It was almost a month ago when the incident happened. The man guarding their rest house who happened to be their uncle, went back with a doctor to check on Ainsley who then lost consciousness. We ended up rushing her to the nearest hospital and almost didn't make it.

Terrence was questioned by authorities about the murders once again and he cooperated. He told them everything from when and where he let his twin stayed in our town in the previous months for a couple of days, without everyone knowing, including their parents. And though he didn't know about his twin's crimes, he later on found out about it a week before he disappeared.

The peeled-off skins of the victims were recovered in an apartment where he let his twin occupy whenever she stayed here. But what's disturbing was that, there were two more bodies found in the house who were also identified as locals in our town. Two girls in the neighbourhood, both had pretty faces like the first two victims and reported missing for almost five months—like what Cali speculated.

The trial for the murder case was still on-going, so to say that Ainsley was then under the custody of the authorities. Their lawyer said that the trial would go a long way and the possibility of losing the case with Ainsley pleading guilty was fifty-fifty. Given that they've been continuously exhausting every effort to dismiss the case, one of which was going for an insanity defence.

So far, the news circulating and reverberating throughout the whole town about the crimes hadn't been good for the Gallevos. It impacted and caused serious damages on their business. Dealing with all that complaints, cancellation and pulling out of projects from current and future investors. It was probably hell: helplessly watching everything they've built for years crumble in just a snap.

"I think you should tell him now."

"I know."

I was then diagnosed with schizophrenia a few weeks after the incident. And though it cannot be treated, I was prescribed and put on a series of medication again for better management. It wasn't any difference from what I'd experience before because aside from the voices, I had episode attacks from time to time but only mild, bearable ones—not like the one in the rest house. And needless to say, I didn't see the hoodie guy or the bloody Cedric since.

Sinulyapan ko ang normal at nasa tabing si Cedric bago nilingon ang nakatanaw sa malawak na ilog na si Terrence, sa barikadang katabi ng Willow tree sa 'di kalayuan.

"Sigurado ka na ba ngayon sa gusto mo?"

A faint smile made its way to crept on my lips. "Yeah."

"Good. Then go ahead." He nodded beside me with a smirk.

Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga at saka tumayo. Mabagal ang hakbang ko palapit kay Terrence hanggang sa daluhan ko siya sa pagtunghay sa payapang pag-agos ng tubig. Ang ilang dahon ng Willow tree sa tabi namin at ilan pa sa kabilang banda ay marahang sinasayaw nang mabining ihip ng hangin.

Sumulyap siya sa akin, ang magkabilang kamay ay nakasuksok sa suot na pantalon.

"May sasabihin ako," panimula ko.

Parehong nasa malayo ang tanaw namin nang maaninag ko ang marahan niyang pagtango. Tila kumikinang ang replika ng kulay kahel na sinag nang papalubog nang araw sa pag-agos ng tubig sa ilog. Tanging lagasgas mula ro'n at iyak lamang ng mga ibong sabay-sabay na nagliliparan ang dinig sa payapang paligid.

"You know how I feel about you, right?" Sumabay sa nagdaang hangin ang tila bulong kong tinig. Sinikop ko ang takas na buhok sa likod ng tainga—hanggang ngayo'y naninibago pa rin sa ikli at gaan niyon kahit halos ilang linggo na ang lumipas matapos ko iyong ipaputol.

Binalingan ko siya, inaabangan ang paglingon niyang pabalik sa akin. When our eyes met, flashes of memories together with familiar feelings washed over me. Pero kaya ko nang tukuyin ang mga alaala namin noon at damdamin ko ngayon.

"Mahal kita, Terrence."

His expression softened, contrary to the tension in his jaw. Hindi siya nagsalita at hinayaan lamang akong magpatuloy.

"But it doesn't have to be in a lone way. I care for you like another person dearest to me... and I forgive you... for everything." Mabilis kong hinawi ang luhang tumulo sa pisngi. Naninikip man ang dibdib at lalamunan ay sinubukan ko pa ring ngumiti at magpatuloy.

"We had great times together and I wouldn't trade any of it with the world. At gusto kong malaman mo na lagi kang may parte sa akin, isang espesyal na espasyo... na hindi mawawala at palaging narito. No matter what way we decide to go, I'll always carry our memories together wherever I am. I'll always care for you because I love you—this break up doesn't mean breaking our connection, okay?"

Humihikbi na ako matapos kong sabihin iyon. He stood still in front of me with bloodshot and weary eyes trained on mine. Binasa niya ang labi at sandaling kinagat habang humihinga nang malalim na tila hindi niya iyon magawa nang maayos. Matapos bahagyang yumuko at pumikit nang mariin ay sinubukan niyang tumango.

"Naiintindihan ko," malat ang boses niya nang sinabi ito. "And I'm sorry... for so many things. I'm sorry for being an outright asshole. I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess. I'm sorry... I'm sorry for not loving you right, Cee."

Para akong mawawasak nang agad niyang pinalis ang luhang naglandas sa pisngi.

"Walang sapat na salita at hindi ko na inaasahang babalik ka sa 'kin pero sana mapatawad mo 'ko."

Lumapit ako sa kaniya at dahan-dahan siyang niyakap mula sa baywang nang mahigpit. Agad naman niya akong binalot ng mga bisig niya pabalik.

"I forgive you, Rence."

Sobbing, he kissed the top of my head and whispered this, "Mahal kita, Eunice... and thank you... thank you for being who you are and being a part of my life. Thank you for loving me and caring enough to stay despite my faults and shortcomings."

Another month passed and it had been quiet since the Gallevos left the town. Kahit paano'y humupa na rin ang usap-usapan tungkol sa mga bangkay na natagpuan. Kung mayroon man akong naririnig na nagbabanggit nito'y madalang na lang.

"You've been down since Terrence left. Nami-miss mo?" Prenteng nakaupo si Cedric sa tapat ng inuupuan ko, taas pa ang dalawang paa niya sa haba niyon nang pilyong ngumisi sa akin.

Pagkabuga ng hininga ay ipinagpatuloy ko na lamang ang ginagawang pagbabasa ng hand-out. I reached for my cup of coffee and absently sip on it, eyes trained on the piece of paper in my other hand.

"Oh, look who's here."

"Eunice!"

Saktong pag-angat ng tingin ay bumungad sa akin ang nakangising mukha ni Cali. Bahagya nitong iniangat ang isang palad sa ere bilang pagbati matapos magtagpo ang tingin namin. Paupo na sana ito sa tabi ko nang may biglang sumagi sa kaniya.

"Hey, bitch." Dina flashed her sarcastic smile and unapologetically occupied the seat beside mine.

Si Cali naman ay natatawa at naiiling na lamang na inokupa ang upuan sa tapat namin, sa tabi ni Cedric. Makahulugan nang nakangisi sa akin ang huli habang nginunguso-nguso ang nasa tabi niya.

Napailing na lamang ako at tuluyan siyang binalewala na parang wala siya roon—at wala naman talaga dahil ako lang ang nakakakita sa kaniya.

"Hey. How are you holding up?" anang nahuling si Mike. Nang umusod si Cali para paupuin ito sa tabi ay tila usok na naglaho si Cedric.

Tipid ko lamang nginitian si Mike. Matapos ay muli akong napabuntonghininga.

"Why do you keep sighing? Asthmatic ka?" puna ni Dina, natatawa.

Sumulyap ako sa kaniya at tuluyan nang nilubayan ang pagbabasa. "Why are you guys here? Wala ba kayong mga klase?"

"Obviously. Duh!" si Dina ang sumagot. "Why are you here all alone? May hinihintay?"

"You keep in touch with him, right?"

Nabaling sa nagsalitang si Cali ang tingin ko. "Yeah. He's doing fine."

"Oh? Then why aren't you?" Pumangalumbaba si Dina sa table at uminom sa sariling frappe habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Who said I'm not? I'm completely fine." Balewala akong nagkibit-balikat habang sinisinop ang hand-out sa loob ng bag.

She laughed under her breath. "Alam ko na. You need someone? Want me to introduce you to this guy I know?"

"Then—"

"Definitely not this guy though." May kasamang iling ang mabilis na putol ni Dina sa magsasalita pa lang sanang si Cali. Ang purong disgusto ay nakapinta sa mukha nang sulyapan ito nang nakangiwi. "She's not interested in another fuckboy like you, idiot."

Nagkatinginan kami ng nasa tapat ng inuupuan kong si Cali. Awang ang mga labi niya sa mangha at kalaunan ay dahan-dahang natawa. Mike was smiling in the screen of his phone beside him. Parang gusto ko na rin tuloy matawa.

"D, goddammit, alright—let me get this clear." May ngiting sumusupil sa mga labi ni Cali nang magsalit-salit sa amin ni Dina ang tingin. Hinayaan namin siyang magpatuloy. "Eunice, are you interested in me?"

Sinubukan kong hindi ngumiwi nang binigyan ko siya nang maliit na ngiti. I slightly shook my head no. "You're a funny guy, Cal. But I only see you as a friend."

Sumulyap ako kay Dina. Nagtaas lamang ito ng kilay sa akin bago nagbaling muli nang maiging tingin kay Cali.

The latter pointed a finger at me before snapping it. "Good to hear! Because in all honesty, you're pretty hot but... not really my type." Nakangiti siyang umiling at saka tumango at nagtuon ng tingin kay Dina, tila naglalahad ng punto. "Satisfied now, D? We didn't like each other that way—and I'm not trying to drop my advances on her, okay? Are we cool now?"

Tahimik lamang na uminom sa sariling frappe si Dina habang sinusuklian ng tingin ang kaibigan. Natuluyan si Mike sa pagtawa nang balewalang nagkibit-balikat ang girlfriend niya.

"As long as you won't gulped down your own words," anito sa halong sarkastiko at may kaunting pagbabantang tinig. Sabay matamis na ngiti.

"You like her that much? Baka ipagpalit mo na ako n'yan," biro ni Mike pagkasulyap sa nobya. Mabilis naman humilig si Dina sa table ay hinablot ito mula sa kwelyo.

Naiwan na lamang bahagyang namimilog ang mga mata ko at laglag ang panga nang maghalikan ang dalawa.

"Really? Right in front of the fucking table? In the campus cafe?" Humalakhak si Cali. Kapwa na lamang kaming napakibit-balikat nang muling magpalitan ng tingin.

"Pikit ka na lang kung inggit ka," ani Dina nang umayos muli sa pag-upo.

"I was actually about to say that we should have another road trip when you cut me off."

Sabay-sabay kaming natigilan at napatingin kay Cali, pare-parehong naalala ang masaklap na sinapit nang huling beses namin iyong ginawa.

"What's with the grim expressions?" Nakuha pa nitong tumawa matapos kaming tapunan isa-isa ng tingin. "We're not gonna head into another psychopath's den!"

"Who knows? Where are you planning to go?" si Dina, nakahalukipkip.

"Okay, so there's this case my father—"

"Oh, fuck no."

"Definitely and absolutely not, dude."

"Maybe in another lifetime," pagtatapos ko sa naunang pagtutol ng dalawa.

Namilog ang mga mata at bibig ni Cali sa pagkakamangha. "Ang bilis naman ng mga violent reaction ninyo! Ni hindi pa nga ako tapos!"

"If you want another gunbutt in your head then go ahead! Because we fucking don't want to put our lives in danger again!" Dina spat.

"Cali, we are no daredevils like you," kalmadong kumento ni Mike.

"Did you like what happened in that rest house so much that you want to relive it?" sarkastiko kong puna.

Cali sighed in defeat, leaning back on his seat. "I was about to say that one of the clients from a case my father handled and resolved because of a little help from me, offered a trip slash vacation with food, accommodation and basically with inclusion of everything we need—aside from a ride of course.

"Oh, correction—the offer came from his client's son, which is a friend of mine, by the way. So it's safe to assume that we won't be in any danger. Pero kung ayaw ninyo—"

"Are you out of your freaking mind? Every fucking thing is for free? Then why the hell would you refuse to accept it?!"

"What?" Natigilan si Cali.

I was nodding then, tila switch na napindot nang bigla nabaligtad ang desisyon. "Right. Can we pick the dates?"

"Inform me when so I could tie some loose ends first," balewalang ani Mike.

Awang ang mga labi, isa-isa kaming tinapunan ng tingin ni Cali bago maligayang napahalakhak. "Alright!"

Natagpuan ko na lamang ang sariling nakangiti nang magpalitan kaming apat ng tingin doon.

These guys weren't that bad like what I'd expected. Because just like me, they all have their other I's—their flaws. We banter from time to time but I think that little conflicts like that made things interesting. It was still an undeniable fact that hanging out with friends wasn't productive but it was kinda therapeutic—so I guess it wasn't all that bad.

Abala sa pag-uusap ang tatlo nang may kung anong pangamba ang gumapang sa akin. Lumibot ang paningin ko sa loob ng café ngunit wala naman akong nakitang kakaiba sa lugar. Bukod sa mataas na pigura ng isang lalaking nakatalikod at palabas na roon, na siyang kumuha ng atensyon ko. Itim ang suot nito mula ulo hanggang paa—pati nang sumbrelong suot.

Napako ang tingin ko rito at animong bumagal ang pagpatak ng bawat sandali, nang maaninag ko ang bahagya nitong pagsulyap sa direksyon namin bago tuluyang lumabas ng pinto.

Walang pasubaling nagtindigan ang mga balahibo sa buo kong katawan nang masagi ng paningin ko ang pagkurba ng malademonyong ngisi nito. Tila alam na pinanonood ko ito at kanina pang tuon dito ang atensyon ko.

Air seemed to knock out of me all of a sudden.

At sa dami ng mga katanungan sa isip ko'y isa lang ang bagay na sigurado ako: kilala ko kung sino ito.