TRINITY

Agad akong bumaba sa rooftop at tumakbo. Panay naman ang tawag sa akin ni Huzein ngunit hindi ko siya nilingon. All this time, Huzein? Uh, so the real murderer here is Huzein. How could he?

Our theory is, Scorpion is a woman. What if he dressed like a woman para hindi namin mahalata at gumamit ng voice changer?

I called Lilith while running. Palabas pa lang ako ng Building Three at papuntang girl's dormitory. Panay pa din ang takbo ko habang si Huzein ay kasunod ako.

"What?" She said on the other line. I refuse not to speak until I heard her shouting my name.

"TRINITY WAIT!" Huzein shouted. Dinig kong napahinto si Lilith, mukhang nakuha na niya ang ibig kong sabihin.

Nang makarating sa girl's dormitory, nakita ko agad si Lilith na papalapit sa direksyon ko. Nakita ko din sina Kace at Alliana na nakatingin sa akin.

"Guys, guys!" Sigaw ko habang ikinakaway ang kamay ko.

"Trinity!" Lilith shouted. Napalingon sa sa likod ko. Siguro nagtataka siya bakit kami nagtatakbuhan ni Huzein.

"Ano 'yan? FQ ba 'yan?" Tanong ni Alliana.

"Anong FQ pinagsasabi mo?" Kace commented.

"FQ as in Friends Quarrel. Alangan naman sabihin ko na Lovers Quarrel, baka magalit dito 'yung hindi Huzein and Trinity shippers—aw! Ano ba, Kace!" Sigaw niya at hinimas pa ang braso niya. Mukhang kinurot siya nito. 

Nang makarating ay nagtago agad ako sa likod ni Lilith at masamang tinignan si Huzein. Si Huzein naman ay panay ang pilit na kausapin ako.

"Don't talk to me, you motherfucking liar," galit kong sabi. I heard Lilith sighed.

"Mind to explain why are you both acting like this?" Bored na sabi ni Lilith. Matalim siyang tumingin sa akin at kay Huzein. Bago pa magpaliwanag si Huzein, inunahan ko na ito.

"He's on the phone in building three rooftop. Then may binanggit siyang job, he's too formal at hindi parehas sa atin kung pa'no siya magsalita," I said. Lahat sila ay napatingin sa akin. "The job he's talking about is killings, all this time Scorpion is not a woman but a man."

Lilith sighed. "Don't tell me hindi mo man lang siya tinanong and you just jumped with that conclusions like what you did to me about the cloak?"

I slowly nodded. She smacked my forehead. "Trinity, you should understand the logic here! How many times do I have to tell you that it's part of Scorpion's plan to ripped us apart?"

Napangiwi ako at bahagyang lumayo sa kaniya, "kasi..."

"Ano? Kasi nalang?" She said and rolled her eyes.

"It's fine, Lilith. Trinity is always like that, it's nothing to me by the way," Huzein said and smiled. Napatingin naman ito sa akin, "Trinity, swear to everyone here I'm not Scorpion."

Agad ko siyang pinaningkitan ng mga mata, "sigurado ka ba? Maybe you're toying us."

"I'm out of here! Kausapin niyo nga si Trinity ng maayos dahil hindi niya ma-gets! Nauubos na pasensya ko!" Lilith exclaimed and turn around. She started to walk away.

"Ang lala ng trust issues mo, Trinity ah?" Tukso ni Alliana ngunit siniko ito ni Kace.

"Hindi mo pa eksena, 'wag ka sumabat." Sita niya.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Huzein at ako agad ang unang umiwas ng tingin. I heard him cleared his throat before speaking, "Trinity... I'm sorry—"

"You shouldn't feel sorry about, may ginawa ka bang masama?" I cut him off.

"Wala pero you're mad—"

"Wala pala, say sorry if you did something wrong, kung wala then zip your mouth instead," sabi ko. I saw him gulp.

"Pero, baka naman..." Bulong niya, agad akong napatingin sa kaniya at itinaas ang kilay. "Can I hug you?"

I playfully smile and open my arms. Agad naman siyang lumapit na parang bata ngunit pinigilan siya ni Kace.

"Oops, may clarification pang magaganap. That hug can save later," sabi niya. Napadaing ito ng kurutin ni Alliana. "Eksena na natin, Alliana."

We decided to go in Alliana's dorm. Gabi na din kasi, si Lilith at Alliana ang bumili ng pang-dinner namin sa cafeteria. Until now, it's still a mystery to me na hindi nauubusan ng supply ng pagkain ang cafeteria. Pansin ko din na komportable na si Alliana kay Lilith, hindi gaya ng una niya itong nakita at nakasama.

"So..." panimula ni Kace. "Bakit ka nando'n sa building three, Huzein? May kikitain ka ba doong babae? Ikaw ah! Paano na—"

"Wala akong ibang babae, Kace." Pagkaklaro ni Huzein. "Doon ako pupunta if something important is happening."

"Like what?" Singit ko at pinagkrus ang binti.

"The call," he answered.

"Mind to share it to us para hindi ka na pagdudahan ng labidabs mo?" It's Kace. Agad kong naibaba ang librong binabasa ko at inis na tumingin sa kaniya.

"Labi—what?"

"Wala, explain mo nalang ano 'yung call. Hindi na ako mang-aasar, baka hindi ako makalabas ng buhay dito," Kace said and laughed.

A long pause of silence until Huzein spoke. "It's your dad, Trinity."

"And what's with my dad?" Tanong ko habang ang atensyon ay nasa binabasa kong libro.

He cleared his throat and starts narrating something that I don't know, na hindi man lang niya sinabi sa akin kahit araw-araw kaming magkasama. Uh, I felt untrusted person.

"It started when your sister talked to me. She said that she's so done with your mother. 'Yun din ang time na palagi kang laman ng guidance office dahil sa dami ng mga ginagawa mo na labag sa school rules. Then she negotiate with me."

"I will look after you every time but I need to inform your dad about what's happening about you. In exchange, your father will pay my tuition fees and miscellaneous. S'ya ang kausap ko no'ng nasa rooftop ako. I didn't know you're there."

"I... I don't know what to say," sabi ko at napayuko. "All this time, all your concerns are fake? Kasi binabayaran ka ni daddy—"

"No, it's not," he interrupted.

"It is, and it shows," I said and took a deep breath. I can't process everything what he said. I thought it's real, binabayaran naman pala siya ni daddy. Uh, am I assuming again?

"Uh, next Trinity," singit ni Kace. "Bakit ka nando'n sa building Three? Didn't Lilith ordered you that you supposed to find some places that's possibly Scorpion can do the murder thingy?"

"I miss Lucien, that's why," sabi ko habang patuloy na nagbabasa ng libro. "We went on building Three rooftop before he take me here. Maybe going there can ease my loneliness, it's been two days passed since the murdered happen so don't expect that I'm still fine."

I stood up and face them, "I might be okay but I'm not fine at all. I'll go to sleep."

I took a half bath and went to sleep. Nagising pa ako ngunit hindi ko idinilat ang mga mata ko, panay kasi ang reklamo ni Alliana. Siguro tungkol na naman sa shower gel na ginamit ulit ni Kace.

Tomorrow morning, sinimulan na naming gawin ni Huzein ang bugs. May ginawa din kaming maliliit na camera para ikabit namin kung saan-saan na hindi makikita ni Scorpion.

"A little longer... Patience please habaan mo pa..." Bulong ni Lilith habang nakatingin sa laptop. Madaming papel ang nakakalat sa sahig. Lilith said na ito ang mga research ng mga past senior high students and it's helpful. "YES! I MADE IT! I MADE IT!"

Agad kaming nagsitayuan at lumapit sa kaniya. Tumayo din siya at niyakap ako. Dahil sa gulat, hindi ko magawang magsalita at yakapin din siya. Later on, I hug her back. Niyakap din kami ni Huzein. Wala ang dalawa dahil as usual, nagbabantay sa mga grade twelve students.

Ngayon ay umupo kami sa tapat ng kaniyang laptop. She smiled widely. Nakita ko pang naglabas ito ng lollipop mula sa kaniyang bulsa. Now I get it why she's so happy. Nagawa na niya ang plano, ang i-hack ang security system at mga CCTV ng school.

Inilipat-lipat niya ito ng anggulo. "Sa ngayon, wala pang nangyayaring hindi kaaya-aya. Let's wait and see..." Bulong ni Lilith.

"Huzein and Trinity, make a mini mic, nand'yan sa isang envelope ang mechanics kung paano. We need it as soon as possible," she ordered. Agad kaming nagsitanguan ni Huzein.

Buong umaga ay inilaan namin sa paggawa ng bugs at mini mics. Mahirap at first, nakailang ulit ako dahil doon. Ibis na magalit si Lilith, she cheered us up. I know we can do this, and we will.

"Try mo nga," sabi ko kay Lilith. Inilagay ko ang ginawa kong bug sa kaniyang T-Shirt. Ang bug ay naka-connect sa phone ko. Lahat ng sasabihin niya ay maririnig at mai-rerecord ko.

"Hello motherfukers," panimula ni Lilith.

I played the record at klaro itong narinig! Walang sagabal at kung anu-ano. I scream with joy and hug Lilith. Huzein, just watching us while smiling.

We decided to make one hundred bugs for extras. Sina Kace at Alliana na ang kumuha ng mga materyales sa janitor's room at cafeteria. Kinuha din nila ang mga gamit ng mga SMAW students na lingid sa kanilang kaalaman. We need to use it naman, hindi naman namin nanakawin at ibebenta.

"Hi vlog, welcome to my guys!" Bungad ni Alliana na may dalang pagkain. It's passed twelve o'clock pero hindi pa kami nanananghalian.

Agad kaming huminto at simulang kumain. Tahimik lang kami habang si Alliana at Kace ay panay ang kwento.

"Grabe! 'Yung babae? I can't! Did you saw it, Kace?"

"Oo, sumuka pa nga," Kace answered. "Sorry, that's gross."

"Yes! Buntis nga kasi," nakangising sabi ni Alliana. "Jusko! In times like this, nagagawa pa nilang gumawa ng milagro? I mean, girl! I know it's boring and kailangan lang nating manatiling buhay hangga't wala pang nakakahanap kay Scorpion. Pero, duh? Bakit sila gumagawa ng bata!"

"Think about it, Alliana," singit ni Lilith. "Pwede na ang mga babae at lalake ba magsama sa iisang dorm. Ano pa bang gagawin nila? Hindi na ako magtataka kung may nag-threesome na," she added.

Nakita kong nabulunan si Huzein habang si Kace naman ay muntikan na maibuga ang tubig. Alliana is laughing. And me? I'm dumbfounded.

"Uh, guys? Ano ba 'yung threesome? Makakain ba 'yon?" Tanong ko. They stop and laughed! Maging si Lilith ay tumawa din! How dare them!

"Looks like we have a innocent girl here," sabi ni Kace at tumawa. I rolled my eyes. Nakita kong sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Huzein.

"Threesome is about—" hindi na natapos ni Alliana ang sasabihin niya nang magsalita si Huzein.

"Don't tell her about it! We're eating!" Sigaw ni Huzein.

"—a woman and a—"

"BLAH BLAH BLAH, TRINITY PRETEND THAT YOU DON'T HEAR IT!"

"Two men—"

"WAO WAO WAO WAO BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH WALA KAMING NARIRINIG."

"That are—"

"ENOUGH ANG INGAY NIYO!" Singit ni Lilith. We and up laughing. Kahit na wala akong maintindihan sa sinasabi nila, I just laughed. We're all in good mood.

Pagdating ng hapon ay bumalik na din sina Alliana at Kace sa field. Ang ginawa namin ngayon ay ang mini mics para may communication pa din kami sa isa't isa.

We only make five mini mics and one hundred bugs. Si Lilith naman ay inaaral kung paano mag-trace. Kung sakali, malalaman namin kung sino si Scorpion dahil wala ang phone ni Tiffany at Lucien sa crime scene.

Snapped back on reality. Napahinto ako nang makaramdam ng presence mula sa likod ko. Agad akong lumingon and it was Lilith habang kinukusot pa niya ang kaniyang mga mata.

"I gave you three days for mourning about my brother, why are you still awake at this hour?" She said with a sleepy voice. "Let's talk."

Agad itong lumabas, tumayo naman ako at nag-unat-unat. Sumunod na din ako sa kaniya and we headed up in girl's dormitory rooftop. Napapangiwi nalang kami kapag naririnig namin ang mga ungol sa ibang kwarto, really? Tuwing madaling araw talaga nila isinasagawa ang mga milagro? I blushed when I remembered that ma'am Akeria thought that me and Kace making that thing. Gross, disgusting. Sa dinami-dami ng lalake, why him?

A long pause of silence happened when he arrive in the rooftop. Wala ni isang nagbalak na magsalita sa amin. Napayakap pa ako sa sarili ko nang maramdaman ang malamig na hanging tumama sa akin. I should've bring my black hoodie with me.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang magsimula na itong magsalita. "Kathleen is my best buddy, she's like a sister to me. You know, a devil like us will never find someone like a bestfriend. Minsan, they will use you para katakutan din sila. O di kaya, for fame."

She cleared her throat. "I want to blame you for everything. My brother said, you are the victim of scorpion right? Pero I think of it twice, kung magagalit ako sa'yo, my anger won't take me somewhere. I must be thankful that I have a ally with me."

"W-why are you saying this to me?" I asked. Still confused.

She chuckled. May kinuha itong papel mula sa kaniyang bulsa and it was a letter I wrote when I heard her crying inside the restroom. "It's from you, right?"

I nodded. She sighed. "I just want to... You know? They said, devils can understand eachother so here I am."

"I agree with you," I answered.

A silence again. Nakatingin ako sa buwan at mga bituin. I thank all the Gods and Goddesses because the dark blue sky is clear. I remember, ganito din ang langit nang mag-usap kami ni Lucien.

"I miss them..." She whispered and starts to cry. Agad akong lumapit sa kaniya at tinapik ang kaniyang balikat. I frost when she face me and hug me tightly while crying. I pat her back.

"Cry all you want, rant all you want, I'm here to listen, I got your back okay?" I whispered to her ears. Maya-maya ay tumahan na ito at pinunasan ang kaniyang mga mata.

"That's why I like you for my brother," she said. "They said you are a devil but you have a pure heart."

"Uh..." I whispered. "I don't know what to say, to be honest. Uh... It feels good to know that his younger sister likes me for her brother."

"But unfortunately, he's dead." She replied and we chuckled. "A sad beautiful tragic love story."

"I still love him kahit na he passed away," I replied.

"What if... Just what if..." She whispered. "In another life or another universe, he's still alive. And then I will see him blushing and smiling while looking the woman she love the most which is you."

"W-what do you mean? Ako lang ba naging crush niya? Uh, is that a crush by the way?"

She laughed. "If you only knew how much he adores you from far away two years back..."

We paused for a second and then she spoke.

"We have the same faith, aren't we? I mean, look. We lost our sibling and our friend— perhaps, you and my brother are in a relationship, right?"

"W-what? Am I in a relationship?" I stuttered. She laughed.

"Oh, I thought so..."

"I mean, relationship starts with courting, right? But... It didn't happen..."

She laughed. "Modern times, huh? Trinity, we're in twenty-first century, hindi na uso 'yan sa panahon ngayon. Well, you are lucky if a man did that to you." She said. "If my brother is still alive, I will force him to court you. I want to see him courting the woman he loves. I want to tease him."

I blushed and look away. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na gusto niya pala kami para sa isa't isa.

"Oh, before I forgot!" Sabi nito. "I saw it, Trinity..." She said at ngumiti pa ng nakakaloka.

"W-what did you saw?" I stuttered.

"You and my brother kissed under the golden sky in the Narra tree in the garden, how romantic..." She teased. "What if, kung nasa tamang edad na tayo and we're successful. Baka nagkaroon na ako ng pamangkin? Just to inform you that every devils you see are monster in bed." She said and winked at me.

"M-monster in bed? What do you mean?" I asked. She laughed. Nahulog pa ito sa kinauupuan niya habang tumatawa.

"SEX, MORGAN! SEX!" She exclaimed and laughed. My reaction is... Priceless. She laughed again.

Niyaya na niya akong bumaba at bumalik sa dorm. Sinabi din niya sa akin na 'wag ipagkalat ang sinabi niya. But I'm still left dumbfounded and can't process everything. Like what happened? Did Lilith just laughed? Minsan ko lang siya makitang nakangiti. Basta, I'm comfortable and confused at the same time.

Tomorrow morning ay puro asar ang naririnig ko mula kay Alliana at Kace. I get them, hindi na kasi nakasuot na itim na T-shirt si Lilith. 'Yon kasi palagi niyang suot, puro itim.

"Paano ba 'yan, Trinity? Ikaw nalang ang natitirang member ng black team," asar ni Kace.

"Baka kasi kaya black t-shirt lang sinusuot kasi black lang meron siya?" Asar ni Alliana and they both laughed.

"Black is comforting, now shut up guys and leave," sabi ko. They laughed. Nagreklamo pa si Alliana ngunit lumabas din ang dalawa. Napatingin ako kay Lilith nang makitang nakasuot ito ng peach T-Shirt and gray shorts. Nakapusod din ang buhok nito. She looks so fresh, hindi ko pa nga siya nakilala dahil doon. She looks like a model.

Napatingin ako sa phone ko nang tumunog ito. It was mom, calling. Ipinakita ko ito kina Huzein at Lilith and then they encourage me to answer the call. I hesitate at first but in the end I picked up.

"Hey Trinity, where's your sister?" Bungad niya. I gulped and look at the two. Naka-loud speaker naman ito kaya dinig din nila.

"She's busy, what?" I answered.

"I need her next month for a photoshoot, tell her, bye." She said and hanged up.

"Shit..." Bulong ni Lilith. "What are we gonna do now? We need to act fast before that photoshoot. We need to catch that scorpion to end the chaos."

I sighed. Hindi ko din alam ang gagawin ko.

"Wait, come here guys," tawag ni Lilith. Agad akong umupo sa tabi niya at may ipinakita siyang picture. Ang crime scene kung saan namatay si Tiffany. I gulped when I remembered what happened. "I'm sorry for this, but I just want to show it to you guys."

Agad niyang inilapit sa isang kalendaryo. Weird, dahil namatay si Tiffany noong June at ang kalendaryo ay nakalagay sa February. Nakabilog pa dito ang date na 14.

"Now, look at this," she said. Ang next picture naman ay ang kay Lucien. Inilapit niya muli sa kalendaryo at nakabilog ang 14.

"If I can remember, February 14 ang date ng pageant natin no'ng grade ten tayo, 'diba Trinity?" Huzein asked. I nodded.

"Wait, 'diba when you are grade ten, Huzein is in section one?" Lilith clarifies. I nodded.

"Wala kasing may gustong maging partner ko, so we asked Huzein to be my escort." I said. Uh, natatakot kasi sila baka sapakin ko sila.

"I also remember that it's February 14 when two of section two students died. One is food poisoning and the other one is suicide," dagdag ko. "Nalaman lang namin after ng pageant, ayaw kasi nilang magkagulo kaya sinikreto muna nila."

"Hmm... There's something in this February 14 talaga, I will find out soon."

Lunch and we decided to eat in cafeteria. Nakakamiss din kasing umupo doon at kumain. Ang dalawang lalake ang kumuha ng order habang kaming tatlo naman ay nag-uusap. Panay ang kwento ni Alliana sa mga pasaway na grade twelve students.

Napatingin kami nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan at isang babae ang pumasok. Pumunta siya sa direksyon namin and she slams the table. Lilith and I just look at her without emotions while Alliana warned her.

The woman just stared at me without saying anything until she gasp in air. Mukhang nahihirapan siyang huminga. Agad kaming tumayo at tinulungan siya ngunit pinigilan ako ni Lilith na lumapit dito.

"S-she kills my..." Bulong niya. Kahit na nanghihina ay nagawa niya pang itaas ang daliri at ituro ako. "She kills every..."

Hindi na natapos ang sasabihin niya nang mangisay ito sa sahig. Bumula-bula pa ang kaniyang bibig habang nangingisay. Nakatingin pa din ito sa akin bago bawian ng buhay.

Did she just—

"What the fuck..."