Death Trap Pandemonium (COMPLETED)

Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

Eternal Woes

Juan Carlos Sanchez was not a patient person. In fact, he had little to no regard for even thinking before doing something which had constantly led to so many bad decisions. And for his impatience, he was left to suffer the consequences for years to come.

Nang tuluyan siyang mahimasmasan, nag-aalalang napatingin si JC sa kaibigan. Barely a week ago, Markus was absolutely inconsolable after they learnt of what happened to Jamie. According to Jerald, Markus had to be restrained by Raziel from rushing towards the burning vehicle to try and save his girlfriend.

October 17, 2015; Saturday
Marina Beach Resort, Santa Barbara

"Hoy, gumising na kayo! Nandito na tayo sa resort!"

Napabalikwas si JC mula sa kanyang mahimbing na pagtulog sa harapan ng van nang marinig niya ang bulyaw ni Markus.

Nag-aalalang napatingin si JC sa kaibigan. Barely a week ago, Markus was absolutely inconsolable after they learnt of what happened to Jamie. According to Jerald, Markus had to be restrained by Raziel from rushing towards the burning vehicle.

***

Nang makabalik sila ni Shem sa kanilang dorm pagkatapos niyang awatin si Shem sa pambubugbog sa kapatid ni Ailee, nadatnan nila si Markus na nakatulala sa dorm room nila ni Raziel.

"Anong nangyari sa kanya?" Nalilitong tanong ni JC.

"Hindi niyo pa ba alam?" Bakas ang gulat sa boses ni Jerald. "Sa'n ba kayo galing?"

JC glanced at Shem who was trying to hide his bruised knuckles. "May inasikaso lang. Saka hinatid namin si Ailee sa dorm niya."

Tila nagulat sina Jerald, Raziel, at Anthony sa sinabi niya. The two of them hadn't exactly been on speaking terms in the past years. Ngunit bago siya makapagsalita, muling bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto at pumasok sina Kevin at Gregg. The small room was becoming more cramped with all 9 of them in there but that didn't stop Markus from flinging himself into his best friend's arm.

"Kevin!" Markus wailed. And at that moment, nagsimula nang umagos ang luha niya. "Wala na si Jamie! Wala na siya!"

JC felt the air escape him at this. Deja vu. This is like Yna's death all over again. Anong nangyari habang wala kami ni Shem?

Pareho silang hindi alam kung anong gagawin habang umiiyak si Markus kaya't sumunod na lang sila kina Clyde at Raziel sa maliit na kusina ng kwarto kung saan pinaliwanag nila kina Shem at JC ang mga nangyari.

By the end of it, they could only look at Markus in pity. They knew how hard it was to lose someone close to you.

"Two deaths inside the campus in the span of a week is one too many. Siguradong magkakaroon ng imbestigasyon," sabi ni Shem. "And I have a good idea on who's gonna be leading that."

Shem was right, two days later, on a gloomy Sunday afternoon, two police cars pulled up into the university's parking lot.

Before they knew it, students were being called into the Administration Building to be questioned by the police. Pero hindi natawag sina JC nang araw na iyon. Bagkus, ipinatawag sila mula sa kani-kanilang klase kinabukasan. Kasabay ni JC sina Shem, Aron, at Kevin papunta sa Administration Building. Not for the first time, he lamented leaving his motorcycle at his family's house. It would've been a more convenient form if transportation for him.