JUSTE

I DIDN'T like attending burials. The atmosphere was so solemn and serious, no one wouldn't dare to crack a joke and make the mood any lighter. Lagi akong nag-i-skip kapag iniimbitahan ako, kahit na kamag-anak ko pa ang nag-i-invite sa akin. I'd always reason na may sakit ako o kaya nasa malayo akong lugar kaya hindi ako makapupunta.

But today was different. I willingly attended the interment of Zacharias Zafra. It had been four days since we officially ruled his death as suicide. Hindi ko siya kaano-ano. Hindi ko rin siya kakilala maliban noong namatay siya. But I felt like I needed to see this case through until the end . . . and bury the tragic truth along with him.

The burial was attended by mostly students, faculty members and personnel of Clark University. Isang kaanak lang niya ang sumipot dito at ang nag-asikaso sa lahat. His cousin, I think? He didn't have any immediate family. His mom and dad were dead. He didn't have any brother or sister.

Everyone here was mourning for him, except for a few who finally saw what's beneath the mask of this college instructor slash guidance counselor. Maraming magagandang experiences at moments ang isine-share ng mga nalungkot sa pagkawala niya. But no one knew the real him. The one who kept all secrets on campus and stored them in his phone. The one who concocted an evil scheme that ended up backfiring on him.

Nakasilong kaming dalawa ni Verity sa puno habang pinapanood mula sa 'di kalayuan ang ceremony. When the crowd began to slowly disperse, my partner and I walked toward them. It's hard to search for the people we wanted to see because everyone's wearing the same color black. Some even wore sunglasses that hid their eyes from us.

"Hey!" I raised my hand to capture the attention of four attendees. Sabay-sabay silang lumingon sa akin.

I honestly didn't expect to see the four suspects—former suspects, rather—here. Given what they found out about their college instructor, I thought they'd ditch his burial. But I guess they wanted to pay their last respects to the person who also became part of their lives—despite everything. Maybe they wanted to bury their memories with the man they used to know, not the man they later found out about.

Kung ako ang nasa posisyon nila, hindi ko iisiping pumunta rito.

"Detective," tawag ni Beatrice, palipat-lipat ang tingin sa akin at kay Verity. "May kailangan ba kayo sa amin?"

"Nagbago ba ang conclusion ng mga pulis at na-realize na murder talaga ang nangyari?" tanong ni Desmond. "Nandito ba kayo para arestuhin ang isa sa amin?"

I raised both of my hands and shook them. "No, no! Case solved at case closed na 'to. Wala kayong dapat na ikabahala. I was just wondering if Verity and I can invite you to—ano na bang oras—lunch! Libre daw kasi niya."

Bigla akong siniko sa tagiliran ni Verity at binato ng masamang tingin. "Ano ba'ng pinagsasabi mo riyan? This lunch invitation is entirely your idea."

I forced a smile at her. Dapat nakisakay na lang siya sa trip ko. Humarap ako sa apat. "Fine! I want to invite you four to lunch. My treat, don't worry. Kahit diyan lang sa malapit."

"May dapat po ba tayong pag-usapan?" nababahalang tanong ni Anastacia. "Tungkol ba sa pagkamatay ni Sir Zack?"

"I thought this case is already closed?" Cole asked. Inakbayan niya ang kanyang katabi. "Is there anything else that we need to discuss about it?"

"Let's say . . . we need to have this discussion before we can finally move on and leave what happened behind us," I answered with a smile. "At saka kung naniniwala kayo sa mga pamahiin, heto na ang paraan n'yo ng pagpag. Para hindi kayo sundan ng kung sinumang espiritu na nandito."

Nagkatinginan ang apat, may pag-aalinlangan sa kanilang mga mukha. Hindi yata umubra ang magic word na "treat."

But in the end, they reluctantly agreed. Pumunta kami sa pinakamalapit na restaurant mula sa memorial park. Verity and I rode the police car while the four rode in Cole's car. Walang gustong sumabay sa amin. Baka nga naman isipin na may ginawa silang krimen kung makikisakay sila.

We parked our cars in front of the establishment and went inside the resto. I asked the waiter who greeted us at the entrance if they had a table for six. He replied positively and escorted us to one of the vacant tables inside. Nagsiupo na kaming anim. Magkatabi kami ni Verity, magkatabi naman sina Anastacia at Cole habang magkatabi sina Beatrice at Desmond.

This is perfect.

Bumalik ang waiter sa aming mesa at inabutan kami ng menu. I asked the kiddos kung ano ang gusto nilang kainin. They browsed the menu, but they didn't seem to like any of the food. Well, I'd understand if they didn't have the appetite yet to eat since they came directly from a burial. Verity and I weren't also hungry.

"One platter of carbonara and six bottomless glasses of house blend iced tea. And also, a pitcher of service water and six glasses, please!" I told the waiter. Ako na lang ang nag-order para sa aming lahat. Nakangiti akong tumingin sa mga kasama ko. "We have to eat something. Baka ipagtabuyan tayo rito kapag wala tayong in-order."

They had no choice but to try and eat. Hindi naman mahalaga sa akin kung kakain sila o hindi. I had something more important to do here.

"So how are you all guys doing?" I asked, resting my elbows on the table and leaning closer. "It's been days since last tayong nagkita-kita sa police station."

"I guess, we're fine?" Anastacia answered with hesitation. "Hindi ako nakapag-audition para sa main role sa next theater production namin. But I managed to land on a secondary role. That's better than nothing."

"You just need to show them your superb acting skills," Cole told her as he held her hand. "Kung sanang inuna mo ang audition kaysa patunayang hindi ako ang naka-varsity jacket na nakuhanan sa security footage, baka nilampaso mo ang nakakuha sa lead role."

Anastacia smiled at him. "There are some sacrifices that we have to make—especially for the people who we care deeply for." Then she frowned. "At saka sa dami ng mga nangyari nitong nakaraan, I don't think I'm in the right mindset to play the biggest role this season. Babawi na lang ako sa next production."

"Ehem!" Desmond forced a cough. Mukhang allergic siya sa mga ganitong moment, ah? Should I be surprised? He didn't seem like someone who's into that thing called love.

"Anastacia got a role in theater, though not the lead one," I recapped before turning to the boy beside her. "How about you, Cole?"

"Patuloy pa rin ang practice namin. I'm doing better than last week since we got this case behind us."

"Mas naging focused na rin siya dahil wala nang distractions," Anastacia added, looking at him and still holding his hand. "Hindi na mainit ang ulo ni coach dahil maayos na ang gameplay mo. At this rate, baka mapanalunan natin ang championship sa tournament."

"Sana nga." Cole flashed a smile. Bumalik sa flat line ang kanyang mga labi at umangat ang tingin sa akin. "Also, we've made a promise that we won't try that thing again. We'll keep ourselves drug-free."

I clicked my tongue. "What a shame. Balak ko pa naman sanang magsagawa ng surprise drug test sa inyo."

Natawa si Cole habang napangiti naman si Anastacia. "I don't think I will need any of that anymore... especially now that I have someone special I can rely on."

My eyes looked at their hands that seemed like they were stuck with glue. Ayaw pa ring maghiwalay. Something good must have happened between them. Maybe they're officially in a relationship. Well, I didn't bother to ask.

"Sir, here's your pitcher of water."

Bumalik ang waiter sa aming mesa na may dala-dalang tray. He carefully put the pitcher on the table and distributed one glass per person. I thanked him before leaving us again.

Kinuha ko ang pitsel at isa-isang nilagyan ng tubig ang mga baso. "Look at their glasses! Ang ganda ng shape. Saan ba makabibili nito?"

I had everyone look at the glasses as I poured water into them. Nang matapos na ako, muli kong ibinaba ang pitsel at sumandal sa aking upuan.

"How about you, Beatrice?" I asked. "Kumusta ang pagiging student council officer?"

Beatrice shot me with a faint smile. "I tendered my resignation to the USC. Inamin ko sa president at vice ang ginawa kong pamemeke ng resibo. I can't bear to continue serving the student body if I don't take responsibility for my stupid action."

Pagulat na napatingin sa kanya sina Anastacia at Cole habang naningkit ang mga mata ni Desmond. They didn't seem to know about that news. Maybe Beatrice wasn't sharing anything with them.

"I also need to take responsibility for not reporting Cole and his teammates," Beatrice added. "If I'll be honest with you, hindi ko kayang ipikit ang mga mata ko at magpanggap na wala akong alam."

"I-I'm sorry about that," Cole muttered.

"That's okay," Beatrice replied. "Sarili ko namang desisyon ito. Ilang araw ko ring pinag-isipan bago ako gumawa ng resignation letter. I'll only be a student council officer until next week. Tatapusin ko muna ang mga dapat tapusin para wala akong maiwan na backlog. I don't want my successor to have a hard time."

"Ang balita ko, balak mo raw tumakbo sa pagka-USC president para sa susunod na academic year," Desmond mentioned, shooting a sideward glance at the girl beside him. "Kung nag-resign ka na, paano na niyan ang plano mo?"

Bumuntonghininga si Beatrice matapos uminom ng tubig. "I guess I have to give that dream up. No one wants a leader who's dishonest and irresponsible. My previous actions disqualify me from that position. I'd rather step aside with dignity. Masuwerte nga ako dahil hindi nila ire-report sa Accounting Office ang ginawa ko. They'll let me leave the council with my honor in tact. The official reason for my resignation is to focus on my academics."

"Hindi naman sa sinusulsulan kita," sabi ni Anastacia, "pero kung wala namang nakaaalam sa nangyari, hindi 'yon magiging problema, 'di ba?"

"I also thought of that. Even the president and vice told me that they can keep it a secret and I didn't have to resign," Beatrice answered. "But I don't want any dirt from my past catching up with my future. Baka mas lumala ang problema sakaling manalo ako bilang USC president 'tapos biglang sumabog ang sikreto ko."

I couldn't help but admire her for that conviction. Aside from the six of us, only the late Zacharias Zafra knew what she did. The recording and other blackmailing materials in the deceased's phone were deleted already, so she had nothing to worry about from now on . . . unless one of us decided to leak her secret.

Pero desisyon niya pa rin 'yan. Kung saan siya makatutulog nang mahimbing at payapa, mas pipiliin niya siguro ang choice na 'yon.

"How about you, Desmond?"

Ibinaba niya ang kanyang baso matapos uminom ng tubig. "Napagalitan ako dahil iniwan ko ang guidance office noong araw na pumunta tayo sa police station. That's my first and final warning. Kaya sana, wala nang mangyaring ganito kung saan kakailanganin kong iwan ang post ko."

"But isn't it worth it?" Anastacia asked. "We proved Cole's innocence and shed light on Sir Zack's death."

"Hindi worth it ang sakripisyo ko kung mapalalayas ako sa student aide program," Desmond replied. "'Yon lamang ang dahilan kaya nagawa kong makapag-aral sa Clark U. Sa pagitan n'on at ng pagpapatunay na inosente ang isang tao, mas pipiliin ko ang una."

"Don't worry!" I tried to assure him as I held my glass for a drink. "Your sacrifice paid off in the—"

Clank!

"Oh, shoot! I'm sorry!"

Dumulas mula sa kamay ko ang baso kaya natapon ang laman nitong tubig at kumalat sa mesa. Agad kaming nagsitayuan at lumayo para hindi mabasa ang pants namin.

"I'm really, really sorry!" Sumenyas ako sa waiter para tulungan kami. Agad naman siyang kumuha at mop at pinuntahan kami. "Lumipat na lang tayo ng mesa, okay?"

Isa-isa kong inilipat sa katabing mesa ang natitirang limang baso na may laman pang tubig at ang pitsel. I apologized to the waiter for causing him inconvenience. He said it's okay, but I knew that it's not. Imbes na nagtsi-chill siya ngayon, naistorbo pa namin siya.

We transferred to the nearby table where I placed the five glasses. Muli kaming umupo.

"Teka, saan ba 'yong akin dito?" tanong ni Anastacia, iginagala ang daliri sa taas ng mga baso. "Heto ba o 'yong isa? Hindi pa masyadong nababawasan 'yong akin."

"Baka pwede tayong mag-request ng bagong mga baso?" suhestiyon ni Cole. "Hindi naman sa pagiging maarte, pero para lang comfortable tayong uminom nang hindi inaalala na baka sa ibang tao ang hawak natin."

"Hindi ba hassle sa staff 'yon?" kontra ni Beatrice. "We've already inconvenienced the waiter with the spilled water."

"Para wala nang debate." Tumayo si Desmond at isa-isang d-in-istribute ang mga baso sa amin.

"Sure ka bang baso ko 'to?" tanong ni Anastacia.

Tumango si Desmond. "Wala ka bang tiwala sa akin?"

"Gotcha!"

The four students all turned to me with curious faces. I wasn't interested in their reactions. I was only interested in Desmond's whose brows furrowed at me.

"Gotcha?" he repeated.

"Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin, detective?" tanong ni Anastacia.

"Is this . . ." Cole's eyes slowly squinted. ". . . some kind of trick? Like what you did in the gymnasium?"

"Teka, what's going on here?" Beatrice looked clueless.

I propped up my elbow on the table and rested my chin on the palm of my hand. "Sorry if I lied to you. I didn't invite you here to eat with you and ask how you're all doing. I'm here to confirm something."

Kumunot ang kanilang noo sa akin maliban kay Desmond na napakurap ang mga mata.

"We told that Zafra's death has been ruled as suicide. He killed himself, but accidentally," I reminded them. "I didn't elaborate it at the police station because there's a piece missing. I already have a hunch on what it is, but I have yet to confirm. Well, now I think I've found it."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's establish the facts." Umayos ako nang upo. "First, Zafra bought potassium cyanide at a barbituate retailer. Second, he disguised himself as Cole to possibly frame him for a crime. Third, he was poisoned and killed by probably the same potassium cyanide he bought. Anastacia assumed that Zafra killed himself and tried to frame Cole."

"And you said that's half correct," she recalled.

"Yes, he tried to frame Cole, but not for his death," I revealed. "The truth is, Zafra tried to kill one of you on the night of the despedida party."

Their eyes went wide. They didn't see it coming.

"And Zafra's target who happened to escape that tragic fate is none other than . . ." I pointed at the girl next to Desmond. "You, Beatrice."

Lalo pang nanlaki ang mga mata niya. Her eyes were almost bulging out of their sockets. "M-Me? S-Sir Zafra tried to kill me?"

"And tried to blame your death on Cole," I added. "Pero may kailangan muna siyang gawin para mas maging kapani-paniwala ang kuwentong gusto niyang palabasin. Before I proceed, let me preface it by saying that this is merely a conjecture, though the most sensible one among the rest."

Hindi kumibo ang apat. Hindi rin nila ako nilubayan ng tingin. Now I had their undivided attention.

"Zafra's plan is to kill Beatrice and blame it on Cole," I repeated. "But that narrative lacks something: a motive. Bakit papatayin ni Cole si Beatrice? Ano ba ang ginawa nito sa kanya? So he thought of a way to give our varsity player here a reason to kill the USC officer. By tipping her off about Cole's positive drug results. If the university finds out that he's doing drugs, he can lose everything. And he cannot and will not let that happen."

"But we're not yet sure if Zack was the one who leaked the result—"

"There's no way for us to know," I cut Cole's words short, "but let's assume that he did for the sake of discussion and to make sense of my theory. Ngayon, meron nang motibo si Cole para patayin si Beatrice. Na-set up na rin ni Zafra ang pag-frame kay Cole. All that's left is to do the deed. Unfortunately, that night, something unexpected happen which changed the outcome of Zafra's plan."

"Nabuhos ang laman ng wine na binuksan ni Cole," sabi ni Anastacia. "This is similar to what happened that night! Nabasa ang table kaya kinailangan nating lumipat mula sa second floor patungo sa sala."

"So if that didn't happen . . . I'd be dead by now?" Beatrice asked, her eyes blinking while staring at her glass. "I was saved by Cole messing with wine bottle?"

"There are actually two reasons why you're here with us," I said, raising two of my fingers. "First is Cole. Second is . . . Desmond."

They turned to the boy with spectacles. Nakayuko siya't mukhang iniiwas ang tingin sa amin.

"You boasted about having a sharp memory, right? My guess? You have a photographic memory. Zafra must have known this," I remembered. "Kahit kinailangan n'yong lumipat, malamang confident pa rin siya na matutuloy ang plano niya dahil nandoon ka. You can rearrange the glasses on the sala's table in exactly the same way on the second floor's table."

Hindi umimik si Desmond. Nanatili siyang nakayuko, akala ko nga'y nakatulog na siya.

"The poison must be in the ice," I continued. "Base sa ikinuwento n'yo sa 'kin, si Zafra mismo ang naglagay ng mga yelo sa mga baso. If Beatrice got the same glass, she would have drunk the poison and died minutes later. But Desmond switched the glasses. He gave the poisoned one to Zafra and the safe one to Beatrice."

"T-Totoo ba 'yon?" tanong ni Beatrice sa katabi. "Did you switch the glasses back there?"

Huminga nang malalim si Desmond at iniangat na ang ulo sa amin. He and I exchanged stares that lasted for more than five seconds.

"Oo, ipinag-switch ko ang mga baso."

Anastacia and Beatrice gasped while Cole looked at him with disbelief.

"Did you know na may plano siyang lasunin sa atin?" tanong ni Cole.

Umiling si Desmond. "Wala akong idea na potassium cyanide pala ang inilagay niya sa yelo. Wala rin akong idea na magagawa niyang pumatay at sa mismong bahay pa niya. Hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang kabuuan ng plano niya. Ang tanging alam ko ay may balak siyang gawin noong gabing 'yon. If I had known na may malalason at mamamatay, pinigilan ko na sana siya."

"Then bakit wala kang sinabi sa mga pulis?" sunod na tanong ni Cole. "We could have avoided all the stress in the past week kung nagsalita ka."

"Hindi ko alam kung masasangkot ba ako sa kaso bilang accessory o prime suspect sa pagkamatay ni Sir," sagot ni Desmond. "Ayaw kong mas gumulo ang magulo ko nang buhay. Naniwala akong lalabas din ang katotohanan kung mananahimik ako."

"I think you've made a good move," I commented. "You'll only be suspected by the police kung inamin mong i-s-in-witch mo ang baso na may laman palang lason. Baka nga makasuhan ka pa ng attempted murder kay Beatrice kung sakali."

"I just can't . . ." Beatrice shook her head. Tears began to well up in her eyes. "He's already six feet below the ground, but I didn't expect that he could go much lower."

"He's a freaking monster!" Cole slammed his fist on the table. "What he did to Stacy was already too much! May mas malala pala ro'n!"

"I don't understand . . ." Anastacia muttered. "Why would he do this? Ano ba ang ginawa ni Cole sa kanya para mag-isip siya ng ganito ka-complicated na plan?"

"It might have something to do with you," I replied, making her look at me. "I can't speak for him, but maybe he's grown fond of you. Maybe he has developed feelings for you. Napansin siguro niya na parang inaagaw ka ni Cole sa kanya kaya umisip siya ng paraan para mawala siya sa landas niya. That's the only reason I can think of, unless may iba pang atraso itong si Cole sa kanya."

Umiling si Cole. "We were in good terms days before I found out that Beatrice had a copy of the positive drug test result and punched him in the face. Naging respectful ako sa kanya kapag magkausap kami sa guidance office. I even confided in him,and he gave me some useful advice."

"I guess we won't know why anymore," I said. "Now, at least, we have an almost complete picture of the truth. Maybe this is what everyone needs to know before we move on to the next chapter of our lives."

Dumating na ang waiter dala-dala ang isang platter ng carbonara pasta, isang pitsel ng iced tea at anim na baso. We stopped any discussion and started to eat the food.

Mukhang dahil sa mga nalaman nila, lalong nawalan ng gana ang apat.

They'd be disappointed. They'd be sad. And that's perfectly okay. That's part of grief. They lost not only someone who became part of their lives; they lost someone who wasn't who they thought he was.

If this was any consolation, Zacharias Zafra is a monster. And his death was a good riddance not only to the four, but to everyone else in Clark University. It's best to bury him and their memories off him beneath the dirt where he belonged.

-THE END-

And that's it! That's the end of "Everyone is Suspect"! Thank you so much for reading! I hope that you enjoyed this simple mystery.

If you've enjoyed this story and you have some thoughts/comments to share, let me know by posting or tweeting with the hashtag #Every1Suspect!