AURORA'S POV:
I woke up before the sun did.
My eyes blinked open slowly, disoriented again by the unfamiliar ceiling above me. It took me a second to remember where i was, still in Lance Montenegro's condo, still stuck in this strange, fragile bubble of borrowed peace, still tangled in a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.
The sheets were warm, but my hands were cold.
I sat up, knees to my chest, and stared at the sliver of Manila skyline peeking through the window blinds. It was Thursday.
The day.
Today was the day i had to face them.
The weight in my chest had been growing heavier since Lance received the subpoena. It came in a pale yellow envelope two days ago, slipped under the door in silence like a warning.
I didn't even know what it was until Lance stood outside the guest room, his hand on the frame, a conflicted look on his face.
"I got something for you," he'd said softly, offering the paper with a weight that felt like a verdict.
I couldn't touch it.
I just looked at it, then at him, and went back inside.
Now, though, there was no more hiding.
I moved slowly out of bed, brushing my fingers over the fabric of the old hoodie i'd borrowed.
I had a few clothes now, thanks to Bianca's quick trip, but none of them felt like mine. None of this felt like mine.
The condo was still quiet when i padded to the kitchen.
Lance wasn't there.
I checked the time—6:18 a.m. Too early for even him to be up?
Just as i reached for a glass of water, I heard it: faint typing from the study.
Of course.
I made my way to the room down the hall, where the door was slightly ajar. I peeked in.
There he was.
Lance Montenegro, lawyer, former football star, and for some reason, the only person in this entire city who didn't treat me like i was guilty. He was hunched over his laptop, brows furrowed, coffee untouched beside him.
His hair was a little messy, like he'd barely slept.
I leaned against the doorframe quietly.
"You didn't sleep again," I murmured.
He didn't flinch. He just looked up, tired eyes softening when they landed on me. "Could say the same about you."
"I didn't hear you come in last night."
"Didn't want to wake you," he said. Then, after a pause, "You okay?"
No. "I think so."
He studied me, then gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit. You need to eat."
"I just wanted to get water."
"I'm making breakfast."
I gave a weak smile. "You're always making breakfast."
"It's the one thing i'm sure i can fix."
That made me laugh soft and quick, but the sound startled me. It had been days since anything felt light.
I stepped inside and sat.
For a while, we just sat there in silence.
He worked. I watched.
Then i asked the question i'd been holding all night.
"What… what's going to happen today?"
Lance paused his typing.
He exhaled, then turned the laptop screen slightly toward me, showing an outline of possible questions, procedural notes, reminders of rights.
It looked overwhelming.
"They'll ask what you remember. Where you were. What you saw. If you saw Luis after 11 PM"
My stomach turned.
"I didn't," I whispered.
"I know."
"Do they?"
He looked at me again.
This time, the calm mask cracked a little. "That's why we're going in. To make them believe it."
I nodded slowly, chewing the inside of my cheek.
"What if i panic?" I asked. "What if i say something wrong?"
"Then I'll be there to make sure you don't," Lance said firmly. "Aurora, you're not going in there alone. I'll be beside you the entire time."
I wanted to believe that was enough.
That having him near could somehow shield me from the stares, the insinuations, the way people's eyes turned sharp when they saw my face.
"I'm scared," I admitted.
Lance didn't try to deny it.
He didn't throw empty comfort my way. Instead, he just said:
"You have every right to be."
I swallowed hard.
"But you're not running anymore," he added. "You're showing up. That already makes you braver than most."
We left at 9:00 a.m.
The city was already loud outside, but nothing compared to the noise inside me.
I sat in the passenger seat of Lance's car, staring out the window, clutching my phone like it could protect me.
It was still new, no social media apps installed, no calls except from Bianca or my parents.
But i kept it close, as if a lifeline could be made of metal and glass.
Lance drove in silence, save for the soft hum of the radio playing old love songs.
We didn't speak. We didn't need to.
He knew i was gathering the pieces of my courage one breath at a time.
By the time we arrived at the precinct, I felt like i'd been drained of blood.
The building wasn't large, but it loomed over me anyway.
There were cameras outside. I saw them the moment we pulled in. Reporters, too. I flinched instinctively, ducking lower in my seat.
Lance reached over and placed a hand on mine.
"We'll take the back," he said.
He parked in a private area, and true to his word, led me through an unmarked side door where no cameras waited.
Inside, everything smelled like paper, sweat, and cheap coffee.
We waited in a small room.
A detective entered, along with a legal aide. The questioning began.
Lance stood beside me the whole time.
I answered everything honestly.
Where i was, who i spoke to, how much i drank, what time i left.
I admitted that i went home before midnight, that i'd felt sick and knew my limit.
I told them i barely even spoke to Luis that night, just congratulated him quickly and moved on.
Still, the questions kept coming.
What about the hotel? The hotel Luis was found in.
Had i been there?
No.
Did i see anyone with him?
No.
Did i leave with anyone?
No.
They didn't say it, but i could feel it, the disbelief hanging in the air like humidity.
We finished after what felt like hours.
When we finally walked back out into the sunlight, I collapsed on the bench outside, my legs weak.
"I feel like i just got hit by a truck," I mumbled.
Lance handed me water. "You did good."
"You're just saying that."
"No," he said. "You really did."
I looked at him.
"You really believe me," I said quietly, like i still couldn't believe it myself.
He nodded. "I do."
That made my throat tighten.
And for a moment, I forgot we were standing outside a police station.
I forgot about the headlines, the judgment, the silence from people i thought were friends.