CHAPTER 35: COSMIC KARMA

SORCHA'S POV

"She confessed to faking her death to ruin Daze's career years ago. She also admitted to sending him gifts from time to time. We didn't mention anything about Santana, and she didn't as well. Ballard is aware that we're investigating her death, but she also knows that we don't have direct evidence against her. She also keeps mum when it comes to Daze's parents."

From the one-way mirror, I could see Aubrey Ballard inside. Despite being kept in the secure interview room for hours and facing the Dawsons, she still looks calm, like this is just a normal day for her.

I watched her with the Dawsons, and I know that she was rattled by their intimidation tactics, but she bounces back like nothing happened. The Dawsons could keep at it, and for sure they will soon break her, but that could take hours. Isa pa ay kailangan na rin nilang asikasuhin ang pagdala sa mga magulang ni Daze dito sa Pilipinas. Thorn and Gun Dawson are even going to Australia themselves to get them.

Exhaustion is beginning to show on my brother's face as he continues, "We look into her home, and there's no sign of strychnine. She already disposed it as expected."

"Circumstancial evidence can still appear valid in court proceedings, Kuya, and you know that. Hindi siya umamin dahil alam niyang ikalulubog niya iyong lalo. But she's delaying the inevitable. The circumstantial evidence we have against her is sufficient to meet the criteria for a conviction. Wala na siyang kawala. She just doesn't have it in her right to accept that."

Nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga ang kapatid ko. "I have a feeling that she's also confident in the fact that she could get away with this because of the Hendersons. But if those two can do this to their own son, they will surely drop her without a second thought. Sigurado ako na sa mga oras na ito ay inuumpisahan na nilang plantsahin ang gagawin nilang narrative para malusutan ang problema nila na ito."

They wouldn't be able to get away, though. Lalo na kung mapapatunayan na may kinalaman sila sa pagkawala ni Grace Abadiño.

"Want to try talking to her?"

Napaangat ang kilay ko. "I'm a forensic scientist."

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Even Luna Dawson tried interrogating someone before."

"We can hardly call that interrogation," singit ni Trace na katabi ni Axel na nakaupo sa harapan ng one way mirror. "She has the natural talent of being annoying."

"So does Sorcha."

Pinaningkitan ko ng mga mata si Kuya Nevan na proud na proud pa sa sinabi na para bang dapat ika-proud iyon. "What if ibalik kita sa sinapupunan ng nanay mo?"

"Eh di pati ikaw masasama. Buy one take one tayo, remember?"

I rolled my eyes before tipping my chin toward Aubrey Ballard. "How do you want to approach this?"

Mabuti na lang ay nakumbinsi nila Pike si Daze na maghapunan muna. Kasama ko sila kanina pero nauna na ako dahil gusto kong i-check ang kapatid ko. Pike forced Daze to stay with him for awhile, probably letting the man who isn't used to what's happening around us a little break.

"Good cop, bad cop. Siyempre ako ang good cop."

"Bakit ako ang bad cop?"

"Natural sa'yo 'yon sa akin hindi. I'm not much of an actor like your boyfriend—aray!" Yumuko siya at hinawakan niya ang nasaktang binti na basta ko na lang sinipa. "See? Bagay kang maging bad cop dahil masama talaga ang budhi mo."

Umakto akong sisipain siya ulit na ikinaatras niya. Instead of kicking him, though, I gave him one scathing look before I walked towards the door that would lead to the interview room. Mamaya isumbong pa ako sa mga magulang namin. Sumbungero pa naman ang isang 'yan.

I grab a clipboard at the last minute. May naka-attach na roon na ballpen at mga papel na ilan ay blangko habang ang iba ay mga impormasyon na tungkol sa babae na nasa loob.

When I entered the room, I noticed how Ballard had straightened. There was a flash of recognition on her face. Hmm.

Umupo ako sa bakanteng upuan sa harapan niya. I didn't acknowledge her or anything. I just took a seat while looking at my clipboard with a bored expression. Hindi naman nagtagal ay muling bumukas ang pintuan at pumasok ang kapatid ko na tumabi sa akin.

"We have more questions for you, Miss Ballard," my brother informed her.

"Gaano niyo ako katagal ikukulong dito? Nasabi ko na sa inyo lahat ng kailangan niyon malaman. Nagpanggap ako na nag-suicide para sirain ang career ng Daze na 'yon. Hinire ako ng parents niya at binayaran nila ako ng malaki. At oo nagpapadala ako ng mga regalo sa kaniya pero ano naman? Ang daming mga taong nagpapadala rin sa kaniya. Anong masama sa ginawa ko? Ang dapat na kinakausap niya ay ang magulang ng lalaking 'yon na handang magbayad ng ibang tao para lang sirain ang sariling career ng anak nila."

There was vehemence laced in her tone whenever she's mentioning Daze. Obsession comes in different forms. Hate, like love, can take the form of a strong emotion that could fuel a person's need to make that the focus of their identity with the fixation of wanting the other person destroyed.

I could see that in her.

"We'll talk to them, Miss Ballard, but it's important that we get the whole truth from you," Kuya Nevan calmly explained.

"Nasabi ko na lahat ng kailangan kong sabihin—"

"Do we really need to?" I barely glance at the woman as if her role is insignificant in this, and I turn to my brother. "We all have the evidence we need, and it's enough for the court even without direct evidence. She admitted faking her death and being paid to do it. It's already established that she's capable of deceit." I raised my hand and started counting with my fingers. "She kept track of Daze, and she's been sending him gifts for years, we have a fingerprint match, and she used the codename Ignatius that connected her to the poison used in Vanessa Santana. We don't have direct evidence, but we have multiple circumstances that make a coherent narrative. This could already go to court. We don't need her statement."

My brother let exasperation colored his face. "Sorcha, she's still important to the case. Kailangan nating malaman kung anong nangyari kay Vanessa Santana. We need to know why she poisoned Santana."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. Important? This case could go on without another word from her. You want to know what happened to Vanessa Santana? That's easy." Itinuro ko ang babaeng nag-aapoy ang tingin sa akin. I looked at her up and down, and I let disgust spread on my face. "Isn't it obvious? She was jealous of her. They're both fans of Daze. I mean, sino bang taong magiging invested sa isang katulad ni Daze kung hindi fan? She's even been sending him gifts for years. That's dedication, right there. Siguro napansin ni Daze si Santana kaya naiinggit ang isang 'yan."

Bumuka ang mga labi ng kapatid ko pero hindi niya nagawang makapagsalita nang pumainlang sa paligid ang malakas na pagtawa ni Aubrey Ballard.

The way she's looking at me, it's like she wanted to lunge at me. But she's smart enough to know how that will just end badly for her.

"Kung umakto ka parang ang galing mo pero puro katangahan lang ang sinasabi mo. Parehas kayo ng Daze na 'yon 'no? Mga pasarap kayo sa buhay. Ang tataas ng lipad niyo kasi lahat hinahain para sa inyo. Pero wala naman kayong mga utak. Mga wala kayong alam."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Ano bang dapat pa naming malaman? You're too predictable. You're not even original. You're just like any psychopath out there who's driven by jealousy because you have a terrible life. That's why you're so fixated on people who have it good. Tama naman ang sinabi ko hindi ba? Inggit ka kay Vanessa Santana. She came from a good family. Mahal siya ng pamilya niya. She graduated from a good school, she's smart, and she would have a great future ahead of her if you didn't kill her. Eh ikaw? You didn't finish college because you weren't smart. You've been fired from job after job. You don't have any good relationships, because, let's face it, you're plain and there's nothing great about you. There's a better chance of Daze noticing Vanessa than you because she's pretty." Pinagkrus ko ang mga braso ko at pinasadahan ko siya ng tingn. "You don't even have the most basic thing. You don't have a family that loves you. You weren't wanted from the very start that's why they abandoned you in an orphanage."

Kumawala ang matunog na mura mula sa bibig niya at akmang tatayo siya na parang susugudin ako pero kaagad siyang naitulak paupo ng kapatid ko. With a smile on my lips, I stood up and leaned my hands on the table while looking straight into her eyes.

"You think you're so great that you killed her without leaving any evidence? But I caught you. Me. You think you're so smart? One look, and I found the clue you left. Ignatius tree and strychnine? Using that tree as your inspiration because Daze's family must have shown you pictures and you saw it too? I got all of that faster than you did. It took you years. I just needed weeks."

Hinawakan ako sa braso ng kapatid ko at pilit niya akong pinaupo. He gave Ballard an apologetic look before he turned to me. "Sorcha, don't talk to her that way. If you don't stop, we'll pull you out of this case." Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Vanessa Santana's death was unfortunate, but you must admit, it was a difficult case. Most people will leave evidence, especially if it's the first kill, but Miss Ballard didn't."

The way Ballard's crazy eyes are looking at my brother is making me want to claw them out of their sockets. Pakiramdam niya talaga ay kinakampihan siya ng kapatid ko. She feels seen, something I have a feeling doesn't always happen. Kaya lumalatay sa kaniya ang mga binitawan kong salita. My brother's words probably felt like balm to her right now.

"Difficult? I have better cases that deserve more of my time than this. Like I've said, we don't need her statement. One way or the other, she'll go down for the death of Santana. Walang mawawala sa atin kung hindi siya magsasalita. Her words are as insignificant as her." Binalingan ko ang babae na bumalik ang galit sa mga mata nang tumingin sa akin. "Maybe it's a good thing that Santana died fast. She doesn't have to deal with you much longer."

Pagak siyang tumawa. "Died fast? Hanggang sa huli nagdusa ang babaeng 'yon. Katulad niyo akala rin ng isang 'yon sobrang galing niya. Ano kung matalino siya sa skwela kung bobo naman pagdating sa buhay? Simpleng pagluluto hindi niya kayang gawin kaya nga puro order lang ang ginagawa niya. Ang dali kong nakibasado ang schedule niya at sobrang dali rin para sa akin para makuha ko ang isa sa mga iyon bago ko ipinabigay sa kaniya." Kumikinang ang mga mata niya na para bang masayang bagay ang kinukuwento niya. "No'ng puntahan ko siya ang bilis niyang naniwala na may antidote ako para sa lasong kinain niya. Hindi ko na siya kailangan kumbinsihin ng matagal para isulat ang suicide note niya na sinisisi ang Daze na 'yon. Kung hindi ba naman siya bobo, bakit ko siya pagsusulatin no'n kung bubuhayin ko pa siya?"

She was expecting a reaction from me, but the provoking expression I had moments ago was gone, and it was replaced by a calm, blank expression. I had nothing more to say to her, and I had no more energy that I'm willing to give her. I already got what I wanted, and I let it show in the look I'm giving her.

"That was desperation to live, not stupidity," my brother said coldly. "Yours, though, couldn't be called anything else except vile foolishness."

"A-Ano—"

"Do you know what we saw when we found the hole you've been living in for years? The things we found out? Sorcha was right. You're so predictable that it hurts to look at." Tiim ang bagang na umiling ang kapatid ko. The investigation is ongoing, so the information we're receiving is real-time. Even now, more things are being added to what we already know. "You were an orphan who could have lived a better life. You were one of the many who have been granted the scholarship Daze's grandparents were giving to those in need, regardless of whether they were exceptional or not in academics. They just wanted to provide education. But instead of focusing on your life, you focused on your jealousy and hatred. You blamed everyone for your misfortunes. You think that those who have a better life are lucky because they're being given everything. Hindi mo alam na pinaghihirapan nila kung anong meron sila. Yes, they have privileges. But privilege is useless if one doesn't make an effort. Yes, they have a head start. They have an advantage. But even a million advantages will fall short against those who have dedication. They are working hard to keep what they have because they know how to be thankful. At least, Daze and Vanessa are that way. You, on the other hand, just want it easy. You feel like the world owes you, and somehow you think that it's your right to reap what you think you deserve from other people."

In the perfect life, Vanessa Santana would still be here. In the perfect life, Aubrey Ballard could have a different story as well. But we are all bound by our choices, and the choices she made caused another life to perish. An innocent life that has so much potential yet it was robbed off her.

In a perfect life, Vanessa Santana would still be here. In a perfect life, Aubrey Ballard could have a different story as well. But we are all bound by our choices, and the choices she made caused another life to perish. An innocent life that has so much potential, yet it was robbed of her.

"You could have been more, but instead you're this. You thought it balanced everything out that the parents of a child who seemed to have it all wanted to harm him. You thought that there was finally a balance. Daze, the grandson of those people who provided for you, wasn't living a perfect life like you thought he had or that the world thought he had, and you feel delighted by that fact. You thought your existence was so significant because you could bring that supposed karma to him." Kuya Nevan gave her a pitying look. Something she clearly didn't want because I could feel more anger vibrating around her. "You could have been more. But now, you'll be nothing. You'll be in prison, and for the years to come, all you will be able to think about is the kind of life you could have if only you chose differently. Vanessa Santana will always be remembered by her family. She will always be loved. She will be important to them. Daze, the person she idolized—a person that made her happy—will also continue his life. A life where he's loved by many. But you? You will be forgotten. The only reminder you will have in this world is the nightmare you caused. And even if someone remembers you, they will remember nothing but disappointment and disgust at the thought of your existence. That's cosmic karma. That's your life. That's your story."

Tumayo ako at walang lingon na naglakad ako palabas. I could hear the woman calling me, shouting at me as if any of her words meant anything by this point, but I didn't glance back. When I opened the door, I saw Daze outside with the Dawsons. Our gaze locked for a moment before I looked back at the room and to the woman who had willingly sold her soul to the devil.

"Like I've said, we don't need your statement to take this to court, but it will make it easier for us. Thank you for your cooperation."

_______________________________End of Chapter 35.