Sunkissed

chapter four

It was sunny outside. The perfect day to commemorate the now deceased  Del Toro. He died shortly after a few hours from the incident, and his family decided to cremate him immediately. There was no wake, his family could not afford it, they even turned down the offer, from the college to fund everything, but they refused, and wanted to keep family matters private.

 Sandra told Mrs. Del Toro, that her husband died in a freak accident resulting from a vandalizing attempt in school grounds. She affirmed Del Toro’s widow, that the perpetrators had been caught and apprehended. Sandra even arranged meet and greet between Del Toro’s wife and his supposed killers. Words spread fast in Salida Del Sol.  When the news came down from the grapevine, Leroy at Piatt, knew better not to speak.

 It was around 10 in the morning by then. A large white tent was erect in the middle of the college grounds, beneath there were rows of chairs from the auditorium being arranged to what resembled of rows by a grunting handful of students. And tables had already been draped with white cloth and are filled with a plethora of finger foods and pastries for the guests.

Not soon later the chairs began to be occupied by most of the college’s staff. Leroy and Piatt, silently shared the trip down to the venue. And as soon as they could even pass the Front Main entrance, Piatt felt sick. He had not been there ever since the incident. He felt bulbs of cold sweat excrete from his pores, He was frozen.

“Hey, you okay?” Leroy tapped his shoulder.

 Piatt regained his grip and shrugged. “ you think they have muffins?”

“... I guess.”

 The two continued to walk to the venue. Piatt and Leroy hanging at the back of the seats , overlooking the seated crowd of almost fifty. Muffled conversations could be heard from the small of groups who sat together. At the front, there was Officer Del Toro’s Family. His wife and 2 kid daughters, being comforted by the rest of the security team of the college, including Officer Guzman. A burly bearded-dark skinned- man. With large brown eyes. And it would seem he’s doing a great job at consoling Del Toro’s widow and daughters.

Having no trouble in connecting with the kids and making them laugh. Just a few spaces from them, a large framed picture of the deceased propped up, together with large flower arrangements on both ends of a small stage. And banners of appreciation for the fallen officer.

 Despite the humdrum of conversation and the passing of condolences for the family, it was quiet outside. No band practices that morning, no groups of rowdy students, just the sun shining down, hindered ever so slightly by the dark clouds that began to accumulate. It made Leroy uncomfortable and he sensed Piatt also felt it too.

“Well, what do you think?”  Leroy asked. As he munched down on a muffin recently acquired from one of the tables.

“ a little dry, but good. I like it that way.”

“ Yeah? Me too.”

Both continued to devour their muffins. The two shared an unspoken moment together. This Lo-fi vibe that engulfed the whole tent. It was starting to darken because of the clouds, the cold winds soon began to follow as it gently rock the overhanging flaps of the tent on four corners. And for some weird instance they were calm and tensed at the same time. This uneasiness and the somber gloom turned their stomachs into knots. They now shared a burden. As the cold seeped through their skins and white noise in the form of drizzle gradually fill the background.

While entertaining the kids, Guzman spotted Piatt at the back and stood up and gave him a smile. He was gesturing him to come join them. Piatt waved back. Leroy also nodded to the Guzman.

Piat joined the rest of the security staff and greeted Del Toro’s Widow and kids. Leroy,still gawking  found himself staring at the glossy portrait of the deceased officer. He looks young, he thought to himself, probably an older photo. Leroy counted ten seconds on his head, a timer he imposes on himself for when it’s okay to leave after no one was looking at any social event. For that duration, he pretended to be interested or engaged in the moment without causing too much attention. And all the while formulating an excuse to be blurted out when in the event someone might caught up to him. But in reality he just stood there awkwardly fidgeting to himself and looking at random things. As he turned back he saw Sandra.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Are you okay?” Sandra asked the startled Leroy.

“I’m fine, actually”

“ Grab yourself a seat then, we’re about to begin.”

 The Sound of the rain , flooded the area, but one can still make off what was being said on the stage. As affirmed, Del Toro was liked by all. most of the security staff had some fond memory they shared with him. He was also buddies with some of the professors and other admin. As each one of his close friends gave tribute, Sandra called on Piatt to say a few words for their fallen friend.

Piatt walked up to the podium and exchanged smiles Sandra. He gave the audience a caring look and then onto the portrait. “Del Toro was a great man. And he will be missed be everyone that knew him. My heart goes out to his wife and kids, and speaking on behalf of the security department and college we would like to extend our help to Del Toro’s family by supporting his kids’ education.”

“Damn” Leroy uttered to himself as he continued to listen to the remainder of Piat’s speech. During that time he locked eyes with Sandra for a total of three times. He knows what she wants from him.

“Hey, what do you think happened to him?” Leroy looked on his left, he saw a woman whom can be compared to tap water, plain and boring. It was one of the office clerks at the registrar or something, he thought to himself.

“I don’t know.”

“ But you were there right? That night that he died.” The woman smirked at him. “ hmm , or was it someone else?” Leroy could feel his body tense up as his face light contorts, seeping out his shock.

“ I don’t know what you’re talking about , okay.” He sounded weak. He was startled, he thought it was a handful of people that knew what had happened. He thinks to himself that maybe he’s over thinking and the stress had made him jumpy, not to mention the black coffee he recently helped himself with before grabbing a seat.thought that was it. And maybe he could take lead to the conversation and make himself look less like a fool.

“ I wasn’t there, but from what I heard it was a… an accident. I’m not entirely sure.”

“ Ahh I see.”  The woman crossed her legs easily despite wearing a pencil-cut skirt. Dressed in all gray, she could not have belonged anywhere else. The complimented the scene as gray clouds on a windy day. She Sandra locked eyes.Leroy Saw the slight contort of discomfort in Sandra’s face. In response the mysterious woman smiled back and ejected herself from her seat. She reached into her handbag and gave Leroy a calling card.

[ Edna Calauag: Private investigator]

As Leroy was done admiring the smooth cardboard plaque he peered over the once mysterious woman, now known as Edna. She was already walking a few paces away from the tent. Her gray ensemble soon faded away in the rain. he could even remember if she said goodbye, she was just gone with the wind.

The ceremony had escaped Leroy. He saw the higher-ups and some of the security staff hug with Del Toro’s Family. From he was sitting he could feel the warmth, a welcome change from the cold the permeated within him ever since the send off for Del Toro began. His eyes began to water the longer he watches. He smiles.

The rain turned into a fleeting drizzle and rays of sunlight pierced through the gray skin. Everyone noticed the rain leaving. Everyone took pause to feel the warmth.

“ damn it feels so good.”

 Lyn arches her back and stretches her arms, basking in the sunlight. The smell of wet pavement still lingered. And Margo was with her on their way to the campus, when Lyn decided to take a brief stop.

“What feels good?” Margo asked. Looking a little irritated.

“The sun.”

Margo looked more irritated and rolled her eyes on her. She crossed her arms. “ C’mon  we’ll be late” Lyn let our a moan as she bent her back even more so. She propped herself straight and saw Margo being more irritated.

“Okay. Wh-why so grumpy? The sun’s out and that smell left by the rain, ahhh , perfect. Mwah.” Chef’s kiss.Margo rolled her eyes. Lyn smiling while catching up to her to give her a hug.

“Hey, what’re you doing? C’mon, stop it.” Margo blurted out a laugh as they are making a scene. Everyone walking on that sidewalk glanced at them as they passed by the two. Some old ladies, loitering in the outdoor cafes to gossip, smile and laugh. Perhaps the cheerful duo reminded them of their youthful past, before they found themselves spending most of their days content with their hot drinks and one or two juicy topics regardless how many times and different ways it’s been told. And the embellishments added to each time a story is told, mixes in with the truth, like their non-dairy creamers and their Splendas to their choice of coffee or tea, it becomes homogeneous. From brunch to a little past three, these women are a common site in the outdoor cafes of the town.

“They remind you of anything Marie?” The plumb woman, dressed in a red blouse confers to the lady sitting to her right as she takes audible sips from her tiny cup.

“ I don’t think so, why?” Marie smirked.

“ hmm, oh come on. They don’t remind you of anything? Anyone?” The woman in red nudges herself closer to Marie. “Really? Some friend you are.” Then plops back to her seat and and takes one or two pastries from the table and munches on them.

“Oh c’mon Janice, how can I forget.?” Marie smiles at her and begins to let out a laugh and soon everyone in the group followed. Janice as well, as she finishes her sweet tart.

“Hey knock it off” while laughing at the same time, catching her breathe. “ C’mon, let’s go get something to eat.” Margo suggested as Lyn  stopped messing with her.

“ Don’t you have any classes? ‘Cause I don’t, not until one.”

“  No. I just remembered Today’s the day where the college honors Del toro.”

“ Ohhh, its today huh.”

“ Yup, so there’s no rush, it would probably take the whole day anyways.”

It came to her like lightning. The pangs of fear felt like spikes to her body, it made her feel cold and stomach wrung. Being there and seeing the body being carried outside the building, she could remember all of the details. In which for the past few days she’s been doing her absolute best not to think about. Whilst can’t think of any other else. She thought to herself ever since that night to tell Lyn, but she’s afraid of her reaction.How she’s going to take it all in.

And how she would felt knowing that her friend could have been in danger all because of her On how she insisted on erasing a violation on her records, on which in the first place Lyn did not agreed to. Then a sudden wailing in her head, echoing in every chamber, nook and cranny. It was man’s deathly howl. Then quite. There she was back in the campus again. Dark, cold and silent.She finds herself walking towards the hallway, with each step a little darker it gets in way.Then at the end of the passage, she sees two orbs of  yellow light. Small like marbles but bright, floating in the darkness. And glistening steaks of gold above it. It was beautiful and mysterious. Warm and ominous.

She walks slowly towards the light. Like a moth drawn to a flame. Without perceiving danger each step felt like it took great effort.And each passing breath felt like she was running out air.

As she draws closer a visage from the blooming glow of gold revealed a welcoming face. The chiseled features of masculinity and the flawlessly well kept locks of blonde appeared in the dark. He was classically handsome. Flawless like a movie star, and yet somehow there’s something about that face she could not put her finger on.She develops a hint of hesitation, but somehow still drawn to the Adonis in the dark.

“ Thank goodness you’re okay.” The softness in his tone seemed very familiar. Like an old friend, perhaps a distant relative. He was warm and welcoming.But as Margo drew closer and closer.The faint smell of bleach.

“ I know this place is scary, but I’m here now. We’ll get out of here safe. Come with me, I found a way out.”

The reassuring smile and the actual concern in each of his words made Margo lower her guard and slowly trust this gentlemen. As the moonlight pierced it’s way into the sunken hallways, more of his features are revealed. She takes a good look at time and finds him actually very attractive. She blushes a little and extends her hand to feel him. But there was only darkness beneath his face. She was dumbfounded. Out of instinct, she swathe her hand left-to-right above the visage. There was only cold air.The man with the yellow eyes, smiled. Eyes pointed at her, looking from top to bottom.

“I want you.”

“I need you.” Sniffing aggressively, exhaling the bit of shared air between him and Margo. Loud sniffs and aggressive grunts filled the area.

He rolled his eyes, as if of pure ecstasy. Margo could not react, she was frozen by the sight. She felt her stomach being tied to a knot, cold sweats began to bulb out of her pores Blasts of adrenaline spiked through her spine. Her body tenses and the urge to vomit surfaces. Unable to regain control of her body, she felt helpless, repulsed and very frightened.

“Margo. Margo. Hey!” It was Lyn. Wide eyes looking at her and aggressively wave her hand in front of Margo.

“You, okay? Hey, talk to me. What happened? You need some water.” She pulled out a tumbler from her small backpack and handed it to Margo.

“ Here. What happened. How are you feeling?”

“ Oh, I’m sorry. What?” Margo finds herself back. But with an odd feeling of tiredness and this inexpiable fear that slowly dissipates each second she regains her footing.

Lyn explaining what she had saw and how worried she was. She told her that she stood silent, unmoving and stared right through her. Margo felt like she was missing an hour. Then as Lyn went on she gradually remembered what had happened. The dark hallway that seemed to go on forever. That man with the streaks of golds and bright yellow eyes. The erratic sniffing and the lingering smell of something burnt. She felt disoriented. As soon as she regain awareness of her surroundings, everything spun around her. A great distortion.

“s**t! Are you alright?”

“Well” As she belches another wave of vomit.

“ What do you think?”  She empties her stomach again.

“There there, how are you feeling?” As Lyn gently rubbed her hand onto Margo’s hand.

Lyn offered her napkin she pulled out of her pocket. Margo wiped her mouth with it. And said thanks. Shortly after Margo bought out a tiny spray bottle of hand sanitizer.

" At times like these, you'll always need it. Here"

Margo applied a few dollops into her hands and offered the bottle to Lyn prompting her to do the same. 

She responded in thanks and applied some for herself. 

Margo could not let the image go. She was bothered by it and at the same time fascinated. Her stomach begin to untangle itself together with the the pinpricks she felt on her body begin to fade. Her paleness was returning to her usual pinkish white. She felt this heavy feeling combined with anxiousness and sorrow. She felt like s**t, she thought to herself.