"Anong nangyari?" Tim asked, sitting next to us while holding his pouched champorado.

Hindi kami makakain ni Maia dahil sa nakita namin kaninang madaling araw.

Napalinis na ni Venus ang quarters namin. Ang katawan naman ni Emily ay inalis na rin dito.

"Hindi rin namin alam. Nagising na lang kami na sumusuka na ng dugo si Emily at ang putla-putla niya," Maia answered Tim.

"Yung veins niya ang itim din which is weird," dagdag ko.

"Ano kayang nangyari? May sakit kaya siya?" tanong ni Tim.

"Kung meron man, bakit hindi nadetect sa lab results niya? Di ba pinagtake tayo ng kung ano-anong test bago matanggap," Maia said.

Napatango-tango naman ako. Imposible talagang may sakit si Emily kasi malalaman at malalaman ng registration personnel yun. The question running in our minds now is anong dahilan ng pagkamatay niya.

"Trainees, due to the unexpected events that occurred earlier this morning, we won't be having our elimination night. However, you shall accomplish your tasks for the day. Your task cards are already in your posts. Goodluck," Venus announced.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Maia. "So tuloy pa rin yung program?" Her eyes widened.

I quickly pressed my on mic button. "Hey, Venus."

"Yes, Skyzea?" she answered. I looked around to check if they can hear our conversation but no one looked at me so I assume that I'm the only one who can hear Venus.

"Uhmm... hindi ba postponed ang program or something? Are we still gonna continue our work here on Mira?" I asked.

"We can't postpone because the media will catch up on the events that are happening inside and we cannot let them know what's going on around there," she answered.

"Okay, thank you," I said before turning my mic off.

"Anong sabi?" Maia asked.

"Hindi daw pwede malaman ng press ang tungkol sa mga kaganapan dito sa loob. Masyadong magiging suspicious kung lahat tayo pabababain," I answered.

"So in short, iniingatan nila yung reputasyon ng AUSA," Tim concluded.

"Looks like it." I sighed.

"Magkape muna kayo. Pampakalma," sabi ni Tim bago tumayo at ikinuha kami ng kape ni Maia.

Walang nagsalita sa amin ni Maia. Pareho lang kaming nakatulala. She's probably bothered by Emily's death like me.

"Ayan, coffee for Sky." Inabot sa akin ni Tim yung coffee in a pouch. "Lemon and mint tea para kay condo unit." Inabot niya yun kay Maia.

"Thanks," sabi ni Maia bago isinuksok yung straw.

I eyed the both of them weirdly. Maia didn't say she wanted tea pero bakit alam ni Tim?

"Tim, I wanted orange juice pero bakit kape ang kinuha mo?" I lied just to see his reaction.

"Hindi mo naman sinabi," sagot niya.

"Pero bakit alam mo na agad na lemon and mint tea ang gusto ni Maia?" tanong ko at nanlaki ang mata nilang dalawa. I laughed. "Huli! So ano, ha? What happened yesterday? How did Tim suddenly find out that you want that kind of beverage?" sunod-sunod kong tanong.

"Talagang iniintindi mo pa kaming dalawa. Sist, si Emily nalimutan mo na?" Maia said, diverting the topic.

"I'm lightening up the mood. So ano nga?" pangungulit ko.

"Tama na upo. Work work work na," sabi ni Tim bago kinuha ang tray niya at tumayo.

"Why are you avoiding the topic?!" habol na tanong ko kay Tim na naglalakad na palayo.

"Amaia Carmona, are you keeping secrets from me? After everything I've done for you?" I dramatically said.

"Paano mo nalaman buong pangalan ko? Stalker ka talaga!" pag-iiba niya ng usapan.

"I saw it yesterday on the tablet, stupid!" sagot ko. "Stop changing the topic! Ano na? Magkwento ka na!"

"Ito na!" She rolled her eyes. "Bago kasi mag-dinner, tumambay ako sa balcony. Tapos ko na tasks ko nun. Magpapahangin dapat tapos tumabi sa akin si Tim. Nagkakakwentuhan lang saglit tapos tinanong ako kung anong drink gusto ko sa vending. Sinabi ko lemon and mint tea dahil stress reliever ko. Yun lang yun," kwento niya.

"Yun lang naman pala! Bakit hirap na hirap kayo ikwento?" I smirked.

"Ewan ko sayo, Sky," sabi niya bago tumayo at tinapon ang pouch ng naubos na niyang tea.

Tinawanan ko lang siya bago inubos ang coffee ko at nagpunta na sa work station ko.

★・★・★

"Skyzea, question," Maverick said.

I stopped what I'm doing and looked at him.

"Ano yun?" I asked.

"How does flying make you feel?" tanong niya.

I smiled and remembered all of my memories while flying a plane. "Masaya. I get to travel around the world all the time and just flying a plane is surreal. Nakakakaba minsan kasi hawak ko buhay ng pasahero ko but other than that, wala na akong maisip na pangit na experience," I answered.

Napatango-tango naman siya sa sinagot ko. "Why did you ask?" tanong ko.

He shrugged. "I just wanted to hear your angelic voice," he answered and I laughed.

"Ano ngang rason?"

"Yun nga!"

"Why would you want to hear my voice then?" I asked.

"Maybe because I like you," he answered.

I laughed again. "Ang speed naman, Mav."

"Speed ka din," he countered.

"Bakit naman?"

"You called me by my nickname. Close na ba tayo?" He raised his eyebrows.

I didn't even realize I called him by his nickname and I don't even know where I got that!

"Oh, am I not allowed? Okay, then," I said before doing my tasks again.

He laughed. "Tampo ka naman agad. Syempre joke lang, Sky."

"You called me by my nickname. Close na ba tayo?" I copied what he said and his tone. Both of us ended up laughing because of that.

"Eh, ikaw? Did you enjoy being an Aircraft Mechanic?" I asked.

"Yup pero hindi ko talaga siya choice. Nag-Aeronautics ako para matanggap dito sa AUSA kaso wala akong connections," sabi niya.

My eyes widened. "No way! Ganyan din ako."

"Talaga?"

"Yes. I tried applying too but got rejected because I don't have connections."

He smiled. "You know what's that called?"

"Ano?"

"Destiny," he answered before winking.

Tinawanan ko siya. "Ewan ko sayo. Tapusin mo na nga 'yang ginagawa mo," I said before turning back and finishing my tasks.

★・★・★

"Sige, Mav. Lipat na ako sa Reactor," paalam ko kay Maverick nang matapos ko ang mga task ko sa greenhouse, admin, at office.

"Ingat," sabi niya bago ako kinawayan. Kinawayan ko rin siya bago naglakad papunta sa reactor.

Bago makapasok ng locker room ay dumaan muna ako sa Medbay para guluhin ng konti si Maia.

Nang makapasok ako, nakita ako agad ni Lisa pero sinenyasan ko siya na huwag maingay para magulat ko si Maia na busy sa pagtingin-tingin ng test tubes.

I poked her sides which made her flinch. Muntik niya pang mabitawan yung hawak niya kaya natawa ako.

"Gaga ka! Muntik ko na matapon yung laman nito!" iritang sabi niya. I just gave her a peace sign before laughing again. "Ba't ka ba nandito?" she asked.

"I was assigned to do some tasks in the reactor pero dahil lunch break na ako makakalabas dahil sa decontamination hallway doon, dinaanan na kita," I told her.

"Eto naman. Parang hindi tayo magkikita kapag lunch break."

"I found the cause of death," Natasha said, handing papers to Maia. Medyo nagulat pa ako sa kanya dahil hindi ko siya narinig na pumasok. She's assigned in the lab with Sir Ted now because she needs to do the supposed task for Emily.

"Cause of death?" I asked.

"Maia asked me to secretly draw blood from Emily so we could check what's the cause of her death," Natasha explained.

"And what's the cause of death?" tanong ko.

"Nitrate poisoning," Maia answered.

"Ano yun?" tanong ko.

"Nitrate poisoning is a rare type of poisoning usually for cattle. Worse case scenario is death pero bago mangyari yun, there will be symptoms like abdominal pain, muscle tremors, weakness, discoloration of the skin and mouth, collapse, coma, at marami pang iba. Naranasan yan ni Emily, for sure. Hindi lang siya nagsasabi," Maia explained.

My eyes widened. "So she was poisoned?"

"Could be or since nagtatrabaho siya sa lab baka nainduce niya yung Ammonium Nitrate pero I doubt that she's stupid enough to taste the chemicals doon. Nasa lab rules ang don't taste the chemicals," Maia said.

"Whatever the reason is, I'll blame you if Venus finds out that I tested her blood," Natasha told Maia before walking away.

"Kung hindi lang talaga Medtech yung red bitchesa na yun, hindi ako hihingi ng tulong dun." Maia rolled her eyes.

"So was she murdered? Or aksidente ang nangyari?" tanong ko.

"Hindi pa natin sure for now. Kung murder kasi, ano yung motibo nung killer at sino yung killer?" she said and that left me wondering as well. "Sige na at magpunta ka na sa reactor para maaga mo matapos yung tasks mo," she told me and I nodded before walking out of the medbay and entering the locker room where the decontamination hallway going to the lab and reactor is located.

Halos hindi naman ako makahinga nang bigla na lang magspray ng kung ano mang decontaminating solution doon sa decontamination hallway. Uubo-ubo akong pumasok ng reactor.

"You okay?" Skyler asked when he saw me.

"Yeah. Just give me a minute," I said and took a deep breath.

"It's always hard the first time. You'll get used to it," he said before continuing what he was doing.

When I felt okay, I started doing my tasks. Hindi pa ako nakakatagal, may inabot sa akin si Skyler.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Why don't you read what's written there," he said. I rolled my eyes before looking at the label and it's labeled as water.

"What for?" I asked.

"You coughed so much. I thought that maybe you got your throat dry because of that," he answered.

"Where did you get this?" tanong ko.

"I always keep about two pouches here because it's hard to keep leaving just to get something to drink," he said and I nodded. I looked at the drink beside him and I smiled when I saw it was apple juice. So he really loves apple juice, huh?

"Thanks for this," I said, raising the water pouch and putting the straw there to take a sip.

"Next time na pupunta ka rito. Pinch your nose so you won't inhale some solution," he instructed.

"Okay." I nodded before taking a sip again and I almost choked on my drink when he smiled at me.

I cleared my throat and just continued with my tasks. I kept thinking about his smile. The reason I almost choked on my beverage was because I suddenly felt my heart race when I saw him smiling at me.

I mentally scolded myself. What's the matter with you, Sky? Nginitian ka lang naman niya. Lots of people smiled at you before so what's different about his?

I just shrugged it off before focusing on what I was assigned to do.

★・★・★

"Oh, Skyler, Skyzea, bakit hindi pa kayo kumakain?" Sir Ted asked the both of us, making us look at him. "Kayo na lang yata ang hindi pa kumakain. Tapos na kaming lahat," imporma niya.

"Sige po. Kakain na kami," Skyler answered and Sir Ted nodded before walking in the lab.

"Anong oras na ba?" I asked.

"1:30," he replied while pointing at the wall behind me. I looked back and saw a wall clock.

"I didn't even notice the time," I said before standing up. "Let's go?" I asked and he nodded.

We then walked to the decontamination hall and I followed his advice to pinch my nose. Tama nga siya, wala na akong nainhale na solution so I'm fine.

"Maganda yun! Panoorin natin kapag nakalabas na tayo dito," I heard a familiar voice said when I got out of the decontamination hallway.

"Anong natin? As if gusto ko manood kasama ka," mataray na sagot ng isa pang pamilyar na boses.

Then I realized who it was. Napapadalas yata ang paghahang out nila, ah?

"Napakasama mo talaga, condo unit. Ang sabihin mo takot ka lang mafall sa akin," sabi ni Tim kay Maia.

"She's not scared of falling for you because she had already fallen. Hindi niya lang alam kung sasaluhin mo siya," sabi ko.

Both of them looked at me with their eyes widened. I laughed.

Maia cleared her throat. "Pinagsasabi mo dyan, Sky?"

"I was joking but you reacted differently, right?" I teased and she rolled her eyes.

"Maglalunch ka na?" Maia asked.

"Yup. Hindi niyo nga ako tinawag. Tampo na ako," I said, crossing my arms.

"Nakakatamad magpadecontaminate, eh," Tim answered.

"Ang sabihin mo, gusto mo lang masolo si Maia," pang-aasar ko. Tinignan nila ako ng masama bago ko sila tinawanan at iniwan doon.

I almost had a heart attack when I saw Skyler leaning on the wall next to the locker room's exit. Akala ko nauna na siya.

"Were you waiting for me?" I asked.

"Why do you think I'm standing here?" balik tanong niya.

"So, why were you waiting for me?"

"Because we came here together. I think it's proper etiquette to wait for someone you came with," he said before walking away.

"Hinintay-hintay pa ako pero uunahan rin naman pala ako maglakad," I whispered to myself before following him.

Nang makarating sa cafeteria ay pumunta agad ako sa chests. I know what I wanted to eat kaya hindi na ako nahirapan mamili. I picked up a Tinola pouch and dehydrated rice. Rinehydrate ko muna yung kanin bago ko siya nilagay sa tray ko.

I sat on one of the empty seats then opened my Tinola packet and rice pouch. Kinain ko rin siya agad. Yung chicken na ginamit para dun sa Tinola ay parang chicken fillet. No bones because it would be hard for us to eat it and it weighs too much.

Natigil lang ako sa pagkain nang abutan ako ni Skyler ng apple juice.

I shook my head before getting the straw and putting it in the pouch. "You really love this flavor, huh?" I told him and he smiled a bit.

"Ewan ko ba. This became my favorite drink when I was nine, I think," he said.

"Bakit?" I asked.

"Because of a girl," he answered.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "She must be special for you to still remember her up to this day," I said before eating some rice.

He smiled. "Kapag kasi malungkot ako, I tend to distance myself from everyone pero siya, she stayed by my side until it stopped hurting."

"Mind telling me what happened?" I asked.

"That day, I was down because we have to move to a different house. We still lived with my dad's parents and that time, my parents have decided to put up a house of their own. Dapat good news siya, right? But I was an introvert. I don't have any friends other than my cousins and moving away means I won't get to see them again and I'll be dealing with shit alone," he narrated.

"Before we left, I went to the playground on my own. Doon ako umiyak at naglabas ng sama ng loob. In front of my family, I'd smile but I'm really devastated inside. While crying, someone handed me a juice box. Doon ko siya unang nakita. She looked a bit younger than me. I looked at the flavor of the juice she gave me and it was apple. Dinamayan niya ako dun hanggang sa maubos namin ang juice naming pareho. Tinanong niya ako kung anong problema and for the first time, I opened up to a stranger. Sayang nga lang dahil paalis na kami doon at hindi ko na siya makakasama ulit. I forgot to ask her name but her mom called her so I found out and I never forgot about her ever since," kwento niya bago kumain ulit.

"Where is she now? May nabalitaan ka ba?" I asked.

"Nakita ko siya ulit kaso hindi na niya ako naalala." He chuckled.

"Do you... like her?" I asked, hesitation is evident in my tone.

He smiled before nodding. "It's funny because I started to like her just by thinking about her. It's weird, but I like her so much. I really do."

★・★・★

"Nakakapagod pala mga pinaggagawa dito, 'no?" Maia said, stretching her arms.

Kakatapos lang namin kumain ng dinner. Naglalakad na kami papunta sa quarters namin para makapagpahinga.

"Lalo na ngayong wala si Emily. Nasa lab mostly si Natasha kaya dalawa na lang kami natira sa medbay." She sighed.

"At least, your only station is the medbay. I had to walk back and forth because I have tasks in the reactor too," I said.

"OH MY GOD!" Natasha screamed from inside the female quarters. Maia and I ran to check what's happening.

"Anong nangyayari?" Maia asked when we reached the entrance of the quarters. Natasha didn't move, she just stared at the entrance of the bathroom.

"What are you look–" I wasn't able to finish what I was saying when I saw Lisa on the bathroom floor, lying on her own pool of blood.

"Bakit si Lisa pa? Sasayaw pa kami ng Ice Cream sa Mars, eh!" Maia said.

Pinalo ko siya sa braso. "How can you joke at a time like this?!"

I looked back at Lisa and saw the object beside her. It was a knife. She wasn't holding it, the knife was just there beside her.

"Anong nangyari?" Tim asked. I turned around and I saw Tim, Skyler, Sir Ted, and Maverick peeking inside.

Natasha couldn't take it anymore so she fainted. Luckily, Maverick was fast enough to catch her.

The boys entered the room and all of them gasped when they saw Lisa.

"How did this happen?" Skyler asked.

"Did she kill herself or was she–"

"Don't touch that!" Sir Ted slapped Tim's hand as he was about to pick the knife up.

"That's the murder weapon, dumbass!" Binatukan ni Maia si Tim.

"So, pinatay nga siya?" tanong ni Tim.

"Imposibleng suicide. If it was, she should be holding the knife or it's really close to her but the knife is inches away from her meaning the culprit threw it before escaping," Maverick answered.

"Who could've done it then?" Skyler asked.

I massaged my head. What the fuck is happening to this place?!

"Other than the people who took Emily's corpse this morning, no one got in and got out, right?" Sir Ted asked and all of us nodded. "And no helicopter landed on the launch pad other than this morning. Lisa was still alive when they left."

"Ano pong ibig sabihin kung ganun?" tanong ni Maia.

"It's impossible that someone from the AUSA staff killed Lisa because she was still alive this morning. Ngayong gabi lang siya namurder. She was still doing tasks for the rest of the day," Maverick answered and Sir Ted agreed.

"Then isa sa atin ang pumatay sa kanya?" Tim asked.

"I hate to think of it like that but it is a possibility. Someone in here is pretending to be a trainee and is murdering everyone. Hindi si Lisa ang first victim niya, si–"

"Emily," Maia finished Sir Ted's sentence. Natulala na lang kaming lahat. How is that even possible? How did a serial killer get inside AUSA? 'Di ba dapat mahigpit ang security nila?

"I don't know how all of this happened but one thing is for sure." Sir Ted sighed before looking at each and everyone of us. "There is an impostor among us."