Who Killed Agatha?

Episode 6

Stephanie

One Year Before Agatha's Death

Right now, I'm in a state of mind,

I wanna be in like all the time

Ain't got no tears left to cry.

I lay on my cream pink bed while still on my pink pajamas with faces of Hello Kitty on it. I heaved a sigh as I frown while staring at the flat screen TV on my room. I am watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. on Netflix while listening to my favorite Ariana Grande song.

Pero kahit na ano pang tuon ang gawin ko sa panonood sa television at pakikinig ng kanta, hindi pa rin noon maalis ang pagkabored ko.

Nakakainis!

Why is life so boring?

I mean, yes, I already have all of the things that I want but why do I feel like there is still something missing on me? Like, a part of me is empty and it affects my whole system.

I don't know pero minsan, nalulungkot na lang ako sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan. 'Yung tipong parang laging may kulang pero hindi mo naman mapinpoint kung saang banda 'yung kulang?

So I'm pickin' it up, pickin' it up

I'm lovin', I'm livin', I'm pickin' it up

I'm pickin' it up, pickin' it up

I'm lovin', I'm livin', I'm pickin' it up.

I let out an irritated sigh. Napapairap akong in-off ang television pati ang Spotify sa aking cell phone.

Okay, wala ako talaga ako sa mood. Time for shopping! Mabilis kong kinuhang muli ang aking cell phone at agad na nagtungo sa iMessage.

Hmm, sino kaya ang yayayain ko?

Eris, Merlion or Avril?

Nuh! Nagsasawa na ako sa mga mukha nila. I continued to scroll down to my contacts.

Oh! Si Vanessa na lang kaya?

Yes! OMG, si Vanessa na lang! Almost one year na rin yata kaming hindi nagbabonding ever since-- I rolled my eyes. "Ever since sinira ni Agatha ang squad namin." I huff as I type my message to Vanessa.

You

Hello, Van! Samahan mo naman akong mag-shopping today.

Io-off ko na sana ang cell phone nang bigla itong mag-vibrate. Vanessa replies quickly! Wala pa ring pinagbago si girl.

Vanessa

I'm studying right now, Steph.

I frown like a kid while reading her reply.

You

It's been a year already since nag-bonding tayong dalawa. My treat!

You

Please!

Vanessa

Steph naman, eh.

You

Pleaaaase, pleaaaaaase.

Vanessa

I really can't, Steph.

You

Sige na, please?

Vanessa

Typing...

You

Promise, sandali lang tayo!

Vanessa

Seryoso ba 'yan? Baka ilang oras na naman 'yan, ah?

You

Yes, I promise! Meet me at our favorite restaurant at 10 AM. Thank you Van, luv u!

Seen 8:13 AM

After one and a half hour, natapos na akong maligo at mag-make up. I am wearing my favorite pink off shoulder, high waist white shorts and a pair of red boots.

I'm ready to go! OMFG, naeexcite talaga ako sa reunion namin ni Vanessa today!

Tumakbo akong nakangiti papasok sa SUV na kanina pa naghihintay sa akin. I secretly giggle as I hop in the back seat, then hastily put my seatbelt on. I already told Manong Driver where Vanessa and I will meet so I put my headphones on, then just browse on my Twitter.

I busy myself with scrolling on my feed when a tweet about Agatha just halt me and quickly ruin my mood. My jaw tenses as I continue to read the tweet.

So, she's working for her another book?

Agad kong sinearch ang trending ngayon sa Pilipinas and boom! mas lalong nasira ang mood ko dahil number 1 trending topic ang name ni Agatha.

Fuck!

I hissed and rolled my eyes. Kung alam lang talaga ng fans niya kung gaano ka-fake ang idol nila, mandidiri siguro silang idolohin ang babaeng 'to.

Umirap ako at agad na ni-mute iyong Twitter user na iyon.

I continue to scroll down and the moment na nairita na ako sa mga lumalabas na name ni Agatha, binlock ko na lahat ng users na nagtu-tweet about her. Even my classmates and schoolmates.

Nakakainis na talaga!

I'm not jealous of her, I'm just pissed off.

A few minutes later, hininto na ni Manong Driver ang sasakyan sa tapat ng restaurant kung saan kami magkikita ni Vanessa. As usual, nandoon na agad siya. Tanaw na tanaw ko siyang nakaupo mula sa glass wall. Never kasi siyang nalelate. For her, time is gold.

Nagmamadali na akong bumaba sa sasakyan. I run with the wind as I entered the restaurant.

I really miss this girl! Hindi kasi kami nag-uusap masiyado sa school. Sabi kasi niya, she wants to be alone. Affected pa rin siguro siya sa pagkasira ng squad namin, siya kasi talaga iyong pinakanasaktan noong nagkawatak-watak kami.

"Van!" I move towards her seat, then hug her tightly that she's afraid it might break her spine.

"I miss you!" I added which is really genuine of me. This is the sincerest thing that I have ever said after a year or two.

She laughed and pulled away from my hug. "Let's go?"

"Yas!" Hinila ko na siya papunta sa mall na matatagpuan sa tabi ng restaurant. As we entered it, we directed our feet towards the all mighty department store.

I will going to buy a lot of dresses today!

Welcome to my impulsive life!

Nang makarating na kami sa loob, kinuha ko agad lahat ng dress na nagustuhan ko. No need to fit it. Kapag hindi kasya sa akin, edi itatapon.

This week, I am fascinated with the color yellow. That was the reason why most of the dress I grab was in accordance of it. I also pick dresses for Vanessa. I will pay for it para naman makabawi sa kanya.

After two long hours of picking dresses for the both us and debating with Vanessa to accept what I bought her, we decided to head back to the restaurant where we met. We need to eat first. I am freaking hungry. Nakakagutom talagang mag-shopping.

"Kaya mo pa?" Tanong ko kay Vanessa habang hirap na hirap siya sa pagbitbit ng ibang paper bags ng dresses na binili ko. She just smiled at me that assure me that she's fine.

Nang makarating na kami sa restaurant, I quickly call the waiter and ordered burgers and fries for us.

While waiting, I look around. Ngayon ay puno ng mga College Students ito. Which is most are sitting with their partners. I cringe when I steady my eyes to the couple who thought that this place is their freaking bed room. Gosh! They are damn french kissing! I can clearly see the guy's tongue to enter that b***h's mouth.

I quickly averted my gaze away.

Nakakadiri kayo!

Muli kong inilibot ang aking mga mata. Napahinto ito nang mapansin ko iyong pamilyar na babae na mag-isang nakaupo at kumakain sa table na malapit sa amin.

I began to raise my eyebrow. Balling my fists, I darted a deadly gaze towards her direction.

It's her.

The snake whose name is Agatha.

I smirk as I continue to stare at her.

Parang gusto ko ng fun today.

Hmm.

And so, I walk towards where she sits alone. This will be fun.

"Hey, Agatha." I smile at her, a fake sweet smile.

She turned her gaze at me, "Oh, Steph!" I am cringing by her smile. I hate it.

"Wanna eat with us? Kasama ko si Vanessa."

"With Vanessa? Sure!" She's so fantastic about it that I really want to smack her head off her body.

If I am my old self right now, I would've believe this enthusiasm of her. But sorry for not buying it, I know better. I am not the same naive girl that she once attacked behind the back. I am not that clueless girl anymore.

Fake pa rin talaga siya. She never show her true colors to anyone. But the moment you know who she really is, you'll be disgusted.

Swear, trust me.

Lumakad na kaming dalawa sa table namin ni Vanessa. Vanessa looked shocked when she saw me walking with Agatha. I just smile sweetly at her.

Umupo na kami. Vanessa looked alarmed as she stared back and forth between Agatha and I. Nakaupo kasi ako sa tabi ng ahas, baka natatakot siyang tuklawin uli ako nito?

Noong dumating na ang pagkain namin, we started to eat. Awkward kaming tatlo habang nag-uusap. Agatha kept on faking herself na masaya siyang kasama niya kaming muli. Na this reminds her of that good old times where we were bonding like this.

Girl, hindi mo na ako maloloko pang muli. I'm rolling my eyes on my mind.

Thirty minutes after, natapos na kaming kumain. Vanessa bid her good bye at us right away. May gagawin pa daw kasi siya. I just told her that I am fine with Agatha. It should be fine because I am about to do something fun with this snake.

As soon as she left the restaurant I turn my gaze on the snake beside me. "Agatha, can you help me? Dalhin mo naman lahat ng pinamili ko. I'm too tired to lift it all." I pouted and acted as if I am in deep muscle pain. Deep inside, I am smirking.

"No problem." She smiled at me, then carried all of the paper bags.

"Let's go?" This is fun. I told myself while sipping my milktea.

Naglakad na kami palabas ng restaurant. Tuwang tuwa ako habang pinapanood si Agatha na hirap na hirap habang binibitbit lahat ng pinamili ko. Hanggang ngayon, tanga at uto-uto pa rin talaga ang babaeng ito.

Well, you deserve it, fake girl.

Habang sinasadya kong bilisan ang paglalakad ko ay patuloy naman ako sa pagsigaw sa kanya na bilisan niya. Na ang kupad kupad niya. Pawis na pawis siyang ngumiti lang sa akin at tumango habang nagmamadaling habulin ako. Mahahalata mong pagod na pagod na agad siya.

"Pagod ka na ba? Hala!" Fake at sarcastic kong tanong. Inagaw ko sa kanya ang ilan sa mga paper bags.

"No, Steph. Kaya ko na 'to, 'wag mo kong isipin." She continues to smile.

Para bang hindi talaga siya nakakaramdan ng inis. Na para bang hindi niya nasesense na pinapahirapan ko lang siya.

"Okay!" I shrug, then threw the paper bags infront of her. Agad siyang lumuhod para kunin iyon. Tawang tawa naman akong tumalikod sa kanya. Naglakad na ako nang mabilis papunta sa parking lot kung saan nandoon si Manong Driver.

Mabilis akong pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan. Iritado ko siyang hinintay. A few moments later, nakita ko na siyang naglalakad papunta sa sasakyan. Sinabihan ko na si Manong Driver na 'wag siyang tulungan. Kaya ngayon, nagmukhang maid ang ahas habang nilalagay niya lahat ng pinamili ko sa likod ng kotse.

"Sabay ka na sa akin, Agatha. Madadaanan naman namin ang subdivision ng bahay niyo." Peke pa rin ang ngiting pinapakita ko sa kanya.

To my surprise, she actually agreed with me. This fake girl is really tough, huh?

Habang umaandar na ang sasakyan, patuloy lang si Agatha sa pagkuwento sa akin ng kung ano-ano. She's telling me stuffs like our happy memories we had a few years ago. Pero hindi ko naman siya pinapansin. Patuloy lang ako sa pag-sip ng milktea na para bang isa lang siyang hangin.

Manhid ba 'tong babaeng 'to or sadyang tanga lang? Umirap ako nang patago.

Noong hindi pa rin siya tumigil ay ibinaling ko na lang ang tingin ko sa bintana. Nandito kami ngayon sa pinakaliblib na lugar ng province namin.

Ganito kasi dito, may mga taong mas piniling hindi ipag-ibili ang lupa nila para gawan ng subdivision kaya along our way, halo-halo ang makikita mo. May palayan then next, subdivision then palayan uli.

"Steph, tulungan mo naman ako." She held my hand and I am quick to jerk it away. "Ibalik natin ang ating squad."

Natigilan ako.

Tama ba ang narinig ko? She wants to fix the friendship that she ruined?

My jaw tenses.

"Stop the car." I told Manong Driver and he stops it quickly.

"Get off the car, Agatha." I dryly said while my eyes are still on the window.

"I am so sorry for crossing the line." She sadly whispers.

I turn my gaze at her. I rolled my eyes before I yell. "I said get off the car!"

She gasps as she began to hold my hand again. Marahas ko iyong itinapon palayo sa akin.

"Steph, delikado dito." She sighed, "Can you atleast, give me a ride for a minute then i-drop mo na lang ako kung saan may mga tao?"

"Ah, delikado?" Nagpatango-tango ako ng ulo bago sumipsip sa milktea. Matapos ay pinanlakihan ko siya nang mata habang nakangisi. "Ano namang pakialam ko?"

Magsasalita na sana siyang muli pero inunahan ko na siya.

"Get. Off. The. Car." Matigas at mariin kong sambit.

Bumuntong hininga siya. Matapos ay napilitan siyang lumabas ng sasakyan.

Noong isasarado na niya sana ang pinto ay pinigilan ko iyon. "Wait, give me your bag including your phone."

"But, Steph. No, 'wag naman gan--"

Hinila ko agad ang bag niya nang hindi niya inaasahan. "Now, go."

Her tears came into view. She stood helplessly infront of me with the corners of her lips turning down.

I just gave her a mocking smile. This fake girl needs to die.

Agad kong sinaraduhan ang pinto, I opened the window and said, "Ang kapal talaga ng mukha mo."

I laugh, sarcastically. "Why would you think you have the rights to fix our squad when in fact, you are the one who ruined it? Para saan? Just to make you look like you are a damn superhero?"

"Well, let me the tell you the truth. You are nothing but a snake!" Bigla kong ibinuhos sa mukha niya ang milktea. Dahil sa ginawa ko ay nagkulay brown ang kaninang puting damit niya. I guffaw as I watch her wipe the blackpearls on her hair.

She began to sob and cry. It satisfies the hell out of me. Nanginginig siyang nakatitig sa akin na para bang nagmamakaawa pero inirapan ko lang siya bago ko muling isara ang bintana.

Sinabihan ko agad si Manong Driver na paandarin na ang sasakyan at mabilis niya naman akong sinunod.

"Pathetic." I smile like a villain as I watch her walk towards our direction. Pathetically.

Sorry not sorry, fake girl.