Kairo's POV

After the shocking news, I tried my best to calm everyone down. Kahit kagabi pa ako binabagabag ng mga narinig ko sa usapan nila Dad, pinilit kong 'wag muna iyong isama sa nangyayari ngayon.

Nauna na sina Mom at Hiara sa condo unit ni Tita Lux kasi nabalitaan ni Mommy na naroon si Daddy Ashler while I stayed at our house because of Luna. I am worried about her. She hasn't stopped crying since the moment she knew about her Mom.

I can't blame her though, even though my biological father died when I was 7 months old. Hindi naman ako nagkulang sa pagmamahal ng isang tatay, Dad Ash was there for me, but I just sometimes wish that my father was there.

Nilapitan ko si Luna at binigyan ng tubig, "drink some water. Crying dehydrates you." I told her at tinanggap niya naman iyon at nang maubos niya 'yon, bigla na naman siyang umiyak and I didn't know what to do anymore.

I hate seeing people cry, because sometimes I don't know what to do to comfort them.

"I look stupid, huh?" She wiped her tears off her face then looked at me. I turned to her and gave her my full attention. Maybe she's ready to talk to me now.

"No, don't say that. It's normal to release the pain by crying, Luna." I told her and she gulped.

"Grabe, Kai, 'no? We'll never know talaga kung hanggang kailan natin makakasama or makakausap 'yung isang tao," She smiled weakly at me. "Kausap ko lang si Mommy kagabi eh. I know she seemed like a bad person. An antagonist. But, she's the best person I could ever have."

"Luna, I don't really know what to say. I know it will be hard at first but it will get better. I know it will. You can cry, it's fine. Just know that I'll be here with you... right beside you until you heal from this wound, okay?" tumango naman siya sa akin and averted her gaze from me.

"She told me that she's happy for me," Luna chuckled. "Kasi, I finally got to meet my father. And she hoped na sana, kahit papaano ay nabawasan na no'n ang sakit na dinadala ko simula pa—"

She broke down in tears before she could even finish what she was saying. I didn't really know what to do so I hugged her.

Wala naman akong magagawa para maibsan 'yung dinadala niya. I believe that there's nothing I could ever do that will help her to make her feel better.

"Luna, you have to rest your eyes. You've been crying for almost 30 minutes, I don't want you to get sick because you cried too much. Come sleep in my room." dahan dahan ko naman siyang hinila papunta sa kwarto ko. I tucked her in bed and waited for her to sleep.

It took her 20 minutes until she fell asleep so I texted Mom that I'm on my way there.

Masyadong lumilipad ang utak ko habang nagdadrive, kapag nga nakarating ako roon hindi ko alam kung sino una kong kakausapin tungkol sa nangyari.

But I do know that I want to feed my curiosity as to why my Dad and Tito Theo were talking last night about something that may or may not involve them in what happened to Tita Lux.

When I arrived nakipag beso ako kay Mommy at sakto may kausap siya mga police officers pati na rin mga detectives para aralin ang magiging kaso.

"Do you know where Ashler Miranza and Theodore Clemente are?" tanong ni Mommy sa akin at ang dalawang pulis naman ay nagtinginan muna bago sagutin si Mommy.

"Nasa police station po ang asawa niyo, ma'am." sabi nung isa at agad naman ako nagtaka pero sa isang iglap ay agad akong sumakay sa aking kotse at pinuntahan si Jordyn. Nagbabakasakaling may mapala ako sa kanya.

I parked my car immediately and rushed to her dorm unit. Kumatok naman ako ng maraming beses bago niya ako pinagbuksan. She was too confused to even function, kagigising niya lang din ata ulit sa kanyang tulog kaya dumiretso na lang ako sa pag pasok.

"K-Kai?!"

"Anong kinalaman ng Daddy mo sa nangyari kay Tita Lux?" I straight-forwardly asked her.

"What are you saying?" She asked, confused. "Ano bang sinasabi mo? Bakit ka ba narito?!"

Huminga ako nang malalim at ikinalma ang sarili ko. Tinalikuran ako ni Jordyn at umupo sa kama niya. Sumunod ako sa kanya at umupo sa sofa sa tapat niya.

"Tita Lux is found lifeless in her condo unit," I tried to explain what's happening since it's like she's completely lost.

"Huh?!" She reacted. "Why? Sino gumawa? At ano naman ang kinalaman ni Dad doon?"

So, she really is clueless.

"Last night, I heard Dad and Tito Theo talking and planning about something—"

Tumayo si Jordyn mula sa pagkakaupo niya.

"It doesn't make any sense, Kai. Are you accusing my Dad? Magkausap pala sila ng Daddy mo eh," She already sound so frustrated. "Ibig sabihin, pati Daddy mo, kasama—"

"Daddy namin ni Hiara," I corrected her.

"Why are you bringing up Hiara?!" She screamed.

"I just made it clear just so you know," I scoffed. Siya naman ay parang aligagang aligaga dahil sa balitang ibinagsak ko sa kanya.

I should've probably just texted her before I went here para hindi siya nagulat sa akin. Pero kailangan ko makakuha ng sagot, bakit sila nag uusap tungkol kay Tita Lux no'n?

I got up before I forced Jordyn to look at me, "Get changed. We're going to get some answers." agad naman siya pumasok sa closet.

Lumapit naman ako sa dog bed ni Kaidyn at nang makita niya ako ay agad siyang tumayo at lumapit sa'kin. "Hi baby, did you miss Dad?" I asked her and she barked.

After a few minutes lumabas na si Jordyn and she was wearing a black flare pants partnered with a white loose cropped top.

I stared at her and I surveyed her top to bottom because she's... still pretty as hell.

"Let's go," pag aya ko sa kanya at tumango naman siya.

It was like instinct when I held her hand. Nagtaka naman siya pero hindi siya bumitaw, nakarating kami sa kotse at sinabihan ko siya na mag seatbelt at sinunod niya lang din ako.

Pinaandar ko ang kotse nang mabilis at dumiretso na sa presinto kung nasaan sila Dad at Tito Theo. When we arrived, nandoon na rin sila Mom at Hiara. Confusion was visible in their eyes, probably because I came with Jordyn.

"Babe?" Hiara called Jordyn.

Agad naman pumunta sa kanya si Jordyn at yumakap. Then she took a glance at her Dad.

"Dad, bakit ka nandito?" Jordyn asked. "What did you do? Anong sinasabi ni Kairo?"

"Anak—"

Hindi na pinatapos ng mga pulis magsalita si Tito Theo, instead they answered her question.

"You must be his daughter," panimula ng isang police officer. "Sakto ang pagdating niyo para isahan na lang namin sasabihin."

Lahat kami ay itinuon ang atensyon sa kanya. There was a moment of silence before the officer continued speaking.

"Based on the CCTV footage na nireview ng mga kasamahan ko, Theodore Clemente was seen entering the victim, Lux Avery Sandoval's condo unit," the officer stated.

"What?!" Jordyn immediately reacted. "That's pure bullshit. Dad, what is he talking about?!"

I turned my attention to Tito Theo whose head was lowered. Is he avoiding our gaze? So, guilty nga siya? Tama nga ang mga hinala ko? Pero bakit? Ginawa ba nila 'yon dahil sa tingin nila ay aayos ang buhay nila ng wala si Tita Lux?

"Babe, calm down," Hiara tried and put her hands on Jordyn's shoulder. "Let the officer finish talking."

"Ilang minuto lang, base ulit sa CCTV footage, nahagip na lumabas si Clemente na hindi mapalagay at may dugo ang mga kamay—"

And before we know it, hindi pinatapos ni Tito Theo ang nagsasalita at tumayo siya saka inihampas ang mga palad na may posas sa mesa.

"Ilang beses ko ba kailangan ipaliwanag na hindi ako ang pumatay kay Lux?!" He shouted. "I saw her lying down, drowning in her own blood!"

"Hinahanapan ka namin ng ebidensya ngunit wala kang maiharap sa amin. Ang kutsilyo na nasa crime scene ay mayroong fingerprint mo. Paano mo 'yon maipapaliwanag?" The officer asked.

Nanahimik si Tito Theo at yumuko na lang. I saw how stress we all are with what's happening.

"Dad, ano?! Bakit hindi ka nagsasalita?" Jordyn urged her Dad. "Prove them that you're not guilty! And that you're not capable of doing such things!"

Her voice isn't stable now. It's like she's gonna cry any minute now. I want to comfort her. I want to hug her, oh God.

"Sir, hinding hindi po 'yan kaya gawin ng tatay ko," pakikiusap ni Jordyn sa pulis. "Hindi po ganoong tao ang tatay ko, please po—"

"Jordyn, stop it, anak," Tito Theo suddenly spoke. "Oo, inaamin ko.. I came to Lux's condo unit with the motive to kill her—"

"What?!" pasigaw na tanong ni Mommy.

"Dad.." Jordyn cried.

Halos manlumo ako sa narinig ko. He came to Tita Lux's unit to kill her? For what? Tila nanghihina ang mga tuhod ko. So, tama nga ang kutob ko sa usapan nila ni Dad.

"Pero hindi ako ang pumatay sa kanya. Kahit itaya ko pa ang buhay ko, hindi ako ang pumatay kay Lux," Tito Theo explained. "I came there to kill her para patahimikn siya dahil ayaw ko nang masira niya pa ang pamilya nila Kianna—"

"May motibo ka pa rin na patayin siya! Anong kabobohan naman 'yon?!" sambit muli ni Mommy. This stress and anger is not good for her. I was about to walk towards her when we heard a loud slap. Mom slapped Tito Theo and he deserved that. How dare he reasoned us out?

"Fuck you, Theo!" sigaw ni Mommy. "Don't you dare drag my family into the mess that you're planning! I don't even know you anymore!"

"Kianna, I was going to do it for your family's sake! Alam ko kung gaano ka nadurog nang nawala si Elliot sa'yo at nabuwag ang pamilya niyo," Tito Theo tried to explain. "At ayaw ko nang maranasan mo ulit 'yon. Hindi pwedeng mawala din si Ashler sa'yo."

Mom scoffed. She looked at Tito Theo with disbelief in her eyes.

"At ano ang naisip mo? Pumatay ng tao?" Mom asked him sarcastically. "Tinanggap ko na si Luna. Kahit masakit, pinipilit kong tanggapin dahil anak pa rin siya ni Hale. Katulad na lang nu'ng ginawa niya na pagtanggap kay Kairo."

Nakita ko kung paano tumulo ang luha mula sa mga mata ng nanay ko pati na rin kay Tito Theo. Binalingan ko ng tingin si Jordyn na inaalalayan ni Hiara dahil hindi siya makapaniwala sa mga narinig niya.

"Walang kasalanan si Luna! Wala kang karapatan na pagkaitan ng nanay si Luna at mas lalong wala kang karapatan na pumatay ng tao!" Mom screamed, crying. "I don't know you anymore, Theo. Hindi na ikaw 'yung kaibigan na nakilala ko noon simula pa lang nang iwan mo si Jordyn at ang asawa mo. Nararapat kang mabulok sa kulungan."

With that, Mom left. Susundan ko dapat siya dahil nag-aalala ako sa kalagayan niya ngunit agad naman sumunod sa kanya si Dad.

We were left here. I don't even know what to say or how to react. Ayaw magsink-in sa akin lahat ng nangyari at narinig ko

"Jordyn, anak," Tito Theo reached for her daughter pero kaagad na umiwas si Jordyn.

"Ilang beses mo na kami pinahirapan ni Mama. You've let us down numerous times pero palagi ka pa rin namin gustong tanggapin," Jordyn said, stopping herself from crying. "All my life, ginusto kitang hanapin kasi pinagkaitan mo ako ng pagmamahal at pag-aaruga mo eh pero ngayon? Nagsisisi na ako—"

"Anak naman—"

"Sana hindi na lang kita hinanap ulit ka.. kasi panibagong bigat lang 'yung binigay mo sa akin eh," Tears fell down from her eyes. "Handa akong ipagtanggol ka, Dad. Pero kung ikaw na mismo 'yung mali, hinding hindi kita ipagtatanggol. To be honest, I'm embarrassed to even have your last name."

Hindi na napigilan ni Jordyn na umiyak. She covered her face from crying then later on, hinila na siya ni Hiara papaalis sa lugar. Hindi ko alam kung saan sila pupunta pero bahala na.

I was left there alone with Tito Theo and the officers. I don't have any words left to say to him but I guess I have to try.

"Tito, siguro naman alam mo na deserve mo lahat ng salita na natanggap mo," panimula ko. "Having the motive to kill someone? You're damn dangerous. Hindi mo man lang naisip ang bigat na dadalhin ng anak mo? How selfish of you. It's like you're a different person."

Yumuko siya para maiwasan ang titig ko sa kanya. Oh, right. I have to still clear one thing.

"Tell me, is Dad involved in your messed up plan?" I asked him with all seriousness. "Answer me."

Itinaas niya ang ulo niya, dahilan para magtama ang tingin namin. Hindi ako nagpatinag at mas tinibayan ang titig ko sa kanya. I raised my brow, waiting for his answer.

"I know you know, Kairo," He whispered.. "Alam kong narinig mo ang usapan namin ng Dad mo."

Pagkatapos niyang bumulong sa akin, kinuha na siya ng mga pulis at inilagay sa likod ng rehas. Tumingin pa ulit siya sa akin at ngumisi.

I guess I'll take that as a yes?