2025-06-09 23:57:32Zoriel felt like he was about to cry while sitting inside the jail cell.
No matter how much he tried to explain himself to the police, they still believed Jessa over him. They all lost consciousness that night—so why was he the only one here now? If anything, they were the ones who should be held accountable. After having him beaten up, they even tried to kill him. If it weren’t for the kapre that helped him, he was sure he wouldn’t be alive right now. Zoriel froze. He suddenly remembered the kapre. But his hope quickly faded when he realized it would be a terrible mistake to mention the creature. No one believes in those things anymore. They’d probably just think he was losing his mind. “Zoriel Del Cruz! Your lawyer is here!” Zoriel looked up and turned toward the sound of the voice outside the cell. His brows furrowed when he saw a man in a formal suit walking toward him. “Lawyer? I-I don’t have a lawyer,” Zoriel said, confused. The man stopped right in front of him. “Mr. Del Cruz. I’m Javier Sanchez. I’ll be your lawyer.” He extended his hand. Zoriel hesitated but eventually shook it. “Sorry, sir, but I had no idea I even had a lawyer.” Zoriel scratched his head. Javier smiled. “Don’t worry. Mayor Santiago was generous enough to assign one to you.” Zoriel froze again. He didn’t know whether to feel grateful or even more anxious after hearing that. Alfred himself had provided a lawyer after filing charges against him? “Please, we should talk in private.” Zoriel didn’t respond right away, but he followed as one of the police officers opened the cell door for him. He quietly walked behind Javier until they reached a small room where they could speak privately. Javier set down his briefcase on the table and looked at him. “Now, Mr. Del Cruz. Mr. Santiago is filing charges against you for attempted murder and sexual assault. You should understand—those are very serious accusations.” Zoriel’s jaw dropped. “What?! I didn’t do anything to them, sir! In fact, they were the ones who tried to kill me!” he protested. Javier let out a deep breath. “I understand. But Ms. Mendoza has submitted some evidence.” He opened his briefcase and pulled out an iPad, placing it on the table in front of Zoriel. “This is a video she submitted. As you can see, it shows you trying to touch her.” Zoriel watched the video. It was a bit blurry, but it clearly showed him hugging his ex-wife. Honestly, there didn’t seem to be anything criminal in that video—Jessa touched him. He couldn’t understand how that could be considered evidence. “And? I was just trying to stop her because I still needed to talk to her. That’s not wrong, is it?” Javier nodded slightly. “So, you’re saying you did touch her?” Zoriel swallowed. His mouth opened to say yes, but he quickly shut it again when something in Javier’s tone made him uneasy. “Mr. Del Cruz? This is crucial. I need you to be honest with me,” Javier said. He stood up and leaned over the table, touching it to get closer to Zoriel. “Did you try to touch Ms. Mendoza?” Zoriel’s mouth opened again. “W-What kind of question is that?” “Just answer it, Mr. Del Cruz. I can’t help you unless you speak to me.” Zoriel looked away. Something about the question didn’t sit right with him. “B-But—” Before he could say anything else, the door suddenly swung open. Both of them turned to look. Javier stood up, and the irritation was clear on his face. “Hey! We’re in the middle of something here!” he snapped. A man in a formal suit entered the room. He was older than both of them and looked far more authoritative. He walked up beside Zoriel. “This conversation is over. You can stop talking to him now, Mr. Del Cruz,” he said in a firm tone. Javier smirked. “And who are you to say that? I’m his lawyer!” The man raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? Because I believe you’re one of Mr. Santiago’s lawyers.” He dropped a folder onto the table. Zoriel immediately picked it up and checked the contents. He swallowed hard when he saw the documents inside—this man was telling the truth. Javier Sanchez was one of Alfred’s lawyers.
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Chapter 25: The Villagers
Zoriel couldn’t explain the strange sensation creeping over him. With every step he took, he could feel the islanders’ eyes fixed on him.The women that were cleaning fish near the docks.The men who had just gotten off their boats.Even the children who had been laughing and playing just moments earlier had all stopped—and were now staring.They came to a stop at the center of the shoreline. They couldn’t go any farther anyway; the narrow path ahead was blocked by a wall of people.Zoriel felt like every single person on the island was now watching them.“Who is that?”
Chapter 24: Back Home
“This place is amazing!” Caloy exclaimed with excitement, his eyes darting all around.They were riding in a customized van—Crystal’s work vehicle. It had been converted into a tiny house, complete with everything she needed for travel and rest.“Thank you. I’m sorry if this is all we could bring. The bus still isn’t ready. A few things are being fixed,” Crystal explained a bit sheepishly.Caloy and Zenaida exchanged glances.“You have a bus, too?” Zenaida asked, stunned.“Is it like this one?” Caloy added quickly.Lily flew up near Crystal’s face. “She must be a princess or something!”Zoriel could only sigh. Somehow, he was the one feeling embarrassed for his companions.“I’m sorry, Crystal. They’re always like this.”“It’s fine. There’s food in the mini fridge. Help yourselves,” she said kindly.Caloy’s grin widened. Without hesitation, he stood and opened the fridge. Zenaida quickly followed to check what was inside.Zoriel shook his head again. “They're really embarrassing,” he m
Chapter 23: First mission
Zoriel couldn’t wipe the grin off his face as he gazed at his jeepney. He had really thought he’d never get it back.He turned to Crystal, who stood silently nearby. He walked up to her.“Thank you so much for your help, Ms. Crystal. If it weren’t for you, I don’t think I’d have this back.”Crystal gave him a small smile. “What I’ve done is still not enough to repay the help you gave me, Mr. Del Cruz. Don’t worry—I’ll help you however I can.”Zoriel scratched his head, a little embarrassed.“Ma’am Crystal… You really don’t have to. I didn’t do that much for you.”Crystal shook her head. “You helped me more than you realize. If it weren’t for you, I might still be haunted by… whatever that creature was.” She shook her head lightly. “I never expected any of it to be real.”Zoriel went quiet. He couldn’t deny it—he still found it hard to believe those beings existed.“It hasn’t returned, has it, Ma’am?”“No. And stop calling me Ma’am. Just Crystal,” she said firmly.Zoriel hesitated. “Th
Chapter 22: His People
“Ms. Crystal?” Zoriel called, still in awe.Caloy rushed to his side. “We’ve been looking for you, bro!” he said, then glanced at Zenaida. “Whoa! Miss, easy with that blade!”Zoriel snapped back to the moment. He turned to his sister. “Zen, put it down.”Zenaida reluctantly lowered her weapon but narrowed her eyes. “And who are they supposed to be?”Zoriel glanced toward Crystal, who stood silent, her eyes fixed on him. Standing beside her was Mr. Thompson, his expression stern and unreadable.“They’re my friends,” Zoriel said simply.Lily squealed, flapping her tiny wings. “It’s her! She’s the one who was possessed by the kapre!”She flew over to Crystal’s side, hovering close to examine her face. “She’s so beautiful… like a Diwata!”Zenaida arched an eyebrow. Still unsure, but sensing something different, she slowly sheathed her blade.“You! Who the hell are you, and what are you doing here?!” Alfred barked at Crystal and Michael, his eyes sharp and threatening. Jessa, on the other
Chapter 21: Face off
"Why do we even have to come here? We should be heading to the province already!" Lily snapped, her tiny wings flapping in frustration."We can’t leave without getting my jeep back," Zoriel explained calmly."But you’ll have to face your loudmouth ex-wife again!" she protested, clearly furious.Zoriel could only sigh. Her rage was written all over her tiny face."I still need that jeep if we want to make it to the province," he said flatly.Zenaida shook her head. "You're right. We do need transportation. But what if she tries to have you arrested again?"Zoriel paused. She had a point. But Mr. Thompson had assured him that Jessa couldn’t use the same so-called evidence to get him locked up again. Plus, he had his own proof now—something that could turn things around."That won’t happen, Zen. Trust me."He finally entered the municipal hall, the two women trailing close behind. With his documents in hand, he went straight to the mayor’s office.Even before reaching the door, he could
Chapter 20: The Start
Zoriel could only shake his head as he set the food on the table. Zenaida and Lily were still going on and on about his so-called destiny.He hated to admit it, but after what happened with Crystal, he was starting to have second thoughts."Are you even listening, Zoriel?" Zenaida asked, her brow raised.Zoriel finally sat down and looked at his sister, who was already eating without waiting for anyone else.Even Lily had dug in—she was practically hovering over her plate mid-air as she devoured her food."Yes. And still, it's impossible. I'm not a Santhigar, Zenaida. Weren't you the healer? The albularyo? Why not you?" Zoriel said as he started eating.Zenaida swallowed before looking him straight in the eye."Because I wasn’t the chosen one, Zoriel. No matter what we say or do, it’s you. You were the one chosen to continue Lolo’s legacy."Zoriel let out a deep sigh."Alright. Let’s say you’re right. But how am I supposed to do any of this? I have no idea what I’m doing.""Your neckl
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