The Sleepwalker Syndrome

chapter eighteen | the suspect

Sa sobrang tahimik namin, wala kaming ibang naririnig kundi ang ulan, mga ginang, at ang sarili naming paghinga.

We didn't move for what felt like forever, until we finally saw them run away. It was only then that we were able to catch our breaths.

"What the hell was that?" Fash cried.

"The sleepwalker syndrome," I whispered.

"The what?" he gasped.

***

Fash felt so overwhelmed with what happened that I had to assist him as we made our way up the stairs. "Jordi, napakahayop ng mga marites na 'yon. Bigla akong hinarang ng babae at hinila pababa ng bisikleta ko. Sinabunutan niya pa ako at pinagsamsampal. Dumating naman 'yung isa at pinagpapalo ng kung ano-ano, pinalo pa sa akin ang bisikleta ko. Sasakalin pa sana ako kung hindi lang talaga ako nakatakbo. Bakit nila ginawa 'yon? Ni hindi ko sila kilala, ah?"

Hinayaan ko na lamang siyang maglabas ng hinanakit at marahang tinapik-tapik sa balikat.

"Jordi, nasa opisina ba ang papa mo? Kailangan pala ng tulong ni Smoeki—"

"Ha? Anong nangyari? Nasaan si Smoeki? Is he okay?"

Minabuti naming huwag munang pumasok sa opisina kung nasaan ang mga at nanatili muna sa service area ng third floor. Pinaupo namin si Fash sa isang sofa nang makapagpahinga kahit papaano.

Napatingin ako kay Gil at saktong nagtama ang mga mata namin. He cocked his head to the water dispenser's direction—a hint I completely understood.

We walked to the water dispenser's direction, away from their earshot. As we stood side-by-side, he whispered, "Mapagkakatiwalaan ba siya?"

"He's one of PJ's best friends," bulong ko pabalik sa kanya. "He's a ruthless trashtalker when playing online, but he's a good kid."

"Still, be careful," aniya at kaswal na itinuro ang logo ng tubig. "Alkaline din. Puwede siguro natin 'tong inumin."

We both grabbed cups and filled them with water. Pagbalik namin sa sofa, pansin kong mangiyak-ngiyak na si PJ habang nagpapaliwanag. "Nasa basement lang kami ng bahay ni Smoeki, sinusulit ang paglalaro habang okay pa ang internet. Kaso yun na, biglang nag-lock yung pinto at nawala ang kuryente, pati na ang signal. Hindi kami makalabas. Todo hintay at sigaw kami. Nang gumabi, binasag na namin yung door knob kasi nagsisimula nang bumaha sa basement. Tangina... pag-akyat namin ang daming dugo t-tapos—"

Fash started crying and absentmindedly scratching his trembling fingers. He scratched them so hard that it was starting to turn red. "N-Nakaupo sa mesa ang papa niya, laslas ang leeg. A-Ang mama niya naman—J-Jords, si Smoeki! Kawawa si Smoeki!"

Nasapo ko ang noo sa narinig at napatalikod mula sa kanila. Hearing what happened tore me up lalo't guro ko noong elementary ang mama ni Smoeki. She was there for me, even during the worst part of my childhood. 

"W-We looked for his sister all over the house, but we couldn't find her. Smoeki was losing it, man. W-We tried to call for help, but the lines are out. He asked me to come here and ask for Chief's help! A-Ayoko sana siyang iwan, pero todo pakiusap na siya."

I closed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. I mustered up all of my courage and faced him again, this time, placing the cup of water on the coffee table beside him. "Fash, Papa's been stabbed. He's at the mainland, in ICU. Nandoon si PJ. Maraming mga pulis ang namatay kaninang umaga doon sa hotel at may nangyayaring kakaiba sa isla kaya walang makakaresponde kaagad—"

"A-Anong nangyayaring kakaiba?" Napakurap-kurap si Fash at napaturo sa direksiyon ng bintana. "'Yong mga babae . . . 'yong sinabi mong syndrome? J-Jordi, ano ba talagang nangyayari?"