Epilogue

ELIO BLAZIEL SIERRA

I stared at Nika, who had been unconsciously looking at the window. She’s been like that for days, pero gumagalaw naman ito para asikasuhin kami ni Vlad at mga pamangkin niya. Hindi din ito kumakain ng maayos, kaya nag-aalala ako.

It’s like she’s here, but her mind is somewhere else, lost in all the pain and worry. And as much as I wanted to reach out, to help her, I didn’t know how.

Pero mas lalo akong nag-aalala sa kanya nang hindi ko man lang ito nakitang umiyak, at pagluksahan ang pagkawala ng anak namin.

I didn’t know she could be this strong. Stronger than me, even. Or maybe she’s just pretending to be strong—for me, for Vien, for Vlad, and for Harvin, Haven and Harry.

I admire her. I admire every fiber of her being, her resilience, her courage in the face of everything we’re going through. She’s the rock holding us all together, and I’m in awe of her strength.

“They took Vien for ransom, Elio.” Eros said as he walking towards me holding his phone. Na p