Chapter 16: 42 Hours with Ryu Vander Morisson (Part 1)

"Haaaay! I'm so full!", bulalas ni Jeremy at inilapag ang hawak na coke float. Nasa Jollibee kami ngayon dahil matapos maidentify ni Math ang killer ni Sir Mint ay tinupad niya ang sinabi niya kanina na ililibre niya kami sa Jollibee. Yep. Math identified the culprit but it was a collaborative effort though. Gray and Khael got the other facts about the codes and other stuffs samantalang nakatunganga lamang kami ni Je at nanuod lang sa kanilang tatlo.

"Thanks for the treat Math", wika ni Khael kay Math. Matamis naman ang ngiting iginawad ng huli sa kanya. Nakaupo kami sa square na mesa. Nasa tabi ko si Khael at magkatabi naman si Math at Gray sa harap namin. Jeremy was on one side.

"You're welcome Pogi. Balik ka ulit dito sa Bridle and let's have a battle of the sleuths. That's what I'm looking forward to", sagot ni Math at hinawakan pa ang kamay ni Khael. Uh, kailangan pa ba talaga niyang hawakan si Khael?

Khael chuckled. "Battle of the sleuths huh? Well, be prepared to lose. Lalo na at magiging kalaban mo kami ni Silvan", wika niya.

"There's Amber too", simpleng wika ni Gray habang nilalaro sa kutsara niya ang mga tira-tirang buto sa plato. He wasn't looking at us at mukhang may bumabagabag dito. Ano kaya iyon?

"Oh, I think I'm better than Amber. I mean, no offense meant Ambs, but you don't strike me as a great high school detective", wika ni Math.

"Nilakasan ba nila ang aircon? Bakit ang ginaw? Mahangin masyado. Mathilde, don't underestimate my bestfriend Amber. She's capable of more than you think", Jeremy said. At kailan pa kami naging bestfriend? Masyado naman yata siyang self-proclaimed. Oh well, parehas lang kami. I proclaimed myself as Gray's best female buddy and now Jeremy's claiming me as his bestfriend.

"You just can't tell me that I'm wrong. You have to prove it to me", sagot ni Math at bumaling sa akin. "I'm sorry A
mber. No hard feelings please."

Nagpakawala ako ng matamis na ngiti. Who cares about people who underestimate others? Marahil ay hindi nga ako kasing talino ni Sherlock Holmes o ni Nancy Drew o ni Kudo Shinichi. All I can say is that I'm a detective in my own way. "No need to say sorry Math. Detective works aren't contest anyway."

"I should say that Amber's the best. There are things that only she can decipher. I don't talk any highschool female above her", Gray said. Is he lying? I knew it! He's lying! Ni hindi man lamang niya makuhang tumingin sa akin.

"I agree on that Silvan. Special A's the best", pagsang-ayon naman ni Khael. Pft. Pinagtatanggol niyo lang naman ako. You don't really mean those words.

We chatted for a while bago napagpasyahang bumalik sa Bridle. Palabas na kami ng Jollibee when Khael grabbed my wrist.

"Sorry guys but I really have to steal Special A from you", wika niya at itinakbo ako sa kanila.  Hindi ko na narinig ang sinabi ng tatlo bago kami makalayo. Dinala niya ako sa harap ng kotse niya.

Have I told you na wala na siyang dakilang driver? He let Jeremy and I rode on his car kanina habang si Math at Gray naman ang magkasama sa BMW ni Gray.

"Ano namang kalokohan to Alonzo? Where are you taking me?", I asked and he made a face when I called him Alonzo.

"Wag mo akong tawaging Alonzo. Khael. Dapat Khael ang itawag mo sa akin. Pwede rin baby, babes, honey, mahal, sweety, darli— aww!" Napatigil siya nang mahinang sinuntok ko ang sikmura niya. "Special A, ano ba busog pa ako.

"Shut up Mikmik."

"Mas lalong wag yan! Bae, bebe ko, yam, love— aww! Namumuro ka na Special A!", he said at napahawak sa sikmura niya na sinuntok ko ulit.

"Kasi sabi ko sayo Timothy na tumahimik ka na lang", I told him and this time, his frown had worsen.

"You're a hopeless case", natatawang wika niya at binuksan ang pinto ng kotse. "Pasok na. I'll take you somewhere at nang mai-utot mo yang mga dinaramdam mo", he said and I rolled my eyes.

"Hindi ako nau-utot!"

"Pasok na lang kasi, sige na!" Marahang tinulak niya ako papasok sa loob ng kotse. Matapos iyon ay pumasok na rin siya at pinaandar ang sasakyan.

"Himala. Wala na si Kuya Rex, yung dakilang driver mo", komento ko.

"18 na ako Special A kaya may lisensya na", he said. "Where do you want to go?" I gave him my deadly glare. Siya ang nagyaya sa akin tapos ako ang tatanungin? Engot din talaga si Khael ano?

"Sabi ko nga na ako pipili eh", wika niya at ipinagpatuloy ang pagmamaneho.

Ilang minuto siyang nag-drive at nang huminto siya ay tumingin ako sa paligid. Uh, bakit mukhang nasa gubat kami?!

"Gubat?"

"Hindi naman ito gubat, farm to at nasa orchard tayo. Labas ka na, Special A ko", wika niya and I frowned.

"Of all places, gubat talaga? Naho-homesick ka ba Khael kaya gubat ang pinili mo? Iisipin ko na talagang unggoy ka!"

He giggled. "Kulang pa ba ang tawa ko? I told you, this isn't a forest. Pag-aari ito ng kamag-anak namin." I frowned at him bago niya ako hinila. "It's a good place to express and shout your heart out. Ilabas mo lahat ng dinaramdam mo dito Special A!"

"Khael, wala sabi akong dinaramdam."

"I know you're hurt lalo na nung hinalikan ni Math si Silvan", he said and he looked straight at me, studying every emotion that my face shows.

Nasaktan nga ba ako nang halikan ni Math si Gray kanina? Kinapa ko ang puso ko at pinakiramdaman ito. It feels so tight inside my chest but I don't know if I'm hurt or not.

"Hindi no. Matanong nga kita Khael. Have you ever kissed anyone?", I asked at nag-iwas siya ng tingin. "Hoy!"

"Ano Special A—"

"Ano? Siguro andami ano? Yuck!", natatawang wika ko.

"This is too embarassing but I haven't kissed anyone. Gwapo lang ako Special A pero virgin pa ang lips ko", he said while pouting.

What?! Khael's in-experienced?! I mean the bubbly and sweet talking Khael is unexperienced in kissing?

"Ibig sabihin ay wala ka pang naging girlfriend?"

Tumango siya sa akin. "Yes, I haven't got any and neither Silvan. We both believe that emotional qualities are distraction to logical faculties. Tama na Special A! Nakakahiya na ito! Alam ko ang iniisip mo. Marahil ay sinasabi mo sa utak mo na 'Oh my God, the handsome and super hot Khael Alonzo is in-experienced and virgin.' Ganyan ano?", he said and he tried to imitate my voice but failing big time.

I laughed hard after he said those. Khael really makes me happy somehow. "Ewan ko sayo!"

Napangiti na rin siya at iginiya ako paakyat sa isang tree house. It was small yet malinis naman iyon.

"Sayo 'to?"

"Nope."

"Hala baka pagalitan tayo!", I exclaimed at tumingin sa paligid.

"Wag kang mag-alala. Kilala ko ang may-ari. Sa kamag-anak nga namin diba kaya ayos lang", he said at naupo sa tabi ko. We were facing in a hill na may mga nakapastol na hayop.

"Ang gandang tingnan ng mga cattle", komento ko habang nakatingin sa mga hayop.

"Cattle? Diba yan yung bahay ng Printeta at Printepe?", he said while grinning at napatawa naman ako.

"Kailan ka pa nahawa kay Jeremy?"

He laughed too at ginulo ang buhok ko. "Kanina lang. Lakas niyang makahawa eh. My turn to ask Special A. Have you been kissed?"

Umiling ako bilang sagot.

"Oh, I see. I guess we both have to wait, one day we’ll kiss someone and know those are the lips we want to kiss for the rest of our lives", wika niya habang seryosong nakatingin sa akin.

***

7:00 AM -12:00 NN

Pagsapit ng weekend ay napagpasyahan kong bumili ng mga bagong gamit para sa dorm. Andi wasn't around dahil may date ito and Therese went home. Nabo-bored ako sa loob ng kwarto namin at tanging si Filter ang kaharap ko doon kaya nagpasya akong umalis.

I waited for a cab ngunit sa halip ay isang magarang kotse ang huminto sa tabi ko. It was a new Audi A3 premium compact car. Nang bumaba ang salamin ng kotse ay napangiwi ako nang makita ang mukha ni Ryu.

"Hey witch", bati niya. "Going somewhere?" Wait. Tinawag ba niya akong witch?! At kailan pa niya ako naging kampon?

"Hey devil. Yes I'm going somewhere at wala kang pake." Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. Nasisira niya ang araw ko! Argh.

"It hurts. And here I am thinking that you missed me", he said with a smirk. His raven hair  compliments his coal-dark eyes. Matangos ang ilong niya and he got a luscious lips. I rolled my eyes on my own thought. When did I learn to worship devils?

"You don't have to stare that much. I'll be willing to give you a punishing kiss if you want to", wika niya na nagpabalik sa tamang huwisyo ko. Aba! Ang kapal ng mukha!

"Pwede ba, tigilan mo ako. Alam mo bang tahimik ang buong two months ko dahil hindi ko nakikita yang pagmumukha mo", I hissed at him at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"That's exactly the reason why I'm here. I know you've got a peaceful break so I'm back to pester you", wika niya. Argh! Kailan ba talaga siya titigil sa pambi-bweset sa akin? Kung gusto niya ng gulo ay pwede naman siyang pumunta doon sa mga kalaban nila! He'll surely get there the trouble that he was looking for.

"Umayos ka nga devil! Ano ba talaga ang ipinunta mo dito?" I know he didn't drive around just to display his new car.

"Like I said, I come to pissed you off."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "I’m busy right now. Can I ignore you some other time?"

"You can't. Where are you going?", tanong niya.

"Wala ka sabing pake."

"Come on. I'll take you there.", wika niya. No way! The last time I rode on his car was when we were chased by some goons! Ayoko ng maulit pa iyon!

"You must be crazy! Baka nakakalimutan mo noong huling pinasakay mo ako sa kotse mo, you were shot back then!", wika ko sa kanya. Bumaba siya ng kotse at sumandal doon habang nakaharap sa akin.

"I can't remember. The last thing I remember is when Gray came and punched me. That fucking hurts you know", he said and his eyes darkened. Unbelievable! Mas naalala pa niya ang suntok kaysa sa tama niya?! That was also the time when I met the seven reapers.

"You're unbelievable!"

"So, where are we going?", he asked at napakunot ang noo ko. Sinabi ko bang isasama ko siya?

"Sinong may sabi sayong isasama kita? There's no way— Aray! Bitawan mo nga ako!" He dragged me towards the car at pinasok ako doon saka siya pumunta sa kabila at pumasok na rin. "How dare you devil!"

He just chuckled at binuhay ang makina. "I'm bored so I need someone to pissed."

"And then there's me and you just decided to see me and pissed me, ganoon ba?", I asked.

"Bingo."

"Argh! You're such a devil!"

"Thank you!"

"Ano ba talagang trip mo sa buhay ha? Wala ka bang ibang mapagtripan? Nag-aadik ka ba at ako na naman ang naisipan mong guluhin?" His eyes were fixed on the road at bahagya niya lamang akong sinulyapan.

"I don't take drugs witch. At pakialam mo rin ba kung ikaw ang trip ko?" I made a face at him. Wala nga pala siyang kwentang kausap kaya useless lang ang lahat ng sasabihin ko. Magsasayang lamang ako ng laway dito. "Saan ka ba kasi pupunta?"

"Take me to the mall. And please. Please lang. Kapag dumating na ako doon ay umalis ka na rin at lubayan mo na ako", pakiusap ko sa kanya.

"That will never happen", he said at ilang beses na bumusina. "Damn!" Saka ko lamang napansin na nakahinto pala ang sasakyan at maraming mga sasakyan sa gilid. Traffic jam.

"Goddamnit!", he cussed. Geez. Naalala ko tuloy ang reaper nilang si Red. If he's here , malamang ay sinaway na nito si Ryu. Uh, that if he can dare.

Ryu's a devil mafia son. We waited for the few minutes ngunit hindi pa rin iyon umuusad. It took a while bago napagpasyahang umatras ni Ryu at lumiko sa isang makitid na daan. Medyo madamo doon at lubak-lubak ang kalsada.

"Hey! Saan naman to papunta?", I asked and looked outside.

"This is a shortcut."

As I looked outside ay maraming mga kahoy doon. Mabato din at maraming mga damo. Walang mga kabahayan at tahimik ang paligid. "Oh devil! This place is so creepy! Baka nandito yung mga creatures na na-apektuhan ng genetic mutation gaya nung nasa Wrong Turn! Oh my God Ryu, baka na wrong turn tayo!"

"Tsk! Ano ba! Wag mo nga akong kurutin. You're overreacting! This is no wrong turn okay so let go of my arm", he said at saka ko lang napansin na nakakapit na pala ako sa braso niya. Okay, he's right. I'm overreacting.

"Ganito kasi yung settings dun sa palabas."

"Well this isn't a film. Maya-maya ay may mga bahay na sa paligid", he said at bigla na lamang napapreno ng may biglang dumaan na hayop at muntik na naming masagasaan.

"Holy shit!", he exclaimed at lalabas sana upang tingnan iyon but I stopped him even before he can open the door.

"No Ryu! Wag kang bumaba! Na wrong turn na talaga tayo! Pagbaba mo ay may naka-abang na may dalang palakol! Kahit masama ang ugali mo, ayaw ko rin namang maging brutal ang kamatayan mo!"

Shit! Naiiyak na talaga ako! Bigla na lamang akong napasigaw ng biglang may kumatok sa bintana na nasa gilid ko. It was an old man!

"Argh. You're so noisy Amber!", wika niya at binuksan ang bintana. Umisod ako sa kanya. Bahala na kung madikit ako sa kanya! I'm afraid that the man will grab me and then devours me! No way! Kung ganoon man lamang ang kahihinatnan ko ay mas pipiliin ko pang mamatay sa mga kamay ni Ryu!!

"Nawawala ba kayo?", tanong ng matanda sa akin. I was waiting for him to show his sharp fangs but he didn't. Mas lumapit pa ako sa tabi ni Ryu at isiniksik ang sarili ko sa kanya.

"Hindi naman po Lolo, nagshortcut lang po kami", sagot ni Ryu sa matanda. Hala, marunong din pala itong mag-PO sa matatanda?

"Ah ganun ba. Akala ko kasi nawawala kayo, sige mauna na ako", paalam ng matanda at saka lamang ako nakahinga ng maluwag.

"Tsk, why are you afraid of the old man?", tanong niya sa akin habang sinusubukang paandarin ulit ang makina ng kotse.

"I was thinking that he'll eat me up", sagot ko sa kanya. He tried starting the car ngunit hindi iyon umandar. "Ryu, what the hell's happening?"

He punched the dashboard a little. "I'll just have to check." Bumaba siya ng kotse at binuksan ang hood. Ilang saglit niyang tiningnan iyon bago lumapit sa akin. "Overheat. Kailangan natin ng tubig. Just stay here habang maghahanap ako ng bahay na pwede nating hingan ng tubig."

What the hell?! He's leaving me here? All alone?! What if the zombies will come and get me? No!!!!! Agad akong bumaba ng kotse at kumapit sa braso niya.

"Ayoko ngang maiwan dyan! Isama mo ako!"

"No. I need someone to watch the car. Baka mapag-tripan. That's not my car. Old man Rionessi owns it!"

"I don't care about your old man! Basta ayaw kong magpaiwan dyan!"

"Fine. I'll stay here while you find water!"

"Mas lalong ayoko!"

He looked impatiently at me at nagsukatan kami ng tingin but he's the first one to give up. "Bahala ka nga!" Sinara niya ang kotse at naglakad na. I followed on his back but I keep myself closed to him. Mahirap na! Baka bigla na lamang may sumunggab sa akin mula sa gilid!

We walked for few meters kahit na tirik na tirik ang araw. There were huts ngunit walang tao doon at wala ring mga tubig kaya naglakad pa kami hanggang sa makarating kami sa tapat ng isang malaking bahay. It was a big house yet it was made of concrete and woods. Malinis din ang palid niyon. May maliit na terrace doon kung saan may nakaupo na babae.

"Tao po!", I called at napalingon sa amin ang babae. "Magandang tanghali po."

"Ano ang ma-ipaglilingkod ko sa inyo?", the girl asked at ngumiti ng matamis kay Ryu but the later just smirked.

"Please try to be friendly a little devil! We need help!", mahinang bulong ko sa kanya. Humarap ako sa babae at ngumiti. "I'm Amber and this is Ryu. Nagba-byahe kasi kami but unfortunately ay nasiraan kami ng kotse and we need some water. Maari ba kaming humingi?"

"Nasiraan kayo ng sasakyan? Nako, medyo malayo pa naman sa kabihasnan ang baryong ito. Halikayo, pasok muna ako. Ako nga pala si Dara. Dara Blasco", she said and she guided us inside the house. Nang makapasok kami ay saka ko lamang napansin na may kaya ito sa buhay. Maybe it was just their vacation house.

"We're buying it. Any amount", wika ni Ryu at siniko ko siya. He's so rude! Baka mainsulto pa ang babae at hindi kami bigyan ng tubig!

"No. Wag niyo ng bilhin. Sandali lang kukuha muna—" The girl stopped ng bigla na lamang kaming makarinig ng sigaw mula sa itaas. Dara stared at us with wide eyes.

"Sandali lang, may titingnan lang ako", she said and she hurried upstairs. It's not so long bago kami nakarinig ulit ng sigaw. Ryu just sat with his legs crossed at tila bored na nakasandal doon. "What? You want to check kung ano ang nangyayari doon? Go upstairs. Who knows it's a trap para makain ka nila and —"

"Shut up devil!" Shit! Tinatakot naman niya ako. Yes, I want to go upstairs and check why everyone was shouting ngunit dahil sa sinabi ni Ryu ay nabahag ang buntot ko!

"Go. I'll wait for you here."

"Pwede bang tumahimik ka na lang kung wala kang magandang sasabihin? Nakakainis ka talagang demonyo ka! Argh!" Tinalikuran ko siya and I focused my gaze on the photo frames inside the house. Matagal-tagal din kaming naghintay doon and then the front door opened and a young man entered. He was covered with bruises at may cast pa ito sa paa but he can manage to walk.

"Excuse me, sino kayo?", he asked at tiningnan kaming dalawa ni Ryu. At dahil masama ang ugali ni Ryu, he stared back at him like he just did something unforgivable.

"Erlon."

Napalingon kami sa kakababa lamang na si Dara. Her eyes were red and swollen na tila ba galing iyon sa pag-iyak. "Erlon. Erlon.... D-dezza's dead. S-someone killed her." Umiyak si Dara at bigla na lamang napaupo. "Please... please call a police. Kailangang mahuli ang pumatay sa kanya."

"Yes, sinabi mo yan nang tawagan mo ako upang pabalikin. Just relax Dara, okay? Baka magka-nervous breakdown ka. I already called the police but matagal pa bago makarating ang mga pulis dito. I'll call the barrio patrol first", sagot ng lalaking tinawag ni Erlson at lumabas.

"Excuse me Dara. Sorry to meddle but can I ask what happened? Itong kasama ko ay bahagi ng pulis, uh, well he used to kaya baka makatulong kami", pagsisinungaling ko and Ryu gave me his deadly glare. Hindi niya marahil maatim na isiping bahagi siya ng pulis when in fact he do the opposite. Simpleng kinurot ko lamang siya sa braso and then he smirked at me.

"Talaga? Do you mind to stay for a while for some investigations? We can't wait for the police dahil liblib itong bahay namin. This place is our vacation house near our ranch. Kaya lamang kami nandito ay dahil kailangan ng kapatid ko ng tahimik na lugar. You see, she's grieving after her boyfriend's death but now — now she's dead herself", wika ni Dara at muling napahagulhol. I just watched her as she cried. I'm not good in comforting so I just let her cry her heart out.

Sinamahan niya kami papunta sa silid kung saan naroon ang kapatid niya. There were only three of them in the house. Dara, her sister Dezza and the caretaker na nangangalaga doon. I was shocked nang makita namin ang bangkay ng kapatid ni Dara. Her body were burnt at nakahiga siya sa sahig. Mayroon ding baso sa tabi niya at wala na iyong laman.

"She's killed brutally! Bakit kailangan pa siyang pahirapan? Nag-hihirap na ang kalooban ni Dezza ng mamatay si Jerry and then ganito na ang mangyayari?", hinaing ni Dara.

"Sino si Jerry?"

"She's Erlon's brother and Dezza's boyfriend. It's been a week since Jerry died in a car accident with Erlson at dahil doon ay ipinasya naming dalhin dito si Dezza. She's depressed", Dara said.

Bahagyang lumapit si Ryu at tiningnan ang bangkay na nasa sahig. He looked around as if looking for some clues.

"What are you doing?", I asked him nang lumabas ng kwarto si Dara upang salubungin si Erlon at ang kasama nito.

"Checking the body."

"And what can you infer from it?", I asked. Mukha kasing seryosong-seryoso ito sa pag-iimbestiga.

"She got a good figure. Vital statistics 34—"

"Idiot! Aside from that?"

"I think she'll make a good whore. She can surely warm my bed—"

"Jerk! I'm asking about this case and not about you, being an asshole!", I hissed. He's disgusting! May pinatay na at lahat and then he just go and thinks of manwhoring! What the hell!

His dark eyes darted into me. "I'm not a detective like your tongue-tied sick love so don't expect me to solve this case!", he said at napaupo sa kama.

"Wag kang umupo diyan! It might have some clues that will point out the culprit!", saway ko sa kanya but he just ignored me.

"Who cares?"

I realized it's useless to tell him what to do dahil hindi naman ito makikinig. There was a bag on the table kaya tiningnan ko ang laman niyon. Make up kit, coin purse, medicine bottles and a wallet. Binuksan ko ang wallet at tiningnan ang mga ID na naroon.

Dezzalyn Chavez.
Trans Laboratories.
Production Manager. She's working in a chemical laboratory?

Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok sina Dara at Erlon kasama ang isang lalaki. He was wearing a blackshirt printed with CVO.

"The police are on their way at dahil malayo tayo sa kabihasnan, it would probably take them almost an hour. Pero may kasama naman tayong dating pulis. This is Ryu and that's Amber", pakilala ni Dezza sa amin and Erlon a smiled at us. I smiled back at him but the devil Ryu didn't.

Nilapitan ng CVO ang bangkay samantalang pinagpatuloy ko naman ang pag-iimbestiga. The room seemed contrived. There wasn't any signs of struggles kaya maaaring inatake ang biktima when her guard was down.

Lumapit ako kay Dara at nagtanong-tanong. "Sino po ba ang unang naka-diskubre sa katawan ng biktima?"

An old woman stepped forward. "Ako hija. Ihahatid ko na sana ang pananghalian niya pero panay ang katok ko ngunit hindi niya ako binuksan kaya nagpasya akong buksan gamit ang susi na nasa akin at pagpasok ko ay ganito na ang nadatnan ko", nanginginig na wika ng matanda. "Huling bigay ko kasi ng pagkain sa kanya ay kaninang alas sais pa."

Sinulyapan ko ang pagkaing nasa mesa. "Iyon po ba ang pagkaing dala ninyo?" The old woman nodded. Nagtataka din ako kung bakit nasa sahig ang baso katabi ng biktima. "Sino naman ang huling nakausap ng biktima?"

"Ako. I want to talk to her to asked for forgiveness but hindi niya ako kinakausap. Kaya umalis na ako at nag-usap kami ng matagal ni Dara", wika ni Erlon.

"Ah, yes. Nang dumating kayo ay kakaalis lamang niya noon", wika ni Dara.

"Ibig sabihin ay galit sa iyo ang biktima at maaring galit ka din sa kanya?", tanong ni Ryu kay Erlon na ikinagulat ng huli.

"Galit siya sa akin but I cannot blame her if she's— teka. Pinagsusupetsahan mo ba ako na ako ang pumatay sa kanya?"

Ryu smirked. "I didn't. You said it yourself." I gave him my deadly glare. He's rude. Sana ay manahimik na lang ito kung wala itong sasabihing maganda!

"Don't mind him. Can you tell me more about what happened kanina?", I asked him.

"I talked to her around seven in the morning. Nakaupo lamang siya sa kama at nakatitig sa kawalan, she's furious and cursed me to death nang makita niya ako. Sabi niya ako daw ang pumatay kay Jerry. She said her life was useless without him at paulit-ulit na pinaalis niya ako so I did ngunit bago ako umalis, she asked me to hand her the glass of water", wika niya. The glass of water? Napatingin ako sa baso. Bakit nasa tabi iyon ng biktima?

"Ibig sabihin ay naroon sa baso ang fingerprints mo?" I asked and Erlon nodded. That was remarkable.

"Magkakilala kayo ng biktima dahil boyfriend niya ang kapatid mo?", I asked again.

"Magkakilala kami dahil parehas kaming nagtatrabaho sa Trans Laboratories. I'm working in the HR at production manager naman si Dezza", he said. They're both working at the laboratories? Something in my mind popped but I have to confirm it first.

"Mainit pa ang bangkay. Marahil ay hindi pa matagal mula ng sinunog siya", wika ng mamang CVO.

Lumapit din ako doon at pinulot ang baso. I used my handkerchief in picking it so that my own fingerprints wouldn't mix on the glass. Inamoy ko iyon at napangiwi ako sa amoy. I think "that" was what really happened.

"Saan siya nakaupo kanina nang iabot mo sa kanya ang baso?", I asked at tinuro ni Erlon ang kama.

"Malapit sa headboard ng kama", wika niya. Lumapit ako doon at hinanap ang bagay na maaring makasuporta sa teorya ko and then I found if. A wet spot on the side na maaring pinagtapunan ng tubig. There was also an empty glass container na may takip doon. Kinuha ko iyon at hindi na inamoy. I was feeling nauseous nang inamoy ko ang baso kanina and I cannot risk my life in sniffing this one too.

"By any chance, is she working with some factory workers who produces farm-use chemicals?", tanong ko sa kanila.

"Yes, ang huling department na na-assign sa kanya ay sa fumigant ingredient production. Bakit?"

"Then no doubt that this isn't a murder. It's a suicide disguised as murder to frame up Erlon", wika ko na ikinagulat nilang lahat maliban kay Ryu na tila walang pakialam.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?", Dara asked in confusion.

"She committed suicide but she wants it to look like murder. Taking into account her bereaved because of her loss, marahil ay ninais na lamang niyang sundan ang boyfriend niya but making Erlon take the blame. Inutusan niya si Erlon na i-abot sa kanya ang baso to deliberately have Erlon's fingerprints. Tinapon niya ang laman ng baso dito", I pointed out on the carpeted part of the floor kung saan medyo moist ang sahig at kinuha ang garapon na naroon. "Pinalitan niya ang laman ng baso sa colorless na chemical na narito. Probably it's phospine since it smells like a rotting fish."

"Paano naman niya ginawa iyon?", the CVO asked.

"She just simply poured the chemicals on her body and inhaled some. That explains the liquids coming out from her mouth, she puked. At kaya sunog ang katawan niya ay dahil din sa phospine. It's a highly flammable toxic gas na agad nagliliyab when exposed to air", paliwanag ko. "My other basis for saying this is a suicide was the body's position. She's laying on the concrete floor to prevent the fire from spreading. Her attempt involved using depressants to make her pass out due to the chemical's effect and burning before the instinctive panic and the urge to escape due to the hypercapnic alarm response."

Bigla na lang na lamang napahagulhol si Dara. "Kaya pala panay na ang pamamalaam niya sa akin. She used to tell me to forgive her at kung anu-ano pa. No Dezza—", her other words were incomprehensible dahil lumakas ang pag-iyak nito.

Hindi nagtagal ay dumating na ang mga pulis and confirmed the suicide based on the evidences at nagpasya na rin kaming umalis. The caregiver gave us water for the car at hinatid naman kami ni Erlon kung saan naroon ang kotse ni Ryu. It was almost 12 noon nang muling umandar ang sasakyan.

"I don't know you've got some knowledge over chemicals", komento ni Ryu habang nagmamaneho.

"We've tried experimenting phospine at school and it caught my interest so I did a further study on my own."

"Freak." He said and I rolled my eyes at bigla akong may naalala! Sinapak ko ang braso niya ng malakas. "You little witch! What was that for?!"

"That's for driving into these so called shortcut! It's already 12 at wala pa akong nabili!", I hissed at him nang matanaw ko na ang highway ngunit hindi iyon matao kaya marahil ay malayo pa kami sa syudad! He really got us lost, damn him!

"Atleast you've solved a case! Isa pa, hindi ko kasalanang binago na pala ang daan dito and it became a 'longcut' instead!", wika niya.

"Kahit pa! Naghintay ka na lang sana na umusad ang traff—", bigla na lamang tumunog ang tiyan ko.

"I guess I'll treat you for lunch dahil nagugutom ka na", he said with a smirk and he pulled the car towards the fastfood house na nadaanan namin.

I don't want to eat together with him dahil baka iyon na ang magiging Last Lunch ko. He's a living bad luck. Sa loob ng halos limang oras na magkasama kami ngayon ay puro kamalasan lamang ang nangyari. Ayaw kong makisabay sa kanya dahil baka may mangyari na naman sa loob ng fastfood but my tummy growled again and I'm really hungry. I guess I've got no other choice but to eat with this devil.

#

— Shinichilaaaabs