Chapter 5: An Enigmatic Guess

“What the hell, Dela Vega?!”

“I told you to let go of me, didn’t I?”

Asher’s annoyance flared as he gawked at me for punching him in the stomach. It was not my fault that he’s not listening to me. All he does was intimidate me, not thinking that I could actually hurt him for being an annoying, arrogant jerk.

His eyes darkened, making me back off a little. But before I could actually back away from him, he puffed my cheeks with both of his hands along with his devilish smirk plastered on his face.

“It was because you lied to me, moron,” he retorted.

Napangiwi na lang ako bigla dahil sa matindi niyang pag-ipit sa mukha ko dahilan upang tingnan ko siya nang masama. At dahil hindi kaya ng aking mga kamay na alisin ang kanya, ginamit ko ang tilos ng aking taking upang tapakan ang paa niya.

Isang ngisi ang rumehistro sa labi ko dahil upang mas maasar siya, mabilis akong tumakbo palayo sa kanya nang maramdaman akong may binabalak siyang masama.

After running in a corner, I immediately halted when I saw Ethan and the others with their puzzled look. Ethan was about to speak when Asher’s voice echoed, conquering the deafening silence.

“Dela Vega!”

Tori looked away as she facepalmed upon seeing Asher’s choleric stature while screaming my last name. On the other hand, Van laughs with his heart’s content, making me sneer at him.

“Ano na naman, Perez?!”

“Aba—”

“Are you two running and fighting in the hallway like little kids?” Ethan interrupted. Nagpalitan kami ni Asher ng masamang tingin sa isa’t-isa, siya itong nauna tapos siya pa ang may ganang mainis sa akin.

“It was Dela Vega who started it. She punched me,” Asher mumbled.

I looked at him with this belief and angrily pointed him, “It was because you… because you—”

“Because I what?”

His devilish smile creeps out his flawless face, making me roll my eyes at him and shut my mouth. Alam niyang hindi ko kayang sabihin kayna Ethan ang dahilan kung bakit ko siya sinuntok. He really is cunning.

“Are you two still supposed to be here?” Van asked with his arms crossed, “Hindi ba dapat ay naghahanda kayo sa undercover mission niyo?”

“That’s what I’m telling her earlier… but she runaway and punched me.” My jaw dropped when Asher made a fucking story about what happened earlier. He didn’t remind me about our undercover mission! He just—he just intimidated me with a hug!

“Tsk, tsk. Thea niyo nalunod na sa kape ang utak,” pagbibiro ni Tori.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin dahil hindi ko naman p’wedeng sabihin na ‘Sinungaling ka, Asher. Hindi mo naman sinabi ‘yon at niyakap mo lang ako,’ Bwisit talaga. What a cunning jerk, he is!

“Let’s go, Dela Vega…”

❖ ── ✦ ──── ✦ ── ❖

I sighed and watched Asher as he roamed his eyes around. The humming breeze of the green pasture welcomed us along with the echoing sounds of the crickets as we marched towards the lovely villa in the center.

And as we went inside my so-called apartment, Asher uncannily went to check the backdoor, “You don’t have a CCTV here.”

“Mayroon naman ako sa front yard.”

“Install one, then.” He rested back in the wall while still examining the entire vicinity, “Our life will be in much more danger as long as we are involved in this case. Especially that, we knew that it was much deeper than stalking or any battered wife cases.”

And for a moment, I was suddenly captivated by his flawless face. The way he speaks and acts are utterly effortless to make someone cautious of his presence, not in a ferocious manner, but an admirable one.

“Okay…”

“Did you told your parents that you are bringing me to Senator Dela Vega’s party?” Asher asked.

Nang makaupo kami sa sofa ay tumango ako sa kanya bilang tugon, “I told them that I’m coming with someone…” hindi nakawala sa aking mga mata ang mapang-asar niyang ngiti, “Anong nakakatawa?”

“Nothing… I just think that they will conclude that you’re coming with your boyfriend.”

“Dream on, Perez…” I retorted. I straight-faced left him, hiding how embarrassed I am for what he said, and went to my room to check if my mother already sent our clothes for the party later in the evening.

I awkwardly bit my lower lip as I reached his tuxedo and stole a glance at my evening dress. We have the same color. He is right. They really thought I’m bringing someone I have a relationship with because I told them it was not Ethan?

With my head hanging low, I walked towards Asher along with his attire later and threw it at him grumpily. I squinted my eyes at him when he suddenly smiled out of his amusement.

“I was right, wasn’t I?”

“Shut up, Perez.” Pagtataray ko sa kanya, saglit kong pinahinahon ang sarili ko bago muli siyang tingnan ng seryoso, “I know that you are an annoying, arrogant jerk… but don’t show your fangs to my brother later.”

“Scared of your brother, huh?”

“I just don’t like him.”

He curiously tilted his head and eyed me with interest, “You hate your father, you hate your brother… perhaps you hate your mother, too?”

“They also hate my guts.” I bitterly smiled, “Isa akong Dela Vega at kahit isang achievement na nakuha ng kapatid ko ay wala ako. Hindi nila matanggap na I want to live in peace. Dapat pag isa kang Dela Vega dapat ganyan ka, ganito ka—”

“Then you’re simply running away. You told in front of the crowd earlier, remember? You have the skills, but I think you are too pressured to use them.”

Ilang beses kong kinurap ang aking mga mata habang pinagmamasdan siya, “Hoy! Bakit mo alam ‘yan? Tori told you? But she was—”

“Pinapanood ka naming apat kanina sadyang hindi ka lang natiis ni Tori dahil kitang-kita sa mata mo na wala kang balak na pumatol.”

“What the hell—”

“And you’re wearing my shirt, you might as well thank me?”

“This was Tori’s!”

Mayabang niyang tinagilid ang kaniyang ulo’t ngumisi sa akin, “She doesn’t have one in her locker, so I handed that to her.” Bigla na lamang tumungo sa harap ko si Asher at nakangising tinunghay ang aking ulo, “Do you want them to finally meet the cunning sheep in the den of wolves?”

“No… hindi mo gugustuhin na kalabanin ang ama ko,” ani ko sa kanya. I’m not affiliated with him, unlike my brother, but I know wicked he is. Alam ko rin paano niya napapahumaling sa kanya ang mga tao gamit ang kanyang mabubulaklak na mga salita.

Hindi na rin ako nagtatakha pa kung sa kanya galing ang planong ipitin si Mr. Enrile, kung tama man ang aming teorya. Sa pamilya namin, ako ang pinagkakaitan ng lahat ng bagay dahil pinagkakait ko rin sa kanila ang nais nilang makuha mula sa akin at iyon ay ang makihalubilo sa mga proyekto ng aming pamilya.

“I don’t usually say my speculation to some things… but what do you think are they hiding in that building, Perez?”

“Hmm… Drugs?” He unsurely mumbled, “How about you?”

“Aside from drugs… dead bodies, I guess.”

“You’re stupid—”

Walang pasabi kong binuksan ang laptop ko at pinakita sa kanya ang itsura ng Balencia Building kung saan palaging tumutungo si Mrs. Enrile, mukha iyong bagong katatayong building dahil sa inprastraktura nito kahit na ilang taon na ito simula ng itayo ito.

Ang Balencia Building ay kinukubli ng malalaking puno na makikita sa Norzagaray, bukod pa rito ay natatakluban ito ng matataas na pader kaya’t nagmumukha rin itong isang factory mula sa labas ng gate.

“How did you get this?” Asher asked.

“Research.” I watched him as he examined the building and its surroundings. His eyes suddenly glittered as if something caught his attention.

“You’re speculation is absurd, but I guess it can be supported by them.”

“Them? What do you mean?”

Asher suddenly opens an electronic map in the browser and pointed to five locations, “Angat Hydro Electric Power Plant, Balencia Building, Norzagaray River, Ipo Reservoir, and Bitbit River Resort.”

“What if they are near with each other—” my eyes slowly widened when I realized what he was pertaining to, “Do you think… this connected to Oblivion 13 case?”

Oblivion 13 is the enigmatic case of 13 college students who were found dead in the river of Norzagaray up to Bitbit River Resort a year ago. According to the studies, none of them were related nor know each other, especially that they all went to different universities. Their friend and acquaintances also provided verbal evidence that they do not know any of them aside from their friends.

But they were all connected by one thing, the brain-dead syndrome. They were alive even if they spent days floating the water of Norzagaray, but when they were rescued. All of the students who were pulled at the water first died at the same time, making the police and forensics study the particles of the body of water, yet there wasn’t any peculiar thing in the river.

On the other hand, five students are still alive, but they are in an unconscious state in a hospital wherein their bodies are sinking in an inflated swimming pool.

Yet, the most horrendous thing about that case was when the victims’ bodies were cut open. Half of their brain was melted and their throat to down, making this case one of the unsolvable cases in the Philippines.

“Perez… what if both of our speculations are correct?” I asked.

“Want to confirm it tonight as my prey?”

I smirked at him, “Be my guess then, predator.”

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