Mundo De Mentiras (Nasaan Ka, Harold?) *Short Story*

Here are the characters of "Mundo De Mentiras (Nasaan Ka, Harold?)". Harold Gadaza (last seen on August 25, 2012, 11:49PM, as caught in CCTV camera) Amelia Nevero (House Party Host) "Harold wasn't supposed to be there at my house party. I didn't invite him due to request of one of our friends. My MU mate, Elijah, was the one who invited him. Buong gabi akong nagbantay sa lahat ng friends ko thinking na magkakaproblema.” Elijah Debuscar (Amelia's MU Mate) "Kung alam ko lang na magkakaganito, hindi ko na sana pinagbigyan ang gusto ni Harold. Naawa ako, eh. Nagkakaproblema silang dalawa ng girlfriend niya. Noong nabalitaan niyang pupunta sa house party si Violet, pinilit niya kong isama siya para makapag-usap sila. Wala na akong nagawa." Terrence Esquivar (Isla's Boyfriend) "Thirty minutes after magsimula ng house party, umuwi na ko. Around 9:30PM, I guess. Nawalan na ko ng gana, eh. Sinong gaganahan, eh, nandoon si Harold? Hindi kami okay noong huli kaming mag-usap kaya nga ayaw ko sana siyang makita roon. Pero kahit inis ako kay Harold, mas bad trip ako kay Elijah dahil siya ang nagpapunta kay Harold sa party. Panay text pa sa akin kung nakauwi raw ako ng maayos." William Gadaza (Harold's Twin Brother) "Around 9:55PM when I decided to go bar hopping with my girlfriend. Si Harper. Tapos dalawa pa sa friend group namin 'yong sumama. When I left the house party, okay naman si Harold, eh. Medyo tipsy but I know my brother, alam niya ang ginagawa niya. Hindi siya gagawa ng ikapapahamak niya." Harper Ilacad (William's Girlfriend) "I didn't want to go bar hopping with William dahil I wanted to bond with our friends sa house party. But hinatak niya ko. More like he forced me. He said he wanted some quality time with me. That was the last time I saw Harold. Sa sobrang inis ko kay William, iniwan ko siya sa isang bar with two of our friends." Isla Quirones (Terrence's Girlfriend) "If I remember it right, bandang 10:15PM when I last saw Harold at the balcony. He was with his girlfriend. From the looks of it, I think they were arguing. Hindi ko na sinubukang pakinggan ang pinag-uusapan nila dahil nagmamadali na rin akong umuwi. I was worried about my boyfriend. He wasn't replying to my messages after niyang umalis ng house party. Isa pa, I didn't want to intervene. I know Violet. Kaya niyang manakit when she's drunk." Scarlett Del Tierro (Rich Man's Daughter) "I can't believe this. I am Scarlett Del Tierro. A Del Tierro! You shouldn't even questioning me here in the first place. Our family lawyer will be here in a few minutes. I already told you what I know. I saw Harold texting someone at the kitchen around 10:40PM. That's it." Leopoldo Gadaza (Harold's Cousin) "Huli kong kita kay pinsan, siguro mga bandang 10:50PM 'yon. Nahuli niya kaming nagdyudyugdyugan ng syota ko sa isa sa mga kwarto sa house party. Syempre nahiya na girlfriend ko kaya nabitin ako. 'Yong inis ko kay pinsan dinaan ko na lang sa pagsasarili. Kaya hayun, umuwi agad ako pagkatapos kaming mahuli ni Harold. Sinasama ko nga girlfriend kong umuwi kaso sobra yatang nahiya kaya mag-isa na lang akong umuwi." Daisy Alfarez (Violet's Best Friend) "I got tired after bar hopping with William and Owen. So I decided to go back to the house party to take a rest. Mas malapit kasi 'yong house ni Amelia kaysa sa apartment ko. I think 11:10PM noong makabalik ako sa house party. Dumiretso ako sa basement para magpahinga kaya hindi ko na ulit nakita si Harold. Pagdating ko sa basement, nandoon din si Jefferson. He was drinking." Jefferson Lagdamesa (The Quiet One) "Sanay na sa akin ang friends ko. Ugali kong magsolo kapag umiinom. Kaya naman nasa basement lang ako buong party. Minsan umaakyat ako to take some food and then balik na ulit to my "safe space". Regarding kay Harold, pinuntahan niya ko sa basement around 11PM. Usap kaunti and then he said may gagawin lang daw siya. I thought babalik pa siya sa basement. Hindi na pala." Tamara Beltrano (Leopoldo's Girlfriend) "Wait, I think around 11:35PM nang huli kong makita si Harold. He was talking to someone in his phone at the balcony. Kakaway sana ako sa kanya to say goodbye but naunahan ako ng hiya. Nahuli niya kasi kami ng boyfriend ko doing it. Alam niyo na kung ano 'yon." Owen Cabrezo (Harold's Best Friend) "Mag-isa na lang ako sa bar when I received a message from Harold. Sabi niya magkita raw kami. Mga 11:40PM yata 'yon. Kasi naaalala ko, wala na kong kasama sa bar niyon. Si William umuwi na. And then after few minutes, I called Harold to confirm kung tuloy kami pero naka-off na 'yong phone niya." Amir Prateno (William's Best Friend) "Huli kong kita kay Harold, around 11:45PM. Medyo nakainom na ako niyon pero kung tama ang pagkakaalala ko, may kausap siya sa balcony. Hindi ko nga lang nakita kung sino dahil natatakpan ng curtain. But I'm sure someone was out there with Harold behind the curtain. And then hinatak ako ni Amelia para puntahan si Elijah, 'yong MU mate niya." Violet Oliverios (Harold's Girlfriend) "It's normal for boyfriend and girlfriend to have an argument from time to time. It wasn't a big deal. If only I knew this would happen to Harold, sana hindi ko na lang siya iniwan that night. I had enough of our petty arguments, so I left around, uhm, before 11PM, I guess. I really can't remember. But please. I'm begging you. Find my boyfriend. Find Harold." ----------