Davidson Academy: School of Chambers

EPISODE 17

Chapter 17- The Degoria's

Samantha's POV*

October 05. 5 am.

I was lying on my bed, half-awake. Ayokong bumangon dahil Wednesday ngayon, which means may pasok. I hate the idea of going to school, the idea of meeting those bunch of hypocrites na walang ibang ginawa kundi husgahan ka. I'm tired of all these bvllshts.

Bukas na ang birthday ko. I still have this day to spend my freedom. After that, everything will end.

Fifteen minutes later bumangon na lang ako and took a bath. It was already 6:30 nang makabihis ako. I wore my I.D at bumaba na. Nakita ko sina mom, dad, and Stephanie na nasa table na at kumakain.

"Good morning mom, dad," I greeted and kissed their cheeks. They greeted me too and mom even hugged me. Umupo ako sa upuan which is unfortunately katabi ni Steph. I did not bother to take a glance on her direction.

"Why are you wearing your school uniform?" takang tanong ni mom sa akin. Wednesday kasi ngayon so I need to wear my P.E uniform.

"I left my P.E uniform sa locker eh," sagot ko at napakamot pa sa ulo ko. Tumango naman si mom.

"Tomorrow will be your debut, are you excited?" tanong ni dad. Ngumiti naman ako ng matamis.

"Of course dad, I'm looking forward for that," I answered. Gusto ko ng bonggang celebration, wherein people would greet me a happy day even if they are wearing a plastic smile. I want everyone to enjoy the party even if it means I need to suffer. I need to make them smile.

"That's good to hear," sagot ni dad. 

After kong kumain nagpaalam ako kay mom and dad. Nagpahatid na ako kay manong driver and I was surprised nang makita ko si Stephanie sa sasakyan. She was wearing her uniform.

"Oh, what a surprise. Sasabayan mo na akong pumunta?" I asked. She looked at me.

"Nasusuka pa rin akong makatabi ka. But I need to come early to school," seryosong tanong niya. Gusto kong sikuhin siya at sukahan rin ngunit naalala kong may sakit siya. Again, hindi ko na lang siya pinatulan.

The driver entered the car. He is the driver my dad replaced to our sick driver. Pinaandar niya ang kotse at pinatakbo.

Stephanie is a college student. Nag-aaral siya sa San Isidro College na katabi lang sa school namin. She is taking up medicine and she's a first year student.

Huminto si manong sa harap ng gate ng Davidson Academy. Mas malapit kasi ang school ko kaysa kay Stephanie. Malawak kasi ang Davidson Academy kaya medyo malayo pa ang San Isidro kung lalakarin.

Naglakad na ako papasok and some eyes are still staring at me. I acted like wala akong pakialam and raised the volume of the music higher.

Napalingon ako sa likuran ko when someone poked me. Nakita ko si Draico and he's looking at me. He is not smiling, seryoso ang mukha niya which is nakakapanibago. Wala ang mapaglarong aura niya.

"Hey," I greeted. He did not smile at me. Kumunot naman ang noo ko. "May problema ba?"

"Forget your class, for now, come with me," sabi niya at hinila ako. Inalis ko ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakahawak niya.

"Saan mo ba ako dadalhin?" pilit na pinapakalma ko ang sarili ko. I got a feeling that something's wrong. Kinakabahan ako.

"Something related to your past," sagot niya. Mas kinabahan ako doon.

Nauna siyang maglakad and I got no choice but sundan siya. If this will help in remembering who I really am, I will participate.

Lumabas kami sa gate and since hindi pa 7:30, we got the chance na makaalis. Once kasi na 7:30 na, hindi na pinahihintulutan na lumabas ng paaralan.

Huminto siya sa harap ng isang gray na motor. Agad siyang sumakay doon and I remained standing. Nagdadalawang-isip kasi ako kung sasakay ako o hindi.

"Are you sure I'm going to ride there?" tanong ko. Hindi naman kasi ako takot na sumakay, I even know how to drive, but the thing is I am not on my P.E uniform. Ang ikli ng skirt ko.

What the hell was that? Kailan pa ako natutong mag-drive? Ugh saan na naman nanggaling ang thought na 'yon? This is driving me crazy.

Hinubad niya ang jacket na suot niya at itinapon sa akin buti na lang at nasalo ko. Sumakay ako sa motor and placed the jacket on my legs. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag.

"Thanks," I said and placed my hand on his waist. Pinaandar niya naman ang motor ng mabilis. Hindi masyadong traffic ngayon kasi maaga pa. Presko pa ang hangin na dumadaan sa mukha ko.

Minutes passed at narating na namin ang destination. It was an old house na may blue na gate. Medyo malaki siya, simple yet elegant. The gardener who was busy watering the plants approached us.

"Iho, ang bilis mo namang makabalik. Ano ba kasing pinuntahan mo?" tanong ng gardener kay Draico.

"Sinundo ko siya, she would be a great help," sagot ni Draico kaya lumingon sa akin ang gardener. I smiled at him.

"Gerlpren mo iho? Ang swerte mo namang lalaki sapagkat napakaganda ng mapapangasawa mo," sagot ni manong gardener. I smiled at manong at dahan- dahang umiling.

"We are childhood friends manong, nothing more," I answered formally. Wala sa isip ko ang magkaroon ng boyfriend and definitely, not Draico.

"Ganoon ba? Nakakapanghinayang naman kung ganun, bagay na bagay kayo," sabi ni manong. I remained composed and reactionless. Who cares kung bagay kami? I don't feel something special for Draico and I know the feeling is mutual.

"If you don't mind, kailangan na naming pumasok manong," sabi ni Draico. Pinapasok naman kami ng gardener. I looked at Draico and he still had that serious face. Sobrang nakakapanibago.

"What are we doing here?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Tumawag sa akin si Mrs. Degoria, ang nakatira dito. They are one of my family's close friends, and when I came here, nakabulagta na si Mr. Degoria, her husband. This is a case I need to solve," sagot niya. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko.

"Then why did they call you? They should have called the cops!" I answered. Umiling naman siya.

"Sikat ang pamilya nila. Their 2 daughters are famous actresses, and their son is a model. Mr. Degoria is a famous musician. Masyadong malinis ang reputasyon ng pamilya nila and this would be a great scandal pag kumalat," sagot niya.

"Anong kinalaman ng past ko dito?" tanong ko.

"You will know once we get in," sagot niya. Wala na akong choice kundi pumasok sa pinto na binuksan ni Draico.

Bumungad sa amin ang umiiyak na isang matandang babae, whom I thought is Mrs. Degoria. May dalawang magagandang babae rin which I think are the daughters, one is blonde and the other has a short hair. They are also crying. The only boy, maybe the son, is standing there at nakatulala. He isn't crying.

The one that really caught my attention is the dead man on the floor. Hawak-hawak pa ng kaniyang kanang kamay ang tungkod at ang isa nitong kamay na puno ng dugo. Nakaawang pa ang bibig niya. The dead man is wearing a stripe blue shirt and an old pants na puno ng dugo. Wala siyang saksak ngunit puno ng bruises ang kanang banda ng leeg and also sa mga kamay niya. He was beaten up badly and he looks awful. The sight made me cringe.

"Sila ang tinawag ninyo didto mama? Are you sure these dumb and stupid highschool kids can help us?!" inis na sigaw ng babaeng blonde kay Mrs. Degoria. Hindi na ako nag-react kasi hindi naman mababa ang level ko para pumatol sa kanya.

"Tumahimik ka Blonde Marie," saway ng babaeng maikli ang buhok. So the blonde's name is Blonde Marie. Nice.

"Glazelle Mariela, dalhan mo muna ako ng tubig," mahinahong sabi ni Mrs. Degoria. Tumango naman ang babaeng maiksi ang buhok. So the other daughter's name is Glazelle Mariela, interesting names.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas at bumalik si Glazelle with a glass of water at ibinigay ang glass kay Mrs. Degoria. Inilagay iyon ni Mrs. Degoria sa table na katabi sa sofa, malapit sa bangkay.

"How long is he lying there?" tanong ko kay Draico.

"He's dead around 6:00 a.m," sagot ni Draico. The clock shows 7:54 a.m, so it's been almost 2 hours when the poor man is dead.

"Who among you here is right-handed?" tanong ko. Nagpataas naman ng kamay si Allan, the victim's son. Nalaman ko ang pangalan niya through the certificate hanging on the ceiling.

"Dad is right-handed too," sabi ni Allan.

"T-Teka, pinagsususpetyahan mo ba kami ha? H-Hindi namin magagawa sa sarili naming ama iyon!" sigaw ni Blonde pero hindi ko na siya pinansin.

Sinuri ko pa ang bangkay, being careful not to touch a single thing para hindi ma-contaminated ang crime scene. It feels familiar, na parang ginagawa ko na ito noon.

Napansin kong may dugo sa isang daliri niya which is the pinky finger. Sunod kong napansin ang shirt niyang may mga dugo that forms a pattern and I have a hunch na galing yun sa dugo na nasa pinky finger niya because the blood on the shirt seemed like fingerprints na sinadyang ilagay sa shirt.

(DISCLAIMERS: This is only an illustration of the pattern. Kayo na bahala imagine sa crime scene lol)

What the hell is that? It could either be a clue of the identity of the killer that the victim gave or the killer gave it to mislead us and point the wrong killer.

"The victim gave the clue, the culprit isn't dumb enough to put his/ her own fingerprint there," Draico said. That was exactly what I was thinking.

Tinignan ko pang mabuti ang nasa shirt ng biktima. If he is a musician, it could be something that is related to music. Could it be a note?

"Anong favorite instrument ng biktima?" I asked. If what I am thinking is right then she is the killer.

"A guitar," malumanay na sagot ng Glazelle. So I'm right, ikaw nga talaga ang killer.

"I-I think I know who the killer is—"

"Parehas tayo ng iniisip Samantha, but you gotta look at this first," sabi ni Draico. Kumunot naman ang noo ko and knelt down to see the thing that Draico wants me to look at.

Kumunot ang noo ko when I saw a B.M underneath the victim's left hand. The letters are facing us. If this is the initials of the culprit then it would be Blonde Marie.

"B-BM? Blonde Marie?" di-makapaniwalang usal ni Glazelle. Ilang beses namang umiling si Blonde.

"H-Hindi ko magagawa 'yan sa imahe ko! I won't ruin my image just by killing my father!" sigaw ni Blonde.

"Ha! You only care about your image ate! No wonder ayaw ni papa sayo!" sigaw ni Glazelle.

"I hate him too naman eh! He is a total drinker! Walang ibang ginawa kundi magpaka-obsess with his music!" galit na sigaw ni Blonde.

"Kaya mo nga siya pinatay?!" galit na sigaw ni Glazelle.

"T-That's the point, I want him dead but I can't kill him and you know that!" sagot ni Blonde.

"Both of you stop, kung tutuusin lahat tayo may motibong patayin si papa eh," mahinahong sabi ni Allan na nakapagpatigil sa bangayan ng dalawa.

"What do you mean?"

"Mama, alam kong alam mo na may kabit sa papa," mahinahong sabi ni Allan at hindi man lang nagulat si Mrs. Degoria. Parang unti-unti nang namamasa ang mga mata niya.

"Blonde, alam kong ayaw mo kay papa dahil lasinggero siya and you think he is a psycho. Mama, you can kill papa dahil sa pagtataksil niya. While me? Di na ba sapat na patayin siya dahil sa katarantaduhang ginawa niya kay mama?" sabi ni Allan. Walang sumagot kahit isa sa amin and I stayed quiet dahil away nilang pamilya iyan.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," pagpaumanhin ko nang masagi ng aking braso ang baso na nasa mesa. Nahulog iyon at nabasag sa sahig. Kukuhanin ko na sana ang walis at dustpan na malapit sa pinto nang pigilan niya ako.

"Ako na," malumanay na sabi niya and went towards the door. Habang nakatalikod siya, I saw something that confirmed my theory. You are the killer.

"I don't know with Glazelle, she is a very good example of daughter. You are papa's favorite. I can't see a reason why you can kill him. Unless, you are good in keeping secrets," pagpapatuloy ni Allan. Bigla akong napaisip 'don. Are the good ones really good?

"M-Mahal ko si papa, h-hindi ko matanggap na p-patay na siya," umiiyak na sabi ni Glazelle habang winawalis ang mga bubog. I smirked.

"Really? Gaano kamahal, Glazelle? You value your dad that you can kill him?" seryosong tanong ko kay Glazelle that caught her off guard.

"Watch your words, highschool kid!" galit na sigaw ni Blonde Marie. Mas humagulgol ng iyak si Glazelle and Blonde hugged her.

"G.M, that's the meaning of the pattern na nasa shirt ng biktima. That is a guitar chord G.M, and among you, Glazelle Mariela lang ang tutugma sa binigay na clue ng biktima," I said. Walang sumagot ni isa so I continued.

"For the BM underneath the victim's left arm, isinulat iyon ng criminal to frame up Blonde. The letters are facing us 'nung tinignan namin iyon, how can the victim write it na nakabaligtad from him? That is the mistake that the killer did," I continued. Everyone's eyes stared at Glazelle as she continued crying.

"The weapon you used is ang mismong tungkod ng biktima. When he died, ibinalik mo sa kamay niya ang tungkod and wrote B.M underneath the arm. You are wearing a long skirt at hindi mo na namalayan na namantsahan ng dugo ang saya mo," sabi ni Draico. Ang maliit na mantsa ng dugo ang nakita ko sa edge ng skirt niya nung tumalikod siya para kunin ang dustpan.

"I-I have my period today!" medyo nawawala na ang composed na Glazelle na nakita ko. I saw a desperate shadow wanting to escape the scenario.

"We can get a blood sample on your skirt and have it tested," sagot ko. Lumakas ang iyak ni Glazelle. It took several minutes bago siya magsalita.

"O-Oo, I killed papa. He is the worst person I ever met," Glazelle confessed and everyone gasped. "You think sinusunod ko siya and be the perfect daughter according to my will? No!"

"I-It all started when I was still in highschool, Grade 9. H-He r***d me, b-binaboy niya ako. I-I can't tell you guys because he blackmailed me. He said he will ruin the family, and to make sure I'll keep my mouth shut he recorded a video of us doing that thing, and he will send that to mom at ayokong mangyari 'yon. Now, he attempted to r**e me again, nanlaban ako, then the fcking bastard said na ibibigay niya kay mama 'yon. That's why he died." paliwanag ni Glazelle. Lumambot ang puso ko dahil 'don. It was for self-defense after all.

"Here's the proof that I'm telling the truth, go tell the police I killed my own father, I don't care. As long as he's dead, I'm in peace kahit ikulong pa ako," sabi ni Glazelle and gave Draico the flashdrive.

"G-Glazelle, I-I don't have any idea y-you were suffering," umiiyak na sabi ni Blonde and hugged Glazelle tightly. Humagulgol na silang dalawa.

"Oh God, hindi ko alam na nangyayari ito sayo aking anak, sana mapatawad mo ako dahil hindi ko kayo nabantayan ng mabuti, patawad anak, patawad," sabi ni Mrs. Degoria and they all cried.

Not all victims are victims. Not all suspects are suspects. Some suspects are also victims, and some victims are suspects. Others are even innocent. But one thing is for sure, justice shall be served.

(end of chapter)