ISANG linggo na ang lumipas at hindi pa rin nagpakita si Jasia sa bahay ni Xibel. Sa isang linggong iyon, hindi rin nawala kahit saglit man lang ang babae sa kaniyang isipan. Matapos niyang makita ang video, labis siyang nakaramdam ng pagsisisi. Napuno rin ng katanungan ang kaniyang isipan.

What was the truth behind the news? Sinubukan niya pang manood ng ibang video tungkol doon subalit pare-parehas lang ang laman. At ang mga komento ay nakapokus lang din kay Jasia. Wala kahit ni isa ang kumwestyon sa sinabi ng presidente. Kahit isang katiting na pagdududa man lang ay wala.

Nais niyang malaman ang katotohanan at mangyayari lang iyon kapag nakausap niya ang babae.

However, not even a single sign of her showed up behind the door.

He sighed and stood up from the sofa. He was sitting there, every day, and every morning, hoping that Jasia would knock on that door again. But it seemed that this day would just be the same as yesterday.

"Papa, when will Mama come?" saad ni Imris na kanina pa bumubuntot sa kaniya.

Ilang araw na rin itong hindi nakakapasok dahil wala si Jasia. Nag-aalala na rin siya sa edukasyon nito. Hindi pa nakakabalik si Stone matapos niya itong utusan na bumalik sa lugar kung saan may nakita itong orphanage. Si Arator naman ay lalong hindi puwede.

He could summon other followers but none were way more capable than the two.

Lumuhod siya upang magkapantay sila. "I apologize, Imris. I cannot also reach your mother."

"Okay." Matamlay naman itong tumango. Umakyat ito ng hagdan at pumasok na sa kuwarto.

Muli siyang bumuntonghininga at sinulyapang muli ang pinto. Wala pa rin talaga.

Naglakad na siya patungo sa hagdan. Napagpasiyahan niyang bumalik sa kaniyang kuwarto upang matulog na lang. Aakyat na sana siya nang makarinig ng ingay mula sa labas. Sumunod doon ang pamilyar na mga sigaw sa kaniyang isip.

Mabilis siyang napalingon.

Bago pa man kumatok ang tao sa labas, binuksan na niya kaagad ang pinto gamit ang kapangyarihan.

"Jasia," saad niya. He doubted for a moment, but when he saw the pink ribbon hanging on her hair, he realized it was her. Real.

"Xibel," gulat nitong saad habang nakakuyom ang kamay sa ere, handa na sanang kumatok.

Kaagad siyang umiwas ng tingin. Naglakad siya pabalik sa sofa at umupo. "So you're back."

Hindi naman ito sumagot. Dahan-dahan itong naglakad patungo sa harap na sofa habang ang mga kamay ay mahigpit na nakahawak sa bag.

"Yeah. Is Imris doing okay?"

"No. She wasn't able to attend classes for days now."

Napaangat naman ang tingin nito. "I'm so sorry. I just can't . . . bring myself here."

He slid her a glance. Her eyes were looking low, and the corner of her lips were down as if it had not known what a smile was for a while. She wasn't the Jasia who was always looking composed and confident to face him.

Pinagkrus niya ang mga braso habang ang mga daliri ay ayaw nang mapakali. It was still hard for him to see the woman around. Even if they were tables apart, the anxiety was still drawing him clear.

Despite that, there was a sense of relief. If there was anything different about Jasia showing up, it was because he could finally talk to her.

He wanted to fix this.

Tumikhim muna siya bago sumagot. "I u-understand. It was a terrible night, after all. I--"

"Wait, Xibel."

Pinigilan siya nito dahilan para mapakunot ang kaniyang noo. "What?"

"If you don't want to see me right now, you can tell me. We can also change some conditions about our deal. I will try as hard as I can for you not to see me."

Lalong kumunot ang kaniyang noo. Nalilito siya sa pinagsasabi nito. What was this sudden attitude? What was more confusing was Jasia couldn't also meet him in the eye, and the more she spoke, the more her movement was getting more anxious.

Xibel wasn't used to seeing her panic, making him way more uncomfortable. She was supposed to be the composed woman he knew, so why was she panicking? She was just making their situation worst.

If someone could look at them, they were like strangers trying so hard to stray away from each other.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Well, you know." Napakamot ito sa ulo. "You don't want to see me, right? So, I think--"

"Wait, Jasia." Siya naman ang pumigil dito. "This isn't what I want to talk about. And if we ever change the condition of our deal, Imris will be affected. I want to talk about something else."

"Ano 'yon?" Napaayos ito ng upo, kinakabahan sa kaniyang sasabihin.

He took a while before he decided to reach for the phone beside him. Inilapag niya ito sa lamesa. "I saw a video of you with the president of your company."

Aabutin na sana ni Jasia ito pero natigilan sa kaniyang sinabi. Kaagad itong napatingin sa kaniya. "You mean, my s-scandal?"

Xibel slightly winced when the voices inside his head became louder. It was Jasia's fear creeping in. She was scared.

Tumango siya. "That man is saying you framed him."

Sunod-sunod naman ang pag-iling ni Jasia. "Wait, Xibel. Let me explain. It's not what you think. I didn't lie. I was telling--"

"I didn't bring this up to judge you." Putol niya nang mapansin ang panginginig ng kamay ng babae. He looked down and focused his eyes on the phone. "I know I have been terrible to you, so it is not surprising that you will have the thought of me judging you again. You can shot me thousand doubts, but I want to listen to you this time. I want to know what really happened there."

Natahimik naman si Jasia. Muli niya itong sinulyapan at nakitang humihinga ito nang malalim.

"Okay." Sinalubong nito ang kaniyang tingin. "This issue happened four years ago, when I just got into the company. Since I am a rising ballerina, lahat sila ay nakamatyag sa akin. Everything that I need to do, I always get the urge to upload it online to keep my supporters going. Bukod pa roon, I am always training myself to be better because I never had any lead roles yet. I wanted to become more."

Tumango lang siya bilang sagot. Hindi niya maipaliwanag kung dapat niya iba itong pagsisihan dahil naalala niya si Celestialana. Celestialiana dreamed to be an actress. She used to tell him she would do everything just to get that dream.

"I was happy when the dance instructors started noticing me, but also, that includes the president." Napalunok ito. "It was t-the day of the company's ball to celebrate its anniversary when the incident happened. President Hernan approached me and that he wanted to talk to me privately. He said it's about ballet so sumunod naman ako. I started getting nervous when we went inside a room. Dapat pala no'ng time na iyon tumakbo na ako pero pinili ko pa ring sumunod kasi akala ko isang importanteng bagay ang sasabihin niya sa akin."

Pinanood niya si Jasia kung paano ito mapaklang tumawa at niyakap ang sariling mga braso. "I would be lying if hindi ako nag-assume na baka bibigyan niya ako ng lead role because I was desperate, Xibel. I wanted to make it big. So I followed him inside and we talked. Okay pa naman iyon no'ng una not until his eyes are starting to run around my body. Idagdag pa na unti-unti rin siyang dumidikit sa akin. That dirty old man touched my leg first."

Napakurap si Xibel nang makitang nanginginig ang mga labi ni Jasia. Hindi niya mawari kung dahil ba ito sa galit o mga luhang nagbabadyang tumulo. O baka dalawa.

"I should've pushed him away and run pero hindi. Wala akong nagawa kasi nabato ako. N-nalilito ako sa kung anong gagawin ko. Parang hindi ako makapag-isip nang tama sa mga oras na iyon." Nagsimula na ngang tumulo ang mga luha nito sa mga mata. His gaze softened when he saw those suffering tears. He knew very well how it felt, and he wanted to run towards her to comfort her. He wanted to tell her he understand her, but he knew better his body wouldn't stop feeling disgusted around her. Aatakihin lang siya kapag lumapit siya.

"Doon lang ako natauhan nang sabihin niya sa akin na ibibigay niya sa akin ang lahat kung bibigay ako sa kaniya no'ng gabing iyon. Kahit isa lang daw. Gusto niya raw akong tikman. And when I heard it, God knows how I wanted to vomit at that moment. He was disguting! " Huminga ito nang malalim. "It even crossed my mind to kill him but I know I can't do it kaya sinampal ko siya. Umuwi ako no'ng gabing iyon at hindi na bumalik sa ball. Nakakadiri siya. I hate him. I hate his hand touching my skin. He's a scumbag. A dirty scumbag!" Napatakip ito sa mukha habang patuloy pa ring rumaragasa ang mga luha. "Nagsampa ako ng kaso sa kaniya. Inireklamo ko siya sa ginawa niya sa akin pero hindi ko inaasahang madali niya lang akong mababaliktad. Isang pagpapaawa niya lang sa media, bumaliktad na lahat ng tao sa akin. Kasalanan ko pa raw lahat. Dahil sa sandamakmak na hate na natanggap ko wala akong nagawa kundi iatras ang kaso kasi iyon din ang gusto ng lahat."

Napakuyom ang kamao ni Xibel. "Where is that asshole right now?"

"Wala na siya." Umiling si Jasia. "Patay na siya, Xibel. Namatay siya matapos sasaksakin ng isa sa mga ballerina namin three years ago. Ganoon din ang ginawa niya sa babae, inalok niya itong maging prima ballerina kapalit ang katawan nito pero nagalit ang babae at sinaksak siya. Nalaman din ng lahat na totoo iyong sinasabi ko, na h-in-arass ako ng walanghiyang lalaking iyon pero hindi roon napokus ang problema but to the murder."

"And what happened to the woman?"

"She was imprisoned because she committed a crime." Marahas nitong winaksi ang mga luha. Bakas sa mga mata nito ang galit.

He knew those eyes for he had been wearing one. He remembered the day when everyone wronged him even though he was a victim. Even though there were too many things he couldn't understand in this dimension, somehow, it reflected the story he belonged.

How unfair the world was.

Nevertheless, he learned something today he never realized.

"Thank you for telling me, Jasia."

Nagulat naman ito sa kaniyang sinabi. Napakurap pa ito ng ilang beses. Ang luhaang mga mata ay 'di makapaniwala sa binitiwan niya.

"I am sorry for everything that I've said. It was a fool of me to compare you with all other women. I am furious of them and you became one of the fuel for my anger, and so, I wanted to take back everything I said." Yumuko siya bilang paumanhin. He bowed his head so low and how much he felt regretful. "I apologize for seeing you the wrong way and for naming you words without even thinking. I may have already left you scars, but if there is anyway you will be satisfied with my apology, please tell me. I am willing to punish myself."

"Oh, no, no, no." Jasia waved her hand. "You don't have to do anything. It's already enough for me that you listened."

He would always listen to everyone who was violated.

Inangat niya ang tingin at sinalubong ang mga mata. "Then at least let me tell you I believe you. I believe everything you have said."

Natigilan ito sa kaniyang sinabi. Muling tumulo ang mga luha nito sa mga mata. "I believe you too, Xibel."

Sa pagkakataong ito, siya naman ang natigilan. What did she mean?

"I read The Reincarnated Actress last week. Nabasa ko rin ang nangyari sa 'yo." Pinahid nito ang mga luha bago pinagsaklop ang dalawang kamay at yumuko. "And I'm so sorry. Hindi ko rin sinasadyang pagsabihan ka ng ganoon. Wala akong alam sa nangyari sa 'yo at hindi ko alam ang mga pinagdaanan mo kaya patawarin mo sana ako. I'm really, really sorry. You don't deserve any of it. I'm sorry."

Xibel's shoulder loosened after he heard those words. The guard he put himself in for so long gave in. He felt vulnerable that his eyes of sea and gold almost ran down tears. The words he longed to hear resonated, hushing his loud, chaotic mind. For a moment, he felt one part of his heart healed.

Every day he questioned himself what he did wrong. He cursed too many people, too many women, but he didn't expect it would only take one apology to make everything a little less different. Even if it was just a little part, a grain of the broken portion, he was glad.

And there he realized, an apology was all he ever wanted.

A small smile ran down his lips as he gazed at her. "Thank you, Jasia. It means a lot to me."