Five Motives, One Culprit

by nylerach

I was obliged to come here at the café for some reason I hate to deal with. Erika, a classmate of mine asked me to come and give her the syllabus since she didn't have the chance to have it dahil hindi siya nakapasok 'nong biyernes. It's already 2 hours since we met but I don't feel like getting up from my seat or what. It's so good in here. Parang gusto ko na nga lang matulog dito for a whole night.

The door chime made its sound. Napalingon ako sa gawi ng pintuan at kung umiinom siguro ako ng kape na nasa harap ko ngayon ay malamang nabilaukan na ako. It was Gray and I doubt if this is just a coincidence. Dumiretso siya sa counter kaya dahan-dahan akong tumayo. I tried to act normal so that he wouldn't notice me but fate loves to play a trick. Nang bubuksan ko na ang pintuan ay narinig ko siyang tinawag ako.

"Hey, Amber!" napapikit ako ng mariin dahil sa eksenang ginawa niya. Customers diverted their attention to us ngunit agad rin naman silang bumalik sa pinaggagawa nila.

And oh, Gray. Tila wala siyang pakialam sa mga atensyon na nakuha niya. He walked towards me habang suot suot ang malapad na ngisi. Inakbayan niya ako at iginiya palabas.

"Iniiwasan mo ba ako?" Tanong niya. "And isn't it weird for us to meet at this café during weekends?"

I glared at him. "Get your filthy arms off me dude." Matigas kong sabi.

He puckered his lips to tease me. Good, you're making my day a whole lot worse. "Nice answer," tinanggal niya ang braso niya sa balikat ko. "Wait there, I'll take this call."

Lumayo siya ng kaunti sa akin nang masagot niya ang tawag. Dahan dahan akong naglakad paalis. I just don't feel like jamming and spending days with someone right now. Lalo na sa isang abo na walang ginawa kundi mangulit. Hindi pa ako nakakalayo nang maramdaman ko ulit na may umakbay sa akin. Great.

"Umiiwas ka nga." He concluded. "Amber."

"Oh?" Asik ko at tinanggal ang braso niya na nakaakbay saakin.

"I have an appointment with a friend today. Gusto mo bang sumama o sasama ka?"

Mariin ko siyang tinitigan. Is this guy over here wants to take me to somewhere, giving me choices where I can't even choose? "No," Tinalikuran ko siya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Naramdaman ko siyang sumunod sa akin kaya nilingon ko ulit siya. He stopped at halos mapaatras siya sa gulat dahil sa ginawa ko.

I was about to speak when I saw a car driving fast and it's about to hit the two of us. Nanlaki ang mata ko at nagtago agad sa likod ni Gray. I shut my eyes and gripped my hands to the hem of his shirt. When I realized that it was five seconds already but I'm still breathing, dinilat ko ang mga mata ko at napatingin sa gawi ng sasakyan. Hindi naman ito tinted kaya nakita ko kung sino ang driver 'non. I glared at Ryu who's staring at us with his signature smirk.

Napalingon ako kay Gray at mapang-asar na ngisi ang ibinigay niya sa akin. I realized that I am still holding his shirt. Agad akong bumitaw at nag-iwas ng tingin. D*mn Amber, what the heck did you just do?

Nagulat ako nang hinila niya ako at tumungo sa bintana ng sasakyan ni Ryu. Kumatok siya roon at binuksan naman iyon ni Ryu na nagtataka gaya ko. What are you up to, Gray?

"Since you're already here at wala kaming sasakyan, hindi ko rin naman hahayaang mag-commute ang 'mahal na prinsesa' so give us a free ride." He said, giving emphasis to the 'mahal na prinsesa'.

Nagpumiglas ako. "I don't remember accepting your invitation Gray."

"Come with me or I'll—" Ryu cutted him off.

"Tss. Get a room." Pareho kaming napalingon sakaniya na may halong pagtataka. I know Gray knows what Ryu is pointing out but I don't think it's really what I think it is.

Sa huli ay napapayag rin ako ni Gray. Medyo natagalan pa siya sa pagkumbinsi kay Ryu since the both us are hardheaded and who would want to agree with him right away? It's his plan for this day so why are we getting involved?

Nevermind. Nandito naman na ako and I can't turn back. We're heading to a certain subdivision 3 km away from here. The atmosphere inside the devil's car was a bit awkward and suffocating. Supposedly, magbibigay lang naman ako ng syllabus but I ended up this way. Just how fortunate I am.

"Ryu." I called him. "What were you doing out there?" Tanong ko na ikinakunot ng noo niya. "I mean, why did you appear all of a sudden?"

"I had some appointments and I saw too disgusting people so I want to pull off a prank. Well, that prank led me to be a driver anyway." Napangiwi ako sa sagot niya pero hindi na ulit ako nagsalita pa.

It took us for about 1 and a half hour to arrive at our destination. Bumaba ako ng sasakyan at tinignan ang paligid. Just like the usual subdivisions, matiwasay rin dito at halatang secured. There are several children playing at the park nearby.

"Oh?" Napalingon ako sa dalawa. Gray was holding the car's door. I guess he's trying to stop Ryu from going or whatever. "Saan ka pupunta?"

Ryu looked at him like he was asking a very obvious question. "Of course, I'll go ahead."

Gray nodded. "Okay but you owe us a drive. You know hospitality? Baka naman may konting hospitalidad sa katawan mo para ihatid kami pabalik diba?"

Napailing ako at hinintay ang tugon ni Ryu. Seconds later, bumaba siya at padabog na sinara ang pinto ng sasakyan. "D*mn hospitality." He murmured.

---

I sat awkwardly at the couch here at Piolo's house. Pinakilala siya ni Gray sa amin kanina and Piolo doesn't seem to be that rude guy, so I forced a smile in return. Ryu, as the devil as he already is, didn't bother to greet nor give an expression.

May ibinigay lang si Piolo kay Gray at may pinag-usapan sila na mga bagay-bagay na wala akong pakialam. Gray seems to have lot of acquaintances and that's not a surprise though. Nakaupo lang kami ni Ryu habang nababagot at hinihintay na matapos ang dalawa. What's my purpose here anyway?

Naalarma kami nang may narinig kaming sigaw di kalayuan. Agad kaming lumabas at naktitang maraming tao na ang nakapalibot sa isang bahay na malapit lang din sakanila ni Piolo. Hindi na sana ako makikiusyoso pa pero hinila ako ni Gray papunta roon. Uso yata ang manghila ngayong araw?

"They're detectives." Narinig kong sabi ni Piolo. My forehead creased as I look at him explaining to the residents to let us pass and get inside. 'Di kalaunan ay nakapasok rin naman kami.

I heard Ryu whispered, "I never dreamed of being a detective."

Nakita ko sa sala ang isang umiiyak na babae. Katabi niya ang isa pang babae na sa tingin ko ay kapatid niya dahil magkamukhang magkamukha sila.Nakadekwatro ito at parang walang pake. May isa ring lalake na sa tingin ko ay nasa mid-20's pa. Nakatulala ito at inaalalayan ng isang matandang babae. Mula sa labas, ay pumasok ang isang matangkad na lalake. I saw him in front of the house a while ago. Siya ang nagpapaliwanag sa mga tao ukol sa nangyari. Nilock niya agad ang pinto at pasalampak na umupo sa sofa.

Our presence wasn't acknowledged well. I don't even know what's going on but obviously, this is another case again. When can I stop sticking to cases? I badly want freedom from these stuffs but I guess this is my so called destiny.

Sumunod ako kay Piolo at Gray na patungo sa taas. We're accompanied by the housemaid to the attic. Sa bawat dinaraan naming kwarto ay may nakasulat na mga pangalan. Meron ring iba na wala. It's weird. I know some dorms or boarding house put names on the room's door but I never knew a house could have this also. Naramdaman kong tumigil si Ryu sa likod ko at may pinulot. Binalewala ko nalang siya at pumasok sa attic.

Nakabulagta sa sahig ang katawan ng isang babae na sa tingin ko ay nasa mid-20's din. She's bathing on her own blood and the several stabs on her chest were evident. Napapikit ako sa nakita ko. She's one of those people who died brutally and even if I've encountered many scenes like this, hindi ko maiwasang maawa at magalit at the same time.

Malinis ang attic at hindi magulo, pero maalikabok nga lang, hindi tulad ng mga usual attics na nakikita ko. Lumapit ako sa biktima at inobserbahan siya. Her eyes were wide open. The blood was still sticky at halatang di pa matagal bago siya pinatay. Nasa kanang banda niya ang notebook na hindi na masyadong nababasa ang sulat dahil nabasa na iyon ng dugo. She must be writing something here before she was killed mercilessly. I failed to find a ballpen or anything she could use to write. That's weird.

One thing caught my attention and I quickly observed it. Confusion is written all over my face as I stared at it. This is a very helpful clue that the culprit didn't bother to conceal.

On the other hand, I saw Ryu staring blankly towards the corpse. It's not new to him obviously. Hindi ko rin alam kung interesado ba siya sa pinaggagawa namin ngayon but the answer with that doesn't matter. Tutal, napilitan lang naman siya dahil sa 'hospitality'.

Wala na ang katulong na kasama namin kanina dahil aasikasuhin pa raw niya ang mga pulis na darating maya-maya. Lumabas kami ng attic at pinasok ang mga kwarto na nadaraanan namin. Ang pinakamalapit na kwarto ay ang kay Kathy base sa nakalagay na pangalan sa pinto.

"Your work is so boring," Ryu commented. Hindi namin siya pinansin ni Gray at patuloy na nag-obserba sa kwarto ni Kathy. May kinuha si Gray sa study table at nilagay sa bulsa niya. I want to ask but I decided not to. Bukod roon ay napansin kong marami siyang mga notebook, libro at postcards ng mga quotes na galing sa mga sikat na libro. She must be a bookworm or an author.

Sunod naming pinasok ang kwarto na walang pangalan. Sa taas ng headboard ng kama nila ay ang malaking picture frame ng isang lalake na naka-formal suit katabi ang isang babae na nakawedding gown. Sa pinakababa ng picture ay nakasulat ang "Juliet and Andrew's Nuptial". Si Andrew iyong lalake na nakatulala kanina. So he and the victim are married couple. Kapansin-pansing bago pa ang mga gamit sa kwarto pati na rin ang picture frame. I guess they married and moved in here just recently. Just like Kathy's room, their room is full of books, papers and pens. Pero mas madami ang bilang rito kesa kay Kathy. Nothing seems suspicious so we proceeded to the next room.

It was the guest's room. The door was already open and we saw three policemen who were checking the area. They checked each corner but they found nothing. Hinayaan lang nila kami na maglibot sa kwarto since the cops were already familiar with us. Napatingin ako kay Ryu nang nagsimula nanaman siyang maglibot ng tingin na parang interesado sa kasong ito. Nagkasalubong pa sila ni Gray sa may cabinet banda at parehong napatitig sa isang bagay. I couldn't help but to know what it is. Lumapit ako roon at nakitang nakatutok sila sa sticker na nasa salamin. Tumabi rin si Piolo sa akin na nakalimutan kong kasama pala namin.

"I'M EXCITED FOR YOUR PAINFUL ENDING. IBIBIGAY KO 'YAN SA'YO."

Iyon lang ang nakasulat at tila naguluhan ako lalo. It's obviously a death threat unless some psychopath would put it there just for fun. So that sticker is meant to the one who's staying here. I doubt if it's Juliet. Magkasama sila ng kwarto ni Andrew. The suspect wants to kill the one who stays here but why did he or she killed Juliet? Ang gulo.

Isa pa, mahirap tukuyin kung kaninong penmanship ang sulat dahil puro capitalized. Kinuha ko ang sticker at inilagay sa bulsa ko.

"Do you brainstorm like this on every case? Parang sumasakit na ang ulo ko eh," Piolo commented. No one answered him. Dude, headache has always been a companion and I've got used to it.

Ang huling kwarto na pinasok namin ang kay Amanda. Her room is so much sassy that most girls would envy; except me of course. I could see piles of make-up kits on her table and a vanity mirror was beside her bed. Hindi katulad ng kwarto ni Kathy, mas makulay ang kwarto na ito. Lumapit ako sa drawer at binuksan ang mga iyon isa-isa. When I opened the last one, I saw a box. Malapad iyon at mukhang mamahalin. Kinuha ko iyon at tinawag sina Gray, Piolo at Ryu.

"Ano 'yan?" Tanong ni Gray. Nagkibit-balikat nalang ako kaysa sa sagutin siya ng prangka. Obviously, I don't know yet.

Nagulat kami pareho ni Piolo nang makita ang laman ng kahon na iyon. It contains different variations of knives. They were sharp and almost shining brightly dahil sa sobrang kintab. Parang inalagaan ng maayos. This thing could make Amanda a suspicious one.

I returned the box to where I got it and we left the room after observing it.

---

Mahigit kinse minuto na rin ang inilaan namin sa pag-iikot sa buong bahay. It wasn't huge at all. The second floor consists of rooms only. The first floor has the living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. Sa pinto banda ng kusina ay isang kwarto. When the housemaid passed by, she said that it's her room. Hindi na sana kami mag-aabalang pumasok pa pero nagpumilit si Ryu.

"Shouldn't we check this room too?"tugon niya. He glanced at us like he's stating through his eyes that we should do it by hook or by crook. "I get it that she's just a housemaid and she might not be the suspect but—"

"Stop it," I cut him off. Masyado na siyang insensitive, knowing that the housemaid was just in front of him. "Pwede po ba?" ibinaling ko ang tingin sa katulong.

Matamis siyang ngumiti at tumango. She doesn't seem affected by Ryu's sharp words. Siya pa mismo ang nagbukas 'non at iginiya kami sa loob. "Iwan ko na muna kayo rito. Aasikasuhin ko pa kasi ang mga bisita." Tumango kami bilang tugon at nag-obserba na sa kwarto.

It's just a simple room for a 50 year old woman. I don't know exactly her age but it seems like she's just in mid-50's just by looking at her hair and skin. Dalawang cabinet ang nasa sulok banda na siyang pinuntahan ni Gray. I disregarded him and went near Piolo who's sitting on the bed. I sat beside him without a word. Nakita kong nakatayo lang si Ryu sa isang banda habang ipinapalibot ang tingin sa kwarto.

"Sumasakit na ang ulo ko," hinilot ni Piolo ang sentido niya at humiga. I didn't response. "Why does this seem normal for you guys?" isang malalim na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan niya.

"Because it's as it is." Gray simply replied like he got the best answer. Napairap ako at tumayo. "There's only one room that's very suspicious." I stated.

Tatlong pares ng mata ang bumaling sa akin. "It was Amanda's."

Kumunot ang noo ni Gray. Well, we have different instincts Gray. "But I think it's the room only." I added.

"So you mean, the room is the only suspicious one, not the owner?" paglilinaw ni Piolo na parang interesado sa sinabi ko. I nodded at nagbuga siya ng mas lalong malalim na hininga. This case might have been giving him migraines already.

Sunod naming tinungo ang kusina. Normal lang ang ayos nito and I didn't bother to observe each equipments. Gray already took care of it. I opened the door nearby and a usual dirty kitchen welcomed me. Sa di kalayuan ay makikita ang isang backyard na hindi gaano kalinis. Naiwan rito ang isang grass shears na mukhang hindi na naibalik pa sa lalagyan.

After taking a look, we went out and prepared ourselves on the living room. Naroon na kasi ang mga police na katatapos lang i-interrogate ang mga primary suspect. They discussed it to us while the primary suspects were silently sitting.

Kathy Rojas. She's 22 years old and the youngest daughter of Rojas family. Base kay Kathy mismo, she idolize her elder sister so much for being a good author so she wants to become one too. So that explains the similarity of Juliet and Kathy's room. Siya ang unang nakakita sa bangkay ni Juliet. Siya rin yung babaeng nadatnan namin kanina na umiiyak. She said she was at her room before she went to her attic. Walang nasabing rason kung bakit siya pumunta roon sa attic so her alibi cannot be proven.

Next was Vincent Fernandez. He's 22 years old and a cousin of Andrew Fernandez. He's Kathy's boyfriend as also at dito siya nagsistay pansamantala. Nalaman ko rin na sa kwarto nina Andrew siya nakikitulog. During the incident, he's at the sofa watching random TV shows.

Andrew Fernandez. As what I've thought of earlier, mag-asawa sila ni Juliet. He's 26 years old at isang buwan pa lang ang nakalipas 'nong ikasal sila. He can't deny the fact that he and Juliet had a misunderstanding for 1 week already. Nasa kwarto lamang siya nang mangyari ang insidente. His alibi was proven dahil nakita siya mismo ng katulong nila 'nong pumunta sila sa attic dahil sa pagsigaw ni Kathy.

Mildred Zamora. Siya ang katulong ng pamilyang Rojas. She's 56 already and a widow. Nawala rin ang anak niya noong nakalipas na labinglimang taon at hindi niya na ito nahanap pa. Inilaan na nito ang buhay niya sa pamilyang Rojas. She was at the backyard habang pinuputol ang mga ligaw na damo. So that explains the grass shears out there. No one can confirm her alibi.

Last was Amanda Rojas. She's 25 years old. The police didn't take much of her background for some unknown reason. As what I've said earlier, she's not that suspicious but most suspects seems to be like it but who knows. Sa oras ng insidente ay nasa sariling kwarto rin siya at nagi-internet. Her alibi cannot be proven as also.

The victim is named Juliet Rojas-Fernandez. She's a famous author in England where she and Andrew met. Nagkaalitan sila ni Andrew ng mahigit isang linggo na, kaya siya ang nago-occupy sa guest room. That lessens my confusion now. Para sakaniya talaga ang death threat and not to someone else. Hindi rin nasabi ang sanhi ng alitan nila. Her cause of death was the four stabs right on her chest. Malalim raw ang pagkasaksak nito that caused her to die in just a short span of time.

"It's obviously Kathy." Matapang na pangunguna ni Amanda. Nagulat ang huli. Well, who wouldn't? It's your sister who blames you for killing your sister. Sino nga ba ang hindi magugulat?

Kathy hissed. "Why do you think?" Medyo naluluha niyang tugon. "How could I kill my own sister whom I idolize a lot?" she added.

"Simpleng pag-iidolo nga lang ba?" Amanda smirked. Hinayaan lang namin silang magsagutan. "Who knows that you really envy her na gusto mo na siyang lamangan. And of course, hindi iyon mangyayari! So you killed her, and then you can now sit on the throne."

She has a point. But there's no evidence that could prove that Kathy killed her sister.

"Amanda, h'wag kang ganyan sa kapatid mo," singit ni Mildred sa mainit na titigan ng magkapatid.

Napalingon sakaniya si Amanda. "Oh, isa ka pa," umismid siya at matalim na tinignan ang matanda. "You attempted to kill your daughter once, right? Kaya ka niya iniwan ng dahil doon. So how on earth is it impossible that you didn't kill my sister?"

"Amanda," Vincent stopped him. Shoot, siya nanaman ang susunod na pagbibintangan.

"And here's Vincent." I mentally face palmed. Sabi ko na nga ba. "Minsan ka nang nagkagusto kay Ate diba? Ginawa mo lang namang rebound si Kathy. I'm not even sure that you do love her."

Nagkatinginan si Vincent at Kathy sa isa't isa. Kathy's eyes were so sad. Masiyado siyang pinagtutulungan ng mga masasakit na salita ni Amanda. And speaking of, what about this mean girl?

"How about you?" Vincent spoke up like he had read my mind. "You even liked Andrew and I guess you still like him up until now. Hindi ka nga sumipot sa kasal nila because you despise Juliet right?"

What a fvcking concept.

Halos sabay sabay kaming lahat na napabuntong-hininga maliban sa lima. Masiyadong nakakawindang ang pangyayari.

Amanda raised her eyebrows. "I can't do such thing." She denied.

I felt the urge to ask. "Can you explain why you have those knives in your drawer?"

Nanlisik ang mga mata niya. You think I'll be afraid of those deathly glares? "What a b*tch! How dare you to intrude my room?! At pinakialaman mo pa ang gamit ko!"

I rolled my eyes. Masiyadong pikon eh nagtatanong lang naman ako. "Bakit? Takot ka bang malaman namin ha? Were you blaming them for us to think that you're purely innocent? Why can't you answer my question instead? Bakit may mga kutsilyo sa drawer mo?"

It took her seconds before she answered. "I-I...dreamed of killing people but I haven't done such thing ever since! Nangongolekta lang ako but I don't have the courage!" I stared at her. I can tell that she's telling the truth but that doesn't mean she's out from the suspect list.

Sandaling natahimik not until Ryu broke the silence among us.

"Isn't it unfair that you're putting blame to each other except this fella over here?" Ryu motioned Andrew who's nervously sitting between Kathy and Vincent. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako sa pagsingit ni Ryu but I opt to keep my poker face.

"I-I don't want to blame you Kuya pero ikaw yata ang may pinakamaraming motibo para patayin si Ate Juliet." Kathy stated. "She told me that you harassed her once after a month that you were officially a couple. H-hindi mo naman siguro 'yon magagawa diba?"

Andrew is still in the middle of trance. He shook his head slowly but later on, it went fast and he started shouting like a mad man. "I didn't kill her! I didn't!" Paulit-ulit niyang sabi.

It was like a live action show we're watching. The police were silent as they're still roaming around the house. Hindi ko napansin ang mga forensic scientists na siyang dinadala na rin ang bangkay ni Juliet.

Napansin kong tahimik si Gray habang si Piolo naman ay parang pagod na nakasandal sa pang-isahang couch. Halos nakahiga na siya roon at nakapikit lang. That guy isn't used to getting into nerve-racking sessions, obviously.

"Ryu." Gray called out. My forehead creased. "Are you thinking what I am thinking?"

Nagpabalik balik ang tingin ko sa dalawa. "I can kill but I don't read minds moron." Pabulong na tugon niya na hindi ikinainis ni Gray. Wow.

Tumayo si Gray at naglakad nang pabalik-balik sa gitna ng mga primary suspects. He stopped in front of Andrew. "Mr. Fernandez." Agaw niya sa atensyon nito. "May I know the reason of the misunderstanding between you and Mrs. Juliet?"

Andrew was trembling as he looked at Gray. Sa kanilang lahat, siya ang may kakaibang kinikilos. Is that why Gray chose to ask Andrew first than anyone? Ugh, whatever.

"W-w-we..." Mahina niyang bulong. Lumapit ng kaunti si Gray at siya na mismo ang nag-adjust. "M-me and...m-my wife..." Napahilamos siya sa mukha at umayos ng upo.

"We broke up three weeks after our engagement." He stated that put everyone into shock. Hindi halata sa mukha ni Amanda pero ang pagpalit niya bigla ng posisyon ang senyales ng pagkabigla niya. "Itinuloy pa rin namin ang kasal dahil nakahanda na ang lahat and we don't want to make an issue since she's famous." Mukhang nabalik na siya sa huwisyo dahil diretso na ang pagkakasalita niya.

Nagpatuloy siya. "I have a girlfriend and we meet very often. She badly wants me to break up with my wife but I couldn't find a way."

What the.

"Nalaman 'yon ni Juliet at gusto niya na rin makipaghiwalay sa akin but I couldn't let her go as also. I love them both," Napayuko siya.

"What the effing fvck! Isa ka palang malaking g*go eh!" Galit na singhal ni Amanda.

Hindi ko alam kung para saan siya nagagalit. I mean, it fuels the anger of me knowing that this guy over here loved two woman at a time pero napapaisip ako kung si Amanda ba ang girlfriend na tinutukoy ni Andrew. Tapos nagalit siya nang malaman na mahal pala ni Andrew silang dalawa.

It could be.

"It's not Amanda," he clarified. I know that most of us think the same way. "It is someone that we met in England. Kaibigan siya ni Juliet." Napalabi siya at ginulo ang sariling buhok.

Napatango lang si Gray at naglakad ulit. He stopped in front of Amanda. "Do you hold a grudge towards Mrs. Juliet?" He asked bluntly.

"There's no point of denying. I hate her ever since. She has more potential on almost everything. I admit I liked that dolt over there but I can't even have him before! Just like what the fvck?! Gano'n ba ako kamalas?"

Parang hindi naman interesado si Gray sa naging sagot nito. They both spoke bluntly towards each other anyway.

Sunod niyang hinarap si Mildred. I guess, Gray once dreamed of being an interrogator? But he gave up and blablabla, what am I thinking? "Was it true that you attempted to kill your own daughter?"

Napayuko ang katulong at nag-angat muli ng tingin. Her eyes are now full of sadness. "Oo, dahil sinisi ko siya sa pagkamatay ng asawa ko. Alam kong wala siyang kasalanan pero gusto ko lang maglabas ng hinanakit at galit. Kaya sa sarili kong anak naibunton ang lahat ng emosyon ko." She started to weep.

"Do you know how to speak English?" Napatingin ako kay Gray. His question was very random. Lumingon siya sa akin at ang nagtatakang tingin ang ibinigay ko sakaniya. He just shrugged and focused again on Mildred.

"Nakakaintindi ako ng kaunti pero hindi ako marunong magsalita gamit ang lenggwahe na 'yan." Tumango lang si Gray at umupo na ulit. How about the remaining two?

"Ask them Amber." Utos niya sa akin. I unbelievably stared at him. Nakita ko sa isang banda si Piolo na umayos ng upo. He gave me a thumbs up but I ignored it.

"Kathy." Napalingon sa akin si Kathy at pilit na ngumiti. Nah, she doesn't have to fake a smile on me because I don't value a smile whether it's genuine or whatsoever.

"Normal sa magkapatid ang mag-away. When was the last time na nag-away kayo?" I don't have any questions in my mind. I'm just doing my part here.

Napaisip siya saglit. "It was a year ago when I tried to steal her story draft."

"How do you see Amanda when she was still a student?" tanong ko. I now get why Gray asked a horrible and random question.

They all gave me puzzled expressions, especially Gray. Well, now you feel my pain dude.

"She's a mess when it comes to academic things. She can't perfect an exam especially on Filipino and Mathematics."

Confirmed. Sunod kong hinarap si Vincent. Ano nga bang maitatanong ko sa taong 'to? "Do you still like Juliet?"

"No. That was before. Matagal na 'yon at si Kathy na ang mahal ko." Diretsahan niyang sagot.

I admit it was a cringe but I fought the urge to roll my eyes and grimace. "Minsan ka na bang nagalit kay Juliet?"

Sandali siyang napaisip. "I think there were times pero tampo lang siguro. Juliet was very kind to me and to everyone."

"Tss." I heard Amanda hissed pero hindi ko siya pinansin. Umupo na ako sa inupuan ko kanina at inayos ang pantaloon kong medyo nakunot.

"Can you start your deduction show already? Nakakaantok na masiyado." Piolo nagged.

Speaking of, I can't tell who the culprit is. Naguguluhan ako dahil pakiramdam ko, lahat sila ay may motibo para patayin si Juliet; even Vincent who seems the most innocent among the five. Malay natin may kinikimkim na galit siya kay Juliet, diba?

But I have one person in mind. The thing is, I can't be certain with it dahil wala akong ebidensya.

"The culprit is someone who knows exactly every corner around this house." Panimula ni Gray. Tumango ako sa pagsang-ayon.

Kung lalabas ka ng attic, walang ibang madadaanan maliban sa hindi kataasang hagdan at pathway mismo kung saan nakahilera ang mga kwarto. Kung tutuusin, dapat erased na sa listahan sina Andrew at Vincent pero may possibility pa rin that in a short span of time, napag-aralan na nila ang pasikut-sikot sa bahay na'to.

Busy pa rin ang mga police sa paghahanap ng clue. Ang iba ay nakikinig sa amin. Nakakapagtaka na hindi man lang sila sumisingit.

"I found this from the attic," lumapit ang isang binatilyong police sa amin. Ipinakita niya ang punit na tela na nakalagay sa zip bag. Medyo faint blue iyon at napatingin ako sa lima. Wala man lang nakasuot ng ganoong damit.

"The victim must have held onto the culprit's clothes tightly that it ripped that much." Piolo commented. I thought he's not interested with this?

Gray disagreed. "Nope, the victim is giving us a clue." Nagtataka kaming tumitig sakaniya. "That cloth is from her shirt."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Manipis lang ang shirt ng biktima and it is long-sleeved. According to my photographic memory, may punit ang kanang bahagi ng sleeves." Pagpapaliwanag niya.

It enlightened me a little. But one question remained in my mind but Piolo asked it before I do. "So she came up with a thought na ang pumasok sa attic ay papatay sakaniya? Kaya nakakuha siya ng tiyansa na mapunit ang tela na'to?" He pointed at the ziploc bag.

Gray smirked. "It's just a simple arithmetic. Just think like the culprit. Wouldn't you threaten your victim when you'll kill her inside a house knowing that there are people nearby?" He pursed his lips. "There's always this instinct that people will shout when he or she's in danger."

"But not all people have that instinct you are saying." I blurted out.

"Exactly," he snapped his fingers. "I saw anti-depressants at the guest room and Andrew's room earlier. Walang ibang gagamit 'non kundi si Mrs. Juliet since she's the only one who stayed at both rooms."

Tumayo siya at naglakad ng pabalik-balik sa sala. "I saw several cuts from her wrist meaning she attempted to end her life."

"What are you pointing out?" Tanong ni Amanda.

Gray gave her a smirk. Great, nahahawa na ba siya kay Ryu? "Instead of shouting and getting everyone's attention, she let the culprit kill her. She badly wants to end her life but there must be something that stops her," he gave a quick glance to Andrew. "She wants to meet her fate but she wants to justify her death. Mrs. Juliet is surely a logical person."

"Sigurado ka ba sa pinagsasasabi mo?" Tanong ni Mildred.

Tinanguan siya ni Gray. "Yes. You can check the rooms I've mentioned. You'll see anti-depressants there."

Naiintindihan ko ang pino-point out ni Gray. So that explains why the victim was silent during the incident. Napatayo ako bigla nang maalala ko ang isang bagay.

"The notebook!" I exclaimed. Napatingin silang lahat sa akin. Awkward. Tinanong ko ang mga police kung nasaan iyon at ibinigay naman nila kaagad iyon. It's also kept in a ziploc bag.

Pilit kong inaaninag ang nakasulat doon. Blood is all over the notebook but I could see the faint writings on it. Hindi ko nga lang malaman kung ano kaya ipinatingin ko sa mga kasama ko.

"He?" Patanong na sabi ni Piolo na nakitingin sa notebook. "Does it mean that the culprit is a boy?"

Agad kong binawi ang notebook mula kay Ryu at tinignan rin 'yon. A groovy he' was written. Now that someone said it, I could read it now.

"Sayang. My hunch is almost right. I thought he's a she!" Piolo stated. "Wala talaga akong pag-asa na maging detective. I hate your job."

Napailing kami ni Gray while Ryu kept his mouth shut. The primary suspects were silent. They're all nervous as I could sense it from their appearance.

This won't end if no one will start it. "Did you notice something from the attic?" I glanced at them.

They all shook their heads. "I saw a small opening from the floor. Was that a secret passage Kathy?" Tila nagulat si Kathy sa biglaang tanong ko sakaniya.

She nodded. "Yes but I never used that one before. M-my mother said when I was younger that we're prohibited to use that passage."

"Hindi mo alam kung saan ang patungo 'non?" Umiling siya bilang pagtugon.

"Wala ring may alam sa inyo?" Baling ko sa apat. Umiling silang lahat. Obviously, there's one person who lied. The attic's floor is full of dust and the footprints lead to that secret passage and I'm sure that the culprit made his or her way with that.

Piolo volunteered to check the passage so we let him. I saw someone from my peripheral vision that swallowed secretly. I smirked. I'm right with my hunch but I just can't be certain.

"Judging from the four consecutive stabs, the culprit has a very deep hatred towards the victim." Gray concluded. "Right, Amanda?"

"What the hell are you saying? I said I didn't kill her!" She defended.

Napangisi si Gray. "Easy there, I'm not saying that you did it." Napahinga ng malalim si Amanda at inis na umayos ng upo.

Ryu spoke up. "About the death threat," he glanced at me. Nakuha ko ang ibig niyang sabihin kaya kinuha ko ang sticker sa bulsa ko. "It's not the culprit who sent this to the victim."

Yes, I think so too. "It's Kathy." I continued. Napaawang ang bibig ni Amanda at Vincent.

"You're blaming me too much. How could so say so?" She was trembling when she asked those.

"You said Amanda is a messed up student. Mildred couldn't speak English. Sa paraan ng pagsulat ng death threat, it is well-punctuated and there's only one person who knows how to deal with it. At ikaw yun, Kathy." Oh well, I know that my reasons are not enough.

"How about Vincent and Andrew?" Pagpupuna niya. "Who knows if Amanda can punctuate well or if Mildred could speak English?" The tears from her eyes started to swell up.

We kept our blank stares to her. She suddenly burst out. "Alright! I was the one sent her that godd*mn death threat! I really want to kill her today that's why I came to the attic because I knew she would be there! Pero nabulilyaso ang plano ko dahil may isang kontrabida ang nauna! Are you happy now? Huh?!" she cried upon her seat but no one bothered to console her. Pati ang katabi niya na si Andrew ay hindi man lang siya nilingon.

Shoot. I knew it's her. I was once a member of Repertory Club and I know who's faking an expression or not. But not all the times, I could guess.

Nabaling ang atensiyon namin kay Piolo na kagagaling lang sa kusina. Confusions were whole lot solved when that scenario happened. There's no doubt.

I smirked, no, scratch that, we all smirked. "Mildred is the culprit. She's the one who killed Mrs. Juliet Rojas-Fernandez." I clarified which made everyone to shock, even Andrew who's always on his trance.

"P-p-paano...?" Amanda stuttered. "I know I blamed her but h-how?"

Gray faced Mildred whose eyes were widely open. I could see sweat all over her face as her chest keeps on rising up and down. "Let me tell you how you killed Mrs. Juliet."

"You were trimming some grasses at the backyard and you knew what Mrs. Juliet will do at that hour. Kaya mo siya sinundan diba? Hindi natin alam kung anong ginagawa niya roon." He shrugged his shoulders. "You entered the room with a knife on your hand." He drew a knife on the air.

"Paano mo nasabing kutsilyo ang ginamit niya? It could be something sharp other than a knife." Vincent asked.

"Well, a collector's knife out there at the kitchen misses one." I should have bothered to check that earlier. "The letter on the notebook was supposed to be HELP. We thought it's just a simple HE and an apostrophe but Mildred stole the ballpen before Mrs. Juliet could complete the word." He explained.

May dumating na isang police at inilagay ang duguang kutsilyo sa lamesa. Gaya ng iba ay nakalagay ito sa ziploc bag.

"Your footsteps could match the ones I saw on the attic." Napatingin silang lahat sa paanan ni Mildred. I wonder why no one calls her honorifics, even me. "Where did the secret passage led you Piolo?" Bumaling ako sakaniya.

"To the backyard." He answered.

"You rushed there leaving the passage door slightly opened. Too bad dahil napansin ko 'yon." I tucked my hair behind my ear. "I don't know how it happened that you killed Juliet first before Kathy could pero itinadhana nga yata na ikaw ang papatay sa amo mo."

"According to the interrogation, it was ten minutes before Kathy saw the corpse. You must have enough time to change your clothes right?" Ryu interfered. "The clue that the victim left means it is the culprit's favorite color. I noticed that all of your things were faint blue, even the walls and doors. I wonder where you put the shirt you wore when you killed the victim." I admit, I'm a bit impressed by Ryu's deduction like hey, it's his 'hospitality' that brought him here and he didn't even want to be a detective.

May kinuha siya sa bulsa. "After Kathy shouted, you hurriedly ran to the attic with the rest of these fellas out here. You dropped this ballpen, right?" Iwinagayway niya ang ballpen. Duguan rin ito gaya ng kutsilyo. "What a dumb, bakit hindi mo man lang 'to iniwan? Nahulog mo pa tuloy," inihagis niya iyon sa lamesa.

"One last thing!" Pahabol ni Piolo. "You kept on reasoning that you'll accompany the visitors. Ni hindi ko malaman if in what way you accompanied them. Police could work by themselves even without your assistance. If you're saying you're giving them some snacks or whatever, nasaan ang ma iyon? Nakita niyo ba siyang naghanda ng pagkain?" Lingon niya s apat at umiling ang mga ito. "You must have used that reason to conceal the remaining traces of your crime. Malas nga lang at nalaman pa rin namin kung sino ang may gawa." Wow, Piolo got a point out there. His migraine is still worth it anyway.

The housemaid started to weep. "Akala ko magtatagumpay na ako," humingos siya at umayos ng upo. "Dapat pala hindi ko kayo minaliit. Napunto niyo lahat maliban sa isang bagay."

Napakunot-noo kaming lahat. "Ako ang pumunit mismo ng tela. Matigas kasi ang ulo ng g*ga at nakikipaghilaan pa ng kutsilyo sa akin. Buti na nga lang, damit lang ang napunit at hindi ang kamay niya," she evilly laughed.

"She's insane." Piolo commented. Yeah, right.

"Nagpapaka-anghel lang ako sa pamilya niyo pero simula noong mawala ang anak ko, gusto ko nang sirain kayo isa-isa. Kayo lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit ako nawalan ng oras sa pamilya ko kaya namatay ang asawa ko, nadamay ko pa ang anak ko! Kaso kakasimula ko pa nga lang, sinira na agad ng limang 'to ang matagal ko nang pinagplanuhan!" Nanlilisik ang mga mata na bumaling siya sa amin.

She confessed her crime and the police handcuffed her. Nakita namin ang mapanghusgang tingin ng mga residente sakaniya paglabas. Nakayuko lamang ang katulong habang naglalakad patungo sa police car.

Vincent thanked us since no one don't have the guts to extend gratitude except him. The police also thanked us and we went our way outside the house. Naihatid namin si Piolo sakanila ngunit hindi na kami nagtagal doon. "Thanks for today Gray," he winked at me as he said those and he just nodded at Ryu.

Napairap ako at nanguna na sa sasakyan ni Ryu. "Hospitality." I teased him but he just gave me a deathly glare before pressing the key fob.

He dropped us at the café where I and Gray met hours ago. I was about to walk away so that I could go home and take some rest but Gray blocked my way. He sheepishly grinned. "What about a date? My treat."

I glanced at my wristwatch. It's already quarter to 5 pm. Tatanggi na sana ako pero hinila na agad ako ni Gray at iginiya papasok sa café. Here I come again for an invitation I didn't sign up.

Well, Silvan, a date it is.