“Kamusta po kayo ni Tatay Carlos, Nay?” Hindi napigilang mapangiti ni Sky habang kausap ngayon sa cellphone ang matanda. Kahit na hindi pa nito makita iyon ay nagagalak pa rin siyang marinig ang boses nito. “Ayos naman kami rito, iha. Salamat sa mga tulong mo sa amin. Heto at tuloy-tuloy na ang pagpapatherapy ni Tatay Carlos mo.” “Wala ho iyon, Nay. Kagaya nga nang pangako ko bago ako umalis, hindi ko kayo pababayaan. Kahit na malayo ako sa inyo, basta kung may kailangan kayo, ‘wag kayong mahihiyang magsabi sa’kin, ha?” Paalala pa niya rito. “Naku… ‘wag mo kaming masyadong isipin dito. Alam kong abala ka pa rin sa pag-aasikaso nang negosyo ninyo. Ikaw nga diyaan ang inaalala namin, eh. Kumakain ka pa ba sa tamang oras? Baka mamaya niyan ay puro trabaho na lang din ang inaatupag mo.”

Napasinghap siya dahil sa mga salitang binitiwan nito. All the anger she felt seemed to have been drained out of her as she heard what her father just said. Pakiramdam pa niya’y nanghihina siya sa rebelasyon nitong iyon. Her father let out another shaky breath. Guilt was written all over his face as he had this faraway look in his eyes. “Kung maibabalik ko lang sana ang mga oras… If only I was there that night… if only I did not leave the party early… siguro ay hindi nangyari lahat nang ‘to. Siguro ay buhay pa sana siya ngayon… She and that man would’ve been able to spend their lives together… Ang dami kong sana, Sky… and even after more than 30 years… I still carry that guilt and regret in my heart…” Heneroso Bus

“If none of you are going to help me, then I might as well do it myself.” Nakasimangot na turan sa kanila nang kaibigan. Kinuha nito ang sariling cellphone at hinanap mula sa list of contacts ang numero ni Charlie. She then pressed the call button at ilang sandali pa ay nag-ring na ang kabilang linya. Natahimik naman sila habang pinapakinggan kung sasagutin ba nito ang tawag.  Ngunit makalipas ang pang-anim na ring ay hindi pa rin sinasagot nang dalaga ang cellphone nito. It just rang… and rang some more. Chiena sighed dejectedly as she stared up at each of them. Akmang pipindutin na lang sana nito ang end call button nang sa wakas ay tila nahahapong sagutin na iyon ni Charlie. “I told you a million times, I won’t be going.” Pambungad kaagad nito. Out of nowhere

Hindi makapaniwala si Sky sa nakikita. Mulagat siyang nakatitig lang sa screen nang tablet. Kung pwede lang na hindi siya kumurap ay ginawa na niya. She refused to let her eyes trail away from the screen even for a minute at baka bigla na lang maglaho sa paningin niya ang binata. Maging si Jax ay ganoon din ang reaksyon. Though initially, because of his shock ay kagyat na nagpalipat-lipat ang titig nito kay Ethan at sa tablet. But their wounded friend motioned for him to go on and watch, so he did. He went still as his eyes, too, never left the display again. Miguel was there, seating in what seemed like a wheelchair. Maayos na ang bihis nito. Taliwas sa inaasahan ni Sky, hindi na ito nakahospital gown na siyang dating suot nito noong araw na sapilitan itong tangayin sa pagamutan. Her husband was now wearing an all black turtleneck knitted sweater paired with

Agatha Isabelle Chan Honralez, 25 years old, daughter of former business moguls Santillan Honralez and Isabelle Chan, was found dead due to a gunshot wound in the head. Witnesses say there had been a car chase prior until the car which Honralez drove lost control and hit a nearby tree. The young woman was then seen running out of the said vehicle and going straight into the forest. A number of 10 men stocked with big guns emerged a black van and followed her suite. The next thing heard were gunshots being fired. Locals were terrified to interfere and even asked their identities hidden after giving out statements to the police. It was reported, however, that there had been one casualty. A 35-year-old male named—   Ngunit doon na nagtatapos ang artikulo. The rest of it were burned at nangingi