When Zel and I parted our ways. I suddenly stopped infront of my department's building when I saw the guy who was looking at me while waiting at the entrance. He smiled at me dahilan para magmukang binudburan ng asin ang mga babaeng nasa paligid. Napailing nalang ako at nagpatuloy palapit sa kaniya.
"Shit? Is that the nerd?"
"Ibang-iba na siya ngayon!"
"OM-jesus! She look so different, her aura is a lot different than before!"
"Ang hot."
"She's a goddess."
Napa-irap nalang ako dahil sa mga naririnig ko sa paligid at sa mga na dadaanan ko.
"Good morning." Ice suddenly said ng makalapit ako sa kaniya.
"Morning, kanina ka pa?" Tanong ko naman. It's been days, and ngayon lang ulit kami nagkita.
"Nope. Not really." He answered as we started walking upstairs.
"I heard your father was at the hospital." He suddenly said which made me glance at him.
"Oh... Yeah." Tanging sagot ko lang, since I don't know what to tell him. How did he knew? What happened to paps is confidential. So I don't know where he heard that.
"Is he okay?" He asked again and I just nodded.
"How did you know?" I confusedly asked, since I wanna know where did and what he heard.
"Dad told me. He had a business meeting with Chairman Mc Blaire and the other businessmen, when the incident happened... It wasn't publicly stated, right?" He said as he glance at me. Tumango lang ako at tumingin sa dinaraanan namin.
"Sorry, hindi ko sinabi." I mumbled. I feel so ashamed, he called me yesterday but I didn't even told him what happened, I even lied.
"It's alright. I understand." Napatingin naman ako sa kaniya after what he said. He gave me an gently smile so I smiled back.
Ng makarating kami sa classroom ay nandon na sina Alexus, Joellen and Allyza at halos makasabay lang namin ang prof, kaya agad kaming umupo sa mga upuan namin.
Napapasulyap ako kay Ice dahil sa pinag usapan namin kanina. I really feel bad, I haven't told him what happened to paps but he found out, and I even lied when he asked when called me. But at the end, he even waited for me at the entrance and told me he understand. Sana ganon rin kadali pagnalaman niya ang buhay na mayroon ako. I hope, hindi pa sinabi ni Tita Rose ang tungkol sa family namin. Gusto ko na ako ang mag sabi, pero na tatakot ako.
"That's all for today. Good bye everyone, happy lunch break." Nakangiting sabi ng last prof namin this morning before she finally went out.
Inayos ko naman agad ang mga gamit ko habang naririnig ko ang bunganga ni Joellen at Allyza, isama pa si Alexus.
"Let's go." Ice suddenly announced kaya nagsimula silang lumabas habang ako ay nasa likuran kasabay si Ice.
"May gagawin nga pala ako." I finally said, kanina ko pa gusto sabihin sa kanila na hindi ako makakasabay sa lunch break namin. Since I wanna do the investigation thing.
"Huh? Pano ang lunch mo?" Joellen confusedly asked, at lahat sila ay napatigil sa gitna ng stairs habang nagtatakang nakatingin sa akin.
"Ahm..." Ano bang magandang alibi! Jusko naman.
"I will be having lunch with my cousin, may importante kasing pinapagawa si paps." Sagot ko sa kanila at tumingin kay Ice na kalmado lang na nakatingin rin pala sa akin.
"Cousin? Paps? You mean your father?" Sunod sunod na tanong naman ni Allyza.
Hays... Cousin my ass.
"Yeah... Clayd's my cousin." Sagot ko which made then gasped.
"Omg? Pinsan mo pala si Clayd?" Another tanong from Allyza at tumango lang naman ako.
Yeah right cousin my damn ass.
"It's alright Shein if it's really important." Alexus said. Buti pa to walang madaming tanong. Well maybe because nagtanong na yung dalawa, kaya hindi na siya nagtanong.
"Alright, see you later nalang." Joellen and Allyza said. Tumango lang ako sa kanila at tumingin kay Ice who was left behind.
"I'll see you later." I said and smiled at him. Napabuntong hininga nalang naman siya at tumango.
"Don't skip lunch, okay?" He said and I just gave him a nod. Nagsimula siyang maglakad pababa ng hagdan habang kumakaway naman ako sa kaniya. When he was finally out of sight ay tinahak ko ang kabilang dereksiyon para magtungo sa locker area. I texted Clayd while I was on my way. We need to figure everything today, and if we can't today, then let's do our best again tomorrow.
Kinuha ko ang laptop sa locker ko at dumeretso agad ako paalis sa building ko then naglakad ako patungo sa President's office.
"Good afternoon Mr Alejandro." I respectfully greeted him after he opened the door.
"Elshein! Oh, drop the formalities. You can call me Tito Alejandro. Come inside." Nakangiti niyang sabi at mas binuksan ang pinto para sakin.
"Ahh, sorry for the sudden visit... I just have a request." Sabi ko habang naglalakad papasok sa office niya.
"What is it iha?" He asked again.
"Can we use one facility where internet connection is good?" Walang ano anong tanong ko sa kaniya at naupo sa couch. Kapalan na ng muka to. Bat wala pa si Clayd, ang usapan namin magkikita kami ngayon dito. Tch!
"Sure!" He gladly answered.
"Thank you Tito." I genuinely said kasabay ang pagkatok mula sa pintoan kaya napatingin kami dito.
Binuksan ng secretary ni Tito Alejandro ang pintoan at bumangad agad ang muka ni Clayd.
"Good afternoon." Bati niya sa kaharap ko.
"Hello Clayden." Nakangiting sabi ni Tito sa kaniya.
"You're late." Napa-irap naman ako dahilan para matawa si Tito Alejandro. I immediately stood up while smiling at Tito Alejandro.
"We'll go ahead, Tito. Yun lang talaga ang ipinunta ko dito. Ahm, can we see the room?" I genuinely asked as he nod and told his secretary to guide to the room I requested.
"Thank you again, Tito Alejandro." Sabi ko habang sinasabayan niya kami sa paglakad patungo sa may pintoan ng opisina niya.
"No worries, iha." Nakangiti niyang sabi as we bid our goodbyes. Clayd and I immediately followed the secretary. And we found our selves at the building behind the Offices and a room at the top floor.
"This is the club's building, and that will be your room." Ani ng secretary ni Tito Alejandro. Tumango lang kami habang pinapanood siyang ginamit ang susi para makapasok kami sa loob. And when we finally entered the room, we saw how the room was cleaned and had enough space. May mesa at mga upuan rin sa gitna. Nagkatinginan kami ni Clayd at sabay na namilog ang bibig namin. Ohs.
"I'll leave you here. You can call me kung may request pa kayo." Ngumiti ang secretary ni Tito at ibinigay ang susi ng room sa amin habang tumango tango lang naman kami ni Clayd, then umalis at iniwan niya na kami.
"Now. What are we gonna do?" Clayd suddenly uttered habang nagtingin-tingin sa loob ng malinis na room at inilagay ang dala sa ibabaw ng mesa.
"What else? Of course what we supposed to do..." I said as I put my things in the table.
"But, bumili ka muna ng foods." I added while looking at my wristwatch at naupo sa isang upuan kaharap ang gamit na dala ko na nasa ibabaw ng table.
"Alright." Rinig kong sagot niya. May kinuha siya sa bag niya bago lumabas at iniwan ako sa loob. Inilabas ko naman ang laptop ko at binuksan ito.
It's already 12:20. And I still have classes later at 1:00 o'clock so I started searching and looking for the possible leads habang hinihintay si Clayd.
Minutes later ng muling bumukas ang pintoan at pumasok si Clayd na may dalang plastic bags na may lamang mga pagkain.
"I saw your friends and Zel. They asked me where you are." Agad na sabi niya sa akin.
"Anong sinabi mo?" Gulat na tanong ko habang gulat ring tumingin sa kaniya.
Shit. I forgot to tell him. I should have told him to make an alibi for me once he saw them and they asked him.
"I told them that your doing something that paps asked. Well, Zel knows anyway." He calmly answered as he sat on the chair infront of me. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag dahil sa sinabi niya.
"Buti naman." Mahinang sabi ko at kumuha ng fries na binili ni Clayd. Kumain rin siya at bumalik naman agad ako sa ginagawa.
I thought mahuhuli na naman ako. Hindi ko gusto na nagsisinungaling kay Ice dahil for sure malalaman niya, expect from a genius. Mas gusto ko nalang manahimik kesa magsalita ng kasinungalingan.
Habang busy kami sa ginagawa pansin kong snacks lang ang binili niyang foods, since for sure he knew that rice or heavy meal won't be eaten dahil hindi ko talaga gagalawin yun. Snacks are enough dahil habang nag scroll ako at nag se-search ay kumukuha at pumupulot ako sa lalagyan ng snack para may makain.
"I found something." Clayd suddenly said after almost half an hour of silence.
"E-pasa mo sakin." Sabi ko naman sa kaniya, at tumango lang naman siya. After just a short second ay na-receive ko na ang file na sinasabi niya.
"It's still unclear, but that might still be possible." He said again while I was focusing on the files he sent.
This is the footage weeks before the event. The guy who was found dead after the blown-up incident was having a conversation on the phone why suspiciously glancing at the cars that was park at the parking area that time.
"I've also sent the call history that day." Dinig kong sabi muli ni Clayd. Kaya binuksan ko ang files sinasabi niya.
Almost all was unregistered number, kaya tumingin muli ako sa footage at tiningnan ang eksaktong oras kung saan may ka tawagan siya sa phone.
Masakit talaga sa mata ang trabahong ito, buti ay nakakayanan pa ni Clayd. I know his task, since Clayd and I was both trained during those days, but Clayd was found of doing computer thingy, while I when I just feel like doing it, that's the difference between us.
"I found possible individual that contacted him that day." Clayd suddenly said after minutes of silence since we're both focus on this task. I just answered a nod and seconds after ay may na received ako sa laptop.
"Look for the people behind the killing incident." I told him as I immediately opened the received file and look for the possible person na pwedeng kilala ko. But at the end, I found nothing, wala naman akong nakikilala. So, I look for their names at the RU student files. But the hell, halos lahat sila mga students sa RU.
Tsk!
"Shein, it's already one o'clock." Clayd suddenly said kaya napabuntong hininga ako habang nakatingin parin sa laptop ko.
"It's still unclear. I'll resume later at home. How bout you?" He asked at umiling lang naman ako.
"It's alright, at least we have information that may lead us to the prime suspect." Muling sabi niya. Tumango nalang ako at isinara ang laptop ko.
This is so tiring and irritating. Who the hell is behind of all of this.
Iniwan namin ang mga gamit namin sa loob ng room at ni-lock ito bago kami bumalik sa kaniya kaniya naming building. Our laptop is connected to our computers and laptops at home. So the files are also available there. Kaya e reresume namin to later sa bahay, kung hindi ako maging busy sa assignment at outputs.
When I went back to my classroom everyone was already there as well as our prof. Halos sabay lang kaming pumasok. Buti nalang, I thought late na naman ako.
"How's the task?" Ice asked the moment I sat beside him.
"Fine. But still not done." Sagot ko naman at malalim na napabuntong hininga.
Our prof immediately started his discussion kaya naging tahimik ang buong classroom. One thing that never fade inside this classroom, yun ang ang pagiging tahimik ng mga classmates ko pag may prof na seryoso sa discussion, but at least it's not anymore like the first day and first week of classes, na halos walang gumagalaw pag nandiyan na yung dalawa. And it's thanks to me. Lol.
Dismissal came and sabay sabay na naman kaming lumabas ng classroom at lumabas ng building.
"I didn't saw Ellejah today. Do you know where she is?" I heard Allyza asked. Kasabay niya si Alexus at Joellen, habang nasa likuran naman kami ni Ice.
"Nope. Maybe something important came up." Alexus answered. Nakikinig lang ako sa kanila. For all I know, Ellejah's busy because her father died. I bet know one know, since my team clean up those mess. Yeah right, Blake killed her father. And they also the ones that clean everything up. Sa morgue agad nila dinala ang mga bangkay.
"Shein?" Napabalik ako sa reyalidad ng biglang binanggit ng katabi ko ang pangalan ko.
"Hmm?" I gaze at him with a question look. Sorry naman, lumilipad na naman ang aking isip.
"Be my date." He suddenly whispered and my eyes widened. Why the heck did he suddenly uttered those words.
"What?" I confusedly asked habang kunot noo nakatingin sa kaniya... He was about to answer when Allyza suddenly call out our names.
"Omg, I almost forgot... Aizer I know hindi mo pa sinasabi sa kaniya." Allyza said at humarap pa silang tatlo sa amin.
"That's for sure." Natatawang sabi naman ni Alexus.
"I am going to tell her, but you interrupted." Kunot-noong sabi ni Ice sa kanila. Napakamot naman si Alexus at Allyza sa kanilang mga batok at mahinang natawa. Habang napailing at natawa naman si Joellen.
"Get lost everyone." Alexus said and immediately walk away dragging Joellen with him, wala namang ano anong sumunod sa kanila si Allyza. I chuckled as Ice and I continue walking while watching those three.
"What is it you wanna say?" I asked while chuckling habang nasa tatlo parin ang tingin na medjo nakakalayo na sa amin.
"Tsk... It's my twenty first birthday this coming saturday... Can you be my date?" Sagot at tanong niya. Hindi ko naman alam kung ano ang ere-react ko. Bakit kaylangan pa ng ka-date? Jusko naman!
"Ahm, sure..." I simply answered. Do I have a choice nakakahiya naman. I saw him smiled at parang nanindig ang mga balahibo ko sa katawan.
"Shein!" Napatingin ako sa taong sumalubong ngayon sa amin at ngayo'y kasama na ng tatlo, which is Zel. She waved her hand at tumango lang ako sa kaniya. Sumabay siya sa tatlo habang kami ni Ice ay nakasunod lang sa kanila papunta sa parking area.
"I forgot about the invitation card, it's in my car." Ice suddenly said.
"Dad also asked me to deliver the invitation card to your father, and I'm also inviting him and the rest of your family." He added. Medjo gulat naman akong tumingin sa kaniya at sinalubong niya lang naman ang mga tingin ko.
"And I'm going to deliver the invitation cards personally." He added again and grinned, nanlaki naman ang mata ko dahil sa sinabi niya.
"You're kidding, right?" I unbelievably mumbled but he just gave he an amused smile.
"I'm serious. And I'm going to visit him and give the invitation card right now." He said at naunang maglakad patungo sa sasakyan niya since nasa parking lot na kami. Di naman ako makapaniwala nakatingin lang sa kaniya.
"Wow, Shein. Ang ganda ng Lambo mo." Napatingin naman ako kay Alexus na nasa likuran ng sasakyan ko kasama si Allyza at Joellen habang si Zel ay nasa tabi ng sasakyan niya.
"Pasakay ako, Shein." Natatawang sabi naman ni Allyza.
"Ang daya, kung kaylan di na ako sumasakay sa kaniya, Lamborghini na ang gamit niya." Sabi naman ni Joellen habang nakanguso pa.
"Normal lang yan, her Toyota was blown-up, remember?" Sabi naman ni Zel.
Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at tumingin muli kay Ice na ngayon ay nakasakay na sa sasakyan niya. He waved his hand as he started the engine.
"Tara na." Rinig kong yaya ni Allyza sa kanila.
"Bye Shein, Bye Zel, see you tomorrow." Sabi naman ni Joellen at naglakad na sila paalis habang ako ay mabilis na sumakay naman sa sasakyan ko.
Ano bang ini-isip ng Ice na to. Bakit di nalang niya ibigay sa akin, or asked someone to deliver the invitation card to paps or to Mr David.
I saw his car slowly moving behind my car, he beeped at naunang magmaneho paalis. Agad naman akong sumunod sa kaniya. Habang nakasunod naman ang sasakyan ni Zel sa akin.
"Tsk. Did he even know where paps were confined?" I muttered while looking at his car na nasa unahan ko.
After we pass through the intersection ay binilisan ko ang pag papatakbo at sinabayan ang sasakyan niya. Bumusina ako at mas binilisan pa ang pagpapatakbo ng sasakyan ko hanggang sa ako na ang na-una. Hanggang makarating kami sa hospital ay nakasunod siya at si Zel.
"You, reckless driver. Tsk." Agad na bungad niya sa akin ng makalapit siya dahil agad akong lumabas ng sasakyan ko at hinintay sila. Nakakunot ang noo niya habang sinasabi iyon.
"Reckless, sino?" I innocently asked habang nagtingin-tingin sa paligid.
"Tch." Hindi naman mabiro ang muka niya kaya mahinang natawa nalang ako.
"Ey! What's up..." Zel said ng makalapit siya sa amin. She's confusedly looking at me and Ice. Napairap nalang ako at tinuro si Ice.
"May ibibigay daw siya kay paps." Aniko, at nagtataka namang tumingin si Zel kay Ice.
"Here..." Ice suddenly said ang gave a small envelope to Zel and then to me.
"It's my twenty first birthday on Saturday." He said to Zel.
"OMG?! Ito ba ang sinasabi kanina ni Allyza! Gosh! Thanks! We're surely attend your party." Masiglang sabi ni Zel at binasa ang nasa loob ng invitation. Napairap nalang ako at tumingin kay Ice.
"Let's go." Pag-aaya ko sa kaniya. Tumango lang siya at sabay kaming pumunta sa elevator ng hospital dito sa may parking area sa ground floor, at agad namang sumunod si Zel sa amin.