No Label

Metamorphosis: The Culprit

There are things in this world we couldn't explain. Everyday, I am asking myself a lot. A lot of why's.

Why do things didn't always go as planned?

Why can't we trust anyone?

Why can someone do something horrible?

Why people kill?

No excuses are valid if you decide something because it's a choice. You know the consequences but you still chose to do it. We cannot complain to the consequences of something we did.

I don't know what I did wrong that this thing keeps happening to me.

I want to live my dreams.

I want to become successful.

I just want to be happy...

But I kept missing the chance to live because of someone. Someone who's trying to ruin my life...our lives.

It's too early to judge and I needed to use Nana to confirm. This can be dangerous and someone might get hurt but I chose to be selfish. I needed to be selfish to save everyone from this mess. Because I know, these are all started because of me.

"Mina? Bakit ikaw yung nandito?", Nana and Jill finally arrived. Today is the day I will discover something that might stop all of my nightmares. I will find out who is the person trying to kill every one of us.

"Where's Yanyan?", Jill asked.

Kinakabahan ako. Ilang beses kong tinanong ang sarili ko kung tama bang gamitin ko silang dalawa. I made them date because I have this assumption that the killer is trying to kill couples. Couple as in mag jowa. Ewan ko ba kung bitter siya oh ano. At talaga namang hindi na dapat umaabot sa ganito, na papatay siya ng tao para sa pansariling kaligayahan niya. This is a different level of craziness! How can someone do such thing? Can they even sleep at night thinking they just took someone else's life? This is horrible. I can't imagine my friends being killed in front of me.

This is a very dangerous situation. Both Nana and Jill are my friends. Pero kung hindi ngayon, baka mas marami pa ang mabibiktima niya. "He is not coming". I answered coldly.

"What? You've been lying to me, Nana?", Jill suddenly raised his voice to Nana.

"No...I-I don't know", Nana is stuttering. They are all clueless. I've been investigating this by myself. I didn't tell anyone, "Jill!", Nana called as Jill smashed the bouquet and went out of the restaurant. Nagdadalawang isip si Nana kung susundan niya si Jill o manatili dito. I can see she got a lot of questions for me. She chose to stay to ask me. "Mina, what's happening? Nasan ba si Yanyan?"

Nanginginig ang buong katawan ko. Nakokonsensya ako na nilalagay ko sa panganib sina Jill at Nana. Hindi ko maipaliwanag sa kanila mga nangyayari kasi alam kong walang maniniwala. Iisipin nilang nababaliw na ako. Ilang segundo pa bago ko siya nasagot.

"He can't be here, it's dangerous", I barely said.

Kumunot ang noo niya,"What!? For Pete's sake! Jill has been waiting for this moment, Mina! He is really angry now. I don't want to do this and that stupid deal!", sumbat niya sa akin. I've been expecting those reactions. I know they wouldn't understand everything. But I need to do this. I'll stick to the plan. I just hope everything will go well.

She stood up to go after Jill.

"He's the target", I said and it made Nana halt.

She looked at me. I couldn't stop my tears from falling. I feel sorry for everything. "What?", she asked. I know everything is just unbelievable.

"Yanyan is the target", I stood up. Right from the start I know that Yanyan is in danger. All of my theories are connected to him.

Umiling siya. "You're crazy", she tried to ignore my words but suddenly her phone rang. She looks so confuse if she will answer that call or not. She looked at me.

"It's starting", kusang lumabas sa bibig ko ang mga salitang yun. Mas lalong bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko. I shouldn't let my emotions destroy my focus. I have a plan. I made sure no one will die tonight. I just prayed for a good timing.

Nana took the courage to answer the call. "H-hello"

Hindi ko marinig ang sinasabi sa kabilang linya but I'm certain that it's the killer.

"W-who are you?", Nana almost whispered.

She trembled in fear and so I am.

"What are you saying? Sino ka?"

The call ended. I can't say a word because I'm trying to understand the situation. Suddenly, Nana received a text and ran.

"Nana, don't! It's dangerous", sinubukan ko siyang pigilan dahil delikadong pumunta siya dun mag-isa. But she panicked and risk her life. Damn, this is bad.

I immediately called Yanyan. I couldn't grip my phone properly because my hand is trembling. Keep calm, Mina. I manage to call his number and he answered immediately.

"It's time", that's the only thing I said and ended the call.

I drove to that place.

There's no other place perfect for the killer's plan but this abandoned building. I arrived earlier than, Nana. I guess. This place is dark and quiet. I needed to use my phone's flashlight to see the way. My feet lead me to the basement.

I didn't completely know the killer's plan. Everything that I do now is just my assumptions. I'm trying to think logically on what that person is capable of. But the problem is, I can't assume easily because I'm not sure who that person is. I'm just a student and I'm not a professional profiler. I'm going to figure it out tonight.

I saw Nana entering that room. God, what is she thinking. It's a trap!

"Ji--", I covered her mouth before she could do something. I understand that she wanted to save Jill but if she'll just rush things up, it could lead to something worse.

Tinanggal ko ang pagkatakip ng kamay ko kay Nana nang makapagtago kami. "Mina? How did you--", hindi na niya naipagpatuloy ang sasabihin niya dahil pinatahimik ko siya. She can reserve those questions later if we can come out here alive.

We both flinched when someone come inside. We kept the silence and just observe from whatever our vision can see. Hindi ako nagkamali. Tama lahat ng hinala ko na babae ang killer.

The heels she's wearing looked familiar but I'm not in the situation to think about it. Nana suddenly showed me the screen of her phone.

[Lalaki yung sumagot sakin kanina]

She's not that dumb to reveal her identity easily. I predicted it.

Kinuha ko ang phone niya para mag reply.

[She used voice tapping]

We tried our best to avoid making any noise but... Sht. Nana, bakit sa dinami-dami ng pagkakataon, ngayon mo pa nakalimutang i-silent ang phone mo?

We're doomed. Fck. Mabilis kong kinuha ang phone ko para i-text si Yanyan.

[Come here ASAP!]

Sinagot ni Nana ang tawag para tumahimik yung phone niya kahit wala na ding silbi. Narinig niya yun at alam niyang nagtatago kami dito. I told Yanyan to come here as soon as possible before this woman could hurt the three of us.

Hindi niya masagot ang tawag dahil kinakabahan siya. Kinakabahan din ako pero alam kong mas doble ang kaba ni Nana dahil iniintindi niya pa lang ang mga nangyayari. She's thinking there's no way out. But I have a plan. I didn't come here and risk something if I'm not prepared. I'm just praying that nothing will happen to Yanyan and that he could come here before it's too late.

Inagaw ko sa kanya ang phone dahil hindi niya kayang sagutin.

"Why are you doing this?", I'm shaking in both anger and fear but I tried to calm my self down.

[Because I hate it]

"What?"

[It hurts my eyes. I hurt seeing all of you laughing. I hate all of you becoming happy.] That's the most pathetic answer I've ever heard.

"Then killing us can make you happy? You're crazy..."

[If you want to live, then don't love anyone. Don't trust anyone]

She's not some god to tell us all of that. Who the hell she is to tell us how to live our own life?

"Pag-usapin natin 'to ng masinsinan. Not this way."

[Are you that worried to this guy? He's not even your boyfriend, Mina]

Sa boyfriend lang ba dapat mag-alala ang isang tao? Jill is my teammate and a friend. We didn't know each other that long but it's not an excuse to just let that woman kill him. And Nana...

"Then aren't you worried to what Nana would feel? If you kill the guy she loves?", this time, I raised my voice. I don't know if Nana developed some feelings to Jill but I'm pretty sure she's worried more than I am.

[It's your fault, Mina. You are the one who made all of this.] She laughed. I hate it.

Hinawi ko ang buhok ko saka tumayo. There's no point in hiding. We're not fooling around and this is the real deal. I want to see her face but it was covered with a mask. Coward.

"Who are you? Reveal yourself, you coward!", I shouted. I feel like my blood pressure is rising. She's getting on my nerve!

[Do you think I would do that? I'm not as dumb as you, Mina]

She mentioned my name. I knew from the very start that it has something to do with me . That the killer knew me because she knew I'm the first one to know... because I'm her nearest enemy. The clues I gathered are intentional. She started this game with me.

"What do you want?"

[I told you, this guy is not my target.]

"Then don't kill him! Wag mong idamay si Jill dito. He is innocent"

[He just became my target. You made him my target]

[You stole something that you shouldn't. You have to pay with his life.]

I suddenly remembered the first note I received. That was the day when Yanyan joined Tulips. Noong una, hindi ko maintindihan ang sulat na iyon. Akala ko pinagtritripan lang ako. I kept everything to myself. I didn't tell anyone even Nana, my closest friend. Even my sister didn't know about it. I've been asked a lot at home that I'm acting weird sometimes but I came up with hundred of excuses.

Sumunod ang mga araw, hindi lang sulat ang dumadating. Pinadadalhan na ako ng death threats. Pero ang hindi ko maipaliwanag, ay yung tila hindi para sa akin ang threats na iyon. Yung parang iba ang gusto niyang patayin. That was the time I figured out I wasn't the target. It was someone close to me.

"We didn't love each other!", nagulat ako nang biglang sumigaw si Nana. "I wasn't happy with him. We just broke up today. Don't kill him, I'm begging...", nanginginig siya habang sinasabi iyon. Ramdam ko ang galit at takot niya sa kung ano ang pwedeng mangyari kay Jill.

Yanyan, where the hell are you?!

[Aw... that's sweet]

I saw the knife on her hand. The same knife I saw two years ago. The one that my sister is holding while looking at my painting.

[Sorry, but it's too late]

I'm afraid that this mission is going to fail. The knife is about to land on Jill's unconscious body.

"No!!!",Nana shouted and tried to run thinking she could save Jill but it's too late. I pulled and wrapped her in my arms. I don't want her to witness something like this. I closed my eyes but it didn't stop the tears from flowing. It's over, Mina. You lost. You fcking lost the game!

*wang*wang*

The sound of a loud siren was heard. I slowly opened my eyes and see what is happening. I saw that b***h muttered a curse word. She then immediately vanished the place. I did it. Did I?

Nana and I didn't move a single inch. "Nana...",I called her because she is still crying on my shoulder.

"Ayaw kong tignan...Mina...patay na ba si Jill?", her breath eating her words. She can't breathe properly because of crying too much.

"Open your eyes, Nana", I slowly tapped her back.

"I'm...afraid", umiiyak pa din siya.

"Jill is safe", nang sabihin ko iyon, agad siyang kumalas sa pagkayakap at tinignan ang paligid.

Tuluyan nang lumisan sa lugar na ito ang babaeng yun. I'm glad she failed to stab Jill.

"Jill!", agad na tumakbo si Nana para tanggalin ang tali sa katawan ni Jill. Sumunod na din ako para tulongan siya. Wala pa ding malay si Jill pero namamaga na ang braso niya dahil sa higpit ng pagkatali. "Tumawag ka ng pulis?", tanong ni Nana sakin. Naririnig pa rin namin ang tunog na iyon at mas lalong lumalakas habang papalapit sa silid na ito.

"Mina! Okay lang kayo?", sabay na tumingin kami sa taong pumasok. Agad na tumahimik ang tunog dahil ipinatay niya ang speaker na hawak niya.

"Yanyan? Paanong...", hindi naipagpatuloy ni Nana ang tanong niya at binaling ang tingin sakin na parang ipinasa niya ang tanong na yun.

Napabuga ako ng hangin. I'm relieved that it wasn't too late. "I called him...", yun lang ang nasabi ko.

"Totoy? Andito ka din?", napatingin ako sa pinto nang sabihin iyon ni Nana. Nandito nga si Totoy. I'm glad he listened. Sinabihan ko din kasi si Yanyan na wag siyang pumunta dito ng mag-isa. Mabuti't lalaki ang napili niyang isama. That would be safer.

Agad akong tumayo ng may maalala ako. Hindi pa nakakalayo iyon. Kailangan kong malaman kung sino ang babaeng yun.

I was about to leave but Yanyan grabbed my arm to stop me. "Saan ka pupunta?", tanong niya.

"I need to find her before it's too late", sabi ko pero hindi pa din niya binibitawan ang braso ko.

"It's dangerous. I'll come with you", umiling ako sa suhestyon niya. It would be more dangerous if he'll tag along because Yanyan is her target.

"I'll be fine", yun lang ang sinabi ko at agad na inalis ang braso ko sa pagkahawak niya. Hindi na siya pumigil pa at hinayaan akong umalis.

I ran as fast as I can. I need to catch her. All of my efforts will be wasted if I failed to confirm her identity.

It's raining and I'm already soaked.

"Hey!!!", buong lakas kong sigaw nang maaninag ko siya. She is walking in the hallway with an umbrella. She looked back when she heard me. "Who the hell are you?", limang metro ang distansya namin sa isa't isa. If I walk a bit more, I can grab her and remove her mask. But I didn't. She is armed and I can't die tonight. The game has just started.

Bigla siyang may tinapon na bagay at lumisan.

She didn't say anything. She went inside the car that also looks familiar. It's like...our car.

I'm afraid that my guess is right. That the girl behind that mask is the person who's been with me since I existed in this planet. I tried to deny it because I know she's not the person who is capable of killing. She is also a friend of Tulips and I believe she can't hurt any one of us. I'm scared. I'm scared that I'm right.

Kinuha ko ang bagay na itinapon niya. Isang larawan at basa na ito dahil sa ulan. Larawan namin ng Tulips. Nakangiti kami habang hawak ang certificate na napanalunan namin. That was our first win. Also the first stage with Yanyan and Jordi.

I flip the picture and saw a note.

[I'm not yet done, my dear sister]

My hand trembles as my tears began to flow. My knees became weak and made me sat on the wet cement.

The truth I'm afraid to face.

The truth I wished I didn't know.

My sister tried to kill Jill.

My sister is trying to kill us.

Mother Horn... is the killer.