Bound by Madness

by @Chit_Soul or Lorien Soul

Timeline: Detective Files 1

Nag-uumpisa na 'kong mainip dito sa kinauupuan ko lalo pa't mahigit isang oras na kaming naghihintay sa pagdating ni Khael. Namalayan ko na nga lang kanina na hatak-hatak na pala ako ni Gray palabas ng eskwelahan dahil daw sa makikipagkita kami kay Khael para kuhain ang ibang papeles na hindi ko alam kung para saan at dahil saktong wala ang gwardya ng Bridle High ay malaya kaming nakalabas. Magsasalita na sana ako para tanungin si Gray tungkol kay Khael nang hablutin na naman niya ang kanan kong kamay paalis dito sa foodcourt na pinag-aantayan namin at kahit anong pilit kong hatak-pabalik ng kamay ko ay hindi ko magawa.

"Where are we going?" tanong ko matapos sumuko sa paghatak niya. Pababa na kami sakay ng escalator pero pansin ko na ang mukha ni Gray ay hindi maipinta.

What happened to Khael? Where is he by this time?

Sa pagkakakilala ko kay Khael ay hindi siya gan'to. Lagi siyang tumutupad sa usapan, but now?

"Something is not right," wika ni Gray. He's right. Something is wrong and Khael might be in trouble now. Kilala ni Gray ang kanyang best buddy higit pa sa pagkakakilala ko. But what kind of trouble is he in?

Sana'y wala siya sa kapahamakan. O kaya'y sana nama'y sabihan niya kami ni Gray kung anong nangyari. We will surely understand him but if his reason is invalid, ah, I will curse him instead.

"Mam Melencio is there!" pabulong kong sigaw kay Gray. Not that I am really panicking but I am worried that she will see us and report us to the school at kung sakali ay magko-community service kami. She is our teacher in English and for sure she knew that we were absent for some reason but if she would see us here, malalaman niya na nag-cut lang kami ng klase. I just don't want to be punished by community service, that's all.

Sinabihan kong tumalikod si Gray pero hindi niya ginawa. Para bang ang lalim ng iniisip niya at panigurado na ang unggoy na si Khael ang iniisip niya kaya naman ako na lang ang nagtalikod sa kanya para hindi kami makita. Nang makalabas si Mam ay hinatak ko na rin si Gray palabas. I turned to look left and right to seek for our teacher and saw her walking to the right. I grab Gray's hand na hanggang ngayon ay tahimik pa rin at tinahak ang daan pasalungat sa dinadaanan ng guro namin.

I was supposed to give one last glance to our teacher but I witnessed different thing. A thief was trying to snatch her bag and Mam Melencio keeps on pulling her bag away from the thief. I immediately run to her at sinipa sa sikmura ang magnanakaw causing him to fall on the ground. Gray arrived and pinned the thief to the cement. Agad kong tinawag ang guwardya ng mall na nasa malapit lang upang sumaklolo. Siya na ang nagsuot ng handcuff sa lalaki.

Mabuti na rin na hindi nagkapaglabas ng patalim ang lalaki kaya hindi kami napahamak.

"Ayos ka lang po ba, Ma'am?" tinulungan ko siyang tumayo at ngumiti naman siya sa akin.

"Thanks for helping me Ms. Sison," bumaling siya kay Gray, "and Mr. Silvan. If you guys didn't come, that guy could possible gotten my money which will be used for the tuition of my daughter. I'm really thankful you're here."

Paniguradong tataas na naman ang confidence ni Gray pero dahil yata sa bumabagabag sa kanya ay hindi niya na nabigyan pansin iyon.

A wary silence passed us before we could answer. "You're welcome, Ma'am."

"Anyway," oh no! The way she looks at us seems like she knew what we've done, "what are you going here? Aren't you two supposed to be at the school and continue your class?"

I looked at Gray and he is now giving her a sweet smile. Tss, is he trying to use his charm at an old woman? Really?

"Actually Ma'am, our club president told us to buy some things in the mall kaya po kami nandito," sagot nito. "Kayo po Ma'am?"

"Ah, nag-withdraw lang ako. Wait, kaklase niyo si Valeria hindi ba?" tumango kami sa kanya. "She is absent for days and I need to talk to her. She wasn't going to her dorm at ang sabi pa ng bantay ay isang linggo na raw na hindi roon umuuwi si Valeria. Maybe you guys know where she lives?"

Sa pagkakaalala ko ay minsan ko nang napuntahan ang bahay niya para no'n sa gagawin naming activity.

Nag-commute kami at bumaba sa Ann ville subdivision. Naglakad ng kaunti hanggang sa tumapat kami sa isang dalawang palapag na bahay. The place was gloomy. We tried calling our classmate's name but she isn't replying and when we pushed the gate, trying to enter, it's open. Their gate wasn't locked!

"No! Get off of me! You- help! Ah!" and the shouts were filled with loud cry.

Someone is in danger!

Tinakbo namin ang distansya mula sa gate patungo sa pinto ng first floor at mula sa pwesto namin ay nakita namin ang kaklase namin na nanglalaban sa isang lalaki. Gray rushed to the guy and shoved him away from the girl why I distant the girl from them.

The man keeps on freeing himself from Gray. Napakasama ng tingin niya sa babaeng katabi ko na umiiyak. "I told you that I didn't kill your parents!"

Wait, what?! A murder not a rape accusation?

"Tingin mo ba'y maniniwala ako sa'yo?! Ikaw lang naman ang tanging may galit kila Mommy at Daddy dahil sa binawi nila ang shares sa company mo! And what happened?! Your company almost reach its downfall but you think that it's unfair for you to suffer in such agony so you decided to kill my parents! YOU'RE A MURDERER! YOU HAVE NO HEART! MERCILESS CREATURE!"

"Wait, can someone explain what's going on here Ms. Valeria?" tanong ni Mam Melencio. "Bakit mo siya sinasaktan kanina, Sir?" baling nito sa lalaki at tuminging muli sa kanyang estudyante. "At bakit mo siya pinagbibintangang mamatay-tao, Gomez?"

I roamed my eyes around the place at napansin ang medyo magulong mga gamit. From here, I spotted the entrance of the kitchen with blood scattered on the floor. Blood? Murderer?

Umalis ako sa tabi ni Valeria and I headed to kitchen. I was taken aback of my steps when I saw two people lying on the ground, a man and a woman. "Call a police now!"

Nakatihaya sila pareho pero ang babae ay may nakatarak na kutsilyo sa kanan niyang ribs samantalang ang lalaki na malapit sa upuan ay mukha lamang natutulog habang nakahiga. I went near him to check his pulse but it's not beating anymore. Aside from it, I can smell almonds from him. He was poisoned by cyanide at marahil ay dahil ito sa ininom niya! The broken mug beside him is a proof.

"This is a murder. Two people are dead and no one from the two of you should get out of this house!" I exclaimed.

Naging agresibo ang kaklase namin. "Siya! Siya ang pumatay sa mga magulang ko!" galit na galit si Valeria habang tinuturo ang lalaki at muntik niya na itong dambahin mabuti't napigilan siya ng guro. Maya-maya pa'y narinig na namin ang tunog ng sasakyan ng pulis.

I told them about the murdered people in the kitchen which they immediately blocked by the cordon. Dumating na rin si Inspector Dean upang tumulong sa pag-iimbestiga.

"What a coincidence Silvan. Usually ay ako muna ang magpapatawag sa'yo para pumunta ka rito pero mukhang hindi na kailangan," saad ni Inspector Dean at tumingin sa akin. "And you brought your girl. Hope you can help us solve this crime."

Ngumiti lang ng tipid si Gray at naglibot na ng tingin. Tumango lang ako kay Inspector bago umalis para maghanap ng ebidensya.

Valeria and Mr. Sales, the man earlier, are now sitting on a couch, with a large space in between them. Napakasama ng tingin ng una sa huli.

Nabuksan na ang mga ilaw kaya lumiwanag na sa kinaroroonan namin. Mr. Dave Gomez, Valeria's father, has taken cyanide while her wife, Mrs. Clarissa Gomez got multiple stabbed after siyang paamuyin ng pampatulog. Natamaan ang baga niya na naging sanhi ng agaran niyang pagkamatay. Their time of death was 4-6 pm.

The mug doesn't have fingerprints of another person. Tanging sa napatay na lalaki lamang ang naroon. The handkerchief with chloroform doesn't have fingerprints, too and even the knife used for the woman. The criminal must have used gloves but right now, it is nowhere to be found.

A young guy came to us, rushing to Valeria. "Babe, are you okay?!"

"Siya!" ang pagsigaw ni Mr. Sales ang gumulat sa amin. He is pointing his finger to the new guy na napaatras sa takot dahil sa inasta ng matanda. "Siya ang naabutan ko bago mo ako nakitang nandito! Siya ang sisihin mo! He was here before me at posibleng siya ang pumatay sa mga magulang mo!" baling nito kay Valeria. "I didn't do anything, you brat! Don't blame me the death of your parents!"

Todo tanggi naman ang lalaki. Mukha itong anghel at kung iisipin ng iba'y imposible na makagawa siya ng krimen pero 'ika nga, mapanlinlang ang itsura.

For now, we have three primary suspects. Ang una ay si Benjamin Soriano, the boyfriend of Valeria. He arrived by 4:30 here to fetch his girlfriend for their date. Nasa labas lang siya ng gate sa takot na makita siya ng mag-asawang Gomez at muling pagbantaan ang buhay niya. Ang sabi pa niya ay ayaw daw sa kanya ng mga magulang ni Valeria kaya wala siyang ibang magawa kundi magtiis para sa kasintahan. But by 5 o' clock ay wala pa rin si Valeria. Hindi rin daw ito nag-reply sa text niya na nagtatanong kung nasaan siya. So he decided to go home pero bago iyon ay nakita siya ng negosyante na nagtanong kung may tao ba sa loob. Umalis na si Benjamin pagkatapos niyang sabihin na hindi niya alam.

Mr. Raymond Sales owns a pharmaceutical company na dati ay tinulungan ng mag-asawang napatay but then the couple pulled out their stock which was the cause of the company's downfall. Pumunta siya para makiusap sa kaibigan niyang mag-asawa na ibalik ang stocks upang hindi tuluyang malugi ang kanyang kompanya. Maya-maya pa raw ay dumating ang anak ng dalawa at niyaya siyang mag-tsaa muna and that is when he heard a scream. The scream came from Valeria who became hysterical when she saw her parents. At 'yon na ang naabutan namin na pinagbibintangan na ni Valeria ang matandang lalaki. Valeria Gomez, the daughter of the killed persons, told us that she came from a drug store to buy her father's medicine at nang dumating siya ay ang malamig na bangkay na lang daw ng magulang niya ang naabutan.

Naramdaman ko ang presensya ni Gray sa tabi ko. He was closely observing the behaviors of the suspects. "Did you already find out something?"

"Only that their alibis can't be proven. Walang makapagpatunay na nasa labas nga lang si Benjamin para mag-hintay kay Valeria. He could possibly went inside and kill them and then he went outside to act like he didn't do anything," sagot ko. "Kung iisipin ay may dahilan siya para patayin ang mag-asawa. He mentioned earlier that he was threatened by them."

Tumango si Gray at patuloy na tumingin sa paligid. "Or pwedeng mismong si Mr. Sales ang pumatay. He said that minutes after he arrived here ay dumating na rin si Valeria. May oras siya para patayin ang mag-asawa dahil wala namang ibang taong makakakita sa kanya. Maaring ginamit niya ang maikling oras para isagawa ang krimen."

Yeah, he's right. Besides, dalawang tao ang pinatay. Hindi ganoong kadaling mapatay ang isang tao lalo na kung manlalaban ang mga ito. Only a guy could have the strength to do such.

"But Gray, we can not eliminate the chance that the very first person who discovered the murdered people could also be the killer," I commented at tiningnan si Valeria. She seems so worried and she keeps on looking around.

Hindi lang siya ang may kahina-hinalang kilos. Ang kanyang boyfriend na si Benjamin ay nakatulala lang sa kawalan samantalang si Mr. Sales ay may kausap sa phone at parang hindi mapakali.

"Pero kung iisipin ay nauna si Mr. Sales dito bago siya," he answered. Dumiretso kami sa labas ng kusina at nagmasid.

"Just saying what is possible," sagot ko. "Pwedeng matapos niyang patayin ang mga magulang niya ay dumaan siya sa isa pang pinto na patungo sa labas," tinuro ko ang isa pang pinto na katabi ng refrigerator. Lumusot kami sa hinarang ng mga pulis at sinubukan ang pintuan. Tama nga ako na palabas na ito ng bahay nila.

Bumalik ako sa sala kung saan nakapwesto ang tatlo. "May nalaman na ba kayo Amber?" nakalimutan kong kasama nga pala namin ngayon si Ma'am Melencio.

Tumingin ako sa kanya at umiling. "Wala pa po, Ma'am." Hinarap ko silang tatlo.

"I love my parents so much," napalingon kami kay Valeria ng bigla na lang siyang magsalita. "I love them so much that it breaks my heart after what happened. Kahit pa na sinasabihan nila ako ng masasakit na salita, tanggap ko dahil alam ko naman na para 'yon sa kapakanan ko. Kahit na madalas ay nauuna nila ang pera kaysa sa sarili nilang anak ay ayos lang dahil ginagawa naman nila ang pagsisipag na 'yon para sa akin. Kahit na minsan ay hindi sila pumapayag sa mga desisyon na ginagawa ko ay sinasang-ayunan ko dahil alam kong nais lang nila na mapunta ako sa maayos na kalagayan. Kahit na minsan ay hindi na nila naibibigay ang kalingang kailangan ko dahil sa sobrang wala na silang oras."

Inalo si Valeria ng aming guro at kanyang boyfriend. Naging kalmado naman na si Mr. Sales habang ako ay patuloy pa rin na naghahanap ng ebidensya hanggang sa dumako ang tingin ko sa bagay na isa sa makakatulong. Naglibot pa ulit ako sa buong bahay at may nakita pa ulit na ebidensya.

Agad kong pinuntahan si Gray na papalapit na rin pala sa akin. He has this sly smile which he doesn't usually present. He might have displayed off his victorius smile but maybe because of Khael, he doesn't have the feeling of doing so.

"May nalaman ka ba?" tanong ko habang naglalakad kami pabalik sa pwesto ng mga primary suspects.

"I already know who the killer is," he said calmly, looking at the three person in front of us. We caught the attention of everyone. The suspects, especially, got their pale faces and nervousness is obvious to them. "The three of you have reasons to kill the Gomez. Sales might have planted hatred on his heart because of what they did to his company. Soriano might also hold grudge to the couple because of their repetitive threats and lastly, Valeria. If we will think about it, the killer has the least reason to do such crime but we all have limits and that person reached her limit."

"Her?" lahat kami ay tumingin kay Valeria at lalo siyang namutla. "You mean Valeria Gomez? Their daughter? Why would she?"

Tumingin naman siya sa amin. "A-ako? Pa-paanong ako? I told you that I went to a drug store so how could I kill my parents?"

"Benjamin was outside waiting for you and he said that he texted you but you didn't reply. It's because by that time, you are already starting to do your crime," Gray answered and glanced at the young guy. "They were dead by 4-6 pm and your family schedule of eating merienda is 4. So your mother went to your kitchen by 3 to prepare for your foods. While she is busy preparing, you made coffee for your father who was inside the study room. An evidence that he was there was his open laptop with a file left. Pinainom mo siya ng kape na may cyanide pero hindi iyon pinagdudahan ng ama mo na marahil ay natuwa pa dahil iyon ang kauna-unahang beses na nagtimpla ka ng kape para sa kanya."

"But you don't have an evidence! There are no fingerprints detected so that means that I probably used gloves but you haven't find a glove!" namumula na siya habang sumisigaw at si Gray naman ay nakatingin lang.

"You didn't use gloves for that part, Valeria," I answered. "You used your bare hands in preparing the coffee and bringing it to him. Of course you were not able to use gloves because your father will surely wonder why you're wearing those while you are inside the house. You can't reason out that it's for your assignment because you are one week absent and even if you'll tell us that it is for that assignment, you can't fool us because if someone told you our assignments, using gloves wasn't part of it. Going back to the topic, when your father was already poisoned, you wiped the mug with your white shirt at dahil nga sa hindi ka sanay magtimpla ng kape ay may bahid din ng kape ang damit mo. Kape na posibleng natapon sa gilid nito mismo habang naghahalo ka no'n. Then, it's your chance to use gloves and mark the mug with your father's fingerprint."

"Let us see the lower part of your shirt," Gray demanded. To prove herself not guilty, she slowly raised the hem of her shirt and we see the remnants of dried spilled coffee.

"I got this when I was painting a scenery!" she reasoned out but instead of listening, Gray continued his deductions.

"When you were done to your father, you do it next to your mother. You stabbed her multiple times after she lost conciousness."

"Paano ko naman magagawa 'yon?! Atsaka, sinong tao naman ang papayag na mapatay?! Kung ako ang gagawa non, malamang ay manlalaban siya pero mukha bang sa ayos ko na 'to ay may nanlaban sa akin?! "

Hindi ba't ang dapat na unang sasabihin ng taong inosente ay ang dahilan kung bakit imposible niyang magawa ang krimen na 'yon? In her case, she really sounded guilty.

"Yeah, who person would let herself be killed? Actually, she didn't let herself be killed. She just trusted that you would not do it to her. You could make her sleep for a short period of time. You could have asked her to smell your handkerchief and tell if it's fragrant or not. Because she is your mother, she will really smell it and you having the motive of killing her, you pressed it to her until she lost her conciousness. You stabbed her and there are no fingerprints found because you used the same glove you used on the mug. The idea is absurd but you as a 17 years old girl could not think of any difficult plan to do the crime so it is possible."

"And there is an evidence in your shirt again. The bloodstains of your mother while you were stabbing her," I added. "Hinila mo naman ang tatay mo mula sa study room niya papunta sa kusina at pinosisyon ito na para bang nahulog mula sa kinauupuan niya gayundin ang baso but fortunately, you didn't do it well."

Dumating si Inspector Dean dala-dala ang pares ng gloves na nasa loob ng zip lock.

"We found this in a pot. Madali naming nakita dahil may mga lupa pang nakakalat sa pinagtaniman nito."

We asked Valeria to show her hand, too and there we saw soil na naiwan sa kuko niya. Tuluyan nang nawalan ng kulay ang mukha ni Valeria. Nag-umpisa na siyang umiyak habang paulit-ulit na humihingi ng tawad.

"I guess we don't need to ask for the footage of the drugstore she mentioned because right from the start, she didn't go out of this house," Inspector Dean said. "Great job Silvan and Amber."

Nakahanda na ang mga pulis para hulihin ang totoong pumatay nang mas lumakas ang paghagulgol nito at nagsimulang magsalita.

"Napakaliit na halaga lang naman ang hinihingi ko. P 30, 000 lang naman para makabili ng bagong laptop pero ano?! Ayaw nila akong bigyan dahil daw sa tanga-tanga naman ako at wala ring magiging silbi ang laptop! Kakapilit ko sa kanila nang nakaraang linggo ay nagalit sila at hindi ako pinapasok! Sa tuwing aalis sila ay walang pagkaing maiiwan at kahit gustuhin ko mang kumain ay wala akong perang pambili dahil kinuha nila lahat ng pera sa akin! Kahapon, kahapon lang ako nakakain ng maayos."

"Lagi naman akong walang silbi sa kanila! I am always dumb, stupid, imbecile, the black sheep! Ako, ako na lang lagi ang malas para sa kanila! I-I accepted those words 'cause I know that I ain't really smart like you Amber and Gray," she said while sobbing. "I-I ain't an ideal child and I accept it. Pero ano na naman? Hindi pa sila nakuntento at sinaktan nila ako! They also accused me of being bitch for having a boyfriend at this young age! What the hell, right?! Kung makatawag sila sa akin ng gano'n ay para bang disgrasyada akong babae. Mabuti pa nga ang ibang disgrasyadang babae ay hindi natatawag ng ganon samantalang ako? Ako na anak nila? Sabagay," napabuntong-hininga siya. "Sabagay, hindi nga naman nila ako anak."

Lahat kami ay nagulat samantalang siya ay tumawa lang nang tumawa na parang nasisiraan ng bait. Hindi na siya nanlaban pa ng suotan siya ng posas ng mga pulis at dalhin siya sa police mobile. Kami naman ay nakahinga na ng maluwag dahil sa wakas ay tapos na ang kaso.

Napagdesisyunan naming magsiuwi na at doon na naghiwalay ang landas namin ni Mam Melencio. Kasama ko si Gray na naglalakad at si Benjamin na nakisabay para dumiretso na sa street nila.

"Mabait si Valeria at hindi ko talaga akalain na magagawa niya 'yon."

Tumahimik na lang kami matapos sumang-ayon sa kaniyang sinabi pero naalala ko ang tungkol kay banana boy. "Wala pa rin bang text si Khael sa'yo?" Nagkibit-balikat lang si Gray at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

Napalingon kami kay Benjamin nang magsalita na naman siya. "Salamat," ani niya.

Why is he thanking us if his girlfriend will later be put behind bars?

"Why don't you call him?" Gray followed what I said at nakailang-ring pa muna bago may nagsalita. Gray's color in his face vanished and his eyes widened. Tila ba hindi makapaniwala sa narinig. Nag-umpisa na rin akong kabahan sa kakaisip ng mga bagay na posibleng mangyari sa kaibigan namin.

"Pero mahal ko siya at hindi ko matatanggap na kayo ang dahilan kung bakit siya makukulong!"

Hindi ko na napagtuunan ng pansin ang sinabi ng isa pa naming kasama. Mahina rin kasi ang pagkakasabi niya kung kaya hindi ko narinig ng maayos. Isa pa, hindi maalis sa isip ko ang mga bagay na maaring kinapahamak ni Khael.

"Khael is in hospital... His-his mother said that he got in an accident," Gray almost whispered it.

"Pa'no ba 'yan. Naaksidente na pala ang kaibigan niyo. Baka gusto niyong sumunod sa kanya? Wahahaha! Pero hindi lang aksidente ang dapat sa inyo! Dapat kayong mamatay!"

It was too late to react. Benjamin raised his hand with a knife and slashed it to me but before I can even move, Gray blocked his body to mine causing his arms to be wounded. Na-out of balance kami sa pagkakahatak niya sa akin at bumagsak ang katawan ko sa lupa kasabay ng pagkauntog ng ulo ko sa semento.

Nahihilo na 'ko ngunit sinubukan kong bumangon upang matulungan si Gray pero sadyang hindi ko na kaya.

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