Chapter 69: Suspect

Throughout the class, I tried to take down notes. He's a good teacher alright, but he pisses me off. Mayroon siyang nakakakilabot na awra.

After the class ended, we went to our next class. At bago pa makapasok, we heard a voice from the huge speakers.

"Good morning, students! Take time to listen to me."

It was Madame Selina.

"You have heard about the fire incident, right? Well I have something to offer... Magbibigay ako ng sampung libong piso sa makakapagturo sa'kin kung sino ang may pakana ng sunog kagabi. I repeat, ten-thousand pesos. Just go to my office... And don't try to make up stories, I'll know it."

Nagsibulungan naman ang mga estudyante pagkatapos ng announcement ni Madame. She's really desperate to catch the suspect of the fire last night, huh? Sigurado akong may taong lalapit at magsusumbong kay Madame. And she will surely kill the suspect. Pero bago 'yon, siguradong papahirapan niya muna ito. At alam kong ganito rin ang sasapitin ko kapag nalaman niyang ako ang kumuha sa aklat tungkol sa matinding kapangyarihan. Torture me and afterwards, kill me.

I need to reach the suspect first before she can. Kailangan kong malaman kung bakit nagawa niyang sunugin ang mga nakalalasong bulaklak. He or she is brave, I must say. Ang tapang-tapang niya para magawa 'to and I never expected this to happen. Sino naman kaya ang matapang na taong 'to? No one dared to do this kind of thing before. This stunt the suspect pulled is very risky. Sa madaling salita, buwis-buhay. This is much worse than stealing the book. But still, what I did was also very risky.

We are now in our next class and I can't help but think about what's happening. I should focus in the discussion but all I could think about is the incidents.

Natigil ang discussion ni Prof ng magsalita si Madame sa intercom.

"I have some lead about the suspect. Fast right? Para nga naman sa pera..."

Natigilan ako doon.

"Someone gave me a lead that the one who started the fire was a female,"

"What the actual fuck," Sabi ko sabay bitaw sa ballpen na hawak.

"Woman with long black nails,"

No fucking way... Could it be...

"So whoever you are, missy, just surrender now so your punishment wouldn't be that worst."

"Sino kaya?"

"She's doomed,"

"Well whoever she is, she brought this to herself."

Ang dami pang sinabi ng mga kaklase ko pero hindi ko na iyon marinig dahil ang lalim ng iniisip ko.

I want to skip the next classes. Pero saan ko naman siya hahanapin sa ganitong oras? I don't know her whereabouts!

After the class ended, hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili. I skipped the class without Julia knowing. I know this isn't a good idea, lying to my friend again but this is urgent. I told her I'll just go to the bathroom and she should go first in the classroom.

Seriously, hindi ko alam kung saan ko hahahapin yung babaeng 'yon. Like I said, I don't know her whereabouts and I don't know if she has close friends here. Wala akong mapagtanungan kung nasaan siya.

Ang laki nitong paaralan na 'to, susuyurin ko talaga mahanap lang siya? Of course! She acts tough all the time but I know she also has a weakness. At kahit hindi man makikita sa mukha niya, alam kong may pinagdadaanan din siya. And I want to ask her why she burned Madame's flowers and if I could help her in any way I can, I would.

Sinuyod ko ang fountain area. She might be here. Dito kami nag-usap.

At wala... There's no sign of her. Wala siya rito. Saan ko na naman siya hahanapin? And I don't know anyone who's associated with her! Wala akong mapagtanungan kung nasaan siya!

At siguradong alam niya na pinaghahanap na siya. It's possible that she wouldn't show up in crowded areas...

Wait, what if she's in her dorm? Pero saan 'yon? Sa dinami-dami ng dorm dito, hindi ko naman yata masusuyod lahat 'yon. At kung magtatanong ako sa mga staff, siguradong maghihinala sila at baka makakuha sila ng ideya na siya ang suspek.

Si Dark... He probably knows! But what would be my excuse? Sigurado akong hindi niya ako papayagan at baka mapahamak ako. And if payagan niya man ako, yun ay yung kasama siya. But I need to go alone. And shit, I just skipped class and he would be mad of me for doing so! Paano ba 'to? Sumasakit na yung ulo ko sa kakaisip.

Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip at pumunta na sa opisina niya. I know he's busy but it won't take long... And dahil nga abala siya, he wouldn't be able to go with me if ever na payagan niya ako basta kasama siya.

I breathed deeply before knocking.

"Come in,"

I slowly opened the door and walked in his office. His attention then went to me and he stopped reading what he was reading.

"H-Hi," Sabi ko at hinay-hinay na lumapit sa kanya.

Tumaas naman ang kilay niya. "Why are you here? Don't you have class? Wait, hold it, did you skip?"

"Dark, I'll answer your questions later. But now, let me ask you first."

He caressed his nape before answering, "What?"

"Asan yung dorm ni Demi?"

His full attention was on me now. "Why? What are you gonna do this time? Don't tell me pupunta ka doon?"

Damn, pinapangunahan niya na ako! "Y-You're right,"

"Baby, why? What will you do this time?"

Hindi ako makatingin sa kanya. "I just... I just..."

I glanced at him and he has that coldness in his eyes. Damn him!

"Zaya, what are you gonna do this time?"

"Dark, didn't you hear? There's a lead about the person who burned the flowers!"

Tumaas naman ang kilay niya. "So? Are you saying it's Demi?"

I blinked a few times. Just by his stares and the way he talks, he makes me feel guilty! Na para bang may kasalanan ako! Na parang nangbibintang ako!

"Dark, I will just ask her! I wouldn't confront her like what you're thinking!"

He sighed. "Baby, you shouldn't point a finger to anyone."

Para namang kumulo ang dugo ko sa sinabi niya. "I'm not pinpointing on someone! I'm just considering the possibility, Dark! When I last saw Demi, she has long black nails!"

"There's many girls that have black nails, Zaya."

"I know that! I'm not that dumb, okay? I'm just considering the possibility! And I wouldn't confront her if that's what you're worried about!"

He frustratedly shut his eyes and caressed his temples. I suddenly felt guilty. Pinapasakit ko na naman ang ulo niya. I always trouble him. I already said I wouldn't be an excess baggage to him since he's very stressed right now but what am I doing?

I sighed. "I-I'm sorry. I'm troubling you again. I know you're very stressed right now. I-I... I-I should leave."

I turned my back on him and I was already ready to leave his office when I felt his hand on my wrist.
He then turned me around so we could face each other again.

He looked at me with his soulful eyes. "Don't ever say you're a trouble to me, Zaya. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

I wanted to cry. The beautiful words he gives every damn time makes me want to cry my heart out. I can't even say a word. He then hugged me.

"But seriously, Dark, I need to go to Demi. I promise I won't get into any trouble." My emotions ain't a priority right now. I need to see Demi.

He sighed before letting me go from his hold. "Okay, fine. I trust you."

We walked together and people had their eyes on us. Dark was just casual while I am staring back at people who stare at us.

"Don't mind them," Dark whispered.

After a few minutes of walking, we stopped meters away from a dorm with a long black carpet on its doorstep and in line were black pots that contained candles.

"Is this the one?" It's obvious that it's Demi's dorm since the outside has its gothic features. Demi vibe.

"Yes,"

"You can go," I can handle this myself and I know he has a lot of work to do.

"I'll wait for you,"

"Dark, no. I can handle this myself. We'll just talk, that's all. I know you have a lot of work to do."

He sighed in defeat. "Fine but be sure to go to my office after you're finished here."

I nodded and gave him an assuring smile.

I watched him walk away and I slowly walked toward Demi's dorm. The black carpet and the black pots containing candles gave me the chills. There were also hints that the candles had been lit up since some parts of it already melted.

There was a black sign hanging on the door with a word in gold letters and in algerian font that says "goodbye".

I cleared my throat before knocking. And after a few knocks, the door opened, showing Demi who's emotionless. She's always emotionless but the last time we talked, she showed me her grief. She has shown me how she felt when she lost the people she values.

I glanced at her nails and there was no polish. It was clean!

"What are you doing here? And how did you know where I live?" There was a hint of shock in her eyes but her tone was cold and had the hint of anger.

"N-Nagpaturo ako,"

She raised a brow. "Who told you?"

"Hindi na 'yon importante. I'm here to talk to you."

"At ano naman ang dapat nating pag-usapan?" She crossed her arms.

She talks to me like she didn't tell me the history and her experience here. She talks to me like she didn't show me her vulnerable side. Parang nakalimutan niyang pinag-usapan namin laha 'yon.

"Can you let me in first?"

"You know what? I don't have time for this. I don't accept visits so you better leave."

She was about to close the door but I stopped it. "Demi, I need to talk to you. Please give me a moment."

She rolled her eyes and turned her back at me, leaving the door open. This means I can come in right?
Without further ado, I went inside and closed the door.

Her living room contains different kinds of abstract art pieces. Hindi ko maiwasang mapansin ang mga kandila kung saan-saan. Mayroon sa coffee table, mayroon din sa cabinet, at sa iba pang parte ng dorm. They were all lit up and the smell is nice but not my type of scent.

She then turned to me. "Ano ang pakay mo?"

I glanced at her nails again. Napansin niya rin ang titig ko doon.

She snapped her fingers at me. "What do you want? Why are you here? I told you I don't accept visits. Pinagbibigyan kita ngayon so better make sure what you'll say to me is worth my time."

Worth her time? No, probably this isn't worth it. I'm gonna be asking her if she's the one who burned the flowers!

"May kinalaman ka ba sa nangyaring sunog?"

Agad namang nanlisik ang mga mata niya. "What the hell? Yan lang ba ang pinunta mo rito? You're accusing me in my own home?!"

"I'm not—"

"Shut the fuck up, bitch! You're basically accusing me! Get out!" Galit na galit siya. Nanlilisik ang mga mata niya. Kulang na lang eh kaladkarin niya ako palabas ng dorm niya.

But here I am, being the stubborn bitch that I am. I just asked her calmly but she immediately burst out which is very suspicious.

"Why would you react like this? You're being so defensive."

Nanlaki naman ang mata niya pero nanlilisik pa rin ang mga ito sa galit. "How could you accuse me? Sa lahat ng tao dito, bakit ako?"

"I think you have heard about what Madame Selina said about the suspect having long black nails,"

She smirked at me. "You're some desperate bitch, I see. Do you really need money that bad?"

I then realized something. I didn't think that she'll take it this way. She's thinking that I'm going to tell Madame Selina that she's the suspect so I could get the prize! Well that isn't my intention!

"Demi, hindi yan ang gusto kong mangyari. I don't care about the money!"

"Then what?" Tinaas niya naman ang kilay niya.

"I just want to know why you did it... if you're the suspect. At hindi kita isusumbong just like what you did to me..." I calmly said.

The anger disappeared from her eyes but she had the hint of doubt on her face. She knows that I have the book but all this time, she didn't tell Madame Selina. If she did tell her, I'm probably dead by now. And even if I don't have the book and I knew the suspect, hindi ko pa rin sasabihin na siya ang may pakana. I don't want to put people in harm.

"Why are you doing this? Bakit hindi mo ako isusumbong? Dahil ba alam kong ikaw ang kumuha ng pinaka-iniingatan niyang aklat?"

So... she's the suspect? Siya ang nagsunog ng mga bulaklak?

"No, that's not the reason at all. Kahit hindi mo pa alam na kinuha ko 'yon, I would never tell her that you were the one who burned her flowers. The last thing I want is to put people in harm." I hope she will believe me. I hope she will believe that I'm sincere towards her.

Bumuntong hininga siya. I can no longer see the anger nor doubt from her face. She was calm now which is a rare sight.

She stood straight. "Yes, I'm the one who burned the flowers."

Just as I thought. She even erased her black nail polish to act innocently and it was a bad move. Pero mabuti na ako lang ang nakakaalam.

"But why? You know there's a lot of people who died because of the ashes and the smoke, right?" Sabi ko.

"Before I did it, I had considered the possibility of what could happen. At kung hindi ko ginawa 'yon, many people would still die. We couldn't hide the fact na may mga mamamatay pa din kahit wala na ang mga bulaklak but lesser number of people will die in the future. And in order for that to happen, there should be a sacrifice... I had to do it. I had to get rid of those flowers... Don't you ever speak of this to Madame. Dahil kung isusumbong mo'ko, I'll make sure you'll pay. Hindi lang ako ang magdudusa kundi ikaw din. It's a tie, I know your secret and you know mine."

"Madame? I wouldn't ever tell her! Trust me on that!"

"Now leave," She coldly said.

May sumagi naman sa isip ko. "By the way have you heard about Mrs. Suldivar's death?"

"Yes, why? Are you going to accuse me of killing her too?"

Agad naman akong umiling. "No! Of course not. I just want to ask if you know someone who has the intention to do this to her."

"I know no one. I never really cared about her."

"Oh, I see,"

"Why are you asking anyway? Do you want to find justice for her?" She scoffed like it was a ridiculous act.

"I'm just curious, that's all."

"If you don't want any more trouble, I suggest you stay out of this. Kinuha mo ang aklat out of curiosity, right? And because of that damn curiosity of yours, you are facing danger. So you better stop this."

Hindi ako makapagsalita.

"Now leave," Ulit niya.

Naglakad na ako palabas ng dorm niya at bago ako tuluyang umalis, nagsalita muli ako. "Thank you for telling me,"

She didn't respond and she shut the door. I felt relieved with two things. First, now I know that the suspect has good intentions and second, Demi really has the good side in her. Hindi man obvious, but it's there.

Her secret's safe with me. And I hope my secret is safe with her too.

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