Chapter 59 A Place Where The Strongest Breaks.
Zarya's Point Of View
"Someone is looking for you."
Those words made me shiver, kinabahan ako bigla. There is only one person I want to look for me, pero hindi muna sa ngayon. I hope it's her, but if not—It's fine. Because I'd rather not see her than actually be with her while I am looking like this.
"Who is it?" Tanong ko kay Xy, I am expecting her to say her name.
"It's attorney Vìllor. Gusto ka niyang makausap, ikaw mismo." Xylla replied on the other end. Sobrang seryoso rin ng tono niya.
Actually, hindi na ako nakipag-usap pa kahit knino simula ng umalis ako para ayusin muna ang sarili ko. Minsan nalang, kay Xylla and kay Aria.
I get it, na kailangan ako. Pero hindi pa. Hindi pa sa ngayon. Hindi pa ako handa.
I shook my head immediately, pulling my arms tighter around myself like I could hold everything together. "Xylla, I can't do that. I can't meet him."
I get it, my mind whispered, na kailangan ako. Pero hindi pa. Hindi pa sa ngayon. Hindi pa ako handa.
I heard her leftbout a heavy sigh before she spoke. "Zar, they already found out who is the mastermind sa pagkamatay nila ate Yana."
Biglang namuo ang galit saakin, It's like after all these months of waiting....finally the justice will be served.
My whole body went stiff, parang biglang uminit ang lahat ng galit na tinatago ko sa loob ng ilang buwan. Every breath felt heavy, like there was fire burning straight down my throat.
Finally. After all this time, after crying myself to sleep, after blaming myself, after wondering if we'd ever know the truth...finally may pangalan na.
There is someone to blame. Someone who deserves everything coming for them.
Whoever you are... I promise you. I will never let you rest. You took the most important person from me, and I will make sure you pay for every single second of pain you caused. I would make you feel how it hurts to lose someone if I could.
Walang palalampasin. Hindi ka magkakaroon ng kapayapaan, not even for a second.
For so long, I've been hiding here, keeping myself locked away like I was still that fragile girl who couldn't handle anything.
But maybe... maybe this is really it. Maybe this is the sign I've been waiting for. Maybe it's finally time to stop running from the dark, and actually face it.
To step out of this place where I've been safe but broken, and finally fight for what's real.
I took a sharp breath, trying to steady my voice even though my hands were still shaking. "Okay," I said, firmer than I thought I could. "Sige, Xylla. Dalhin mo siya dito."
Before she could even reply, I added quickly, "Just the two of you. No one else. Ayaw kong may ibang makakita sa akin. Only you and him."
"Zarya..." her voice softened, parang nag-aalala saakin. "Pero kumusta ka naman talaga? Are you sure you're okay to do this?"
"Xylla, don't worry about me. Dalhin mo lang siya dito, kakausapin ko siya. " I cut her off immediately, not wanting to waste another second.
Natagalan pa bago siya tuloyan sumagot saakin "Okay. Pupunta kami diyan."
I ended the call slowly, my fingers still trembling as I pulled the phone away from my ear.
Ibinalik ko na rin kaagad ang phone sa desk kung saan ko ito kinuha, the man on standing there looked at me na parang inaantay niyang mag react ako sa tawag.
But I didn't look up. I just stared at the floor, my mind already set.
This isn't the end. This is just where I start to seek justice for my sister...
_________
Nasa labas ng garden silang tatlo, sa maliit na round table kung saan nakaupo sila. It was a quiet, cozy spot far from the usual noise, pero sobrang bigat ng hangin sa paligid.
Attorney Vìllor kept glancing around the area, his forehead creased in visible confusion. He couldn't understand why Zarya was staying in a place like this, far from her home and everything she used to know.
Zarya noticed his curious looks at agad na nagsalita. "Don't mind it, Attorney. Whatever you see here stays right here. This is completely out of the picture, separate from the case we're working on."
Attorney Villor leaned a little closer, his voice soft with concern. "Zarya... do you need any help? Are you okay?" He sighed quietly. "I know losing your sister is incredibly hard, and nothing can truly prepare you for that. I'm also sorry, I honestly had no idea you were here."
"Attorney, please." Biglang sagot ni Zarya, pinipigiln ang inis. "Let's not include this matter in our discussion. Just tell me why did you ask to see me?"
Attorney Villor paused for a moment, parang pumipili ng mga salita na hindi gaano kabigat. "We confirmed who the mastermind is. And based on what we gathered, he will be in the country by tomorrow or the next day."
Nanlaki ang mata ni Zarya at biglang uminit ang ulo niya. "Who is that monster?" she demanded, her voice already shaking with rising rage.
Xylla stayed quiet beside her, hands folded tightly on her lap, just listening intently. Halos ayaw na sumali pa sa usapan nila.
"It's Eric Valenti." Attorney Villor said plainly. "Isaac's own father. We have the statements from the shooters who were caught, but the evidence linking him directly is not yet strong enough to hold him in court."
Parang sumabog ang galit sa dibdib ni Zarya.
She slammed one hand on the table hard enough to make it rattle, eyes blazing.
"Fuck it! I knew it! I fucking knew it was that monster.
But I never thought he would really go this far....
this is too much, putang ina! He killed his own son?
? He even dared to drag her into his mess.
I want him to rot in jail, Attorney. I want him to pay for everything. "
"Zarya, calm down," Attorney Villor urged gently.
"Zarya, please calm down," Xylla added quickly, reaching out like she wanted to hold her hand but stopping short. "Kumalma ka muna, please. Hindi 'yan makakatulong sa'yo."
Zarya turned to her, tears finally spilling over, voice cracking in frustration.
"What do you want me to do, Xylla? Do you want me to celebrate?
Na namatayan ako ng kapatid ko tapos ang pumatay sa kanya, putang ina....
si Eric pa? Do you really expect me to just stay calm?
" She rested her forehead on her palm, shoulders shaking violently.
"Zarya, listen to me," Attorney Villor said firmly but kindly. "This is exactly why he never dared to reopen the investigation into his son's death. Both sides knew there was foul play in that so-called accident
but he never pushed for answers or justice. Because he is the one behind it all."
"What more should we expect from him?" Zarya spat out, wiping her tears roughly with the back of her hand. "He's a monster, he is ruthless"
"Zarya." Attorney Villor asked suddenly, "aside from being Isaac's father, what connection do you have with this man? Do you know him well?"
Biglang tumahimik si Zarya. Her whole body went rigid, at nag iwas din ng tingin.
Naguluhan naman si Xylla, she looked back and forth between the two, wondering why the question hit Zarya that hard, and why she looked so afraid to answer.
After a long silence, Zarya spoke in a very low voice. "That man... he is my father's biggest rival. That's all." she lied.
Attorney Villor nodded slowly, observing her reaction closely.
"Zarya, listen carefully. I need you to calm down and prepare yourself.
This will not be an easy fight. From what I've researched, Eric is a very dangerous man, he has the power and the means to twist almost anything to his advantage.
My advice to you is find your strength, step out of the comfort you've built, and fight.
If you don't gather the courage to stand up for your sister now...
Eric will win. And you will never get the justice or revenge you've been fighting for. "
Biglang tumayo si Zarya sa kinauupuan niya, and her voice turned into deep despair.
"He cannot escape this; He needs to rot in prison and die there!
He doesn't deserve to walk freely, Do more than your best, Attorney.
give everything you have, beyond your best, just to win this case. He deserves everything coming for him!"
Xylla saw how Zarya was shaking all over, screaming and cursing, her eyes wild like she was slipping away again, losing her grip on her sanity.
Agad siyang tumayo at humarap kay Attorney Vìllor. "Attorney, you can go ahead first. I'll take care of her here."
Attorney Vìllor stood up slowly, pero tumingin muna siya kay Zarya na parang nag-aalala. "I will call you tomorrow, Xylla. And please... take good care of your friend. Help her hold on."
"I will, Attorney. Thank you," Xylla replied softly.
Nang makaalis na si Attorney Vìllor, dahan-dahang hinarap ni Xylla si Zarya, who had slumped back down, crying silently now. She reached out to hug her, but Zarya pulled away sharply.
"No, Xylla... umalis ka na din," Zarya mumbled, face buried in her arms. "I don't want to see anyone. I don't want to hear anything. Please... umalis ka na lang muna."
Pero hindi umalis si Xylla. She stayed there, waiting for Zarya to calm down.
Zarya then looked at her, parang naghahanap ng mga sagot sa tanong niya.
"Bakit kailangan si Eric pa? Bakit kailangan mismong ama pa ni Isaac?
Fuck... why does it have to be this complicated?
Xylla, akala ko okay na ako. Akala ko anytime soon, kaya ko na ulit lumaban.
Putang ina... bakit parang bigla na naman akong nanghihina? "
Xylla sat back down beside her, keeping a small distance so Zarya wouldn't feel crowded, but her tone was steady and warm.
"I'm sorry, Zarya. Alam kong sobrang hirap nito.
Alam kong pinipilit mo lang kayanin araw-araw.
But please... try to hold on a little longer.
Gawin mo lahat ng makakaya mo, okay? If you still need more time to heal, take all the time you need, walang nagmamadali sa'yo.
Pero subukan mong lumaban, please. For your sister. At para sa sarili mo."
Natigilan si Xylla sa sinabi niya, kasi parang biglang nagbago ang tingin ni Zarya sa kanya, parang may sinabi siyang bagay na sobrang nakakasakit.
Zarya felt suddenly offended, like her situation was being thrown back at her.
Zarya laughed bitterly, pero walang halong saya, puro sakit at galit lang. Her hands curled into fists again, knuckles turning white habang nakadagan ito sa mesa.
"Bakit? Do you also think na mahina ako?
Na kailangan ko pang magpagaling? Bakit sa tingin mo rin ba hindi ko kaya?
Sa tingin mo ba madidisappoint ko rin pati yung sarili ko, huh Xylla?
" Her voice cracked, tears spilling faster pero matapang pa rin ang tingin niya.
"Xy, malakas ako. I can do this. I don't need any empathy, okay? "
Nanlaki ang mata ni Xylla, agad na umiling at gustong lumapit. "Sorry, Zarya...hindi ganon ang ibig kong sabihin—"
"Umalis ka na, please," Zarya cut her off sharply, turning her face away so Xylla wouldn't see how broken she actually looked.
"Sorry na din kung naging ganito ako. Alagaan mo na lang muna si Aria, 'wag mo na akong intindihin dito.
Aalis na rin ako dito bukas. Ako mismo ang haharap kay Eric na 'yun, ako ang tatapos nito. "
"Zarya, 'wag mo namang pilitin ang sarili mo," Xylla pleaded softly, staying where she was kasi takot siyang lalong magalit ang kaibigan niya. "Hindi mo kailangang magmadali. Kung hindi mo pa kaya, nandito lang naman kami—"
"Kaya ko, Xylla!" Zarya stood up abruptly, hands pushing Xylla's shoulders gently but firmly para ilayo ito. "Umalis ka na. Umalis ka na lang."
When Xylla didn't move right away, she pushed her a little harder, voice breaking completely. "Just leave, please!"
Xylla had no choice. She looked at Zarya one last time, eyes full of worry and hurt. then nodded slowly, turned around, and walked away without saying another word.
Nang maiwan nang mag-isa, bumagsak ulit si Zarya sa upuan. Yung bigat na kanina pa niya pinipigilan, tuluyan nang kumawala.
She buried her face in both hands, shoulders shaking violently as she cried loud, broken sobs that echoed softly in the quiet garden.
Tears soaked through her fingers, but she didn't wipe them away. She just sat there, alone, letting everything pour out.
I really needed to find something, anything that could lead me to where Zarya is hiding right now.
But nothing. Zero. Walang kahit anong kapaki-pakinabang na details. It's like she completely vanished off the face of the earth.
No new address, no recent traces, nothing that points to a place I can actually go to. I slumped back against the chair, running both hands through my messy hair in pure frustration.
I know Xylla would never tell me anything about where Zarya is.
Naiintindihan ko naman rin kasi she just wanted to protect Zarya, above all else.
Before, I used to think she was just keeping Zarya away from me on purpose.
But this time, hindi ko rin maipaliwanag, but I feel a little lighter towards Xylla now.
I can tell that her care for Zarya is genuine, she's not just someone who wants to keep her apart from me, but someone who truly wants to keep her safe and well. And I respect her so much for that.
Pero may isang tao maliban kay Xylla na makakatulong saakin. Ryan. Ryan knows everything, right? Alam rin niya ang tungkol saamin ni Zarya. Siguro... baka sakaling tutulungan niya ako. Maybe he'll tell me where she is or kahit mga adress man lang ni Zar.
My hands were hesitating badly as I reached for my phone on the desk. Frustration was eating me alive, hirap naman nito. Why is this so hard? Why can't I just find her?
Tears finally spilled down my cheeks, blurring my vision a little bit. I swiped through my contacts, found Ryan's name, and was about to press my finger over the call button.
Then suddenly...my phone buzzed.
Why would Xylla ask to meet me this late at night? Kaninang umaga pa, she wouldn't even reply to my messages, avoided me completely like I was a stranger.
Now she wants to see me personally? Parang ang bigla naman, and I can't help but feel a little wary, what changed?
But then again... this is the closest chance I've gotten in forever.
If I turn this down, baka mawala na naman yung pagkakataon kong makausap sila, o makita si Zarya. I can't risk that.
I pushed my chair back fast, closed all the tabs on my laptop with a quick click, and shut the lid tight. Grabbed my purse slung over the side of the table, checked twice if I had my phone and wallet inside, then rushed out of the hotel room.
The hallway was quiet, pero may mga tao namang dumadaan.
I told the driver the address as soon as I got into the car, and leaned forward, my knee bouncing nervously the whole ride.
The streets were dim now, and most shops were already closed for the night.
It took around twenty minutes before the car slowed down and stopped in front of a cozy looking corner cafe.
The lights were warm and yellow, and there were only a few other people inside. I paid quickly, stepped out, and the cool night air hit my face right away, making me realize na kinakabahan pala talaga ako.
I pushed the glass door open, the small bell above it jingling softly. My eyes scanned the whole place immediately, sobrang kaunti ng tao dito. And the distance of each tables area far from the other. and then I saw her, there she was.
Xylla... sat at a corner table near the wide window, her posture straight, holding a warm cup of coffee with both hands. She took a slow sip as I approached, her expression unreadable, tired, like she'd been carrying something too heavy for too long.
I stopped right in front of her table, clutching my purse strap tight. "Xylla..."
I stood there still clutching my purse strap tight, until Xylla spoke quietly.
"Iris–uh...sorry. Chiara, umupo ka na."
"It's fine. Call me whatever you're comfortable with." I assured her right away.
Tinuro niya ang upuan sa harap niya, and I reachd for it. Dahan dahan lang akong umupo, I still have no idea why we are here. "what do you need? Bakit mo ko pinapunta?"
Xylla looked down at her coffee cup, twisting it slowly between her fingers.
She was trying so hard to keep her face blank, to hide whatever she was feeling, pero it was impossible.
I could see the hesitation in her eyes, the way her shoulders drooped, at kung anong emotion man ang meron.
She took a long breath before looking back at me.
"Iris, hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa." she said softly. "Zarya needs you more than anything right now."
Something sharp twisted right through my chest when I heard her voice. It wasn't just the words that hurt, it was how she said them.
So tired, so broken. Parang siya ang nasasaktan. "Bakit? Did something happen to her? Nasaan ba kasi siya? Please sabihin mo na sakin... don't hide her away from me now, please."
"Nasa lugar siya na pinaka-ayaw niyang puntahan dati...
but now, it became her comfort. Magiging straight to the point na ako sayo, Iris.
Pinuntahan ko siya kanina, she kept saying she was okay, pero nakita ko naman talaga.
Alam kong hindi siya okay... at hindi siya magiging okay kung walang magbabago. " Xylla answered quietly.
"Sabihin mo lang sakin ano ba talaga ang nangyayari." I begged, tears already blurring my sight. "Ano ba talaga ngayon ang sitwasyon ni Zarya?"
Xylla looked at me at nakikitang kong nasasaktan na siya, and tears also started to show. "She is broken, Iris. She is completely broken."
"How... how miserable is she right now?" My voice cracked as I asked.
Tears finally spilled down Xylla's cheeks. She opened her mouth to speak, pero hindi siya makapagsalita, then shook her head like something was stopping her from saying the words. Parang napipilitan siya, parang natatakot siyang sabihin, until finally, her voice broke completely.
"She's... she's in a psychiatric hospital."
Psychiatric hospital.....
It felt like the whole world stopped spinning around me. I couldn't understand my own emotion. Pain, Shock? Fear? Everything crashed into me all at once, like a huge wave knocking me flat.
Halos ayaw kong maniwala sa narinig ko, I tried to hide it but my tears betrayed me.
"Xylla... I'm not sure if I heard it right," I said, trying to trick myself. "Nasa psychiatric hospital si Zarya? Si Zarya na sobrang talino, brave, fierce, that strong woman... is in a psychiatric hospital?"
"Oo, Iris," Xylla nodded, crying harder now.
"Kaya ayaw ko nang sabihin sayo kasi alam kong masasaktan ka rin sa sitwasyon niya...
pero nung nakita ko siya kanina, hindi ko na kinaya.
Mahigit dalawang buwan na siya dun, pero parang mas lumala pa yung sitwasyon niya.
The way she easily burst out when she got angry earlier...
parang sinapian siya ng tatlong demonyo, halos hindi ko na siya makilala.
Sobrang natakot ako sa kanya. And I thought...
maybe the only thing that could calm her down is ikaw.
Alam ko naman na hinihintay ka niya eh. Baka ikaw nga yung lakas na hinihintay niya all this time. "
I just stared at her, wala ng ibang pumapasok sa isip ko kundi ang mga sinabi niya.
More than two months? She's been there for more than two months... and I didn't even know? How could I miss this? How could I be so far away when she needed people the most?
"Saang hospital yan?" I stood up abruptly, chair scraping softly against the floor. "Pupuntahan ko siya ngayon."
"Sabi ko naman sayo di ba, pinuntahan ko siya kanina at sobrang magulo siya ngayon," Xylla tried to stop me. "For sure hindi siya okay, kaya wag muna ngayon."
"Pupuntahan ko siya ngayon, Xylla," I said firmly, even as tears kept falling down my face.
"No, Iris—"
"Tangina, Xy!" I cut her off, voice breaking. "Pano ba nangyari yun? How did it happen that she really end up in a psychiatric hospital? Fuck, Xy... pano? I really don't get it, ano ba talaga ang nangyari?"
"She was already miserable, Iris. When she lost the bidding... halos itakwil siya ng papa niya. Dumagdag ka pa, iniwan mo siya... tapos..." She paused, swallowing hard. "Alam mo ba... patay na si Ate Yana?" Xylla wiped her tears roughly, looking at me with so much pain in her eyes.
Guilt crashed over me so heavy I almost stumbled back. I added to her pain? I left her when she was already falling apart? Fuck, iniwan ko siya kung kailan kailangan niya ako. I pressed a hand over my chest, like I could stop the ache there.
"I... I thought I was protecting her," I whispered shakily.
"Xy, hindi mo rin ako naiintindihan bakit ko nagawa yun...
but I know. I know it was my fault, and it was a huge mistake.
And when Ate Yana died... Ryan told me about it.
That's exactly why I came here, because I wanted to be there for her.
Nagkulang ako sa kanya... and I want to fill those gaps now. "
"Alam mo rin ba na hindi lang basta aksidente yung nangyari?" Xylla asked quietly. "Your assumption that Ate Yana died in an accident... it wasn't. It was never an accident."
I froze, staring at her blankly. "Huh...?" Her sister was killed? Not an accident? "She... she was killed?"
"Oo." Xylla nodded sadly. "At yun ang mas lalong umubos sa kanya.
Kaya hindi ko rin alam, Iris. Kung ako nasa sitwasyon niya, hindi ko rin alam ang gagawin ko.
That's why she decided to surrender herself, siya mismo ang pumunta sa hospital na yun.
That just shows she already accepted that she was weak...
that she couldn't carry it all alone anymore. "
"Nasaan siya ngayon? What is the name of her hospital, please tell me," I pleaded again, gripping the edge of the table tight.
"Villa Celestia psychiatric hospital." Xylla answered softly.
"But Iris please... be gentle with her. And kung pwede, wag muna ngayon.
I just told you this kasi hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko.
She needs to be healed kasi alam na niya kung sino yung nagpapatay kay Ate Yana...
and she needs strength para lumaban. That's why I'm telling you this, kasi baka sakaling ikaw lang talaga ang inaantay niya. "
I took a deep, shaky breath, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. Sobrang sakit pa rin sa pakiramdam, but I felt a little more grounded now...at least I know the truth, at least I know where to find her. I looked straight at Xylla, sincere and grateful.
"Thank you, Xylla. Thank you for protecting her. Thank you for taking care of her sa lahat lahat. You were here when I wasn't. You were near when I was far away from her. You pulled her closer when I pushed her away... sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sayo."
Xylla just nodded slowly, fresh tears welling up in her eyes again, and gave me a small, sad smile that said more than words ever could.
I will find a way to get you out of there, Zarya.
We will face whoever hurt you and whoever took your sister's life away. I will make sure they would pay for everything. I'll keep you safe until you're healed.
And if you're too broken to fight, I will fight for you.
You will never have to do this alone anymore—not ever again.