Ully woke up earlier than Stella was still fast asleep. He sat on the couch while drinking some coffee he bought from the vending machine just outside the building. 

While sipping his coffee, tumapon naman ang pag-iisip niya sa nangyari kagabi kay Stella. She doesn't usually do it alone lalo na sa kalagitnaan ng gabi. Pero inisip na lamang ni Ully na baka hindi lang makatulog ito kagabi kaya ang ending ay napuyat ito.

Masyadong marami nang nangyayari sa Freymount at hindi na nila dadagdagan pa ang mga problema at haka haka.

Mayamaya lamang ay nakrinig si Ully ng katok mula sa pintuan. Tumayo naman ito sa kinauupuan para daluhan ang taong nasa kabilang banda ng pinti. Napakunot-noo na lamang ito nang bumungad ang isang babae.

"Ah... uhm... ano 'yon?"

"You're Ulric Harwell, 'di ba?" tanong nito na agad namang tinanguan ni Ully. "Magkasama ba kayo ni Stella Escott ngayon?"

"Uh... yeah. She's still sleeping," sagot nito. "Para saan ba 'to?"

"Oh! I'm sorry! I should've introduced myself first, but I'm not sure kung natatandaan mo pa ako. I'm Felina, Chieftain Clements secretary. I came here personally kasi may ibabalita akong something good para sa inyong dalawa. Kung gising lang si Stella, it would be good though."

"Okay, teka. Gising ko lang siya," sagot ni Ully at tinalikuran ang babae para puntahan si Stella at gising ito.

Napakamot si Ully sa ulo habang ginigising si Stella. Panigurado kasing masisira na naman ang mood nito. Unti-unti namang ginising ni Ully si Stella. She's mumbling words na hindi naman naiintidnihan ni Ully pero hinahanda na rin niya ang kanyang sarili dahil baka bungangaan siya nito. Kay aga-aga.

At tama nga siya nang imulat ni Stella ang kanyang mata na nanlilisik. Napalunok na lamang si Ully ng laway niya.

"Ano ba 'yan, Ully? Natutulog pa ako e! Ano na namang meron?"

"I'm sorry at ayoko talagang istorbohin ka pero may naghahanap kasi sa 'yo. Sa ating dalawa. Nasa labas siya naghihintay at hidni ko alam kung para saan iyon."

"Sino naman 'yon? " iritadong tanong ni Stella kasabay ng pagtaas ng kilay nito.

"Felina she said."

Mas kumunot ang mukha ni Stella. "At sino naman 'yan?"

"She said she was Chieftain Clements secretary—" Hindi na natapos ni Ully ang kanyang sinasabi dahil bigla nang bumangon si Stella at bumaba sa kanyang kinahihigaan. Nauna pang pumunta si Stella sa pintuan at salubungin ang secretary. 

She immediately showed her a genuine smile. "Good morning! What's with the visit, ma'am?" tanong nito, saka pa lamang nakasunod sa kanya si Ully. Hindi pa man nasasagot ng secretary ang tanong ni Stella nang sumilip ang mga karibal nilang reporters.

"Anong meron?" Chloei asked, she was intrigued to see a woman in her corporate uniform and standing outside the next door's room. "Bakit kayo laging may bisita? What about us?"

"Hala! 'Wag mo isisi sa amin 'yan. Hindi na namin kasalanan kung hindi kayo importante. Dayo lang naman kayo rito."

"Makapagsalita parang sila hindi," pag-iirap pa ni Chloei kay Stella.

"Okay, I'll stop that before it leads to something," Felina interrupted, placing her hands between the two girls. "The point of my visit here is to invite you guys to the Chieftain Hall," she announced, looking to Stella and Ully. "Chieftain Clements wanted to talk to you."

"About what?" Stella asked, raising a brow.

"He didn't disclose it. Maybe you'll know that when you meet him. Wala siyang sinabi sa akin. He just wanted me to personally invite you to talk with him. Are you guys available today at lunch?"

"Absolutely!" ganadong sagot ni Stella. "We'll meet you there at the Chieftain Hall. I've got a whole a lot of questions to ask him."

"Wait—" mabilis na pagpasok ni Chloei sa usapan. "Bakit sila lang ang na-invite?" pagtatanong niya na may halong pagtataray. She has a strong personality na talaga namang kinaayawan ni Stella. "Galing pa kami sa isang number one broadcasting network in the country at talaga namang credible ang aming mga balita. Our news reached a lot of people so bakit niyo pipiliin ang dalawang independent journalists na 'to? Wala kaming kinikilingan. Baka kayo ang may pino-protekatahan?"

"How can you say that?" Stella argued. Nagkatinginan naman sina Ully at Keonne dahil alam nilang another war between them ang magbubunga na naman. Nakataas na ang kilay ng sekretarya habang pinapanood silang dalawa. "Huwag mong mamaliitin ang mga independent journalists. Alam kong nanggaling ka rin sa ganyang sitwasyon. At 'wag mong ipagmayabang na empleyado ka ng isang network kung ang basura naman ng ugali mo. At panigurado, wala kayong mabubuong istorya rito."

"Kailan pa tayo nagkaroon ng network wars?" takang tanong ni Ully.

"No!" Stella and Chloei said in chorus.

"Guys, stop!" Felina shouted as the both of them kept their mouth shut. Gusto namang matawa ni Ully at Keonne pero pinili na lamang nilang manahimik dahil pansin nilang galit na rin ang secretary. "Okay, both of you. Stella's team and your team," turo ni Felina kay Chloei and her eyes glowed more than ever.

Napairap naman si Stella sa sinabi nito.

"I'll see you all at lunch," pagpapaalala niya.

"Thank you, ma'am!" Ully said and escorted her down to her car. Hindi naman nagpatalo si Keonne at ginaya ang ginawa ni Ully. Both of them walked with her back to her car habang si Stella at Chloei naman ay hindi maalis ang matatalim na tingin sa isa't isa. They really hated each other. Nakikita pa lamang ni Stella ang pagmumukha ng babaeng nasa harapan niya ay nag-iinit na siya.

"See, Stella, hindi mo kami malalamangan. Kung anong nakukuha mo, we deserved that too. Hindi kami ang talunan dito and I think you guys are. May the best journalists win the attention of every people. We'll bring the best story about Freymount. Abangan niyo 'yan. Hindi namin kayo uurungan."

"Let's see that, Chloei the bogey. Maybe you are one step ahead of us in terms of our career but not this time, girl. Nahuhuli na kayong dalawa 'cause we really had a great story to tell. Baka ito pa ang ikababagsak niyo."

"Gosh! I hate you so much!"

"Girl, the feeling is mutual."

Nang bumalik naman ang dalawang lalaki ay agad na hinawakan ni Ully sa braso si Stella. He saw her once in a fight and he doesn't want it to happen again. "Okay, that's enough guys," Ully said, trying to separate Stelle from Chloei. "See you guys at lunch and I hope this won't happen again."

"Yeah, but we won't go easy, bruh," Keonne said then they left.

Ully pushed Stella back inside their room. She's stomping her feet, grunting and her hands were wanting to slap Chloei's face or to snatch her hair until she has gone out of hair. He put her back on the couch and give her a glass of water. He made her calmed down as they will be meeting with Chieftain Clements once again. Or maybe he will only tell them that they will be banned from his town forever.

She cleared that out of her head, she doesn't want that to happen.

She still has a story to uncover. A lot of it, actually.

"Don't mind both of them, Stels. You know we are better than fighting them."

"I know, Ully. Hindi lang talaga ako natutuwa kapag nakakaharap ko 'yang si Chloei. She thought of herself so big. Akala niya lahat ng binalita niya ay pinakinggan lahat ng tao. They just watched just because she's pretty pero new content? Nasaan banda? And we might not know, they may follow us here because we write good content that really captivates social relevance in media."

Tumango naman si Ully. He agreed to what she said but on the other hand, he's not that competent to what Stella's doing right now. He just want to do his job and be recognized accordingly to what efforts they have done. Hindi iyong kailangan pa nilang makipaglamangan sa ibang tao.

He believed in his own effort and what they can do.

Mayamaya lang din ay biglang tumayo si Stella at nagtaka naman si Ully dahil tumungo ito sa banyo.

"Aalis ka?"

"Hindi ba pwedeng iihi lang, Ully?" pabalang na sagot nito sa kaibigan. "Pero oo, aalis din ako."

"Pa'no 'yong lunch mamaya?"

"We'll meet there, I'll text you na lang. I just need to do something before we head to the meeting."

Napataas ng kilay si Ully. "Would you mind telling me what is it? Hindi naman siguro masama 'di ba? We're friends and a team."

Stella immediately nodded at him. "I know that, Ully. May kailangan lang talaga akong puntahan. It's a little bit personal, wala siyang kinalaman sa work natin and I think that would enough for an explanation, right?"

Napangisi naman si Ully. "Yeah, that's fine."

"Okay, I'm gonna take a bath now."

Stella took a bath while Ully was waiting for her to finish. Gusto niyang alamin kung ano iyong personal matter ni Stella but he doesn't want to invade her privacy kaya hindi na niya sinubukan pang magtanong. He noticed how she is so frantic to move. Nagmamadali itong mag-ayos sa sarili at ang mga dadalhing gamit. He noticed that she grabbed her pen and journal.

"Hey! I thought it's not part of our job?"

"Hmm?" she hummed, not looking at him. Busy preparing herself. "Hindi nga, Ully. You know a journalist never missed her things. Girl scout din ako at prepared sa lahat ngbagay. Masanay ka na dapat diyan, Ully. You should know me better than anyone else."

"Okay, Stels. Ingat ka and beep me up once you're done, okay?"

"Sure and don't forget to bring your camera, okay? As much as possible, prepare them now."

He nodded. "Sure thing, madame. I'm on it."

"Good, see you later, Ully!"

"Yeah, see you later!"

When she left, agad naman sinimulan ni Ully ang pag-aayos ng kanyang camera. His mind was flying about what Stella's doing. He thought what she did last night was connected to what she would be doing right now. He knew he shouldn't doubt every move she does, but he also knew when she's hiding something from him. He doesn't like it when Stella's ding something by herself and keeping him out of their discovery.

He thought it looked like it was Stella's job and he was just there to capture every moment. Still, at the end of the day, they need each other. They came to this point of their life that they shouldn't back out as if their life depends on it.

Stella headed down the stairs and led her way right to the direction where Alycia directed her. Hindi man siya sigurado kung totoo man iyong binigay niyang address o kung totoo man na may matatagpuan siyang Freymount History Book doon, but she wouldn't waste her chance to find it out. She thought that the vampire wouldn't fool her when she already told her motives to look out for Edmond's actions. That's a risk and she knew how to play with it.

Not that long when she reached her destination. Muli niyang tiningnan ang address and she's on the right place at ang binigay ni Alycia na specific location kung saan matatagpuan iyon ay isang tawid na lamang.

Freymount Souvenir Shop. She thought in her head.

It is the first place they went when they bound into Freymount at noon pa man ay naisip na ni Stella na wala namang kakaiba roon kung hindi ang mga souvenir at ilang lumang bagay. And that thought hit her. Naalala niya rin iyong sales lady noon na siyang nag-alok pa sa kanilang pumunta sa auction event ng Freymount.

She hurried herself coming inside the shop to find out if Alycia's telling the truth. She pushed the door and that rang the bell above her head. She was waiting for someone to greet her, 'Welcome to Freymount Souvenir Shop' but no one did. Ang bilis ng kabog ng dibdib niya. Kinakabahan siya at sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, she knew she will fail instantly.

"Hello? Anyone here?" she called out some personnel but one answered her.

At that moment, she thought it was her time to roam around the premises. Agad naman niyang kinuha ang kanyang phone at kumuha ng litrato sa bawat paligid. Tiningnan niya ng mabuti ang mga naka-display at nagbabakasakaling may maligaw na libro roon. She was hoping to find one. Hindi siya sumusuko. Hindi naman siya lolokohin ni Alycia kung may kapalit naman ito.

Until she noticed something and about to find it out when someone called her out.

"Stella?" mabilis naman siyang napalingon sa tumawag sa kanya. It was Elius. She was surprised though she didn't make it noticeable. "Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

"Oh, I was just finding good memorabilia," she reasoned out and to find out that behind Elius was the sales lady that immediately smiled at her. Nginitian rin naman niya ito. "Ikaw, anong ginagawa mo rito?"

"Oh, me? I was just looking for things."

"Like what... Elius?" he asked.

"A pretty keychain, maybe?" aniya at agad niyang kinuha iyong keychain na nakasabit malapit sa tabi niya at pinakita niya iyon sa kanya. Natawa na lang din naman si Stella habang iniisip kung anong pinunta ni Elius dito. Maybe Alycia's right. She led her right to the book. "How about you? Did you find anything?"

Napakibit-balikat na lamang si Stella. "Nah, I don't think Ully would find interesting to what I choose. Isasama ko na lang siya sa susunod and at lunch, we have a meeting with Chieftain Clements. I hope he could give us something about Freymount or about the History book."

Elius chuckled. "Just like what I said, you won't a find a thing, right?" aniya sabay tingin sa babaeng kasama niya na agad din namang sumang-ayon. "But I like your perseverance."

"Yeah... I know. Nice to see you again. See you around, Elius."

"Oh, wait, before you go. I need to tell you one thing and before I could forget about it."

Lumapit naman kaagad si Elius sa kanya at may binulong ito. "Ed wants to see you tonight at his treehouse," he whispered.

She was left hanging. "Why?"

He shrugged off. "I don't know. He never tells, okay? Just be there."

"Okay..."  Stella answered. "I gotta go now..."

When Stella left the place, halos bumagsak ang balikat niya dahil hindi man lang niya nagawa ang ipinunta roon. And what made her to think was Elius's sudden appearance. She doesn't know if both of them have a relationship but her curiosity lead to more facts. The book must be at that place. Kailangan niya lang maghanap ng paraan para makuha iyon.

Mayamaya ay bigla na lamang may humablot kay Stella palayo at sa hindi niya namalayan ay hindi na niya alam kung nasaan siya. She was taken by Reubert away. Halos malagutan siya ng hininga sa ginawa nito. Inalis nito ang pagkakahawak sa kamay. She looked at their surroundings, they were in a dead-end alley.

"Bakit mo ako dinala rito?"

"To give you this," he handed over a small vial containing a black liquid.

"What is this for?"

"Poison. Give it to Edmond. That wouldn't kill him but that would make him very different."

"Why would—" hindi na niya natapos ang kanyang pagsasalita nang biglang umalis si Reubert ng parang hangin. She grunted, walking alone, and find her way back on track. She put the vial into her handbag. Hindi niya alam kung bakit kailangan pa no'n.

She just wanted the story, and that's the end of it.

Stella's craving for it and she'll do anything she can to get it. Whatever it costs.