AMONG US I

CHAPTER 11: ENDEAVOR

"Kumusta ang pakiramdam mo, Enara?" tanong ni Kuya Jhared kung kaya't napabaling sa kanya ang tingin ni Enara.

"I-I'm feeling better, Kuya," nanghihinang sagot nito.

"Ano ba ang nangyari sa'yo, anak?" her mom asked. "Para akong aatakihin sa puso."

Bumuntong-hininga muna si Enara bago it sumagot. "I was having tea tapos bigla nalang akong hindi makahinga."

"The doctor said that you were poisoned," Kuya Jhared said. "Malinis naman ang mga tea natin at wala tayong poison sa bahay. Tell us, may plano ka bang magpakamatay?"

"What? No way!" Tumawa si Enara. "Bakit naman ako magpapakamatay? I love my life."

"So, saan nanggaling 'yung lason?" Tito Juvil asked.

"Baka sa tea," Enara replied. "Doon ako kumuha sa binigay ni Sir Villejo."

Gulat kaming napatingin ni Wave sa isa't isa. Sir Villejo visited her? And he gave her tea. And Enara was poisoned because she drank the tea that came from Sir Villejo. Is Sir Villejo the killer?

"Sir Villejo visited me after you left," baling ni Enara sa akin. "He's with Paris and... Wave. He gave me a basket of tea."

Kunot-noo akong lumingon kay Wave. Tinaasan niya ako ng isang kilay. "I texted you that we're going to Enara's place," anito. Wala pa nga akong sinasabi eh.

"Wala naman akong sinabi," I mumbled.

"Bibili muna kami ng makakain," paalam ng mommy niya bago sila lumabas ni Tito Juvil at iniwan kaming apat sa loob.

"May isang tea roon na nabuksan na at iyon ang kinuha ko," wika ni Enara. "Malay ko bang may lason pala iyon. Baka si Sir. Villejo talaga ang killer and what had happened was his endeavor to kill me."

"Don't accuse someone if you don't have any concrete proof, Enara," saway ni Kuya Jhared.

"Hindi pa ba sapat na sa kanya galing 'yung tea na may lason?" sabat ni Enara.

"It's not actually from Sir Villejo." Nalipat kay Wave ang tingin niya. "Someone left it on your table. Sir. Villejo just forgot to tell you."

"Therefore, kung sino man ang naglagay nun sa table mo, siya 'yung killer," dugtong ni Kuya Jhared. "He attempted to kill you. Bakit? May atraso ka ba sa kanila? Why would he kill you?"

Enara sighed. "Kung ano man ang nangyayari ngayon sa Maple High, wala akong alam. Nagulat nga ako nang puntahan ako nina Zivienne kanina at sinabihang ako na raw ang sunod na papatayin."

"And that's true. Ikaw na nga ang sunod, but he failed to do so," tugon ni Kuya at bumaling sa'kin. "Zivienne, how did you know that Enara would be next?"

"The killings are in alphabetical order," sagot ko. "Danica's dead. Enara's next."

Napatango-tango si Kuya Jhared. "Mukhang delikado na sa school niyo. I will tell mom to transfer you," he said.

Napabangon naman si Enara at mabilis na umiling. "No! I don't want to leave my friends!"

"But you will get killed if you stay there." He sighed. "My decision is final. If you don't want me to tell mom and dad about that 'killing thing', then you must obey me. This is also for you."

Si Enara naman ang bumuntong-hininga. Wala na itong magawa dahil ang Kuya niya pa rin ang masusunod, pero tama naman ito. This is also for Enara's own good. Baka pwedeng hindi siya patayin kung lalayo siya. Tiyaka, kakasimula pa lang naman ng school year. Hindi siya mahihirapan mag-cope up sa ibang environment.

"Muntik na si Enara..." Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at hinarap si Wave. Nasa gilid kami ng daan at wala nang masyadong sasakyan kaya naglakad nalang kami.