosy." He apologized. Nag-sorry ang damuho habang nasa leeg ko ang mukha niya and damn it! Ang hot! Kinikilabutan ako ng sobra! It sent shivers and I couldn't help but moan.

"Please, don't ignore me. Hmmm?"

Anak ng pitumpu't puting hayup! Tsama na! Huwag kang ganiyan. Mawawala bigla ang inish ko shayo shige ka!

I need to get a grip. Magtimpi ka pa, Asia. Baka bigla kang maging aggressive bruha ka. Hinahon lang. Inhale exhale.

"F-Fine." Utal pa sige. Pahalata mo pa! Kulang pa 'eh.

"You're not mad anymore?" Anong mayroon at bakit ang sweet ng tono niya?! Sabihin niyo nga sa'kin?!

"I'm not m-mad." Ang tanging naisagot ko lang.

"But it feels like you're mad at me. Please don't be mad. Hmmm?"

Bakit ang sweet at ang lambing mo King Alastair Aldeguer?! Punyeta ka!

"I'm not mad, Alastair." I assured him. At gusto kong pangaralan ang sarili ko dahil hindi ko siya dinamba at sinimulang rape-in. Buti nalang.

"So, can I sleep here?" Natigilan ako at napaarko ang isa kong kilay.

Aba teka lang. Ang galing duma-moves ng lalaking ito. Naglalambing para payagan ko.

Sorry bebeboy. Kahit gaano ka pa ka-yummy. At kahit gaano ka pa ka-hot. At kahit na nakatabi ka na sa pagtulog...

"Sure." Syempre papayag ako. Hihihi! "It's still raining outside and I don't have any umbrella aside from the one you wrecked a while ago."

"Thank you." He said and he inhaled deeply that made me gasped real hard. Ang sharap!!! "I'll just sleep on the couch."

Ay bakit do'n?! No!

"You c-can s-sleep, beside me... uhm, if you want." I offered.

Wala na! I'm already a disgrace to my own race. Ang babaeng sobrang open-minded! Ang babaeng hindi marunong maka-hindi at ang babaeng pinagkaitan ng pagtitimpi. Good job!

"Wouldn't be uncomfortable for you if... I'll sleep beside you?" He asked primitively.

My god, Asia. Daig ka pa niya. Siya may pagtitimpi. Ikaw pinagsakluban ka ng kakirihan mo sa katawan! Mahiya tayo minsan tangina.

"I don't mind. You slept with me already, remember?" Napalabi ako sa double meaning sa sinabi ko. And Asia? Filter tayo minsan ng sasabihin. Sobrang prangka. Kakaiba eh.

I heard him chuckled. Fuck it!

"W-What I meant was... you... you slept... slept, literally beside me right?" Sige i-defend mo pa na parang Thesis iyan, Graham.

"I'm not trying to imply on something, Bella Cieco." He amusingly replied.

Lamunin mo ako lupa. Ngayon na!

"I just want to clarify things for you to be understood clearly, hello." Depensa ko sabay irap.

He chuckled again then he lied on my bed after that. Pahiga na rin sana ako kasi alam niyo na. Kailangan kong makakota ngayong gabi nang tumunog ang cellphone ng binata.

Napabangon ito at sinagot ang tawag.

"Hello? Yes? Alright. I'll be there in a minute." Anito na ikinabagsak ng balikat ko.

"I need to go. Something came up."

"What is that?" I asked. Baka tungkol iyon sa culprit. O baka lead sa pumatay sa tatlong estudyante.

Ginulo gulo niya ang buhok ko at nagsalita. "Don't concern yourself with it. I don't want you to be stressed out on this. A'right?"

"B-But--"

"I'll be back." He assured. Palabas na ito ng pinto nang lingunin niya ako. "By the way, don't open your door if someone would knock. Promise me that."

"Even you?" Taas ang isa kong kilay na tanong sa kanya.

"Of course, except me."

"And why?" Walang kwenta kong tanong sa kanya.

"Because I'm still going to sleep beside you. You don't expect someone would sleep with you aside from me right?"

Aba aba.

"What if someone I knew asked if he could sleep with me tonight?" Huwag siyang madamot!

"Then expect his dead body floating in the ocean. Anastasia, I'm fucking serious. Don't let someone enter your premises."

Full name na naman. Alam na this.

"Fine." Pagsang-ayon ko nalang. Paalis na si Alastair nang may maalala ako. "Wait!"

"Yes?" He asked.

May kinuha ako sa likod ng tokador ko. Nang makuha ay maingat akong naglakad palapit sa kanya at inabot iyon sa binata.

"I thought you don't have any spare umbrella?" He amusingly asked. For sure nakangisi ito ng wagas at tila may napagtanto.

Ako naman iniiwas ko ang ulo ko sa kanya at ramdam ko ang pag-init ng pisngi ko.

Syempre dahilan lang na wala na akong payong para hindi na siya makabalik sa dorm niya. Hello! And as if naman na sasabihin ko sa kanya iyon.

"That's what I thought as well." Nahihiya kong sagot. Bumusangot na ako nang marinig ko itong marahan na tumawa. Tinulak tulak ko na ito dahil sa pagkakapahiya ko.

Jusko, iniisip na siguro niya na gusto ko lang siyang katabi sa kama. My god! Very wrong!

"Shoo! Lumabas ka na at baka mabayagan kita diyan. Alis!"

Rinig ko pa rin ang tawa nito sa labas pagkasarado ko ng pinto. Mabilis akong nagpunta ng kama at doon nagdrama ng husto.

"Nakakahiya tangina!" Pagwawala ko sa kama. Natigil lamang iyon nang may marinig ako.

"Premiere, hello? Please answer. Over!" Napahiyaw ako ng bahagya nang marinig ko si Austin sa kabilang linya.

"A-Ano iyon?" I asked him.

"Okay ka lang? We're waiting for you to be online pero hindi ko ma-reach ang VPN access mo."

Shit! I almost forgot. Sabi ko nga magiging busy ako sa magdamag. Bawal matulog.

"Sorry. I was just... fixing things." I reasoned out.

"Nako reasonings mo, Asia Graham!" I gulped when I heard Claudette on the line. "Sino iyang kinikire mo? Malibog kang babae ka!"

"Claudette!" Austin and I screamed at the same time.

"Hindi ka na naman naghugas ng bunganga mo, Claude." Wika ni Austin.

Ako naman napalabi. Bakit ang lakas ng radar ng babaeng iyon? Tapos... tapos... malibog agad?

"Ang bastos mo." Komento ko sa sinabi ni Claude.

"Ay oh, ano pa-virgin tayo ineng?" Bastos talaga ng bunganga ng babaeng ito.

"Sasampalin kita ng maleta diyan, Claudette. Manahimik ka." Banta ko rito.

"Shit, I don't want to hear your convo. I'll mute myself first. Let me know once you're both done." Tapos ay nag-mute nga si Austin.

"Oh, beh. Kwento na. Na-rape mo na ba si Alastair? Let me know if you need anything. Lingerie, bikini, lubricant. Go lang! Marami akong baon."

"Claudette?!" Pasigaw kong tawag sa pangalan ng hitad na ito.

"What? Ano? Pick na."

"Ang bastos mo."

"Alam ko, friend. Hindi ka pa ba nasanay?"

"Walang gano'n, C-Claudette. Anong rape ka dyan."

"Nako nako nako. Huwag ako, Anastasia Graham. Alam kong marumi iyang isip mo. Mas marumi pa sa akin for sure. Kilala kita! Ang aggresive mo kaya lalo na pag lasing. Muntikan mo na ngang ma-rape iyang si Austin dati eh. Remember? Ang lolo mo naman, parang bading. Hiyaw ng hiyaw at tinatawag ako. Hindi ka raw niya matulak dahil grabe ang lingkis mo sa kanya. Reason naman ng lolo mo incest na raw iyon. Nako arte niya lang! If I know."

My god. Halos magpalit na kami ng unan ko rito sa tindi ng pagtakip ko sa mukha ko. Jusko naman, bakit pa nito pinaalala iyon?!

"Tapos muntik mo na rin--"

"Claude stop it! Hindi na n-nakakatuwa."

"Hihihi! Okay shut up na. Oy, Austin! Gago, tara na. Huwag kang maarte diyan."

Bakit ba ako binigyan ng mga baliw na kasama?

"Okay game." Wika ni Austin nang makabalik ito.

I cleared my throat and opened my Lenses. I connected my VPN to their own networks and the Lenses released a light and visualize Claude and Austin in front of me.

"3D hologram is fucking cool." Komento ni Austin at nginisian siya.

I gave him back a wicked grin.

"Hello everyone." I greeted both of them.

"Now is the time to lay down all the things and information you've gathered. I need answers. Especially from what happened a while ago." I introduced.

"What happened a while ago?" Claudette asked.

"The person who attempted to kill me using an poisoned arrow revealed his presence."

Parehas silang napasinghap.

"Anong itsura?" Claudette asked.

"Kilala mo? Nakita mo na before?" Austin asked.

"No. Hindi ko nagamit ang lenses ko dahil kasama ko si Alastair nang magpakita siya."

I heard Claude cleared her throat and grinned at wickedly. "I smell some zonrox in the air."

Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin.

"What did you guys do?" Austin asked.

I clenched my fist when I remembered what that person can do.

"He... brought us down. Literally."

"What?" Hindi nila makapaniwalang tanong.

"Paano?" Austin asked again.

"Yeah. Paano nangyari? Gaano ba siya kalakas para mapatumba kayong dalawa?" Nagtatakang tanong naman ni Claude. "Kayong dalawa na iyan, ah."

"He mental tortured us." Pagsisiwalat ko. "He controlled the pain and he inflicted it to us."

Nalaglag ang panga ng dalawa sa isinagot ko.

"You mean to say..."

"He's an Apollo victim. He got the ability to torture every cells and nerves on anyone's brain. He can penetrate his ability by entering the nervous system of the victim and stipulate pain once he gets in. He can do that by looking at your eyes or just getting your attention."

Both of them gulped and slightly touched their heads.

"A-Ang s-sakit no'n." Komento ni Claude.

"H-How's the pain rate?" Austin asked with nervousness.

"Limitless. He can maximize the pain to the most painful level you could imagine." I replied.

"And you were able to know that by one single attack?" Manghang tanong ni Austin.

"I'm the Host of Apollo, Austin. I should know that the very least."

"You can actually stop that a while ago but you chose not to because you would like to know his limit? Tama ba?" Claude concluded.

I nodded. It's easy to counter-attack the Culprit's ability but I'd rather chose not to. Isa pa, ando'n kanina si Alastair. I should limit myself as well at baka malaman niya ang sikreto ko.

"Dagdag na naman siya sa mga aalamin natin. Ano ba iyan." Reklamo ni Claude.

"I actually have a suspect."

Parehas sila sa aking napalingon.

"Who is he?"

"I'll keep it for myself. I'll deal with him personally. So just focus on the things that I would like you to do. By the way, any updates?"

"Yeah, I have." Napatingin ako kay Austin. "I got a lead from the four corpses have found in the classroom and in the Coffee Tea Shop."

"Who killed them?" Claude asked.

"I don't have the name of the killer. But, I have the details of their forensic examination."

Austin clicked something in the air and a visualize monitor appeard in front of us.

A holographic images of the four victims. He slide something and the body has been turned into some X-Ray scanning image.

In the report, it says there that the corpse in the classroom had multiple brain nerves explosion, caused for his head to drip blood. He had also multiple deep wounds on his upper chest. But no points or traces of wounds on his lower abdomen.

Para sa tatlong babaeng naging pain ko sa Bow field. They're necks are completely disconnected on its head. Living their heads hanging with no supports. Every tip of their fingers are bleeding but no traces of scratch on any parts of their skin. Their chests were stabbed multiple times but the lower abdomen are completely okay.

Primary cause of death for the guy killed inside the classrom? Brain Hemorrhage.

Primary cause of death of the three women in the comfort room? Neck rupture.

"That's kinda harsh." Unang komento ni Claude nang matapos naming mabasa ang report. "But we are more nasty than that. Duh!"

"Ano'ng plano mo sa suspek, Premiere?" Tanong ni Austin sa akin.

"Mga suspek, Austin." I corrected them at natigilan sila sinabi ko.

"How did you know?" They both asked.

"The cause of death is something that can be considered as murder. However... it feels strange for me to think about it as murder." I commented while still looking at the images.

Bahagyang natawa si Claude sa sinabi ko. "Wait, are you implying that they killed themselves? They suicided? That's ridiculous."

"That's what I'm thinking." I honestly told them that.

"Are you freaking serious about that?" Hindi nila makapaniwalang wika.

Nagkibit balikat ako. "I'm not a detective, assholes. I still don't have any evidence to prove that all of them committed suicide."

"Austin," tawag ko rito. "Get the latest update of the Investigativo Club about their crime situation. I'll be needing that ASAP."

"Roger that." He agreed.

"Claude?" I called. "Updates? About Nicholas?"

Agad na umirap sa akin ang dalaga at tila inis na inis ito nang marinig palang ang pangalan ni Nicholas.

"Nako, for now. Wala ka pang mahihita sa akin. Nanggigigil pa ako sa lalaking iyan na akala mo pogi, hindi naman. Napaka-asyumero. Nahuhuli ko siyang sinusundan ka tapos ibabalik niya sa akin ang paratang na ako raw ang nasunod sa kanya. Like hello! Nagkataon lang iyon ano! Jusko. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha. Sarap bangasan nang matuto ang hinayupak."

Hindi napigilan ni Austin ang bahagyang mapatawa. "Isang word lang sinabi sa'yo ni Premiere, nakagawa ka na ng isang kabanata sa sagot mo."

"Huwag kang mangialam diyan! Isa ka pa! Bagay kayong magsamang dalawa. Parehas punyeta." Ganting sagot ni Claude.

"Aba't ako pa talaga ang punyeta--"

"Oo! Panira ka rin minsan ng araw eh. Gosh! Bakit ba ako napalibutan ng mga punyeta't taragis?"

Sumingit na ako. "Okay na ba akong magtanong sa sinabi mo? Okay na? Hindi ka na busy, Claude?" I asked her sarcastically.

Claude immediately smiled at me. "Jusko, of course kamahalan. Pwedeng pwede na."

Napailing iling na lang ako.

"You mentioned that he's following me?" I curiously asked.

Claude was about to answer me when their holographic images have gone. Nawala ang koneksyon ko sa dalawa. I tried to reconnect with them again but to no avail.

That's when I felt something outside of my terrace. I immediately hide when I saw a silhoutte from outside.

The man is wearing a hood. And he has a Katana on his left waist. The man drew the Katana out of its shealth and started to look inside of my house.

Naalala kong tinted ang glass wall ko sa may terrace. One way reflection din siya kung kaya't hindi nito makikita ang tao sa loob.

I immediately grabbed something on my side. Nahablot ko ang isang tray ng pagkain. When I tried to feel what's on it while my sight is still on the target.

I got a fork and a table knife. This is enough to protect myself.

Lumipat ako ng pwesto at sa may sofa malapit sa kama ko ako naman nagawi. I grabbed the three sofa pillow and slowly crawl on the other edge of the sofa.

The man was able to unlock the glasswall and he's now slowly peaking inside.

Since nakapatay ang ilaw. Mas wala rin siyang makikita. This is the best chance for me to catch him.

I threw one pillow towards and him and as expected he quickly released his Katana and cut the pillow into two.

Nagawa rin nitong salagin ang fork na ibinato ko matapos ang unan.

The next pillow that I threw, I threw it upwards. When his attention was on the pillow mid-air, I threw the table knife underneath him.

The man was stumble aback as the knife pierced his left shoulder. I quickly jumped-off on the sofa and did a three hundred sixty degrees roundhouse kick. The man was able to regain his posture and he grabbed my right arm.

I kicked his toe when he did that and I circled my right arm on his arms and I grabbed the nape of his shoulder. I pierced my nail on it and I put my right foot behind his right leg and I used my adrenaline to pull him while my right foot is preventing him to stand straightly.

Mabilis kong inabot ang hinding tumamang fork at mabilis iyong itinarak sa kamay ng binata.

The man screamed in pain. I'm on his top and preventing him from escaping. I groaned a bit. Malakas rin ang binata at maganda ang pangangatawan. Mahirap kapag nagtagal ito. The pain he felt is not enough for him to stop.

I am in the middle of restraining him when a sudden knocks from my door got our attention.

Doon nakakuha ng chance ang lalaki upang sipain ako at makawala. He immediately tried to pull out the fork on his palm while his groaning. I tried to stop him again but he immediately run on my terrace and jumped without any hesitation.

Sinundan ko siya ngunit nang tingnan ko kung saan ito bumagsak ay nawala ito bigla na parang bula.

That's when my door suddenly flew open.

I immediately closed my Lenses when the person reached where I was.

"Oh no, what happened? Are you okay?" It's Archilliah. Hinihingal ito at sobrang alalang alala.

She touched my shoulders and tried to look for wounds.

"I'm fine, Archilliah. I'm not harmed. How 'bout you? Are you alright?" I responded.

She let out a good sighed. "Kinabahan ako. Akala ko kung ano na. I thought kung ano na naman ang nangyari sa'yo. I thought you'll be harmed the same from what happened to them. Sa mga namatay na kaklase ko. Akala ko ikaw iyong nakita ko sa panaginip ko. Akala ko--"

She got my attention when I heard her the latter part of her words. Hindi ko mapigilang hawakan ang magkabilang balikat nito at tanungin ng isang tanong.

"A-Anong sinabi mo? Y-You saw me in your dreams? The same from what happened from those who had been killed?"

Pumintig ng sobra ang puso ko dahil sa antisipasyon sa magiging sagot nito. Magkahalong kaba at gulat ang nararamdaman ko sa narinig ko mula sa kanya.

Tama kaya ang narinig ko?

Tama ba ang iniisip ko sa sinasabi ni Archilliah?

"O-Oo, I've seen you stabbed a strange man using a fork on his palm. Akala ko totoo na. A-Akala ko totoo iyong nakita ko--"

Natigilan si Archilliah sa sinasabi nito at napagawi ang tingin sa loob ng kwarto ko.  Nakita marahil nito ang tinidor na may dugo sa sahig.

Nahihintakutan itong napatingin sa akin. Nanlalaki ang mata.

"I-It... I-It... really h-happened?"