Chapter 30: Her Story

I don't know how to feel habang tinitingnan si Dracula na unti-unting nasusunog ang balat dahil sa sinag ng araw. I was sweating all over because of fear at nang mahagip ng tingin ko si Math ay hindi maipinta ang mukha nito. She looks- how should I describe it? Terrified? But she's more like hurting as she looked at him.

"C-close the curtains!", she shouted at last mula sa tila matinding pagkagimbal. I saw Gray followed her instructions calmly at matapos nitong isara ang bintana ay nakahanap siya ng switch ng ilaw at lumiwanag ang paligid. Dracula was still on the floor and blisters started to appear on his skin. Both Gray and Math squatted on the floor beside him at inalalayan itong tumayo.

Wait.

Hindi ba sila natatakot sa kanya? Baka muli na naman itong umatake and given that they are so close to him, he might harm them immediately.

"Anong ginagawa ninyong dalawa?", tanong ni Jeremy. Bakas pa rin sa mukha niya ang pagkagimbal nang inatake siya ni Dracula.

"He's suffering from a disorder called Porphyria", paliwanag ni Gray. "It is because there's a problem in the production of heme in his blood. All we can do now is help him."

Inalalayan nilang tumayo si Dracula at pinahiga ito sa kama na naroon. The misunderstanding about him has been cleared. He is just a man who got fangs and disorder.

*******

"Talaga? Grabe ang tapang ninyo!"

"Anong nangyari doon Jeremy?"

"Jeremy, kwento ka na! Dali!"

My classmates were encircling him right now matapos nilang malaman ang nangyari. They were so eager to know about how we deal with Dracula kahit pinaliwanag na ni Gray sa kanila na hindi ito totoong bampira.

The stakes ay galing nga sa mga itinanim na stakes kagabi para sa test of courage. He got it off the ground at may sugat pala si Dracula sa kamay kaya nabinat ang sugat niya at yun ang dahilan ng bahid ng dugo na nasa stake.

"Pagpasok namin, ang dilim! Makapal ang maitim na kurtina pagkatapos bigla na lamang tumalon sa akin si Dracula!"

"Whoah! As in?", tanong ng isang kaklase ko kay Jeremy. Siya ang napapalibutan ng mga kaklase ko dahil siya lang naman ang umi-entertain ng mga katanungan nila tungkol kay Dracula.

"Nakagat ka ba Jeremy?"

"Wala!", he said showing his neck to everyone. "Nanlaban ako no!"

"Grabe nakakatakot!"

"Siguro kung ako yun umiyak na ako!"

"Nah, baka maihi pa ako sa takot!"

"Ikaw Jeremy, anong naramdaman mo nung tumalon siya sa'yo?"

Jeremy's eyes widened na tika ba takot na takot talaga siya. "At first I was afraid..."

"Nakakatakot naman talaga! Pagkatpos?"

He still flashed his horrified look. "I was petrified! Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side!"

"Jeremy!!!", sigaw ng mga kaklase namin sa kanya and then he burst out laughing.

"Ang kukulit niyo kasi eh! Sabi nang may sakit lang yung tao", he said to our classmates at tumayo sa kinauupuan niya at tumabi sa akin, leaving them all behind. "Hay ang kukulit nila. Napansin mo ba yung reaksyon ni Math kanina?"

"Shocked? Surprised?"

"Hindi Bestie eh. Parang iba. Hindi kaya may masamang karanasan siya at naalala niya iyon dahil sa nangyari kanina?", he said. Napaisip din ako dahil sa sinabi niya. He's right. It also crossed my mind ngunit ayaw ko namang makiusyoso. I am not interested with her or her life. O kahit kaninong buhay, wala akong pake. I have my own life kaya wala akong panahon para nakiusyoso sa buhay niya.

"Ewan."

"Look at her. Kanina pa siya natulala", he said and pointed at Math using his lips.

Mababakas ang kalungkutan sa mukha niya habang nakatingin sa kawalan. From how I see it, mukhang may naaalala nga itong hindi magandang karanasan.

"Lapitan mo na Bestie", Jeremy whispered on my ears. Napataas ang isang kilay ko habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"Why would I do that?"

"Why not?", he asked back.

Ano namang gusto niyang gawin ko? I-comfort si Math? Like hello, anong parte ng hindi namin gusto ang isa't-isa ang hindi niya maintindihan?

Inilapag ni Jeremy ang isang bottled water sa harapan ko. "Approach her and comfort her."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Seryoso ako Bestie", he said in a firm voice. Sa tonong ginagamit niya ang mukhang desidido nga siyang ipakausap ko kay Math.

"Bakit hindi mo gawin? Total naaawa ka naman pala sa kanya, edi ikaw ang kumausap. Why ask me when you can do it yourself?"

"Girls tend to feel comfortable when girls comfort them. Mas mag-coconfide siya sa iyo dahil parehas kayong kalahi ni Eba kaya ikaw na ang kumausap!", he put the bottled water on my hand at tinulak ako patungo sa direksyon ni Math. Isa pa, hindi totoong porket babae ka ay mas komportable na silang mag-share sa iyo. On my case, I would choose to confide to a guy. They may not be the best persons to talk with but at least they tend to listen and just let it pass their other ear. That way, hindi nila iyon ipagkakalat sa iba dahil pinapalampas lang nila sa tenga nila than most girls who listen well and then pass it to others.

I still want to protest ngunit nahuli na ako ng tingin ni Gray. Nakitang sumenyas si Je kay Gray at agad namang tumayo ang huli upang umalis sa gilid ni Math.

The hell with this. Bakit kailangan kong kausapin si Math? Magaling naman siya sa lahat ng bagay diba, edi mapapasaya niya ang sarili niya kung sakali mang may bumabagabag nga sa kanya. I was about to turn my heels back ngunit naalala ko ang huli naming pag-uusap. I wonder if saying that I don't trust her bothered her a lot. Maybe yes because they sent Jeremy in my room instead of her. Wala namang sigurong masama sa sinabi ko sa kanya dati diba? At least I have been very honest with her about what I truly feel at hindi ako nakipag-plastikan. So now, after the war between my head of whether approach her or not ended, I decided to take few steps towards her. Nang makarating ako sa harapan niya ay iniabot ko ang bottled water which caused her to raise her head and look directly at me. Bahagya pa siyang nagulat at nagpalipat-lipat ng tingin sa akin at sa tubig. In the end, she decided to accept the water and smiled at me.

When she opened the water and drank from it, naupo ako sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi niya. Truth is I don't know what to say. Kailan ba ang huling pagkakataon na may kinomfort akong tao? When was the last time that I haven't been an asshole while talking to people? Hind ko na yata maalala.

"Thanks", I heard her muttered.

"You look sad, what happened?"

Napatingin siya sa mga mata ko na tila ba inaarok ang emosyong naroon. I saw her frown a little maybe because all she saw was a heart of stone through those eyes.

"Hindi na ikaw ang dating Amber na nakilala ko. Yeah, she has a bad side but not like this", panimula niya. Eh? I thought we will be talking about her ngunit bakit mukhang ako yata ang magiging paksa naming ngayon, which is something that I really hate.

"I don't think that is the right answer to my question", pamimilosopo ko sa kanya, avoiding to roll my eyes.

"Don't mind me, naalala ko lang. You've been like that since you lost your father."

She doesn't have to remind me that I lost my dad because I knew it! At tuwing naaalala ko iyon ay hindi ko mapigilang mainis sa sarili ko. Yes, I know that I lost him yet I still haven't done anything to revenge his death.

"You don't know what I really been through Math."

"Siguro ay tama ka. You lost your father and your life was complicated pero Amber, hindi lamang ikaw ang nawalan at hindi lamang ikaw ang nag-iisang tao na may ganyang problema sa mundo", she said and I saw a glint of sadness in her eyes.

"I'm not listening to any of your sermon", sagot ko. "Like I said, it doesn't answer my first question."

She took a deep sigh at muling tumingin sa kawalan. I saw her eyes shine and there's no doubt that she is holding her tears back. "I just remember someone from the past after we encountered Dracula."

"You mean someone from your past have the same disorder too?"

She shook her head. "No, not the disorder. The way he struggled on the floor just remind me of something."

We're not really that close but I just found myself listening to her as she tells me a painful story from her past.

********

[FOUR YEARS AGO]

"Thilde, didn't I tell you not to talk when your mouth is full!", nag-echo ang malakas na boses ni Doña Emelda Corazon sa kabuoan ng malawak na dining area. Nasa harapan niya ang kanyang labing-apat na taong gulang na apo na si Mathilde.

"Lola-"

"Do not talk back to elders too! Ilang beses ko na bang tinuro iyan sa iyo! We even hire a governess para ayusin yang asal mong pangkalye but looks like we are just wasting money, effort and everything!"

"Sorry Lola", nakayukong sagot niya sa abuela. Pinagpatuloy niya ang pagkain at maingat na nginuya iyon dahil baka mapagalitan ulit siya ng kanyang lola.

"How was the competition that you've joined?"

"I won first place sa isang event and second on-"

Hindi pa niya natatapos ang sasabihin ay pinutol na siya ng abuela. "Second?! We are the Corazons! We don't come second!"

"Lola, isang malaking contest po iyon at national competition pa-"

Dumapo na ang palad ng kanyang lola sa pisngi niya. "Hindi ba't sinabi ko sa iyo na huwag na huwag kang sasagot! You are raising your voice on me?! Anong klaseng anak ang meron si Manuel!"

Hearing her grandmother's rants somehow hurts her ngunit nasasanay na siya sa tabas ng dila ng kanyang lola. All her life she lived with her politician father and a controlling grandmother. Bata pa lamang siya ay namatay na ang kanyang ina. Ayon sa mga sabi-sabi, her mother died during the time that her father was filing for a position in the local government. Dahil maganda ang reputasyon ng kanyang ama, his opponent for the position attacked him but end up killing her mother instead.

Living with her grandmother was tough. She always wants this and that. Siya ang nasusunod mula sa damit na susuotin hanggang sa bawat salitang dapat lumabas sa bibig niya. She always reminds her to be a fine girl with finesse and brain.

Pagkatapos kumain ay agad siyang umakyat sa kanyang silid ngunit nagulat na lamang siya nang makitang bakante ang kanyang working table. She was making lot of things na nais niyang gawin. Listening bugs, robots and drones. But all of those were gone at ang naiwan sa mesa ay mga gamit na pangsulsi.

"Yaya!"

Agad na pumasok ang kanyang yaya na si Stella. Napansin nito ang kakaibang paglukot ng mukha ng kanyang alaga at mukhang alam na niya kung ano ang dahilan niyon.

"Pasensya na Ma'am Thilde, pinatapon po kasi lahat ni Doña ang gamit ninyo", nakayukong wika nito. When she raised her head a little, she saw Mathilde on the verge of crying but she held it back. Kapag makikita siya ng kanyang lola, for sure ay matinding panenermon na naman ang ginawa nito.

"Saan niya pinatapon?"

"Pinasunog na po kay Cardo."

Upon hearing it ay napasalampak ang upo niya sa kama at hindi na napigilan ang paglandas ng mga luha sa mata. She's been working on those things for many months. Her current piece which is a drone installed with a camera was precious to her. Ilang gabi niyang pinagpuyatan ang mga iyon at ngayong malapit na iyang maperpekto ay nawala lang ang lahat.

Stella ran towards the door and locked it. "Huwag ka ng umiyak Ma'am Mathilde, kahit may pinasunog si Dona Emelda, may tinago po ako", she said and dashed towards the closet. Paglabas nito ay dala-dala nito ang ginawa niyang drone na nasa experimental stage pa lamang ngunit malapit ng matapos.

"Ate Stella!", she leaped from her bed at sinalubong si Stella na hawak-hawak ang drone. She hugged her immediately at mas lalong naiyak. "Thank you Ate Stella, salamat po talaga."

"Alam ko kasing hindi mo iyon tinitigilan. Ilang gabi na ba kitang nakita na nagpupuyat para lamang diyan? Kumusta na pala sa school Ma'am?"

Napasimangot siya sa kanyang yaya. "Ate Stella, do not call me Ma'am or Thilde kapag tayo lamang! Math lang po, and I will call you Ate Stella instead of Yaya", she said with a wide smile.

Napangiti din ang babae sa kanya. "Oo na sige na nga. Kumusta naman sa school ninyo Math?"

"Wala naman pong problema sa school, lahat yata ng tinuturo doon ay alam ko na dati pa man. Ikaw ba naman ang napakaraming tutor? Pero naiintindihan ko naman si Lola, Dad needed a smart and achiever daughter para sa pangalan niya. Pero Ate Stella, hindi ako pumasok sa school kanina." Sinadya niyang hinaan ang boses dahil baka may makarinig sa kanya.

"Ano?! Naku, bata ka! Bakit hindi ka pumasok, alam mo naman ang Lola mo!"

"I know she will freak out pero hindi naman po niya malalaman kung walang magsasabi diba? I was out with the police."

"Police? Diyos ko, ano na naman ang pinasok mo?!"

"No, wala. Ate Stella, you know me. I am a good girl. I was out with the police dahil tinulungan ko sila sa kanilang imbestigasyon sa isang murder case ng isang professional hitman."

"Kapag nalaman talaga iyan ng lola mo, malalagot ka talaga. Alam mo namang ayaw niya yang mga ginagawa mo diba?", paalala ni stella sa kanya.

Tama ito, ayaw iyon ng kanyang Lola. Isang pagkakataon ay malaki ang tulong niya sa mga pulis sa paglutas ng isang kaso at naging laman siya ng balita. Pagdating niya sa bahay ay isang malutong na sampal ang natanggap niya mula sa abuela. She told her to focus on her study at huwag ng makialam pa sa trabaho ng may mga trabaho. She was also grounded for a week and punished by being locked up on her room for a week, kahit pagkain ay pinapaakyat na lamang sa silid niya.

"Alam ko po pero..."

"Pero?"

"This professional hitman is the alleged killer of my Mom. Hindi ba hindi pa nahuhuli ang pumatay kay Mom? And according to the articles and news that I read about her death, this hitman is the possible killer base sa kanyang paraan ng pagpatay. Multiple stab wounds at pagkatapos ay pinapaupo niya ang kanyang mga biktima", paliwanag ni Math. The case really got her interest dahil baka posibleng ito na nga ang killer ng kanyang ina.

"Pero Math...", mababakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha ni Stella para sa alaga. "Kaya mo bang harapin ang pumatay sa mama mo?"

She let out a smile that never reach her eyes. "If there is one thing I learned from Lola, it is being strong. Kakayanin ko ito Ate Stella para sa rin sa hustisya ng pagkamatay ni Mommy."

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagtulong sa pulis and tried her very best upang hindi umabot sa kanyang lola ang kanyang ginagawa. She excelled in school and in everything. One day, she received a text from the police detective na naging kaibigan na niya. He said that they already caught Boy Bato, ang suspect sa mga nangyayaring pagpaslang. Nagmadali siyang kumain ngunit kinausap siya ng kanyang ama.

"How's school Thilde?", tanong ni Manuel sa anak. His hair was grey ngunit maayos at matipuno na ito. Marahil ay dulot iyon sa kanyang nga kinakaharap na problema bilang Congressman.

"Okay lang naman Daddy", she said and refused to glance at her grandmother who was watching her every move.

"I'm sorry if I was so busy these past weeks. Alam mo namang busy kami sa campaign."

"Ayos lang po Daddy."

"Her grades are lower", anunsyo ng kanyang lola. "Kahit nangunguna pa rin siya sa klase ay maliit ang mga markang nakuha niya kumpara sa mga nagdaang grades niya."

Mathilde lowered her head. Her grandmother was right. Kahit nangunguna pa rin siya sa klase ay bumaba ang mga marka niya at dahil iyon sa paminsan-minsang pagskip ng klase upang pumunta sa kaibigang detective.

"Mama, it doesn't matter. Alam naman nating matalino talaga si Thilde. Being on the list is just a reward. Thilde, just enjoy your youth. You don't have to work hard and don't forget to play okay?", nakangiting paalala ng kanyang ama.

"Manuel! Kaya tumitigas ang ulo ng anak mo dahil kinokonsenti mo! She need to act like a real Corazon para na rin sa pagtakbo mo!"

Ayaw na niyang marinig pa ang pagtatalo ng abuela at ng kanyang ama kaya pinagpaumanhin na niya ang sarili at tumayo sa hapagkainan. "Mauna na po ako, kasi male-late na ako." She kissed her Dad and grandmother at agad na lumabas kung saan naghihintay ang driver. She got in the car at habang nasa daan ay nag-isip siya ng paraan kung paano makapunta sa police HQ ng hindi pa siya nahahatid ng driver sa paaralan.

"Kuya Cardo..."

"Ma'am?"

"Dito lang ako Kuya. Hihintayin ko kasi yung kaibigan ko. Maglibot po muna kayo", she lied. She felt sorry for lying but she has to.

"Pero Ma'am, pagagalitan po ako ni Doña Emelda kapag nalaman niya", wika ng driver.

"Edi wag niyo pong sabihin. Tsaka diba po, malapit na ang anniversary ninyo ng asawa niyo? Ibili niyo po siya ng regalo! Sige na!"

Inihinto ng driver ang sasakyan at bago pa man ito makapagsalita ay agad na bumaba ng sasakyan si Mathilde. "Ingat ka Kuya Cardo! At huwag na huwag mo pong sasabihin kay Lola! Bye!" she hailed a cab at agad na nagpahatid sa police headquarters. Nang makarating siya doon ay agad siyang dumeretso sa mesa ni Detective Calderon.

"Anong balita Detective?"

"Hindi ka na naman ba pumasok?", bati nito sa kanya nang umupo siya sa upuang nasa katapat nito. She shook her head as a reply.

"Alam ko na ang tinuturo nila sa school", she said boastfully, which is true. Lahat ng mga tinuturo sa school ay alam na niya kaya minsan ay nabo-bored siya. But she has to maintain the image of a good daughter of a congressman kaya kahit nakakaburyo sa klase ay nagti-tiyaga siya doon.

"Ang yabang mo talaga", Detective Calderon joked. "Eto ang files ni Boy Bato. He confided to the previous murders except your mother's."

Napakunot ang noo niya nang tinanggap ang mga papel. "Po? What is this? Sinasadya ba niya iyan upang makahingi siya ng kondisyon kay Daddy na makalabas siya sa kulungan? Obvious na obvious naman na siya ang may gawa niyon, I mean that is his signature way of murdering!"

"Review those files. During the murder of your mother ay may alibi siya. He is not in the country at nasa India siya to follow the previous Mayor at doon niya pinatay. The time of the murder in India is only an hour before your Mom's. Hindi naman posibleng nakabaik siya dito sa Pilipinas nang ganoon lamang kadali."

"But detective! There must be a trick kaya nakagawa siya ng perfect alibi! What if hindi naman talaga siya yung nasa India?", she said. She was only four years old during that time kaya hindi niya masyadong naaalala ang mga nangyari noon. That incident also leaves her so many nightmares every night kaya minsan ay ayaw niyang maalala iyon.

"Or it could be the other way. Siya ang nasa India at iba ang pumatay sa nanay mo", wika ng Detective. She felt her heart tightened habang hinahawakan ang mga police report noon. She always thought about justice on the verge ngunit ngayon ay tila nawalan siya ng pag-asa.

"Pwede ba akong pumasok sa loob ng interrogation room?"

"I'm afraid not. But I can ask all your questions for you", sagot ng Detective. "At oo nga pala, I did as what you requested. I asked Dr. Cindy to review your mother's autopsy report. Pupunta siya dito mamaya so you can talk to her."

Nagpasalamat siya sa Detective at hindi nagtagal ay pumasok na ito sa interrogation room upang makausap si Boy Bato. She waited for Dr. Cindy at ilang minuto ang lumipas ay dumating na nga ito.

"Mathilde Corazon", nakangiting wika ng doctor at inilahad ang palad sa kanya. "I am Dr. Cindy Chua."

"You can call me Math, Doctor", she said and offer a seat for her.

"I reviewed your mother's autopsy report and I guess it was narrow. Maybe the medical examiner before hasn't been thorough in writing the report. I mean, my assessment is that although it looks like a murder committed by Boy Bato, there are things that just don't make sense o kaya ay pakiramdam ko ay walang kinalaman si By Bato", paliwanag ni Dr. Cindy but it just made Math more confused.

"Ano pong ibig ninyong sabihin?"

"Here, look at these photos." Inilapag nito sa harapan niya ang mga larawan na kuha mua sa iba't-ibang murder scene. "This is clearly Boy Bato's deed. Multiple stab wounds caused by hilt of a knife with a different bruise, all these victims have the same weapon used but as for Tatiana Cordova's wound, it appears different than the rest."

"Paano po kung nasira yung weapon na usual na ginagamit niya? Or nawala? We could not eliminate that possibility."

Muling naglapag ng isang larawan sa harap niya si Dr. Cindy. "That's a photo of Mayor Rexon Devon who was killed on the same day but in India", wika ng doctor. She picked up the photo and compared it to the other pictures at gaya nga ng sinabi nito, it was the same wound shapes with the rest except her mother's.

"Ibig sabihin ay iba ang pumatay sa Mommy ko and he only made it appear like Boy Bato did it?"

Dahan-dahang tumango sa kanya ang doctor. "I also think so."

Nang makauwi siya ay agad niyang binasa ang police report ng murder ng kanyang ina. She secretly took photos of the files since hindi niya maaring maiuwi ang mgaiyon kahit anong pagpupumilit pa niya sa kay Detective Calderon. Nang maghapuan sila at naroon ang kanyang ama ay binuksan niya ang usapan tungkol doon.

"Dad, wala ka po bang balak mag-asawa?", she asked out of the blue habang kumakain. Her grandmother threw a glare at her but she just shook it off.

"Bakit anak? Do you need a mother?", nag-aalalang tanong ng kanyang ama.

"No, hindi naman po Dad. Naitanong ko lamang po."

"Ah, hindi pa naman iyan pumapasok sa isip ko."

"Kung mag-aasawa ka Manuel, make sure that it is an elite and she share the same passion for public service", wika ni Donya Emelda. "Kailangan mo pang tumakbo bilang senador sa susunod na eleksyon and a wife with a different interest would only hinder your plan!"

"Mama, wala pa po akong balak. Hindi ko nga maalagaan ang anak ko, tapos maghahanap pa ako ng mapapangasawa? Isa pa, Tatiana will always be in my heart", her father forced a smile. It must still hurt to remember his late wife. "I heard nahuli na si Boy Bato."

Mathilde saw it as an opportunity. "Dad, paano po kung hindi si Boy Bato ang killer?"

"It is surely him. Siya lang naman ang killer na nag-aabala pang paupuin ang kanyang mga biktima. I regretted leaving you and your Mom that night. Kung hindi siguro ako umalis, malamang buhay pa siya hanggang ngayon. When I came back that night, she was just sitting comfortably on the sofa only that she's lifeless. Naisip ko nga na baka kinausap pa niya ang killer kaya komportable siyang nakaupo. Then he attacked her while sitting. Hindi pa, iyon pala talaga ang ginagawa ni Boy Bato sa mga pinapatay niya", he said with a little cracked voice.

Bahagya silang nagulat nang ibinagsak ni Doña Emelda ang kubyertos. "Bakit niyo ba pinag-uusapan iyan sa hapag-kainan? Where are your manners?"

Humingi sila ng paumanhin at ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain. When Math glanced on her side, nakita niyang nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya si Stella na nakatayo sa gilid at lumabas. She wondered why she was acting that way at ipinasya niyang tatanungin niya iyon mamaya kapag nasa silid na siya.

Kinagabihan ay hinihintay niya si Stella nang makataggap siya ng tawag mula kay Detective Calderon.

"Detective?"

"Nakausap ko ang humawak sa kaso ng nanay mo dati. He said the case was immediately dismissed and considered as a cold case. Nagtanong ako sa kanya kung may kakaiba ba sa kaso and he said, a witness appeared saying may nakaalitan umano ang iyong nanay. When the detective wanted her to come over, she said yes pero paglipas ng ilang araw ay tumawag ulit ito upang sabihing nagsisinungaling siya sa naunang tip niya."

Nagpasalamat siya sa detective bago ibinaba ang tawag. Whoever called them before must have or have not known about the case. Nahulog siya sa malalim na pag-iisip nang may kumatok sa pinto at pumasok doon si Stella.

"Hey Ate Stella", bati niya.

"Ipapasok ko lamang po Ma'am ang gatas ninyo."

She made a face at her. "Ate Stella naman eh. Tayong dalawa lang naman ang nandito."

"Baka kasi maisipang umakyat dito ng lola mo", sagot nito sa kanya.

"May itatanong sana ako sa iyo Ate Stella. Hindi ba matagal ka na dito? Ibig sabihin ay nandito ka noong araw na pinatay si Mommy?"

She looked away and refused to look at her in the eye. "Nakaday-off ako nang mangyari iyon. Sige na po Ma'am, mauna na ako."

Being smart, Math immediately know that she's hiding something. Bago pa man ito makahakbang palabas ng kanyang silid ay hinawakan na niya ito sa braso.

"You're hiding something from me, aren't you?"

"Ma'am Thilde, wala po."

"Tell me about it!", humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa braso nito. She's very certain that she really knows something but only refused to tell her about it.

"May pamilyang pinoprotektahan din ako Ma'am Thilde. Please, bitawan niyo ako dahil may gagawin pa ako", pagsusumamo nito sa kanya kaya humingi siya ng paumanhin dito at binitawan ito. Stella fled out of the room hurriedly without looking back at her.

Math sighed heavily at naupo sa kanyang kama. Bago natulog ay tinawagan niya si Detective Calderon and asked a favour.

Kinabukasan ay pumasok na sa skwela si Math ngunit nang sumapit ang tanghali ay tinawagan siya ni detective Calderon. Hindi siya nagdalawang isip na mag-skip ulit ng klase at pumunta sa HQ.

"What's up Detective?"

"I did what you asked about Stella Mero. No criminal records so far at matagal ng naninilbihan sa mga Corazon. She has a sister who had a heart surgery before. What's interesting is that it was during the month after your Mom's death. No donations from charities but an anonymous donor paid for all the bills. Maybe a coincidence but it could be useful", wika ng detective.

When she arrived home ay hindi niya maiwasang maisip ang tungkol sa sinabi sa kanya ng Detective. Mahirap lamang sina Stella kaya hindi nito kayang tututsan ang heat surgery ng kapatid. The donor must be very rich and generous to pay for the hospital bills. Pagsapit ng hapunan ay sila lamang dalawa ng kanyang abuela ang kumain. Her dad said na may dinadaluhan itong party kaya hindi ito makakuwi sa hapunan.

Pagkaupo niya sa hapag-kainan ay inilapag ng kanyang lola ang student's performance report. "Sinabi dito na madalas kang nag-i-skip ng klase! Nang pumunta ako kaninang hapon sa paaralan ninyo ay wala ka! Where did you go?!"

"N-nag punta po ako sa mall Lola", she alibied. Hindi niya pwedeng sabihin kung saan talaga siya pumupunta dahil malamang ay pagbabawalan siya nito. Kulang na lamang ay magkaroon siya ng 24/7 na bodyguard na siyangmagbabantay sa kanya kapag nagkataon.

"Inggrata! Do not give me that Crap Thilde! Saan ka nagpupupunta?!"

"Sa m-mall-"

Before she can finish her sentence ay dumapo na ang palad ng kanyang lola sa mukha niya. "I didn't raise you to become a liar!"

She felt a tear ran down her cheek. "Sa police HQ po."

"Dios mio! What?! Balak mong magpulis?! You're not going to be one because you will be a doctor! Not a police, not an engineer but a doctor!"

"Pero Lola-"

"I am not hearing any of your words!", galit na wika nito. She was really very angry. Marahil kung hindi lamang nito inaalagaan ang postura ay baka nagwala na ito.

"I am re-investigating Mom's death!", she said at sumulyap kay Stella but the latter left the dining room after she said it. Nagtataka siya sa inasal nito at pinagpasyahang muli itong kakausapin mamaya, sa ayaw at sa gusto nito.

"Wala akong pakialam! Do not drag the name of this family into scandal! Nahuli na ang killer ni Tatiana and do not act like you are some kind of a detective! To your room now! You're grounded for a week!"

"Lola-"

"You are grounded for two weeks! Say more and you will be grounded for the rest of your life!"

Wala na siyang nagawa kundi ang umakyat sa kanyang silid at hinintay na lamang na pumunta doon si Stella. When someone knocked on her door, she stood from her bed ngunit nadismaya nang ibang katulong ang naghatid ng gatas niya.

"Nasaan po si Yaya Stella?", tanong niyasa katulong.

"Nasa kusina, may ginagawa", sagot nito bago nagpasalamat at bumaba.

She waited longer for Stella ngunit sumapit na lamang ang hatinggabi ay hindi ito umakyat sa silid niya. She also couldn't communicate with Detective Calderon or anyone dahil kinumpiska ang lahat ng gadget niya. She only had the books to entertain herself. Habang nagbabasa ay hindi niya maiwasang isipin ang tungkol sa kaso ng kanyang ina. Hinawakan niya ang suot niyang locket na may nakaukit na "M". It was a gift from her mother.

Kung buhay pa ito ay buo pa sana ang pamilya niya. She was never the child who cries every night because she lost a mother pero hindi pa rin niya maiwasang maisip ang kanyang pamilya. She also don't want her father to marry dahil ayaw niyang mapalitan sa puso ng kanyang ama ang kanyang ina. Mas mabuti na pinagkakaabalahan nito ang serbisyo sa publiko kaysa sa paghahanap ng asawa. Even if her mother always hated politics, mas mabuti na siguro na iyon na lamang ang pinagkakaabalahan ng kanyang ama.

"Kung mag-aasawa ka Manuel, make sure that it is an elite and she share the same passion for public service. Kailangan mo pang tumakbo bilang senador sa susunod na eleksyon and a wife with a different interest would only hinder your plan!"

Napailing siya nang bigla na lamang naalala ang sinabi ng kanyang abuela noong kumakain sila. Napakunot ang noo niya habang pinagtagpi-tagpi ang lahat ng kanyang nalalaman.

"This is clearly Boy Bato's deed. Multiple stab wounds caused by hilt of a knife with a different bruise, all these victims have the same weapon used but as for Tatiana Cordova's wound, it appears different than the rest."

"I did what you asked about Stella Mero. No criminal records so far at matagal nang naninilbihan sa mga Corazon. She has a sister who had a heart surgery before. What's interesting is that it was during the month after your Mom's death. No donations from charities but an anonymous donor paid for all the bills. Maybe a coincidence but it could be useful."

"May pamilyang pinoprotektahan din ako Ma'am Thilde. Please, bitawan niyo ako dahil may gagawin pa ako."

"When I came back that night, she was just sitting comfortably on the sofa only that she's lifeless. Naisip ko nga na baka kinausap pa niya ang killer kaya komportable siyang nakaupo. Then he attacked her while sitting. Hindi pa, iyon pala talaga ang ginagawa ni Boy Bato sa mga pinapatay niya."

Din. May pamilyang pinoprotektahan din. Posible ba na...

She found herself dashed out of her room. Madilim na ang kabahayan dahil lagpas hatinggabi na. Mukhang tulog na ang mga tao sa bahay nila. She was about to head back to her room nang bigla na lamang siyang nakarinig ng kalabog sa kusina. She stealthily walked towards there nang muli siyang nakarinig ng kalabog.

"Ayaw ko sanang gawin ito ngunit kailangan. Gaya mo, I only want the best for my family", boses iyon ng kanyang lola.

"Maawa ka sa akin...."

Kinabahan siya nang marinig ang pagsusumamo ni Stella. Then her conclusion was right. It was really her grandmother! Madilim ang paligid ngunit naaninag niya galaw nila sa pamamagitan ng ilaw na nagmumula sa buwan na tumatagos sa bintana.

"I should have performed this contingency plan a long time ago. Tatiana will only obstruct Manuel's plan for the elections! Alam mo ba kung bakit umalis si Manuel nang gabing iyon? He wants to withdraw his candidacy, so I have to take actions and that is the only way!", she attacked Stella who was a little weak. Mukhang may sugat ito kaya wala na itong lakas na manlaban. Siguradong silang tatlo lamang ang nasa bahay dahil hindi pa umuuwi ang kanyang ama. The servant's quarter was on the house extension at may distansya din mula sa main house.

She saw them brawling over a small bottle at pinag-aagawan nila iyon. She was too shocked to move at nang napansin niya ang matulis na bagay na hinawakan ng kanyang abuela, the only action that she was able to do ay ang buksan ang ilaw. But it was too late. Stella was stabbed on her chest and the contents of the bottle was spilled on her grandmother who was struggling on the floor, crying for pain as her skin was burned with the acid in the bottle which she prepared for Stella.

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

I don't know what to say after Math told me her story. It was somewhat like mine. She lost a Mom and a relative killed her while I lost my Dad and a man from the same organization killed him.

"I transferred here to start a new life. Lola is mentally sick and I cannot bear to see her suffer kahit na malaki ang kasalanan niya sa amin. She's still a family", Math said and smiled bitterly.

"You're a coward. So you decided to escape it than face it", komento ko. I couldn't just go anywhere and forget about the one who killed dad just like Math did.

"It's not being coward Amber, it's called forgiving. It isn't called escaping too. If there's a thing I learned about it, it is life goes on. It doesn't stop because you think you've got the worst problem in the world", wika niya sa akin.

"Do not talk as if we have the same feelings towards it. Pareho man tayong may pinagdadaanan, it doesn't mean that we have to take it the same too. Kung kaya mong kalimutan ang nangyari, not me. I cannot just let my Dad's killer walk like nothing happened. I suffered a lot and still suffering because of him!"

My chest hurt every time this subject is up. Bumabalik sa alaala ko ang lahat ng nangyari. And I am not really that strong to let it just go.

"And the only way out of that suffering is to forgive! Yeah, you lose someone Amber but that doesn't mean that your life has to stop too. Life doesn't stop for anybody!"

Now I hate her more. Bakit parang napakadali lamang sa kanya ang lahat? Fine, it is easy to forgive for her dahil kapamilya lamang niya ang gumawa. But for someone who's not related to you, it is hard to do the same thing! Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakapo sa tabi niya.

"I don't want to discuss this any longer. Thank you for sharing your life Math. Sorry if I am not the best person to tak with", I forced a smile bago siya iniwan doon.

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs