CHAPTER 14

The Downfall of Rubber Duckies

“JERICHO is a good son. Napakawalang-puso ng gumawa nito sa kanya!” Narinig namin ang hinagpis ng kanyang ina habang nakatunghay sa walang-buhay na katawan ni Echo na ngayon ay nasa kabaong na. Napaiwas ako ng tingin. Hindi ko kayang tingnan ang pagluluksa niya dahil nasasaktan rin ako. Alam kong nasasaktan ang lahat ng narito ngayong gabi para sa huling burol niya. Kinabukasan, ihahatid na siya sa huling hantungan. At sa totoo lang, parang hindi ko kakayanin na isa sa rubber duckies ang makikita naming mawawala na nang tuluyan sa paningin naming lahat.

Jericho is such a good friend. Ilang araw pa lang kaming nagkakasama ulit pero hindi ko naramdamang nagkaroon siya ng hinanakit sa akin matapos ko silang iwan rito sa Pinecrest at hindi nagparamdam. If I only knew this would happen, mas sinulit ko ang mga araw na nakasama ko siya kasama ang buong Rubber Duckies.

Napalunok-laway ako. As usual, napakasakit sa lalamunan magpigil ng iyak.  Ang hirap itago. Naramdaman kong may umupo sa tabi ko. Sa amoy pa lang niyang pabango, alam kong si Bonagua na ito.

“Where’s Raihana?” mahina kong tanong. Pabulong lamang kaming nag-uusap dahil nasa tabi lamang kami ni Maybelle na nakatulala at iyak nang iyak. I understand her because for all these years, among the Rubber Duckies, she and Echo became more than of siblings. I know why she’s very emotional the very first time she heard the news. We felt it, too.

“She’s coming. Sinundo na siya ni Ken. I’m afraid that they’ll make a scene again,” tukoy niya sa eksenang nangyari noon sa morgue habang binabantayan namin ang paglabas ng katawan ni Echo. Napasulyap ako kay Maybelle. Wala siyang reaksyon at walang pakialam sa paligid.

“I’ll take care of her. Just warned Raihana not to come near us for the mean time,” I whispered. Tumango naman si Ryan at umalis na sa tabi ko para bantayan ang pagdating nina Raihana. This is the least thing we can do to avoid commotion. Kahit bilang respeto na lang sa nawala naming kaibigan na si Echo. Sana magbati na sila.

I received numerous missed calls from detective Llobrera but I choose to ignore it for a while to pay attention in this moment for the funeral wake of our dearest friend. Not now that we are mourning.

Mayamaya pa’y nakita ko na ang pagpasok ni Rai kasama si Ken. She easily rushed to see Echo in his coffin. She gave her deepest condolence to Echo’s mother and sister. I can see in her eyes the depression and sadness. Natural na natural ang ipinapakita niyang kilos. And I can’t even see any suspicious action in her. Maybe Maybelle just fall into her deep grudge to Raihana that’s why she almost said those bad things.

“Where did she get the guts to show off herself here? A murderer who extends her condolences to the family of her victim. Nice.” Naipikit ko ang mga mata ko nang marinig ang sinabi ni Maybelle.

“What’s your proof of accusing her?” I asked her. Kaibigan ko rin siya pero hindi ko na kayang tiisin pa na pagbintangan niya si Raihana nang ganoon na lamang. Raihana has always been a good friend to us from the very first day we met each other. She almost gave up her seat for Maybelle in that fucking Trip to Jerusalem not until we had this girl’s insecurities when we stepped up in high school.

Napabuntong-hininga si Maybelle at tumingin-tingin sa paligid.

“I don’t want to talk about it here. Let’s get a place outside,” she offered.

“YOU’RE blinded by her kindness, Mavi. You haven’t seen her evil side yet. Kakarating mo pa lang rito at hindi mo alam ang nangyari sa loob ng mga taon na wala ka. Kaya wala ka talagang maiintindihan. But I am swearing you that those words I’ve said to all of you last time were very true,” paliwanag niya. Nakatingala siya sa kalangitang tadtad ng bituin.

Hindi ko na alam ang paniniwalaan ko dahil sa dami ng mga nangyayari.

“Tell me what happen to those years that I left Pinecrest,” pagsusumamo ko sa kanya. Isinilid niya ang mga palad sa suot na coat at dumukot ng isang stick ng sigarilyo. Napaiwas ako ng tingin. I never thought she would have vices like this. She’s very conservative for me but seeing her  now smoking infront of me proves that people really changed.

“When you left, Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies was never the same again. We lose time for each other. Dumating sa puntong hindi na kami nagkikita-kita o nagkakausap dahil busy kami sa kanya-kanyang career. Back when Cherus Ann was still here, she and Raihana were that too close.” Ibinuga niya ang usok ng sigarilyo bago magpatuloy sa pagkukwento.

“Laging sila ang magkasama. One day, she contacted us saying she would like to invite the whole Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies for a camping in the woods. Kahit busy sa mga trabaho, pumayag kami para naman hindi maramdaman ng isa’t isa na nagkakanya-kanya na kami. But things gone wrong inside that fucking woods and made me swear that I will never go back to that place again.” Her voice cracked.

“W-What happened in the woods?” Suminghot siya at naiiyak na muli.

“We almost killed by a fucking serial killer hiding in the woods. We ran, we hide, Mavi. And that fucking heartless Raihana Lico Marangit left Cherus Ann alone. Yes, we all know what happened why she disappeared. We heard her scream and we still can’t figure out if she’s already gone or still just missing.” Halos magtiim-bagang ako sa naririnig ko ngayon.

“You have choices from the very first. Why didn’t you address this to the authority?” Dapat noong una pa lang, gumawa na sila ng paraan.

“Mavi, we already did it! But the mayor said that we should stop, that they’ll take care of it! Pero nagulat na lang kami nang malaman naming sinabi niyang nawawala lang si Cherus dahil walang nakitang bangkay sa gubat na ‘yon.” Nanginginig na siya sa pagsasalita.

“For months, I blame Raihana for losing Cherus Ann. Until now, I hated her.” Bakas ang galit sa kanyang pananalita. Naiiyak na ako nang tingnan niya ako sa mga mata.

“That terrible serial killer who murdered Jericho will kill us all, and I can feel it. I don’t want to scare you or myself either but I must say this, Mavi,” sambit niya at tinapon ang upos ng sigarilyo sa lupa bago tinapakan hanggang sa mawala ang baga nito.

“This will be the downfall of Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies.”