Sinless Sinner

CHAPTER 19

IÑIGO'S POV

"Kuya, dito mo na lang ilagay yung mga 'yan," ani Yvette kung kaya't nabalik sa kanya ang atensyon ko. Wala sa loob na napatango ako kahit wala akong ideya kung ano ba yung sinasabi niya. "Hello? Kuya? Are you alright?" tanong niya kaya tumango ako.

"A-ano nga ulit 'yon?" I asked after shaking my head. I need to get myself back to my senses.

"My stuff. I told you to put it over here," aniya at inginuso pa yung kamay ko na may hawak pa lang paperbag.

"Ohh…" bulong ko at lumapit sa kanya para ibigay itong mga gamit niya. Hindi ko alam king "What brings you here again? At paano mo nalaman na nandito ako? Did you asked Zigmund?"

"No." Mabilis niyang sagot. "And besides, hindi ka naman mahirap hanapin. Wala ka sa bahay at wala ka din sa opisina mo, so there's only one place left to look for you, and it's here sa condo. Wala ka naman kasing social life, kuya." Paliwanag niya kaya napakunot ang noo ko. Casual na casual yung pagkakasabi niya habang nag-aayos ng lenses ng camera niya.

"I have social life," depensa ko pero tinawanan niya lang ako. "Hey, I have friends, remember?"

"Ziggy doesn't count as one, okay? He's like a family, so yeah, you don't have any friends." aniya habang iniilingan pa ako. "Pangit kasi ugali mo," komento pa niya at dumila pa na parang bata. "Anyways, I better start now. Marami akong ipi-film for my Vlog."

"You are what? I'm sorry, I thought I heard you saying that you'll film a Vlog here. How silly," bulong ko.

"Oo nga. May pi-film nga."

"I know it's sil– what?!" Gulat kong tanong. "No! Who said you can use my place for your stupid vlog?"

"First of all, it's not stupid. I used my platform wisely kaya." Paliwanag niya at maarte pa na nameywang pa sa harapan ko. "And secondly, you already agreed to this."

"Kailan ako pumayag?" tanong ko. Wala talaga akong matandaan na nag-agree ako sa gusto niya.

Kilala ko siya at alam na alam ko kung gaano siya kaingay, kagulo at kakalat kapag nagvi-video siya para sa vlog niya.

There is no way I will let her use my place.

"Kanina sa elevator! Ang daya mo kuya! Wala, touch move na! Dito ako mag-video, bahala ka d'yan." aniya at inirapan pa ako.

"Magkakalat ka lang dito, e!" Sigaw ko pero parang wala naman siyang naririnig. "Yvette, isa!"

"Duh. I'm not a kid para bilangan mo," nakasimangot niyang sagot. "Sana sa baba pa lang, hindi na kaagad ang isinagot mo. Nag-yes ka, diba? So deal with it."

"Why are you so stubborn?"

"I'm your sister, what do you expect?" sagot niya at pinaikutan pa ako ng mata. "And don't worry, I just need the kitchen area. I'll clean it up when I'm done. Saka makaka-kain ka naman kaya wag ka nang komontra."

"Ugh, whatever." Pagsuko ko bago pumasok sa kwarto ko. Arguing with her is pointless right now. I'm not in the mood and I have more things to think about.

I dived myself into my water bed and rested for a minute or two before finally deciding on taking a good bath.

After that, I planned on sleeping to recharge my energy but my mind was too occupied. Something is bothering me that I can't figure out.

Dahil hindi rin naman ako dinadalaw ng antok, tumayo na ako at lumabas na kwarto para pumunta sa study room.

My condo have three rooms; one for sleeping, one for a guest and the last one my office's extension.

"Today I will be cooking a simple meal. A very light meal perfect for those who just had a surgery. And yes, if you guys don't notice, I'm here at my kuya's condo, yey!" Narinig kong salita ni Yvette kaya nagmamadali akong pumasok sa study room dahil ang cringey pakinggan ng pagsasalita niya sa camera.

I immediately shut the door. She really sound weird and stupid when she's doing that.

I grabbed a pen and paper and write down some random things that crosses my mind. I was just doodling when my phone suddenly rings.

It was an unregistered number but I decided to answer it anyways, baka kliyente.

"Attorney Iñigo Kenwood speaking," sagot ko.

"Hi, sir! Ako po yung front desk officer from post office."

"Oh, what made you call?" tanong ko. "And how did you get my number?"

"Nag-iwan po ng calling card si Atty. Park pero out of coverage area po siya kaya kayo na lang po yung tinawagan ko," paliwanag niya. "Ang bilin niyo po kasi itawag sa inyo kapag may balita na sa mga nag-AWOL na staff."

Napakunot ako ng noo. Wala kasi akong maalala na nagbilin ako. For sure si Zigmund na naman 'yon. He even gave my calling card to them.

"So there's an update, right? Other ways you won't even dare to call me. So what is it?"

"Eh sir, natagpuan po yung katawan nung dating nasa front desk."

"K-katawan?" Gulat kong tanong at napatayo pa. "Paanong katawan?"

"May nakuha po kasing bangkay ng babae na palutang-lutang dito sa ilalim ng tulay. Na-identified na po yung katawan,"

"She's dead? I mean, really dead?" hindi makapaniwala kong tanong.

"Ay opo, sir. May mga media at police na nga po dito sa office para mag-imbestiga. Baka po nasa balita sa tv na 'to mamaya."

"O-okay. I'll tell Attorney Park about it. Thank you," sagot ko bago putulin yung call. Tumayo ako at nagmamadaling pumunta sa sala para buksan yung tv.

"Kuya, I'm filming!" Reklamo ni Yvette nang marinig niya ang tunog mula sa tv. "Can hoi tone that down?"

"Hush. Shut up," saway ko sa kanya at saka naghanap ng news channel.

Katulad ng sinabi ni Mr. Front desk, nasa balita na yung tungkol sa natagpuang bangkay ng babae sa Bulacan.

"–kasalukuyang nasa Bulacan Medical Center na ang bangkay upang magsagawa ng autopsy. Kinilala ang biktima bilang si Jennika Anonuevo, 22 at isang lokal na residente sa lugar. Pinag-aaralan pa ng mga kapulisan kung ano ang maaaring motibo sa pagpatay. Dannica Pascual, reporting."

"Oh my God! That's horrible!" sigaw ni Yvette habang nakatingin sa tv. May bitbit pa siyang kitchen knife at mukhang nasa kalagitnaan ng paghihiwa nang makuha ng tv ang kanyang atensyon. "How could someone do that? She looks so pretty pa naman."

"We were there earlier," mahina kong bulong pero enough naman para marinig ni Yvette.

"You went there? Anong ginawa mo 'don?" tanong niya at nameywang pa sa harapan ko.

"It was Zigmund. Zigmund tagged me along and we're there for her," sagot ko na nakapagpalaglag sa panga niya.

"S-sinong her? The dead girl? As in that girl from the news?" She asked, very surprised. Well I can't blame her, I myself was too surprised either.

I mean, what are the odds? Is it all coincidental? We were just looking for her and now she's... she's dead?

"Oh my God, kuya. Why were you looking for her? Do you even know her? Who is she? May idea ka ba kung sino yung pwedeng pumatay sa kanya? My God, we need to call the cops and tell them what we know." Natataranta niyang litanya at kinuha pa ang cellphone niya.

I grabbed her phone and I'm glad that I just did. She was about to call the cops! Hindi ko alam kung anong tornilyo ang nawawala sa utak niya at nagkakaganito siya.

"Yvette! Calm yourself down, okay? Remember your breathing exercise, breath in and breathe out," Pagpapakalma ko sa kanya. "I don't know that girl, okay? So I don't even have an idea who killed her and what's their reason. Okay?"

"Oh God, then why were you looking for her? Kuya, be honest with me. I know na may pagka-ill tempered ka but you were never a killer. You're not a violent person."

"What?! Seryoso ka ba, Yvette? Pinag-iisipan mo ako ng masama? Hindi ako kriminal para pumatay ng tao." Galit kong tanong.

"Mabuti na yung sure," aniya habang nakanguso. "Anyways, I trust you naman. I'm sorry if I over reacted. I should know better not to judge someone else. Sorry, kuya." malungkot niyang apologized at nagpakawala pa ng malalim na buntong-hininga. "Siguro ganyan din yung reaksyon ni Lychee nung napagbintangan siya. Now I really feel bad for her,"

"Just go back in the kitchen," utos ko sa kanya habang hinihilot ang sintido ko. I don't even know how she got the idea that I killed that girl or if who is that Lychee she was talking about.

I heaved a deep sigh before getting my phone to dial Zigmund's number. He needs to know about his.

I am now convinced that something really happened. And if my hunch is right, this could also help us to find some leads for the murder case that we're handling.

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