Chapter 42: Murderer, Jeremy Martinez (Suspicion Chapter)

"Jeremy? Yung kasama mo dati? Si Bestie mo?", tanong ni Zywon and I wanna laugh when he said Bestie. Hindi bagay sa kanya.

"Zywon, ilang Jeremy ba ang kilala natin in common?", tanong ko sa kanya. I move myself from the windows, baka kasi may makakita sa akin.

He watched me as I strode across the room. "Right, that Jeremy. Crony of Genesis? I don't know!"

Pinulot niya ang ilang mga bagay na nakakalat sa sahig. Tablet, shirts, pillows, and packs of chocolates. Good thing there isn't a used underwear. Ew.

"Zywon, kailangan kong malaman! Your organization is penetrating Bridle and Jeremy's facing charges na hindi naman niya ginawa. I need to clear his name! Hindi ba't bahagi ka naman ng organisasyon? It would be easy for you to identify who's behind it!", wika ko sa kanya. Okay, I'm starting to act like a brat, demanding him an immediate answer.

He snorted at me. "Yes, but I'm not of higher position. Kumbaga for errands lamang ang katulad ko. You're asking the wrong person. Bakit hindi mo subukang magtanong kay Copper?", he asked.

Tiningnan ko siya ng masama. Why is it so easy for him to say in my face about Dad's involvement?

"I can't. The Vanders won't allow me", sagot ko sa kanya. Hala, malaki pala ang galit nito sa mga Vanders!

"Vanders? Anong kinalaman nila?", he asked with a wrinkled forehead.

"It's complicated. Let's just say I just discovered that I'm a Vander. So ngayon, tutulungan mo ba ako o hindi?", tanong ko sa kanya.

He looked at me like he was weighing things whether he would help me or not. Just then, we heard few footsteps at ilang saglit lamang ay may kumatok na sa pinto.

"Zy!!! Nariyan ka ba?", tanong ng isang boses ng lalaki. Maingay sila so I guess there are atleast three of them.

"Shit! Hide!", Zywon said and pushed me on the bed. What the hell?! On the bed?!

"Bakit dito?", I whispered. He just pulled the thick sheets over me.

"Hide your face", wika niya.

"No-"

He pushed my face on the bed! Argh! What the holy crap?!

"Zy!", tawag ulit ng nasa labas.

After pushing my face into the bed ay tumabi si Zywon sa akin and he pulled the sheets over his body too.

"Zy, papasok na kami!", tawag ng mga ito and I heard a door cracked open. "Sabi ko na nga ba, nandito ka!"

"Alam ko na kapag hindi ka sumasagot ay may kasama kang babae dito", someone said and giggled. "Who's it this time?"

"Si Milky ba iyan?"

What the fudge?! Zywon's bringing girls here? Ano naman ang ginagawa nila?

"Nope. Anong ginagawa ninyo dito?", tanong niya. "You see? Tulog ang kasama ko. I won't hold you long here."

"Yayayain ka lang naming maglaro pero mukhang busy ka", wika ng isa. "Babalik na lang kami sa susunod."

"Okay, I really can't." Sorry bros. I'm here for important matters.

"Goodluck bro", they said and giggled. "Don't forget to wear helmet bro."

"Thank you for the reminder. And as usual, don't tell anyone I'm with someone. Got it?", Zywon asked. Narinig kong sumang-ayon ang mga ito bago sumara ang pinto.

Ew! These boys are gross! I prevented myself to stand up and hit them in their faces! When I heard the door closed ay tumayo ako agad mula sa pagkakadapa sa kama and throw a punch at Zywon's face.

"Awwww! The hell!"

"You let me lie with my face down on the bed full of- Uh, how should I call it? Jerk juices?"

He got up from the bed at hinawakan ang nasaktang mukha. Yeah, I don't mind destroying that face!

"There's no juices there! Hindi ako ganyan!", sagot niya sa akin.

"Tsk! In denial!"

"I'm not!"

Neknek niya! Hindi ako naniniwala! Who's Milky then? Mukhang si Gray at Khael na lang yata ang pure ngayon. Ryu? Naaah, a total jerk. Lagpas na yata sa lahat ng daliri sa kamay at paa kung bibilangin mo. Cooler? Not as jerk as Ryu but still a jerk.

"Now, what are we gonna do?", he asked, trying to dodge away the topic about his jerkiness.

"Tell me every piece of information you know about Genesis. Lalo na ang may kinalaman sa nangyayari sa Bridle."

"I cannot divulge much information as that. Members with anion codenames are errand members, ibig sabihin, kailangan lamang sila para sa mga munting task. Knowing the scope of Bridle incursion is beyond the knowledge of an errand member", sagot niya sa akin. He darted a bored look at me like he was saying he can't help me at all.

"I'm not asking you as Cyanide, the member. I'm asking you as Zywon who seeks revenge. I'm sure you did a little invasion through their stuff", wika ko sa kanya. I made sure that my voice is clear.

Lumapit siya sa bintana at binuksan iyon. "I cannot help you. You may now go."

What?! He's dismissing me? Wala siyang balak na tulungan ako kay Jeremy?!

"No."

He looked at me impatiently. I sat myself on the bed again, tanda na hindi ako aalis doon hangga't hindi niya ako tinutulungan.

"Get your shoes off my bed!"

"Kanina ko pa ito suot, you pushed me here so basically, you allow my shoes on your bed. It's safe to presume that", sagot ko sa kanya. It pissed him off and I'm congratulating myself for my awesomeness.

Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa akin. Closer, hanggang sa nasa kama na rin siya. Bahagya akong napaatras nang makita kong seryoso ang mukha niya, too bad, I can feel the headboard at my back.

"Alam mo ba kung nasaan ka?"

Idiot! Nasa dorm ng Athena, obviously!

"What the hell are you doing?", I asked. My God, what is this cockroach thinking! Oo ipis siya. Gwapong ipis!

"Nasa kwarto kita...."

"And so?" Ang totoo niyan ay nanginginig ako sa takot. I'm not assured of my safety here! Hindi ko lubusang kilala si Zywon! What if- what if.... No way!

"I can do whatever I want to you", wika niya. Humihina ang boses niya and I can feel his knees on mine! Shit!

"No, you can't", wika ko and I tried with all my might to kick in between his knees, I wasn't successful though.

"Argh! Woman! You're really something! And please, not on my precious part", wika niya. He throws himself onto the bed.

"Sabi ko naman sayo na wala akong alam." Oh, really? His eyes tell the opposite.

"Try harder Zywon."

"I'm not lying! Wala talaga akong alam", wika niya sa tonong napipikon. Great! Mapikon ka nga hanggang sa magsalita ka na.

"Even harder."

He let out a sigh. "Fine!" Oh? See? Umayos siya ng upo at humarap sa akin. "I'm not really sure that this can help. Narinig ko lamang na may estudyanteng kasabwat sa loob ng Bridle. The name is Plumbite, another anion. As of the gender, I don't know. Basta ang alam ko, that someone was asked to kill a carrier who tried to escaped", wika niya.

Plumbite? Who the hell is this Plumbite?

"Why did Plumbite frame up Jeremy?", tanong ko kay Zywon.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know if they framed anyone or not. Ang alam ko lamang ay hindi siya paghihinalaan ni Silvan, I think you both know that Plumbite. Someone you will not suspect."

When he said those, isang tao lang ang pumasok sa isip ko. I just hope I'm wrong.

************************

"Bakit hindi pumasok si Jeremy?", tanong ni Yuri. Nakaupo kaming tatlo nina Gray at Math sa cafeteria habang nagmemeryenda.

"Hindi rin kayo pumasok sa basketball kahapon, ang ganda ng laro. Nagka-wrestlingan!"

Yesterday was a tiring day. Gabi na nang nakauwi ako sa Bridle and I slowly walked myself from the exit. I tried all my best upang hindi ako makita ni Khael sa Athena kahapon and luckily, I succeeded.

As of Gray, who went to see Ryu ay hindi rin nagtagumpay. Wala ito sa mansion ng puntahan niya ito kahapon.

"Oo nga. Na-miss kong makipaglaro sa kanya. Ang kulit niya! I can't imagine him playing basketball to! Baka yakapin niya patakbo ang bola. Hahaha!", Andrei said.

"May naiisip na akong bagong tanong para sa battle of the brainless namin, and yeah! It's fun to see those hindi marunong maglaro, diba bossing? ", Marcus said and dodge his elbow to Gray. He got some scratches on his arm na nakuha marahil nito mula sa paglalaro ng basketball nung PE time namin kahapon where Gray and I skipped to accompany Jeremy.

"Masama lang ang pakiramdam niya guys so don't worry. Kailangan niya lang ng ilang araw na pahinga. In few days time ay babalik din yun, diba Gray at Amber?", Math said. Malaki ang ngiting iginawad nito sa amin.

Alam ni Math ang tungkol kay Jeremy since Gray is relying on her for her devices. Nagtampo nga ito na hindi namin ito sinali sa pag-iimbestiga but Gray told her na she still can help through her inventions.

"Yes, he will be back sooner", buo ang boses na wika ni Gray. Our classmates were relieved to hear those and they sent Je their get well soon messages.

Uh, yeah guys, he's innocent so he is and will be well.

My phone rang kaya agad kong sinagot iyon nang makita ang pangalan ni Ryu sa screen.

"Ryu."

"Oh hi, Ryle. I'd be glad to hear you call me Kuya", wika niya. Meh! Tumawag ba siya para patawagin akong kuya?

"I'll work on that but not now. Why did you call?", I asked and I can only imagine his smirking face.

"Artemis said Gray's looking for me yesterday. Anong problema?"

Oh! Yes, we need him to do something!

"Nasaan ka? Kailangan ka naming makausap", sagot ko sa kanya.

"At the gate. Nakapasok na ako."

Nakapasok? I thought immediate relative lamang ang pwedeng dumalaw?

"Paano ka nakapasok?", I asked. Gray is patiently listening to me. Nagalak ito kanina nang tumawag si Ryu.

"Through the gates?", he said and I mentally rolled my eyes. Yeah, alangan namang lumipad ito diba?

"Pinapasok ka ng guards?" Nabalitaan ko kasi na nagdagdag ng mga security guards mula ng isinara sa publiko ang Bridle.

"I'm inside so I guess they did."

Uh! Can I just kill this guy kahit pa kapatid ko ito? It's hard to accept it but I guess I have no other choice but to accept it.

"Ryu.... Stop pissing me. Pumunta ka sa convenient shed, we'll meet you there", wika ko and I immediately cut the line. Mahirap na baka ano na namang pamimilosopo ang gawin nito. Bumaling ako kay Gray. "Ryu's here. Let's meet him." Tumayo na kami ni Gray at kinuha ang mga gamit namin.

"Hey, biyaan ko ninyo? Hala! I'll tag along!", she said in her alien langguage.

"Let's go."

We headed towards the convenient shed at naroon nga si Ryu. He looks so bored. Tsk! Hindi naman ito matagal na naghintay!

"What's it?", he asked nang makalapit kami sa kanya.

"Hello handsome!", bati ni Math. Bahagya itong sinulyapan ni Ryu and he smirked. Oh, looks like he's not in his best mood, as always.

"Anong kailangan ninyo?", he asked nang hindi man lang sinasagot ang bati ni Math. Oh, sorry Math, nagme-menopause ang 'kuya' ko.

"We want your help to access the video footage ng boys' dorm."

"And why is that?"

"Jeremy is framed up for murder kaya kailangan namin iyon. Please?", I asked. Kahit na magmakaawa ako kay Ryu upang matulungan lang kami ay gagawin ko.

"I can't do it unless I have some access over the system. Where's the bank of video monitors?", tanong niya. He must be referring to the security and surveilance room kung nasaan ang mga monitor. "I can do it live on my laptop if I will have some intervention on the system. Did you bring a laptop with you?"

Math smiled. "I did! Girl scout here!", wika niya at inilapag ang kanyang laptop na kanina pa niya dala-dala.

Napagkasunduan naming ngayon na iyon gawin. We cannot waste time, we have less than 48 hours left! I went to the surveilance room kasama si Ryu habang naiwan naman doon sina Gray at Math.

Sakto naman ang pagdating doon. The young guard was watching the live feeds from the cameras that surveyed Bridle. We snuck inside and the guard was facing his phone. He move it on the other direction like he was looking for something. Was it a game he's playing?

Nang bahagya itong lumabas ay nagkaroon kami ng pagkakataong pumasok ni Ryu sa loob.

"Be the lookout", he whispered and crossed to the desk and pulled a leather chair. When he touched the mouse, and pressed some keys, the image of the different parts of Bridle disappeared. He immediately typed something on somewhat a black portal. He then typed something that involves a bunch of random characters and numbers. I was pretty sure he typed a number sign there along with a percent sign. Ilang saglit lamang ay may itinype na siyang email at password and when it logged in, it was an administrative account. What the hell?! He did that? Oh, n-ahack nga niya ang banking system na mas matibay ang security kaysa sa Bridle. Whoah! That's my Brother!

After a while, BINGO! I received a text na nagka-access sa sina Gray at Math mula sa laptop ni Math! Ganun kadali?

Ryu and I went out the room. The guard was on the side where there was an old bust statue of Rizal, still looking at his smartphone na tila ba may hinahanap. We ran back towards the convenient shed. Kanina pa ako kinakabahan dahil baka mahuli kami but fortunately, a famous hacker is with me kaya tila napakadali lamang ng ginawa nito a text na nagkaaccess sa sina Gray at Math mula sa laptop ni Math! Ganun kadali?

"Ang galing mo Ryu!", wika ni Math nang makabalik kami. She pushed the laptop to Ryu at hinanap naman ng huli ang footage nung mangyari ang krimen sa boys' dorm. We're holding our breath as he tried to playback all the footage basing on the crime's estimated time na ayon sa case files.

After examining the footage, we came to suspect three people na kahina-hinala. They were walking with their faces down na tila ba ayaw nilang makita sa camera at parehas pang nakasuot ng jacket with the hood pulled over them. None of them were wearing Jeremy's cap pero parehas na may dalang bag ang mga ito kung saan maaring nakatago doon ang murder weapon, Jeremy's cap at damit pamalit after the culprit killed the victim.

The first one was a guy who suspiciously went up. May dala itong backpack and it took a while bago ito nakababa. A while enough to commit something like murder. Pamilyar ang bulto ng katawan nito or it's just that most guys got such physique.

The second one was another man, and to our surprise, it was Jeremy! He went up to the fifth floor?! But why? Bakit parang itinatago niya ang sarili niya? He's wearing a jacket too! Kinabahan ako nang makita siya sa footage. Bakit? Bakit nandito si Jeremy? He didn't tell us that he went to the fifth floor! Hindi pa rin naman sigurado kung doon nga ito dumeretso sa silid ng biktima but we're pretty sure that it was Jeremy!

The third suspicious guy is an effiminate man. Medyo mahaba ang buhok nito na parang sa isang babae. I wasn't really sure if it's a guy or a girl but I assume that it's a guy dahil bawal ang mga babae sa dorm ng mga lalaki.

"There. Did you recognize those three?", Ryu asked. Napansin kong tila nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip si Gray. Did he know someone in the footage?

"I-I t-think the second guy is Jeremy....", wika ko. Bakit bigla na lamang akong kinabahan? No, I'm not doubting Jeremy but why didn't he tell us that he went to the fifth floor?

"And the third one is not a guy but a girl, it's you Math hindi ba?", wika ni Gray. He shot a glare at her and for a moment she froze. Napaawang ang bibig nito like she was about to say something but she chose not too.

Si Math nga ba iyon?

"Math?"

"I chose not to answer that question Gray", she said and looked away. Gawain ng guilty! But why?! Tama ba ang iniisip ko ng sinabi ni Zywon na si Plumbite ay isa sa mga taong hindi namin pagsu-suspetsahan? Is Math the real identity of Plumbite?!

I felt my anger stir from the inside. I grabbed Math's arm and twist it a little. "Bakit Math? What are you doing in the boys' dorm?!"

What was it that I saw in her eyes? Is is guilt or ako lamang ang nag-iisip nun? She pulled her arm from me but I didn't let go! Not until she will confess!

"Bitawan mo ako Amber! I told you, I chose not to incriminate myself! Basta ang masasabi ko lamang ay wala akong ginawang masama!", galit na wika nito. She was able to pull herself from me. Masama ang tingin sa kanya ni Ryu at Gray so she decided to ran away from us.

"Oh my God! No, it can't be Math!", I exclaimed at napaupo ako. Why wouldn't she say anything? Ano ang tinatago niya? And Jeremy! Bakit nandoon din siya?!

Something inside me tells me that Jeremy could have done it but I rejected that thought. No, it can't be!

But the fingerprints?! Paano naman napunta ang fingerprints ni Jeremy sa crime scene. He told us that he hadn't been in that room! Of course the cap could be planted but the fingerprints?! That's impossible!

Hindi kami pumasok ni Gray for the rest of the day. Kailangan naming magpatuloy sa pag-iimbestiga since we're almost out of time. Umuwi na si Ryu habang naiwan kami ni Gray sa Bridle. My mind isn't working well dahil sa nakita namin sa footage.

As a conclusion, pwedeng sabihing si Math ang gumawa niyon and she would incriminate the naive Jeremy. Of course Math can find a way how to do it. Pero pwede rin namang si Jeremy nga mismo ang gumawa niyon. But why? Bahagi ba siya ng Genesis. Siya ba si Plumbite?

I was sunk in deep thoughts when I hear the school's broadcasting system called my name. May bisita daw ako na naghihintay sa student's lounge.

A visitor? Sino naman kaya iyon? If it would be Dad, I mean Bernard, he must have called me first. Kung si Khael naman- oh no. Khael doesn't need a campus broadcasting upang hanapin ako. It must be someone. I got up from my chair at nagtuloy-tuloy papunta sa lounge.

I almost stopped on my track nang makita ko ang taong naghihintay sa akin. She's least of the person na inaasahan kong puntahan ako sa Bridle. Gusto ko sanang hindi na lamang magpakita sa kanya but it was too late, she already saw me.

I raised my chin and walked towards her direction. It was my cousin Rocel. Oh, I mean my make believe cousin but I found out that we're not.

"Madali lang ito. We're not really close dahil simula pa lamang ay ayaw ko na sayo", she began.

"No need to state the obvious Rocel", wika ko. I wanna roll my eyes that moment but I prevented myself.

"Mabuti ng magkalinawan tayo. I don't exactly know what happen at napag-utusan lang ako ni Daddy. Hindi ko alam kung bakit umalis si Tita Amy and for what reason. I just wanna tell you that Tito Bernard's wrecked. If you really care for him, you should see him some other time", wika niya.

Sasagutin ko sana siya but it will only make things complicated. Isa pa ay pinulot na niya ang kanyang bag tanda na tapos na ang aming pag-uusap. She wasn't lying when she said that our conversation will be brief. She made her exit at tinanaw ko na lamang ang kanyang papalayong pigura.

But should I see Bernard? Kailangan ko pa ba siyang pasalamatan sa pag-aaruga sa akin kahit hindi niya ako anak? I took a deep sigh.

Maybe later. Later after we prove that Jeremy is innocent.

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs.