Third Person's Pov

"Mikhs sa tingin mo darating siya?" Gwen asked.

"I know he will," Mikha said.

Mikha, Gwen, Maloi, and Jho are on a hospital rooftop where Maloi's parents are working. They are doctors, and Maloi's mom, Tita Marge, is also a banshee.

"Hindi naman siguro nakakahalata sila Aiah lalo na si Colet," Jho said.

"Coach Mickey told the team to go home early and bond with their family before the game tomorrow," Mikha said.

They heard the rooftop door open, and Bryan Arceta appeared.

"Kuya Bryan," Mikha said.

"Mikha Lim," Bryan said.

"You already know why we are. I want to listen to your side of the story," Mikha said.

"You can't lie. We can hear your heartbeat." Gwen said.

"I won't lie, especially since my family's life is at stake here," Bryan said.

Bryan started telling his side of the story. He didn't mean to kill Mikha's mom. A young boy hunter says that he saw a werewolf trying to hurt three kids. What really happened was Mikha's mom was training Mikha, Gwen, and Jho using their powers in the woods while she was in her partially lupine form.

"Tito Johan was the one who told me to leave the country. He didn't tell my parents what happened. Then the last news I heard he was killed by his brother," Bryan said.

"Looks like the young boy hunter was taught to hate werewolves," Maloi said.

"He's one of the kids that were having a vacation in here. They were taught differently because some of them lost their parents during the war of supernatural creatures and hunters," Bryan said.

"We are different here. Kaya namin lumaban but only for self-defense, and hindi kami pumapatay," Jho said.

"I know you guys are different, and also apologizing will not bring back Mikha's mom, but I'm really sorry," Bryan said.

"I've already forgiven you, Kuya Bryan. I know how important a family is; ayaw ko mawalan ng family member si Aiah," Mikha said.

"Siguro kung hindi pa sinabi ni Aiah na childhood bestfriends lang kayo ay mapagkakamalan ko na manliligaw o girlfriend ka niya," Bryan said.

"Malay natin po may gumagalaw na ng baso ng hindi natin alam," Gwen said.

"Baka gusto mo mabalian bago start ng game bukas," Mikha said.

"Mikhs first game bukas, tumigil ka," Maloi said.

"Mag-heheal din naman agad Loi," Mikha said.

Napatawa si Bryan sa kila Mikha. He already feels that Aiah and the other hunters are in safe hands.

"I trust our hunters to you four, especially my sister," Bryan said.

"Kuya Bryan, nothing bad will happen to you," Mikha said.

"Enzo is an alpha. I know he will use his betas," Bryan said.

"Then trust us too with your life. We may be just betas, but we won't let anyone be killed," Mikha said.

Pinauna nila na umalis si Bryan, pero may last question siya kay Mikha.

"What will you do if Aiah sees you in your partially lupine form? If that happens, it would be her first time seeing a werewolf in person," Bryan said.

"I don't know what I would do, but what I know is that I want to protect her even if she might hate me," Mikha said.

"You're really like Tito Johan," Bryan said.

Umalis na si Bryan habang umuwi na din sila Mikha sa sari-sarili nilang bahay.

Hindi makatulog si Mikha, bumaba siya dala ang helmet niya.

"Saan ka pupunta bunso?" Enzo said.

"Magpapahangin lang Kuya," Mikha said.

"Bunso alam ko hindi tayo okay, pero intindihin mo din sana na iniisip ko lang si mom," Enzo said.

"Kuya intindihin mo din sana na hindi lahat nadadaan sa paghihiganti," Mikha said.

Nasa pintuan na si Mikha.

"You killing Tito Javier for dad is valid because he's really dangerous having the alpha power, but mom's situation is different. Malaking gulo na ang masisimulan mo," Mikha said.

Umalis na si Mikha at pumunta sa bahay nila Aiah. Nasa tapat lang siya ng gate habang naka-sandal sa motorcycle. Tumingin muna siya bintana ni Aiah na naka-ilaw pa tapos tumalikod siya at tumingin na siya sa buwan.

"Mom, dad, I missed you guys. Please give me more strength to protect everyone," Mikha said to herself.

Mikha remembers how her parents always give her assurance that everything will be okay. Sa lalim ng iniisip niya, hindi niya namalayan na lumabas ng bahay si Aiah at nasa likod na niya.

"Mikha Lim, what are you doing here?" Aiah asked.

Dahan-dahan lumingon si Mikha. Nasa isip niya ang ganda ni Aiah kahit na naka-pantulog pajama lang.

"Napadaan lang Aiah," Mikha said.

"Talaga ba? Kasi sa pagkaka-alam ko bonding with family ngayong gabi ang utos sa inyo sabi ni Sophia," Aiah said.

Nakalimutan ni Mikha na kapatid ni Aiah si Sophia.

"Ayaw ko lang siguro sa bahay ngayon. Tara, ice cream," Mikha said.

"Huh?" Aiah asked.

"Sabi ko tara mag-ice cream," Mikha said.

"Wait magpalit lang ako," Aiah said.

"Wag na, just wear my jacket," Mikha said.

Sinuot ni Aiah ang varsity jacket ni Mikha at nag-motor sila papunta sa malapit na 7/11.

"Lakas din trip mo, naka-pajama pa ako," Aiah said.

"Cute naman pajama mo," Mikha said while smiling.

"Ehem tigilan mo ako sa compliment. Bakit ayaw mo sa bahay niyo ngayon?" Aiah asked.

"Baka mag-away lang kami ni Kuya Enzo," Mikha said.

"Kuya Enzo? Akala ko ba nasa ibang bansa siya," Aiah said.

"He decided to stay here for a while," Mikha said.

"Then that's good, magkaka-bonding time kayo," Aiah said.

"He kinda changed. He's not the same Kuya Enzo that I know," Mikha said.

"Baka dahil ang tagal niya sa ibang bansa. Nasanay ka lang na nandun siya," Aiah said.

Mikha took a deep breath; in her mind, she's thinking of how to make her brother listen first. Aiah quickly put a bit of ice cream on Mikha's cheek.

"Smile, you have your first game tomorrow," Aiah said.

"Maraiah Arceta, my cheek," Mikha said.

"Eh di dagdagan natin ng ice cream," Aiah said.

"Hephep no way, Aiah," Mikha said.

"Wala effect no way mo Mikha Lim," Aiah said.

Nalagyan ulit pisngi ni Mikha ng ice cream. Bumawi si Mikha kay Aiah. Napatawa nalang sila sa isa't-isa.

"We're a mess," Aiah said.

In Mikha's mind, she knows that her heart is already in a mess, starting to fall for Aiah.

"A funny, cute mess." Mikha said.

Mikha's smiling habang pinupunasan pisngi ni Aiah bago punasan ang sariling pisngi. Hinatid na ni Mikha si Aiah.

"Thanks sa biglaan na pa-ice cream," Aiah said.

"You always like ice cream," Mikha said.

"Syempre naman, libre mo ako ulit," Aiah said.

"Humirit na agad. I'll treat you to ice cream after the game, Aiahkins," Mikha said.

"Yehey, the best ka talaga Mikha Lim. Don't forget your helmet," Aiah said.

"Yes po, sige na pasok kana," Mikha said.

"Goodnight, Mikha Lim," Aiah said.

"Goodnight too, Aiahkins. Thank you for tonight," Mikha said.

They smiled at each other, then Aiah went inside the house. Mikha looked at her phone first. Gwen just messaged her, asking where she is. She replied back that she's on her way home.

Mikha wears her helmet, then she looks at Aiah's window, where the girl is waving at her. She waved back before leaving.

Mikha and Aiah didn't notice that someone was looking at the two of them. That someone is Colet, who likes Aiah but didn't have the guts to confess yet.

"Your smile is really different when you are with Mikha," Colet said.

The next day, maaga dumating sa arena si Mikha kasama si Gwen at Jho. Mag-gagabi ang volleyball game dahil pag hapon basketball game ang naka-schedule. Sunod-sunod na din dumating mga teammates nila. Ang last na dumating ay si Colet na kasabay si Maloi.

"Iba din talaga favoritism ni Colet kay Maloi. Sabay pa kayo dumating," Jho said.

"Nakita ko kasi nasiraan car niya, teka nga halata ang aga niyo tatlo," Colet said.

"Volleyball lang talaga nagpapa-aga sa inyong tatlo," Maloi said.

















"Mamaya na kayo mang-asar, change into your uniforms so we can go warm up," Mikha said.

Naka-captain mode na si Mikha. Sumunod na agad sa utos ang buong team. Lumabas na sila ng locker room at nag-start na mag-warm up sa court.

Unti-unti na din dumating mga audience at papuno na ang arena. After warm-up, nag-meditate na ang team ni Mikha. Sakto na dumating na sila Aiah, may dala sila na banner.

"Ang supportive naman ng archery team," Maloi said.

Mikha stopped from meditating when she heard what Maloi said.

"Mikhs hindi ka pa tapos sa meditate," Maloi said.

"I'm done, kausapin ko lang si coach," Mikha said.

Lumapit si Mikha kay Coach Mickey.

"Mikha may sasabihin ka ba?" Coach Mickey asked.

"Coach baka nakalimutan mo ilagay sa first six si Sophia," Mikha said.

"Mikha hindi ko nakalimutan. Relax ka lang," Coach Mickey said.

"Yes, coach," Mikha said.

"Sige na pasimple kana tumingin sa likod ko. I know you're looking at her," Coach Mickey said.

"Coach nahawa kana ata kila Jho. Tinitignan ko lang po baka nandyan na sila Tito Ed," Mikha said.

Coach Mickey laughed for a bit. He knows that Mikha is really looking at the archery team. Lumapit si Maloi kay Mikha.

"Mikhs, focus on the game," Maloi said.

"I am focused," Mikha said.

Tumingin ulit si Mikha kila Aiah, she realized that Aiah is wearing her extra jersey that she gave during their second year. Nasobrahan kasi pinagawa na jersey para sa volleyball team, naisipan nalang din ibigay ni Mikha kay Aiah.

"Loi sinabi mo ba na suotin niya yun?" Mikha asked.

"Hindi ako damay dyan," Maloi said.

"Mary Loi Yves Ricalde," Mikha said.

"It was Aiah's idea. Kita mo naman suot din ni Sheena at Stacey ang jersey ni Gwen at Jho," Maloi said.



"Kayo talaga kung anu-ano iniisip niyo. Teka wala may suot ng jersey ni Colet," Mikha said.

"Me, I'm wearing her jersey. Later I'll go to the bleachers to cheer for you guys with them," Maloi said.

"Huh?" Mikha asked.

Tinanggal ni Maloi ang suot niya na varsity jacket, suot niya nga jersey ni Colet. Even as a student manager, she has a varsity jacket. Gwen already gave her extra jersey to Sheena before. Jho also gave her extra jersey to Stacey; she accepts it even if they always bicker. In Mikha's mind, she's curious how Maloi got Colet's extra jersey.

"Colet gave me her extra jersey as a thank you gift for being the team's student manager," Maloi said.

"Alam mo Loi nakakahalata na ako sa pagka-close niyo ni Colet ay crush mo siya," Mikha said.

"Tigil-tigilan mo ako sa crush na yan Lim. Supportive friend lang din ako," Maloi said.

"Balik na ako kila Gwen, baka ano pa mangyare sakin pag napikon ka," Mikha said.

Lumapit na si Mikha sa mga teammates niya. She felt their nervous feeling. Being a defending champion, it's alright to feel a bit nervous.

"Girls relax," Jho said.

"Ate Jho, it's my first game," Sophia said.

"It's the first game of the season, but all of you need to relax," Colet said.

"Whatever the result of this game is, always remember that we did our best," Gwen said.

"Everyone, calm your mind. Trust yourself and your teammates," Mikha said.

Lumapit na din si Coach Mickey sa kila Mikha.

"What's our motto, girls?" Coach Mickey asked.

"All for one," Mikha said.

"One for all!" The whole team said at the same time.

"Okay, let's do this," Mikha said.

After a few minutes, the game started. It was an easy start to the game that they got the first set. Then in the second set, Mikha felt the presence of her brother. Coach Mickey called a timeout.

"Sophia, good received. Colet, target the back row. Jho and Gwen jump a bit higher during your blockings," Coach Mickey said.

"Yes, coach," The players said at the same time.

"Mikha, I'm subbing you out for a bit. Extra setter will be subbing in," Coach Mickey said.

"Po coach?" Mikha asked.

"Your game is a bit off," Coach Mickey said.

"But coach," Mikha said.

"Mikhs, remember ikaw nag sabi trust your teammates? Trust us and just rest for a bit," Colet said.

"Colet, take the lead," Mikha said.

The second set continues. Mikha felt another presence. It's Bryan Arceta at the bleachers, he is beside Aiah. He nods at Mikha.

"Mikha, is the full moon affecting you?" Coach Mickey asked.

Tonight is the full moon. May pakiramdam si Mikha na may masamang mangyayare ngayong gabi.

"Coach, I'm okay. Si Kuya Enzo nandyan na pati si Kuya Bryan," Mikha said.

"I need you to focus first on the game. I already sent a message to Aiah's dad. He is on standby," Coach Mickey said.

"Something is a bit off. His betas are not with him," Mikha said.

"It's possible that they are just around the arena," Coach Mickey said.

"I want to protect everyone," Mikha said.

"I know you can do it, but let's finish the game first. The team needs their captain," Coach Mickey said.

"You're right, coach. Let me back in the court," Mikha said.