Chapter 11: AB Island
(Case Closed)

Sumama ako sa mga pulis sa paghahalughog sa mga kwarto na inuokopa ng apat. They were allowed to search since they have been able to provide a warrant.

"Detective Tross," tawag ko sa isang pulis na kakilala ni Gray.

"Ah, Silvan's girl. Bakit?," tanong niya nang makalapit siya sa akin. I made a face with the nickname he gave me.

"I'm not Gray's girl. I'm Amber, please call me Amber," wika ko sa kanya.

He let out a naughty smile at kinamot ang ulo. "Pasensya na Amber. I just thought you're his girl. He usually don't hang out with girls lalo na sa isang isla pa. Si Khael lang naman dati ang sinasamahan niya," wika ni Detective Tross. So kilala din pala niya si Khael.

"Can I go inside? Tutulong sana ako sa paghahanap mga ebidensya," wika ko sa kanya.

"Hmmm, you can but please don't touch any evidence. Kapag may makita ka, call us right away. Baka kasi pag nalaman na naman sa opisina na nagpapatulong ako sa mga estudyante, papagalitan na naman ako. The reason why I let you and Silvan help ay dahil sina Inspector Rusty at Dean ang kasama ko. Both of them are acquainted to Silvan kaya makakapasok kayo since wala ang ibang mga pulis," paliwanag ni Detective Tross. "Basta ha, tawagin mo agad kami?"

Nakangiting tumango naman ako kanya. "Roger, sir!" Pumasok ako sa silid ni Jeanet, the victim's girlfriend. Something is strange about her. I thought that she's faking her tears kanina and I confirmed that with Eliz's statement. She wanted a breakup but the victim doesn't allow it that's why she had to keep her relationship with that guy, Jeko, a secret. What was holding her to remain as Ronnie's girlfriend? Maybe I will know later. I keep on searching but I found nothing useful kaya bumalik na lang ako sa kwarto kung saan naroon ang mga kaibigan ng biktima.

Jeko was sitting beside Jeanet at nag-uusap silang dalawa. On the other side naman ay nakaupo si Ariel, he was doing something on his phone. Nakatayo naman sa may bintana si Eliz habang nakatingin sa dagat. Perfect timing to approach her.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at ngumiti. "Hi Miss Eliz. Maari ba kitang makausap?," tanong ko sa kanya.

Her face was sad at parang may iniisip ito. Gumanti naman siya ng ngiti sa akin. "Hey, you're one of the high school detective right? So, was it about the case?"

Tumango ako sa kanya. "If you don't mind."

"Of course I don't. Tutulong ako hanggang sa mahuli ang pumatay kay Ron."

"Hmm, let's start with his girlfriend. How long do you know each other?"

"Ah, si Jeanet? We're classmates in college samantalang childhood friend ko si Ron. Kaya sila nagkakilala ay dahil sa akin. I brought Jeanet to our house dati which is next to Ron's. Kaya ayun, he insisted na ipakilala ko siya doon at hindi nagtagal ay nanligaw siya at sinagot. They've been in a relationship for three years. Second year na kami noon and we're both taking up Information Technology," she said.

"Ibig sabihin ay IT graduates kayo?," tanong ko sa kanya.

Tumango si Eliz. "Yeah."

"How do you know that Miss Jeanet is having an affair with Jeko?," tanong ko.

"Ron told me. Hindi ko iyon makakalimutan. He was drunk and he was crying. Nahuli niya daw si Jeanet na may kasamang iba. Seeing the man that you love hurting, it hurts you too." Nagsimula na naman na maglandas ang mga luha nito. I'm not good in comforting kaya hinayaan ko na lang siyang umiyak. Mas mabuti na rin na iiyak niya iyon at nang mabawasan ang dinaramdam nito. Baka kasi magkaroon na naman ito ng suicide attempts. Sa lagay na iyon ay hindi ko na makakausap nang maayos si Miss Eliz kaya nagpaalam na ako at naglibot sa loob ng kwarto ng biktima.

Muli kong nilapitan ang mesa na may mga baso. Ayon sa forensics ay makikita ang mga fingerprint ng apat sa loob ng kwarto. They just said it us normal since they usually gather in that room. I wonder why the room was really a mess. Maaring tama si Gray. The murderer and the one who messed the room were two different person. Bakit ba nakabukas ang mga drawer? Kahit ang mga unan sa kama ay nagulo. Ano nga ba ang hinahanap ng salarin?

Napaupo ako sa kama. I had a feeling that there's a clue nearby ngunit hindi ko alam kung ano iyon. I look down and think hard. What was it? Ano ba talaga ang nangyari dito sa kwarto?

Muli kong napansin ang natapon na alak sa sahig. Konting-konti lang iyon, maybe just few drops but it seems like it's been wiped away. Yumuko ako sa sahig at tiningnan iyon nang mabuti. Tiningnan ko rin ang ilalim ng kama and I smiled. I figured it out. I figured out what happened in the room ngunit hindi ko pa alam kung sino ang gumawa. Napatingin ako sa kanilang apat. Nakaupo ang tatlo samantalang nasa bintana pa rin si Miss Eliz. She was standing there at tiningnan ko siya ng mabuti. Cleared.

Sunod kong tiningnan ang tatlo. Paano ko ba sila mapapatayo doon sa sofa? I can't just order them to do so dahil malamang hindi lang ang mga ito makikinig. Nang makaisip ako ng paraan ay dumaan ako sa likuran ng sofa.

"Aaaah, my contact lens!," I exclaimed and search through the sofa. "Maari ba kayong tumayo muna? Tumilapon kasi ang isang contact lens ko," I said worrily. It's a lie. I am not wearing any contact lens.

"Tsk! That's what you get sa pakikialam sa trabahong pulis!," galit na wika ni Jeko at tumayo. Inalalayan din niyang tumayo si Jeanet. Tumayo na din si Ariel at tinulungan akong maghanap. "Sigurado ka bang dito sa sofa tumilapon?," tanong niya sa akin at tumango naman ako.

I already saw what I was looking for kaya tumayo na ako nang tuwid. No doubt. That person messed this room and if my deduction is right, it can explain the formatted laptop.

"I found it!," wika ko at umalis na sa may sofa. Pumunta na ulit ako sa may kama.

"Tsk! That girl is just messing up!," galit na wika ni Jeko bago umupo. Pumasok naman sina Gray kasama ang mga pulis.

"Now did you solve the case? Alam niyo na ba kung sino ang salarin?," tanong ni Eliz at lumapit kay Detective Tross.

"I don't know but this guy knows," wika niya at tinuro si Gray. He already solved it?

"We searched all the rooms and we found solid evidences. Una naming nakuha ay ang handgun ni Ariel," panimula ni Gray.

Napatingin naman ang tatlo kay Ariel. "You have a handgun?," gulat na tanong ni Eliz at tumango naman ito.

"Ah, that? Yes, meron but it didn't have bullets, right?," wika ni Ariel at bumaling kay Gray.

"Yes, it doesn't have any. Besides, hindi naman binaril ang biktima. We also found pepper sprays on the girlfriend's luggage," bumaling naman si Gray kay Jeanet.

"Of course I always have it! Para iyon kung sakaling may mangyari, it's meant for my self defense!"

Gray didn't answer her at bumaling naman kay Eliz. "You were the first to find the body right? Paano mo naman nalaman na nasa dagat ang biktima?," tanong ni Gray. "We also found a lot of sleeping pills in your things."

"I can't find him anywhere kaya naisip ko na nasa baybayin siya! At ano naman kung marami akong sleeping pills? I have sleeping problems kaya kailangan ko iyon!," Eliz said.

"And this guy, you have a stun gun right?," tanong ni Gray kay Jeko.

Nagulat naman ang huli. "Of course it's meant for self-defense too!"

Gray let out a smile. "The culprit is the one with the most dangerous weapon," deklara ni Gray.

"What? Ngunit paano nangyari iyon? Wala namang tama ng baril si Ronnie!," nagtatakang tanong ni Jeanet.

"I didn't say that he used his gun. I just said that he is the culprit," wika ni Gray. He crossed his arms as he looked straight at the suspect which is Ariel.

"Could you explain to us kung bakit siya ang salarin?," wika ni Inspector Rusty. Malamang maging ito ay naguguluhan.

"Pinuntahan niya ang biktima sa kwartong ito. The victim offered him a drink ngunit hindi niya iyon ininom. He lured out the victim to the shore by saying something like may sasabihin ka sa kanyang importante kaya napapayag naman ang biktima. When they arrived at the shore, he committed his crime by drowning the victim when he has no capacity to fight back," Gray said at gulat na gulat naman ang lahat.

"Paano naman naging ako? Jeko has the stun gun right? Hindi ba't ginamit niya iyon kay Ron bago si —" Napatigil siya nang mapansin na sa kanya na nakatingin ang lahat.

"How did you know that the stun gun was used? We never told you that," Gray said with his usual smirk.

"Narinig ko lang iyon sa inyo kanina!," natatarantang wika ni Ariel.

"Nope. We never mentioned that a stun gun was used. Ngayon pa lang dumating ang report ng coroner na gumamit ng stun gun ang

salarin. You know that because you did it right? You stole Jeko's stun gun to immobilize the victim. Ang stun gun na iyon ay designed to make someone unable to move by the electric shock. You used that and drowned the victim," Gray said.

Hindi naman agad nakapagsalita si Ariel. "Do you have any evidence?"

"Maliban sa sinabi mong ginamitan ng stun gun ang biktima, he was drowned right? Ikaw ang gumawa nun. Dinala mo siya sa hindi masyadong malalim na bahagi ng dagat, marahil ay hanggang beywang. You drowned him and ran back to the hotel at dahil basa ka, you have to change right? We found your wet shorts at maging ang mabuhangin na tuwalya na ipinampunas mo sa paa mo. Not only that, a bellboy saw you with the victim came out of this room. You threw away his phone and got his wallet para lumabas na pagnanakaw ang nangyari diba? You even messed up the room —

"Iba ang nanggulo dito for a different reason," deklara ko. Napatingin naman silang lahat sa akin.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Mr. Ariel killed the victim ngunit iba ang nanggulo dito. That someone messed this room to find something. And it was you, Miss Jeanet," wika ko at mas lalong nagulat ang lahat.

"Do you mean they're accomplice?," tanong ni Detective Tross.

I shook my head. "No," binalingan ko ang hindi makapagsalita na si Miss Jeanet. "You want to break up with him because you have relationship with Mr. Jeko, right? Ngunit kahit hindi pumayag na makipaghiwalay ang biktima, you can just ignore him but you still stayed at hindi tuluyang nakipaghiwalay and keep your relationship with Jeko a secret. It's because the victim blackmailed you. He might have something in his laptop kaya hinalughog mo ang kwarto nang walang tao rito. Nakita mo ang mga gamit niya sa ilalim kama at kinuha mo ang laptop niya at binura lahat ng file. Kahit may password ang kanyang laptop, you were able to open it and have it formatted. You are an IT graduate kaya madali lang iyon sayo but you leave an evidence. Sa sahig ay ang natapon na kaunting alak. It looks like it's been wiped off it's dahil hindi sinasadyang naupuan mo ang kalahati niyon habang hinahack ang kanyang laptop," paliwanag ko. Miss Jeanet was too shock to react.

"Kaya ba nagkunwari kang nahulog ang iyong contact lens dito sa sofa upang tumayo kami at makita ang ebidensya? I know you're not wearing any contact lenses," wika naman ni Jeko at tumango ako.

"Yeah, and since she's wearing a white shorts, makikita roon ang alcohol stain".

"I-it was because that devil blackmailed me! Tama ka! He blackmailed me. He said na ikakalat niya sa internet ang mga intimate videos namin! Sino bang babae ang gustong pagpiyestahan ang mga video niya? I don't even know that he took videos! That's why I did it," umiiyak na wika ni Miss Jeanet.

"Yeah, he's really evil that's why I killed him! It was a promotion that I have been waiting for! Ngunit nilagyan niya ng pampatulog ang inumin ko kaya hindi ako nakapunta sa meeting ko! It was a big client and my boss said that if I'll close the deal, I will be promoted as the senior manager. Ngunit hindi ako nakapunta dahil sa kagagawan niya! I was even demoted to a clerk position! That's what pushed me to do it! He deserved to die!," galit na wika ni Ariel. His eyes were full of hatred and anger. Pinusasan na ito ng mga pulis. Bago pa man ito inilabas ay may sinabi si Gray dito.

"You are the evil one and not him. He just took your job while you took his life, now tell me, who's the evil?," Gray said with conviction. Natigilan naman si Ariel sa sinabi ni Gray at may luha na tumulo sa mga mata nito bago ito tuluyang inilabas ng mga pulis.

Chapter 17: Who's the Coolest?

The case was closed at kasama namin ngayon si Detective Tross. Pumasok kami sa isang bar since Gray and I decided not to return to the private island yet. Detective Tross decided to stay too dahil ayon sa kanya, matagal-tagal na daw siyang hindi nakapagrelax. Nang makakita sila ng mesa ay agad silang naupo at umorder ng maiinom. Detective Tross ordered whisky samantalang beer naman ang kay Gray. Akamang aalis ako nang magsalita si Detective Tross.

"Hey, hindi mo ba kami sasamahan?"

"No, I'll stay there," wika ko at tinuro ang mga upuan sa . Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot nila at naupo roon. Ayokong maupo kasama nila dahil baka ma-out of place lamang ako. Umorder ako ng maiinom nang may tumabi sa akin.

"Hey." It was Cooler.

"Hey."

"We meet again huh, is this a sign?," he smiled at me at tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Galawang manloloko? He chuckled a little. "I really like the murderous look in your face," he said at mas lalo naming napakunot ang noo ko. Murderous look eh?

"Ah, that look? It's for the flirts. Is it bad?," tanong ko sa kanya.

Umiling naman siya. "No, it's cute. Not the typical girls who blushed immediately," wika niya. "You're so straightforward, so I'm flirting huh?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako sa kanya. "I don't know, maybe?"

He chuckled. "Forget it. Hey, I've heard about the murder and two young people who helped in solving the case. I bet one of it was you."

"How did you know?," tanong ko sa kanya.

"Easy-peasy! I just knew it," he said smiling. Inirapan ko naman siya. Wala din pala itong kwentang kausap paminsan-minsan.

"Fine, I'm just guessing. You're so cool!," amazed na wika ni Cooler.

"Cool?"

"Yeah, you're so cool. And I'm Cooler," wika niya, and I laughed.

"Hey, anong nakakatawa?," He let out a childish face as he asked me.

"Yeah, you're Cooler," natatawa pa ring wika ko. Cooler naman talaga ang pangalan niya, right?

May tumikhim mula sa likuran namin. "Kaya pala ayaw mo doon sa mesa dahil may kasama ka pala dito."

Sabay kaming napalingon ni Cooler nang may magsalita sa likuran namin. It was Gray again. Nakataas ang isang kilay nito habang tinitingnan kaming dalawa ni Cooler.

"Hey, Gray," bati ni Cooler. Masamang tiningnan siya ni Gray.

"Hey."

May narinig naman akong tumikhim sa likuran ni Gray at nang tingnan ko iyon, it was Detective Tross. Tumikhim siya ulit kaya ipinakilala ko si Cooler sa kanya.

"Cooler, si Detective Tross nga pala, he's one of the police who investigated the crime a while ago," wika ko kay Cooler. He stretched his arms to him at nagpakilala.

"Hi Detective, I'm Cooler."

Ngumiti si Detective Tross habang tinatanggap ang palad ni Cooler. Kapagkuway tiningnan niya si Gray, at gaya kanina, he's not in his best mood. "Hi Cooler, I don't really think you're cool," wika ni Detective Tross. "Just kidding. This kid is cool too, right Silvan?," he said at inakbayan si Gray. "Why don't we try to be cool and have a drink over there, you know like to identify who's the coolest among us thru drinking?" Tinuro ni Detective ang mesang inuupuan nila kanina.

"I don't mind, why not?," Cooler said at tumayo. He accepted the invitation. What the hell? Identify who's the coolest guy by drinking? What's wrong with these guys? At pumayag naman si Cooler! Sumunod na lang ako sa kanila at naupo na rin doon. Magkatabi sina Detective Tross at Gray samantalang nasa harap naman ako ni Gray at katabi si Cooler. They ordered hard drink at nagsimula nang mag-inuman.

"Hey Detective, alam mo bang pangarap kong maging detective dati? Yung pakiramdam na naeexcite, I enjoy such feeling. But I guess I can't be a detective, I don't really have sharp observations and keen deductions," Cooler said. "Right, Amber?" I lazily nod as I have my drink. I'm stuck with three guys.

"Ah, the opposite of Silvan. He has sharp observation skills and keen deduction, right Amber?," tanong naman ni Detective sa akin. He tapped Gray's back at tiningnan at masamang tiningnan siya ng huli.

"Talaga? That's amazing. Maybe I suck at being a detective but I'm good in sports though. Basketball really interests me. My schoolmate's used to call me Rukawa, though I like Sendo more, you know those guys in that anime Slumdunk?," nakingiting wika naman ni Cooler. Yeah, I think he's good at it. Not to mention na matangkad ito which is an advantage.

"Talaga? You were branded as Rukawa? This guy is good in soccer too. Binansagan din siyang Detective Conan sa dati niyang skwelahan, that little detective who was shrunk and leaves no mystery unsolved behind," wika naman ni Detective Tross. "That's Silvan."

What's wrong with him? Bakit ba ibinibida niya si Gray? At si Gray naman, he's not talking at all. At bakit ba siya umiinom? He's still a minor, right? Nagpatuloy lang sila sa pag-uusap at kung saaan na dumating ang mga topic nila. They talked about the outer space, future inflations at kung anu-ano pang topic ng mga lasing.

Tiningnan ko ang relo ko. It was almost 12 midnight. "Gray, let's go. It's already late," wika ko kay Gray na nakasubsob ang ulo sa mesa. Don't tell me he's already drunk? Inalug-alog ko siya. "Hoy, gising. Uwi na kasi tayo." Nang hindi pa rin siya gumalaw ay hinampas ko ng mahina ang braso niya.

"Ano?," he said irritatingly at sinubukang umupo ng tuwid.

"Uwi na tayo," bumaling naman ako kay Cooler, "I'm sorry Cooler but we have to go."

"Hatid ko na kayo," wika niya at tumayo. Detective Tross was on the counter paying the bill.

"Don't bother, malapit lang naman ang katabing isla, besides, anong oras na, baka mapano ka pa," I told him. Napangiti naman siya.

"Are you sure?," tanong niya at tumango ako. Gray was still sitting at nakatulala ito. Malamang ay inaadjust nito ang sarili mula sa pagkalasing. Pinauna ko nang umuwi si Cooler at hinatid naman kami ni Detective Tross sa bangka namin. Tumanggi si Gray na ihatid pa kami ni Detective dahil ayon sa kanya, "he's not drunk and he can manage" though I doubt it. Nagpaalam na kami kay Detective Tross at sumakay na sa bangka. Gray started the engine while massaging his head.

"Are you sure you can still manage that?," tanong ko sa kanya. I've never been drunk kaya hindi ko alam ang pakiramdam ng lasing but I guess it's not pleasant.

"Yeah," tipid niyang sagot. He managed to make it to the other island. Nang makarating kami sa resthouse ay agad siyang tumakbo sa banyo at nagsuka. Tsk! That's what he gets! Ni hindi man lamang niya isinara ang banyo habang nagsusuka siya.

"Are you okay?," tanong ko sa kanya mula sa labas ng banyo. I don't think I really have to ask since he doesn't seem to be fine at all.

"Yeah," sagot niya in between his vomits.

"Yan kasi, iinum-inom," pinasok ko na siya sa banyo and caress his back while he vomits in the lavatory. I don't know if it helps.

"I'm really fine," wika niya at naghilamos. Napasandal ako sa salamin habang tinitingnan siya. Lumabas na siya ng banyo at nagpunta sa kwarto. He immediately pressed his back on the bed.

"Hoy hoy! Baka nakakalimutan mo, you don't own the bed alone!," wika ko sa kanya at hinila ang paa niya. Nakahiga pa rin siya at nakapikit ang mata. Maybe he's enduring the pain in his head.

"Amber," he called out kaya napatigil ako sa paghila sa kanya.

"What?"

"I'm the coolest, right?" tanong niya. What?! He must be referring sa inuman nila kanina. Sa kanilang tatlo mukhang ito lang naman ang tinamaan, how can he be the coolest? They both agreed na ang pinakahuling malasing ang siyang tatanghaling coolest diba? That's the lamest contest between being cool. I rolled my eyes upon the thought.

"Nope. Ikaw ang pinakaunang nalasing," wika ko. "Mali, ikaw lang pala ang nalasing."

He smiled habang nakapikit. "I don't mean that way." Ano bangibig sabihin nito? Tinanong ko pa rin siya ngunit hindi na siya sumagot. All Icould hear is that he keeps on whispering that he should be the coolest for me.Weird    

#