Edward Dace.

26. August.
Thursday, 5:45 pm.
372A High Street.

I SKIPPED ALL OF MY CLASSES, like the badass rebel I knew I was. I turned all my gadgets to aeroplane mode and deactivated all my accounts. I stayed in a hotel for a few days.

I didn't want to risk running into Laevateinn or Sir Arthur Lukas. My stomach churned every single time I thought of them and their father.

Luciano Lukas.

Even the name spelt shitstorm. I hated it. The name was a fucking trigger to a nauseating series of nightmares, flashbacks, and anxiety. It threw me into a quicksand of everything I find lamentable.

One funny thing though: I have no idea why.

It's like hating cookies for no reasons at all. No matter how many times you try to logic things out, you just hate cookies. It gives you the heebie-jeebies, and you don't know why.

I came back to 372A after three days, and found Futhark and Joyeuse sitting outside my dorm room. Joyeuse was hugging his knees and staring blankly ahead, whilst Futhark was reading a book. His face lit up when he noticed me approaching.

"Ed!" He jumped to his feet and waved his hand. He startled Joyeuse, who then immediately looked devastated. Nasa sariling mundo na naman yata si drama queen.

I furrowed my brows. Laevateinn wasn't with them. "Anong ginagawa n'yo r'yan?" I took out my keys and they stepped away from the doorway for me. I wondered why Futhark didn't use the spare key I gave him.

"Ilang araw kang hindi pumasok at nagparamdam, nag-alala kami," Futhark answered.

"Talaga, pati si drama queen?" I grinned slyly.

"Futhark said I should act worried," Joyeuse replied impassively. But actually, he did seem to be telling the truth. Scratch that, he was telling the truth.

"Poor acting," I commented.

He raised an eyebrow and yet again innocently said, "But I'm not acting now."

Futhark flailed his arms around, laughing nervously. "Nag-alala rin si Joyeuse kahit papa'no, Ed. Kasama ko s'yang mag-abang para sa 'yo nitong mga nakaraang araw. S'ya rin ang nagsabing 'wag nang isama si Lae."

Joyeuse looked confused. "I did not—"

Futhark had to cover Joyeuse's mouth to save what's left of my respect for him. The drama queen, however, simply slapped Futhark's hand away and screeched in disgust.

"Hindi n'yo kailangang itaboy si Lae para lang sa 'kin." I mustered a smile. "Hindi n'ya kasalanang topakin ako."

Joyeuse rolled his eyes at Futhark. "I told you."

Futhark glared at him sideways and hissed through his teeth, "I said act worried."

"But I'm not worried. If anything else, I am annoyed."

Futhark turned to him. "Excuse me, caring for a friend is annoying?"

Without hesitation nor empathy, Joyeuse replied, "Yes." And as if he wasn't already insensitive in our eyes, he added, "But that is not why I'm annoyed."

I scoffed. "Oh, really? Then please tell me why you're annoyed because I bet the feeling is mutual, dude."

The attack did not reach Joyeuse. He said, "I'm annoyed because I am a problem-solver and Futhark refused to solve the problem."

Futhark threw his head back and spluttered in shock, "Ako pa talaga?! Ako nga ang nagsabi na puntahan natin si Edward tapos ako pa ang nag-refuse na i-solve ang problema?!"

"What will visiting Edward Dace do to solve his problem?"

I blinked. "Wow, dude. Buti ka pa, alam mo ang problema ko. Ikaw na ang matalino."

Joyeuse blinked back. "You are praising me but your tone is really sarcastic."

I stomped my foot. "I was being sarcastic! Why the hell would I praise you?!"

He didn't flinch. "Because I figured your problem out and I know how to solve it. Is that not worthy of praise? Lance said I have to be more sensitive to sentiments and here I am."

Futhark shook his head. "Dapat talaga iniwan na lang kita."

"Then how would Edward Dace know that the only way to overcome his fears and anxiety is to be a man and face this Luciano Lukas?"

Futhark frowned and said in a low voice, "Hindi 'yan madali para sa lahat ng tao. Not everyone is as strong and brave as you."

"No I think the words are "oblivious" and "obnoxious"," I corrected him.

Joyeuse stood his ground. I was surprised he didn't rebut to my insult, that was a good one. "Your problem started with Luciano."

I narrowed my eyes at him, drawling, "Eh, I'm pretty sure my problem started with you."

"No." Joyeuse was firm and certain. "You have an unresolved problem with Luciano Lukas and you're dragging the entire family into it."

"He's not my problem."

"See, we're not solving anything if you keep on lying."

"I don't even have a motherfucking clue who he is!" I turned to Futhark for sympathy. I was sure he'll understand. "I swear! All I know is that I don't like the name, the thought of him... He's a harbinger of nightmares and all these ugly feelings. And I don't understand why."

Both of them looked serious. Even Futhark's face was glum, despite his presence emanating warmth. "Hindi mo talaga kilala kung sino s'ya?"

I shook my head. "Hindi talaga."

Futhark took a deep breath before saying in his most compassionate and tender-hearted voice, "Sa kanila kayo nakatira dati ng mama mo. Katulong sa bahay ng mga Lukas ang mama mo, hanggang sa palayasin kayo."

I grimaced. Cold air ran down my spine. My ears felt numb and my stomach churned. I had to rub my arm to stop them from numbing too.

"Kanino... Kanino mo nalaman 'yan...?" I whispered, looking away.

"Kay Macey."

I didn't know what to feel. I was too busy biting the tip of my tongue to even think of a reply. I decided to shut the door close.

Oh.

27. August.
Friday, 9:00 am.
Coronado University Library.

I GATHERED ENOUGH COURAGE to attend Intro to Criminology with Sir Lance. The preparation was mentally exhausting, but at least I made it. And surprisingly, Laevateinn wasn't around. I sat beside Futhark, who was sat across Joyeuse and left of the professor's seat.

"So." Sir Lance bit his lip meditatively. His arms and legs were crossed, like the usual. "You were absent last meeting and you didn't attend your classes before this. Reason?"

"I was sick, sir," I lied.

"And Laevateinn?"

"Avoiding me, I guess." I shrugged.

"I see." Sir Lance wrote on his black notebook. One of these days, sisilipin ko na talaga kung anong sinusulat n'ya roon. "Let's start class."

••• GODSFORRENT •••

"Your project for this semester would be a Dollhouse of Death." Sir Lance started clearing all his teaching materials from the table. He ungracefully chucked them inside his bag, with the exception of the damned black notebook, which he slipped in his slack's backpocket. "I want you to capture the perfect crime."

An audible gasp escaped Joyeuse's lips. He quickly suppressed it. Futhark laughed at him. I almost did too.

I guess going to class wasn't that bad of an idea after all. For almost an hour, I was distracted. Of course I wasn't listening to Sir Lance's lecture, but at least I was distracted from the whole Luciano Lukas problem.

Aaand I was back again in the gloomy train.

"Are you listening, Edward?" Sir Lance asked.

I blinked and nodded. "Yes, sir."

"What's your project for the semester?"

"Dollhouse of Crime, capturing the perfect death."

I was sure I got it right.

"Almost, son." Sir Lance sighed and squinted his eyes at me. "Right, that's it. What's your problem?"

"Futhark stopped cooking breakfast for us," Joyeuse answered.

"I was asking Edward Dace, Jule." Sir Lance rolled his eyes.

"Hindi nga ako ang houseboy mo!" Futhark squawked.

"I was waiting for the morning coffee," Joyeuse added, solemnly.

"Hindi nga ako ang houseboy mo," Futhark repeated. Tunog iiyak na dahil sa inis.

Sir Lance swatted their heads with Futhark's notebooks. "Settle your household issues later on. We need to talk about Edward Dace."

"Why me?"

"Your performance affects Seven-Minute Semblance's performance. I have to do something. It's my duty as your adviser."

I shrank in my seat and lowered my head. "I'm sorry," I mumbled.

"I was not asking for an apology," Sir Lance said. Nagulat ako na narinig n'ya pala ako. Ang lakas ng tenga. "I am asking, what is your problem?"

"Hindi ko po alam, sir." I pressed my lips together for a smile, just to keep my composure.

Sir Lance turned to Futhark. "Kiel, what is Edward's problem?"

Futhark was rattled by the sudden question. "Si ano po, ano, 'yong—"

Sir Lance sighed and turned to Joyeuse, "Jule, tell me everything I need to know."

A smirk appeared on the corner of Joyeuse's mouth. "Everything?"

"Everything excluding Futhark's unwillingness to be your slave, or anything that doesn't involve Edward Dace."

Joyeuse rolled his eyes. "His problem is Luciano Lukas. He's being consumed by anxiety because instead of facing the problem, Edward Dace chose to avoid it and let it gnaw at him. "

I hated the way he made it sound so simple and pathetic.

"I see." Sir Lance nodded.

I stood and said, "Excuse me, sir."

"Saan ka pupunta?" Futhark asked.

"CR, sama ka?" I scoffed. Then I exhaled sharply through my nose once again—that actually felt good.

"Sit down, Edward Dace," Sir Lance ordered. He intertwined his hands, rested his elbow on the table, and squinted his eyes at me.

I immediately plopped down back to my seat. "Bakit po, sir?"

"Anong problema mo kay Luciano Lukas?" he asked.

Futhark tilted his head and arched his eyebrows empathetically. "Natatakot ka ba sa kanya, may atraso ba s'ya sa 'yo?"

"Both are possible if he lived with them for a while," Joyeuse said, reading and grimacing at Futhark's notes. Futhark slapped the notes away from Joyeuse's hands.

"Lived?" Sir Lance repeated. His face creased, as if he's heard that the first time.

Joyeuse nodded. "Yes, according to Macey Velasquez, Edward Dace's childhood friend, Edward Dace's mother was a scullery maid to the Lukas family. The incident, then, when Arthur called Edward "Dave" would make sense. Arthur was rattled."

The twinkle in Sir Lance's eyes disappeared. So did the brightness around him. He got up from his chair and took his phone out, saying, "Excuse me, I have to make a call."

"Sir, 'yong pantog ko," I said.

"Hold it. Stay there." He strode out of the library.

Coincidentally, the second Sir Lance left the room, Joyeuse's phone, which was on the table, lit up. Muntik na naming akalain na s'ya ang tinawagan ni Sir Lance, kung hindi lang namin nakita na "Elise" ang pangalan ng tumatawag.

Futhark shook his head in disbelief. "So naging kayo ni Ate Calliope and you dumped her after three days, tapos ngayon may bagong babaeng tumatawag sa 'yo?"

With his eyelids half-closed, Joyeuse replied uninterestedly, "Elise is my mother, idiot."

"Oh, bakit hindi mo sagutin?"

"We're in a library, Futhark. Answering a phone call would be inappropriate."

"Lumabas ka na."

Joyeuse laughed under his breath and raised a very posh eyebrow at Futhark, "That's quite rude, Futhark. Leaving the room during class hours, that is."

Futhark was having none of that. He looked so done. "Nilalait mo ang mga prof sa harap nila. Ikaw ang pinaka-rude na taong nakilala ko. 'Wag kang magbabago, baka sakaling manalo ka sa Guinness Book of Records at makabili ka ng houseboy gamit ang prize money."

Joyeuse glared at him for a few seconds before the drama queen grabbed his phone, stood up, and with his head held high, huffed at Futhark, "This is why hanging out with Edward Dace is bad for you, Gomez." He turned and started walking, but scurried back to add, "And just so you know, I am leaving this room to avoid you and your unwarranted sass."

Futhark just smiled and chuckled to himself as Joyeuse left the room too. He was so victorious, I was almost happy for him. Then he turned to me and asked, "Iniisip mo ba na parang ang simple lang ng pinoproblema mo?"

"Ha?" I crinkled my nose and forced laughter. "Tingin mo?"

Nangalumbaba s'ya. "Kung ia-acknowledge mo ang problema mo, kung uulit-ulitin mo sa sarili mo kung anong problema mo, tingin mo nababawasan o mas lalong bumibigat?"

I shrugged. "Hindi ko alam."

"'Pag ibang tao ang nagsasabi, sabihin nating noong si Joyeuse ang nagpaliwanag, ano?" He smiled fondly at the library door.

I sighed. "No'ng si drama queen ang nagsabi, parang ang dali lang gawan ng paraan. Sinabi na rin n'ya ang solusyon, pero hindi ko alam kung kaya kong gawin 'yong solusyon na sinasabi n'ya."

"'Wag mo munang isipin kung kaya mo o hindi. Ngayon ang kailangan naming malaman ay kung willing ka at gusto mong tapusin ang problema mo. Kasi kung tutulungan ka namin, madali nang alamin kung kaya o hindi. Alam kong kaya nating gawan ng paraan 'yan."

I chuckled and actually felt a little better. "Right, kasama natin si Joyeuse."

Futhark grinned and nodded in agreement. "Kasama natin si Joyeuse. Matalino 'yon kahit masungit, at siguradong tutulungan ka n'on. Gusto mo bang solusyunan na 'yan?"

I nodded. "Gusto."

"Hintayin natin si Joyeuse para mapagplanuhan natin ang gagawin. Kailangang makausap mo si Luciano at nang magkalinawan kayo. Sasamahan ka namin." He smiled again.

That was when I didn't feel so alone.

Sir Lance entered the library, his brows meeting. I felt that the phone call didn't go so well. He sat down on his seat, bit his lip, and sighed through his nose.

Futhark and I glanced at each other before Futhark asked, "Okay lang po ba kayo, sir?"

"Jule went home," Sir Lance replied, darkly.

"Lumabas lang, dumeretso uwi na?" I asked. Unbelievable.

"It was an emergency."

Futhark and I gasped.

"Emergency? Saan po s'ya umuwi?" Futhark asked.

"Pampanga." Sir Lance shook his head and changed the subject. "Let's not worry about him. Edward," he turned to me, but I avoided his grave stare, "avoid Luciano Lukas at all costs."

I faced him, my eyes wide. "Avoid him?"

"Kahit anong mangyari, 'wag mo s'yang kakausapin."

"Pero plano po namin s'yang sugurin."

"What?" Sir Lance furrowed his brows.

Futhark immediately said, "Wala po, sir. Nagbibiro lang po si Edward."

Sir Lance stood. This must be the first time I've seen him look tired and serious. It was a different kind of serious from his normal scary serious. Or his smug serious. Nag-away ba sila ni Sir Arthur? Dahil ba kay Joyeuse? O dahil sa 'kin?

"Kiel, keep an eye on your team mates. Class dismissed." Sir Lance gave us a chill corner lip smile before he left, but he still seemed problematic.

I sighed.

"Hindi pa natin nasisimulan ang pag-iisip ng plano natin, nahadlangan na kaagad tayo," I told Futhark. "Ang sabi ni Sir Lance, 'wag kakausapin o lalapitan si Luciano. Ano nang gagawin natin, wala si Joyeuse."

I noticed a subtle frown peering from the corner of Futhark's lips. "Nandito pa naman ako...?"

Both of us were unconvinced with that.

We heard a hearty laugh from the table behind ours, like an elfish child's, on a Christmas day. I had the feeling that the laugh was meant for us, so I turned—ready to give the boy with the Jesse McCartney laugh a good beating.

It was Nicholas James.

The mental preparation combusted inside my gut. I frowned at him. "Perkele, stalker kang gago ka?"

Futhark turned with a gasp, shock flickering in his eyes.

"Not so strong without the other two, huh?" Nicholas tilted his head, his face bright from amusement. It wasn't the refreshing brightness, it was sickening.

I glared at him. "Nilait-lait ka lang namin sa Churros Shop noon, tingin mo matatakot kami sa 'yo ngayon?"

Nicholas suppressed laughter. "Are you intimidated?"

Futhark scowled. "Anong kailangan mo, bakit ka nandito?"

With weird, childish waves of his hands, Nicholas replied, "Checking in on my favourite people! Are you really called Seven-Minute Semblance now? After that wonderful seven minutes when you figured out what happened to the stolen funds?"

"Kanino mo nalaman 'yan?" I asked. I looked around to make sure nobody else was eavesdropping.

He grinned and raised his shoulders. "Are you feeling lonely that Jule and the tall-scary-human-apple-boy-thing-whatever aren't here with you? And are you feeling annoyed that Futhark is useless?"

"No!" I quickly covered my mouth. We're in a library, right.

I glanced at Futhark to tell him that I didn't think he was useless, but realisation washed over him. He whispered audibly, "Ikaw ba ang dahilan kung bakit umuwi si Joyeuse sa Pampanga?"

Nicholas shook his head but he looked giddy. "Of course not, silly sweetcheeks. The scary professor said Jule had to attend to a "family emergency" and I am most decidedly not a family member."

"Joyeuse said you destroyed his family," I said in a low voice. "How can we be sure that you're not separating the four of us?" I scoffed. "You're separating us because you know you can't bring us down if we're all together."

"Wrong," Nicholas said firmly. He smiled, but there were no longer expressions in his eyes. "You isolated yourself all by your own. Then Laevateinn? Who knows how that monster thinks. I can't wait for you to push Futhark away. After all, you're the one separating the four of you."

"T-That's not true," I spluttered. "You knew—you knew my past, you've read about..." I trailed off. My hands were shaking. The need to leave grew stronger.

I sprang to my feet. Futhark grabbed my arm and said in a gentle voice, "Kumalma ka lang, Edward."

I snatched my hand back.

Nicholas giggled, "If you wanna know more, meet me at the place where we drank tea and ate cake, like best friends."

"Don't listen to him, Edward," Futhark said firmly. He fixated his eyes on mine, but I simply muttered "sorry" and ran away.

••• GODSFORRENT •••

Sender: SMS_Madam Rosa
Receiver: The Great and Power

'wag mong pupuntahan si Nicholas. >:(

Sender: The Great and Power
Receiver: SMS_Madam Rosa

Wala akong balak. I just feel like sleeping all afternoon.

Sender: SMS_Madam Rosa
Receiver: The Great and Power

Text kung may kailangan ka ok :)

Sender: The Great and Power
Receiver: SMS_Madam Rosa

Hapunan.

Sender: SMS_Madam Rosa
Receiver: The Great and Power

Pde agahan na lang bukas? ^^"

I SMILED RUEFULLY at my phone.

I'm sorry, Futhark. I'm actually in front of the tea shop where we got Nicholas's cup fixed. I have to know more.

I took a deep breath before I pushed the door open. The chimes rang and the Celtic music swirled around me as I stepped inside. There were new additions to the shop, like the solitary arcade machine near the record player.

I trod further, looking for Nicholas James.

"I can't believe you actually came!" Nicholas greeted happily, waving from one of the shop's booths. He was having a little tea party with the flower vases and a white rabbit stuff toy.

I exhaled through my nose before I slipped into the seat in front of him. "I need answers," I said sternly.

He chuckled. "Straight to the point, aren't we?"

"You said I need to be braver. Here I am."

He pointed at the white rabbit with his knife. "Everything I know, and possibly everything you need to know is in that flashdrive."

I raised an eyebrow and lifted the toy up. "This rabbit is a flashdrive?"

"No, the flashdrive is inside that cute wittle wabbit." Nicholas slid his knife across the table. "You have to kill the white rabbit to get what you want."

I mused at him and the knife. "I don't trust you."

He laughed heartily and took a sip of his tea. "Brilliant decision, really."

"May kapalit ang flashdrive na 'to, ano?"

"Of course."

"What do you want?"

He stared. Seriously. Menacingly. My spine tingled.

"I want you to leave the initiative. Drop the curriculum. Leave this place. Forget Seven-Minute Semblance."

Cold air gushed into our booth. It was almost as if I suddenly had an ice bucket bath I most certainly did not bargain for.

"No," I replied, almost in a whisper. "I won't leave."

He kept a smile.

"I won't leave the initiative," I repeated. "I'm sure there are other ways to get this flashdrive."

"Like what?"

"Pwede kong ingudngod ang mukha mo sa cake na kinakain mo at itakbo ang stuff toy na 'to."

He gasped, but excitement still seeped through every bit of his actions. "No, you'll get shot!"

I threw the rabbit back at him. "What do you mean shot?"

He set the rabbit on his lap, the poor toy shaking as Nicholas vibrated with laughter. "You think I'll travel alone whilst having a confidential document with me?"

I instinctively looked around and checked where the CCTVs are located. In my peripherals, I noticed the silhouettes of two large men standing by the shop's entrance.

"Are you going to kill me?" was what escaped my mouth at that moment.

"Oh no, I'm not going to hurt you. I don't wanna hurt you." Nicholas shook his head reassuringly. "I might've shot Jule but that's completely on him."

"Binaril mo si Joyeuse?!" I stood abruptly.

He blinked with confusion from what he said. "Calm down, that was a long time ago."

"Why would you do that?!" I slowly sat back down. "Bakit may baril ka? What are you, really?"

He raised his tea cup, as if asking for a toast. "I'm just a lost boy looking for my place in Wonderland."

I resisted the urge to hit him.

I failed. My hand flew across the table and hit his head really hard. It made a loud pak! sound. I pulled my hand back and shrieked, "PERKELE, SORRY—"

He was shocked. He stared at me for a few seconds before he blinked and placed his hands on his head. The pain sank in later. "WHY WOULD YOU HIT ME?!"

"Automatic ang kamay ko kapag nakakarinig ng kakornihan?!"

"IT HURT!"

"Masakit din sa kamay!"

"WHY DID IT SOUND SO HOLLOW?!"

"Walang laman ang ulo mo?!"

He turned red and in fury threw cake icing at me. I threw what I could salvage from the icing back at him and screeched in disgust. We had a rally and we tried to wrestle each other, and the racket we made alarmed the bodyguards Nicholas brought with him.

They marched inside the shop and caught Nicholas and I desperately rubbing icing at each other's faces. They were both bald and wearing sunglasses. Their physique had "security" plastered all over, but their Hawaiian shirts and khaki shorts screamed vacation.

I quickly raised both of my hands, releasing Nicholas's collar. I was winning, and having two bulky European bodyguards to threaten me seemed unfair.

One bodyguard dude glared at me, possibly attempting to melt me through those sunglasses, whilst the other one spoke, "Mad Hatter?" and checked if Nicholas was fine.

I slumped back on my seat. A bodyguard gave Nicholas a hanky to wipe his face with. I told them, "I wasn't hurting him. Please don't hurt me."

Both glowered at me and I pushed myself further into the booth. My mouth went dry.

Nicholas braced the white rabbit toy closer to him. "That was fun." He chortled. Then he looked down at his clothes and frowned. "This is my favourite shirt." He turned to me, "You ruined my favourite shirt."

"Let's go, Hatter," bodyguard dude said, nudging Nicholas and leading him out of the booth.

The bodyguards called him Mad Hatter.

Nicholas raised and shook the rabbit's paw as if waving goodbye. "I'll give you time to think, Edward Dace. If you made up your mind, contact me."

He used the rabbit's paws to pick a card from his pocket, and placed it in front of me. "Ciaooo." He smiled and walked out with the bodyguards.

I have Nicholas James's contact details.