Talagang nagfi-fit itong song kay Serena, huhu. This is her theme, people.
-chapter twenty-eight-
"Is this all a scheme so that you can destroy the reputation of the council that you so abhor, hm, Meredith?"
The silence that filled the room was undeniably loud. Mukhang nakatama ang sinabi ko at accurate ito sa mga nangyari.
"Anything to say, Meredith?" Kiyara asked. "We will be entertaining Serena's theory if you don't have any argument."
Inilipat ni Meredith ang nagbabagang tingin kay Kiyara. A sarcastic smile appeared in her face.
"I do. I know full well what happened down there and I will gladly tell the story."
Hmm.
"As I have declared, I do not like the current ruling. I wish to become the president and I am working hard to defeat you." ani Meredith kay Kiyara. "Ngunit kahit istrikto ako sa rules, I'm not a hypocrite who will abide, especially if it is against my morals. So, yes, Antonio is not under a pet system."
Small gasps filled the room. Iba ang dating kapag naisip mo ito dahil sa isang teorya at kapag mismong sinang-ayonan na.
"But he's a loyal friend, and so he wanted to act as what his punishment endures. Nang makita namin si Grace sa underground, tinanong ko siya kung ano ang ginagawa niya doon. I was afraid the council would plant bombs or surveillance to use against us. We wanted a civil conversation, but-" biglang napalitan ng galit ang mukha ni Meredith. "-But Grace Salvallon did not respect us. Ininsulto niya kami't inapakan, at sinabing huwag na muli kaming magtatago ng ganito o makakaharap namin ang council. Of course, we were enraged."
Oho~ So she used my earlier story and combined it with the true event to create the third version of Antonio's murder. Dito, hindi sina Meredith ang nagalit dahil sa presensiya ng council, pero si Grace na hindi nasisiyahan sa mga sekretong tinatago nila.
By the way, that story had flaws. Hindi kapani-paniwala na magagalit lang si Grace at mas may tapang pa siya na nag-iisa lamang.
And Keian must have had the same thoughts because he raised that question.
"Are you saying Grace intimidated the four of you? She's alone."
"She was not. That girl-" itinuro ni Meredith ang katabi ni Grace na babae.
"Lizzie." Yuri helpfully supplied.
Tumango si Meredith. "Lizzie was with her. Hindi namin alam kung anong abilities ang mayroon sila kaya kailangan naming mag-ingat. We peacefully asked them to leave, but they did not take our offer and started to look around even more-"
"It is allowed even with your refusal." Dale cut in. "The underground is within the school premises so we have full control and permission to inspect the place."
Tumango ang mga taong nasa parte ng konselo, maliban sa'min ni Kahel na mukhang matutulog na at ang magkambal na Preston.
"There is no argument to that." sagot ni Meredith. "However, the words Grace spoke were against the academy's rules. Hindi ba't ang masasamang salita ay form of violence din, Serena?"
I inwardly grimaced. Bakit ba ako tinatanong niya? Do I look like a rulebook to her?
Still, I nodded. "Of course. Verbal abuse and harassment."
"Proper punishment must be observed right, Headmaster?"
Every eyes landed on the lady in the upper seat. Hindi ito nagsalita mula kanina pa at may interes lamang na pinapanood ang buong meeting. Headmaster Destina offered a small smile and nods.
"Thank you." Meredith said. "However, hinayaan na lang namin 'yon. We can turn a blind eye. Kaya naman ang tanging hiniling namin ay umalis muna sila, it should be our right after being violated, right?"
May nag-aalinlangang tumango mula sa side ng council at marami naman ang sumuporta mula kay Meredith.
"Oh tapos? Ano connect no'n sa nangyari kay Antonio?"
Natigilan ang lahat nang magtanong si Kahel. Bored na bored ang mukha nito. Umirap siya dahil sa atensiyon na nakuha at humalumbaba.
"Sige, bumalik na kayo sa boring na discussion." lumapit siya sa'kin at bumulong. "Wala akong maintindihan."
So you disrupted the meeting?
"Anong gagawin ko?" maldita kong tanong. "Wala akong dog food. Matulog ka na lang."
"Tch."
"It's not about the connection, Serena's partner, it's my reason and answer for Dale's question." ani Meredith na matalim ang boses. "As Serena said, Antonio is very short-tempered, comparable to her partner-"
"Please stop talking about my dog if you don't wanna get bitten." peke akong ngumiti at ini-ruffle ang buhok ni Kahel. "He might look pretty handsome but he can snarl real good."
Meredith cleared her throat. "Anyway, with Antonio's attitude, it was inevitable that he would attack Grace. Ngunit hindi pa siya no'n nakakahawak sa dalaga at bigla na lamang siyang natumba. Nang lumapit si Shaina sa kaniya ay patay na siya. No one in our group could have done that, dahil air ang ability ni Shaina, cloning ang kay Jeremy at sa akin ay See-through. Ang mas nakakapagtaka ay hindi na namin maalala pagkatapos no'n ang nangyari."
The teachers looked at Jeremy and Shaina who were mentioned in Meredith's story. Tumango ang dalawa bilang pagsang-ayon.
"Wala na po talaga kaming matandaan."
Muling tumahimik ang silid habang nagdidiscuss ang mga guro tungkol sa account ni Meredith. It is believable. Umayon din ang mga sinabi niya sa ibang parte ng teorya ko.
"What ability does Grace have?" tanong ni Miss Abi.
Yuri answered, "Possession, Miss."
Nagsimula ang bulongan. It connects to Meredith's story. Napabaling naman ako kay Kahel nang tapikin niya ako.
"Ano naman kung 'yon ang ability niya?"
I sighed. "She can enter someone's mind and control it. Since nakatalikod si Antonio, pwedeng Grace possessed the guy to stab himself. Hindi kataka-taka kung may dalang kutsilyo si pet."
Kumunot ang noo ni Kahel. "Pero hindi naman 'yon ang nangyari 'di ba?"
I gave him a blank stare. Kahel muttered an 'ah' and looked away, nodding to himself.
"Hm." the Headmaster hummed. "Grace's ability can apply to Meredith's story. What says you, Grace Salvallon?"
Oh. So this meeting to discuss Antonio's murder has no evidences aside from the victim's body and the facts. Ang silid na ito ay talagang dapat mapuno ng tamang istorya na may kasamang ebidensiya. If nothing is presented, the story that best fits the crime is followed.
Lahat ay napatingin kay Grace. Kalmado lamang siyang tumayo at humarap sa mga tao.
"Yes, Headmaster. Meredith lied about the truth. I will now tell you what really happened back there."
"Do entertain us."
"May naobserba si Keian na secret door sa meeting room nina Meredith. Yuri permitted the inspection. Kaming dalawa ni Lizzie ang pumunta doon. Bumaba nga si Meredith at nakita niya ako. For some reason, she looked angry that time. Nang malaman niya ang ginagawa ko, inutusan niya sina Jeremy na patayin ako."
Whispers travelled around the room and gasps filled the air. That account is the total opposite of Meredith's. A word against a word with no substantial evidence. Sinong kwento ba ang mas kapani-paniwala?
I rested my elbow on the table and covered my mouth with a hand. Tinago ko ang ngiti. Now, this is the most interesting way this situation could go. Sino ang makakapagbigay ng malapit sa totoong katotohanan, hm?
"And, wala doon si Meredith. She went back up. Si Jeremy ang naatasang pumatay sa'kin. But Lizzie appeared and fought them off, kaya ginamit ko ang pagkakataon na 'yon para tumakas. Pero biglang sumugod si Antonio kay Lizzie at tamang ginamit ni Shaina ang kaniyang ability kaya natamaan si Antonio. May hawak na kutsilyo si Jeremy noong time na 'yon dahil sa papatayin niya ako, and he was the one who pulled Antonio back."
Napabaling ang mga tao sa silid sa dalawang estudyante. Shaina looked terrified in her seat and Jeremy was already pale. Now that's an entirely different story.
In Meredith's, Grace was the one who went rogue. In Grace's, Meredith was the person who ordered the killing to happen.
"By the way, about sa ability niya." ngumiti si Yuri. "Grace is a black-collared student. She is not allowed to use her ability habang nasa school. At nasa academy pa rin ang lugar na 'yon."
Now that becomes a weapon against Meredith's story. Dahil hindi na pwedeng si Grace ang gumawa no'n.
"If you try to pin it on me, my ability is storing any amount of information. It's useless in battle." singit ni Lizzie.
And now, Meredith's at the knife's edge. Unless she can give an evidence, her story dies.
"Well, seeing as Miss Salvallon's account is more convincing, the guilty leans into your side, Miss Meredith." anunsiyo ni Miss Abi. "Dahil wala namang ebidensiya, ang mas kapani-paniwalang istorya ang pipiliin-"
Those might be their story. But in mine, they are all at fault.
"About that." tumayo ako kasabay nang pagtaas ng kamay. "I am here to argue. Both stories are wrong."
"Serena Raskell," the Headmaster said slowly. "What do you mean?"
"See, kung kay Meredith tayo susunod, si Grace ang kukuha ng punishment. If we follow Grace's story, the question therefore is who will suffer the punishment? Meredith who ordered the first act of violence, Lizzie who fought back with violence, Jeremy who will kill Grace and did stab Antonio or Shaina who used a skill against the guy? Are we going to kill all four of them or will we weigh who has the heaviest sin?"
Napaisip sandali ang Headmaster. "Weigh who inflicted violence the most."
Tumango ang mga tao sa silid.
"Now, wouldn't that be an opposition to your rule? The other three did inflict violence too. Isa pa, you will be killing a slightly innocent man." itinuro ko si Jeremy. "Siya."
"Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?" kunot-noong tanong ni Miss Abi.
"Both stories are wrong, but mine is right." ngumiti ako. "Meredith found Grace below and got angry. Dahil sa parte ito ng council at pumasok ito ng walang paalam. Contrary to Meredith's story, Grace did not react negatively. She actually looked like a terrified cat. Meredith did order her murder dahil may mga impormasyong dala ang babae. Who knows why Meredith won't let that information out."
Grace and Lizzie looked at me in surprise, gano'n rin ang tatlong sangkot sa sitwasyong ito. I ignored them and continued,
"Meredith went back up kasi busy siyang tao. Then, sweet Jeremy threatened the girl. But before he could get to the injuring part, lumabas si Lizzie at nakipaglaban. See-" natigilan ako. "My bad, I guess Jeremy did commit violence. Nag-away kasi ang tatlo. Pero since Lizzie was the one who attacked, would their fighting back be considered as an act of self-defense?"
Napakurap-kurap ang lahat.
"Antonio restricted Lizzie down. The interesting part is, Shaina intentionally used her skill. Hindi naman siya parte ng laban at nasa gilid lang. Pero nang makita niyang napailalim na si Lizzie ay naisipan niya itong gamitin. Now that's violence, right? However Lizzie must have noticed her doing that and she used Antonio as shield, on the process stabbing him. And that's how Antonio was murdered."
Pagkatapos ng ilang segundong katahimikan ay umingay ang bulongan sa loob ng silid. Students began to whisper to themselves about what really happened.
"Sandali lang!" Shaina objected and stood up. "Bakit naman natin paniniwalaan ang sinabi niya gayong hindi naman siya kasama doon?"
I smirked. "Oh, but I am. Nasa underground din ako that time."
"Ano ang ginagawa mo do'n? Grace has a reason for being there and Meredith is understandable." Dale asked, frowning. "What are you doing down there?"
"Simple. I go where my curiousities lie. By the way, you should ask Keian about that." sinipat ko ang lalaki na walang-emosyon lang nakatitig sa'kin. "Siya ang nag-utos sa'kin na tingnan 'yon dahil interesado din ako. He told me about it when he met me in the music room, after my fight with Yohanne. It was an initiation for the council, on his words. Of course, I wanted to deny, pero ayon din naman sa gusto ko kaya sumunod ako."
Nakipagtitigan si Keian sa'kin. His face was unreadable while mine is a calm, winning one. A minute after, he nodded.
"That is true."
Parang nakahinga ako ng maluwag.
"Is that why you rejected Kiyara's invitation?" tanong muli ni Dale.
Hindi ko siya sinagot. Silence means yes na nga daw kahit na salungat ito sa sitwasyon ngayon. As long as it benefits my story, I have a lot to use as protection.
"Or you went there on your own accord," Jeremy accused. "Wala namang makakapagpatunay na nagkita kayo ni Keian sa music room. And what would the vice president want with the likes of you? Even though you're part of the student council, you have no permission of stepping there. Kaya mali din ang ginawa mo."
"But your friend and ally, Tanya Belladin, saw me. Kasama niya pa nga ang partner ko." nakangiti kong sagot.
Nagsimula akong maglakad papunta sa Headmaster. I placed my phone on the table that separates us. Napatingin dito si Headmaster Destina.
"And before any of you argue about my story, I have solid evidence right here." I turned around and grinned predatorily. "A video recording of what truly happened down there."
Shaina paled. Looks like the predator has been turned into a prey.
Nakatitig ang lahat sa Headmaster na matuwid ang upo at nakatutok sa cellphone. The audio really depicted an ongoing fight. Mukhang nacurious na rin siguro ang ibang guro dahil lumapit sila at nakinood.
I took the time to observe the two leaders. Kiyara was sitting almost peacefully. Seriously, her face didn't change one bit in the whole meeting. Para lang siyang nanonood ng isang amusing tv show. Nang mapatingin ako kay Keian ay nakatitig na ito sa'kin. The other members of the council looks curious and interested about the video. Ang partner ko naman ay mukhang tulog na.
Meanwhile, Meredith must be on the edge of her seat. Her eyes are focused on the Headmaster, watching what emotion will show up. Tahimik at mukhang nanginginig sina Jeremy at Shaina sa inuupuan.
While I stand in the middle of the room, with a straight posture and amused eyes.
Ibinaba ng Headmaster ang video. Mukhang may pinal na desisyon nang namuo sa kaniya.
"Meredith and Grace has no evidence to offer?" tanong ni Miss Abi. Nakatutok pa rin ang ibang teachers sa video.
Iling ang isinagot ng dalawa. Everyone was surprised when Maria abruptly stood up. Bigla niya ring hinatak patayo si Shaina.
"Hindi mo ginawa kay Antonio 'yon, 'di ba?! Sabihin mo, Shaina, hindi mo 'yon magagawa sa kaibigan mo!" sigaw ni Maria.
Dahil sa pagsigaw niya at pag-aalog kay Shaina ay medyo nagkagulo na sa side nila. Yuri asked one of the SEC to alleviate the situation, pero nauna na si Shaina. Pinalis niya ang kamay ni Maria at sinamaan ng tingin ang babae.
"Antonio is not my friend." matigas na tugon ni Shaina. "You are not, too."
Nanlaki ang mata ni Maria at bumagsak siya sa upuan. Muli kong itinaas ang kamay para itago ang nakangiting labi. You're making this worse, Shaina.
"Since Meredith and Grace has no evidence, and the video presented connects with the three accounts, Lizzie and Shaina is proven to have broken the first rule of the academy." anunsiyo ni Miss Abi. "As a result, they will be facing the punishment of death."
The people in the room gasped in shock and horror. Breaking the rules really meant this type of punishment already, huh? Mas naging mabigat siguro dahil sa may namatay talagang estudyante. A body for a body.
"Pero, Miss Abi." tutol ni Lizzie. "I don't own a knife. Hindi ko rin pwedeng gamitin ang in-dorm na kutsilyo dahil may log-in details 'yon. Before that, we were also checked for weapons dahil sa nangyaring rule announcement sa field. The SEC room has the details."
"Then if it isn't you who stabbed Antonio- sino?!" may galit na tanong ni Jeremy.
Kinuha ko pabalik ang cellphone while Lizzie argues, "Baka ikaw ang sumaksak sa kaniya? Hindi ba't may hawak kang kutsilyo para sa pagpatay kay Grace?"
Meredith walked toward me and took the phone. Pinanood niya ang video at inulit-ulit ito. She also showed it to Shaina and Jeremy. May itinanong siya dito na inilingan ng dalawa. Nang makita na ang hinahanap ay ini-angat niya sa'kin ang tingin.
"Jeremy did not do it. Awkward ang angle kung siya ang sasaksak. Shaina is too far away, leaving Lizzie the only option." seryosong wika ni Meredith.
"Lizzie has a strong alibi."
Napalingon ako nang marinig ang kalmadong boses ni Kiyara. Nakahalukipkip siya habang naglalakad palapit sa'min.
"We can take a trip down to the SEC office and see if her statement is true."
"Pero pwede ring you already contributed to make an alibi." nagulat sila sa sinabi ko. I raised a brow. "I don't take any particular side. I'm only helping this case."
"Serena is right. Pwede niyong madoctor ang papeles para umayon kay Lizzie. Ngunit mayroon akong gustong itanong. Why is it that Jeremy and Shaina couldn't remember a thing from the incident? They can't even remember the fight." tumingin si Meredith sa Headmaster. "Could it be that one of the people over there messed with their memory? A skill is used in a person without notice. Isn't that punishable too?"
Another question formulated around the meeting. Jeremy and Shaina's inability to remember the event.
"Pero wala sa'ming tatlo ang makakagawa no'n." kontra ni Lizzie. "I can only make myself immune to injuries. Si Grace ay possession pero hindi niya maaring magamit ang ability. Serena can only read weaknesses at malayo siya sa'min."
Tumango-tango ang mga taong nasa side ng council.
"How sure are we that only Grace, Serena and Lizzie are the only people inside the room? Not counting Antonio, Jeremy and Shaina, of course." Meredith slightly raised the phone to prove a point. "If Serena is holding the camera and Lizzie is fighting, who dragged Grace out of the video frame?"
Umulan ang protesta at suporta sa buong kwarto. Word fights erupted in each sides. The whole room was burning and it's the most beautiful fire ever.
"Grace could have went outside by her own strength!" kontra ni Erika.
Umismid si Jeremy. "May kamay na nagpakita sa video. Ano ang explanation do'n?"
"Bakit kasi hindi mo vinideohan si Grace, Serena?!"
Ay wow, ako pa ba may kasalanan?
"Wait!" natigilan ang lahat sa boses ni Yuri. "What if Serena only placed her phone and recorded, tapos siya ang tumulong kay Grace? Hindi ba't mas magandang explanation 'yon?"
Not just a good-sounding explanation, Yuri, pero iyon rin naman talaga ang nangyari. Lizzie didn't man the record, inilagay niya lang ang cellphone sa tamang puwesto.
Napatingin ang lahat sa'kin. They're asking or clarifying Yuri's question. Talaga nga bang ako ang tumulong kay Grace o hindi ako umalis sa likod ng camera.
Ngumiti lamang ako. "Why don't we play a game."
"A game?" tanong ni Kiyara.
"Look." Dale stood up. "We're just asking you if you helped Grace or not. There's no need to-"
"But that would be boring." putol ko sa kaniya.
Everyone's now wearing exasperated expression. Mukhang hindi na inaantok si Kahel dahil nasa akin na ang mga mata niya. The once-emotionless Keian has an amused expression in his face.
"Besides, kung sasabihin kong ako ang nagvivideo, how would you find the third person? Hindi magsasalita si Lizzie at Grace, and those two-" turo ko kay Jeremy at Shaina. "-can't remember a thing."
"What game are you proposing?" Meredith asked.
"Simple." iginiya ko ang pintuan. "If the person who comes in is a girl, Lizzie gets convicted. If the person who comes in is a boy, Lizzie runs free." nakangiti kong inilibot ang tingin sa paligid at masayang tinanong ang, "So, do you all want to play a game where Lizzie's fate will ride?"
Napatingin ako sa orasan. 9:57 AM. The meeting is suppose to end before 10, and at 10 maintenance comes in.
Tumango si Meredith at Kiyara. Gano'n na rin sina Jeremy, Shaina at Lizzie. All of us stared at the door with tense nervousness.
"Does that mean her life will depend on the person who comes in?!" singhal ni Grace. "What kind of stupid-"
Natigilan ang lahat nang unti-unting bumukas ang pintuan. My heart beats in excitement. Parang tatalon na ang puso ko sa sobrang saya. This is what excitement feels like! This is the most interesting unfolding of the meeting! A student's life depends upon who that person is.
Let's see. Will two souls be burned at the stake? Or will one survive?
-chapter end-
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[NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW]:
"Nakakapagtaka lang kasi." Ana threw another nacho chip in her mouth. "Bakit kaya nawala ang ala-ala nina Jeremy at Shaina? Hindi ba't kayong tatlo lang naman nando'n? What really happened down there?"
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