Jake sat quietly in the seminar hall, held during the semester break to enhance students' teaching skills. Though present physically, his thoughts were elsewhere. As the speakers continued their lecture, Jake found it hard to concentrate—his mind drifting back to the disturbing information he had recently uncovered.
Election season had arrived. He knew all too well that with it came chaos, corruption, and bloodshed. Yet, he planned to use this period of noise and distraction to move freely and gather more evidence.
The Fuego family—especially the father of twins Felisa and Chesca—was among the most powerful political clans in the area. They were adored by the public, likely because of their "second form," something that manipulated followers into blind loyalty.
Jake sighed deeply.
He vividly remembered when the murder of the twins and the disappearance of Mikaela and Chesca dominated the headlines. Despite being the prime suspect, the father used his influence to suppress the truth. The deaths of his first and second wives, along with his children, were conveniently swept under the rug. Instead of condemnation, he gained public sympathy—twisting tragedy into a political advantage. A hero, painted in grief.
Even their funerals had become media events. Rescuers had been dispatched, search efforts had been shown on television. But none of it was real. Jake knew better.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Jake realized he was alone in the room.
He stepped out for fresh air, trying to clear his head.
I wonder how they're doing… he thought, his mind drifting to Chesca and Thalia.
Even if he disapproved of their decisions, all he could do now was support them. But he still couldn't comprehend why Thalia was there.
They're just kids... What good can they do? This will only lead them into danger, he thought grimly.
More than anyone, Jake worried about his cousin, Giovane. To this day, the evidence he was looking for remained elusive. He had tracked Giovane's every move, yet even the disturbing images he had seen earlier were difficult to accept.
Suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned quickly, only to find a fellow teacher smiling politely before walking away without a word.
Then, his phone rang. The number was unregistered. Jake hesitated but answered.
He waited—silence on the other end.
"H-Hello?" a man's voice finally spoke.
"Yes?" Jake replied.
"Is this Sir Jake?"
He frowned. "Yes, speaking. Who's this?"
"Ah, sir, this is Castro. I just had a question for you."
Jake immediately recognized the name—one of his students.
"What is it? Is it important?" he asked.
They discussed some unfinished assignments and the return date of classes after the break.
"Thank you so much, Sir Jake," Castro said.
Jake gave a tired nod, "You're welcome," and ended the call.
He sighed. Even on vacation, he couldn't escape being a teacher. But he didn't mind. Teaching the next generation was still something he believed in.
Returning to the faculty room, Jake saw his colleagues chatting happily. He sat quietly at an empty table and checked his phone.
Missed calls. Text messages.
His brow furrowed. Some messages were from Felix. Others from anonymous contacts within the organization.
He scratched his forehead in disbelief.
Thalia is there… and Ericka too?
One of Felix's messages echoed in his mind:
"It's inevitable. Hearts that seek answers will eventually cross paths."
Jake stood abruptly and called Felix.
The call was answered almost instantly.
"What do you mean Ericka is there?" he asked, not bothering to hide the urgency in his voice.
Felix sighed on the other end. "Jake, you can't stop fate. Their paths are meant to intersect."
"No. No!" Jake snapped, shaking his head. "Do you even realize those kids are still minors? I expected Chesca and Thalia to meet—but Ericka too?"
"Believe me, Jake," Felix said, calm but firm. "I wanted to bring Thalia back, but you know my sister. She makes her own choices."
Jake gritted his teeth. "Do you understand the weight of what we're dealing with? We're responsible for these children!"
"I know," Felix replied. "But like I said before… we have to trust them."
Jake didn't respond. Frustrated, he ended the call and slipped the phone into his pocket.
He walked back toward the seminar room. But now, the noise from the lecture only echoed the chaos in his mind. The questions—old and new—buzzed louder than any speaker's voice.