Chapter 4: Hospital Case/Kiss?

Today is the last community service na gagawin namin sa taong ito. Bridle decided to have an outreach program at magkakaroon kami ng proper hygiene lecture and feeding para sa mga bata sa lansangan. The outreach program is not only for the orphans on the street but as well as sa mga batang may mga magulang hangga't nais nilang lumahok sa programa.

"I like this community service, nakakatulong tayo sa mga bata," Jeremy said habang nag-aayos kami ng mga gamit sa bus. We we're assigned with different jobs na mula sa iba-ibang committees at sa teaching committee kami napabilang ni Jeremy. Kami ang magtuturo sa mga bata habang naghahanda ng masustansyang pagkain ang iba.

"Tree planting is a good one too, hindi lang tayo nakakatulong sa kalikasan, maging sa mga taong naninirahan sa mundo. Who would benefit from that trees? Of course, it's us," wika ko sa kanya.

"Amen," he said and I rolled my eyes at him. Minsan talaga ay walang kwentang kausap si Jeremy.

Matapos maayos ang lahat ay umalis na ang bus. We chose a nearby baranggay para sa outreach program namin. Hindi iyon kalayuan sa Bridle kaya makalipas ang tatlumpung minuto ay nakarating na agad kami doon.

Nauna nang dumating ang "Set Up Committee" na kinabibilangan ni Gray. Nagtatayo sila ng mga mini-tent para sa amin samantalang sa covered court naman ng baranggay gaganapin ang feeding program.

"Ang tagal niyo namang dumating," wika ni Gray nang nakalapit siya sa amin. Gaya ng ibang nagse-set up ng mga maaring silungan doon ay pawis na pawis siya at walang suot na tshirt. Shit! Bakit ba may abs siya!? Nakakawala ng concentration.

"Marami pa kasi kaming inaasikaso," sagot ko sa kanya. Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko sa malayo upang hindi niya mapansin ang pagiging uncomfortable ko.

"Bakit ayaw mong tingnan si Gray Amber?" Jeremy asked. Naman eh! Lord, bakit ba ganito 'tong lalaking ito?! I chose not to answer his question ngunit muli itong nagsalita. "Ah, alam ko na! Naiilang ka sa abs ni Gray."

What the hell?! Maari bang ichop-chop na lang si Jeremy at isahog sa lulutuin ng food committee mamaya!?

"Uh, sorry about that," Gray said at agad na sinuot ang tshirt na hawak-hawak niya. Uh! Pandesal na naging bato pa! De, joke lang. Mas mabuting may suot itong damit para hindi nakakailang.

"I have a stimulating riddle for the two of you," Jeremy said with a smile.

"You mean stupid riddle," wika ko.

"No, this one's different."

"Shoot.

Ngumiti siya nang malaki. "What do you call the guards in a Samsung store?"

"They're still security guards," Gray said.

"Eenk! Mali!"

"Watchmen?"

"Mali pa rin."

"Ano?" I asked impatiently. I'm preparing my pokerface for his upcoming pun.

"They're called Guardians of the Galaxy! HAHAHAHAHA!" he started laughing out loud again. Uh! Kung alam lang ng mga nagkakagusto kay Jeremy ang tungkol sa mga joke nito, malamang madi-discourage sila!

"I knew all along that we'll be wasting time," Gray said.

"As expected."

Bumaling si Gray sa akin. "I'll help you carry all your teaching stuff to the covered court," he said at umakyat na siya sa bus upang tumulong sa pagdiskarga ng mga gamit.

"Oh! You and Gray are both smart ngunit hindi niyo talaga masagutan ang mga riddle ko," nagtatakang wika ni Jeremy.

"Dahil wala namang kwenta ang mga riddle mo. Hali ka na nga, tumulong na tayo," wika ko sa kanya at tumulong na sa paghahakot ng mga gamit.

Nang maayos na ang mga gamit sa sa pagtuturo ay saka lamang napansin ng Head ng Committee na si Yuri na wala roon ang mga alphabet cards at ang iba pang visual aid.

"Hala, lagot! Naiwan yata ang ibang mga visual aid!" she said matapos halughugin ang iba pang mga gamit doon.

"Wala ba sa bus?" tanong ng isang taga section C.

"Wala eh. Wala ng laman ang bus bago iyon umalis."

Babalik lamang mamaya ang bus ng Bridle kapag natapos na ang outreach program kaya hindi namin mahanap ang mga visual aid sa bus. Konti lamang ang mga naroong visual aid and the kids are looking forward for the colorful alphabet cards.

"I remembered! Mukhang naiwan ko sa room ng Section A!" Yuri said. "Sino ba ang pwedeng bumalik sa Bridle upang kunin iyon?"

Nagkunwari namang abala ang lahat. Mukhang walang gustong bumalik sa Bridle. Mahirap kasing mag-commute mula sa baranggay na iyon. Kailangan munang sumakay ng isang de-padyak bago nakarating sa sakayan ng jeep. Wala ring mga taxi roon.

Uh, mukhang wala ngang may gustong bumalik ng Bridle upang kunin iyon. Nagulat na lang ako nang biglang nag-volunteer si Jeremy.

"Kami! Kami ni Amber," he said at tinuro ako. What the hell?! Idinamay pa talaga ako?! I gave him a dagger stare ngunit nginitian niya lang ako!

"Talaga? Okay lang sayo Amber?" Yuri asked at nang lingunin ko ang paligid ay hinihintay ng lahat ang sagot ko. Uh, may choice pa ba ako?

Tumango ako sa kanila at natuwa naman ang lahat. Uh, really?! Yuri gave Jeremy the transportation expenses at nandito kami ngayon sa sakayan ng mga de-padyak tricycle driver.

"Nakakainis ka, alam mo ba? Ang init-init tapos nag-volunteer ka?" wika ko kay Jeremy nang nakasakay na kami.

"It's for the children kaya indahin mo na lang ang init, okay?"

Hindi ko na lang siya sinagot at nanatiling tahimik hanggang sa sumakay na kami ng jeep at nakarating sa Bridle. Kinuha namin ang mga naiwang visual aid at muling bumalik sa baranggay kung saan gaganapin ang aming outreach program.

Nang makababa kami ng jeep ay may nakita akong isang bata. He was about to cross the street ngunit bigla na lamang may puting kotse ang muntik nang bumundol dito. Napahiga ito sa daan nang muntikan na itong masagasaan. He was unconcious kaya nilingon ko ang paligid ngunit walang tao roon. Paano ba ito?!

"Amber, kanina pa tumatawag si Yuri," Jeremy said at pinakita ang cellphone. Kailangan ko ring tulungan ang bata.

"Jeremy, mauna ka na sa sakayan. Ihatid mo na yan doon at susunod ako. I need to help the kid," wika ko sa kanya at tinulak siya.

"But Amber —"

I cut him off. "Don't worry about me. Those kids need that at kailangan din ng tulong nung bata. You see? Wala masyadong tao sa paligid kaya sige na," wika ko sa kanya at pumayag naman ito. I just assured him na susunod agad ako kapag natulungan ko na ang bata.

Nang makaalis na si Jeremy ay agad akong lumapit sa bata. Kasalukuyan itong binubuhat ng may-ari ng kotse. Mabuti naman at naisipan nitong tumulong kahit hindi niya talaga nabundol iyon. Hindi tulad na iba, after they hit their victims ay tinatakbuhan lamang nila.

"Ayos lang po ba ang bata?" tanong ko sa nakatalikod na lalaki.

"He's fine. Wala naman siyang mga injury ngunit hinimatay siya kaya dadalhin ko siya sa ospi— Amber?"

Nang lumingon ako ay nagulat ako nang makita si Red. Red as in pula. You know that guy na napagkamalan kong taxi driver? The guy who hates cussing inside his car? The guy who said gray is a dull, dirty and dingy color?

Yeah that guy.

"Red, right?" I asked him and he made a face.

"You're unsure? Yes, that's me."

Well, I'm sure but I just asked. Just uh, whatever.

"Kailangan mong dalhin yung bata sa ospital," wika ko at tiningnan ang batang karga-karga niya. "He looks so pale."

"Let's go."

I looked at him puzzled. "Kasama ako?"

"Sumama ka na lang. Looks like you're in an outreach mission base sa suot mong shirt. Ibig sabihin marami kayo kaya hindi ka na nila kailangan doon. Sumama ka na," wika niya at dinala ang bata sa likurang bahagi ng sasakyan. Binuksan ko ang pinto at inayos niya ang pagkakahiga ng bata doon. Yes, I'm wearing a white shirt na may nakamarkang Bridle High School Outreach Program. Nang tapos na niyang ilapag ang bata ay binuksan niya ang pinto ng shotgun ride.

"Get inside at nang madala na natin ang bata sa ospital,"  wika niya. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako at sumakay doon. Maybe he's right. Marami naman sila doon na magtuturo sa mga bata. Nang makapasok ako ay umikot ito sa kabilang side at pumasok na rin sa kotse. He immediately drived into the nearest hospital.

Nang makarating kami roon ay agad na ipinasok sa emergency room ang bata upang matingnan. Red and I stayed outside.

"God, I really thought I hit the kid. Mukhang hinimatay lang naman ito," he said in relief.

"And I thought you'll gonna run away after hitting the kid."

He made a face. "Hindi ah. Only irresponsible people would do that. By the way, it's good to see you again Amber." Uh, ano'ng good kapag makita ako? If it would be Jeremy, sasabihin na naman nitong murder magnet ako.

"Really?"

"Yeah. And where's your boyfriend by the way? Gray right?" tanong niya na ikinakunot ng noo ko. Boyfriend ko si Gray? He really thinks so?

"He's not my boyfriend," I told him.

"But you're dating."

"It's a friendly date."

"Ganoon ba? Oh, I see. So you're from Bridle? It's a good school but I never had the chance to study there. Bagsak ako sa aptitude exam and case analysis," he said while chuckling.

"Saan ka nag-aaral ngayon?"

"Catarina University."

Naputol ang pag-uusap namin nang bigla na lamang kaming makarinig ng sigaw mula sa isang private suite. Parehas kaming napatayo at tinakbo ang pinagmulan ng sigaw.

Nakatayo ang isang nurse kasama ang isang lalaking gulat na gulat habang nakatingin sa kama. There was a patient lying on the bed but what was shocking was the knife plunged on his chest. Nakahawak pa ang kamay nito sa kutsilyo!

***

Dumating ang mga pulis doon and I wasn't surprised to see Inspector Dean. Binati niya ako  and I asked him if we can linger there a little longer at pumayag naman ito.

Nag-imbestiga sila and they were able to come up with three persons who last visited the victim sa mga oras bago ito namatay. The first one was Luel Marasigan. He was the friend of the victim na si Justie Dominggo. He was the one na nakita namin ni Red kanina kasama ng nurse.

The second one was the nurse na si Ishell Romero. She was the assigned nurse at kakilala rin ng biktima. Ayon kay Luel, Justie was courting Ishell ngunit hindi pa man ito nasasagot ng huli ay binawian na ng buhay si Justie.

The last one was Mara Canete. She was a patient from the same hospital at ex-girlfriend ni Justie. Gaya ni Justie ay cancer patient din si Mara but she's struggling to survive.

Bago pa man dumating ang mga pulis ay nauna na kaming pumasok ni Red doon. We examined the dead body and we found a suicide note on the table.

The note says:

I can't take it anymore. My dreams are telling me to end this.

It's just a brief note but I found an angle on this case saying this isn't a suicide. Unang anggulo ay pwesto ng tsinelas ng biktima. Nasa paanan iyon ng kama ngunit ang gusot na nasa kama ay nasa gilid, tanda na doon banda sumampa ang biktima sa kama. It's queer to to think iniwan muna nito sa paanan ang tsinelas at dumeretso sa gilid bago sumampa doon. Another one was the note. It was torn from a memopad na but I couldn't find kung saang bahagi iyon galing. None of the torn papers matched with the one written as suicide note. At isa pa, bakit kailangan pang tanggalin iyon? The victim could just write his suicide note and leave it in the memopad without tearing at as long as it's opened to where the note was written. The last one was the suicide note itself. Ang maikling sulat ay maaring hindi isang suicide note since hindi naman naispecify kung ano ang nais niyang wakasan.

Gosh! Mukhang may natututunan din pala ako kay Gray. I have been observant to such things gayong si Gray ang mapagmatyag sa mga bagay. This probably means sticking with him and to those cases is not bad at all. I sometimes have the "detectives way and will" but it wasn't as strong like what Gray and Khael possessed.

"Amber, I find this note ambigous. I don't think it's a suicide note," wika ni Red habang nakatitig sa papel.

"Really? You think so?"

Tumango siya sa akin. "Yeah but I'm not really sure about it. Do you know Sigmund Freud?"

"Sigmund Fraud ang pangalan ng aso ng kapitbahay namin," I replied and he giggled.

"That's a good thing to remember him. He's a neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis," wika niya. "Are you familiar with Freudian psychoanalytic theory?"

I frowned at him. Engot din itong si Red ano? Di ko nga kilala si Sigmund FROYD na yan, yung theory niya pa kaya?! Seriously Red?!

"Okay, I guess that look says 'how do I know his theory, I don't even know him," wika niya. The hell?! Is he a mind reader?

"How do you know that's what I'm thinking? Don't tell me you're some sort of a mind reader?" I asked in disbelief at muli naman itong natawa.

"No. You're funny. I'm not a mind reader, I mean, sort of. I'm a psychology student, remember?" he said.

"Whatever. So what's with that theory? And how does that connects to this case?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"It's about the drive towards death and self-destruction," sagot niya. Uh, hindi ko talaga ma-gets what is exactly his point.

"So you're saying?"

"You don't get it?" he asked and I shook my head. "Mukhang hindi nga. It's like this. I found the note lacking with death drive. I don't think it's a suicide note."

I focused my attention on him. We have the same thought about this case but I based it on my physical observations while he based it theorically in psychoanalysis and whatsoever.

"I don't think it's a suicide too. Will you tell me more about such theory?" I asked him. Maybe using psychological reference can help us on this case.

"It's like this, death drive contradicts with eros."

"You mean sex drive?" I asked and he shook his head.

"It doesn't refers to sex drive alone but as well as to life force and the will to live. It's for survival, propagation and other life-producing drives. I don't see that note as one which refer to the third problem stated by Freud as 'to repeat the repressed material as a contemporary experience instead of remembering it as something belonging to the past. I guess that's his exact words."

Kahit wala akong stock knowledge sa psychology ay naintindihan ko naman ang mga ipinaliwanag ni Red. I was amazed by his knowledge. Mukhang seryoso ito sa pag-aaral. I look closely at the note. Saka ko lamang napansin na may mga marka mula sa pagkakadiin ng mga sinulat sa unang pahina niyon.

"I think something was written on the previous pages. Kung maari lang sana nating pakialaman itong suicide note. We need a pencil to trace back the writings on the previous page," wika ko.

"I don't think the police would agree on such idea," wika ni Red at tama nga ito. If Gray was here, malamang papayag pa ang mga pulis but it's just me.

"I have another idea Amber," he said with a grin. "We can check the patient's records upang malaman natin kung may death drive nga ba ang biktima."

"Patient's records are confidential kaya wag mong isiping madali ang iniisip mo. We cannot just ask the hospital for it."

Mas lalo pang lumawak ang ngiti nito. "Who said we're asking the hospital?"

"What do you mean?"

"You have an important task to do. Let's go to the nurse station at tingnan mo ang nameplate ng naroong nurse na nagbabantay, dali!" he said at hinila na ako papunta sa nurse station.

"Teka, bakit ako?" Argh! Baka mahuli kami! Gosh, I'm not a minor anymore kaya kung may gawin man akong illegal, tiyak sa malamig na rehas na ang bagsak ko.

"Titingnan mo lang naman eh, ako ang may delikadong role dito kaya gawin mo na," wika niya at tinulak ako. Argh! Wala na! Nakita na ako ng naroong nurse kaya hindi na ako pwedeng bumalik pa! Lecheng pula! Manulak ba naman. I smiled at the nurse. This is it. I have to do this.

"Magandang araw po. Pwede po bang magtanong kung saan ang kwarto ni —" I paused. Sino ba?

"Ni?" the nurse asked.

I pressed my lips. Sorry devil! Gagawin muna kitang may sakit. "Ryu. Ryu Morisson po. He's a cancer patient at dito po yata siya nakaconfine dahil bilang na ang mga araw niya." I flashed my very sad face. Wait, did I overdo it?

"Sandali. Iche-check ko," wika niya at may tiningnan. That's the time that I focused my gaze on her name plate. Suzanne Flores.

Nag-angat na ito ng tingin. "Sorry Miss but we don't have a patient na Ryu Morisson."

"Ganoon po ba? Baka po nagkamali lang ako ng ospital or baka namatay na siya, sige po." I immediately left at pumunta sa kung saan iniwan ko si Red.

"So?"

Tiningnan ko siya. He was holding a doctor's coat and a stethoscope. Nakasuot din ito ng eyeglasses. "Her name is Suzanne Flores. What's that?" tanong ko sa kanya, referring to the coat and stethoscope.

"Props."

"Props? Saan? And where the hell did you get them?"

"Ah-uh! Drop the 'the hell'. Just where did you get them," wika niya. Uh, he's not really into cussing, eh? Makapagtirik nga ng kandila sa santong pula na ito mamaya.

"Whatever."

"I got these from the doctor's locker. Mabuti na lang hindi nakalock yung isa," he said with a smile.

"What the f—" sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. "Fish. What the fish! What are you planning to do? Hindi ba tayo mahuhuli nito?"

"Not unless magmamadali tayo. Just watch me." Lumapit kami sa may nurse station. I sat on the bench samantalang nakatayo naman ito.

He was already wearing the lab coat at nakasukbit sa balikat nito ang stethoscope. He really looks like a doctor at bagay na bagay iyon sa kanya. Lumapit si Red sa nurse station.

"Excuse me, Miss Suzanne Flores?"

"Yes?" tanong ng nurse na nakausap ko kanina. "Oh, doctor. You must be Kevin Mendoza, the newly hired surgeon. I'm pleased to meet you."

Ngumiti naman si Red. Tsk! Nagpapa-cute lang naman yung nurse! "Ah, yes that's me. By the way, pinapatawag ka pala ng hospital director. He said, ASAP."

"But wala pa ang kasama ko."

"Don't worry. I'll guard here for you," matamis na ngumiti naman si Red at parang kiti-kiting kinilig ang nurse. Heh!

"Talaga? Sige, thanks Doc!" she said at lumabas na roon. Nagpaalam ito kay Red at nang lumiko na ito ay agad akong hinila ni Red papasok. Hinubad niya ang suot na coat at sinampay iyon sa harap CCTV camera. "We have to hurry." he said at agad na hinanap ang room number ni Justie. Kinuha niya ang pangalan ng doktor nito at matapos iyon ay agad kaming lumabas. Gosh! This is so — arrrgh! Pag nahuli kami, patay talaga kami.

"That was exciting," wika ni Red. Tiningnan ko siya nang masama at sinapak. "Aray! Para saan ba iyon?"

"Exciting your face! That's illegal!" I hissed at him ngunit tumawa lang ito.

"It's not illegal unless we're caught. Bumalik ka na sa crime scene, ako na ang didiskarte para malaman ang kondisyon ng biktima. You go and find more evidence," wika niya.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Now go," he said at bumalik na nga ako. Pagdating ko doon ay nag-iimbestiga pa rin ang mga pulis. They were questioning the 3 people. Nakarating na roon ang pamilya ng biktima and they were crying for their loss.

"Bakit ba parang ginagawa niyo kaming suspect? Can't you see that it's a suicide?" galit na wika ni Luel.

"We found some things na nagsasabing hindi ito suicide," sagot ni Inspector Dean.

"Hindi suicide? Look at the note!"

"Hindi kami sigurado kung sulat-kamay ba yan ng biktima," sagot ng pulis.

"Sa kanya iyan. I can prove it to you," Luel said at may kinuha sa bag. Naglabas siya ng kwaderno. "This is his diary na ipinakuha niya sa akin. You can compare it with the penmanship on the suicide note."

Kinuha iyon ng pulis at in-examine. He's right. The victim really wrote the suicide note.

"But still, kailangan pa namin itong imbestigahan," the police said. Tiningnan ko naman ang diary. I didn't read the contents ngunit binasa ko ang nasa cover. Those are poetic lines describing life. Kawawa naman ang biktima. His works really focuses about life since he didn't know when he will die dahil may cancer ito. But why does he have to end his life?

I can't take it anymore. My dreams are telling me to end this.

Iyon ang nakasulat sa kanyang suicide note. But, is it really a suicide note? Tiningnan ko ang naroong basurahan. There were crumpled papers there na gaya ng nasa memo pad. Agad kong pinulot iyon at ibinuklat.

To do:

• Overnight reunion with friends.
• Hangout with Luel, my bestfriend
• Motivate Mara
• Date Ishell
• Visit Baclaran and other heritage churches

To do list ng biktima? Why does a person who wanted to commit suicide be writing a to do list?

Tiningnan ko ang katawan ng biktima. He was holding the knife na tila nga ito ang sumaksak sa sarili. Ayon sa mga pulis, limang oras na ang nakalipas mula ng bawian ito ng buhay. Nakahawak sa plastic handle ng kutsilyo ang kamay nito but his other hand was like pointing on the knife's metal part. Ano kaya ang ibig sabihin niyon? Saka ko lang napansin ang tila maliit na sugat sa kamay nito. It's a cut from something sharp. Sanhi ba ito ng kutsilyo? But I have a feeling that it wasn't.

Lumapit ako sa tatlong suspect and I observed them carefully. I saw something interesting. That's it. It's the proof of the crime!

Dumating naman si Red at may kakaibang ngiti ito. "I found out everything. Basing on your clear face,  I guess you have figured out the killer. Let's start our deduction show."

"Deduction show? You already solved this case Amber?" Inspector Dean asked na nakarinig pala sa pag-uusap namin ni Red. I nodded at him at napangiti naman ito. "Mukhang nahahawa ka na kay Ivan."

He gathered everyone upang makinig sa pagsisiwalat namin. Nagulat naman ang lahat nang sinabi nitong kami ni Red ang nakakaalam ng lahat.

"Wait. Who are they? Pulis ba sila?" Mara asked.

"Even that highschool looking girl?" segunda naman ni Ishell.

"She's a detective and the guy with her is her apprentice," nakangiting saad ni Inspector Dean.

"Bullshit! Namatay na at lahat si Justie tapos ngayon ay ipapahawak niyo lang sa kung sinu-sinong mga bata ang kasong ito!" galit na wika ni Luel.

I winced on his words. Kahit bata lang kami, I'm positive that I have a correct deduction about this.

"We understand how you feel mister but why won't you try to listen? That way, you can justify his death," wika ko sa kanya at tumahimik siya.

"So you're saying this isn't a suicide? Go on brat. I'm listening," wika niya. Napangiti ako at tiningnan si Red. Tumango siya sa akin bago nagsalita.

"Our first ground for saying that it isn't a suicide is the suicide note itself. It lacks death drive. So we checked the victim's hospital records and we fou—"

Bigla na lamang sumingit si Ishell. "But how did you do it? Hospital records are confidential," wika niya. Of course alam niya iyon, she's a nurse.

Red frowned. "Don't ask how. So, back to the case, we found out that he's not dying. Ayon sa records, his body is developing antibodies and he had a positive response to his chemo kaya malaki ang tsansa na makaka-survive siya."

"Malaki ang tsansa niyang mabuhay? But why did he end his life?" tanong ni Mara.

"He didn't. Someone killed him," wika ko at nagulat silang lahat. "That someone killed him and made it looks like a suicide by leaving a note written by the victim."

"Paano naman niya napilit ang biktima na sumulat ng suicide note?"

"Hindi na niya pinilit dahil kusang sinulat iyon ng biktima but it wasn't a suicide note. It's a note about Eros," wika ni Red. "I mean the life-producing drives. The note probably refers to his cancer. He wants to end cancer and not his life."

"Isa pa, bakit pa kailangang gumawa ng to do list ang may balak na magpakamatay? Look at this," wika ko at ipinakita ang nilakumos na papel.

"But look at the victim's position. Siya mismo ang sumaksak sa sarili niya diba?" Luel asked.

"No, he didn't. Hinawakan niya marahil ang kutsilyo to give us clue about his killer's identity. Look at his right pointer finger. It's pointing on the knife's metal blade. Ibig sabihin, his killer is someone who has a metal blade-like thing and that's the nurse's metal name plate," I said fearlessly. I was rubbing my nose while exposing the crime. Kanina pa ako nababahing but I just can't sneeze in the middle of my deduction show.

"Ano? Hindi ko pinatay si Justie!" galit na wika ni Ishell. "Wag mo akong akusahan!"

"You did it Ishell?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Mara. "But why?"

"Yes, she did it. Sinaksak niya ang biktima and left him. Pagbalik niya ay nakahawak na sa kutsilyo ang biktima, probably he wanted to pull it ngunit nanghihina na siya that's why tinuro na lang niya ang metal blade ng kutsilyo. The killer found out the victim's new position and it looks like he did it to himself," diretsong nakatingin ako kay Ishell. "You made use of his rigor mortis to make it looks like a suicide. Tiningnan mo ang memopad sa gilid and you saw such content. Kung iyon lang ang pagbabasehan, mukha nga iyong suicide note ngunit kapag babasahin mo ang ibang bahagi ay malalaman mong hindi. It's about positivity to life. You tore the page from the memopad at tinago ang original na ginamit ng biktima. You replaced it with a new memopad na marahil ay kinuha mo sa ibang mga kwarto. Those memopads are the hospital's complementary things", wika ko sa kanya ngunit nagmatigas pa rin ito.

"You don't have any evidence!"

"We do. Look at the victim's palm. There's a cut there and I believe it wasn't from the knife kundi mula iyon sa nameplate mo when he struggled. Check your nameplate, may konting dugo na nalalabi. If we do bloodtesting, we would find out na dugo ng biktima iyan and you said you haven't gone near the body, right? Kung hindi nga ikaw, present your nameplate," I asked her at bigla na lang itong napaiyak.

"I killed him because he creeps me out! Sabi niya ay hindi niya ako titigilan hanggat hindi ko siya sinasagot! He interfere with my life! Sinusundan niya ako noong hindi pa siya naconfine dito. He told my suitor na girlfriend niya ako. Nakakadiri siya and I can't take it anymore! Pinatay ko na lang siya gayong bilang na ang mga araw —"

Bigla na lamang itong sinampal ni Mara. "Haven't you heard them? Makakasurvive si Justie. At kahit pa hindi, wala kang karapatang wakasan ang buhay niya!"

Gulat na napahawak na lamang sa pisngi niya si Ishell. Hindi na ito pumalag pa nang posasan ito ng mga pulis at dalhin sa presinto. Lumapit naman ang mga kaibigan at pamilya ng biktima upang magpasalamat. Gayundin sina Inspector Dean. Nagpasalamat muna ito bago umalis.

The case was cleared at pinuntahan na namin ang batang dinala namin sa ospital. Ayon sa doktor, it was just over-fatigue at gutom kaya nawalan ito ng malay. Nang gumising ang bata ay agad na binilhan iyon ni Red ng makakain. He also planned to buy grocery items na ibibigay niya dito bago ihatid ang bata pauwi.

"Thank you for accompanying me here Amber," wika ni Red. I smiled at him.

"Salamat din sa psychological knowledge mo na nakatulong sa paglutas sa kaso," wika ko sa kanya and he giggled.

"Napakaexciting pala ang lumutas ng kaso," he said.

"AMBER?"

Napalingon ako sa likuran ko kung saan nanggaling ang boses ng tumawag sa akin.

"Gray?!" I exclaimed. "Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

"Inihatid ko lang ang isang residenteng mangaganak," wika niya at bahagyang sinulyapan si Red. His eyes were dark nang tingnan niya ito. "Let's go," bumaling siya kay Red. "Mauna na kami."

Tumango naman si Red at bumulong sa akin. "Your dad's here. Tiyak may sinturon nang nakahanda sa bahay," he said and chuckled.

Uh, yeah. Gray's expression was like a father seeing his daughter with a random guy. Yung tipo ng tingin na matatakot ka. It's like a father's single stare na nakakatakot talaga. Well, yeah. Kakaiba ang aura ni Gray.

"Mauna na kami. Bye Red," wika ko at sumunod kay Gray patungo sa elevator. Hindi ito nagsasalita hanggang sa lulan na kami ng BMW niya.

Nang makasakay kami ay nagulat ako nang hinila niya ako palapit sa kanya. He rested his head on my shoulders.

"What are you doing?" Gosh, my heartbeat is fast. Kailangan ko bang bumalik doon sa ospital at magpa-check up?

"Please stay still. Masakit lang ang ulo ko," wika niya.

"Edi magpacheck up ka. Nasa premises pa tayo ng ospital. Kailan pa ba yan?"

"No need. Kanina lang 'to nang si Jeremy lang ang bumalik. I felt so weak but I guess I'll be fine. You're my cure," he said and I blushed. Naman eh! Anong ibig sabihin niyon?

"Gray?"

"Hmmm?"

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" I asked. Inangat niya ang ulo niya at tiningnan ako.

"I said I'm weak and you are my medicine," wika niya. And then everything seemed to stop. The only thing I know is that my heart beats fast at ang unti-unting paglapit ng mukha ni Gray sa mukha ko. Napatingin ako sa labi niya. Shit! Unti-unti pa rin iyong lumalapit hanggang sa isang dangkal na lamang ang layo ng mukha niya. I felt the urge to close my eyes so I did and —

"ACHOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Bigla na lamang akong napabahing! I do close my eyes if I sneeze. And when I opened my eyes, I saw Gray's poker face. He was pouting and I saw some wet spots on his face, probably my saliva.

NOT PROBABLY! I'M 100% SURE IT IS MY SALIVA. ARRRRRGH! THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING!!!

Inilayo niya ang mukha sa akin at umayos ng upo. Kumuha siya ng panyo at pinunasan ang mukha. Pagkatapos niyon ay binuhay na niya ang makina.

"Let's go," he said at pinatakbo ang kotse.

DAMN! Halik na naging bato pa!

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs.