Take Me to Isaiah

Chapter 01

Chapter 1 - Veronica

     What time is it? I groaned. I opened my eyes but closed it almost instantly the moment sunlight hit them. Immediately, I covered my head with what my hand find beside me, a book, I divided it into two to fit.

Vivid images flashed again in my mind. I was in the room with white walls around, standing in front of a woman painting her masterpiece. I could only see her back, her candled-like hands were smoothly running as she presses the paint brush in the canvas.  She was devoted all her time in painting without noticing my presence. 

  And then, all of a sudden, she slowly moves her head to look at me, like she knew it already I was here all the time adoring her talent. I couldn't see what her face looks like, but one thing for sure. She's smiling at me, she recognizes me.  

   She extends her hand to me and I slowly walk toward her, but my body didn't responded. I just returned her smile and extend my hand at her, funny, we're meters away, and it's impossible to meet. 

Her face suddenly lighted up and I can see her smiling face clearly now . . . but the thing again is, it was all burnt up. 

  I sat up, scratched my head, and tried to piece together what was that dream. "Siya ba yun?" Tanong ko sa sarili at napatingin sa orasan sa gilid. 9:00 A.M. 

"Sobrang aga pa naman!" I paused when I heard my phone rings. Tinignan ko lang ito sa gilid, it says Irene. "Bahala ka diyan." I spitted those words to my phone, daring not to pick it up. 

Bumalik ako sa pagkakahiga at napa-aray dahil sa naramdamang matigas na bagay na nahigaan ko. It was the book earlier. 

Kinuha ko ito at initsa sa sahig. 

I heard a loud thud after. 

I want to return to my dreamland again where I can see that woman painting. She's always on my dream. Actually, I know her in real life. It's just that . . . she's too far away from me. I mean, I'd had to swim every oceanic plates just to reach her. She's like a star that  every person cannot reach. 

I smile at the thought while hugging my pillow hotdog. One day, If I have enough money, I will find you. Hold on, I will not turn down our promises. 

I heard my phone rings again, and again . . . and again . . . and for the nth time, it rings again! Bumangon ako at kinuha iyun para patayin at i-power off. 

"Isaiah! I'm going to burn this apartment if you're not going to let me inside!" Narinig kong sigaw ng isang pamilyar na boses ng babae. Nanggagaling ito sa labas. Yeah, right Irene. Go ahead. 

I was about to entered my dreamland again when the door of my room pops open. I immediately get the book, divide it into two, and put it back on my head, arms crossing in my chest.

"O my God! What a nerd!" She shouted and I think my roommates could hear her voice. But I had to think it twice and remembered she's the only roommate in this apartment. 

"How did you get here?" I said it in a robot tone, maybe because of the book covered in my mouth. "Duh! Thanks for teaching me lockpicking, I can go anywhere I want." She said in rising tone. Hindi ba nya nararamdaman na ayoko sa presensiya nya ngayon? I badly want to sleep here, woman! 

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"There's a new case. Inspector Cha wanted to meet us. Now, get up and let's go to Concession Police Station." She picked up the book covered in my head. That alerted me and sit back on my bed. "Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi?" I agressively said. 

New case, more money. 

Pumunta ako sa cabinet at may kinuhang pen at sticky notes. Nagsimula akong magsulat. 

April 13, You appeared in my dream again. Thank you for thinking about me. Just wait and I'll find you. There's a new case, u're my inspiration in solving cases fast hun. I hope you'll know this one day when I found you. 

Love, Isaiah

"Hays, pang-ilang note na ba yan? Ganyan ka ba ka desperado makita lang siya?" Napapailing na sabi ni Irene na nakadungaw na pala sa'kin habang nagsusulat. Hindi ko siya pinansin at seryosong pinirmahan ang sticky notes. I paste it in my wall. 

She's right. It became my routine as years passed by, but not a single day I coudn't think about her. I even think of her when we're solving a case. 

"I told you, she's my inspiration." I said it with a smile plastered in my face while staring at the notes pasted in the wall. 

Umakbay si Irene sa'kin. "Gusto mo ng pera diba? Mabuti na lang at may kaibigan kang mayaman. Name it, I'll lend you some." Kinuha ko ang kanyang kamay at umalis na doon. Tch, how much does a journalist pays? It's the same as detective consultant. 

"Ayokong manghiram sa pera mong galing naman sa tabloid write-ups mo!" sagot ko sa kanya. Naramdaman ko na lang na may tumama sa ulo ko na isang libro. "How dare you! Anong tabloid?" sigaw niya naman. Urgh, when can I transfer out from this apartment. I can't stand her voice anymore! 

I start to pick up all the books scattered around the floor and on my bed. Yeah, I got tired reading all of this last night. I mean, every night. 

"How to date a Spanish Girl. . . What's the best place to date in Spain . . . How to learn Spanish language . . .The History of Espanya . . . What? Your taste in books is disgusting as hell!" Irene said and gave me a disgusting look. I just smirk at her, "You don't know anything," I answered. 

"Wait." Mukhang nag-iisip siya ng kung ano habang tinitignan ako, pagkatapos ay nanlalaki ang matang napaturo sa'kin. "So you mean this woman is from Spain? Woah. You got some guts! Ang layo naman non, Isaiah!" Napahalakhak siya sa naisip. Napabuntung-hininga na lang ako dahil sa sobrang daldal ng babaeng 'to. True enough, she's a reporter-s***h-journalist. 

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at nagpatuloy sa paglalagay ng mga libro ko sa bookshelf. Kahit pagtawanan nya man ako, hinding-hindi ako bibigay. Bahala siya kung anong isipin niya. 

She clears her throat. "Let's make a deal. If you find out who's the culprit in this case in just two hours." She even gestured her fingers. "I will give you my ticket in Spain." 

That rings a bell, the books in my hand fell and I frozed in my position. Come . . . again? 

"Sige, kung ayaw mo edi wag. It's such a waste kasi wala talaga akong plano pumunta doon. That was a gift from my dad. You know I don't like receiving gifts from him-" Naputol siya sa kanyang sasabihin nang hinawakan ko ang magkabilang balikat niya. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang panginginig nang aking kamay dito. "Kailan ang flight?" I asked. 

She seems too shocked of my desperation. "Alas dose ng hapon." 

Napatingin ako sa orasan. 9:20 A.M.  Irene gave me 2 hours so I have to find out the culprit before 11:20 P.M. The flight will be 12:00 P.M. and that would be a hassle for me if I make it in 2 hours, I have to find the culprit in 1 hour. 

"Hey! Wait for me!" Narinig kong sigaw sa likod ni Irene. Hindi ako nagsayang nang ilang segundo at pumunta na sa Concession Police Station para makakuha ng impormasyon tungkol sa bagong kaso. 

+ + + 

"Good luck, bro." Inspector Cha said and we shook our hands. I transfered my stare to the girl beside him. "Thanks!" I happily said to her, she's looking at me like I'm a fool hungry for her money. "Idiot! You owe me a lot for this!" sigaw nya naman. Napangisi na lang ako kahit na tinawag niya akong idiot dahil sa sobrang tuwa ko ngayon. 

"Can I see her face?" Inspector Cha asked. He's wearing the police uniform here in airport. I told them that it's okay, you don't have to give me a ride in airport with that patrol car of yours but, yeah, we're here already. No time for rants. 

"I don't have a picture of her," I answered. 

"What?!" They said in unison. 

"Bakit?" Natatawa kong tanong sa kanila. Ano bang mali sa sinabi ko? 

Binatukan naman ako ni Irene. "Idiot! How will you find her if you don't have a picture! Lemme tell you, Spain ang pupuntahan mo, malaking bansa iyun!"

"She's right. How will you find her?" tanong naman ni Inspector Cha. I just smiled at them. "She's a famous painter. I know her style, her paintings. I can find her, no worries,” sagot ko.

True enough, I don't know what she looks like because she doesn't post any of them in her ** account except for her artworks. But, hey, I trust my abilities to find her I'm sure. 

"You're insane. Wala ka man lang bang alam na information sa kanya? Name? Address? Status?" I just shook my head in answer. I ready my trolley and bid them goodbyes once again as I heard the stewardees's voice. 

"I have to go. Be safe!" I gestured my hands, they returned it back. 

"Hindi mo pa nasasagot tanong ko!" Irene's loud voice echoed in the place. To keep her mouth shut, I shouted back. "Veronica. Her name is Veronica!" Just by pronouncing her name in hard spanish, I can feel the corners of my lips lift up.

Tumalikod na ako sa kanila at maligayang pumila sa linya, I can feel my heart beats faster and faster as I lined-up. It just give me the idea that finally, I can meet her. 

Habang pumipila, hindi ko namalayang may humugot sa'kin doon at dinala ako sa isang lugar kung saan may malaking screen. Nagulat ako nang malamang si Irene ito kasama si Inspector Cha sa gilid, nakatingin lang saming dalawa ni Irene. She give me chills! Ano na naman ang iniisip nito? 

"Anong nangyari? May problema ba? D-Don't give me that stare!" Kunwari natatakot kong sabi kay Irene dahil sa tingin niya na para bang may nakita siyang multo. 

"I'm sorry. Did I hear it right? Her name's Veronica, a famous painter. . . right?" she asked.

"Yes," I answered with a puzzled look. 

"Siya ba yun?" Itinuro niya ang malaking screen na nasa harapan namin. Isa itong holographic screen na naka-display ang mga international news. Maraming mga ganito sa loob ng airport para naman malibang ang mga tao at updated sa news. 

Tinignan ko ang itinuro niya. It caught my attention when I saw a word Spain there, but I didn't take a look of the news. 

"You know news just bore me, Irene," I stated in an obvious manner. Pero hindi niya ako pinansin at kinalikot ang kanyang phone. Pagkatapos ay ipinakita niya 'to sa'kin. "Look. This is a famous painter, her name is Veronica. Look at her paintings, does it look like her styles?" she asked. Agad ko itong  hinablot sa kanyang kamay. 

I scrolled down the news in the twitter. I felt my body frozed when I saw one of her paintings flashed in the news. I can't understand fully the language, I only knew some basic. 

"No," I said, firmly, still looking at her phone. "Thank God! Akala ko siya na yan, eh!" Napahawak siya sa braso ko nang sabihin niya iyun. 

"Send me the link in messenger. I have to go. Bye!" Nagmadali akong pumila sa linya at  pumasok na sa eroplano. When I'm on my seat, I got the link from Irene. Hindi pa naman kami nakaalis kaya okay pa na gumamit ng smart phones. 

I can feel my hands shaking as I scroll upon the news. My neurons can't transmit messages into my brain as I read the whole article. Maybe because its in spanish . . . but still, I have been studying spanish for too long that I can almost knew the words I read. 

"f**k," I cursed due to frustation. Napagpasiyahan kong i-copy paste ang article sa google translation. And I regretted why I did that. 

Translation: 

Spain's breaking news:

"She locked all the house, from the doors to the windows. All of the evidences were burnt down when we went to the scene. Moreover, I shall declare that my sister's case is homicide," said by the Chief Inspector, the painter's older brother assigned to the case. 

According to a witness's statement before the fire started, the painter was just in front of the canvas and looks so devoted on her masterpiece. And then, when the fire breaks, the painter started to grabs her hair like she was possessed by something, shouting names she couldn't understand, her body were swaying and her legs look so jelly. 

"I saw her burned alive in front of her painting! It was v-very scary," said by the witness in an interview. 

Veronica Picasso, the famous painter in Spain, died past 3:00 P.M. when their house caught up fire and blows away the house. However, the chief inspector eventually closes the case as suicide. 

Friday, 13th. April, 10:00 A.M.