CHAPTER 11: INCIDENT

SORCHA'S POV

"Akala ko magpapa-search party na ako para mahanap ka."

Hindi ko nilingon ang pinanggalingan ng boses at nanatili lang akong nakatunghaw sa mga dumadaang mga sasakyan sa ibaba ng balkonahe na kinaroroonan ko.

Warmth surrounded me when he draped something on my shoulders. Tinignan ko iyon at nakita ko na pinatong niya sa akin ang suit jacket niya na di hamak na mas malaki para sa akin.

"Gabi na. Baka sipunin ka."

I rolled my eyes. "Ano namang akala mo sa akin? Baby?"

"Baby ko?" Lukot ang mukha na nilingon ko si Daze na tumawa lang sa reaksyon ko. Naiiling na aalisin ko na sana ang jacket pero hinawakan niya iyon para hindi ko magawang tanggalin. "I'm kidding, Red. Relax."

"I was relaxed until you ruined it." I glance at the party from the French door of the balcony. "You and my brother were busy being the life of the party. Bakit ka umalis?"

"Bigla kang nawala eh. You said you're going to the ladies' room, but you didn't come back." Sumandal siya sa harang ng balkonahe imbis na tumingin sa tanawin katulad ng ginagawa ko. "I'd rather be busy with you than with anyone else anyway."

I shook my head. Normal na ata na puro pambobola ang lumalabas sa bibig niya. Before, it annoyed me, but now I'm getting used to it.

"So? Why are you hiding from the party, Ms. Outstanding Service Award?"

"I'm not hiding. I just don't like parties."

"Not because of those jerks?"

Hadley and her posse stayed far from me all night. Surprisingly, I also didn't see them trying to rally other people against me. Para ngang baligtad pa iyon. Parang sila ang naging outcast dahil ang mga taong dating pinagtitripan nila ay di hamak na nasa mas magandang disposisyon na ngayon kesa noon. They used a person's weaknesses before against them, but they can't do that now that the people they treated badly before seem to have a better life than them.

"I heard your brother talking to Hadley and her friends." Umangat ang sulok ng mga labi niya nang parang may maisip siya. "Hadley sounds like Barney. They're both purple. One is a cute purple dinosaur, and the other is purple with envy."

I cleared my throat to hide my smile. Pero hindi nakaligtas sa kaniya iyon dahil mas lalong lumiwanag ang mukha niya at humakbang siya palapit sa akin para titigan ang mukha ko. "I saw that! You smiled!"

"I've smiled before."

"No, you haven't," giit niya.

"I have. Hindi lang sa harapan mo."

His tone grew sharp. "Who?"

"My family," I said with a shrug.

He didn't speak for awhile, and I couldn't help but glance at him. Natagpuan kong nakatitig siya sa akin habang may ekspresyon sa mukha niya na hindi ko mapangalanan.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." His golden retriever with a hidden wolf look appeared on his face again, as if there was a switch on him that had been triggered. "Want to know what I heard?"

"Napakatsismoso mo talaga 'no?"

"Hindi ka interesadong malaman?"

I scrunched up my nose. "What did you hear?" I relented.

He chuckled, and his eyes twinkled as if he found me amusing. Whatever. Curiosity is a sign of intelligence.

"Nevan told them that you and him worked for an agency that is known for being good at knowing things. He said that unless they have a squeaky clean life, it will be better for their sake not to antagonize you. He basically threatened all of them, and by the way they responded and kept to themselves all night, it worked." Inangat-baba niya ang kilay niya. "Mukhang may itinatago talaga sila kung natakot sila sa banta ng kapatid mo 'di ba? Don't you want to know?"

"I don't."

"Really?"

Isinandal ko ang mga braso ko sa balkonahe at ipinatong ko roon ang baba ko. "From the looks of it, they're already living a terrible life. It probably wasn't just now. Maybe things were like that for them even before when we were younger."

"That doesn't excuse the way they treated others."

He's right. It doesn't. Hindi porke may pinagdadaanan ka ay dapat pagdaanan din ng iba iyon sa mga kamay mo. "I don't need to know more about them. It's enough that I know that I have a family that loves me, a job that I love, and I go home every day to my plants that are thriving every day."

I have peace, which is something they clearly don't have. Isa iyon sa bagay na hindi madaling bilhin sa panahon ngayon. Peace is not something that is attainable just by buying a huge house with sky-high walls that is protected by heavily armed guards. Peace is when there's a sense of calm, even in the loudest and most chaotic world.

Tumango-tango siya. "Their life sucks."

Tuluyan ng kumawala ang ngiti mula sa akin. From the sound of it, parang mas malaki pa ang inis niya kila Hadley kesa ang inis ko sa grupo.

I heard Daze's huge intake of breath, and when I looked at him, I saw that he was looking at me with wide eyes, his expression frozen in a state of shock.

Bago pa ako makapagsalita ay hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang balikat at hinarap niya ako sa kaniya. "Don't."

"Ha?" takang tanong ko.

"Don't smile when I'm not around."

Naiiling na sinubukan kong kumawala sa pagkakahawak niya pero hindi niya ako pinakawalan. Binigyan ko siya ng masamang tingin. "Do you want to experience hiring someone to spoon-feed you because your hands are broken?"

"You up for the job?"

I made a move to grab his hands, but to my surprise, he beat me to it. I found my hands on my back while trapped on his large ones, my back on the cold balcony wall, and our bodies merely an inch from each other.

"What—"

"How did you believe their words when it's clear that they're far from being right? I've told you how beautiful you are countless times, but you don't seem to believe me. It's easier for you to believe the opposite. I couldn't understand until tonight. Until I saw how they treat you." Naglakbay ang tingin niya sa buong mukha ko na para bang kinakabisa niya ang bawat parte ko. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't. I wanted to move away, but I didn't. It's like I'm trapped more than he's physically trapping me. Like it wasn't just him that was holding me down at this very moment. "I just don't understand why you would believe them in the first place. Your smile alone could make a man fall on their knees, Red. So why?"

"Because they didn't tell me something that I didn't hear before," I found myself answering. "I was the odd one. My parents carried the Irish genes, and they do look foreign, but they fit here more in this country than I do. Ganoon din si Kuya Nevan. I was different. I was the twin who looked adopted because my family looked alike, but I don't. I've been hearing comments about it since I was little. Iyong iba pabiro lang at wala namag intensyon na masama. Then Hadley and her friends came, and they used it against me every chance they got." Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga. "I learned not to ignore everything, but that doesn't mean that I don't hear their words, Daze."

"What changed tonight?"

You. It was like even without knowing it, Daze was doing the opposite of what all those people had said to me. Walang lumilipas na araw na wala siyang sinasabi sa akin na maganda. He keeps following me around to throw compliments, as if he were born to be a generator of compliments.

It was also because of the way he watches me when he thinks I'm not looking. The way he acts as if he's fascinated by what I do and that he finds every little thing I do amazing.

"It's your fault."

Tinuro niya ang sarili niya. "Me?"

I don't want anything to change. He's still the most annoying person in my life at this moment. So I don't want him to know. I'm not ready for him to know because I don't even know why the things he does have that much impact on me.

"It's because of the dress you made me wear." A smile lifts the corner of my lips. "It's so short that it also shortened my patience with assholes. So, yes. It's your fault."

NAPAPAKUNOT ang noo ko nang paglabas ko ng laboratory ay napansin kong nagkakatinginan ang mga kasamahan ko habang may nanunudyong mga ngiti sa mga labi nila.

It's almost the end of the day, and I've just finished up in the laboratory. Everything was done at the pace that I usually do things before. Tahimik din ang mundo. Wala kasi si Daze dahil tinupad niya ang pangako niya na mawawala siya ng tatlong araw kung papayag ako na isama siya sa reunion party namin.

It's not like he gave up a lot for those three days. Para ngang nadaya pa ako. Nalaman ko kasi na talaga namang hindi siya makakapunta sa tatlong araw na iyon dahil may naka-schedule siya na fan meet event sa norte.

"May dumating para sa'yo," pagbibigay alam sa akin ni Khione.

"Dumating na ano?"

Imbis na sagutin ako ay nginuso lang ng babae ang kinaroroonan ng lamesa ko. I walked towards it, and I let out a sigh when I saw a paper bag on my desk. I already have a guess what's inside, and I already know who it came from.

I opened the bag, and I looked inside. It has the logo of Greenhouse Cafe Tagaytay pero kahit wala iyon ay pamilyar na ako kaagad sa amoy pa lang niyon. The place is one of my favorite food spots here in Cavite.

Hindi pa man nakakaupo ay nag-ring ang cellphone ko. I fished it out of my pocket, and I saw that it was an unknown number—one that I'm familiar with. Iisa lang naman kasi ang numero na hindi ko pa sinesave sa cellphone ko na walang ginawa kundi mag-message sa akin. This is the first time he's called, though.

I could have ignored the call, but I told myself that it's only good manners to do so since he even bothered to buy me dinner, even if he's probably in Manila right now.

"You answered!"

"Hindi ba dapat? You called."

"Gabi na masungit ka pa rin," he chuckled. "Natural talent mo talaga 'yan ano? Gumigising ka sa umaga at natutulog na suplada pa rin. You're always full of feelings. Kasungitan nga lang."

"Kaya ko ring ibaba 'tong tawag ng full of feelings." I shook my head when he just laughed at my threat. "Akala ko ba patatahimikin mo ako ng tatlong araw?"

"I didn't say that."

"What? But—"

"Ang sabi ko ay hindi mo ako makikita ng tatlong araw. Hindi ko sinabing hindi mo mararamdaman ang amazing presence ko. I've been sending you messages even before that you rarely respond to. But now I can even call you."

I pressed my lips together. Kahit ano talaga nahahanapan niya ng lusot. "Kapag hindi mo ako tinigilan, sisiguraduhin kong magiging presence ka na lang talaga."

"Mamimiss mo ako," he teased.

"Blasphemy is a sin."

Umakto akong sinisipat ang laman ng paper bag para itago ang sarili kong ngiti nang marinig ko ang malakas na pagtawa ni Daze sa kabilang linya.

I cleared my throat. "Bakit mo nga pala ako inaabala?"

"Hindi kompleto ang araw ko kapag hindi kita nakakausap. Ikaw ba?"

Inilabas ko ang mga laman ng paper bag. Binuksan ko ang isa at sumalubong sa akin ang mabangong amoy ng chicken pesto. "Kompleto na sana ang tahimik ko na araw kaso tumawag ka." I opened the smaller container and I tried not to let out a sound of satisfaction when I saw that it's bacon and cheese croquette, which is my favorite. "Hindi mo ako kailangang bilhan ng dinner. Pwede naman akong bumili."

"Kung nandiyan ako sabay tayong mag-di-dinner."

"I like how you confidently assume things."

"I like you too." He laughed again when I let out a huff of frustration that he clearly heard. "Dapat nga magpapadeliver din ako ng lunch pero lumabas pala kayo nila Tita kanina. Nalaman ko kasi iniinvite niya rin ako."

Umabot ata hanggang hairline ko ang pagtaas ng kilay ko. "Tita?"

"Dapat ba mother-in-law na ang itawag ko?"

Hinilot ko ang sentido ko. I need to have a talk with my mother again. We already had one about her asking Daze's number through my brother.

"I'm going to end this call. Hindi ako matutunawan kapag kausap kita." I sighed when I remembered to be polite. "Thanks for the food," I grumble.

"You're welcome Grumpy Sorchie." He quickly added, "But don't drop the call!"

"Why not?"

"Hindi mo man lang ba ako tatanungin kung kumain na rin ba ako?"

Muli akong napabuntong-hininga. I can already visualize him pouting. This golden retriever man child will soon give me a migraine. "Kumain ka na ba?"

Hindi pa man tuluyang nakakawala ang tanong na iyon sa mga labi ko ay muntik akong mapapitlag nang bigla na lang nag-iritan ang mga kasamahan ko. Even the men are giving each other looks.

Mga tsismoso. "Bye. Kakain na ako."

"Hindi pa ako sumasagot, Red!"

"You said to ask you, I did. Wala naman akong sinabing interesado ako sa sagot." Pagkasabi niyon ay binaba ko ang tawag. Knowing Daze, he's probably just laughing about it right now.

And yet you feel guilty. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga para payapain ang sarili ko at pagkatapos ay inabot kong muli ang cellphone ko at pinadala ko ang credit card details ko kay Daze. Hindi naman ako natatakot na i-ma-max niya iyon dahil una ay baka mas marami pa siyang pera sa akin, at pangalawa ay kaya kong bawiin 'yon isang tawag ko lang sa mga katrabaho o mga boss ko.

FROM:+639**********

Red? Na-wrong send ka ba?

TO: +639**********

No. Buy yourself dinner.

FROM: +639**********

Aww! Ganito pala ang pakiramdam

ng maging sugar baby. Can I also

go shopping with this?

TO: +639***********

Try it and I'll have someone

hack you.

FROM: +639**********

Hahaha! Thank you, Red. I already had dinner.

I was just curious if you'll get worried.

I have my answer now ;)

Imbis na sagutin siya ay nanggigil na kinuha ko na langang tinidor at kutsara. I started shoveling the food into my mouth as if I were in the bout of stress eating. I really love the GreenHouse Cafe, especially their overall ambiance, so I've been frequenting them since I discovered them. Kaya kahit nakakagigigil si Daze ay wala akong balak ipamigay ang pagkain ko.

I was almost done with eating half an hour later, when the door of the office suddenly blasted open. Humahangos na pumasok si Kuya Nevan.

"Have you talked to Daze?" he asked.

"I have. Thirty minutes ago—"

Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko ng mabilis na lumapit siya sa kinaroroonan ko at binuhay niya ang screen ng monitor ko. He went to Youtube and he typed Daze's name in the search bar. He clicked the first thing that appeared so fast that I couldn't read the headline.

"Daze Henderson, a beloved actor in the Philippine entertainment industry, has found himself entangled in a tragic incident. His own fan was found dead in what appears to be suicide, and has named the actor as the one at fault for her decision. According to our investigative team, this wasn't the first time that this happened. During the start of his career in the country, a fan also met the same fate. Audio evidence points towards Henderson's participation in the first incident. His voice could clearly be heard talking to the fan a day before she died. These incidents also opened the possibility of his involvement in his own brother's death, which has been kept tightly close by their family. Through these coincidences, the people are asking, are they all just that, or is there something more Daze Henderson is hiding from us? Are they all really just tragic suicides, or is there something more—an unsettling secret that must be revealed?"

I pushed my brother's hand away, and I scrolled down into the comment section. I already expected what I would see. People are always quick to judge, and Daze, no matter how much he's loved by many, is not an exception. There are even theories already being formulated.

Mabilis na tumayo ako at hinila ko ang damit ng kapatid ko para sumunod siya sa akin.

"We're going to talk to the Dawson siblings," I declared. "There's more to this, and I can feel it."

"Sorcha, if what they are saying is true—"

The look I gave him was sharp. "We don't know him long, but we know enough, Kuya. He's our golden retriever. Highly energetic, always had something to say, and he could be annoying. He could also be stupid and smart at the same time. What he is not is someone who will drive someone to their deaths."

____________________________End of Chapter 11.