This is a side chapter which contains side events that weren't clearly narrated (in a detailed way) in Hunter's POVs.

My mouth hung open in horror when I successfully opened the door and walked in, and the first thing I saw was my wife nearly stabbing herself, right in her heart. I was stunned for a second, horrified. My heart was pounding loud in chest as fear wracked my body.

Pakiramdam ko may unti-unting gumuguho sa loob ko kasabay ng pamamanhid ng buong katawan ko. No, I guess the feeling I have right now past the point of fear. Unconsciously, my feet moved as if they have their own lives and mind. Ang lakad ay nahaluan.ng takbo at mabilis ko siyang niyakap. My body shuddered. Natulala ako sa kawalan as I forcedly took the knife away from her.

I can't explain the fear I am feeling right now. Akala ko buong buhay ko ang nakaraan ko ang pinakanakakatakot na nasaksihan ko. Ang mamatay ang dalawang buhay na pinakamamahal ko. But now, even my own death can't beat how scared I am to see my wife, Dimaria die before my eyes. Para akong mawawala sa katinuan ng mga oras na 'yon. I cannot afford to lose her, I cannot afford to prepare another funeral, to hold another bouquet of white flowers for a dead wife. Dahil alam ko, kapag nangyari 'yon, I will follow her.

Hearing her cries, and how tired she is, how fed up she is with the pain, everyone around her causes her double the pain I am feeling inside my heart. I was silently cursing myself for doing this to her. I am blaming myself for why she's suffering right now. I was the bad guy. I had become the person I loathed. Wala na rin akong pinagkaiba sa mga pumatay kay Amber.

As I saw a glimpse of myself in the mirror a while ago, pansamantala kong hindi nakilala ang sarili ko. It wasn't me anymore. It wasn't the Hunter I could be proud of. I couldn't be proud of myself right now for what I had become. As I started thinking about the old Hunter... I wished I was. So I didn't hurt the greatest woman I had ever met.

"If that's the only way to give you what you want, I am willing to take my own life. Pagod na pagod na rin ako Hunter. Pagod na pagod na akong pagbayaran lahat, pagod na pagod na akong mahalin ka, pagod na pagod na ako sa kulungang ginawa mo sa akin."

It hurt me to see her on her knees crying so hard in front of me. So I knelt too and hugged her, as we cried so hard. It hurts. Hindi ko maipaliwanag kung gaano kasakit iyon, pero ito 'yong klaseng sakit na mararamdaman mo sa buong katawan mo. Tuliro akong umiling iling. Isipin ko palang ulit na mawawala siya sa akin at hindi ko kakayanin. No.

"No... no... you can't do that. You can't leave me. Hindi ka pwedeng mawala. Don't fucking do that again. I can't afford to lose another one," nababasag ang boses ko habang mahigpit pa rin ang yakap sa kaniya. Hanggang sa mawalan siya ng malay. I carried her until we reached the bed. Marahan ko siyang inihiga at binalot ng kumot. I can still feel my body shudder. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang takot na naramdaman ko kanina and I think, that fear will never leave. Mananatili iyon, like a scar from a deep wound.

I caressed her face and fixed her hair. I even took wipes to wipe her dry tears. Sunod kong ginawa ay kumuho ng emergency kit to mend her wound right on her chest. May kumawala pang luha sa mga mata ko habang ginagawa iyon, I also changed her clothes at ilang oras pa siyang pinagmasdan habang natutulog until I decided to leave. I placed a soft kiss on her forehead before I packed some things from my closet and put them in my luggage bag. I have a one week meeting and conferences sa iba't ibang lugar. It's also my chance to give her rest from seeing me; our break from this tiring situation I've caused. Baka sa pagbalik ko, magkaroon na ako ng lakas to finally set her free, cause I'd rather let her go than see her die. It was traumatizing to see someone I love die in front of me. masisiraan ako ng ulo.

I called Lester, para bantayan si Dim habang wala ako. Habang si Jock ang naatasan kong tulungan si Zyc na mag-supervise ng company. They are the ones I could trust. I am not planning to bring Jock, mas gusto ko umalis mag-isa.

I was in my car when I received a call from my wife. Hindi ko iyon sinagot kahit na gustong-gusto ko. I just feel so bad. I don't know how to talk to her. After everything I caused. Nagpadala lamang ako ng message sa kaniya to inform her na mawawala muna ako for one week. Amari tried to reach out to me, pero hindi ko siya pinansin. I blocked her from my contacts, completely cutting off all of my connections to her. Wala na akong pakialam kung ano ang gusto niyang gawin sa akin.

The first four days of my meetings and conferences that I attended were fine. Kapag pahinga naman ay mas pinipili kong mag-stay sa hotel at mag isip-isip. Nilulunod ang sarili sa mga bagay na maaaring mangayari, sa mga balak gawin pagbalik ko isa na ang laman ng envelop na hawak-hawak ko. Dumating ito kanina, the divorce papers are already processed. Pinermahan ko na rin 'yon. I sipped on my wine before placing the envelop on the coffee table as I watched how the sun went down. I was thinking if it was the best thing to do. That'll probably hurt her, pero mas masasaktan lamang siya kapag nanatili pa siya sa tabi ko.

She has to be free, and I am giving her back the freedom I stole away from her. She deserves someone better, and that's not me. I have to fix myself. I have to go back to the Hunter I was once. 'Yong Hunter na karapatdapat mahalin, hindi 'yong Hunter na gago, hindi 'yong Hunter na masama.

Matapos ng pagpapahinga roon ay tumayo na ako para mag-asikaso. May dadaluhan akong ball ngayon galing sa isa kong nakasama sa conference. He's a known businessman, kaya hindi ako makatanggi. I'm wearing a three-piece suit, and I'm off to go.

"Mr. Martinez!" kita ko ang ngiti ni Mr. Landon ng makalapit sa akin. Nakipag toast ako sa kaniya as I welcomed him. Isa siya sa business partners ko and we met here.

"Good thing you came, Mr. Landon. These people here are intimidating me." He laughed.

"Why would you? You're more intimidating than them, kid." Inakbayan niya ako as we walk towards the nearest bar counter. We talked a lot about businesses and plans for the future projects we will build. Hanggang sa may tumawag sa kaniya at naiwan ako roong pinapanood ang mga bisita. The ball was held in a high class hotel's gathering hall. Wala akong hilig sa ganito at alak lang talaga ang ipinunta ko. Ngunit ng makita ang oras ay nagpasya na rin akong umalis dahil may imemeet pa ako bukas.

"Mr. Martinez?" A waiter approached me. Paalis na sana ako ngunit nahinto ako dahil sa kaniya.

"Yes?"

"Someone wants to give you this." He's holding a shot. Kinuha ko naman iyon and looked around. My eyes squinted to a familiar man looking at me with a smile on his face. Tinaas niya konti ang hawak niyang champagne glass kaya ganoon na lang din ang ginawa ko at ininom na ang binigay niya to show coutesy. After that, I head out of the place. I was about to rent a cab when I felt something was off. I stopped. Mabilis kong inalog ang ulo dahil pakiramdam ko'y nahihilo ako. My eyes are feeling sleepy and my vision has become hazy. Damn! Sa pagkakatanda ko'y k-konti lang ang nainom ko kaya bakit parang nalasing ako?

"Sir, are you okay?" Someone approached me, but I didn't have the strength to acknowledge him. Until I suddenly felt myself falling as my mind finally collapsed.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I groaned. I feel like my body is being beaten with extreme pain.

I stretched a little as I opened my eyes only to see an unfamiliar room. I adjusted to sitting, and despite the headache, my gaze wandered the rest of the room. My lips parted as my eyes widened a little when I saw dead bodies scattered around me. There were knives and guns at my feet, and when I looked at the suit I was wearing, I was just so shocked to see that it was full of stains. Even my hand was covered in blood.

Anong nangyari? Why am I here? And who are these people? I badly want to ruffle my hair but my hands were messy. I was so clueless, confused and fuck! I felt horror. What the hell is this?!

Hindi pa man ako nakakakilos ay bumukas na ang pinto and I was stunned on my place when number of cops approached me, one of them handcuffed me. I don't have any choice but to go with them, still fucking shocked and clueless.

To be continued...