Murderer's Glimpse

IV

"Kakain na, Crae."

I was snapped back to sanity by Cea's voice.

Half-awake, I answered. "Yes, I'll be there."

Muntikan pang maka-idlip ako kaya agaran akong bumangon na pinagsisihan ko rin agad dahil nandilim ang paningin ko saglit, at tumibok nang mabilis ang puso ko. Natural.

I just fixed the bed and went out. Nag-CR muna ako para gawin ang morning routine at tumulong na sa kusina. Medyo mabagal pa kumilos dahil sa puyat ng pag-iisip kagabi pero okay naman. We ate peacefully with the kids na papasok na. Our giggles and asaran resonated the place.

Hinatid ko sa labas ng eskinita ang dalawang bata. Pagkatapos, nagligpit na ako sa kusina at nag-hugas. Thanks to Nicea na napa-oo si titang gumawa ako ng gawaing bahay. Habang nag-huhugas, 'di ko maiwasang matandaan ang mga pag-tataboy at pag-babanta ko kay Nicea noon.

"Rae!" umalingawngaw sa hallway ng school ang sigaw ng isang babae na bago yata rito. The voice isn't an ion familiar. Who is she?

"Rae!!" ngayon ay mas malakas na sigaw niya. Pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga tao dahil ako lang naman ang Rae dito. Still, I ignored her.

"Rae," biglang mahinang sabi niya sa likod ko at hawak sa braso ko. Napapikit ako sa inis sabay bawi sa braso at harap sa kaniya nang may nababanas na tingin.

"Please, Miss. I do not know who you are so stop acting like I do," I calmly said. Pain and shock was evident in her expressive eyes. "Bother me again and you'll see."

Napangisi ako at hinugasan ang mga baso. Harsh!

"Uy, Crae!" Here comes the loud, annoying girl from the same department as mine. Dito naman ngayon sa cafeteria? It's been what? Weeks? Weeks since she started bothering me at kung hindi ako makapag-pigil..

I rolled my eyes and just ate my food while she was putting her tray on the table and being seated on the parallel chair to me. "Makiki-upo ako, ah? Punuan na, eh."

"Ano pa bang magagawa ko?" bulong ko na siniguro kong rinig niya. "You are already seated, for damn's sake."

Nahihiya siyang tumingin sa akin ngunit kumain na lang din. Ilang minuto pa, dinaldal niya na naman ako. "..na naka-perfect ako sa surprise quiz kahapon ni Ma'am. Sobrang saya niya kaya nag-luto siya ng.."

I stared at her with bored eyes. Hindi niya kita kasi nasa pagkain ang tingin niya. I squinted my eyes and looked at the iced tea on her side. I grabbed it which made her look at me in surprise.

"I-Iinom ka–"

Before she can even finish, tinapon ko sa kaniya ang juice. Siniguro kong sakto sa mukha niya at madadamay ang puting damit niya.

I smirked as she stared at her shirt then to me. Hindi ako nagpa-dala sa mga nakaaawang tingin niya. "Take that as my last warning, Caitlyn Nicea." I stood up and held my things. "One more and you'll really have your dooms day."

Woah, Crae. Dooms day talaga?

"Crae, ano'ng.." she trailed off and stopped washing her hands. Galing siya sa akin kanina sa canteen uli, halatang nananadya talaga dahil hindi ako sine-seryoso sa banta ko kahapon. We are at the women's bathroom now. I was good to her a while ago, though.

I smiled and washed my hands as well. "CR 'to ng Archi students, Cea. What do you expect?"

"Ay, hehe." She just chortled and continued her thing. Natapos siya at ako ang nahuli. "Hintayin na kita."

I just nodded.

Nang tapos na, I looked at myself in the mirror. "Nicea.."

"Hmm?" mabilis niyang sabi.

"Come here."

Shocked, she went beside me. Hindi pa man gaano nakakalapit, hinawakan ko nang mahigpit ang kanang braso niya at diniin siya sa pader katabi ko sabay tutok ng swiss knife sa leeg niya.

She was panting, eyes widened because of.. pain?

I ignored the thought. Diniin ko sa leeg niya ang kutsilyo hanggang sa may lumabas na kaunting dugo na nagpangiti sa akin. She was shaking, so I stopped. Nakatutok na lang sa kaniya ang kutsilyo. I neared her ear for a whisper.

"Keep quiet, mind your own business, and don't bother me ever again."

Hinugasan ko na ang kamay ko dahil tapos na ang mga hugasin. Pagkatapos pala ng banta na iyon ay tinigilan niya na talaga ako pero ako rin ang nag-hanap at nangailangan ng presensya niya. Saka lang kami nag-usap uli kahapon.

Habang palabas ng bahay patungo sana sa labas, napagtuunan ko na ng pansin ang paligid. Kahapon kasi ay parang ang bilis ng mga pangyayari.

Ang sala at kusina ay magkarugtong pero malawak ang mga ito. Sa pagitan niyan, sa bandang kaliwa ay may hallway. May CR at isang kwarto kung saan natutulog daw si Kyl.

Pumunta naman ako sa may sala. Ang floor mat nito ay medyo sira-sira na pero maayos pa naman tignan. I looked at my right where the oak-wood stair is.

Sa hawakan nito ay may mga naka-sabit na mga diploma't awards. Unsurprisingly, Kyl's name was domineering the scene. Mayroong tatlong diploma ang nakapangalan sa kaniya, at halos lahat na'y academic awards o 'di kaya'y sa taekwondo.

Nice, athlete.

Mayroon din kay Caitlyn Nicea. Two diplomas were named to her, and few certificates and medals were mostly from extracurricular activities. Sa dalawang bata naman'y mga best sa mga subjects and a diploma for each.

"A family of wisdom," I remarked. Tita must be very proud of them. I smiled a bit. Does Mom feel proud too whenever I ace my studies?

I disregarded my thoughts about them and decided na sulitin na itong absence ko sa school. I just texted Cea na lalabas ako, brought my wallet, and went out.

Sa daan palabas ng eskinita, may mga napapatingin sa akin. Marahil ay dahil sa maputi kong balat at foregin features. Sa nadaanan kong bahay na may reflective sliding window na may itim na grills, I had a glance at myself.

Brownish shoulder length hair paired with hazelnut-colored cat eyes. Heart-shaped face, perfectly carved lips, pointed small nose, and not-so-thick eyebrows. My height is also taller than usual, probably around 5'9 to flat 6. I was also wearing a simple oversized black t-shirt and skinny jeans.

Simple but comfy enough for me.

Natanong ko na kagabi kay Cea kung paano makakarating sa malapit na park. Dahil magaling ako sa memorization, nakuha ko agad. Pag-labas ko ng eskinita, saktong may humintong jeep dahil may pumara malapit sa akin na lalaki. I took that as a chance to get a ride to my destination dahil doon din ang route nito.

Sabay kami noong lalaki pero pinauna niya ako. I sat down in the middle of the left side seats dahil doon may available. Sumunod naman sa tabi ko 'yung lalaki dahil 'yun na lang ang tira pala.

We were quiet the whole ride. Sa pag-bayad, sisingilin pa sana ako nang sobra noong manong kung hindi ako umangal. Mukha akong mayaman pero hindi ako tanga sa ganito gaya ng iba. Duh. No way.

"Jan Erebus," biglang lahad ng kamay ng lalaking kasabay ko kanina. Napalingon ako sa kaniya sabay tango at kuha ng kamay. "Rae," I shortly said.

He smiled that showed his perfectly while teeth. He surely has rough features. Thick eyebrows, chinky eyes, tall nose, slightly thick red-ish lips, messy-styled jet-black hair, fair complexion, massively tall (about 6 flat to 6'3"), and specs. Gwapo. "Pasaan ka, Rae?" His voice was so deep!

I smiled, feeling slightly comfortable. "Park lang. You?"

His face lit up. "Same," he chortled. "Sabay na tayo."

I just nodded. I've always preferred to be alone, but having a companion isn't that bad. Isa pa, I feel comfy around him.

Hindi ko alam pero puro kwentuhan lang kami ni Jan sa jeep. Or nah. Nakikinig lang ako sa kaniya at nang-aasar or nag-cocomment kung minsan. Medyo maingay kami sa jeep pero wala na kaming paki.

Surprisingly, I was bubbly around him. I knew that we're from the same school and department. BS Civil Engineering ang course niya. Extrovert ang isang 'to. Mahilig sa Math, sa takoyaki, at mag-style ng mga damit. Maingay, maraming kwento. Ayaw ko sa maingay talaga pero kaya naman lalo pa't halos lahat ng close friends ko, extroverts.

Nag-lakad kami nang sabay sa park. Gusto ko ring purihin ang fashion style niya pero sinarili ko na lang. He was wearing a black jean paired with white rubber shoes, beige tee and same colored jacket. May gold watch siya sa left hand and believe me, simple pero ang angas. Dagdag pa ang mala-bad boy niyang features. Sobrang contrary sa ugali niya.

Sabi niya kanina, gusto niya ring magpa-hangin kaya siya pupunta sana rito. Grabe, hindi siya maubusan ng kwento!

"Uy, ice cream! Tara roon, Selda! Libre mo!" biglang sabi niya.

Tignan mo 'tong ugok na 'to. Kanina pa siya "Selda" nang "Selda" dahil nabanggit ko ang full name ko. I rolled my eyes. "Ewan ko sa 'yo, Mr. Takoyaki."

Napalingon siya sa akin. He smirked. "Nice. New nickname! Cool," sabay halakhak.

"Whatever. Tara na."

Nilibre ko nga siya. Mukha naman siyang may kaya sa buhay pero gusto ko rin ng ice cream kaya sige na, salo ko na. We sat on a bench then nag-kwentuhan pa.

"I told you a while ago that I am first year Civil Engineering student at isa lang ang klase ko ngayong araw at kanina 'yon. Ikaw? Kwento ka, ako na mula kanina eh," he said.

I nodded and cleared my throat. "First year Architecture student. Patapon na ang buhay. Masangsang daw ugali. Ayon."

Ngumiwi siya. "Okay, Selda."

Nagtagal pa kami sa park. Asaran, kwentuhan, tawanan, kulitan, hanggang sa mag-open up sa akin. It was all a great experience.

And I ain't gonna lie, I felt genuine happiness.. after years.

Orange streetlights were lit up, few people from work finally going home, some vehicles swiftly passing by, and the night's cold breeze was embracing our skin. Alas syete na rin. Sabay kaming bumaba ng dyip at pumwesto sa b****a ng eskinita nina Nicea. I faced Je, short of Jan Erebus.

"Thank you for today, Je." A smile never escaped my lips. "Made me happy."

His brows shot up and smiled. "Wala 'yun." He put his hands in his pockets. "I also felt comfy so don't worry."

I chuckled. "Dito ka na rin ba?"

"Sa eskinita rin, oo. May group study kami ng ka-block ko tapos sleep over kami sa kanila. Madadaanan ko yata ang sa inyo," lingon niya sa eskinita balik sa akin. "Hatid na kita."

Tumango ako at humayo na. He was still telling some stories, now calmer. He almost told me his whole life! Ni hindi ko namalayang nasa tapat na pala kami ng bahay nina Nicea.

"Dito na 'ko." I smiled at him. "Salam–"

"At nakuha pa ngang makipag-date."

Nagulat kami sa sarkastiko at mababang boses na umalingawngaw kasabay ng matunog na ngisi nito. His scent invaded my system effortlessly. He glared at Je that made my friend put his hands up as if surrendering and take a step back.

"Chill, man. I am not–"

He swiftly looked at me and I swear I felt my heart leap! He glared at me as well, much more intense, and stormed inside the house.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Je. He put his hand down and chuckled while shaking his head. "Wala kang boyfriend, you said," he pointed out to which I nodded at. "So.. who's the guy?" he asked, voice full of nothing but curiosity.

I shot a glance at the screen door then back at Jan Erebus.

"Kylven Wross," I whispered in full abhorrence.

—