FALSE GOD Series: Phillip Warren (COMPLETE) Series #1

Chapter Four

PAGDATING nina Joey, agad nila akong pinaliguan ng tanong. I tried to explain everything as best as I could but just like them, I don't have no idea what is going on. I mean, I barely know the guy. To be honest, I'm just relieve Phillip is alright. Kaya nga lang, hindi pa siya nagigising kaya híndi pa namin siya makausap.

The police are still investigating the crime scene but I heard they said it didn't look like there were any sign of force entry. So the possibility of him knowing the killer is high. And kung naaalala niyo, may tinapon yung suspek sa labas ng bahay ni Phillip. It was a knife. They are testing it for DNA and fingerprints right now. Naghahanap din sila ng ibang ebidensya sa crime scene. I hope they catch him. I don't know what the suspect's motive was but... Who the hell would try to murder someone like Phillip?

"Kung hindi dahil sayo ay baka ano na ang nangyari kay Phillip. I'm glad you found him at that moment." Anang si tita habang hawak nito ang kamay ko.

"Who would do such thing? May alam po ba kayong kaaway niya?"

Umiling ito. "Everyone in the neighborhood loves that kid. He's a good guy. Very responsible. I couldn't think of anyone who'd try to kill him. But then again, bago pa lang kami sa area so hindi pa namin lubusan na kilala lahat ng mga nakatira doon, even Phillip. But I know Phillip's not the type who makes enemies. Maybe someone's jealous of him? Who knows? Only Phillip could answer that."

Tita's right. I have been a journalist for 5 years and minsan may mga nadadaanan akong mga cases kung saan walang motive yung suspect at kung meron man, napakaliit lang ng dahilan ng galit nila sa biktima. Like that case where someone murdered a person just coz that person accidentally spilled a drink on them in a bar. Napakaliit lang na bagay para pumatay. But some people have twisted and psychotic minds. And that do happen. Some people do commit crimes for petty reasons. It's a mental illness. Maybe this is that situation. I know I just met him twice but I have good eyes for people. I can tell he's nice and kind.

"Malamang gulat na gulat ka sa nangyari." Rinig kong wika ni Tiffany.

Huminga akong malalim. "A little. I mean, I was scared he might die."

"I know I shouldn't ask this but why were you near his house early in the morning?"

Nagtaas ako ng tingin kay Tiffany. Alam kong nagtatanong lang siya but why did it feel like she was interrogating me?

"I... Uhm... It's a long story but... I will explain it to you guys later. I just think it's not an appropriate time to tell you about it."

Tumangu-tango siya. "Okey. You should tell us later. Kagabi ko pa napansin na parang wala ka sa sarili mo."

Ngumiti lang ako. Thankfully, natigil kami sa pag-uusap nang marinig namin ang pagbukas ng pinto at lumabas mula roon ang nurse. "Gising na po siya." Anito.

Natanggal na rin sa wakas ang tinik sa puso ko. Kahit alam kong safe na siya, di pa rin ako natahimik kanina knowing he's still unconscious.

Tumayo sina tita mula sa tabi ko. Kasama si Tiffany ay pumasok sila sa loob ng kwarto. I decided to stay here with the rest. I mean, we aren't close so I don't think it's necessary for me to come with them. Plus, hindi pa ako nakakapagbihis. Punong puno pa rin ako ng dugo. Dude, he's been through a lot already. I don't want to show him this. Kakagising lang nung tao.

"Girl, why don't you fix yourself. You look like a mess. He's okey now so wala ka mg dapat ipag-alala." Concern na wika ni Joey.

"Yeah, I think so too. Punta muna ako sa cr."

"Samahan na kita." Anang si Lana.

"Ako rin." Second the motion ni Rina.

Umiling ako. "Hindi na. Dito na lang kayo."

"It's okey. Ayaw ko rin namang umupo lang dito."

Wala na akong nagawa nang magpumilit sila. Nagtungo kaming tatlo sa cr. Doon ay inayos ko ang sarili ko. I looked at the mirror and doon ko lang narealize na pati mukha ko ay may dugo rin pala. I look like I just took a bath in blood.

"That must be traumatic." Ani Lana. "He's lucky you found him."

"I guess so." Sagot ko lang habang pinupunasan ko ang sarili ko.

"I should have brought clothes. Do you want me to buy one? May nakita akong maliit na botique di malayo rito."

"Wag na. I think I should just go back to the vacation house. Kailangan ko rin namang magtungo sa police station. I have to help them draw the sketch of the suspect and kailangan ko rin magbigay ng written statement since I'm a witness."

"Right... Is that really necessary? You went through some s**t too. Di ba pwede ipagpabukas yan?"

Lana and Rina really sound mature today it's surprising. Matapos kong punasan ang sarili ko ay tumingin ako sa kanya. "I barely saw anything but I'm hoping that my statement will help them find the suspect. He almost killed someone. Who knows what his intentions were? Kaya kailangan mahuli siya agad bago pa man siya makapanakit ng iba."

"You are really a journalist." Bilib na wika ni Rina. "Gusto mo bang samahan ka na namin?"

"Thanks but you should stay here."

They both groaned "Hindi nila ako kailangan dito. Marami silang magbabantay kay Phillip. Saka may dalawang police na nagbabantay sa kanya. I'd rather come with you."

I looked at them suspiciously. They never volunteered to help me before. "Why are you surprisingly nice today?"

Nag-iwas sila ng tingin sa akin. "Maganda ang tulog ko kagabi. Bakit? Di ba pwedeng samahan kita? We're friends after all."

I chuckled. "That is so not you. What are you guys getting from this? Do you want a prize?"

They looked at me like I'm insane. "Of course not. Look, I know we're bitchy most times but we're not that bad, okey? Gusto lang naming makasigurado na okey ka. You witnessed a traumatic event. Saka hindi natin alam, baka nakita nung killer yung mukha mo. Paano kung balikan ka niya dahil tinulungan mo si Phillip? We just don't know, Shantal. But just in case, we want to make sure you're okey."

"Even if he comes for me, I don't think you will be able to save me. Si Phillip nga nakaya niyang saktan."

Nilagay niya ang dalawang kamay sa beywang niya. "Well, at least tatlo tayong makakalaban niya."

Mahina akong natawa. Looks like I don't have a choice. "Fine."

Napangiti sila. "Good."

Lumabas na kami ng cr. Pabalik na kami kung saan naghihintay sina Joey nang maalala ko na nasa akin nga pala ang phone ni Phillip. He dropped it earlier while they were bringing him to the operating room. I think it was in his pocket. I'll just ask Joey to give it back to him.

"Hey. I think I have to leave. Kailangan ko pang magpunta ng police station. Okey lang ba kung isama ko sina Lana at Rina?" Paalam ko sa mga kaibigan ko.

"Right now? You should stay for awhile. Sasamahan ka namin mamaya." Ani Torre.

"It's okey. Babalik din kami after namin pumunta ng police station."

Magsasalita na sana si Joey nang bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto ni Phillip at lumabas mula roon sina tita.

"Okey na po ba siya?" Agad kong tanong.

Tumango si tita. "He looks fine." Sagot niya. "You should go inside. He wants to talk to you."

Napakunot ang noo ko. "Ako po?"

She nodded. "Well, she asked who found him so I told him it's you. I think he wants to thank you."

That's not really necessary though. But since kailangan ko rin naman ibalik sa kanya ang phone niya so wala naman sigurong masama kung pumasok ako para kumustahin siya.

"Anyway, uuwi muna kami ng tito niyo para kunin ang iilang gamit ni Phillip. Mukhang kailangan niya manatili dito ng ilang araw. Kayo na muna ang bahala sa kanya."

Tumango ako. "Sige po."

Hinintay ko na makaalis sina tita bago ako naglakad papasok sa kwarto ni Phillip. Before I opened the door, I noticed Tiffany staring at me. We've been friends for a very long time and I haven't seen her stare at me like that. She usually give that look to someone she's not comfortable with. It's like her saying, "hey, I don't like your presence." Which is weird. I mean, bakit niya naman ako bibigyan ng ganyang tingin? May nangyari ba? May nagawa ba ako? May nasabi ba ako na hindi niya nagustuhan. Nagdududa lang ako kagabi but pansin ko na nung mapag-isa kaming dalawa, sobrang tahimik niya. Tsk. Ewan. Mamaya ko na lang poproblemahin yan. I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding.

Pagpasok ko sa loob ng kwarto, nasilayan ko si Phillip na nakasandal sa kama at nakapikit ang mga mata. Natigil ako saglit. Nakatulog ba siya ulit? Should I just leave?

Pero bago pa man ako makatalikod, bigla siyang nagsalita. "Hey."

Dahan-dahang bumukas ang mga mata niya. Naglakad akong muli palapit sa kanya. Dumako ang tingin ko kung saan siya nasaksak. That must be painful. The doctors told us he had 10 stab wounds. That is a lot. That could kill you. Thankfully, the suspect missed his vital points kasi kung hindi ay baka di na siya umabot dito sa hospital.

"I heard you're the one who saved me." He said in a husky voice.

"Well... I guess you could say that?"

Tumingin siya sa akin. "Thank you." Sincero niyang wika. "I didn't expect someone would find me. I thought that was the end of me."

"Everyone said you're a nice person so maybe God spared your life."

He laughed and then groaned in pain. Nataranta naman ako.

"Okey ka lang?"

"I'm fine. Medyo masakit lang yung sugat." Aniya.

Huminga akong malalim. Muntik ko na makalimutan na kailangan ko nga pala ibalik sa kanya ang phone niya. "I'm glad you're fine now." Wika ko matapos ang ilang segundong katahimikan saka inabot ko sa kanya yung phone niya. "It fell out from your pocket earlier. I tried to call your family or just anyone in your contact list but your phone's encrypted so I wasn't able to."

He smiled. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." I answered. "Anyway, I should go. Again, I'm glad you're fine and I'll pray for your speed recovery."

Tumalikod na ako sa kanya at nagsimula na maglakad paalis nang magsalita siya ulit.

"Aren't you curious?"

Nakakunot ang noong bumaling ako ulit sa kanya. "Huh?"

Hindi siya nagsalita at nakatitig lang sa akin. "I mean, hindi ka ba magtatanong? I'm sure curious ka kung anong nangyari. You were the one who saw me first."

"You almost died. It's not my place to ask you a question. We aren't friends and it's none of my business."

Napansin kong may sumilay na namang maliit na ngiti sa labi niya pero agad din iyung naglaho. "But may I ask you a question?"

Hindi ako agad nakasagot. Ano namang tanong ang itatanong niya? "What question?"

"How did you find me?" His face suddenly went serious. "What were you doing in my house?"

Wait... Is he suspecting me? Hindi naman siguro, diba? But how should I answer that? Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya ang totoong dahilan kung ba't ako nakatambay sa labas ng bahay niya but I think that's so out of line. Plus, after what happened... I decided to drop my plan. Saka para namang posible na maiinterview ko pa siya sa ganyang kalagayan. Tatanggapin ko na lamang ang kapalaran ko. Malamang ay wala na akong babalikang trabaho next week.

"Well..." I paused for a moment. "Tita told me to ask you to eat breakfast with us. Hindi ko balak pumasok ng bahay mo ng walang paalam pero napansin ko yung blood spots sa labas ng gate. I freaked out. I thought maybe something happened so I went in. The guy who left your house looked sketchy too. But I didn't mean to be nosy."

Look, I lied a bit but most of it was true. Saka di rin naman mahalaga ang dahilan ko so who cares?

"You saw the guy?" Seryoso niyang tanong.

"Yeah. But di ko nakita yung mukha niya." Sagot ko. "Anyway, I shouldn't tell you this. If you have questions, sa pulis ka na lang magtanong. Tingin ko papunta na rin sila dito after nila malaman na gising ka na. So I should go."

"Hindi mo ba kailangang magbigay ng statement sa kanila?"

"Actually, I do. But I'm a witness and you're the victim. I have to follow the process. I have to drop by the police station. Sinabihan na nila ako kanina."

Tumangu-tango siya. Natahimik na naman kami ulit habang panay lang ang titig niya sa akin. I feel awkward so I keep avoiding his eyes. I should leave now.

"I should go."

"Thank you."

Halos sabay naming sambit. Malakas akong napatikhim. "Uh, bye? Get well soon."

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa ulit. Nakatalikod na ako sa kanya pero ramdam ko ang mga mata niyang nakasunod sa akin. Nang nasa pinto na ako, lumingon ako sa kanya ulit saka ngumiti bago ako tuluyang lumabas.