Code

[Chapter:22] (The Connection Between The Two Case)

[Chapter:22] (The Connection Between The Two Case)

Code

I was searching something in my phone when suddenly the door opened. Sinilip ko kung sino ang nag bukas ng pinto at nakitang si Coleman ito. Mukhang nagulat naman ito dahil gising nako agad. "So you're awake." Tinitigan ko lamang siya at binalik ang atensyon ko sa aking telepono.

Narinig ko naman ang pag sara ng pinto at ang pag lapag ni Night sa kanyang bitbit sa lamesang nasa tapat ng sofa. "What are you doing?" Takha nitong tanong. "I'm trying to find something I buried years ago." I answered seriously. Narinig ko naman ang pag tikhim nito. "Alam mo nabang wala na si Rian?" Tanong nito sa akin. I nodded. "Yep." I answered. "How?" Binaba ko naman ang cellphone ko at bagot siyang tinignan. "Kakasabi mo lang. So can you shut up? Kung naiilang ka na kasama ako sa iisang kwarto lumabas ka nalang. You're a mere disturbance."

Umiling lang naman ito. "Can't do that. I know you found what you're looking for in your phone." He said while looking at my phone.

"Sharp. Pero makiramdam ka. Sa tingin mo kung gusto ko ba ipakita sayo ang hinahanap ko ay palalabasin kita?" Walang imik naman itong tumayo at lumabas na.

Nang makasigaradong naka labas na ito ay tinignan ko ang screen ng cellphone ko. It's a photo from 10 years ago. It's a photo taken by Arielle, my first love, before she was killed mercilessly by some unknown group of people. Binasa ko naman ang nakasulat sa picture. Isa iyong conversation. It's a conversation between Arielle father and someone called Boss. Probably a mafia boss, that's why I'm checking if there's any connection between Rian's case and the case I've been working on for 10 years straight.

BOSS: Mr. Salvador, I'm starting to get impatient. Bring me the money tomorrow. I'll be waiting in my office. And may I remind you? I hate waiting.

MR. SALVADOR (ARILLE FATHER): Boss, please be patient. We're having a financial problem as of the moment. So I can't deliver the money tomorrow, please give me one more week to deliver the money to you in whole.

BOSS: Mr. Salvador, I gave you enough time to deliver the money you borrowed from me. I even add one more month because your company is going downhill.

MR. SALVADOR: One more week, Boss and the money will be delivered.

BOSS: I've been too good to you for too long, Mr. Salvador. You're being spoiled too much already.

The conversation ended just like that and the next day Arielle father was killed inside their own company. And after a week her mother died in the day of taking over the family's business and after that Arielle was kidnapped and her dead body was the only one we found.

Every time I remember her lifeless body I always want to straddle that bastard to death. He's not even a human being. I sighed and close my galary. Hinanap ko naman ang picture na sinend ni Wolf. It's a picture of Rian's lifeless body, hindi pa nakukuha ng mga SOCO ang katawan dito ni Rian kaya't kuhang kuha ang lahat. I looked at her neck and saw a clean cut, napansin ko naman ang maliit na sira ng damit nitong suot. Hmm, she fought back but didn't succeed. There we're also a small cut in her arms. Maybe she caught the knife in her arms that the culprit used to kill her. And other than that there's nothing more. Pinagkumpara ko naman ang style ng pagkakapatay ka Rian at kay Arielle. They we're oddly the same. Clean cut in the neck. And a little bit signs of struggle. Ang pinagkaiba lang ay mabilis na napatay si Rian habang si Arielle ay madaming maliliit na hiwa sa katawan ng matagpuan. So they are the same work of that person and the two have the same cases. There's only one left to do and that is to search for that goddamn group.

***

I was busy putting my shirt on when someone busted through the door. Nakita ko naman si Val na hinahawakan ni Coleman sa braso.

"Let go, Night! Anong bang problema mo at pinipigilan moko? I'm his friend for goodness sake!" Naiinis nitong sabi. Marahas naman itong lumingo sa dereksyon ko, natigilan ito saglit. "What are you doing?" Takhang tanong pa nito. "Isn't it obvious? I'm putting my shirt on so I can get out of here." Sarkastiko kong sagot at inayos na ang damit kong suot. "At bakit? You're not that healed yet, Code." Kontra nito at kumawala na sa pagkakahawak ni Night.

I picked up my bag that Wolf delivered earlier. "I'm fine, Val. It's nothing serious." I said, reassuring.

Tinitigan naman ako nito. "You know something, don't you? I know that glint in your eyes. It's the same glint when I first saw you in the university." She said while looking straight into my eyes. Nag iwas naman ako ng tingin. "It's nothing." Giit ko at lumabas na ng kwartong yun. Narinig ko naman ang pag sunod ni Val sa akin.

I stopped in my track. "Valeriana Thompson." Madiing usal ko sa kanyang pangalan. I faced her. "Are you that eager to know what I've been working on, Valeriana?" I asked. Determinadong tumango ito. "Yes! Code, ang tagal na nating mag kasama, but I never asked any personal question about you. Ni wala nga akong masyadong ka alam alam sayo. I never asked you about that hidden picture in your closet! I never did, even if I'm dying to ask you because I'm curious as fuck, kung sino ba ang babaeng yun! Alam ko naman kapag handa kana mag salita sa kung ano mang nang yari sayo noon ay mag sasabi ka sa'kin." I was stunned. So she saw Arielle picture?

"Ano pang nakita mo?" I asked while holding her shoulders. Napangiwi ito. "I only saw the picture. Nothing more." She said, sincerely. "Are you sure?" Tanong ko at mabilis itong tumango. Binitawa ko na naman siya at hinawakan sa kamay. "Since you want to know something personal from me. I'll take you with me." Ani ko at hinila na siya paalis ng ospital. Since she saw Arielle might as well tell her a little bit of the story. Konektado naman din ito sa pagkakamatay ni Rian.

***

Still alive, people! Hope you enjoy the update, kahit ang sabaw. Pasukan na naman kasi eh :'(