TRINITY

"It's... It's a cat's head..."

In my own entire life, I hate cats and dogs. Literally, I find them annoying. Like, hindi ko nga maalagaan sarili ko and then bibigyan mo ako ng aso o pusa. How can I show them the love they deserve if even I, I can't love myself.

"Head? As in ulo lang?" Tanong ko. Nakita ko ang bahagyang pagtango niya.

"That cat looks familiar," Lucien said. Unti-unti siyang lumapit sa kahon at tinignan ito. "I think, I saw it somewhere around the campus."

"Me too, maybe that cat can give us the location?" Lilith conclude.

"Paano mo malalaman location n'yan? Hindi na nga halos makilala 'yung pusa kasi puro dugo na 'yung mukha," inis kong sabi at lumapit muli. Ngunit kahit na anong pilit ko, bumabaliktad talaga ang sikmura ko dahil sa amoy.

Dumating na din si Kace, Huzein at Alliana, agad naming ipinakita namin sa kanila ang kahon. Alliana screamed, Kace frost, and Huzein just... Hindi mo maipinta ang mukha niya.

"I... I think I saw that cat somewhere..." Kace whispered. "Kahapon lang, I pat her head at ngayon patay na."

"Saan mo nakita?"I asked. Pinilit niyang isipin kung saan hanggang sa bumuntong-hininga ito.

"'Wag mong sabihin sa'kin na nandoon si Bryle? Doon naman niya ginawang tang ina," sabi niya at napahilamos. "Tatawagin ko ang buong council para tulungan tayo sa pagbuhat nito at pakakalmahin ko din sila."

"'Wag mo isama si Elys, buang." Alliana warned. "Parang pinatay mo na si Elys kung ipapakita mo sa kaniya na patay na 'yung boyfriend niya."

"For the meantime, Lucien and Trinity. Just stay here," Kace dictated.

"Anong gagawin namin dito?" Inis kong sabi.

Kace rolled his eyes and faced me. "Hindi ka pwedeng sumama. I know you've seen a lot of this and it's traumatizing for you. I still can't understand why you didn't grieve because of your sister's lose."

"Grieving is for fools, hindi magagawa ng iyak mo ang lahat. If that's what you want to hear from me, I don't grieve, I want to give the justice that my sister deserves," I replied coldly.

"Alright then, let's go?" Singit ni Alliana. Alam niya naman kasing magkakaroon ng gulo kaya siningit niya. Thank God, may nakahalata din.

Umalis na sila at itinapon ang ulo ng pusa kung saan. Kami naman ni Lucien ay natira sa garden. Alam kong gusto niyang sumama but he chose not to. Ginagawa na naman niya ba akong "the only exception"?

Nakita ko na may inilabas siyang picture mula sa kaniyang bulsa. It's the picture na nakita namin sa locker ni Janice.

"Dito ang location nito, doon banda," sabi niya at itinuro ang bandang kaliwa kung saan may puno. "Maybe she wants to remind you who she is by this."

I rolled my eyes. "It's still useless. I can't even remember, even an inch. I don't have an amnesia or dementia pero all the trash memories for me, binabaon ko na sa limot. It doesn't deserve to have a space in my mind anyway."

"I agree with you," he said. Nagsimula na siyang maglakad-lakad. "What do you want to do in this day? I mean, this moment? Para naman hindi masayang ang moment na magkasama tayo, 'diba?" He suggested.

"How about let's play two lies one truth?"

"I'm scared," sabi niya at hinawakan ang kaniyang dibdib. "I'm always true when it comes to you."

"Tang ina, hindi ako nakikipagbiruan Lucien Feirro Hart." Inis kong sabi at umirap. I hear him laughed because of it.

"You're now calling me in my full name," puna niya.

"Bawal ba? Okay, I'll call you Lucifer, then."

"Lucifer is too old fashioned but I like it. They think I'm really the king of hell." He said and laughed. Indeed, his always true when it comes to me. Hindi naman niya pala tawa o palangiting tao pero look at him now, smiling comfortably in front of me.

"That's my first impression to you until you winked at me! You motherfucking devil!" I exclaimed.

"What a cursed..." Bulong niya. He cleared his throat and faced me. "You know what? I hate my name but I like it when you call me Lucien Feirro."

"Uh..." Bulong ko. "I don't know on how to reac on that one. Is that a pickup line? Can I laughed because of that? Can I cry? I really don't know."

I frost when he pat my head like we're close! "It's definitely okay if you don't reac. Kinakabahan ako baka bigla mo akong i-reject."

"Why would I reject you?" Nakamaang na tanong ko. Akmang sasagot siya nang maramdaman ko ang cellphone ko sa aking bulsa na tumunog. It's a message from the unknown number.

It says,

'Guard's House'

Agad ko itong ipinakita kay Lucien. Kunot-noo niyang tinignan ito at ang phone number.

"Don't go there," Lucien said. "I think it's from that bitch again, maybe it's the location where—"

"Doon? Tara puntahan natin!" Yaya ko. Akmang kikilos na ako nang hawakan niya ang braso ko.

"No, it's for you Trinity. Let them handle, okay? You've suffer so much, you should take a rest," He said. 

"Take a rest my ass, paano kung hindi nila alam? It's a guide for them para alam nila kung saan!" I exclaimed. "Nandito na ang biyaya, hihindian mo pa? Lucien, binigay na niya ang location! Hindi na nila kailangan pang maghanap!"

"No, let them."

"But—"

"No buts, Trinity." He interrupted.

I rolled my eyes. "Tangina, bakit pa ako nagpapa-under sa'yo. I can do everything with or without your permission."

Marahas kong hinila ang braso ko at tumakbo ng mabilis. Sa kasamaang palad, mabilis niya akong nahuli at niyakap. Dahil doon ay nawalan ako ng balanse at tumama kami sa lupa. Pilit kong kumawala ngunit ayaw niyang bitawan hanggang sa gumulong-gulong nalang kami sa lupa.

"Motherfucker, let me go!" Inis kong sabi. Panay ang siko ko sa kaniya ngunir lahat mg iyon ay naiilagan nila.

"No, I won't!" He exclaimed at mas lalo pang hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap.

"What the fuck?! Who are you to dictate me?! I don't even know who you are so back off!" Inis kong sabi. Maya-maya ay huminto na siya sa paggalaw at unti-unti nang lumuwag ang kaniyang pagkakayakap. Uh, did I said something offensive?

"Trinity, I'm taking a step closer to reach your heart once again but it seems like every time I'm taking a step closer to you, you're taking a step away from me, to the point that I can't reach you anymore. You are now out of reach, Trinity..." He whispered. Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko at pilit na ibinangon ang sarili at nagpagpag.

"What the fuck did you say? Have we met before?" I asked. He remained the emotionless face bur his eyes expressing something. Longing. Missing. He's hurting.

Unti-unti siyang tumayo at nagpagpag bago marahang lumapit sa akin. Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang hinawakan ang suot-suot kong necklace. That necklace is given by Huzein two years ago.

"I hope this thing can remind you of me..." He whispered. Nagtama ang paningin namin.

"What? Si Huzein ang nagbigay sa akin nito!" Giit ko.

He chuckled. "So hindi niya sinabi... Okay."

"Sinabi ang what?" Tanong ko. Hindi niya ako pinansin at nagsimula na itong maglakad palayo. Mas lalo pang kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

"HOY!" I called him but he just continue walking away. "HOY! IPALIWANAG MO SA'KIN DITO! HOW DARE YOU TO PIQUED MY CURIOSITY AND LEAVE ME HANGING!"

I rolled my eyes. Akmang sisigaw ulit ako nang mag-bip ang cellphone ko. It's a text message from Huzein.

'You look like a lost child from here. How cute.'

Agad akong namula at tinignan ang girl's dormitory kung saan tanaw dito si Huzein na nakatayo. Kumaway ito sa akin at irap lang ang sinagot ko. How dare him to watch us without my permission.

Pagdating namin sa dorm ay mamula-mula ang mata ni Kace at Alliana habang si Lilith naman ay hindi umiimik. Tanging si Huzein lang ang nagpaliwanag sa amin pero halatang hindi din siya okay dahil sa nakita.

"The same exact position like the other winners, there's a little changes like... I don't want to describe it, it's really... Disgusting." Huzein said. Napayuko ito at napahilamos. "Good thing hindi pumunta si Trinity, I heard from one of the council na nagtatalo kayo ni Trinity, Lucifer. Am I right?"dagdag niya.

Lucien nodded. "She's so stubborn."

Huzein chuckled. "She's always been like that. Kahit ako, parang nag-aalaga ako ng batang pasaway. "

"Hindi ka namang obligadong bantayan ako, Huzein Adriatico. I don't even need to act like a father to me." Inis na sabi ko at umirap. I heard him chuckled.

"I think... I need to rest," Kace said. Kumuha ito ng damit sa isang itim na bag at pumuntang bathroom. Siguro magpapalit ito ng damit bago matulog. But wait, dito na sila matutulog?

"Me too... My mind can't process what's happening this morning. I need a break..." Alliana said and stood up. Kumuha siya ng damit at tuwalya at umupo sa kama habang hinihintay si Kace matapos. "Hoy Kace! Hindi porqué need natin ng rest, dadamihan mo pagkuha ng shower gel ko!"

"I need a nap but I need to take a bath first, maybe after Alliana..." Lilith whispered. Tama lang na marinig namin. Isinandal niya ang kaniyang ulo sa upuan at pumikit. "Huzein, tell them everything. The time is ticking, wala na tayong oras."

"Okay," Huzein said. He cleared his throat before looking at us. "Trinity, I need you to answer my questions. Lucifer, listen carefully to what she said and take down it."

Lucien sighed. "I don't need a paper though."

"Okay, if that's what you want." Huzein said. Tumingin ito sa akin at may inilabas na sticky note pad. "First question. Two years back, ano ang naalala mo sa laboratory, Dean's office, mathroom and guard house?"

"Hmm..." I whispered. Pilit kong inalala ngunit ang mga kalokohan lang ang natatandaan ko. "Sa laboratory, pinaghalo ko 'yung dalawang chemical and then pinagpalit ko ng labels 'yung iba because I'm bored. After that, napatawag ako sa Dean's office para kausapin. Then simula no'n, na-banned na ako sa laboratory."

"What a devil..." Lucien whispered. "Continue."

"Dean's office, siguro 'yung palagi akong natatawag dahil sa gulong kasama ako. 'Yung iba kasalanan ko, 'yung iba dinamay lang ako para masira pangalan ko." Sabi ko at nagkibit-balikat.

"And what was the reason bakit kailangan nilang sirain ang pangalan mo?" Huzein added a follow up question.

"Uh... Siguro dahil naiinggit sila kay Tiffany, at dahil maraming nagkakagusto kay Tiffany, ako ang target nila? I don't know, that's the only reason I can conclude," I answered.

"Continue."

"Mathroom? I never been there. I hate math, really. From the bottom of my heart, I want to punch who the fuck created that mathematics. Hindi na siya nakuntento sa numbers, dinagdagan pa ng letters," inis kong sabi at umirap. Well, it's true. I'm not brainy as you think.

"Same," I heard Lilith commented.

"The last one is guard house. Wala naman akong maalala, I'm not close with the guard though. Hindi naman ako pala-ikot sa campus. Siguro ang tambayan ko palagi ay ang detention room, Dean's office at ang dormitory."

"It's useless, everything is useless..." Lilith said. Napalingon ako sa bandang kama nang makarinig ng kalabog. It's Kace, kakatapos niya lang maligo at diretso siyang humiga sa kama.

Napatingin ako kay Lucien nang tumikhim ito. "Let's now share our thoughts before lunch, shall we? It's almost eleven o'clock in the morning. We have one hour to discuss," he said. "Let's start with the Scorpion's target." Sabi niya at tumingin sa akin.

"Maybe it's one of the contestants two years back," panimula ko. "Candidate of death... The word candidate, hindi ba alarming? Maybe it's about school elections or a pageant. If it's all about me, this is the pageant two years back. Given na that scorpion is a woman, it has something to do with it."

"Yeah but we're not sure if that murderer is really a woman or a man." Lucien commented. "Next, a smartass guy with a principles." Sabi niya at bumaling kay Huzein.

"It has something to do with the location kung saan natin nakita ang winner." Sabi niya. "My theory is, may something doon na it can trigger everyone maliban sa may namatay doon. I still don't have evidence to support my theory."

"Okay, next a devil who can make everyone obey her words," he said. Lucien glance on me and turn his gaze to Lilith. Uh, how dare him to copy my line!

"It has something to do wiht her mini bloody game called the "Candidate Of Death". If I can still remember, two years back, ang maraming naiinis sa section two. Someone want Tiffany dead as Trinity said. But if we will apply this in politics, all the candidates are clowns. Lahat ng plataporma na sinasabi nila ay hindi naman nila magagawa in the end of the day." Sabi niya at tumayo. Kumuha ito ng lollipop sa kaniyang bulsa at binuksan 'yon. "Clown... Clown... That word is really something. I still can't figured it out so I don't have evidence to support my answer."

Umalis na si Lilith at kumuha ng damit para maligo dahil kakalabas lang din ni Alliana. Nagulat ako nang pumasok ito na hindi inaalis ang lollipop sa bunganga. Maliligo ba siyang may lollipop na kinakain?

"Last but not the least, the mysterious guy that his name is after the king of hell," sabi ni Huzein and he chuckled.

"I agree with Lithuania, I bet there's a meaning behind the her text messages— the today, you are one of the candidates thingy — and the "candidate of death". If it's a clown, maybe there's someone who has the public figure type or famous in the school but deep inside, she's really a demon. Famous... Two years back, the grade ten section two is famous dahil nando'n si Trinity, Tiffany, Bryle, Aeris, Janice, Heleina etcetera etcetera." Huminto siya at tumayo. "If I can still remember, the section one that time is felt useless dahil sa inyo kinukuha ang grade mga sasali sa iba't ibang contest, am I right?" He asked. I nodded.

"Tiffany is famous for Heilianthus University's sweetheart thingy. Trinity is famous as Heilianthus University's badass. Aeris is famous as math geek. Janice is famous at swimming. Bryle is famous as sepak takraw player. Heleina is famous for cracking the hardest cryptic codes. If I can still remember, mayroon pa sa inyong scientists at may isa pang naging isang doctor sa hospital dahil nakulangan ng doctor doon and ended up na lahat ng ginawa niya ay successful. May isa pang nakipagsagutan sa isang abogado and she stated every law. Like... Wow."

"Yeah, they are really genius—what the?!" Huzein exclaimed. Napatingin siya sa kaniyang cellphone maging ako. The horror, again and again.

Nakita kong niyugyog ni Alliana si Kace para gisingin dahil hindi niya pwedeng makaligtaan ito. Again and again. Hindi pa kami nanananghalian but looks like hindi na talaga.

"Welcome to Candidate of Death..." Said robotic voice. "Voting lines are now open."

Kasabay nito ang pag-ilaw ng cellphone namin na may one minute na timer para piliin kung sino iboboto.

"Everyone, gather on the ground floor near flagpole!" Sigaw ni Kace. May hawak-hawak itong walkie talkie. Mukhang kinuha niya ito mula sa guard para magamit niya.

Mabilis kaming lumabas sa kaniya-kaniyang dorm at nag-unahan papuntang flag pole. Gusto niyang makasigurado na ligtas kami sa ganitong paraan.

I look at my screen and the candidates are Gio Bernardo, Oliver Delgado and Erick Trinidad. They are my previous classmates two years back. So it means, Lucien is right. This has something to do with two years back.

Doon din ay makikita ang tatlong screen kung saan nakagapos silang lahat at may puting sako. Chill, hindi pa kami nakaka-recover sa nangyari kanina and you just— Damn you, Scorpion whatever!

Kace instructed them yesterday about their number. Kung sino ang pipiliin nila. Naisip niyang gawing tie ang results dahil nasa 150 students nalang kami. But now na natanggal ng tatlo, it will make it 147. Tig-49 bawat isang estudyante. Kapag nag-tie ang results, may possibilidad na walang mamamatay sa kanila. Ang naasign na number sa akin ay number three which is si Erick Trinidad ang iboboto ko. Everything is going as what he planned. But he's wrong.

"What the fuck?!" Kace exclaimed nang makita niya ang results.

Mas madami ang bumoto kay Oliver Delgado kahit na nag-assign ito sa bawat isa. Some of them cried because they are one of Oliver's close friends. Some of them just... It's fine with them. Parang okay lang sa kanilang may mamatay.

"PAANONG NANGYARI 'YON?!" Sigaw ni Alliana. Hinablot niya ang babaeng katabi niya at inilapit ito sa kaniyang mukha. "IKAW! SINABIHAN KA NA KANINANG NUMBER TWO KA PERO WHAT?! BINOTO MO ANG NUMBER THREE!" Sigaw niya at marahas na sinampal ito ng dalawang beses. "TANGINA NAKAKAPAGOD NA!"

"I'm just doing a favour for them, Ms. Alliana Detral." The robotic voice said.

Unti-unting binitawan ni Alliana ang babaeng hawak niya at tumingala. "You! Hindi ka ba nagsasawang pumatay ng tao?! Do you like it when you saw us suffering mentally?! You damn motherfucking murderer! Nakakapagod na!"

"Then sleep eternally," Scorpion replied. Nagulat nalang kami nang lumuhod si Alliana at may dugo ang kaniyang binti parehas nang nangyari sa akin. Agad itong nilapitan ni Kace at binuhat.

"I'll bring her to the clinic," paalam niya at tumakbo habang buhat-buhat si Alliana na pa-bridal style.

Napatingin kami sa aming cellphone nang mawala na ang lahat ng cameras doon at naging black screen na. Ramdam ko ang paghawak sa akin ni Huzein sa braso ko.

"Stay close, okay? Remember that I will protect you no matter what..." Bulong niya at mas lalo pang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa braso ko.

The next thing I knew was, everyone is screaming. Maraming umiyak at naramdaman ko ang yakap ni Huzein mula sa likuran ko. My tears starts to flow, again. Iniiwasan nilang makakita ako ng patay but looks like I saw again.

Mula sa rooftop, may nalalag na isang katawan ng lalake na napapaliguan ng sarili niyang dugo. Dilat ang mga mata at nakangiti pa ito habang may hawak na torn roses. May nakasabit pa na ribbon sa bandang kanan na dibdib at nakasulat na "Winner". Ang mas malala... Bumagsak ito mismo sa harapan ko.

Maraming umiyak. Maraming nagsigawan. May iba ding nagbubulungan. Sinubukang takpan ni Huzein ang mga mata ko para hindi makita ngunit inalis ko 'yon at tumingala sa itaas. Kahit na nanlalabo ang paningin ko kakaiyak, I still managed to see who the fuck throw this body right in front of me.

I felt chills down my spine when I saw who it was. Scorpion is wearing a black cloak and a black mask na nakatakip sa buong mukha niya. Nakatingin ito sa amin at pinapanood ang pagluksa namin. Unti-unti nitong naglakad palayo. That's the moment that I conclude that she's really the Scorpion, the person behind the robotic voice.

I just saw the murderer who killed my sister.