TONY

"Uy, Cleo! Ang ganda naman ng scarf mo! Saan mo nabili 'yan?"

"Thank you! Actually, regalo 'to ni Damon sa akin. Bagay ba?"

"Oo naman! Kahit ano yatang suotin mo, babagay sa 'yo! Walang halong bola, ah?"

Umangat agad ang tingin ko nang marinig ang boses ni Cleo. Kapapasok pa lang niya ng classroom, sinalubong na siya ng dalawa naming classmate. I was busy typing on my laptop for the CAScade article that was due today. But for a minute, my fingers stopped from flying over my keyboard to catch a glimpse of her.

"Ang sweet pala ni Damon, 'no?" sabi ng classmate namin. "Sana kapag nagka-boyfriend ako, bilhan din ako ng ganyan. Ang lamig pa naman ngayon."

"Gaga!" tugon ng katabi niya. "Paano ka magkaka-boyfriend e napaka-pihikan mo sa mga lalaki?"

Nagpatuloy na ako sa pagta-type habang nakikinig sa kanilang morning tsismisan. As a journalist who sometimes writes my articles on the spot while the public information officer of our college student council is speaking, sanay na akong mag-multi-task: nagta-type habang nakikinig.

"Walang masama sa pagiging pihikan," sabi ni Cleo. "Hindi natin kailangang ibaba ang ating standards para lang magkaroon ng boyfriend. We need to know our worth."

"O, kita mo? Approve si Cleo sa pagiging choosy ko!" hirit ng isa sa mga kausap niya. "Kasalanan ko ba na mataas ang standards ko pagdating sa mga lalaki?"

"Sa sobrang taas yata, wala nang makaka-reach niyan! Kailangan mo ring maging realistic minsan!"

"Ang mabuti pa, paupuin n'yo na muna si Cleo at papagpahingain. Kakapasok pa lang niya, in-ambush n'yo na agad siya."

That was Hadriana's voice. Muling umangat ang tingin ko sa kanila. Tumuloy na sa kanyang upuan si Cleo at ibinaba ang kanyang bag. Agad siyang pinuntahan ni Hadriana at ilang segundong tumitig sa scarf nito. The honey gold color perfectly suited her. This was the first time that I had seen her wear such accessory.

ALL THIS time, I thought Damon giving a scarf to Cleo was a gesture of love while Cleo wearing it was a gesture of appreciation. But that wasn't the full story. That was just a smokescreen to hide the bruises that she had around her neck, courtesy of her boyfriend.

Kung hindi pa nagkaroon ng kaunting duda si Hadriana sa kanyang bestie, hindi ko pa malalaman. My so-called CAS power couple projected to the whole university that their relationship was perfect. Sino bang mag-aakala sa likod ng mga ngiti at sweet gesture na kinaiinggitan ng mga kinulang sa romance, may times pala na pinagbubuhatan ng kamay ni Damon si Cleo?

That made me furious. Damon is already dead, but I would have love to punch him in the face. Whatever the reason may be, he did not have the right to lay a finger on Cleo.

Maybe once was just an accident. But twice? That's leading to a pattern of physical abuse already. Who knows kung lagpas pa sa dalawang beses na sinaktan ni Damon ang kanyang girlfriend?

"Hey? Excuse me?"

Kumaway sa harapan ko ang isang babaeng nakapusod ang mahabang buhok. Nakasuot siya ng kulay gold shirt na may logo ng Clark University sa left chest part nito. Kulay purple ang collar, manggas, at bottom hem. Sa likod, naka-print ang malaking number at ang surname ng may suot.

That outfit was undoubtedly familiar because Cleo always wore that uniform for their volleyball games. Noong una nga'y inakala kong siya ang kaharap ko na kumakaway sa akin. When I shook my head to shrug some thoughts, the face of the player became clearer.

"Tony?" Rachel Ramos, the vice captain of Clark University's volleyball team, called me. Compared to Cleo, she had a thin face, making her cheekbones more prominent. "Okay ka lang ba? Parang wala ka sa sarili mo?"

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine! Sorry kung medyo lutang ako." I cleared my throat and cast a glance around the locker area. I was at the gymnasium, talking to a volleyball player, but my mind was elsewhere. Hindi pa rin ako maka-move on sa nalaman ko kaninang umaga. Muli kasing sumagi sa akin nang makita ko ang kulay ng damit ng mga player dito. Gold, same as the scarf that Cleo wore to hide her bruises.

"Bakit ba kasi ikaw ang nag-i-interview sa amin?" nakapamaywang na tanong ni Rachel. Ewan ko kung talagang disappointed siya o hindi. "Nasaan na ba si Rafael? Siya ang sports writer ng CAScade, 'di ba?"

"May ibang pinapa-cover sa kanya kaya ako muna ang naka-assign dito. Medyo short kasi kami sa staff. Pinirata na yata lahat sa amin ng Clarion."

That was an outright lie. No, not the part about Clarion, but the one about me being assigned here. Our good Chief did not ask me to fill in the shoes of our regular sports writer. Beat niya kasi ito. Nandito ako ngayon para simulan ang imbestigasyon tungkol sa gustong mag-frame kay Cleo.

Hadriana's revelation this morning presented a new angle. Abuse could have been a motive, but we needed to know more. We needed more details. It's like baking a cake. You can't bake one without having enough eggs. Sa ngayon, kulang ang itlog sa basket namin. Kailangan pa naming mangolekta.

Also we couldn't say for sure that Cleo being abused twice or more had something to do directly with Damon's death. But that angle might give an insight to help us understand the case better.

As usual, thanks to the power of the media ID, I could slip through any room in the campus. Magagawa ko ring interview-in ang mga campus personality nang hindi pinaghihinalaan. Kung normal lang akong estudyante, mahihirapan akong makausap itong si Rachel at ang iba pa niyang teammates sa volleyball. They might think of me as a stalker and report me to the Office of Campus Security.

Naku. Kapag nalaman ni Chief ang ginawa ko, higit pa sa pagpalo ng nakarolyong Clarion issue ang aabutin ko sa kanya. Sana talagang walang kino-cover na sports-related news or features si Rafael para walang magsumbong sa akin.

"Saan na ba tayo?" tanong ko. Hawak ko pala ang phone ko na nagre-record ng aking interview sa kanya.

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Rachel sa akin. "Kasasabi mo pa lang a minute ago, nakalimutan mo na? You asked me kung kumusta ang training namin sa volleyball."

"Oh, yeah!" Naalala ko na. Ang hirap talaga kapag lumulutang ang isip ko. Nawawala ako sa focus. "So kumusta naman?"

"The past two days, hindi namin alam kung ano ang gagawin. We have an upcoming regional athletic meet next month. Kung kailan need naming magseryoso sa practice, doon biglang nawala ang team captain namin."

"Since you're the vice captain, ikaw ngayon ang in charge dito?" tanong ko. This wasn't the topic that I wanted to talk about, but I had to start somewhere I wouldn't look and sound suspicious.

"Mabuti't naka-ready akong mag-assume sa role niya," sagot niya. "Ang kinasasama ko ng loob, hindi ako sinabihan ni Cleo na hindi ulit siya makakapag-attend ng practice yesterday at today. Ano pa bang magagawa ko kundi ang mag-take over muna? She owes me big time."

Now we're getting closer to my preferred topic. "Speaking of your captain Cleo, she hasn't been seen since yesterday. Do you have any idea kung nasaan siya? Baka tinext o cinall ka niya at na-share niya sa 'yo kung kumusta na siya?"

"Noon ngang tinext at cinall ko siya, ni hindi siya nag-reply o sumagot sa akin, eh!" tugon ni Rachel, parang may sama ng loob. "Hindi rin kami gano'n ka-close kaya kung tumakas man siya at may pinuntahan, wala akong kaide-ideya."

"Tumakas?" I repeated. Gusto kong magpasalamat sa kanya dahil siya na mismo ang nag-open ng topic. "Ano ang tinakasan niya?"

Ngumiti siya sa akin, medyo nakaloloko ang kanyang itsura. Her face was telling me, "We both know what I'm talking about." But I had to pretend clueless. Kailangan kong mag-extract ng info mula sa kanya nang wala akong masyadong sine-share. "Come on, Tony. Parang hindi ka news writer niyan, eh! Malamang nasagap mo na ang haka-haka ng ilang theorists sa campus."

"Sabi mo nga, news writer ako. I only listen and write about facts, not rumors," I told her in a not so condescending way.

"May paganyan ka pang nalalaman, ha?" She nudged me on the arm. "Fina-follow mo ba si Esmeralda sa Twitter? 'Yong bonggacious na vlogger?"

I would have rolled my eyes or let out a long sigh. Sabi ko na nga ba, may malalason ang Esmeraldang 'yon sa mga estudyanteng madaling mapaniwala ng mga tsismis.

"Cleo might be the person of interest na hinahanap ng mga pulis," sabi ni Rachel nang umiling ako. Esmeralda and I may be classmates, but I don't follow her on social media. Ayaw kong mabasa ang mga pretentious niyang tweet. "Think about it! Siya lang ang humawak sa epi-something injector. Tapos missing in action pa siya ngayon. Swak na swak doon sa napabalitaang natakasan ng person of interest ang university police."

"Kung si Cleo man ang tinutukoy ng mga pulis, sabi mo nga, person of interest lang siya. Hindi pa siya ganap na suspect. We should know the difference." For me, those were just the same thing. Parang mas pinabangong version ng salitang suspect ang person of interest. "Dahil na-bring up mo na rin, what do you think about it? Sa tingin mo ba, kayang gawin ni Cleo ang iniisip ng iba na ginawa niya?"

"On the record? Cleo is a very caring girlfriend to Damon. Nakita namin kung gaano sila ka-sweet sa isa't isa. Bumibisita pa nga si Damon sa practice namin para sunduin siya. Kulang na lang ay langgamin ang dalawang 'yon. There's no way she could have hurt or killed the man she loves."

"And off the record?"

Rachel's finger pressed on the pause key of my recorder app. "I think she did it."

"Paano mo nasabi?"

"It's obvious!" she hissed. Tumingin siya sa kanyang likuran, sinilip kung meron bang ibang tao na papasok sa locker room. "The night Damon died, I saw her. You saw her. We saw her. Everyone was witness to how she killed him! Nasa harap na natin ang sagot sa tanong, kaya bakit pa tayo maghahanap ng iba?"

"Kaso..." Napakamot ako sa aking ulo. "Ano ang motibo niya? Bakit niya papatayin ang kanyang boyfriend? You said it yourself. Halos langgamin na ang dalawa sa ka-sweet-an nila. Nabaliw na ba si Cleo kaya randomly naisipan niyang patayin si Damon?"

One way to keep a wacky theorist like her talking was to entertain her idea.

"May sinusundan ka bang showbiz couple?" tanong niya. I shrugged. Kapag nanonood ako ng newscast sa TV namin, I usually switch the channel or turn it off kapag showbiz chika na ang ipinapalabas. "Bilang power couple sa Clark University, kailangan nilang ipakita na perfect ang kanilang relationship. But behind those sweet smiles? May crack na palaki nang palaki."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not gonna record this, are you? Hindi na rin kasi 'to part ng article na isinusulat mo."

I showed her my phone screen. The recording had already stopped, so she had nothing to worry about.

Just kidding! As I lowered my hand, I quickly tapped on the record button.

"You didn't hear this from me, okay? Kinuwento lang sa akin ng isa sa mga teammate namin," bulong ni Rachel na muling lumingon sa kanyang likuran. "There was one time na katatapos lang ng practice. Halos umuwi na ang lahat maliban sa isang player namin. She was about to leave the locker room nang may marinig siya na parang nag-aaway sa labas."

"Cleo and Damon?" I asked.

She nodded. "Nahiya ang player namin na lumabas kaya nag-stay muna siya rito. She overheard them quarreling over someone. Cleo asked him, 'Who is Alex?' which made Damon angry! Talagang halos magsigawan daw ang dalawa. Cleo kept asking, but Damon kept deflecting."

"And? Nalaman ba ng teammate mo kung sino si Alex?"

Disappointed, she shook her head. "Nag-ring kasi ang phone niya kaya natunugan nina Cleo at Damon na may tao pa sa locker room. Imagine the shame in that person's face. Nag-excuse siya sa kanilang dalawa at tuluyan nang lumabas ng gymnasium."

"Alex, huh?" That name made Cleo curious and Damon furious. Who in the world was that person?

"We suspect na may third party na involved dito," Rachel said. "Hindi na ako magtataka kung naisipan ni Damon na maghanap ng iba. Cleo doesn't deserve him anyway. He's out of her league. Hey, don't quote me on that, ha? This is just an off the record conversation."

"So are you telling me na pinatay ni Cleo si Damon dahil sa third party?" kunot-noo kong tanong. "You think she'd be that petty?"

She gave me a shrug. "People do crazy things for love. Baka patay na patay si Cleo kay Damon at ayaw niyang pakawalan. Tapos balak nang makipaghiwalay ni boyfriend para makasama si Alex. Kaya hayun, pinatay niya. Again, don't quote me on that."

Cleo. Damon. Alex. May idea na biglang sumagi sa isip, pero ayaw ko munang i-entertain dahil masyadong premature. I needed to know more, lalo na tungkol sa Alex na kababanggit pa lang.

"Wala nang ibang narinig 'yong teammate n'yo? Is Alex a boy or a girl? What is his or her surname?"

Umiling siya na may pagpalatak. "Dapat kasi inilagay niya sa silent mode ang kanyang phone para 'di sana naistorbo 'yong away ng dalawa. E 'di sana mas juicy ang scoop na nalaman namin."

Mukhang wala na akong mapipiga sa kanya. I could ask Cleo directly kung sino ang Alex na tinanong niya kay Damon. But I had to be careful. Baka ma-trigger siya emotionally pagbanggit ko sa pangalan ng alleged third party.

"Teka, bakit ba tayo napunta sa tsismis?" tanong ni Rachel. "Akala ko ba tungkol sa preparation namin para sa regional athletic meet ang pag-uusapan natin?"

Napakamot ulit ako ng ulo. "Pasensya na. Na-bring up mo kasi kanina 'yong pagka-absent ni Cleo sa practice n'yo. Gumagawa rin kasi ako ng article tungkol sa kanya. Baka pwedeng mag-hit ng two birds with one stone."

"Basta huwag mo akong iko-quote, ah? Off the record lahat ng sinabi kong tsismis."

"You have my word!" I assured her as my finger discreetly pressed the stop key on the recorder app. "Hindi naman siya related sa isinusulat ko kaya wala akong nakikitang value roon. Pero sana huwag mong ipagsabi sa iba. Lalakas lang ang loob ng mga naniniwalang may kinalaman si Cleo sa pagkamatay ni Damon. Hayaan na nating mag-investigate ang university police."

"Hindi ko naman ipagsasabi sa mga hindi mapagkakatiwalaan," sabi ni Rachel. Mukhang itsinismis na niya sa mga close friend niya. Give it a few days, daragdag ang anggulong 'yon sa mga theory. "Kung wala akong tiwala sa 'yo bilang journalist, baka nga hindi ko sinabi sa 'yo."

Was I supposed to be thankful for her generosity?

"Do you mind if I ask one last question about Cleo?"

"Napag-usapan na rin natin siya. Bakit hindi pa natin ituloy-tuloy?"

"Do you know anyone in your team who might hold grudge against her?" I asked. "Or maybe not grudge, because that's a strong word. Let's say bitterness or resentment?"

She narrowed her eyes into slits. "Why are you asking?"

Kailangan kong timbangin ang mga susunod na salitang lalabas sa aking bibig. I needed to get more information without being suspected as a Cleo sympathizer. Unang-una, ayaw kong i-bring up ang possibility na baka pine-frame up si Cleo sa pagkamatay ni Damon. That might raise the guard of anyone who would hear of it.

"Almost everyone na nakausap ko sa team n'yo ay nagsabi ng magagandang words tungkol kay Cleo," sagot ko. "But those sentiments might be biased toward her. I can't take their words at face value. Now if I can talk to someone who somehow resents her, that person might offer a new perspective in her character. You get what I mean?"

"Medyo nage-gets kita."

"Those who worship Cleo will be blind to her flaws and imperfections," I explained. "But those who resent her? They will scrutinize her every move and see how flawed and imperfect she is. While their views may be biased against her, there might be some merit in their criticisms."

Nagkrus ang mga braso ni Rachel, napatingin sa taas ang mga mata niya. "I can't say that I resent her. Hindi ko rin masabing may kinikimkim akong sama ng loob sa kanya. I just think she doesn't deserve some of the things she has right now."

"Like what?"

"Like being captain of the volleyball team," she replied. "Hindi lang ako ang may ganitong sentiment. Pati ang iba kong nakasabayan dito. Cleo only joined in the university team last academic year while we have been here for two years. Tapos biglang siya ang napili na captain imbes na ang seniors niya? Sounds unfair, right?"

I was about to say "no, it wasn't," but I had to keep her going. Hindi kasi dapat ibinabase sa tagal ng membership kung deserve ba ng tao na malagay sa posisyon. If they're more competent than the rest of the herd, why not? "Unfair nga! Parang sa amin sa CAScade. Malaking sampal kung may biglang susulpot na bagong writer tapos siya ang magiging editor-in-chief kaysa sa aming mas matagal na sa pub."

"I know, right?" Mahina niyang hinampas ang braso ko. "Kaya 'di ko rin masisisi ang iba kong friends sa team kung bakit 'di sila comfortable na si Cleo ang captain. They thought it's gonna be me! But, oh well. Things happened."

"Blessing in disguise na rin ang nangyari kay Cleo para sa 'yo, 'no?" tanong ko. "She's currently missing in action and you took over the team."

"Kung 'di na talaga siya magpapakita, I would finally get what I deserve," Rachel admitted. "Teka, parang ang pangit pakinggan no'n? Basta don't quote me on that, okay?"

What I learned from watching and reading crime stories was that the culprit might be someone who would benefit from the misfortune of another person. Kung isang mayaman na don ang pinaslang, hindi malayong isa sa mga tagapagmana niya ang nasa likod nito.

Cleo was right. May mga tao sa volleyball team na ayaw sa kanya. Rachel stood to benefit from her disappearance. While she may not look and sound smart, I couldn't cross her off the suspect list yet.

But there's a name that got me more curious: Alex.

WHEN OUR afternoon classes were dismissed, I went straight to the old speech laboratory, also known as the CAScade's makeshift editorial office. Biglang nag-text ang Chief namin at sinabing meron kaming emergency meeting.

Pagbukas ko sa pinto ng office, may unexpected surprise palang nakaabang sa akin.

"One! Two! Three!"

Sunod-sunod na nakarolyong newspaper ang ibinato sa direksyon ko. I tried to block them with my hands, but some hit my head, my face, and my arms. Parang in-ambush ako sa sarili naming teritoryo.

This time, the Chief wasn't the only one who was practicing her aim at me. There were two others who stood behind her. Kaya pala nagawa akong paulanin ng mga newspaper kanina. Siguradong magagalit ang Clarion kapag nalaman na ginawang pang-target practice ang bagong labas na issue nila.

"May bagong initiation rites ba tayo?" tanong ko sabay pulot sa isang dosenang rolled up newspaper. "O gusto n'yo lang akong pag-trip-an ngayong hapon? You called for an emergency meeting just to test your marksmanship skills?"

"Tony, Tony..." Marahang pinapalo-palo ni Olivia ang isa pang nakarolyong diyaryo sa kanyang palad. "Didn't I make it clear to you na huwag aabusuhin ang power ng media ID n'yo?"

"You did." I nodded, looking clueless. Uh-oh. Looked like I was gonna be in trouble. "Hindi ko ipinakita ang media pass sa mga guard para paunahin akong makapasok dahil male-late na ako. 'Di ko rin ito ginamit para mauna ako sa pila sa cafeteria. I took your reminder seriously."

"Rafael," she called. "Can you remind our dear friend Tony kung ano ang ginawa niya?"

Nagawi ang tingin ko sa lalaking bansot na dark-skinned at naka-mohawk ang hairstyle. He may be short, but he's terrifyingly good at kickboxing or something. I forgot. Mahilig siya sa sports kaya siya ang in-assign doon.

"Pumunta ako sa practice ng vollyeball team kanina," kuwento ni Rafael Villegas na nakakrus ang mga braso. "Imagine my surprise, and Rachel's surprise, nang sabihin kong i-interview-in ko siya tungkol sa kanilang prep para sa regional athletic meet."

Sandaling pumikit ang mga mata ko. Nangyari na ang kinatatakutan ko.

"She told me na in-interview mo na raw siya kasi may iba akong coverage at kulang tayo sa manpower. As far as I know, exclusive sa akin ang sports beat at walang nabanggit si Chief na may collaboration tayong dalawa."

"Aro!" Nagsalita ang babaeng umupo sa desk ni Olivia, may laptop na nakapatong sa kanyang lap. Her hair is so short, she almost looked like a member of a K-Pop group. Kahit hindi masyadong maliwanag sa speech lab, kita ang kaputian ng kanyang balat. "Yari ka kay Chief! Nag-trespass ka sa hindi mo teritoryo."

Alam kong yari ako. Hindi na niya kailangang ipamukha sa akin.

"Pero malay natin? Baka may reason si Tonyo kaya siya nag-interview ng volleyball player?" dagdag pa niya.

Her name, by the way, is Janus Cruzetta. Yeah, panlalaki ang pangalan niya kahit babae siya. But it somehow fit her perfectly since she acts boyish most of the time. She's our features writer and layout artist concurrently. She's good with those Adobe programs that I didn't bother to learn about.

Olivia, Rafael, Janus, and me. We're four of the seven brave crew members of the Clark CAScade. Our ship was barely afloat, yet here we stayed. The other three might be lurking somewhere in the campus.

"Let me explain, okay?" I raised both of my hands before they could throw me another barrage of newspapers.

"We wish you would," Olivia said. "Explain to us why we shouldn't tie you to a stake and light you on fire."

I cleared my throat, my eyes glancing from Olivia to Rafael to Janus. "Wala akong intensyon na agawin ang beat ni Raffy, okay? Nataon kasi na nandoon ang target ko."

"Target mo si Rachel?" kunot-noong tanong ni Rafael.

"Uy, trip mo ba siya?" sunod na tanong ni Janus. "Baka pwede kang ilakad ni Raf. Medyo close pa naman ang dalawang 'yan."

"Hindi naman gano'n ka-close. Slight lang—"

"Mamaya na ang side comments, pwede ba?" suway ni Olivia sa kanila. Natahimik ang dalawa. "Continue, Tony."

"Thank you, Chief." I nodded at her. "Before I tell you my reason, I want you clear all your biases on the Damon case, okay?"

"Okay!"

"Ready?" I sucked in a breath as my eyes maintained contact with theirs. "Ine-entertain ko ang possibility na baka may nag-frame up kay Cleo sa pagkamatay ni Damon."

Huminto muna ako at inobserbahan ang kanilang reaksyon. Akala ko'y may matatawa sa kanila. But they kept straight yet curious faces. I went on.

"Kasing crazy ng mga naglipanang theory ito, but hear me out. Everything we know about the case so far, isn't it too convenient na nagpo-point ang lahat kay Cleo?"

"So you want to explore a possibility that currently has no basis or whatsoever? Meron bang piece of information na magsa-suggest ng ganyan?" Olivia asked. I knew she'd react that way. She'd scold me for being biased. "If none, won't that be a fool's errand?"

Sadly, I couldn't tell them that Cleo received a message from an anonymous texter hinting that Damon's death was gonna be pinned on her, or the fact that she's staying in our apartment right now.

"We must consider all angles, right?" I replied. "Sa ngayon kasi, kung ano ang report na ibinibigay ng university police, 'yon ang sinusundan natin. We follow their narrative. But let's admit it, they're not perfect. They might have missed something."

"Still they're the authority when it comes to the investigation," Olivia argued. "Hindi natin pwedeng basta-basta i-ignore ang kanilang findings at i-present natin ang ating alternative theory. Magmumukha tayong katawa-tawa."

"Kaya nga kailangan nating suyurin ang iba pang anggulo," tugon ko. "Base sa info na makakalap natin, pwede nating suportahan o i-debunk ang ipinresent ng university police. Isn't that what we are? Watchdogs of society?"

Natahimik si Olivia, mukhang pinagninilay-nilayan ang argument ko.

"Kaya in-interview ko si Rachel kanina ay dahil gusto kong malaman kung sino-sino ang mga taong may galit kay Cleo na posibleng mag-frame sa kanya," pagpapatuloy ko. "I didn't get many names, but I'm off to a good start. May nakuha pa nga akong exclusive scoop."

"May point si Tonyo," pagsang-ayon ni Rafael. Nagawi sa kanya ang tingin nina Olivia at Janus. "Being in the sports beat, ilang beses ko nang nakausap si Cleo. I may be a bit biased here, but she doesn't give off the vibe that she's capable of killing someone. I bet she can't even hurt a fly."

"I somehow agree." Janus nodded. "Hindi sa minamaliit ko ang intelligence ni Cleo, pero sinuman ang nasa likod ng kaso ni Damon, they're one heck of a genius! Triggering his allergies then making someone inject him unknowingly with potassium instead of epinephrine? That needs big brain energy. Parang hindi ko ma-imagine na maiisip at magagawa niya 'yon. No offense to Cleo's fans."

Medyo natuwa ako dahil kumampi ang dalawang kanina'y nagbato sa akin ng mga diyaryo. But their comments weren't enough. I could see in Olivia's confused face that she wasn't convinced yet. Maybe I should mention the magic word.

"Hindi ba't malaking karangalan para sa CAScade kung mapatutunayan nating finrame up lang si Cleo?" nakatingin kong sabi sa editor-in-chief namin. "We can show the entire university that we can do better journalism than the Clarion. Baka magkaroon na tayo ng malaking budget. Baka nga magkaroon pa tayo ng office."

Tila nagliwanag ang mukha niya matapos marinig ang magic word. Mentioning the Clarion and angling them as a force to be defeated would undoubtedly pique the interest of our Chief. She's not fond of them so having a chance to beat them in the game that is campus journalism might encourage her.

"Interesting..." she muttered, caressing her chin. "We won't just rely on the official reports, but we'll also explore all angles possible."

"So what do you think? Isn't it time to show Clark University what kind of badasses the CAScade staffers are?"

I CAME home to the apartment at four in the afternoon. Hindi ko na kailangang kumatok nang apat na beses dahil dala-dala ko naman ang aking susi. Pagbukas ko sa pinto, agad kong napansin si Cleo na nanonood ng TV pero mahina ang volume.

"Good afternoon!" masiglang bati niya. "Kumusta ang araw mo?"

Parang asawa ko siya na sinalubong ako matapos ang nine-hour na duty. Sa sobrang pagod ko na siguro, kung ano-ano na ang naiisip ko.

Masaya akong makita na medyo okay na siya ngayon kumpara noong iniwan namin siya kaninang umaga. Blaming herself for Damon's death would not be good to her mental health. It would only make things worse.

Naalala ko tuloy ang kinuwento sa akin ni Hadriana.

"Medyo busy sa CAScade," sagot ko matapos batiin siya ng magandang hapon din. "May in-interview ako tapos may emergency meeting pa kami."

"Gusto mo ba ng merienda?" tanong niya. "May fries yata sa fridge. Pwede kitang pagluto."

"Huwag na." Pag-iling ko. Ayaw ko munang makaabala sa kanya. At saka hindi naman namin siya pinag-stay rito para pagsilbihan kami. What was she, a housemaid?

Napatitig ang aking mga mata sa leeg niya. I could still imagine that honey gold scarf wrapped around her neck to hide her bruises. Gusto ko sana siyang tanungin tungkol doon, pero baka masira ang mood niya. She looked happy watching movie on Netflix. Bringing up that painful memory might mess things up this afternoon.

But I had something else to ask her.

"By the way, I talked to Rachel around lunch time," I told her. Kumuha muna ako ng baso at nilagyan ng tubig mula sa dispenser.

"Oh?" she reacted. "How is she? Feeling ko sumasakit na ang ulo niya sa pagma-manage ng team."

"Is she one of the people who do not like you?" I asked before taking a gulp.

Cleo's eyes looked down. Then she slowly nodded. "She felt na ninakaw ko sa kanya ang pagiging captain ng volleyball team."

"She seemed... happy na missing in action ka," pinrangka ko na siya. Wala naman akong dapat itago tungkol kay Rachel. Aware din naman siya sa totoo, kaya para saan pa, 'di ba? "She may not look like a capable mastermind, but she has the motive and she stands to benefit from you being pushed out of the scene."

"She must be celebrating with her friends." Ramdam ko ang kirot sa boses ni Cleo. "They got what they wanted since the academic year started."

I gently put the glass down on the kitchen sink and sat on the couch, right next to her.

"I have one question na gusto kong itanong sa 'yo," kalmado kong sabi. "I hope na hindi ka mao-offend at magiging honest ka sa akin."

"Sure. If makatutulong 'to sa imbestigasyon, willing akong makipag-cooperate."

Huminga muna ako nang malalim. "May naikwento kasi sa akin si Rachel. She told me that one of your teammates overheard you and Damon arguing near the locker room. Pagkatapos daw ito ng practice n'yo."

Nanliit ang mga mata niya bago biglang lumaki na parang may na-realize siya. Pinanood ko muna ang reaksyon niya dahil ayaw ko siyang biglain. Baka bigla siyang umiyak o mag-walk out. She didn't say anything, so I guess it's fine?

"Hindi pinangalanan ni Rachel kung sino, but that person heard you ask, 'Who is Alex?' Nagalit daw si Damon matapos mong itanong 'yon tapos nagkasagutan kayo hanggang sa marinig n'yong nag-ring ang phone nitong teammate n'yo."

She flashed a faint smile as she shut her eyes for a second. "Si Lindsay... Talagang narinig niya pala kami."

"Do you mind me asking kung sino ba si Alex?" walang paligoy-ligoy kong tanong. "I had a thought when I heard that story, pero gusto ko munang malaman kung ano ang papel niya sa buhay n'yo ni Damon."

"Alexandra was Damon's ex-girlfriend," Cleo answered after a moment of silence. She looked like she collected her thoughts first. "Base sa narinig ko tungkol sa kanya, may malaking galit siya kay Damon. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kasi hindi niya ako sinagot noong tinanong ko siya. Basta huwag na raw naming pag-usapan ang nakaraan."

I had a eureka moment. Parang may lumitaw na puzzle piece na nag-fit sa missing portion ng isang picture.

"Three weeks ago, someone texted me about her," Cleo went on. "Itanong ko raw sa boyfriend ko kung sino si Alex. And I did. Kaya siya nagalit sa akin."

"Cleo," I called her, my eyes staring blankly at the wall. "Kung may malaking galit si Alex kay Damon, may motive siya para patayin ito. At kung damay ka sa galit niya dahil current girlfriend ka ni Damon... you get what I'm trying to say?"

"That she killed Damon and tried to frame me for his death? That's impossible, Tony."

"It isn't impossible lalo na't may motive siya. I assume na student din siya sa university kaya may access siya."

"I'm telling you, it's impossible."

"Why?" My eyes slowly narrowed. Why was she so persistent about it?

Cleo took a pause as she drew in a long breath.

"Because Alex died a year ago. She committed suicide."

#

A/N: Hi! Thank you so much for supporting "Witness"! One week since its publication, this story has already garnered 20K reads!

The official illustrations of the characters are not yet available. For now, here's a Tony fan artwork by Donabel Estorque!

Since the next update is the eighth chapter, we're gonna switch to the POV of our resident fact boy, Octavio!

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