Origins of the QED Club

Chapter 25: From Beyond The Grave

"My name's Shaine Sandoval," our client introduced herself when she settled down. "I'm not really in need of help. My friend does, but she doesn't know it. Her name's Megan. Hindi niya nakikitang problema 'to, pero hindi ko maiwasang mag-worry sa kanya. It's not normal kasi kahit sino pa ang tanungin ko."

"You mentioned yesterday that someone dead is sending messages to your friend," I recalled our conversation in the KTV bar. "So that friend is Megan and the dead one is . . ."

"Her boyfriend," she finished. "Two weeks ago, Roel died in a traffic accident. Magkasama silang dalawa. Maayos na nagda-drive si Roel nang nabangga ng isang truck ang sinasakyan nila. Meg survived. He didn't. Nakalulungkot kasi mabait at mabuti siyang tao. He didn't deserve to die that young."

"That must be heartbreaking for Megan and for you," Alistair said in a consoling tone. "Losing someone important to us leaves a void in our hearts. In some cases, no one and nothing can fill it. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you."

My eyes looked sideways at Loki who averted his gaze. Lagi niyang ginagawa 'yon kapag hindi siya interesado sa boring details ng isang case at kapag naiinip na siya sa kuwento ng client namin. But this time was different. He was not uninterested. He seemed to—I don't know?—relate to it. Paano ko nasabi? May kalungkutan sa mga mata niya. Seeing emotions through his eyes was unusual.

"I can't imagine kung gaano kasakit 'yon kay Meg." Shaine looked down. "She's still in denial. Hindi naging madali para sa kanya ang mga sumunod na araw o linggo o buwan. She missed some of our classes. She ignored our messages. She isolated herself from us, eating alone and crying in a corner. One day, she decided to chat her late boyfriend, telling him how much she missed him—"

"And then she received a reply?" Jamie cut her words short. She almost let out a gasp. "From the person who's supposedly dead?"

The client nodded. "Naikuwento niya sa 'kin last week. Noong una, ayaw ko pang maniwala kasi imposible 'yon. But she showed me their conversation thread. Kinilabutan ako. Her dead boyfriend was really replying to her messages."

"The actual conversation thread?" Jamie asked to clarify. "Hindi basta-basta screenshot o photo?"

"Oo. Naisip ko rin na baka edited ang ipinakita niya sa 'kin kaya ch-in-eck ko. There's no doubt that it's their convo. Nabasa ko pa nga ang pinag-usapan nila bago ang aksidente."

The three of us—except Loki—exchanges curious glances as our client took a pause. It was still August, but this case could have been the perfect Halloween story. May involved na patay 'tapos may nakakikilabot na pangyayaring mukhang hindi mae-explain ng science.

"Her mood has improved since then. Ilang araw din siyang malungkot at parang wala sa sarili. Hindi nakikinig sa prof, walang ipinapasang assignments at projects. Pero nagbago na ngayon. Nakangingiti na ulit siya," Shaine recounted. "I was happy for her at first, but I realized how worrisome the situation is. Sinabihan ko na siyang itigil ang pakikipag-chat kay Roel, pero ayaw niyang magpaawat. Doon daw siya masaya, doon daw siya nakakukuha ng sigla."

"She must still be undergoing the stages of grief," Alistair said. "Denial. Anger. Bargain. Depression. Acceptance. My guess is that she's at the bargain stage. It's okay for her to not see her late boyfriend anymore as long as she keeps to get in touch with him. She's willing to live in an illusion."

"But that's so depressing." Jamie frowned. "What if maging dependent siya sa gano'ng conversations? What if magising siya isang araw at ma-realize na hindi totoo 'yon? Paniguradong guguho ang mundo niya."

"Kaya lumapit na ako sa inyo, para mahanapan ng solusyon ito." Nabaling ang tingin ng kliyente namin mula kay Jamie papunta kay Loki. "I don't want to see her this miserable. I don't want her to be hurt again."