TONY

IF DAMON Dominic was just an ordinary student, the news of his death would have gone in one ear and out the other of almost everyone in Clark University. But he wasn't just an average student. He was a celebrity. A star looked upon by most.

So I was not surprised when his locker became an instant shrine. May mga nakatirik na scented candles sa sahig. May mga bulaklak na inialay sa tapat. May mga message sa iba't ibang size ng cards na idinikit sa kanyang locker door. Puno ng "We love you!", "We will miss you!" "Rest well, buddy!" at "Gone too soon!" ang karamihan sa mga ito.

I had nothing against the outpouring show of condolences, but I felt pity for students who were locker-mates with him. Halos nasakop na kasi ng mga bulaklak at cards ang kanilang space. Mahihiya silang buksan o galawin ang mga offering doon. Thank God I wasn't one of them.

I may not have known Damon personally, but I thought of paying my respects to him. Dumaan din ako sa kanyang locker, sandaling tumigil doon kasama ang iba pang mga estudyante, at nag-alay ng maikling panalangin. That's the least I could do for him.

May he rest in peace.

Umalis na ako sa locker area at tumungo sa classroom namin. Before reaching the stairs going to the second floor, I stopped by the table on the entrance hall and grabbed a copy of the Clarion's hottest and latest issue. Bumungad sa akin ang malaking photo ng pag-kiss nina Cleo at Damon kagabi, courtesy of Emilio Letran. But what caught my attention was the headline. Guess who the writer was?

POLSCI STUDENT DIES FROM ALLEGED SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION
by Octavio Agustin

AUTHORITIES ARE now looking into the death of a 19-year-old Political Science student on University Night.

Damon Dominic, who was also crowned the Male Face of the Night, began to wheeze and gasp before collapsing on the floor, witnesses said.

The victim's girlfriend, Cleo Petrarch, said that Dominic is allergic to peanuts and believed that his death was prompted by his allergies.

"When I noticed that he's having difficulty in breathing, I suspected it was an allergy attack," Petrarch said. "Ilang beses ko na siyang nakitang sumpungin ng allergies kaya familiar na ako roon."

The medical examiner of the university police is yet to release an official cause of death.

Meanwhile, the concessionaire and catering services for the U-Night confirmed that their stir-fry vegetables had peanut oil in them.

"We asked the University Night Committee kung may allergies ba o pagkaing bawal sa mga estudyante," the head of the catering services told the Clarion. "May ibinigay na list sa amin, pero hindi kasama ang peanut allergies, kaya inakala naming okay na mag-serve ng meal na may peanut oil."

Last week, the University Student Council asked the students to fill out a survey form on food allergies. It is still unclear why "peanut allergies" isn't on the list, as the catering services claimed. The Clarion already reached out for comment, but the USC hasn't responded yet.

However, Petrarch claimed that her boyfriend did not eat anything that could have triggered his allergies.

"I was with him all the time," she said. "Hindi ko siya napansing kumain ng kahit ano, lalo na ng food na allergic sa kanya. I knew about his allergies. I would have stopped him if he did! He just drank alcohol as he partied throughout the night."

Petrarch also tried to save her boyfriend by using an epinephrine auto-injector she got from the clinic. But the effect seemed to be the opposite, according to witnesses.

"Parang lalo pa siyang lumala," a student who requested anonymity said. "Napahawak siya sa dibdib tapos nalagutan na ng hininga."

Authorities would also examine the epinephrine auto-injector that failed to save Dominic's life.

My hands rolled up the newspaper as soon as I was done reading the front page news. It's the only news that mattered to the students right now. Ito na ang topic ng mga bulungan at tsismisan sa bawat classroom, sa hallway, sa learning center at sa cafeteria. That reminds me, kailangan ko nang i-submit ang article sa editor ko mamaya. She might hit me with this rolled newspaper on my head if I failed to do so.

But something else was bothering me more than my deadline. Damon's death left so many questions. I was there when he took his last breath so I had a vivid mental picture of what had happened.

First, where the hell did Damon get his allergic reaction? Kung tama ang sinabi ni Cleo, paano siya na-expose sa allergen? May bigla bang sumubo ng pagkaing may peanut sa kanya? May pasikreto bang naglagay ng peanut oil sa kanyang drinks? Wait, let me stop myself here. Nagtutunog conspiracy theorist na tuloy ako.

Second, why did the caterers still serve a meal that could have put someone's life in danger? Sa pagkakatanda ko kasi, may pa-survey weeks ago ang University Student Council tungkol sa pagkain. They wanted to know kung ilan ang may allergies at ilan ang member ng religion na pinagbabawalang kumain ng karne. They should have submitted the survey results to the catering services para mabawasan o matanggal sa menu ang mga bawal na pagkain.

Third, why on earth did the epinephrine auto-injector not work? This was, by far, the most boggling question. Damon was still alive by the time Cleo injected the chemical in him. It wasn't too late yet. He still could have been saved. Everyone expected him to feel better and survive. But he did not.

Sa kakaisip ko ng mga posibleng sagot, hindi ko na namalayang nakarating na pala ako sa aming classroom. I went to my preferred seat at the back and settled down. Our class was still business as usual. May mga bulungan sa lupong ng mga magkakaibigan. May mga naririnig akong tsismisan tungkol sa nangyari kagabi. Damon's death was gonna be the talk of the campus for days.

But my attention was caught by an empty seat two rows in front of me. That was Cleo's seat. She doesn't come late for our ten-thirty Electronic Newsroom class. Isa siya sa mga punctual na classmate ko kahit may training sila sa volleyball. She wouldn't miss a single lesson.

Well, she must be grieving right now. She lost a loved one, her boyfriend for what, two years? Imagine how heartbreaking that could have been for her.

I drew my phone from my pocket and stared at the screen for a minute. My not-so-happy face was reflected on the black screen. Should I text or call her? Ano ba'ng dapat kong sabihin sa kanya? Dapat ko ba siyang kumustahin? Dapat ko bang sabihin na magiging okay lang din ang lahat?

No. That wasn't the right thing to do. Obviously she's not feeling well. Things wouldn't be fine for her in the next few days or weeks. Medyo insensitive kung sasabihan ko siya ng gano'n. Baka rin wala siya sa mood na magbasa ng messages. Umiling ako't ibinalik sa bulsa ang aking phone. I should let her grieve.

Poor Cleo. She must be blaming herself for what happened to Damon. Hindi siya ang nag-trigger sa allergies nito, pero pakiramdam niya siguro, may kasalanan pa rin siya. She might be thinking, "if I acted sooner, moved quicker or ran faster, Damon should have been still alive today."

Our E-Newsroom instructor arrived five minutes earlier than usual. Bago niya sinimulan ang lesson, in-announce niya sa amin na open ang guidance and counseling office para sa mga estudyanteng nakasaksi kagabi. Some may have been traumatized by the sight of Damon holding on for his dear life. They might need a professional to talk about it.

While I was kinda freaked out by what happened, there's no need for a one-on-one session with Dr. Albus Estrella, our university guidance counselor. Kung may pinaka-nangangailangan nito, walang iba kundi si Cleo.

I hope she gets better sooner.

THE CLOCK struck twelve and the bell rang. I was the first to leave the classroom and rushed to the stairs. Everyone's going down while I was going up. As much as my stomach was growling and I wanted to take my lunch, I had to report to my editor first.

Umakyat ako sa fifth floor at diretsong nilakad ang tahimik na hallway. May iilan na lang na estudyanteng pakalat-kalat pa rito. Most rooms here were specialized facilities. One of them was the old speech laboratory. And that's my destination.

Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago binuksan ang pinto. Maingat ko itong itinulak at pasimpleng sumilip sa loob. Medyo madilim. Tanging ang iilang nakabukas na bintana ang nagbibigay-liwanag dito. Nakapatay pa ang mga ilaw. Hile-hilerang desk na walang nakapatong sa surface ang bumungad sa akin.

The door creaked and my right foot got in. Slowly I squeezed my body into the gap. I didn't want to swing the door fully open.

"Aray!" I groaned as a rolled up newspaper hit my head. Napahaplos ako sa aking ulo para maibsan ang sakit.

From the dimly lit area of the room emerged a girl with dark-brown hair that reached past her jawline. May hawak-hawak siya na isa pang nakarolyong diyaryo na marahan niyang ipinapalo sa kanyang palad. Kaunting galaw lang niya, isinasalag ko na agad ang mga kamay ko.

I picked up the newspaper on the floor. "Magagalit ang mga taga-Clarion kapag nalaman nilang pinambabato mo lang ang mga issue nila. They put their hearts into this tapos ganito lang ang gagawin mo rito?"

"Don't try to divert the topic, Tony."

Lo and behold, the editor-in-chief of The Clark CAScade, Olivia Ocasio. She's a senior AB Journalism student who tried to revive our dying college student publication. Iilan lang ba kaming staffer dito? Lima? Anim? Kung hindi dahil sa kanyang pagpupursige na mag-recruit ng writers at editors, baka walang editorial staff ang CAScade ngayong academic year.

I wouldn't be surprised if students like me feel unmotivated to join. Una sa lahat, wala kaming matinong office. This old speech lab? Nataon na kakilala ni Olivia ang facilities manager sa fifth floor kaya pinayagan kaming gamitin ang room na 'to habang hindi pa nire-renovate. Once they start the renovation, we'd be homeless. Baka sa ilalim ng puno ng mangga na kami mag-meeting.

Pangalawa, mababa ang ina-allot na budget ng aming college student council para sa published issues ng CAScade. Dapat maging environment-friendly raw kami at bawasan na ang paper consumption. Pwede naman kasing i-post sa website o sa social media accounts ang mga article kaya bakit kailangang mag-allot pa ng malaking pondo?

Kung passion mo talaga ang pagiging campus journalist, applying for the CAScade is a good choice. Pero kung gusto mong maka-experience ng perks at privileges ng pagiging campus journalist, applying for the Clarion is the better choice.

Olivia flicked the light switch before resting her hands on the waist. "Sinabi ko na sa 'yo kagabi na ten o'clock mo isa-submit ang article mo, 'di ba? Bakit wala pa akong na-receive sa email ko o dito sa desk ko?"

Maingat akong lumapit sa kanya, sinigurong hindi ako abot ng kanyang kamay sakaling paluin niya ako. "I'm really sorry, Chief. Like everyone else in the campus, I'm also mourning. I can't focus on writing dahil namatay ang kaibigan ko."

"Kaibigan?" Umangat ang isa niyang kilay. "Huwag mo nga akong lokohin. You never knew Damon Dominic personally. Ang sabihin mo, tinamad kang magsulat kaya wala kang isinubmit."

She walked toward the desk before the whiteboard. Doon nakapatong ang isang silver laptop na nakabukas din. She pulled a chair and sat on it. Sumunod ako sa kanya.

"So what do you have for me?" Olivia reclined in her chair, tilting her head at me. "I'm warning you. Kapag hindi ko nagustuhan ang article mo, hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na batuhin ka ulit."

"Masyado mo akong ina-uunderestimate, Chief!" I smirked. Binuksan ko ang aking bag at inilabas ang isang folder. Her eyes followed me curiously. I pulled out a piece of paper and gently placed it on the desk. "Here's my article about the University Night."

The truth was, hindi talaga ako tinamad na magsulat. Sinipag pa nga ako, eh! I managed to write three articles last night. Because of the questions running in my head, I couldn't fall asleep. Kaya itinuon ko sa pagsusulat ang energy ko hanggang sa antukin na ako.

Olivia dragged the paper toward her using a finger. She leaned forward as her eyebrows almost formed a straight line. "CAS power couple bags Face of the Night awards...? Seryoso ka ba rito, Tony? Heto ang gusto mong ibalita natin?"

I knew it. Her reaction would be exactly that. "Look, the Clarion has already reported about Damon's death. Everyone's talking about Damon's death. Para maiba naman, baka pwedeng light story ang i-offer natin sa kanila."

Hinablot niya ang nakarolyong diyaryo sa desk at akmang ibabato na sa akin, pero huminto siya. She let out a sigh and shut her eyes for a moment. "Tell me that this isn't your best shot."

"Of course!" I pulled another sheet from the folder and handed it to her. "Aminado akong hindi sexy ang unang article na ibinigay ko sa 'yo, pero baka ito ang swak sa panlasa mo."

Kumunot ang noo niya habang binabasa ang headline at ang lead. Lalo pang lumukot ang kanyang mukha habang pababa ang tingin niya. Not good, huh? Agad siyang umiling at ibinaba ang papel. "PolSci student dies from allergic reaction... or possibly murdered? We're here to report facts, not spread conspiracy theories!"

"Admit it, Chief, curious ka rin sa ilang circumstances ng pagkamatay niya," nakangisi kong tugon. "Nagtataka ka rin ba kung paano na-trigger ang allergy niya? O kung bakit hindi gumana ang epinephrine auto-injector? Panigurado akong may mga estudyanteng tinatanong ang mga 'yan."

"Those questions will be answered as soon as the authorities share their findings with us. No need for these outrageous theories na magpapalala sa sitwasyon. You know that some students are impressionable. Baka agad silang maniwala na murder nga ang nangyari kagabi."

Walang pasabing nilukot ni Olivia ang papel at itinapon nang patalikod. Gumulong ito hanggang sa may pintuan. Medyo nasayangan ako sa efforts na ibinigay ko roon.

"Tell me you still have a better story to offer," she said, playing with the rolled up newspaper in her hands.

Bumuntong-hininga ako bago kinuha ang ikatlo at huling papel mula sa hawak kong folder. This was my last card. My trump card. Kapag hindi pa ito pumasa kay Olivia, ihahanda ko na ang sarili ko para batuhin niya. Worst, baka ipakain niya sa akin ang nilukot niyang papel.

I observed her reaction as she was reading my third article. Noong una'y nakakunot ang noo niya, pero dahan-dahang umaliwalas ang kanyang mukha. Hinintay kong matapos niya hanggang sa dulo. Once finished, she reclined in her seat and lifted her gaze at me.

"While everyone's talking about how Damon died, I thought of writing kung paano nag-effort ang kanyang girlfriend para iligtas siya," I told her. "I was with Cleo when she went to the clinic and grabbed that epinephrine auto-injector. You can consider it as an exclusive scoop."

Iniangat ni Olivia ang papel. "Bakit hindi 'to ang unang ipinabasa mo sa akin?"

"Hindi kasi ako sigurado kung magugustuhan mo 'yan, kaya sinadya kong unahin 'yong dalawang article na alam kong ire-reject mo," sagot ko. "That way, wala ka nang ibang choice kundi mag-settle at tanggapin ang article na 'yan."

"Mautak ka rin, 'no?" She chuckled. "Anyway, kailangan kong i-edit ang ilang lines nito para pwede na natin siyang i-print at i-post sa bulletin board. Meron tayong stock photo ni Cleo, 'no? Hindi na natin kailangang humingi sa mga Clarionette. Heh. Siguradong maglalaway sila kapag nabasa na nila ang exclusive scoop natin. Thanks to you, of course."

Olivia is not a fan of the Clarion. I wouldn't say she hates them, because "hate" was a strong word. 'Yan ang napansin ko sa ilang buwan kong pagiging news writer dito sa CAScade. Her rolling up their latest release made it too obvious. She always referred to their staffers as Clarionettes, which must be somehow derogatory, I guess? I don't know why, and I didn't bother to ask.

"Wala na akong utang sa 'yo, 'no, Chief?"

"Bayad ka na. Good work, by the way, though a bit late."

I KINDA expected that my article would blow up. Dahil hindi kami biniyayaan sa budget—'di gaya ng Clarion—ipinost namin sa social media accounts ng CAScade ang news feature tungkol kay Cleo. Kung paanong siya ang unang kumilos at tumakbo nang nakayapak para lang makuha ang epinephrine auto-injector mula sa clinic. The number of reactions, comments, and shares was quadruple the number we normally get for an online article.

I've been writing for the CAScade for five months already. If there's one lesson learned, I must know my audience and what they want to read. Alam ko na kung ano ang kiliti ng mga reader namin. The Cleo Petrarch angle had a touch of romance in it. How one girlfriend was willing to do everything for her boyfriend. Ganyan ang anggulo, at 'yan ang nagustuhan ng audience namin. They felt amazed by her love, as well as saddened by the tragedy.

Pa-scroll-scoll lang ako sa aking laptop habang kumakain ng nachos sa dining table. Medyo malamig na at hindi na gano'n kalutong dahil kagabi ko pa in-order ito, pero pwede pa ring pagtiyagaan.

For my college studies, I was staying at an apartment just a few blocks away from the Clark University campus. Naisipan ko ngang mag-rent ng room sa university hostel, kaso masyadong mahal. Hindi afford ng budget ko. So I went for a cheaper choice. I looked for an apartment for rent. Nataon na naghahanap ng housemate ang dalawang tenants ng isang unit kaya pumayag ako.

May tatlong bedroom ang unit namin. Tig-iisa kaming mga tenant dito. Compared sa dorm na may kaunting privacy, mas gusto kong may sarili akong kuwarto. Meron ding isang common living room, dining area, kitchen, at comfort room. Fully furnished na ang apartment kaya mas may kamahalan ang renta, pero mas napadali naman ang buhay namin.

"Nice article!"

Someone slapped me on the back. Muntik ko nang mabitawan ang hawak kong nachos. Lumingon ako sa lalaking kalalabas pa lang sa kanyang kuwarto. He grabbed some nachos with one hand and fit them in his mouth while holding his Clarion-sponsored brand new camera on the other.

"I wonder why hindi ka nag-apply sa Clarion," Emilio said, leaning closer to my laptop screen. Tumatalsik ang powder ng nachos mula sa kanyang bibig pababa sa laptop ko kaya agad kong pinunasan. "You have the potential! Malay mo, maging editor-in-chief ka pa namin in the future."

Emilio Letran's sharing this apartment with me. Kaya grabe siya kung makipag-feeling close. Minsan nakasasawa nang makita ang pagmumukha niya sa campus kasi paggising ko pa lang, bumungad na siya agad sa akin.

He's a good housemate, by the way. Siya kadalasan ang nagluluto ng pagkain namin, bibili ng grocery, naghuhugas ng mga plato, nagwawalis ng sahig, at naglilinis ng banyo. Tumutulong din ako sa kanya minsan. Wala kasi kaming maaasahan doon sa isa pa naming housemate na kung hindi uutusan, hindi kikilos.

"I'm already satisfied in the CAScade." Napangalumbaba ako habang nag-i-scroll sa comment section. "Halos kinuha n'yo na nga lahat ang writers sa college namin. Dadagdag pa ba ako?"

Hinila ni Emilio ang isa sa mga upuan sa tabi ko at sumakmal ulit ng nachos. "Bakit parang kasalanan namin? You can't blame us kung maraming perks ang pagsali sa Clarion. Kung gusto mo talagang mag-stay sa CAScade, baka pwede mong ayusin ang sistema n'yo para dumami na ang mag-apply sa inyo. You know, be the change that you want."

I never thought of pursuing a higher position in the publication. Satisfied na ako sa kung ano ako. Isang hamak na news writer. Mahirap na nga itong trabaho ko tapos daragdagan ko pa ang sakit ng ulo ko? 'Di bale sana kung may scholarship ang pagiging editor ng CAScade, kaso sa Clarion lang 'yon available.

"Nakita mo ba kung gaano karami ang nagmamahal kay Damon?" Ipinakita ni Emilio sa akin ang screen ng kanyang camera. He went through some photos showing the flowers, candles and cards on Damon's locker. I already saw them with my own eyes so I wasn't amazed. "Parang may namatay na celebrity, 'no?"

"Celebrity naman talaga siya." Ibinalik ko sa laptop screen ang aking tingin. "He's the captain of the debate team. He brought honor to the university. He's in a relationship with the volleyball team captain."

"He's also a member of the Honor Society," Emilio added. He zoomed in on the golden crane pin on Damon's lapel. Isa 'yon siguro sa mga picture na nakunan niya ilang sandali bago nag-collapse ang lalaki. "Alam mo naman kung gaano ka-prestigious ang mapasali sa group na 'yon, 'di ba? He's literally one of the elites."

I already heard about Clark Univeristy's Honor Society. Membership in that club was only by invitation. Kung isa kang academic achiever or student leader na may mataas na posisyon, it's probable that you'd get the chance to join them. It's like a VIP club for the elite. Damon was surely one of them.

"May he rest in peace," I muttered.

"Pero andami pa ring tanong na bumabagabag sa akin," sabi ni Emilio. Tumingin ako sa kanya't napansin ang nanliit niyang mga mata. "Nabasa ko sa article ni Vio na wala raw kinain si Damon na makaka-trigger sa allergy niya. So paano siya nagkaroon ng allergic reaction? At saka bakit hindi tumalab ang in-inject na epinephrine sa kanya? Expired na ba ang stock sa clinic kaya hindi na tumalab?"

My eyes blinked at him. What a coincidence. "I also have the same questions."

"Heto pa ang nakapagtataka. Watch this closely." He showed me a video where Damon was seen lying on the floor and his girlfriend was kneeling beside him. Mukhang nakabalik na kami rito mula sa clinic kasi hawak-hawak na ni Cleo ang epinephrine auto-injector.

"You took a video of him?"

"Of course! Kaso hindi namin ipinost sa website ng Clarion out of respect sa kanya."

Gaya ng nasaksihan ko kahapon, pailing-iling ang ulo ni Damon habang tinatantiya ni Cleo kung saan ituturok ang chemical na makapagliligtas sa kanya. His allergic reaction must have been severe at that moment. Maging ang mga kamay niya, hindi na niya makontrol. Parang itinataboy pa ang kamay ni Cleo.

"Ako lang ba o talagang may kakaiba sa galaw niya?"

I shrugged. "Could be the allergic reaction?"

"Sa pagkakaalam ko kasi, wala namang epekto sa muscles ang anaphylaxis."

"Anaphyla-what?"

"Anaphylaxis. 'Yong nakamamatay na allergic reaction. Usually kasi pamumula, pamamaga, paninikip ng dibdib, hirap sa paghinga at pag-ubo ang symptoms nito."

Nagpatuloy ang video hanggang sa mag-relax na ang katawan ni Damon matapos maturukan. Tapos bigla siyang nanigas at napahawak sa kanyang dibdib hanggang sa tuluyan nang lumambot ang katawan at malagutan ng hininga. I quickly cut my gaze away as his lifeless eyes seemingly stared straight at the camera.

Mabuti't inilipat na ni Emilio ang naka-display sa kanyang screen. Ibinaba ko ang hawak kong nachos. Salamat sa kanya, nawalan ako ng gana. Not a good idea to watch someone's last moments while eating.

"So ano na'ng plano mo niyan?" tanong niya.

"Magsusulat pa rin ako ng article."

"Ang ibig kong sabihin, kay Cleo."

"Cleo?" Kumunot ang noo ko. He was waggling his eyebrows at me. Was that supposed to mean anything or what? "Ano'ng meron kay Cleo?"

"Wala na si Damon kaya wala nang nagmamay-ari sa puso niya."

Lalo pang lumukot ang noo ko. "Seryoso ka ba? Kamamatay lang ng boyfriend niya tapos 'yan agad ang iniisip mo?"

"Oo, namatay nga si Damon, pero hindi ibig sabihin no'n na titigil na ang mundo ni Cleo. At saka haharapin at haharapin mo rin ang thought na 'to."

"Wala akong balak na gawin, okay?" sagot ko sabay taas ng aking mga kamay. "Hindi ako nag-aabang o kung ano. Hindi ako abangers."

"That's right." Emilio nodded slowly. "Let her grieve for weeks or months. When she's ready, that's when you swoop in!"

"No!" I replied with a resounding voice. "Hindi ako gano'ng klaseng lalaki. I'm not a vulture who swoops down and preys on the sadness of others."

"Dahil wala na si Damon, marami niyan ang poporma kay Cleo." Ang kulit nitong si Emilio. Parang walang narinig sa akin. "Kapag hindi ka kumilos, baka maunahan ka niyan. Baka pagsisihan mo ang pagsagot mo sa akin ng no."

"Kung i-e-entertain niya ang mga poporma sa kanya, desisyon na niya 'yon. Kung para talaga kami sa isa't isa, kami rin ang magiging sa huli."

"'Yan ang mindset ng mga taong pinapalampas ang opportunities na nasa kanilang harapan na. Kung para sa akin, para sa akin," may palatak na sabi ni Emilio. "If you want to claim something, you have to extend your hand and reach out for it. The world won't drop it on your lap."

Naningkit ang mga mata ko. "At kailan ka pa naging life advice guru?"

Our conversation was interrupted when we heard a creaking noise. Our heads turned to the door. Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang isang lalaking nakasalamin at nakabagsak ang bangs. May hawak-hawak siyang tablet PC sa isang kamay at patuloy ang pagpindot niya roon. Himala nga't hindi nauntog ang ulo niya sa pinto o pader. A media ID hung around his neck and a sling bag was strapped on his right shoulder.

Octavio Agustin is also one of my housemates. I wouldn't call him a "bad" housemate dahil nagbabayad siya ng kanyang share at may pagka-considerate siya minsan. I could confidently say without being charged with libel or slander na sa aming tatlo, siya ang pinakatamad. He always leaves the household chores to us while he's busy on his tablet, writing articles or reading his notes.

What a coincidence, right? Na dalawang taga-Clarion ang kasama ko sa unit na 'to.

"Vio!" may pagkabahalang tawag sa kanya ni Emilio. "'Di ba sinabihan na kitang huwag magta-type sa tablet habang naglalakad? Baka masagasaan o mahagip ka ng sasakyan!"

We're older than Emilio, just a year ahead, but the latter sometimes acts like a big bro who's concerned about his younger siblings. Kita n'yo nga kanina, ako pa ang sinermunan niya tungkol sa pag-grab ng opportunity.

Iniangat ni Octavio ang kanyang tingin sabay sabing, "Noted."

That's his shortest way of saying he heard you, but he didn't care.

"Ano ka ba, Emil?" Natatawang siko ko sa aking katabi. "Apat kaya ang mga mata niya! Imposibleng 'di niya makita kung may makasasagasa sa kanya. So don't worry about him."

Octavio shifted his gaze from Emilio toward me. "Eye jokes again? How creative. You should update your arsenal of insults because they are already outdated."

"Talk about update," I scoffed. "Why don't you change your eyewear into contact lenses para wala nang mang-asar sa 'yo na apat na mata?"

"For the record, ikaw lang ang nang-aasar sa akin na apat na mata," sagot niya. "Everyone's fine with my classic eyewear. No need to change to contact lenses."

"Ang sabihin mo, takot ka lang na baka matusok ng mga daliri mo ang mga mata mo habang inilalagay 'yong contacts!"

"Hey, hey!" Tumayo agad si Emilio at pumwesto sa pagitan namin nang nakataas ang mga kamay. "Pwede bang ceasefire muna? Kauuwi pa lang ni Vio, meron nang ganito agad? Para kayong aso't pusa minsan."

"I wasn't the one who fired the first shot," Octavio said calmly.

Fine. It's my fault! But I wouldn't admit it. Ayaw kong ibigay sa kanya ang satisfaction.

"Vio, may update ka na ba kay Damon?" tanong ni Emilio sabay liko ng topic. I was also curious about that incident, so no problem with me. "'Di ba ikaw ang naka-assign sa kanya?"

"I'm still waiting for the autopsy report. We will find out soon what might have killed him."

"Posible bang hindi allergic reaction ang ikinamatay niya?" tanong ko. In my conspiracy theory article, I wrote that someone might have secretly injected him with a deadly chemical before Cleo did.

"The university police are looking at another angle—" Octavio's mouth froze midway as his eyes looked down on his tablet. His right forefinger did a dramatic swiping movement on the screen. A document was reflected on the lens of his eyeglasses, but I couldn't read what's written on it.

"Ano'ng meron?" kunot-noong tanong ni Emilio. Thanks for asking the same question I had in mind.

Sandaling natahimik si Octavio, malamang binabasa kung anumang document ang natanggap. Was that the autopsy report? His eyes were moving from left to right, top to bottom. Emilio and I waited with bated breath as we watched him.

Iniangat niya ang kanyang tingin sa amin, pakurap-kurap ang mga mata. "There's a development in the Damon case."

Case?

"What is it?"

"According to the autopsy report, the cause of death is not anaphylaxis, but hyperkalemia. The medical examiner found high concentration of potassium in his body. What's surprising is that they also found traces of potassium in the epinephrine auto-injector."

"'Di ba dapat epinephrine ang laman no'n?"

"Supposedly, yes." Octavio nodded. Iniabot niya kay Emilio ang kanyang tablet. "But there are no traces of epinephrine in the body or in the injector. Just potassium."

My eyes slowly squinted. I got to my feet and peered over Emilio's shoulder to check the report. May ilan akong nakitang number pero hindi ko maintindihan kung para saan ang mga 'yon. "What happens if you inject potassium into a person?"

"At normal doses, just a rise in your potassium level. But at high doses, cardiac arrest."

"Cardiac arrest..." I muttered, looking down while caressing my chin.

Cardiac arrest?

I felt like my mind was putting pieces of the puzzle together. Parang movie na nag-rewind sa isip ko ang mga nangyari kagabi. Mula sa pag-inject ni Cleo hanggang sa biglang paninigas ng katawan ni Damon at paghawak sa dibdib.

"This may sound a little farfetched," I began in a low voice, shifting my gaze from Emilio to Octavio. "What if someone purposely triggered Damon's allergy so he would be unknowingly injected with a lethal dose of potassium cleverly disguised in an epinephrine auto-injector?"

"In other words...?"

"What if Damon was murdered?"

#

The plot thickens! If you've read the "Everyone is Sus" summary in Project LOKI Chapter 49, it's kinda like that... but without the definite list of suspects and with a twist!

Don't forget to use the hashtag #Every1Witness when sharing your thoughts or theories on Twitter!