I arrived at the banquet hall wearing a cream floor-length fitted stringed cross-back gown, emhasizing every curve of my body. I paired it with a black half mask and a purse.

I can't believe I'm here, attending this fucking gathering.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip ni Lolo at nasabi niya ang kung ano man ang nasabi niya kanina. Agad ako nitong tinalikuran at dahil sa mga bagay na pumasok sa aking isip ay hindi ko na nagawang habulin si Lolo.

I don't know how to react on his statement. I should laughed because we all know where my daughter is right now. She's at the mausoleum, sleeping peacefully. But someone's telling me that my Lolo knew something that I don't and when he told me that he knew where my daughter is, he's not pertaining the mausoleum.

I don't know how to explain what I'm feeling. I should be mad at him for using my daughter for me to follow his orders.

But I just found my self preparing for the gathering. One thing is for sure, I want to know what my Lolo's talking about.

I remember Creed told me to just call him if I changed my mind but I didn't bother.

I looked around the banquet hall. Who would have thought that this hall is full of criminals? The banquet hall is designed with elegant decorations and beige is conquering the whole hall.

Sarkastiko akong napatawa sa aking loob, siguro naman ay hindi ako nagmumukhang dekorasyon dahil sa suot ko.

I was walking graciously when someone bumped me. "Fuck! Sorry, Miss," The man apologized without looking at me. "Is that Mirae?" Rinig kong bulong nito bago tuluyang makalayo sa akin.

The man seemed familiar but I can't remember who is he because his face is covered with mask.

Napakunot ang aking noo dahil sa narinig. Mirae? Imposible, baka ibang Mirae ang tinutukoy niya.

I can't see someone I know, hindi ko alam kung dahil lang ba iyon sa maskarang suot ng lahat o wala lang talaga akong kakilala sa mga narito.

I tried to find Creed, siguro ay nandito na iyon.

I roamed around the venue for a few minutes but I can't find him. I grabbed my phone on my purse and tried to call his number but it is unattended.

I sighed as I rolled my eyes. Binalik ko sa loob ng purse ang phone at muling inilibot ang tingin.

Nanliit ang aking mga mata nang dumako ang tingin ko sa isang table. Pamilyar ang mga nakaupo roon ngunit hindi ko matanto kung sino ang mga iyon dahil sa maskarang tumatakip sa mga mukha nila. Akmang lalapit ako nang makita ko si Creed ngunit nabaling ang tingin ko sa babaeng tumayo mula roon. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali, that's Mirae!

May dumaan sa harapan ko at agad kong nakilala kung sino iyon. I encircled my arms around Vynz's arm. He turned to me with his cold eyes, akmang tatanggalin niya ang kamay ko sa kanyang braso ngunit diniinan ko ang kapit doon. "Mirae's here." Hindi ko na ito hinayaang makasagot at agad na humarap sa direksyon kung nasaan si Mirae.

She was walking elegantly when I met her eyes.

"Mirae? Its you, Mirae!" Tawag ko sa atensyon niya. I smiled so wide when I caught her glancing on Vynz. I saw her eyes went down to my hands on Vynz's arm.

"Look who's my partner, its Vynz!" Masiglang sambit ko kay Mirae. I almost rolled my eyes when I caught them staring at each other.

"Anyway, why are you here? I mean, sinong kasama mo? You don't know this place, Mirae. Hindi ito ang lugar mo," Nakangising sambit ko at doon naputol ang titigan ng dalawa. I have a hunch but I don't want to conclude.

"Actually it's your fiancé, Creed." She touched her lips. Umakto itong nagulat. "Sorry, ex-fiancé pala," She apologetically muttered. Nawala ang ngisi ko dahil sa sinabi niya. I knew it, si Creed ang nagsama sa kanya rito.

Mapanuya akong tumawa. "Are you kidding me? Creed loathes you so much and remember, pinili niya ako over you." Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko nasabi iyon ngunit dahil na rin siguro sa inis.

Hindi ito nakasagot dahil sa pamilyar na boses na tumawag sa kanya.

"Mirae! I told you to wait for me," Creed in his black tuxedo said. Napako ang tingin ko kay Creed. I turned to Mirae when she encircled her hands around Creed's arm. Hindi pa ito nakuntento at humilig sa balikat ni Creed.

"Your ex-fiancee is here, greet her." Doon nabaling ang tingin sa akin ni Creed. His gaze turned to Vynz then it goes down on my hand encircled on Vynz's arm.

"Creed," I called when I saw how his eyes turned into cold one as his jaw clenched. I almost rolled my eyes because of that. Sa aking loob ay sarkastiko akong napatawa. May pamalit agad siya matapos kong tanggihan ang kanyang alok. Paano pala kung tinawagan ko siya kanina at sinabing pupunta ako. So his date would be me and Mirae?

"Vinia, wha-" Agad kong pinutol ang anumang sasabihin niya.

"If I were you, hindi ko isasama ang babaeng 'yan dito," I muttered looking straight at Creed's eyes.

"Atleast hindi niya ako nakalimutan, right? How about you? Fiancee ka pero pinili ka lang kalimutan," Mirae smirked and I raised my brow up on her but deep inside, I'm offended.

"Mirae," Saway ni Creed kay Mirae.

Mapangasar akong napangiti. "See? Hanggang ngayon ako ang kinakampihan niya kaysa sayo."

"I'm not in favor of anyone, I just want the two of you to stop this nonsense." Creed muttered in a cold and firm way. My eyes almost widened because of what he said. Lalo lang akong nainis kay Creed dahil doon.

"Yeah, pigilan mo si Mirae. Kapag ako hindi nakapagpigil, maybe I'll kill her later tonight." And that was just pure words, I'm not planning to kill anyone. Besides, Mirae is still my sister.

I felt Vynz leaned on my ear. "Try and I'll kill you in any ways I know," He whispered and I felt my eyes widened. Pakiramdam ko ay nagtayuan ang balahibo ko sa sinabi ni Vynz. Agad naman akong nakabawi at pinaikot ang itim ng mga mata at sinamaan ng tingin si Mirae.

"You'll kill me later? You know I can kill you right here, right now ng walang nakakapansin. I'm always ahead on you, Lavinia. Kaylan mo ba 'ko nalamangan? Wala hindi ba? Be careful on your food or drinks, maybe it will be your last." I was shocked after hearing Mirae's words and she shook her head. "But don't be nervous! It's a truce day so I won't do it. I understand the word truce so I won't kill anyone tonight. Good evening Lavinia.... and Vynz. Enjoy the night. If you'll excuse us we'll go ahead." Mahabang litanya ni Mirae.

Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Vynz at akmang tatanggalin niya ang kamay ko sa braso niya ngunit agad ko na iyong inunahan. I removed my hands around his arm.

Vynz said something, more like threatened me before leaving but I'm too preoccupied too understand it.

Something's wrong, the way Mirae tell those words sounds like killing for her is normal.

Now I'm thinking if Mirae knew that almost all of the people here are criminals.

A woman who knew nothing won't give threats the way Mirae threatened me a while ago.

"Lavinia!" Inilibot ko ang aking tingin nang may narinig akong tumawag sa akin.

I turned around and met Lucille's eyes. She approached me wearing a red plunging neckline gown and her mask, with her bloody red lips. Bumagay naman iyon sa kanya.

"Hindi mo sinabi sa akin na pupunta ka!" Bungad niya nang makalapit sa akin.

My brow arched. "You didn't tell me you'll come either."

"Luka! Wala naman kasi akong planong pumunta rito." Pasimple niyang inilibot ang tingin at muling ibinalik sa akin ang atensyon.

"Same. Sinong kasama mo?" I asked and she rolled her eyes. Based on her reaction, I already know the answer.

"Itago mo nga ako." Umakto pa itong nagkukubli sa akin.

I chuckled as I playfully rolled my eyes. "As if naman."

"Vinia." I heard a familiar voice called my name.

"Oops! I can see the old man approaching, bye Lavinia, see you around!" Paalam ni Lucille at bigla nalang itong nawala. My eyes narrowed, I don't know if that is really her reason.

Someone held my arms, kaya naman napaharap ako sa direksyon na iyon.

I met Creed's cold eyes and I immediately raised my brow up on him. "What?"

"Let's talk somewhere." He muttered in a firm way as he tilted his head.

Hindi na ako nakipagtalo at sinunod na ang sinabi niya. Nilagpasan ko siya at nagtungo sa direksyon kung nasaan ang parte ng hall na iilan lang tao.

I rolled my eyes when I felt his hand on my waist.

He leaned on my ear and whispered. "You told me you weren't coming."

"That doesn't mean you have to find someone who can replace me as your partner," Mariing sambit ko habang patuloy sa paglakad at diretso ang tingin.

"What are you talking about?"

Nang napansin ko na iilang lang na bisita ang nasa paligid namin ay doon ko siya hinarap. "Mirae." Iyon lang ang sinabi ko matapos magtama ang aming tingin.

"What about Mirae?" Naguguluhang tanong niya sa akin.

"You even brought her here," I muttered as I rolled my eyes.

"What? Even if I-" Kunot noong sambit nito bago natigilan na para bang may naalala. "Fuck!" He cursed.

"Mirae is a friend, Vinia." Namumungay ang mga mata niyang diretsong nakatingin sa akin.

"Whatever," I muttered nonchalantly.

"Then why are you with that Devaughne?" Nahimigan ko ang sarkasmo sa paraan ng pagtatanong niya. "You said you weren't coming, yet I saw you with that man." Pakiramdam ko ay mangangatal ako dahil sa lamig ng boses ni Creed.

"Vynz is just a friend, Creed." Panggagaya ko sa sinabi niya kanina.

"Don't fool me, he's not your friend."

Umakto akong gulat matapos ay tinaasan siya ng kilay. "Oh? Friends na kami, kanina lang."

"The way you held on his arm doesn't look like you two were friends."

"Back to you," I whispered.

"What?"

"The way Mirae held on your arm as she leaned on your shoulder doesn't look like you two were friends either." Puno ng sarkasmong sambit ko rito.

He pinched the bridge of his nose as he shut his eyes closed. Nang dumilat siya ay agad na nagtama ang aming tingin. "Mirae is just a friend." I rolled my eyes as I avoided his gaze.

"Look at me, Vinia." Marahang sambit niya ngunit hindi ko iyon pinansin.

"She's here because she's part of this and not because I brought her here," He sighed. "Come on, baby, look at me." Marahan ang pagsambit niya sa bawat salita.

I turned to him with sharp eyes and was about to answer when I heard my phone started ringing. Hindi ako nagdalawang isip na tingnan ang phone at sagutin iyon. Hindi na ako nagabalang lumayo kay Creed.

"Mom--" Agad akong napahinto nang marinig ang paghikbi niya.

"Mommy, what happened?" Lumayo na ako kay Creed at naglakad patungo sa labasan. Desidido akong makauwi matapos marinig ang mga hikbi ni Mommy. Naramdaman ko ang pagsunod sa akin ni Creed. Lumingon ako dito, kasabay noon ang pagpigil ng pamilyar na lalaki kay Creed. "We need to go, Dasher's--" Iyon lang ang narinig ko sa sinabi nito dahil tuluyan na akong nakalayo sa dalawa.

"Si Papa...h-he's ambushed," My mother sobbed. Bigla akong nangatal dahil sa sinabi ni Mommy.

"Where are you? S-send me the address, Mommy." Iyon na lang naisagot ko. What happened to Lolo? Is it because of mafia again? Of course Vinia, why are you even asking that. You already know the answer.

Dirediretso akong lumabas ng hall at nagtungo sa direksyon ng sasakyan ko. Hindi ko na alam kung nasaan si Creed ngunit hindi ko na iyon inisip pa. Besides, the way the man approached Creed a while ago looks like they also have a problem.

May pumasok na mensahe sa aking telepono mula kay Mommy. I opened it and saw an address of a familiar hospital. Alterio Medical Hospital.

My phone started ringing again as I maneuvered the car. Nang makita ko kung sino ang tumatawag ay hindi ko na iyon sinagot. Muli itong nagingay ngunit hindi ko na iyon binalingan ng pansin.

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