A S H Y

Nakaupo ako habang nakamasid at tinatanaw ang buong Coffee shop. I actually ordered two cups of coffee. That was for me and while the other is for someone na hinihintay ko.

I saw the man entering the shop. Alam kong sya na iyon.

"Franko!" I raised my hand para makita nya ako. Lumapit naman sya sa akin. He sat on the vacant seat in front of me.

"Kumusta ka?" Wanting to know kung okay lang ba sya. He nodded.

"Okay lang ba sa'yo ang kakausapin kita tungkol kay Cait?"

"What about her?"

"Have your coffee, Frank," sabi ko sa kanya habang nakatingin sa isang tasa ng kape. "Don't make it cold."

"I'm full, thanks."

Sipping my coffee in a mug, hindi ako sigurado sa mga pwede nyang sabihin.

"After that issue happened, she told me na kailangan nya ng space," panimula ko. "She said she wanted to left and wants to be alone."

"Ano ba ang gusto mong paniwalaan?" He took a deep breath.

"Listen, hindi sya umalis ng Pilipinas."

"How about Missy?"

"Kim knows what exactly happened."

I sipped my coffee again. And looking on him, may kung ano ang bumabagabag sa kanya. Surely, it was all about her.
Iniisip ko sila. I do mistrust Caitlyn. I have my suspicion with Sky.

After meeting Frank, bumalik na rin ako sa University.

"Mag-isa ka yata." Less expression ko syang nilingon.

"Pwede ba akong umupo sa tabi mo?" I simply nodded at nanatiling walang imik.

"How's your article?"

"Undone."

"I see. How about, Rain? Kumusta naman kayo?"

"We are still good friends. The feeling was still the same."

"Hindi pa ba nag-improve ang score ninyo?"

"Anyway, don't forget to trust him, Ash." Ngumiti sya. Cute rin naman sya kapag nakangiti. Pero mas attractive si Rain para sa akin.

"But never trust his best friend, Sky." I remained silent.

"Believe me, Ash. I am right."

But never trust his best friend, Sky.

Sky...

Sky....

The repetition of his name. Ugh!

----
R A I N

The moment we chilled together, mas prefer nila ang La Costa's Bar. Mas gusto nila ang environment ng Bar ko kumpara sa iba.

"I already had Missy's files. It was stated, revenge," sabi ko.

"If revenge is the main reason, it means that there's a motive," Sky added.

"There's a person behind that scene."

"That's a person with purpose," sambit ni Jack.

"Hindi man lang sya nakipagkita sa kanya bago sya umalis? If ever na umalis nga sya," Jack shook his head. "Hindi ako sigurado sa pagkakaibigan nila."

"Nakakapagtaka nga naman. Magkaibigan sila pero parang walang closure," sabi ni Lex habang nilalaro ang phone nya.

"That Kim. She used by someone that I know," sabi ko habang hawak ang baso.

"She's Ashleigh's friend from Home fires. 'Yan 'yong kaklase nya," For expanded.

"Curious lang ako sa part na ayaw ni Cait makipagkita sa kanya before she left. Pwede na ba e-base sa event na 'yun that she's telling a lie and she's really here?" tanong ni Lex ng may pagtataka.

"Perhaps," Jack answered.

"If she's here, why can't we find her?" Pursigidong wika ni Ford.

"Hindi naman sya malayo mula sa atin," Sky added.

"No doubt, and she's safe." Bumaling ako kay Sky.
Talagang hindi naubos ang duda ko sa kanya. Akala nya, e wala akong alam.

**
A S H Y

Tinungo ko ang Investigator's Office since may schedule ako for an interview. I'm about to meet Missy's Private Investigator. They allowed me to ask few questions. Isa ito sa magiging hope ko for Missy's complete peace in resting beyond. I'm not doing this just for the sake of my grades. Instead, for her freedom.

"Good morning, Sir," bati ko sa isang lalaking nakatayo malapit sa pintuan. May hawak syang papel.

"I'm looking for Mr. Suarez."

"Are you having an interview today?"

"Yes, please?"

"This way," he said, leading me the way.

Huminto kami sa isang room. Napag-alaman kong iyon nga ang kanyang office dahil sa kanyang name tag na nakasabit sa pinto. He knocked the door. Turning the knob, he opened it.

"Private Suarez," he said and looked on me. "She's here."

"You may come in, Ms. Fortalejo," he said.

"Thank you." Tiningnan ko 'yong i.d nya. "Mr. Sena." I gave him a piece of smile.

"You're welcome."

Tumuloy na rin ako sa loob and Mr. Sena closed the door.

"Good morning, Sir Suarez," bati ko sa isang lalaking nakaupo.

"Good morning. Anyway, don't call me Sir. That's too professional," he said, looking at me. "Call me 'Mr,' like a pal. So, how are you, Ms. Fortalejo?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

"Let's start now." He's too professional for me. Habang tinititigan ko sya, it seems like magkakasundo kami.

Umupo ako sa bakanteng silya sa harap ng kanyang mesa.

"People committed suicide," panimula ko. "In what case?"

"Some might experienced depression but probably most of it, made 'intentionally.'"

I was thinking about my dear, Missy. She's good and better kind of a person. There's no bully issue about her.

"There's no CCTV placed on that floor. Anyway, some killers weren't mind about the real characters of their targets. They kill because of 'self-interests.'"

"I see."
Iniisip ko ang bawat salitang lumalabas sa kanyang labi. I understand.

"Kapag pumatay ba ang isang tao, nagkakaroon din ba ito ng guilt?" Kasi sa nakikita ko, plain lang. Parang walang nangyari.

"Sa nangyari kay Ms. DeLavin, 'self-interests' ang nakikitang rason sa pagpatay sa kanya," sabi nya habang nilalaro ang hawak na ballpen. "Pwedeng kaibigan, pamilya, kaklase o kakilala ang pwedeng pumatay sa kanya. Kahit sino pwede maging suspect. Even you, Ms. Fortalejo."

"Self-interest," pag uulit ko sa main word na kanyang sinabi. Ito 'yung talagang key word.

"Mas lalo mo lang pinapahirapan ang sarili mo, Ms. Fortalejo. Huwag mo masyadong isipin ang term of 'self-interests,'" sabi pa nya habang tin-a-tap ang ballpen sa mesa. "Isipin mo kung sino ang huli nyang nakagalitan. Doon tayo mas makakakuha ng energy sa pag-solve sa kaso."

"Miscommunication," I said, turning my eyes on him. He smiled. And for sure, alam nya ang ibig kong sabihin.

"Iyon ang nangyari sa aming dalawa days ago before she died."
He nodded.

"State the event."

Remembering those days again, heto na naman ako. Bumabalik sa weak days ko.

"May gusto akong hanapin kaya ako pumasok ng Engligh Club. At saktong sya ang naroon pagkapasok ko."

"Ms. Fortalejo, what are you doing here?"

"Good day, Ms. President. I need something."

"What was that?"

"About my writings, a year ago."

"Do you want to see it again?"

"Yes. I want to see it, please?"

"Okay. I will find it for you."

"May kinuha sya mula sa isang long black envelope. Tiningnan ko lang sya. After ten minutes maybe, may inabot sya sa akin," I said, sighing. "Pero hindi iyon ang laman ng nasabing envelope. Nagsimula akong magtaka kung ano pa ang meron sa compartments kung saan sya nagmula."

"Hold on. You called her 'Ms. President' instead of her name?"

"Due to respect. She's our English Society Club's President."

"Okay, next."

"Ni-review ko lahat ng sulat na ginawa ko. May kumulang at may humigit. Kinuha ko ang old Journal Paper. I tried to check anything. Then I found out that he's right."

"He's right? He. You're pointing a man."

"Yes. He was Rain La Costa. Sya ang may alam sa nangyaring substitution regarding sa article writings ko."

"Continue."

"May kung anong hawak sya sa kamay."

"Is that Cait's writings?"

Nagulat sya.

"Y-yes."

"Let me see."

"Tiningnan ko pa rin sya ng maayos."

"Nang tiningnan mo sya, ano ang naging reaction nya?"

"I saw her shamefaced."

"Okay, go on."

"Pagkakuha ko sa hawak nya, umalis na rin ako agad. I know I already got what I looked for."

"May nangyaring substitution sa article writings mo. Kanino naman ito ipinalit?"

"Kay Caitlyn Silvan."

"Nang nakita mo ang hawak nya, kinuha mo ito since kuntento ka na sa nakita't nabasa mo. At hindi nagtagal at umalis ka na rin."

Nodding my head, "Yes."

"Who is Caitlyn Silvan? Bukod sa pagiging writer, what other description tells about her?"

"She's a model, a costume player. And she's one of our friends."

"One of your friends. Our means us. So, you're pointing many."

"Cait, Missy and I are friends."

"I get it," he said, standing. "This is enough."

"As of now, hanggang dito muna tayo. Mas mabuti kong ingatan mo ang iyong mga nalalaman. Don't forget to bring Caitlyn's picture including the articles to the both of you."
Tumayo na rin ako.

"About guilt in terms of killing, pwedeng 'wala'. Madali ang pumatay para sa mga taong weak ang conscience. If they don't have sense to what is wrong, then they don't have guilt," he said, walking.

"Lastly, hindi guilty ang pumatay kay Ms. DeLavin. But I assure you, killing was just an easy job for her."

"Her?" Tanong ko ng may pagtataka habang nakasunod sa kanya.

"Masyadong 'weak' ang ginawa kay Ms. DeLavin. Ginagawa lang 'yun madalas ng kapwa babae."

He takes the lead, I followed him.

"Salamat sa supporting details, Mr. Suarez," I said, bowing my head.

"It's our job. And see you next meeting, Ms. Fortalejo."

Nilingon ko ang labas. Hindi nagtagal, umalis na rin ako.