Moriarty's Disciple: Cristopher Magsalin

Chapter 8: He Who Spread His Name

I have never thought that after many years, I'll be attending a classmate's burial again.

I came to a halt when the clamorous silence and numby breeze of the cemetery welcomed me. My lips quivered and I felt the slow shaking of my body. My visage was carrying a heavy emotion I have to conceal. Fragments of random memories were trying to merge inside my head, creating the same bloody scenarios I saw in my dreams every night.

I rumpled my hair which I immaculately combed this morning. Closing my eyes, I attempted to scrape them away. Going to cemetery triggered again those traumatizing scenes to come out, I thought I have already moved on.

Moved on? I wanted to laugh at myself for thinking I have made a major progress. I realized I'm still holding on to those tragic memories.

I sauntered in the wide passage way of the cemetery after calming myself. I came here as one of those people who had shared memories with Maegan. My will to see her for the last time miraculously dominated those stimulating splinter of wretched memories. Coming here was not a good idea but I wanted to be one of those people who wants to bid goodbye to her.

"Cris?" someone said from behind then I spotted Carmela Mendiola, our class vice president. We called him Ela and she had short stature and short hair. She was wearing a white dress paired with black dollshoes. She was now looking up to me with puzzled gaze. "May problema ka ba?"

"Ah, wala," pautal kong sabi. There were times that I have to talk like I have speech problems because you know, I want to instil a weak impression in their head.

"Are you sure? Nakita kitang nahihilo ng bongang-bonga. Kung hindi ko lang alam na lalaki ka siguro iniisip kong nagbubuntis ka."

"What? Nope." I laughed because of her crazy assumption. Kahit babae ako, porque nahihilo ay buntis agad?

"Kung ganoon bakit nakita kong parang nahihilo ka kanina? Napahawak ka pa nga sa ulo mo."

"Kulang lang siguro ako sa tulog dahil sa rami ng assignments at pinapagawa sa atin," I lied to stop her from asking. Of course, I didn't want to divulge that part of my life to her.

"Bakit hindi ka pa dumi-deritso? Kadarating mo lang din? O may hinihintay ka pa?"

Marami siyang follow up question na sinagutan ko naman. Mabilis ko namang iniba ang usapan para hindi niya na ako usisain pa. "Mas mabuting sabay na tayong pumunta ro'n. Naro'n na ata ang ibang kaklase natin."

"Oo, tayong dalawa na lang ang wala. Nabasa ko sa groupchat. Tara na." Nagpatianod na lang ako sa paghila sa akin ni Ela. Mabait siya sa lahat pero siyempre hindi kami gaanong malapit sa isa't-isa lalo pa't may sarili rin siyang circle of friends.

Sa klase kasi namin, para kaming may sari-sariling kolonya. Nagkakaugnay-ugnay lang kapag may pare-parehong nais pero bihira lang 'yon, ang madalas ay 'yong napipilitan lang magsama-sama. There was no unity in our room unless it will benefits each colony.

Kaklase ko siya ng dalawang taon no'ng nag-specialized ako ng creative writing sa Program: Talented and Skillful Students (PTSS) at isa rin siya sa mga co-writer ni Raea sa aming school publication.

We reached where they are and we immediately occupied vacant seats. Napansin ko na napatingin sa amin ang mga kaklase namin, siyempre, 'yon ay dahil kasama ko si Ela. Isa lang naman ang hindi nakatingin sa amin, 'yon ay si Nellie na nakasuot ng sunglasses para hindi makita ang mukha niya. Beside her was Ashley who was not leaving us with her curious stare.

I wanted to stare back at her when I noticed some influential people in the burial. I was about to approach someone but I closed my mouth at the end. Hindi ko na itinuloy dahil naalala kong nandito rin ang mga kaklase ko. I don't want them to wonder why their class slave know them.