A'ishah's POV

My hands were trembling.

I shoved them into my pockets as I walked away, forcing my breathing to even out, forcing my pulse to settle when it damn well wouldn’t.

I hated her for that.

For still having this pull on me, for knowing exactly how to unravel me with just a few words, a single touch, a look that stripped me bare no matter how much distance I tried to put between us.

My fingers curled into fists as I reached the door. I had to get out of here. Now.

But my feet didn’t move.

Instead, I stood there, frozen, back turned to her, chest tight as if her presence alone was pressing down on me, keeping me anchored when all I wanted was to run.

Damn it. Damn her. Damn me.

The air between us was thick, suffocating, charged with something dangerous, something neither of us knew how to escape. And she knew it. I could hear it in the smirk laced in her voice, in the taunt behind her words, in the slow, deliberate way she had stepped toward me, knowing I wouldn’t move away.

I should have.

I should have shoved her back, should have walked out of this room without another glance, without letting her get under my skin the way she always did.

But the second her fingers barely grazed mine, my whole body had gone still, my breath catching in my throat.

Because fuck, I still felt it.

I still felt her.

And I hated myself for it.

I wanted to yell at her, wanted to demand why she was looking at me like I was still hers, why she was making this harder than it already was, why she wouldn’t just let me go when I had spent every day trying to let her go.

But I didn’t.

Because the truth was, I wasn’t sure if I wanted her to.

But as I walked away, my hands still shook, my throat still ached, and my body still burned with something I had spent weeks convincing myself had died.

I was wrong.

And Maxine knew it, too.

The air outside was thick with humidity, clinging to my skin as I stepped out of the building. The weight in my chest hadn't lessened. If anything, it had only grown heavier.

I should go home. That was the logical choice. The one that made sense.

But instead, I found myself driving to the police station.

It was late, past midnight. Most of the offices were empty, save for a few officers finishing up paperwork. The station had that distinct stillness that only came when exhaustion settled over a place like a thick fog.

Jana’s office door was slightly ajar, a dim light spilling through the gap. I knocked twice before stepping inside.

Jana looked up from the mountain of case files on her desk, surprise flickering across her face before it was quickly masked by something more serious.

“A’ishah.” She said, leaning back in her chair. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

I shut the door behind me. “I needed to talk to you.”

Jana studied me for a moment, then gestured to the seat across from her desk. “Go ahead.”

I hesitated before sitting down, crossing my arms as if that could hold me together. “You’re still working on Maxine’s case.” It wasn’t a question.

Jana sighed, rubbing her temple. “Of course, I am. I know she’s innocent, but proving it?” She gestured at the files in frustration. “That’s the hard part.”

I swallowed, my nails digging into my palms. “What do you have so far?”

Jana tilted her head. “Why do you care, A’ishah?”

My jaw clenched. “I just do.”

Silence stretched between us, heavy and unspoken. Jana wasn’t stupid, she saw right through me. But instead of pressing, she sighed and pulled out a document.

Jana exhaled sharply, flipping through the file in front of her. “The case is a mess, A’ishah. The evidence isn’t solid, but it’s enough for the higher-ups to push for an indictment.” She looked up at me. “You know how this works. It’s not just about the facts, it’s about who controls the story.”

My stomach twisted.

Of course, I knew.

I had spent years learning exactly how to manipulate a case, how to craft a narrative strong enough to hold in court. I had studied every angle, every legal loophole, every possible argument that could tip the scales.

And now I was the one standing on the opposite side of Maxine. The one being used to bring her down.

I clenched my fists under the table. “So, what do you have?”

Jana eyed me, suspicion flickering in her gaze. “Why do you care?”

I forced my expression to remain neutral. “Because I need to know how strong the case is.”

Jana scoffed. “Right. Because you’re the prosecutor.”

I said nothing.

She shook her head. “Unbelievable.”

My throat felt tight. “She hasn’t been convinced yet.”

“No.” Jana said. “But if you push hard enough, she will be.”

I looked away, my jaw clenching.

Jana watched me carefully. “You don’t want that, do you?”

I inhaled sharply. “This isn’t about what I want.”

“Bullshit.”

I flinched.

Jana’s voice softened, but her eyes didn’t waver. “You still love her.”

My stomach lurched. “That doesn’t matter.”

“It should.”

I swallowed hard. “Justice needs to be served.”

Jana scoffed. “Justice, or a conviction?”

I had no answer for that. Because the truth was… I wasn’t sure anymore.

Instead of responding, I pushed my chair back and stood. “If you find anything that proves she’s innocent—” I hesitated, then forced the words out. “Tell me.”

Jana exhaled, studying me for a long moment. “And if I don't?”

I turned to the door.

And for the first time in my career, I didn’t know what I would do with the truth.

I was already halfway to my car when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

Unknown number.

I hesitated for a second before answering. “Hello?”

“A’ishah.” A familiar voice came through the line, low and urgent. “It’s Jeremy.”

“What is it?” I asked, unlocking my car and slipping into the driver’s seat.

“I need to see you.” His tone was sharp, clipped. “Now.”

My grip on the phone tightened. “What’s this about?”

There was a pause. A beat of hesitation before he spoke. “It’s about Maxine.”

My breath caught in my throat.

I forced my voice to stay steady. “Where?”

“Café Imperium. Fifteen minutes.”

The line went dead before I could respond.

I sat there for a moment, my pulse thrumming against my skin.

Jeremy is one of the few people I trusted when it came to this case. We haven't talked much lately. But if he was reaching out, it meant something big.

I exhaled sharply and started the car.

Jeremy was already there when I arrived, sitting at a booth near the back. His posture was tense, his fingers drumming against the table. A black folder sat beside his coffee.

I slid into the seat across from him. “Talk.”

He didn’t waste time. “Cobra Organization is operating again.”

My stomach twisted at the name.

Cobra Organization.

The same group that had nearly killed me. The same group that had been behind countless deaths, cover-ups, and crimes buried so deep that the legal system barely scraped the surface.

I kept my face neutral, but my fingers curled into fists under the table. “What are they up to?”

Jeremy slid the black folder toward me. “This.”

I hesitated for only a second before flipping it open.

Photos. Documents. Surveillance reports. And at the center of it all… was Maxine.

Maxine in a dimly lit parking lot in her uniform as a Colonel, speaking with someone I didn’t recognize. Maxine leaving an old government building. Maxine with blood on her hands, Nicole’s blood.

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to keep looking. “What is this?”

Jeremy’s voice was calm, but there was something in his eyes—something tight, conflicted. “Evidence. Some of it’s real. Some of it’s manufactured.” He exhaled. “They’re making sure Maxine takes the fall for this, A’ishah.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “She’s already the prime suspect.”

“Look, I know it's not clear what really happened that night. But you have to admit that everything was shady.” He clenched his jaw. “I'm not taking anyone's side, A'ishah. Gusto ko rin malaman kung ano ang katotohanan.”

“Maxine is being shady too.” I looked away. “She's… hiding something.”

“Hindi mo pa ba siya naka-usap?”

I shook my head. “She won't talk.”

“Well, she needs to talk.” He gritted his teeth angrily.

I furrowed my eyebrows at his reaction. That's… a bit suspicious.

How was he so aggressive about this? He doesn't sound like the old Jeremy.

“Are you okay?” I raised an eyebrow.

Quickly, he relaxed his expression. “Yeah. I'm just frustrated. My mind has been a mess lately.”

I studied him carefully, my instincts prickling. Jeremy wasn’t acting like himself.

He was always calm under pressure, always the one who kept his emotions in check, especially in high-stakes situations like this. But now, there was something off… something lurking beneath the surface.

His clenched fists. The flicker of unease in his eyes. The way his jaw tightened, like he was holding back something.

Was it just frustration? Or was it something more?

I leaned back in my seat, keeping my expression neutral. “If you find anything solid, call me.” My tone was firm. “No assumptions. No theories. Just facts.”

Jeremy nodded, but he seemed distracted, his gaze briefly darting to the window.

I frowned. “What is it?”

He exhaled sharply. “Nothing. Just… be careful.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I always am.”

His lips pressed into a thin line. “No, A’ishah. I mean it. Cobra have their eyes on you again.” He hesitated, lowering his voice. “And if you keep digging, you will be their next target.”

My stomach twisted, but I refused to let the fear show. I had been a target before. This wasn’t new.

“I can handle myself.” I said coolly.

Jeremy didn’t look convinced.

I grabbed the folder and stood up. “Like I said, call me if you have something real.”

Before he could say anything else, I turned on my heel and walked out of the café, my mind racing.

Jeremy was hiding something.

The Cobra Organization was watching.

And Maxine, whether innocent or guilty, was the key to everything.

I could already see the sunrise when I arrived home. I closed the door behind me, exhaling as I ran a hand through my hair.

My mind was still racing from everything Jeremy had told me. From the photographs. From the unsettling realization that, no matter how I looked at it, Maxine was in the center of all this.

I tightened my grip on the folder. She had blood on her hands, Nicole’s blood.

I should hate her for it. I should want her locked away. And yet…

A faint sound pulled me from my thoughts.

I turned toward the living room and froze.

Nicolas was sitting on my couch, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. The dim light from the lamp beside him cast sharp shadows on his face, making his features look harsher than usual.

He had been waiting for me. My stomach twisted.

"Did you talk to Ate Maxine?"

His voice was steady, but I knew him well enough to hear the tension underneath.

“Well, good morning to you too, Nicolas.” I rolled my eyes. “What happened to hi and hello? To how are you Ate A'ishah?”

He cleared his throat as he stood up. “I'm sorry, Ate.”

Nicolas ran a hand through his hair, obviously trying to rein in his emotions. He looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes, the way his shoulders were tensed, as if he’d been sitting there for hours.

I sighed, shaking my head as I walked past him and placed the folder on the coffee table. Wala pa akong tulog, Nicolas. Don’t start with me.

“I went to jail, but I haven’t really talked to her.” I finally answered, plopping down on the couch.

The image of that girl laying on top of Maxine makes my blood boil again. I clenched my jaw, forcing the memory out of my head. Hindi ‘yun ang priority ngayon.

Nicolas, however, noticed the shift in my expression. “Ate?”

I exhaled sharply, leaning forward and rubbing my temples. “Wala, wala. I just… I saw something that pissed me off.”

He raised an eyebrow, but I shook my head. Not now.

Instead, I gestured to the folder. “May mas malaki akong problema.”

He hesitated before picking it up, flipping through the contents. The more he read, the darker his expression became. His grip on the paper tightened, knuckles turning white.

“This doesn’t make sense.” He muttered, his voice tight with frustration. “Ate Maxine wouldn’t—”

“Wouldn’t what?” I cut in, my tone sharper than I intended. “Wouldn’t be caught in the middle of something shady? Wouldn’t have blood on her hands?”

Nicolas snapped his head up, eyes flashing. “You don’t believe this, do you?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. Because the truth was… I didn’t know what to believe anymore.

Jeremy had proof. Some of it fabricated, yes, but some of it was real. Cobra Organization wasn’t just dragging Maxine into this. She was already in it.

But how deep?

That’s what terrified me.

“Ate.” Nicolas’s voice softened. “I know you’re angry. I know you’re hurt. But you know Ate Maxine. You know her.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Do I?”

He flinched.

“Everything is a mess, Nico. I don't know what to do anymore.” I covered my face with my hands, hiding from Nicolas’s eyes that my frustration in everything is slowly drowning me.

There was a pause of silence before I felt his hand on my shoulder. “Maybe it's time to visit an old friend, Ate.”

Napa-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya when I heard that. “Old friend.” I echoed, eyebrows furrowed.

He nodded his head. “My father has probably missed you.” He chuckled.

Right. Alverson.

It's been so long since the last time I saw him. I'm sure he's mad at me. At all of us.

“He's probably—”

“He's not mad at you.” Nicolas cut me off.

I furrowed my eyebrows. “How do you know that?”

“I might have visited him a few times?” He scratched his nape, looking a bit scared.

I stared at Nicolas, processing what he just said. He visited Alverson?

“Kailan mo pa ‘to ginagawa?” I asked, my voice quieter this time.

He shifted uncomfortably, glancing away. “A while now.” He admitted. “Since you're like a mess. Since Ate Maxine…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “Look, I just… I needed answers, okay? I needed someone who actually knew what was happening behind the scenes.”

I let out a breath, leaning back against the couch. Of course, he would go to Alverson. If anyone had information, it was him.

“He’s naggy.” I muttered, rubbing my temples. “He’s probably going to lecture me the second he sees me.”

Nicolas smirked a little. “Oh, definitely.” Then he got serious again. “Pero Ate… you need to talk to him. If there’s anyone who can help untangle this mess, it’s him.”

I stared at the folder on the table. The images of Maxine. The blood. The accusations. The unknowns.

Alverson was a pain in the ass, but he wasn’t a liar. And right now, I needed the truth more than anything.

I let out a slow exhale. “Fine.”

Nicolas’s face lit up with relief. “Yeah?”

I nodded, standing up. I grabbed my keys, shaking my head. “Tara na, bago pa magbago ang isip ko.”

Whatever answers Alverson had, I was ready to hear them. Even if they changed everything.

The drive to the prison was quiet. Nicolas sat beside me, hands clasped together, his knee bouncing slightly. Something he only did when he was nervous.

I should’ve been nervous too. Maybe I was.

The city had barely woken up, the streets still quiet. The sky had shifted from deep blue to the soft golden hues of morning. I focused on the road, gripping the wheel tighter than necessary.

I hadn’t seen Alverson in a while. Not since everything fell apart. Not since he was locked away.

“You sure about this?” Nicolas finally spoke, his voice quieter than usual.

I sighed. “Wala naman akong choice, Nico.”

He didn’t argue.

By the time we reached the prison, my exhaustion had settled deep into my bones, but I pushed it aside. We parked, got out, and after passing through security, were led down the cold, gray hallways. The sound of our footsteps echoed off the concrete walls, each step heavier than the last.

Finally, we reached the visitor’s room. The guard opened the door, and I stepped inside.

Alverson was already waiting.

He looked up as I entered, dark eyes sharp and calculating. Despite being in prison, he still carried that same presence. Like he was always ten steps ahead of everyone else in the room.

He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Didn’t think I’d see you again, kitty.”

I pulled out the chair across from him and sat down. “I didn’t think so either.”

Nicolas hesitated at the door before stepping inside, standing by my side like he wasn’t sure if he was welcome.

Alverson’s gaze flicked to him, and I saw the most genuine smile from him. “Come here. I miss you.”

Nicolas immediately obeyed as he hugged his father. “You're too clingy, papa.” He joked.

“Son, of course I am.” Alverson pinch his cheek before looking back at me. “I assume you're here for a reason.”

I slid the folder across the table. “You know why.”

He glanced at it but didn’t reach for it. Instead, he studied me.

“You look tired.” He noted.

I smirked. “You look like shit.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Woah! Why the aggression?”

I leaned forward, my expression turning serious. “Alverson, I need answers.”

Alverson tapped his fingers against the table, his expression unreadable as he processed the contents of the folder. For a long moment, he said nothing. Just stared at the evidence like it was a puzzle only he could solve.

Then, he leaned back, rubbing his jaw. “You’re looking in the wrong places, kitty.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Then tell me where I should be looking.”

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “Go back to the cabin.”

My stomach twisted. I hadn’t stepped foot in that place since the night Nicole was killed. Since the blood. Since the sirens.

Since I lost her.

I forced myself to keep my expression neutral. “The case has been investigated. The police combed through every inch—”

“Did they?” He cut me off, his voice calm but firm. “Or did they only find what they were meant to find?”

I felt Nicolas shift beside me, uneasy.

Alverson leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Whoever did this, kitty, they didn’t just get away with it. They made sure someone else took the fall.”

I swallowed hard. “And you think the answer is still there?”

“I know it is.” He tapped the folder. “The truth was never in these papers. It’s where it started.” His eyes darkened. “You need to retrace everything. The night Nicole died. Every step. Every detail.”

I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until I finally exhaled.

“You’re scared.” His voice softened, but there was no pity in it. Just quiet understanding.

I looked down at my hands, at the scars time hadn’t managed to erase. “I should’ve saved her.”

Alverson was silent for a moment. Then, his voice came low, steady. “Then make sure she gets justice.”

I clenched my jaw.

“You really don't believe Maxine did it.” It was a statement. And he sounded so sure about it.

I clenched my fists. “She killed her.”

“That’s what they want you to believe. But deep down, that’s not what you believe, A’ishah.”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “And you’re so sure of that? You weren’t there. You didn’t see what I saw. You don’t know what I’ve—” My voice caught, the weight of Nicole’s name still too heavy to bear.

He leaned forward, his gaze steady. “I know you. And if you truly believed Maxine was guilty, you wouldn’t still be here. You wouldn’t be digging through this case, trying to find what’s been buried.”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay firm. “I only want justice for—”

“For Maxine.”

“No. For Nicole.”

He tilted his head slightly. “And for Maxine.”

Silence settled between us, heavy and suffocating.

I hated how easily Alverson saw through me. How, even from behind prison walls, he could still pull apart every defense I put up like they were nothing.

I tightened my grip on my lap, my nails digging into my palms. “If I go back there… if I do this…” My throat felt tight. “And I find something that proves she—”

“You won’t.” His voice was firm. Unwavering.

I looked up at him, searching for doubt. There was none.

Alverson sighed, leaning back against his chair. “I don’t trust Maxine, but I know she didn’t kill Nicole.”

“You know?” I scoffed. “How? Because it doesn’t fit your idea of her?”

“Because I know killers, kitty.” His dark eyes met mine, cold and certain. “I know when someone’s capable of taking a life. And Maxine?” He shook his head. “She’s reckless. She’s ruthless when it comes to protecting the people she loves. But she’s not a murderer.”

I swallowed hard.

“I know you know that too. You're just blinded by anger, frustration, and all this pressure everyone's putting you in.” He smiled a little. “Be kind to yourself, kitty. It's time to close your ears, and listen to this.” He pointed at my heart. And his eyes tell me just how sure he was that I still care for Maxine.

And he wasn't wrong at all.

“You’re running in circles, chasing the truth in all the wrong places. You need to stop looking at the surface and start digging deeper.”

I inhaled sharply, forcing the memories back. The blood, the chaos, the way Maxine looked at me that night, her hands trembling, her eyes wide with something I couldn't name.

Fear? Guilt? I still didn’t know.

But there's one thing I'm sure of.

I will serve the right justice for Nicole… and for Maxine.

~~~

Thank you for reading! 💛