strangers

00

00 : how it ends.

"Kaiqo Maricosa, 18, from Antanya." ani sabay baling sa akin ng isang batang police officer na may hawak na papel. "Dexter Aguire, 19, from Pillar." dugtong pa nito saka naman binalingan ang katabi ko. Pinagmasdan ko pa itong lumapit sa amin saka bahagyang binuklat ang suot naming coat. "college students from Basil University."

Pasimple kong inexamine ang katabi na kagaya ko ay prente lamang ding nakaupo, tahimik at kalmado.

"you go to the same school, do you know each other?" panimula nito sa interrogation.

Umiling lang ako saka umayos ng upo, nahagip naman sa peripheral view ko ang pag-iling din ni Dexter.

"This interrogation will be quick and easy only if you'll give us honest and accurate answers. Based on your informations, it leads to the fact that you two know each other. Diba?" sabi pa nito saka ngumiti.

"It is not a fact, it is a speculation without concrete evidence. It doens't mean na porket same school kami at nakita niyo sa iisang lugar ay magkakilala kami. Marami kaming pumapasok sa BU, tingin mo ba magkakakilala kaming lahat?" kalmado kong sagot at tanong saka ngumiti.

Napakurap pa ito saka nagchuckle. "point taken, but you were not just from the same school found in the same place.. you were also in the same table. According to the quick interrogation earlier, you were there for a blind date right?" tanong ulit sa akin ng pulis kaya't tumango ako saka niya binalingan si Dexter. "while you? You were there to meet someone as well. Tama ba?"

"hmm yeah." bored na sagot ng katabi ko saka lumingon sakin. "but not with her."

"tsk tsk lies are not tolerated here. And if you want concrete evidence.." nagbend down ang police officer at may inabot, few seconds ay may inilapag ito na isang log book sa harap namin. I looked at Dexter through my peripheral and saw him shifting his sitting position.

Binuklat ng police officer ang log book, he went thru the pages and stoped then run his fingers down. "March 18, 2019, 9:00 pm, table 4, 2nd floor." basa nito saka muling tumingin sa amin. "what do you think is this?" he asked then pointed Dexter.

Even at this disastrous moment, i chose to remain calm, and whatever happens... I will stay calm. I have nothing to prove here.

i slowly took a deep breathe.

"It was the table I reserved for my frien–" he was cut off when the police officer glanced at me.

I immediately licked my lower lip "it was the table that I was in–"

"see?" putol niya rin sa pagsagot ko the reason why I glared at him, Dexter took his phone out then dialled someone.

"there's your concrete evidence." saad ng pulis saka ngumiti.

I smiled back. "you're wrong.
This weird guy? I don't know him.. and I don't have any plans or business with him."

"weird guy? the hell with you woman. Kelan ba to matatapos ah? I still have a hangout to catch up, nasira na nga sa raid na yon!" Dexter butted in while putting back his phone inside his pocket.

"cut the act."

"what act? I have a proof, I was in the wrong floor. And only realized that when the raid happened." i defended before handing my phone out with a text message. The police grabbed it then examined. He was reading it thoroughly.

"not enough evidence. For sure kaya kayo nandon dahil dito sa taong to, kilala niyo siya diba?" inabot niya sakin pabalik ang phone ko saka inilahad ang isang litrato.

Umiling ako at nagconcentrate pa lalo, while Dexter straight up answered no with a bored tone.

We were dead silent for a few seconds bago sumandal sa backrest ng upuan ang pulis "hindi niyo talaga siya kilala? Siya yung owner ng club ah."

umiling ulit ako then stared at him, ganoon din si Dexter. But this young police officer pouted to hide a ghost of smile. "But I'm sure he knows his customers."

He sighed. "you don't know that guy?" then asked once again. I was slightly irritated by his persuasiveness.

Ngunit ang lubid ng konsentrasyong aking hinahawakan ay napigtas at ang kabang isinasantabi ay namayani nang pumasok sa loob ng estasyon ang lalaking nasa litrato.

I watched him walk when he entered, he's almost inside another room when he suddenly stopped then glanced at us... and before i can even look away, he immediately gave us a warm smile.

Halos magtindigan ang balahibo ko sa katawan sa ngiting iginawad niya.

"it seems like he knows something."

napalunok ako saka dahan-dahang umayos ng upo, muling binalik ang atensyon sa pulis.

"a criminal recognized the both of you."

—
Thankyou & Godbless.