Chapter 27: The Veiled Woman Mystery
The camp was strenuous yet so much fun. That night we really had a feast at maaga na rin kaming pinagpahinga para sa byahe namin pabalik ng Bridle. Lulan na kami ng bus nang saglit akong nakaidlip. Nagising ako sanhi ng sikat ng araw dahil nakapwesto ako sa may bintana. I glanced at my watch and it was almost seven in the morning. The bus was not moving and I saw the the driver got off, kasama nito ang mekaniko. Nasa labas na rin ang ibang mga estudyante.
Great! While on the way, we're stuck in the checkpoint dahil sa bomb threat sa isang bus. Ngayon namang pabalik na kami, ang aming bus, the same bus used by section A was wrecked.
"Oh, what a piece of junk", wika ni Gray. Naghihikab pa ito at kinusot ang mata. "This bus doesn't look old but I guess it's fully depreciated."
Dumating si Sir Rolly at nagsalita mula sa harap ng bus. "Section A, please get off. Mukhang matatagalan pa bago maayos ang bus. The Section B's bus will be going back at doon muna kayo sasakay", wika nito at nagsimulang bumaba ang mga estudyante.
Nang makababa kami ay naghintay kami sa tabi ng daan. It wasn't a highway kaya madalang na may dumaan na sasakyan doon. The sides of the highway were rice fields at may mga nakatayong mga scare crow doon.
"The rice field is gold at naamoy ko na ang ani. Parang gusto kong magtatatakbo sa palayan", wika ko at pumikit nang umihip ang malamig na hangin.
"Really? You're not afraid of snakes?", tanong niya habang nakapamulsa.
Tiningnan ko siya ng masama. "Ahas? Meron ba iyon dito?"
Tumango siya bago sumagot. "Yeah, probably coming from the woods on the mountainsides, just like that one", he pointed something from my back at nang lumingon ako ay bigla na lang akong napasigaw ng malakas.
Isang magsasaka ang naglalakad patungo sa direksyon namin. Nakalambitin sa dala nitong taga ang isang malaking ahas. I felt the chills within me kaya napayakap ako sa likod ni Gray matapos sumigaw.
"You're cold", wika nito. Of course I'm scared kaya normal lang na manlalamig ako!
"Hala, natakot si 'neng, pasensya ka na. Itatapon ko lang naman itong napatay ko na ahas", wika nang magsasaka na may dalang ahas.
"Pasensya na din po kayo, takot sa ahas po kasi itong kaklase ko", Gray said to the farmer and he smirked at me. Nang makalayo na ang magsasaka ay hinarap niya ako. "Now go running in the rice field."
Mahinang hinampas ko ang braso niya. How would I know na may ahas pala doon? "Shut up Gray! It's not funny", wika ko. I hate snakes. I really hate snakes. He still chuckled at napatigil lang ito nang may tumigil na sasakyan sa harap namin.
Nang ibinaba ng driver ang bintana ay nakita ko ang nakangiting mukha ni Detective Tross.
"Silvan!", he said at tumingin sa akin. "Hey, your gir-", I frowned at him. "Er- I mean Amber is here too."
Lumapit si Gray sa bintana ng kotse. It wasn't a police car. Sa halip ay mamahaling modelo iyon ng kotse. "What are you doing here? You have a case?"
"Sort of but it's more likely a personal duty. I'm going to a friend's villa. May kababalaghan kasing nangyayari roon at sakto namang nasiraan pala kayo ng bus."
"We're from Olympus. Nag-camping kami and unfortunately, this happened", sagot ni Gray at itinuro ang aming bus.
Detective Tross let out a smile. "If that's the case, bakit hindi kayo sumama sa akin? It's Saturday at sigurado akong wala kayong pasok. You and Amber can come with me."
I gave him a questioning look. "Anong kababalaghan ba ang nangyayari sa villa na iyon?"
"Ah, it's the appearance of a veiled woman with a creepy bloody face and other things."
I swallowed hard. Appearance of a veiled woman? Isn't that scary?! Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanila. "Pass. Kayo na lang ang pumunta."
Naramdaman ko na lang na bigla akong hinila ni Gray at pinapasok sa kotse. What the hell! I just said I don't want to go, right?
"We're coming with you, drop by the direction of Sir Rolly at ipagpaalam mo kami", wika ni Gray and Detective Tross pulled the car at huminto sa tapat ni Sir Rolly.
"Hey Sir Rolly", bati ni Detective Tross at lumingon naman ang huli sa kanya.
"Oh, Tross. Napadaan ka?", Sir Rolly smiled at him. They were acquainted with each other.
He glanced at us on the back. "Ah, ipagpapaalam ko lang itong dalawa. Isasama ko muna sila", he said. Nang lingunin ko si Gray sa tabi ko ay nawala na ito. He was currently putting our luggage on the car's compartment.
"Ah, if okay lang sa mga bata", Sir Rolly said.
"Gray, where are you going?", maarteng tanong ni Marion. Nasa pinto na rin ito ng kotse.
"Somewhere", he said. Napatingin na rin ang mga ibang kaklase namin sa amin. I can't blame them, agaw-pansin ang kotse ni Detective Tross.
"It's fine with us Sir, bye!", Gray said at pinaharurot na ni Detective Tross ang kotse! They didn't even hear my complain! Ayaw ko talagang sumama! Why would I scare myself in that villa?!
"Bakit ba hindi niyo maintindihan ang AYAW KONG SUMAMA?", I asked them and they just chuckled.
"Come on Amber, mag-eenjoy ka roon", Gray said and I rolled my eyes. Enjoy my ass! Hindi ko na sila pinansin. I just looked outside at nakinig na lang sa usapan nila.
"Hindi ba magagalit ang kaibigan mo? You brought two people with you", Gray said.
Detective Tross shrugged his shoulders. "Nope. I'm sure it's fine with him. It's actually a sort of reunion naming magbabarkada sa college."
"Then that makes us very unwelcome then", nakisingit na ako sa usapan nila.
"Don't worry. I know you're both deduction freaks, maybe going there would be enjoyable to both of you, you'd probably solve the mystery behind the veiled woman who appears every night", wika nito at napasandal ako sa kotse. Nakakatakot namang isipin na may ganoong babae ang nagpapakita kapag gabi, isn't it a supernatural creature? Oh! I'm scared of ghosts and the likes but I never really saw one.
Halos isang oras ang lumipas bago kami makarating sa villa. It was huge and nice ngunit nasa liblib iyon na lugar. May mga malalaking kahoy sa daan na papunta sa nasabing villa. Sinalubong kami ng isang lalaki na kaedad lang ni Detective Tross.
"Sean, kasama ko nga pala ang mga kaibigan ko. This is Gray and Amber. Siya naman si Sean", pakilala ni Detective Tross sa amin.
"Hi Amber and Gray", he said at ngumiti sa amin. "I'm Sean Brook, I'm a freelance photographer. Welcome to my humble abode", he said and we greeted him back. Iginiya niya kami papasok sa villa. Kung humanga na kami sa ganda ng labas ay mas lalo na sa loob. It was a classic villa at may touch na contemporary features. There were abstract photographs in frames on the wall.
"You have a nice place Mr. Brook. How can a freelance photographer afford such?", tanong ko at nagulat na lang ako ng hawakan ako sa ulo ni Detective Tross at ginulo ang buhok ko.
"Pasensya ka na sa kanila Sean. They're always like that. They're actually high school detectives", wika ni Detective Tross.
Sean smiled at sumagot. "It's okay Tross. Katulad mo pala sila huh?"
Detective Tross smiled. "Not really. They're actually better. Police detective doesn't suit me at all", biro nito at napatawa naman si Sean.
Bumaling siya sa akin. "Ah, yes. A freelance photographer cannot afford such villa. I have one because my family is rich but I am not. I'm working hard to be called rich on my own. I borrowed this place from my parents", sagot nito. He's the calm type of man. May hitsura ito at mukhang mabait.
"Hey Mr. Brook, anong nangyari dito sa isang bintana ninyo? It looks like the jalousie is different from the others. Bagong palit ba ito?", Gray asked. He was on the corner, observing the windows.
Natatarantang tumakbo naman si Detective Tross papunta roon at hinila si Gray palayo sa may bintana. "Pasensya na talaga Sean. They're really geeks when it comes to mystery kaya kahit mga simpleng bagay ay binibigyang kahulugan nila."
"I don't mind at all. Maybe they can help us about the case that's happening here. And to answer Gray's question, yes. That one is different dahil kanina pa iyan pinalitan. That window pane was broken last night. We were in the dinning area at nang marinig namin ang tunog ng nababasag na jalousie ay agad kaming pumunta rito ay nakita namin ang babae", wika ni Sean. I was shocked, the veiled woman appeared last night? "I really can't believe that she appeared after few years and you can call me Kuya Sean. Mr. Brook is too formal."
"Ah, Kuya Sean you said 'we' went here and that means hindi ka nag-iisa dito sa villa?", tanong ko sa kanya.
"Yeah, Tross didn't tell you? This is a sort of reunion naming magbabarkada noon sa college. You'll meet them. They were in the dining room. Halina kayo", he said at sumunod kami sa kanya.
Gray asked something. "You said something about the reappearance of the veiled woman. You mean that woman already appeared few years ago?"
Patuloy lang sa paglalakad si Sean. "Yeah, about two years ago", he said at binuksan ang pinto at bumulaga sa amin ang komedor. The dining area was very huge too. Mahaba ang mesa na naroon and there were four people there.
"Tross!", wika nang isang babae at sinalubong si Tross. "Long time no see!", wika nito at niyakap si Detective Tross.
"Hey Tross", bati rin nang isang lalaki na maitim. He was very tall at mukhang bihira lang ngumiti.
Ngumiti rin sa amin ang isa pang babae na naroon. Unlike the lady who hugged the detective, this woman has short hair. Ang isang lalaki naman ay medyo may pagkamahinhin. He was wearing eyeglasses at tumango ito kay Detective Tross.
"Looks like you've brought your children Tross", wika ng lalaking maitim and he smirked.
"They're not my children. They are my friends", wika ni Detective Tross. He seems pissed. They're not in good terms, aren't they?
Ipinakilala naman kami ni Kuya Sean sa bawat isa. "Ah, Gray and Amber, these are our friends in college", panimula nito. He pointed out the beautiful woman who hugged Detective Tross. "This is Beatrice Rivera, she's a nurse and she's Tross' ex."
Ex? Yeah, that's why Detective Tross blushed.
"Ah, let me introduce myself", wika nang lalaking matangkad. "Ako si Kier Conciliado. I'm an engineer and I'm Beatrice's fiancee."
Nagulat kaming tatlo ni Gray at Detective Tross! Did he say fiancee?! Ibig sabihin wala nang pag-asa si Detective? Oh, how unfortunate!
Bigla na lamang tumawa ng hagalpak si Kier. "As I thought! What a hopeless expression you have Tross! I always wonder why you ended up being a police detective. The police are very useless."
I saw the detective's face tightened. Mukhang may hidwaan talaga sa pagitan nila ni Kier. Kier doesn't like the police? Sa anong dahilan kaya?
"You shouldn't joke like that Kier. Ang mabuti pa ang magbati na kayo ni Tross", the shorthaired girl said. "Hi, I'm Mariel Ventura, I'm a real estate broker", nakangiti nitong wika.
The last one to introduce himself was the man with eyeglasses. "Magandang araw. It's good to see you again Tross.", he turned his gaze into us. "Hello there, I'm Jason Sy, I'm a chemist."
Lahat sila ay mga hindi basta-basta at may natapos. When I gazed at Kier, he still have his poker face expression habang nakatingin kay Detective Tross.
"Okay, I guess I'll be taking you to your rooms upang maayos ninyo 'yang mga gamit ninyo and you can join us here in the dining room", Sean said at iginiya kami papunta sa mga guestroom ng villa.
"This is your room Amber at ang mga katabi naman ay kay Gray and Tross", Sean said bago nagpaalam sa amin.
We expressed our gratitude at pumasok na sa mga kwarto namin. Nang mapag-isa ako kay humiga ako sa kama. I still have body pains dahil sa nangyaring camp. I guess I'll be needing a body massage kaya naisipan ko munang magpahinga. It's still 10 in the morning, a little rest would be useful.
Nagising na lang ako nang may umalog sa akin and when I opened my eyes, it was Gray.
"Hey, what are you doing here?", gulat kong tanong at napaupo sa kama. Gosh! Pumasok siya at nakita akong natutulog?! Paano na lang kung tulo-laway ako? That's very embarrassing!
"Kanina pa ako kumakatok but you're not answering. Mabuti na lang at hindi naka-lock kaya nakapasok ako. Hey, bumangon ka na. It's almost one in the afternoon and you haven't eaten your lunch yet", wika nito at tumayo. He walked towards the door at nang muli siyang lumingon ay nakasmirk siya sa akin. "Wipe away your saliva."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig! Kyaaaaaaah! this is what I'm talking about! Agad akong tumakbo papunta sa may tokador kung nasaan ang malaking salamin at tiningnan ang sarili ko!
When I checked myself there wasn't any! Damn! That Silvan got me! Narinig ko na lang ang papalayong tawa niya. "Just kidding! Bumaba ka na pagkatapos mo diyan."
Does that guy knows the saying 'maglaro ka na sa lasing, wag lang sa bagong gising'? Nakakainis! Agad akong bumaba pagkatapos mag-ayos. Si Detevtive Tross, Gray at Beatrice lang ang naabutan ko sa komedor.
"Hi Amber. Kumain ka na", bati ni Beatrice sa akin at ngumiti ako sa kanya. I glared at Gray bago umupo sa tabi nito. Nagsimula na akong kumain nang nagpaalam si Beatrice.
"Magpapahinga muna ako. Napuyat kasi kami kagabi dahil sa nangyari", wika nito at napabaling ang pansin namin sa kanya.
"What exactly happened Bea?", the detective asked. "Totoo bang mayroon nakabandanang babae ang nagpapakita dito sa villa?"
Bea nodded. "Yeah. At first I don't believe it too but when I saw her last night, God! I'm so scared."
Gray rose from his seat. "What does that veiled woman looks like?"
Bahagyang nag-isip si Beatrice bago sumagot. "She's very scary and her face was covered with blood. Her veil is black at maging ang damit niya. I cannot identify her face dahil madilim nang makita ko siya kagabi."
Kagabi? It's the same story with Sean and the broken window? "Did you see her altogether? Doon ba sa labas ng may nabasag na bintana?", tanong ko sa kanya and she shook her head.
"No. I saw the veiled woman when I'm with Kier at the veranda. Nakita ni Sean ang babae sa labas ng bintana sa kwarto niya and Mariel saw the veiled woman last night doon sa labas nang may nabasag na bintana with Jason. That's also when we rushed there but we didn't see the veiled woman."
That's very remarkable. They didn't see the veiled woman altogether kaya ibig sabihin, the veiled woman could be one of them.
"But what's more in it is that there were popsicle stick sa mga bahagi ng bahay kung saan nakikita ang babaeng nakabandana. There were three letters on those popsicle stick. D-I-E. Die", dagdag ni Beatrice. Kapagkuway humikab ito. "I really should be resting now Tross, see you later. Bye Gray and Amber." Tumayo na ito at umalis ng komedor pagkatapos magpaalam.
Gray and Detective Tross looked so serious. Maybe both of them have something in mind.
"Popsicle stick", mahinang sambit ni Detective Tross.
"May alam ka ba tungkol sa mga popsicle stick?", tanong ko sa kanya and he nodded.
"It's Nemie's collection", he said and were puzzled.
"Who's Nemie?"
"She's our friend and Kier's girlfriend. She died two years ago, here in the same villa", Detective Tross said. "She fell down from the veranda dahil sa takot nang makita niya ang nagmumultong babae."
"You mean your friend died because of that veiled woman here and that's why mukhang hindi kayo magkabati ni Kier?", tanong ni Gray at tumango naman si Detective Tross.
"Yeah, he believed that the veiled woman is nonexisting after all and it's just someone who tried to pull a prank on Nemie", yumuko ito at tila may inisip. "I couldn't figure out the mystery of the veiled woman that time. I wasn't a good detective after all. That's why nagalit si Kier sa akin. He said I'm a useless detective."
Gray let out a smile. "This is getting exciting. There is no mystery in that veiled woman. It's just someone trying to pull some pranks and revenge for the death of that Nemie."
Maybe Gray's right. Maybe this mystery of the veiled woman will be unveiled later. I'm getting excited about it.
Bumuhos ang malakas na ulan nang hapong iyon. Kumikidlat din at malakas ang kulog. Nasa kanya-kanyang mga silid ang bawat isa. Bumaba ako papunta sa sala. This case has been bothering me. Yeah, I wasn't afraid of the veiled woman dahil sigurado akong isa lang iyon sa mga kasama namin dito sa villa, pero sino sa kanila? Nagulat na lang ako nang masagi ko si Gray. He was on the floor and trying to pick up something.
"Aray! Mag-ingat ka nga. Tingnan mo nga 'yang dinadaanan mo", he said at tumayo.
I scowled at him. "Ano ba kasi ang hinahanap mo diyan sa sahig?"
Itinaas niya ang bagay na napulot niya. It was a piece of long black thread. "Sa tingin ko ay importante ito sa kaso na'to."
"What's that? A strand of a black hair from a wig? Ah, that's it. Kapag naiisip ko na nasa villa na ito ang nagpapanggap na nakabandanang babae, I'm getting excited to it", wika ko.
"You're not afraid of the veiled woman?", he asked and I shook my head.
"No. It's just some human behind that veil", nakangiti kong wika at bigla na lang kumulog ng malakas. A thunder strike and I saw the veiled woman outside!
"KYAAAAAH! The v-veiled w-w", I can't say it straightly. Lumingon si Gray sa labas ng bintana kung saan ako nakaturo, he saw it for a while at bigla na lamang iyong nawala.
Agad siyang tumakbo patungo sa pinto ngunit ayaw nitong bumukas. Naiinis na hinampas niya iyon at tumingin mula sa bintana but the veiled woman wasn't there anymore!
"Damn!", he looked at me at tinaasan ako ng kilay. "You just said you're not afraid of the veiled woman but your scream a while ago tells me you're very scared."
Inirapan ko siya. "Of course not! Nagulat lang ako dahil sa kidlat at biglang nagpakita ang babae kasabay niyon!"
Hindi naman talaga ako natakot! Nagulat lang ako! Bakit ba kasi sumabay pa iyon sa tunog ng kulog at kidlat? And something was not right when I saw the veiled woman but I can't figure out what is it.
"Oh, whatever. We saw the veiled woman outside and you know it's raining, let's check everyone upstairs. Kung sino man sa kanila ang basa, it's probably the veiled woman."
We went upstairs at kumatok sa silid ng bawat isa. We knocked on the first door next to the detective's room at binuksan iyon ni Jason.
"Yes?", tanong niya sa amin. Mukhang may ginagawa ito dahil nakasuot ito ng hand gloves.
"Abala ka po ba? Pwede ba kaming pumasok? Gusto ko kasing maging chemist katulad mo, I hope you don't mind", Gray said at binuksan naman ni Jason ang pinto.
"Sure you can. I have some important and dangerous chemicals with me, just make sure you won't touch it", wika nito.
"Ah, I forgot! Pinakuha nga pala kami ni Detective Tross ng ice cream. Babalik nalang kami mamaya Kuya Jason!", Gray said at hinila ako palayo doon. Jason isn't wet so he is not that veiled creature.
The next door we knocked was Sean's. He was wiping himself dahil mukhang bagong ligo ito. He took a bath sa ganitong panahon?
"Yes?", he asked nang mapagbuksan kami. I don't know what to say, sasabihin ba naming nakita namin ang babaeng nakabandana and we're checking everyone who might possibly be the veiled woman?
Agad namang sumagot si Gray. "I just want to ask if we can eat the ice cream in the fridge. Amber's craving for it kahit na maginaw eh."
Sean smiled at us habang pinupunasan ang basa nitong buhok. "Yeah, you may. Please your self with anything in the fridge."
Hinila na ako ni Gray. "Thanks!"
When Sean closed the door, we moved to the next door and it was Beatrice's. Mukhang kakagising lamang nito dahil magulo pa ang buhok nito at mapungay ang mga mata.
"Oh Gray, Amber. May kailangan ba kayo?", tanong niya at nagtatakang tiningnan kami.
I smiled at her. "We got the wrong room. Sorry Ate Bea!" This time ay ako naman ang humila kay Gray palayo at nagtatakang isinarado ni Beatrice ang kanyang pinto.
"Hey, I just noticed that Bea's room is right below the window in the living room kung saan natin nakita ang veiled woman. Noticed her veranda?", Gray asked and I nodded.
"Yes, it was exactly below but she couldn't be the veiled woman right?"
Gray smiled. "Oh well, that's for us to find out."
We headed towards the room of Kier. We knocked many times ngunit matagal iyong binuksan ni Kier. His face was annoyed when he saw the two of us. Gaya ni Kuya Sean ay kakaligo lang din nito.
"What do you want? I'm from the bath and you brats keep on knocking", inis na wika nito. Napaatras ako dahil sa paraan ng pagsasalita nito. He's angry?
"Ah, sorry. We knocked on the wrong door, we thought it's Ate Mariel's. Sorry", Gray said ay umatras na rin.
Kier gave us dagger stares bago isinara ang pinto. The last door was Mariel's and she was wet but it seem that she's not from the bath. Mukhang nabasa ito dahil sa ulan.
"Yes?", tanong niya nang mapagbuksan kami. Gray couldn't find any alibi kaya ako na ang nagsalita.
"Magtatanong lang kami kung gusto mo ba ng kape since it's cold", wika ko.
She smiled at us. "No, I just had coffee with Tross. Pumunta kasi siya dito kanina dahil may pinag-usapan kami."
"If that's the case, we'll be going back downstairs", Gray said at pumanhik na kami. We were about to go downstairs ng mapansin naming nakabukas ang pinto ng silid ni Detective Tross. Pumasok kami roon and we found the detective looking at his memo pad.
"Detective", tawag ni Gray dito and he turned his gaze at us. Mukhang malalim ang iniisip nito. "Anong ginagawa mo?"
Itiniklop ng detective ang kanyang memo pad. "I'm reinvestigating Nemie's death."
"You mean yung isa sa kaibigan ninyo na namatay two years ago dahil sa babaeng nakabandana?"
"Yeah, I found some weak points about it. The truth is no one saw the veiled woman two years ago Si Nemie lang ang nakakita", he said and it puzzled us.
"What do you mean?"
"No one really saw the veiled woman, we have the thought of it dahil sa sinabi ni Nemie. She woke up in the middle of the night na may nakitang babae sa terrace ng bintana niya. She shouted at lahat kami ay napasugod sa kwarto niya. Hindi namin nakita ang babae but Nemie keeps on telling us na meron talaga", Detective Tross said.
"And what happened next?"
"That day na nahulog si Nemie sa veranda ay paalis na kaming lahat dito. Nag-aaway si Nemie at Kier dahil may kalaguyo umano si Kier pero itinanggi niya iyon. But there was a time that I overheard Kier on the phone, he was talking to someone and he said something like", bahagya siyang napahinto at tila may inaalala. "It was like, 'that's a mistake I wouldn't want to commit again so please stop this. I love Nemie more than anyone else.' Parang ganoon nga ang sinabi niya."
"So he really has a woman back then which he regretted", Gray said and I sat while thinking. If there could be someone who would be avenging Nemie's death, it would be Kier. Come to think of if! He was slow in opening the door and he just came from the bath! What if he pretended to take a bath to clear the evidence that he is the veiled woman?!
But Sean and Mariel were wet too! Lalo na si Mariel who was soaked with rain water! Saan kaya siya nanggaling?
"Detective, nakita namin ang babae", I said and he was astonished for a while but then a smile flashed on his face.
"So, you also saw her? Ah, I'm getting excited of unveiling her", wika nito. Bigla na lang kaming nakarinig ng malakas na sigaw.
"Mula sa kwarto ni Mariel!", sabi ni Gray at agad kaming napasugod doon. Nang makarating kami roon ay nakaupo si Mariel sa sahig habang takot na takot na nakatingin sa veranda.
"I-I just s-saw the veiled woman!", wika niya. She was shaking with fear. Whoever is the veiled woman, she's making an effort to make us notice her.
Gray ran towards the veranda at tiningnan niya ang paligid niyon. "Where did you saw the woman?"
"R-right exactly where you are standing", nanginginig na wika ni Mariel.
Napatingin si Gray sa sahig. Mukhang may bagay na naroon and when he picked it up, it was a popsicle stick.
Napasugod na rin ang iba sa kwarto ni Mariel. They were really worried nang marinig ang malakas niting pagsigaw.
"Anong nangyari Mariel?", Kier asked nang makapasok sila.
"I-I saw the veiled woman! She came to kill me!", wika niya at umiyak. "I-I don't know how but the veiled woman really exist!"
I was intrigued by her statement. The veiled woman really exist? Ibig bang sabihin ay hindi talaga ito naniniwala roon? Pilit siyang pinakalma ng mga kaibigan at patuloy na rin kami sa pagmamasid sa bawat isa.
"It's almost six in the evening, I'll be preparing for dinner. Why don't you stay downstairs too and forget about the veiled woman?", Sean said and they agreed to go downstairs maliban kay Kier.
"I'd rather be in my room, bababa rin ako mamaya", he said at umalis na roon. We all headed downstairs at napansin kong wala pala roon si Jason. He didn't show up kahit na sumigaw ng malakas si Mariel?
Gray whispered on my ears. "Detective Tross and I will be investigating some things. Watch them closely dahil baka magpakita na naman ang babae", he said and I nodded.
Gray and Detective Tross went upstairs samantalang nasa kusina naman ako kasama sina Mariel, Beatrice at Sean.
"Mariel, what do you mean when you said that the veiled woman really exist? Ibig mo bang sabihin ay hindi ka talaga naniniwala doon?", Bea asked her at tumingin naman ako kay Mariel.
She was still shocked but she managed to answer her. "Yes, I thought that it doesn't really exists. The veiled woman was, I don't know... Something doesn't feel right when I saw her."
Something doesn't feel right? Hindi kay katulad iyon ng napansin ko kanina?
"Nasaan si Jayson?", Mariel asked. "I haven't seen him. Don't tell me he's working again even if he's on vacation? That man doesn't know the meaning of vacation."
"I'll go get him", wika ni Bea ngunit pinigilan ko siya.
"Ako na po Ate Bea", wika ko at agad pumanhik sa taas. I knocked on Jason's door at hindi nagtagal ay binuksan niya iyon.
"Oh Amber?", he asked.
"Hinahanap ka po nila sa labas. Hindi niyo po ba narinig ang sigaw ni Ate Mariel?"
He shook his head. "Sigaw? Why? I didn't hear it, masyado kasi akong nakafocus sa ginagawa ko."
"She said she saw the veiled woman", sagot ko but he doesn't seem to be surprise about it. Why? Hindi nga ba ito nagulat o masyadong mahilig lang itong magpokerface kaya hindi ko mawari kung ano ang tunay na reaksyon nito?
"Ah, tatapusin ko muna 'to at pagkatapos ay bababa rin ako", he said.
"Uhmm, do you mind if I get inside?", tanong ko sa kanya.
"Not at all, hinihintay ko kayo ni Gray kanina but it seems that you forgot about it already", he said at pinapasok ako.
Bumalik ito sa ginagawa niya sa mesa niya at naupo naman ako sa tabi at iginala ang paningin sa paligid. The guest rooms are identical dahil magkatulad lang ang kwartong ginagamit ko at sa kanilang lahat.
"Kuya Jason, all of you have been friends since college?", I asked him.
"Yeah but Sean, Nemie and I are childhood friends", sagot niya without even looking at me.
Tumayo ako at naglibot sa loob ng kwarto. Nagulat na lang ako nang may makita akong itim na bandana sa may sahig sa paanan ng kama.
A black veil? Could he be the -
Nang pulutin ko iyon ay nagulat ako nang nasa likuran ko na siya. Kinuha niya ang bandana sa akin at lumapit sa mga nakalagay na chemical sa beaker, on the table near the area where I picked the veil.
"You shouldn't touch anything here, as what I've told you, may mga delikadong chemical dito", wika nito at itinakip ang bandana sa mga chemicals. Is it really the purpose of that veil?
Nang may kumatok ay binuksan iyon ni Jayson and it was Bea. "Amber's taking so long that's why I decided to come here to pick you up. Doon muna tayo sa sala. The rain's still pouring and the veiled woman can appear anytime", she said.
"I still have to finish something but if you're really worried, let's go then", Jason said at lumabas na kami ng kwarto. Nasa kalagitnaan kami ng daan nang bigla na lamang namatay ang ilaw.
A blackout? The next thing we heard was Mariel's sharp cry na tila ba nasasaktan. We ran towards the living room kahit madilim ang paligid.
"Mariel!", Sean shouted. "Where are you?"
Wait, Mariel wasn't in the living room? Damn! Don't tell me that veiled woman was aiming for her life? For what reason?
Nakita namin si Sean. He was from the kitchen at nakasuot ito ng apron habang may dala na emergency flashlight.
"I heard Mariel's scream! Look for her samantalang paaandarin ko muna ang generator. It's not automatic so I have to turn it on", wika niya at pumunta sa power room.
We heard footsteps and it was Gray and Detective Tross. "What happened?", they asked at lumiwanag na ang paligid. Sean might have turned on the generator. Hindi nagtagal ay bumalik na ito.
Pinaliwanag naman ni Bea lahat.
"Let's find Mariel", Bea said at agad kaming naghanap. We found her on the corner of the living room ay wala itong malay. She has a wound on her right stomach. Did the veiled woman kill her?
Agad lumapit si Gray at hinawakan ang pulso nito. "She's still alive, call the ambulance!", Gray said.
Agad akong tumakbo sa telepono but it was no use! The lines have been cut off at nang kunin ko ang cellphone ko ay wala iyong signal! Damn, we're totally shut down here!
"Gray, the lines have been cut off!"
"What?! Then we will all be killed by the veiled woman?", natatakot na sambit ni Bea.
"As if I'd let it happen", detective Tross said and there was that mischievous smile on his face. Does that mean that they already know who the veiled woman is?
Siya namang pagbaba ni Kier. "What happened here?", tanong nito.
I wonder kung bakit ngayon lamang ito nakababa. What is he doing all this time sa silid niya?
"Where have you been Kier? There was a commotion and Mariel was stabbed but here you are, clueless of everything?", Sean asked him and he shrugged his shoulders.
"How would I know that the lines and electricity have been cut off? Alam mong kapag nasa silid ako ay hindi ko ako nagbubukas ng ilaw and I didn't hear any commotions dahil nakaheadset ako", wika nito. Yes, nang katukin namin ito ni Gray kanina ay madilim sa silid nito dahil wala itong binuksan na ilaw.
Detective Tross carried Mariel to her room at nilapatan iyon ng pang-unang lunas since we cannot contact the ambulance and even the police.
Lumapit ako kay Gray na matamang nakatitig sa kanila. "Alam niyo na ba kung sino ang babaeng nananakot?", tanong ko sa kanya.
He nodded. "Hindi pa pero may mga nalaman kami gaya na lamang ng si Mariel at Kier ay may ugnayan dati. A one-night stand."
"What's a one-night stand?", tanong ko sa kanya and he smirked at me.
"Don't ask me. I think I would be corrupting your innocence if I will tell you."
Pinaipon ang lahat ni Detective Tross sa sala, he said he have some deductions to make after he applied first aid to Mariel. It seems like he and Gray figured out this case Nang napadaan ako sa pinto ng silid ni Kier, I have the urge to enter there kaya nagpunta ako roon nang hindi nila namamalayan.
The verandas are not really far from each other ngunit hindi pa rin iyon matatalon ng kung sino man. I looked on the sides and noticed something.
Ah, so that's how it is!
I observed that the guestrooms are eight in total. The four on the first room was mine, kay Gray, kay Detective Tross at kay Jason. Nasa gitna naman ang master bedroom na ginagamit si Sean at sinundan iyon ng silid ni Bea, Kier at Mariel.
Bea's room was right above the window in the living room kung saan namin nakita ang babae. God thing I figured out something. I guess everything will be cleared now and the fear about the veiled woman would vanish. Pumunta ako sa living room kung saan nagtipon ang lahat. Naabutan kong nagsasalita si Detective Tross.
"I know who the veiled woman is. It's among the seven of us here. It's you..."
#
-ShinichiLaaaabs.