Bottle of Death

Chapter 06

#Chapter06

Erish POV

Biglang bumalik sa alaala ko yung taong nasa taas ng rooftop. Posible kayang sa kaniya nanggaling yung patak ng dugo sa noo ko? Kung sa kaniya, edi ibig sabihin may kinalaman siya sa nangyari kina Ashlie! Pero sino ang taong yun? Ang ipinagtataka ko, malakas ang kutob kung kakilala ko lamang siya at nasa tabi tabi lamang.

Ngunit bakit?

“Huy! Natulala ka!” I blinked when Dave waves his hand at my face. Kuno’t noong napatingin ako sa kaniya habang may iniisip. Mukha namang napansin niya iyon kaya bigla siyang sumeryuso at tumitig sa akin.

“Why do I feel like you’re planning to do something stupid?” tanong niya ngunit mabilis na tumakbo ako palabas ng aming silid. Malakas talaga ang kutob kong may mali. Someone is playing tricks on us, and I will know whoever that is.

“Erish!”

Rinig kong tawag ni Dave ngunit hindi ko na siya pinansin. Saktong papalabas na ako ng door exit ng biglang pumasok rin si Matt. I bumped myself to him and it has a great impact dahil tumalbog ako at papaupong bumagsak sa sahig. Sandali akong natigilan na siya namang paglapit at pagtulong niya sa aking makatayo.

He offered his hand but I refused to accept it. Dumapo ang tingin ko sa manggas ng kaniyang suot na uniform. I saw a tiny stain of red on it. Nanliliit ang mga matang tumayo ako at tumingin sa kaniya ng mataimtim.

He just remains his poker face with his both hands inside his pocket.

“Nasaan ka nung may nangyari kay Ashlie?” wala ng paligoygoy kong tanong. Ewan ko ba, I have this gut that he is somewhat connected to what happened. I really don’t want to point my finger to someone especially that I don’t have evidences that will prove my theories. But I don’t care anymore.

Umarko ang kaniyang kilay at inilibot ang tingin sa bawat taong nasa loob ng silid. Pinanatili ko naman ang tingin ko sa kaniya. I roamed my eyes at his whole body but the only thing I noticed is the blood stain in his right sock and tip of his uniform.

Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa akin bago tamad na sumagot. “I’m a scout, remember? We had our meeting at the faculty room and when I heard rumors about what happened behind the Girl’s CR, I go there and saw Ashlie. I’m the one who carried her, why?”

Bigla naman akong natauhan. Why am I having this bad idea about Matt? Nakalimutan kong sa aming lahat ay siya ang tumatayo naming knight. Matt is kind and thoughtful. Paano ko nagagawang pagbintangan ang isang taong walang ibang hinagad kundi kabutihan sa aming lahat? At kung siya man ang sakaling pumatay kay Ms. Gonzales, he wouldn’t do such thing to Ash.

Pero hindi ko rin maiwasang mapaisip. Ashlie was covered with lots of bloods, then why is he clean? Dapat ay puno narin ng dugo galing sa katawan ni Ashlie ang buong uniporme niya.

“If you’re asking why I’m clean, I was wearing my scout uniform that time. I changed that’s why it took me so long to go back here.” Paliwanag niya at tanging buntong hininga lamang ang nagawa ko. Nakakahiya ako, ang lakas kong mamintang sa mga taong walang ibang ginawa kung hindi ang ipagtanggol ako.

“I’m so-sorry. I-I just want to know. I was drowned by so many thoughts and my mind is not functioning well. I’m sorry.” I stooped and bit my lower lip. I’m so stupid to think he’s the one who killed Ms. Gonzales and stabbed Ashlie.

“It’s okay, but I think we should start what we need to do right now. Magaalas sais na at baka umalis na ang mga service ng iba.” Sabi niya na bumaling pa sa iba naming kaklase na hanggang ngayon ay tahimik parin. I just nodded my head and go back to my seat.

Agad na hinawan nila ang gitna ng aming silid at pumunta sa gitna upang magform ng bilog. I heave a deep sigh as I stood up and joined them. I glimpse at Dave who’s staring at me with a worry in his pair of eyes. I look away and sat down.

Kailangan ko pala munang maghanap ng ebidensya bago ako tumuro ng tao. But I’m hoping that I will find out whoever did that early as possible and in an easy way.

“Shall we start?” Abi asked but even if no one answered her, she started spinning the black bottle in the middle. Pinagmasdan ko silang lahat. Kung hindi baon sa malalalim na isipin, nakayuko at malungkot naman sila.

Joyce, our class president. Could it be her who did that and just act like she doesn’t know anything? Maybe not, she’s a good friend of Ashlie and I know she can’t do such thing. She’s kind and a protective kind of friend.

Nichole, a best friend of Joyce. Could it be her? Another no, she maybe a talkative type of girl but I know how naïve and innocent she is.

Prince, our vice president. Could it be him? No, just like Matt, he used to be our knight every time other sections bullies one of us. Saka minsan mo lang siya makikitang makihalubilo dahil mas gugustuhin niyang magbasa ng novels kesa makipagyabangan o kwentuhan.

Rahizen, a best friend of Prince. I’m 100% sure that he couldn’t be the one who did it. Masayahin at kahit medyo may sapaw siya minsan ay alam kong mabuti siyang tao. I know how he cares for people around him. He is the type of person that will never leave you behind.

Jelliane, she’s the girlfriend of our Vice President. She’s full of humor and she couldn’t do such thing.

Errol, isa sa kaibigan ni Prince. But just like him, Errol is a cold type of person. He won’t talk to you unless you’re having sense. He used to ignore everything that surrounds him. At sigurado rin ako na hindi siya iyon, he can’t do such thing. Bakit? Takot siya sa patay at ang ayaw niya sa lahat ay kapag nasaktan ang isa sa mga taong mahal niya.

Daivy, the class secretary. She can be maarte minsan but she’s kind and cool. Awayin mo na lahat wag lang mga taong kakilala niya. She’s that kind of person. Minsan niya na akong naipagtanggol sa mga senior noon.

Grachell, she’s our muse and you barely see her smile. Dati, lagi mo siyang makikitang nakangiti, but when Mary died? She changed, a lot. Minsan na lamang siyang ngumiti at madali na siyang mainis. Unlike dati na kahit sabihin mo yan ng masasakit na salita ngiti lang igaganti sayo. But I think she couldn’t do such thing, kasi ang kahinaan niya ay tuwing makikitang naghihirap ang mga taong pinapahalagahan niya. And yeah, if they’ll gonna ask me who among all of us has a mammon heart? I’ll be choosing her, she’s the kindest in our section.

Yuri, he’s our worship in our class. Tingnan mo pa lamang siya ay mahahabag ka na. I know he can’t even throw painful words, ang manakit pa kaya? Yuri is not a Catholic. Iba ang relihiyon niya at masasabi kong mataas ang pananampalataya niya sa Diyos. But why did he join in this game? Dahil pinsan ni Yuri si Mary. And just like all of us, he wants justice. Kung hindi man magawan ng otoridad na makuha ang hustisya para kay Mary, I know Yuri will do everything to get that even if he killed someone with his pure and innocent hands.

Terrod, the education in our class. He is simple but I have known him for three years since he have been my classmate and perfectly sure he can’t kill. Kasi may trauma siya sa mga ganoong bagay, his mother wa murdered by his father and he saw the whole scene when that happened. Kitang kita ng dalawa niyang mga mata kung paano pinaslang ang kaniyang ina. But he has the same reason why he join this game.

Gian, the service in our class. As I have witnessed kanina, he’s protective and won’t let anyone hurt his family.

Nalilito ako, sa buong section ay dalawampu’t lima kaming lahat. At kahit isa isahin ko sila ay alam kong hindi nila magagawa ang nangyari kina Ashlie. Bakit ba kasi iniisip ko na isa lamang sa amin ang may kagagawan nun? Thousands ang estudyante dito sa buong campus at hindi malabong nasa kanila ang salarin.

“Erish!”

Halos mapatayo ako ng maramdaman ko ang pagalog ni Rodniel sa aking balikat. Tulalang napatitig ako sa kaniyang mukha. I’m spacing out at hindi ko na alam kung sino ang tinatapatan ng bote.

“B-bakit?” it takes me seconds to adapt my surroundings. Nang lingunin ko silang lahat ay nakatingin na silang lahat sa akin. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa itim na boteng saktong saktong nakatapat sa aking direksyon.

Biglang lumagabog ang dibdib ko. A-ako ba? Anong gagawin ko?

“Ikaw ang gagawa.”

Mabilis na binigyan ko ng tingin si Rodniel. What is he talking about? ANong akong gagawa? Papaikutin ko yung bote? Bakit kailangang ako pa? Bakit hindi nalang sila? Saka bakit makatingin sila sa akin para bang may kung ano sa mukha ko?

“A-anong gagawin ko?” I asked and he gave me the ‘are you seriously?’ look. Mas lalo lamang akong kinabahan. Why do I feel like I’ll gonna do something that I don’t want to do?

“Anong gagawin ko?” I asked again and this time, nagkatinginan silang lahat. Ano bang nangyayari? Bakit labis ang kaba na nararamdaman ko? Akmang tatayo na sana ako para kunin ang bote ngunit nang magsalita si Carlo ay parang tuluyan na akong nilamon ng takot at kaba.

“The bottle stopped in your direction and that only means you’re the one who will kill Mary’s stepmother.”

*

Hindi ko maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko. Magkahalong takot, kaba, at habag ang emosyong naghahalo sa aking loob. Takot dahil baka hindi ko magawa ng maayos ang gagawin ko, kaba dahil hindi ko alam kung paano sisimulan ang lahat at habag dahil hindi ko kayang pumatay ng tao!

I stopped walking when I reach the house I live at. Sinipat ko ang bawat sulok nito, kakaiba. Napakaangat kung ihahalikumpara sa iba, kung ihahalikumpara sa bahay nina Mary. May kaya lang kami sa buhay at lolo ko pa ang nakapagpundar ng two-story built house na ito. Isa ang bahay namin sa modernong bahay dito sa aming lugar. Iilan lang ang angat sa buhay habang ang mayayaman naman ay sa mga village nakatira.

Oo, hiwalay ang mga taong may magkakaibang status sa buhay. Hindi tulad ng isang bayan na magkakasama ang mga mayayaman sa mga kapus palad. Dito sa amin, nakahiwalay at hindi ka pwedeng tumungtong sa village kapag hindi ka kasama sa mga nakakataas ang antas sa buhay. Masiyadong mahigpit.

“Ate!”

Lumipat ang tingin ko sa isang batang babae na maligayang nakangiti sa labas ng isang kulay asul na gate na ngayon ay patakbong lumapit sa akin. I smiled and kneeled down to welcome her hug.

“Ate, why are you late again? Granny ‘s looking for you, she miss your story!” she said and I just tapped her head and held her mini hand. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya saka inalis sa aking isip ang mga gumugulo dito. As I stood up and started to take a pace, I shrugged away the thoughts. I need to focus my attention to my family. Hindi ko dapat hayaan na kainin ako ng mga isiping hindi kaaya aya.

“Where’s granny?” I asked her, pertaining about our grandma, my mother’s mom.

“In her room with mommy, they are talking about something.” She replied while bouncing like a ball. I shakes my head and then twisted the knob of the door. When it click, agad ko itong binuksan at bumungad sa akin si Daddy na nakasuot ng isang formal attire.

“Daddy! Are you going to your work already?” Inosenteng tanong ng kapatid ko, Hella.

Her full name is Hella Raine Basilio, I don’t have any idea why my parents named her that. Ang kwento ni daddy ay naubusan daw siya ng pangalan kaya kung ano nalang ang pumasok sa isip niya ay yun ang sinabi niya sa nurse. Nagtataka nga ako eh, usually parents are having hard time to think about the name they will be given to their kids. Pero kay dad? Nah, it wasn’t a problem, my mom was unconscious that time and the nurse already asked for the baby’s name so hindi alam ni mom noon.

Hindi ko naman alam noon na labor na pala ni mom and I was in school that day. Nung nakauwi lang ako saka nalaman na my mom gave birth to my baby sister. Anyway, Hella is in her seven years of age.

“Yes, baby! Daddy is needed by my boss.” My dad replied and when he glanced at me, I smiled at him and give him a hug.

“Ingat ka, dad.” I said then he nodded his head as a response. Tinawag naman na ako ni Hella at hinila papunta sa second floor kung nasaan si granny. Our granny is old, she’s in her 86 years of age and I can say that she likes me to tell her some stories. Yeah, I’m a storyteller when it comes to my granny.

She couldn’t sleep without hearing me telling stories before she go to bed. And because I’m good at creating stories, I can easily come up making stories to tell her. At gustong gusto niya naman iyon, minsan nga pinapaulit niya pa yung iba pero hindi ko na masiyadong natatandaan so iniiba ko na yung takbo ng storya. She’ll complain but later on, she will say that she like it in the end.

She like tragic and romance stories but to be honest, I like mystery and intense stories. And sometimes I can help but add little suspense when I was storytelling to her.

“Granny! Ate Erish is here!”

Masayang anunsyo ni Hella ng marating namin ang kwarto ni granny. Sa unang beses, masasabi mong walang laman ang kwarto na ito. Her room is perfectly empty but there, my grandmother is lying in her bed with her eyes wide open.

She’s quite all the time, pero mamaya bigla niyang tatawagin si mommy at itatanong kung kamusta na si grandpa when in fact, my grandpa is four years dead.

He collapsed and the next thing we know he’s gone without any accurate reason.

“Erish, apo! Your grandpa told me something about your friend!” nakangiti siyang bumaling sa akin habang binibitawan ang mga salitang iyon. But goosebumps took the best of me that I got stuck from where I stood when she mentioned her name.

“Mary is waiting for you my dear.”

End of Chapter 06 – Thank You