ZIVIENNE
"ENARA'S IN the hospital?!"
Napatingin sa'kin si Wave dahil sa naging reaksyon ko. On the phone is Enara's brother, Kuya Jhared, and he just told me that he sent Enara to the hospital just a while ago. Bigla nalang daw itong nanghina at nag-collapse.
"Okay po, papunta na po kami," I said before ending the call. I turned to Wave with a worried expression. Kinakabahan ako para kay Enara. "Enara's in the hospital. N-nanghina raw siya at nag-collapse. Pumunta na tayo roon. B-baka umatake 'yung killer!"
"Calm down, Zivienne." Lumapit ito sa'kin at hinimas ang likod ko. "Maybe it was just because of her sickness."
"P-Pero masama ang kutob ko eh," pagpupumilit ko. "Please, Wave, puntahan na natin si Enara."
He sighed before he stood up. Kumuha siya ng kulay white na sweater at pinasuot iyon sa'kin. Pinasuot niya rin ako ng cap bago kami lumabas. Nagpaalam naman kami kina mom na naabutan naming nagmo-movie marathon pa pala sa sala. Muntik pa kaming hindi payagan, pero 'nung sinabi kong pupuntahan namin si Enara sa ospital ay pinayagan nila kami. Nag-aalala rin si mom para kay Enara.
Agad kaming sinalubong ni Kuya Jhared nang makarating kami sa ospital. Naghihintay siya sa harap ng isang room. He gave us a small, but sincere smile. Binati rin namin ang parents nila nang dumating ang mga ito.
"What happened to Enara, Kuya?" I asked.
"I was doing arts in my room when she screamed," sagot nito. "Then, naabutan ko siyang nakahandusay na sa floor. I think she was having tea that time."
"Oh my gosh, my daughter," stressed na saad ni Tita Eva.
"Sino po 'yung magulang ng pasyente?" the doctor approached. Lumapit naman ang parents nila at nagtanong kung kamusta na si Enara. "Your daughter was poisoned. She took small amount of Potassium Cyanide."
"What?" hindi-makapaniwalang asik ng daddy niya.
"Mabuti na lamang at kakaunti lang ang napasok na lason sa kanyang katawan at mabuti na lamang na agad siyang nadala rito sa ospital," patuloy nito. "But I assure you, she's fine now. She just needs some rest. Sa makalawa ay pwede na siyang makalabas."
"Thank you, doc," pagpapasalamat ng mommy niya.
Pumasok kami sa room ni Enara at naabutan namin itong mahimbing na natutulog. May mga aparatus pang nakakabit sa kanya. Agad siyang dinaluhan ng mga magulang niya.
Kuya Jhared said that she was having a tea when he found her lying on the floor. I think it has something to do with the tea. Pero kung sa kanila naman 'yung tea, pwedeng si Enara talaga ang naglagay ng lason sa tsaa niya. Ang tanong eh, bakit niya naman gagawin iyon?
Napatingin ako kay Kuya Jhared na nakatayo sa tabi ng kapatid niya habang pinagmamasdan itong natutulog. It can't be him. Mahal na mahal niya ang kapatid niya kahit minsan ay masama ang ugali nito. At kung siya rin ang naglason kay Enara, hindi niya na sana dinala ito sa ospital.
Kuya Jhared and my Kuya Zievo are best friends, kami lang talaga ni Enara ang hindi kasi palagi niya akong tinatarayan. Anyway, I know how much Kuya Jhared loves his sister. Therefore, I believe that he can't do such thing to her.
Hindi rin magagawa 'to ng parents niya. Tita Eva and Tito Juvil are good people. Mahal na mahal din nila si Enara and I've witnessed that. Spoiled brat nga si Enara eh.
Pero kung hindi sila ang may gawa, sino?
"Darling, you're awake!"
Pumanhik kami sa tabi niya nang makitang gising na ito. Luminga-linga ito sa paligid at isa-isa kaming pinasadahan ng tingin. Ngumiti ito nang makita si Wave na walang emosyong nakatayo sa tabi ko.
"Kumusta ang pakiramdam mo, Enara?" tanong ni Kuya Jhared kung kaya't napabaling sa kanya ang tingin ni Enara.
"I-I'm feeling better, Kuya," nanghihinang sagot nito.
"Ano ba ang nangyari sa'yo, anak?" her mom asked. "Para akong aatakihin sa puso."
Bumuntong-hininga muna si Enara bago it sumagot. "I was having tea tapos bigla nalang akong hindi makahinga."
"The doctor said that you were poisoned," Kuya Jhared said. "Malinis naman ang mga tea natin at wala tayong poison sa bahay. Tell us, may plano ka bang magpakamatay?"
"What? No way!" Tumawa si Enara. "Bakit naman ako magpapakamatay? I love my life."
"So, saan nanggaling 'yung lason?" Tito Juvil asked.
"Baka sa tea," Enara replied. "Doon ako kumuha sa binigay ni Sir Villejo."
Gulat kaming napatingin ni Wave sa isa't isa. Sir Villejo visited her? And he gave her tea. And Enara was poisoned because she drank the tea that came from Sir Villejo. Is Sir Villejo the killer?
"Sir Villejo visited me after you left," baling ni Enara sa akin. "He's with Paris and... Wave. He gave me a basket of tea."
Kunot-noo akong lumingon kay Wave. Tinaasan niya ako ng isang kilay. "I texted you that we're going to Enara's place," anito. Wala pa nga akong sinasabi eh.
"Wala naman akong sinabi," I mumbled.
"Bibili muna kami ng makakain," paalam ng mommy niya bago sila lumabas ni Tito Juvil at iniwan kaming apat sa loob.
"May isang tea roon na nabuksan na at iyon ang kinuha ko," wika ni Enara. "Malay ko bang may lason pala iyon. Baka si Sir. Villejo talaga ang killer and what had happened was his endeavor to kill me."
"Don't accuse someone if you don't have any concrete proof, Enara," saway ni Kuya Jhared.
"Hindi pa ba sapat na sa kanya galing 'yung tea na may lason?" sabat ni Enara.
"It's not actually from Sir Villejo." Nalipat kay Wave ang tingin niya. "Someone left it on your table. Sir. Villejo just forgot to tell you."
"Therefore, kung sino man ang naglagay nun sa table mo, siya 'yung killer," dugtong ni Kuya Jhared. "He attempted to kill you. Bakit? May atraso ka ba sa kanila? Why would he kill you?"
Enara sighed. "Kung ano man ang nangyayari ngayon sa Maple High, wala akong alam. Nagulat nga ako nang puntahan ako nina Zivienne kanina at sinabihang ako na raw ang sunod na papatayin."
"And that's true. Ikaw na nga ang sunod, but he failed to do so," tugon ni Kuya at bumaling sa'kin. "Zivienne, how did you know that Enara would be next?"
"The killings are in alphabetical order," sagot ko. "Danica's dead. Enara's next."
Napatango-tango si Kuya Jhared. "Mukhang delikado na sa school niyo. I will tell mom to transfer you," he said.
Napabangon naman si Enara at mabilis na umiling. "No! I don't want to leave my friends!"
"But you will get killed if you stay there." He sighed. "My decision is final. If you don't want me to tell mom and dad about that 'killing thing', then you must obey me. This is also for you."
Si Enara naman ang bumuntong-hininga. Wala na itong magawa dahil ang Kuya niya pa rin ang masusunod, pero tama naman ito. This is also for Enara's own good. Baka pwedeng hindi siya patayin kung lalayo siya. Tiyaka, kakasimula pa lang naman ng school year. Hindi siya mahihirapan mag-cope up sa ibang environment.
"Muntik na si Enara..." Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at hinarap si Wave. Nasa gilid kami ng daan at wala nang masyadong sasakyan kaya naglakad nalang kami.
"Are you afraid?" he asked.
Umiling ako. "I'm not." Malumanay akong ngumiti. "I'm more worried than afraid."
Hinawakan nito ang pisnge ko. "We'll do everything to stop this, okay?" he said in a soft voice. Tumango-tango naman ako bilang tugon. "Don't worry much."
Kinabukasan ay balik klase na naman. Hindi na pina-suspend ang klase kahit pa kakamatay lang ni Danica kahapon dahil baka mahuli raw kami sa mga lessons. Pinapa-imbestigahan na rin ng school ang mga nangyayari at hinahanap na kung sino ang pumapatay.
"Class President and Vice President, kindly proceed to the faculty room after class. Thank you!" bilin ni Sir. Cavalor bago siya umalis sa classroom namin. Kakatapos lang ng klase namin sa kanya kaya lunch na.
We have decided to eat our lunch at Jollibee para makapag-usap kami nang maayos, but Paris didn't came. Ang sabi niya ay sasamahan daw muna niya si Tita Penny sa check up nito. Pero kaka-check up lang nito noong nakaraan ha?
"Paris is weird these days," Hazel suddenly said after swallowing her food. "Hindi na siya masyadong sumasama sa'tin tiyaka ang weird din ng mga kinikilos niya. Parang may tinatago siya eh."
"I actually agree to that, pero hayaan nalang muna natin siya. Baka may pinagdadaanan lang ang lalaking iyon," ani Donna.
"Na hindi niya sinasabi sa'tin?" dugtong ni Shaun. "That's disappointing. We promised that we won't keep anything from each other, right?"
"Mhm. Right?" I asked Shaun. He looked at me in the eye for a few seconds before he looked away.
"'Yan, tama 'yan, Zivienne! Nagtatago rin kasi ng sekreto ang abno na 'yan!" Dinuro-duro ni Hazel si Shaun na ikinalunok naman ng huli. "Oras na malaman ko kung sino 'yang crush mo, hindi talaga kita tatantanan kaka-tukso sa kanya."
Shaun sighed in relief and gave Hazel a smirk after. "You sure?" he asked her na tinanguan naman ng isa. "Okay. I'll tell you at the end of the school year."
"The fvck?" mura ni Hazel. "Bakit sa end of the school year pa? Para ka talagang tae."
"Yuck, Hazel. Nagiging dugyot ka na naman," nakangiwing tugon ni Donna. "Sa harap pa talaga ng pagkain? nakakahiya naman kina Tobias at Wave."
"No, it's fine with me." Tobias gave them a small smile.
"Oh, diba? Okay lang sa kanya. I'm sure okay lang din kay Wave," Hazel said and stucked her tongue out to Shaun.
"Is everything alright?" Napatingin ako kay Wave nang magtanong siya. "You look bothered. Is something wrong?"
Malumanay akong ngumiti at umiling. Hindi ko na siya sinagot at kinain nalang ang pagkain ko. I kept on glancing at Shaun who is having a happy time with Donna and Hazel. Napangiti nalang ako at iwinaksi ang kung ano mang iniisip ko tungkol sa kanya. I must trust him, just like how he trusts me.
"Mabuti nalang at hindi nakasama sa'tin ang Zavo na 'yon," biglang sabi ni Shaun.
"Zavo, who?" Donna asked.
Napatingin naman ako kay Wave sabay tawa nang maalala kong iyon din ang tawag niya kay Zhaivo noon. I just felt déjà vu.
"'Yung transferee galing doon sa pinuntahan nating Barangay," sagot ni Shaun. Napadaing ito dahil sa pagbatok sa kanya ni Hazel.
"It's Zhaivo, Shaun! Zhaivo. Z-H-A-I-V-O, Zhaivo," pag-spell pa nito sa pangalan ng kaklase namin. "Tiyaka, ba't parang inis na inis ka sa kanya? Hindi ka naman inaano no'n."
Nagsimula na naman silang magbardagulan dahil kay Zhaivo, pero hinayaan nalang namin. Nakikinig at nanonood lang kami sa kanila habang kumakain. I think, Wave and Tobias will be used to them very soon.
"You know what, it's still a mystery to me why two person with names that start with letter 'A' had died," pag-open up ni Tobias sa topic. Napatigil naman sa pagbangayan ang dalawa.
"Oo nga, 'noh? Bakit kaya dalawa ang namatay sa letter A?" Hazel asked. "Same killers lang kaya sila o... iba 'yung pumatay kay Alyana?"
"It won't make sense kung sasabihin nating same killers lang sila kasi sabi ni Sir Cavalor ay isa sa mga sumama sa Barangay na iyon ang pumatay kay Angeline," I said. "Pagdating natin dito ay patay na rin si Alyana kaya malabong same killers lang talaga."
"Then, all the victims that were killed after Alyana were from our class," dugtong ni Tobias. "That late Angeline was not our classmate."
"So, sinasabi niyo ba na section lang natin ang target ng pagpatay?" Hazel asked again.
"Yes." Humalukipkip si Wave. "If they can't kill Enara, I think their next victim will be France."
"I don't really understand why," wika ni Donna. "Why is this happening? Paulit-ulit ko talagang tinatanong 'yan dahil hindi ko maintindihan."
"You will understand everything once we learn the reason behind this killings," sagot ni Tobias. "For now, we'll wait for the next death because I'm sure that we'll discover something after."
"Oh anyway, hindi pumasok si Enara ngayong araw," Hazel said.
"Speaking of Enara, she's in the hospital. Sinugod siya roon kagabi dahil nalason siya," I said. "And the poison came from the tea that Sir Villejo, Wave, and Paris brought her yesterday."
"Totoo ba 'yan?" Shock was visible on Hazel's face. "Kung gano'n, si Sir Villejo ba ang pumapatay?"
Umiling ako. "It's not and will never be him," paninigurado ko. "Wave said that someone just left it on Enara's desk. You know, we should tell him what had happened to Enara, and let's also visit her at the hospital."
Sandali kaming natahimik bago iyon binasag ni Donna.
"Ano na naman ba 'tong pinopost nina France?" she said while scrolling through her phone. "Pati rin sina Gian at Winona."
"Patingin nga." Kinuha ni Hazel ang phone ni Donna at tiningnan kung ano ang tinutukoy ng huli. "Nagco-confess ba sila sa mga pambubully nila?"
"It was not my intention to do that to her. Someone just ordered us to do so," basa ko sa post ni France bago tignan ang kay Gian. "I didn't pushed her. She fell."
"To those who bullied her, confess now or you'll regret later," basa ni Tobias sa isang post. "This was posted by an anonymous account. This might be the reason why they're confessing online. So, they're bullies huh? This is unbelievable for those who have angelic faces."
"Looks can be deceiving, as they say," Shaun said. "By what I'm seeing right now, I think I'm starting to distance myself from them."
"Bakit ba sila natatakot sa dummy account na 'to?" Hazel asked. "It's just a dummy. Baka nanti-trip lang 'to."
"We never know." Kumibit-balikat si Shaun. "Baka nag-send ng private message ang may-ari ng dump na 'yan sa mga kaklase natin. And, maybe they're thinking that it was the killer's account, threatening them or something."
"What they're confessing are somehow familiar to an incident," I said. I'm trying to remember that incident until the late Coraline crossed my mind.
"Zivienne! Zivienne, si C-Coraline! Nandoon sa i-ilalim ng m-manhole!" humahangos na sumbong ni Roy. Dali-dali naman naming pinuntahan 'yung manhole. Napasinghap ako nang makitang nakandusay sa ilalim si Coraline at puno ng dugo ang mukha niya. Mukhang tumama sa matigas na bagay ang ulo niya.
"Let's get her up!" utos ko. "Roy, bumaba ka ng dahan-dahan, pagkatapos ay iangat mo ang si Coraline."
Masyadong maliit ang manhole, pero nagawa pa rin naming ilabas doon si Coraline nang ligtas tiyaka siya namin sinugod sa ospital. Medyo maraming dugo ang nawala sa kanya and since hindi pa kami pwedeng mag-donate ng dugo ay si Sir Villejo na ang nag-volunteer.
Nang magising si Coraline ay agad namin siyang dinaluhan. Hinang-hina siya at nakakaawa. Marami siyang sugat sa katawan at mga pasa.
"Coraline, how are you? Sabihin mo sa'min kung saan may masakit," I said and fixed her blanket.
"Coraline, anong nangyari sa'yo? Bakit nasa ilalim ka ng manhole na iyon?" Hazel asked.
Nangilid ang luha niya at bigla na lamang siyang umiyak. "H-he pushed... he p-pushed m-me..."
"Who? Coraline, who?" Paris asked. "Who pushed you?"
Imbes na sagutin kami ay umiling lang ito tiyaka tinago ang mukha niya sa ilalim ng kumot. She's trembling in fear and pain. Naaawa ako sa kanya. She must be going through a lot.
Naalala ko rin bigla ang sinabi ni Kuya Lucas na baka konektado ang case ni Coraline, sa mga nangyayari sa amin ngayon. "So, it all makes sense."
"What makes sense, Zivienne?" Tobias asked. "Do you know something that we don't?"
"Kuya Lucas thought that what happened to the late Coraline and what's happening to us is connected," I replied. "And it somehow makes sense."
"The way Alyana died, that's what he did to Coraline and was also done to her by the killer," patuloy ko. "What they did to Coraline will also be done to them."
"The possible reason that all of this is happening to us right now is the bullying case of the late Coraline," Wave said. "And the possible victims are those related to the case. The ones who bullied her."
"Right. Magiging madali nalang para sa'tin na malaman kung sino ang nasa likod ng lahat ng 'to," Hazel said in relief. "Pwede naman nating sabihin na family members niya ang gumagawa no'n, diba? Mga kapatid niya o pinsan na nag-aaral sa Maple High."
Umiling naman si Tobias. "It's not always like that," he said. "It can be her friends, trying to put justice on their hands. Also, I heard that Coraline's an only child."
"No. Coraline has a younger sister, Caryl," sagot ko. "Caryl and Coraline are siblings. I've noticed that when I first saw Caryl. Some of their features are the same, and I've also seen Caryl with Coraline's mother and she called her mom."
"Pero ba't iba apelyido ni Caryl?" Hazel asked. "Alajar 'yung sa kanya, while Castronuevo naman ang kay Coraline. Magkaiba siguro sila ng tatay?"
"I think, no. Iniba lang siguro nila 'yung apelyido ni Caryl bago nila ito pina-transfer sa Maple High para maiwasan na ma-bully rin siya," I replied.
Tumango-tango si Hazel. "Pero diba, malabo naman na si Caryl ang pumapatay?"
"Not really," Wave said. "She may not be the killer, but she can be an accomplice."
"Omg, guys! Malapit nang mag-time!" ani Donna at niligpit ang pinagkainan niya. Niligpit din namin ang amin bago lumabas ng Jollibee. Mukhang napasarap yata ang pagbe-brainstorm namin at nakalimutan naming may klase pa pala.
Sir Villejo is our last subject in the afternoon. Nagpaalam naman kami sa kanya nang e-dismiss niya kami. We still have to meet Sir Cavalor, as what he said earlier. I don't know what is it this time.
Pagdating namin sa loob ay sina Sir Cavalor pa lamang at Nina ang nandoon. Nina seemed bothered and nervous. She immediately rushed to my side when we took our seats. Nagulat pa ako sa pagkapit niya sakin dahil basang basa siya ng pawis. I asked her what's wrong but she just remained silent.
After a couple of minutes ay dumating na rin ang iba pang officers ng grade 10. Hindi na rin nakakapit sa akin si Nina dahil lumipat ito nang upuan sa tabi ni Clea. Katabi ko ngayon si Sir Cavalor sa kaliwa samantalang si Wave naman sa kanan. Marahan nitong hinila ang inuupuan kong swivel chair palapit sa kanya.
"Why?" tanong ko matapos ko siyang lingunin. Umiling lang ito tiyaka sumandal sa swivel chair niya. B0ang.
"So, ipapaalala ko lang na next month ay magkakaroon tayo ng 1-week stay sa El Dorado Island at Silver Lake Island," he announced. "But there are some changes. The advisers have decided that section A and B will go to El Dorado Island with Sir Villejo and me, while section C and D will go to the Silver Lake Island with Sir Santos and Ms Dela Fuente."
"Oh my! Next month na pala 'yon? Excited na ako!" natutuwang komento ni Yannah sabay palakpak.
"Huh? Bakit po sa kanila ka sasama, Sir? Eh, diba po, adviser ka namin?" Aldrich asked. "You should come with us."
"I would love to go there with you, but Ms. Dela Fuente told me that she wants to go to the Silver Lake Island," Sir Cavalor explained. "Anyway, this is an advance announcement so that, you can prepare. That's all. Thank you and goodbye."
Wave held my hand when he stood up from his seat. Napatingin naman doon si Sir Cavalor at sandaling nandilim ang awra nito bago ngumiti sa amin. What was that? Inggit lang siguro si Sir HAHAHAHA.
"Uh, I would like to have a word with you, Ms. Deala. If you won't mind," biglang sabi ni Sir Cavalor nang papalabas na sana kami ni Wave. "With just you."
Napatingin ako kay Wave nang higpitan niya ang paghawak sa kamay ko. I gave him an assuring smile that I will be fine. Bumuntong-hininga siya bago dahan-dahang binitawan ang kamay ko. Naaaliw ako sa pagiging clingy niya sa'kin ngayon hihihi.
"What is it, Sir?" I asked the moment Wave closes the door.
"Can you check this papers for a while?" he asked and motioned me to come closer.
Tumayo ako sa tabi niya at binasa ang isang folder sa table. While I was reading it, I felt his hands touching my legs which made me look at him with brows furrowed. Napalayo rin ako dahil sa biglaang pagtaas ng balahibo ko. "What are you doing, Sir?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I touch you? I was trying to reach for that folder." Tinuro niya ang folder na nasa ilalim ng lamesa. Nag-squat ako para maabot iyon. Naramdaman ko ulit ang kamay niya pataas sa pang-upo ko kaya napaayos ako ng tayo.
Bigla akong natakot sa kanya kaya umatras ako palayo sa pwesto niya. He's even acting as if nothing happened! Inosente lang nitong tiningnan ang kinuha kong folder sa ilalim ng desk.
"O-okay na po, Sir," utal kong saad. My knees started to tremble in fear when he stood up and walked towards me. Nilukob ako ng takot nang marahas ako nitong hawakan sa magkabilang kamay ko at dinikit ako sa pader sa tabi ng pinto. "S-Sir..."
Nagpumiglas ako nang tangkain niya akong halikan sa leeg. I tried to push him, but to no avail. He's so strong. "W-Wave!" Tears started to fall from my eyes when he tore my uniform. Kinalampag ko ang pinto sa gilid ko habang nagpupumiglas. "T-Tulong!!"
I almost lose hope, but the door suddenly swung open. Humahangos na pumasok si Wave at marahas na hinila palayo sa'kin si Sir Cavalor. He gave him a hard punch on the face which caused the latter to collapse on the floor. Masyado yatang malakas ang pagkakasuntok sa kanya ni Wave kaya nawalan agad siya ng malay. "You motherfvcking bastard!"
D-did Sir Cavalor just... tried to rape me?
|•|end of chapter 11|•|
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