Apollo's Crib: A Sinister Fate

EP.20

NEIHU DISTRICT POLICE STATION, 10: 35 AM

"Good morning, Sir. We would like to report a missing person." ani Audrey pagkarating pa lang nila sa estasyon. Nakita niya ang ilang pulis na nakaupo sa desk nila kaya dumiretso siya kaagad doon. Sinenyasan ng isang lalaki ang babaeng pulis na tahimik na nakaupo sa table nito, kaagad naman iyon na tumalima para kunin ang mga impormasyon na kailangan nito sa kanila. Buti na lamang at kasama niya si Cecil kaya hindi siya gaanong kinakabahan.

"She's been missing since last night, am I right?" sabad ng isang lalaki.

Nagkatinginan sila ni Cecil, pagkatapos ay magkapanabay na sumagot. "Yes!"

"If that's the case, we will try to help you find her. But I think as of this moment, she cannot be considered as missing, just yet." sagot nito.

"I've gotten all the information that we needed, Ricky. Maybe we should start looking at Neihu Park, since that was the last place that she went to." ani ng babae.

"I got it, Katrina. I'll bring Cherry with me and-" ani Ricky ngunit pinutol ang salita nito ng isang lalaki.

"Let me in," ani ng isang lalaki na may katangkaran at malaking bulas ng katawan.

"Are you sure, you're okay now, Welbert?" alanganing tanong ni Ricky.

"Of course, I just sprained my ankle the other day and I think it's doing good," sagot nito.

"Okay. Let's go!" ani Cherry. isinukbit na nito ang jacket at nagpatiuna na sa dalawang lalaking kasamahan. Sumunod naman kaagad ang dalawa sa babae kaya naiwanan sina Audrey at Cecil kay Katrina.

"Don't worry ladies, they'll gonna find your friend today. They are great with every job that has fallen into their shoulder. Don't worry too much, okay?" ani Katrina sa dalawa, pinapagaan ang loob ng mga ito para hindi masyadong mag-alala.

"Did you guys had a fight or did she has nemesis that you guys knows about?" sabad ng isang may katabaang lalaki.

"C'mon, Hansel..." ani Katrina sabay titig sa binata.

"What? I am just asking, we should know every detail about their friends. A small information could be a big help in the investigation." sikmat ng lalaki kay Katrina.

"No. Sydney was a b***h but she has no nemesis. Besides, she's a friend with everyone..." ani Audrey.

"Yes, correct! Our friend is good at making friends, she was never got into a fight her whole life," sabad naman ni Cecil.

"How about boyfriend or ex-lovers? Did she have some?" pilit na usisa ng lalaki.

"She has ex-boyfriend. But we don't think he is capable of taking Sydney. He's just a poor guy living in the country side." ani Audrey.

"Rich or poor doesn't matter, we are talking to a possible perpetrator here," singhal ni Hansel sa dalawa.

"Hey! Go easy with the kids, don't scare them, you jerk!" singhal din ni Katrina sa lalaki, pinaalis nito ang lalaki sa desk para hindi na manggulo. Gayunpaman ay isinulat nito sa papel ang naging conversation ng mga ito.

"Please help us find our friends, we're worried about her and every time passes was a nerve-wracking for everyone of us." pakiusap ni Cecil.

"Don't worry ladies, we'll do everything we could to help you out. For the meantime, you can go home now to rest, we will contact you if we gained some information about her," ani Katrina.

"Thank you so much!" sagot ni Audrey. Nagpaalam na ang dalawa sa mga ito, dahil sa pag-aalala sa kaibigan ay hindi na sila tumuloy sa pamamasyal. Bagkus ay napagkasunduan nila sa crib na sila didiretso habang naghihintay ng tawag sa kapulisan.

Bawal ang mga outsider sa crib ngunit dahil kaibigan si Cecil ng anak ng may-ari ay pinayagan itong makapasok ng mga gwardiya sa entrance.

"Isn't that the creepy guy yesterday?" ani Cecil kay Audrey, sabay nguso kay Dylan na prenteng nakaupo sa sofa habang nagbabasa ng newspaper. Waring may hinihintay ito kaya sa lobby naglagi pansamantala.

"Yes, he is, Let's go!" ani Audrey. Mabilis niyang hinila ang kaibigan patungo sa elevator para maiwasan ang lalaki. Ngunit sa huli ay nakita pa rin sila ni Dylan at mabilis itong sumunod sa kanila sa elevator.

"Hi, Audrey! Are you trying to avoid me?" ani ng binata.

Audrey rolled her eyes with frustrations and said, "Stop pestering me, will you?" mataray niyang sambit.

Ngunit imbes na mahiya ang lalaki ay ngumisi lang ito sa dalaga. "I think that is far from possible, because you see, we live in a crib. No matter how hard you try, we will still have the huge chance of touching each others shoulder just like today."

"Listen, I am not in the mood of talking to you, we got a lot of problem to think about and please, don't count yourself as contributor." ani ng dalaga.

Si Cecil ay tahimik lang sa sulok at nakikiramdam sa dalawa.

Hindi kumibo ang lalaki ngunit tumitig ito sa magkaibigan. Tahimik itong bumaba sa floor unit nito kaya nakahinga ng maluwag ang magkaibigan.

"That guy is really creepy, he gives me chills whenever he's near." ani Cecil.

"I know right,"

"Why don't you complain to your dad? That man is literally harassing you every time he had a chance."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," sagot niya.

"Why not?"

"For dad, business is business. I can't count on mom because she's busy too. And if I ever tell them about this, there might be chance that they will just scold me. So, never mind, I'll deal with it on my own." ani Audrey.

Sabay na silang tumahimik nang makapasok sila ng bahay ng dalaga. Dumiretso sila sa kwarto habang naghihintay ng balita mula sa mga pulis.

NEIHU PARK, 11: 45AM

Tahimik na umibis sa sasakyan ang grupo nila Welbert, nakarating na sila sa park kung saan huling nakita ang dalagang si Sydney. Parehas pa silang napakunot ang noo nang makita ang sign na temporary closed ang park. Gayunpaman ay nagsipasok pa rinn ang mga ito para mag- imbestiga.

Kaagad naman silang sinalubong nang caretaker at tinanong kung ano ang kailangan nila dahil sarado sila pansamantala.

"Why did you close the park today?" usisa ni Ricky.

"My apologies, something happened last night. We had to repair the wire cable from the pond, we experienced power outraged last night." ani ng caretaker, itinuro nito ang ilang kalalakihan na naglilinis at kinukuha ang mga nakalutang na koi. Ang ilan sa mga ito ay nangamatay dahil sa biglaang pagloko ng oxygen supply ng mga ito.

"Why don't you remove the water from the pond? Maybe it would be easier for you to clean it," sabi ni Welbert.

"I am sorry but it would be really hard for us if we do. But, no worries, we will make sure that everything is good and running before we run this park to the public once again." ani ng lalaki.

"I see," ani Ricky, habang nagpapatango-tango pa ito. Si Cherry naman ay lumapit sa pond at pinagmamasdan ang ilang manggagawa habang kinukuha ang mga nadisgrasyang isda.

"By the way, what brought you here, if you don't mind?" tanong ng caretaker.

"Oh! about that, we are looking for Miss Sydney Liu that went missing since last night. According to her friends, this is the last place that she visited. Can I have a look at all of your cctv recordings yesterday?"

"Of course! No problem! Please follow me," paunlak ng caretaker. Sinulyapan ni Ricky ang dalawang kasama ngunit abala ang mga ito. Si Cherry ay nagtitingin sa pond at si Welbert ay ini-inspeksyon ang buong paligid.

Tatawagin na sana ni Ricky ang mga kasama ng bigla itong matigilan, napansin kasi nito ang kakaibang reaksyon ni Welbert. Maya-maya pa ay napukaw na rin nito ang atensyon ni Cherry. Halatado ang pagiging tensiyonada na rin ng dalaga kaya lumapit siya sa mga ito.

"What happened with both of you?" takang tanong niya.

"We found her body." Welbert uttered, with a blank stare on his eyes.