جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 135

DYLAN FONTANILLA POINT OF VIEW“What happened?” Hindi agad sumagot si Dad.Tahimik lang niya akong tiningnan habang hawak ang cellphone sa kamay. Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal kaming nagkatitigan pero sapat na iyon para maramdaman kong may kung anong bumigat sa dibdib ko.May nangyari.At alam kong may kinalaman iyon kay Kaia.“It’s Tres.”Parang may humigpit sa lalamunan ko. Napatitig ako sa cellphone na hawak niya, pabalik sa mukha niya. “What about him?” I croaked.He called and he wants to talk to you.” Ilang segundo akong hindi nakagalaw.Sa dami ng gabing inubos ko sa paghahanap kay Tres, sa dami ng taong kinausap ko at lugar na pinuntahan ko mahanap lang kung saan niya posibleng itinago si Kaia, hindi ko inaasahang siya mismo ang tatawag. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako o omas lalo lang akong kakabahan. Dahan-dahan kong inabot ang telepono mula kay Dad. Nangin

DYLAN FONTANILLA POINT OF VIEWSleep never came that night. Every time I closed my eyes, another possibility crossed my mind. I kept replaying today’s exchange over and over as I tried to anticipate every move Tres might make, and every mistake I couldn’t afford to commit.In every version of the plan, something went wrong.By the time the first rays of sunlight slipped through my curtains, I had already accepted one painful truth. There was no perfect outcome waiting for us. Only choices…And the consequences that came with them.The mansion was already awake before seven. Maurice and Iverson had left before dawn to prepare the private plane while the rest of our security team coordinated with the pilot. Even though Tres specifically asked for a plane, I wasn’t foolish enough to come unprepared. Ever since Tres sent me the meet-up point, my family already assembled a team, even at midnight. Every v

KAIA CLEMENTE POINT OF VIEWNanatili akong nakaupo sa gilid ng operating room habang nanginginig ang kamay na nakatingin sa suot ko. My clothes were painted red… Tres’ blood. Ilang minuto ko na iyong tinititigan pero pakiramdam ko ay ilang oras na ang lumipas. The entire hospital lobby smelled like antiseptic and cold air. Mas lalo nitong dinadagdagan ang kabang nararamdaman ko.The nurses hurried from one hallway to another and stretchers rolled across the polished floor every few minutes. Everyone was moving. Everyone had somewhere to go. Pero ako…Pakiramdam ko ay naiwan akong nakatigil sa oras. “Kaia, why don’t you come with me? Magpalit ka muna ng damit,” malumanay na sambit sa akin ni Maurice. She held my hand and squeezed it as if she’s trying her best to comfort me. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya. Siya ang naiwan kasama ko dahil saglit na umalis sina Dylan kasama ang tatay niya at si Iverson. They were cooperating w