Chapter 50: Amity and Armistice
I can't believe that Gray and Ryu were shot! Damn! The bullet that hits Gray was meant for me! Why? Why did you jump in front of me Gray?! And Ryu― please! I don't want any of them to die! After Ryu and Gray were shot, no one dared to move. Pakiramdam ko ay tumigil ang mundo. Shit! Is this for real? Malubha ang tama ni Gray at Ryu. Agad na sinapo ni Cooler ang walang malay na si Ryu.
Nang tingnan ko si Gray na nakayakap sa akin ay unti-unting pumupungay ang mga mata nito. I cupped his face marahang inalog siya. "Gray! Please hold on! You, idiot! Why did you do it?! Are you nuts? That's for me! Stupid! How stupid of you!" I felt hot liquids running down my cheeks. Not that I want to trade places with him but why did he do it?! Cooler did the same thing before though it wasn't as grave as this. And now si Gray naman? Even Ryu!
Marion doesn't have any grudge against them, sa akin lamang ngunit heto at nadadamay sila! What now? Is this really the commonality in a Vander blood that runs through their veins? Yung tipong handa silang ialay ang buhay nila just to keep me safe? Damn! I don't really know if I'm worth it!
Pilit kong hinahanap ang tama niya and I want to cover it with my palm upang tumigil ang pag-agos ng dugo. Silly me, alam kong hindi iyon makakatulong. But Gray must not die! Please don't die on me!
Why does it have to turn out like this? God, I was just dancing and enjoying my birthday and this is what happens after everything?
"How tragic. Is this some modern version of Romeo and Juliet? Now let's complete the tragedy!" Marion said at muling inangat ang hawak na revolver at itinuon iyon sa akin. Everyone was too shocked to move. Maging si Khael na nasa tabi ay hindi halos makagalaw. He wasn't able to move nang mapagmasdan niya si Gray. I don't know how he felt seeing Gray in such situation. Napansin ko na lang ang pagkuyom ng palad niya at may bahid ng galit at pag-aalala ang kanyang mukha.
Bago pa man mapaputok ni Marion ang hawak na baril ay bigla na lamang itong napahandusay sa sahig. Jeremy was on her back habang hawak-hawak ang isang tubo na marahil ay siyang inihampas niya sa ulo ni Marion.
"Oh, I'm just returning the favor you did to me a while ago Marion. Sorry and please, no hard feelings," Jeremy said at tiningnan ang nakahandusay na si Marion. "What happened?" he asked innocently at saka lamang natauhan si Khael. He immediately called the police and an ambulance.
I don't hear anything except for my loud weeping! Hell, my tears can't even lessen the pain that I'm feeling. I don't want to cry dahil alam kong kahit anong gawin kong iyak ay hindi matatanggal niyon ang bala na nakabaon sa katawan nina Gray at Ryu. But I just can't stop myself from crying. My tear ducts don't cooperate at patuloy lamang ang pag-agos ng mga luha ko.
My leg hurt as well as my face but it cannot surpass the pain that I'm feeling upon seeing Gray and Ryu. Gray got a shot on his back near his lungs while Ryu got another shot on his side. I heard a police siren and ambulance approaching. Masakit na ang lalamunan ko and my sight becomes blurry. Nakaramdam ako ng matinding hapo and I just felt my body collapsed on the ground before I lost consciousness.
***
Nagising na lang ako na puti ang nasa paligid ko. I'm not in the mood to joke kung nasa langit na ba ako at anghel ba ang gwapong nurse na nasa gilid ng kama ko. Agad akong napabalikwas ng bangon ng maalala ang lahat ng nangyari.
"Sweetie? How do you feel?" tanong ni Daddy na nasa tabi ng kama ko. Naroon din si Mommy and both of them look worried.
"I'm fine Dad. Where's Gray and Ryu?" tanong ko sa kanila at nagkatinginan sila. No one dared to answer my question.
"Amber, anak. You have to rest. The wound on your head has been stiched at kahit daplis lang ang tama mo sa binti..."
"Where's Gray and Ryu Mom? Dad?!" tanong ko ulit. My self is least of my concern now. I need to know where Gray and Ryu are. I need to see them. I need to check if they're fine. I need to talk to them. I HAVE TO TALK TO THEM! I'm preparing punches for them! Ang tanga nila! They're not heroes! Balak ba nilang agawan ng pwesto sa Luneta si Rizal?! Rizal died for the country and it's worth it! But those silly guys? They don't have to die for me! I'm not worth it!
"Anak―"
"JUST ANSWER ME!" nagulat sila sa pagsigaw ko. Agad namang dumaloy ang mga luha sa mata ko. Shit! I really hate this! Nagawa ko pang sigawan sina Mommy at Daddy. "I-I'm sorry. Mom. D-dad. I'm just so desperate to know their whereabouts. Please. Please answer me."
Napabuntong-hininga naman si Daddy. Lumapit siya sa akin at hinawakan ang kamay ko. "Listen sweetie, but please be calm okay?"
Dahan-dahan akong tumango ngunit kinakabahan ako. I just hope that they're fine. I still want to see Gray solve many cases. Si Ryu, kahit araw-araw niyang pagbantaan ang buhay ko, ayos lang! Kahit mag-smirk siya sa akin sa buong buhay niya, fine with me as long as they have to live. Please. I'm asking You. Let them live.
"Both of them have undergone surgery kaninang madaling araw at natanggal na ang bala sa katawan nila. Ryu already gained conciousness but Gray," Dad paused for a while.
"Why? What happened to Gray?"
"Gray suffered too much blood loss when the bullet penetrated through his lungs and it complicates everything. He's in the intensive care unit now," wika ni Dad at napaamang ako sa narinig. I want to shout ngunit tila may blade sa lalamunan ko. It hurts like hell! I glanced at Dad's watch and it was already 3 in the afternoon. I've slept that much? Ang pagkakatanda ko ay hatinggabi nangyari ang lahat.
Marion. Bakit si Marion? No, I should put it this way. Bakit iyon nangyari? Bumangon ako sa kama ko. I really need to see them ngunit pinigilan ako nima Mommy at Daddy.
"Stay still Amber. Kailangan mo munang magpahinga," wika ni Mommy at pinigilan ako sa akmang pagtayo.
"I'm fine Mom. Wala akong nararamdamang sakit sa katawan. I had enough rest too," wika ko. That's a lie. Masakit ang binti ko at maging ang ulo ko but I need to see them.
"Just stay in―"
"Please Mom? Dad?" I looked at them with pleading eyes. Napabuntong hininga naman si Daddy.
"Fine. I'll just ask for a wheelchair. And you can only see Ryu. Not Gray dahil nasa ICU pa ito, got it sweetie?" he asked and I nodded. Gosh, what did I do to deserve such understanding parents and heroic friends? Kahit pa sabihin nating hindi ko kaibigan si Ryu.
Nang bumalik si Daddy ay may dala na siyang wheelchair at agad niya akong dinala sa hospital suite ni Ryu. Dad knocked few times at ang nakangiting mukha ni Artemis ang bumungad sa amin.
"Oh, Hi Amber. How do you feel?"
"Never been better. Where's Ryu?" I asked her. I don't want to reminisce the first time that I saw her kaya mas pinili kong maging komportable sa pakikipag-usap sa kanya.
"Hali ka," she said and guided me. Nagpaalam naman si Dad na sa labas lamang siya maghihintay. Agad na tinulak ni Artemis ang wheelchair ko palapit sa kama kung saan naroon si Ryu. He was lying on the bed and a pair of headset is tucked on his ears. Artemis pulled his headset to get his attention.
"Hey you've got a distressed visitor. Aalis muna ako upang makapag-usap kayo. Bye Amber!" wika niya at nakangiting tumango lang ako.
Nang makaalis na sila Artemis ay wala ni isa man ang nagtangkang magsalita sa amin ni Ryu. Hindi siya nakatiis, he smirked at pinitik ang ilong ko.
"Stop making that face. Ang pangit mo, alam mo ba?" he said and I smiled. This is the first time na natuwa ako sa smirk niya.
"Thank goodness!" I exclaimed. Nagtatakang tiningnan naman niya ako. I took that opportunity to punch his face. AWW! We both cried in pain. This devil got a hard face!
"What the hell! What was that for?!" inis na wika niya habang sinapo ang nasaktang mukha.
"Tanga ka ba? Bakit ka nagpabaril?!" I hissed at him.
"Tanga ka rin ba? Edi sana ikaw ang may ganito ngayon," itinaas niya ang suot na hospital gown at ipinakita ang naka-dressed niyang tama. God! He saved me from a bullet too? Argh! Iisipin ko na talagang may sayad silang tatlo. Cooler did the same thing before!
"Idiot! You can just find another way to prevent Marion from shooting! Hindi ganitong ililigtas mo ako but you're killing yourself in the process!" sigaw ko sa kanya. I guess we will never have a normal conversation.
"Stupid! Ikaw na nga ang iniligtas, ikaw pa ang may ganang mamili ng paraan ng pagligtas sayo! Heck, you're crazy!"
"And why did you save me on the first place? Ako sana ang nasa kamang iyan at hindi ikaw!"
"I want to kill you in my own terms. And why? You want to trade places with me? Tumayo ka 'dyan sa wheelchair at lumipat ka dito sa kama!" he scowled at me and I smiled. Ito rin ang unang beses na napangiti ako sa banta niya sa buhay ko.
"Unbelievable. This is the second time that you smiled at me the moment you've entered this room. Naalog ba ang utak mo? Oh, that explains the bandage," he said and he crossed his arms.
"I don't know that devils like you can be trusted too. Thank you Ryu. How can I pay you this favor? Just ask anything," seryosong wika ko sa kanya. He uttered something like 'tsk.' Umiwas siya ng tingin sa akin.
"Oh, hindi bagay sayo yang tila maamong tuta na mukha mo. And besides if you want to pay me, pay me with your body," he said in a very serious voice.
Pay with my body? Bigla na lamang akong napalunok. Bumangon siya at umupo sa kama. Inilapit niya ang mukha niya sa akin.
"What now? Nababahag ba ang buntot mo? You said that I can ask anything so I'm asking for your body," wika niya and shit! I can't breathe due to the small distance between our faces. Bigla na lamang itong napatawa ng malakas.
"You have no idea how does your face look like," wika niya at nagpatuloy sa pagtawa. Did he just play a joke on me?! Gosh! Ang tanga ko para maniwala! Sinapak ko siya sa dibdib, right on his wound.
"Aaaaargh! Damn you, sadist! That hurts!"
Oh, serves him right! "That's for pulling such joke idiot!" I scolwed at him. Muli siyang tumawa ng malakas.
"As if I'd like too. You're not as beautiful as my bitches," he said.
"Manwhore!" Muli siyang tumawa. Side effect ba iyon ng surgery? Ang palaging napapatawa si Ryu?
"Hey, where's Cooler?," I asked ng mapansin na wala si Cooler sa paligid. I can't find Khael and Jeremy too.
"Oh, nandito sila kanina. You know, Cooler with the Athena guy and the one with braces. Kaninang tanghali lang sila umuwi, and the Athena guy went out with a police. He said he will help on the investigation as well as he will give his statement to the police," wika ni Ryu.
"His name is Khael."
"Ah, yes Khael. And Cooler? I guess he's in the ICU. He hasn't sleep even a single minute. Binantayan lang niya sa Gray after he donated his blood," he said.
"Cooler donated his blood to Gray?"
"Yeah. They're both type O."
Now I see how much Cooler cares for him. Sana ay nakita rin iyon ni Gray. Gray could be jerky at times but I hope that Cooler have proved himself worthy of Gray's trust.
"I hope this is the truce between the two of them. They're of the same blood anyway," komento ko. Napansin kong matamang nakatitig sa akin si Ryu kaya bumaling ako sa kanya. "Let's agree on this as an armistice between us too."
He gave me a million-dollar smirk. "No way. I will always annoy the hell out of you."
I rolled my eyes at him. I guess he can't live without pestering my life! Aasahan ko na ang kanyang mga sugarcoated death threats for me. Oh Ryu! Give me a break!
***
It's the night before Christmas and I've been staring at the huge Christmas tree in our living room. Abala ang lahat sa bahay. They're preparing for the noche buena. Bigla na lamang tumunog ang cellphone ko at rumehistro ang pangalan ni Khael sa screen kaya agad kong sinagot iyon.
"Merry Christmas Special A!" bati niya and I rolled my eyes. It's still quarter to eleven and there's still more than an hour bago ang pasko.
"I'll send you a watch or a wall clock for christmas. It seems like nag-disfunction na yata ang orasan ninyo," wika ko sa kanya and I heard him giggled.
"Why? Can't you greet Merry Christmas to someone even before the clock strikes 12?" he asked. Tama nga naman but malapit nang magpasko, edi sana mamayang hatinggabi na lang ito tumawag!
"Fine. Merry Christmas too Khael," bati ko sa kanya.
"May kulang eh."
Ha? Ano namang kulang doon? "What?"
"Kulang nga."
"Ano nga ang kulang doon?"
"It should be merry Christmas handsome Khael. I love you!" he said and laughed. Baliw talaga ito.
"Dream on Mikhael Timothy!" wika ko sa kanya.
"Cut the Timothy. Naaalala ko ang lolo ko 'dyan."
I mentally laughed at him. "Timothy. Timothy. Timothy. Timothy. Timothy!" pag-uulit ko.
"Ugh. Stubborn. I'll give you my gift if I'll see you," wika niya at narinig kong tinawag ako ni Mommy.
"Mom called me. I'll call you later Khael," wika ko at agad pinatay ang tawag.
I helped Mom set up the table. Andaming pagkain kahit tatlo lamang kami. Lumapit sa akin ang isang poodle na tuta. His name is Filter. Iyon ang regalo sa akin ni Gray noong kaarawan ko. Paulit-ulit itong tumahol kaya agad ko itong kinarga.
"Merry Christmas Filter!" bati ko sa aso. I'm crazy to think na sasagot ito but Filter wagged his tail at tumahol. Maybe he said Merry Christmas to me too. When I glanced at my watch, it was 11:11. Didn't they say na matutupad ang hiling mo tuwing 11:11? I closed my eyes and silently wished that Gray will call me.
Hindi kasi kami nagkausap matapos niyang lumabas ng ospital. He survived his operation and he's now in good terms with Cooler. Hindi naman masyadong close but their relationship improved. He doesn't despise him anymore unlike before. I remembered our conversation at the hospital when I confronted him about his stupid heroic stunts.
"Why did you do it Gray? Akala ko ba matalino ka? Do you think it's logical to save me by jumping in front of a bullet for me?" I told him while crying. It was after I hugged him tighly. Gosh, it was so awkward but I don't mind. I'm glad that he's fine.
"Once you care so much about someone, it's impossible to be logical about them anymore. The only thing you'll have in your mind is how to save them."
He left me dumbfounded with such words. As of Marion, she was brought abroad for psychological treatment. We visited her at the hospital. Nakahiga lang ito at nakatingin sa kawalan. Naaawa ako sa kanya. I know she suffers so much with such mental illness. I don't hold any grudge against her. Biktima lamang din naman siya ng kanyang sakit. Si Jeremy, I keep in touch with him through social media. He greeted me a merry Christmas kanina. He even posted and tagged me and some of our classmate in his facebook status, greeting us a Merry Christmas. Uh, naglelevel up na talaga si Jeremy. Hindi na ako magugulat kong isang araw ay magpo-post na ito ng kanyang selfie.
Sumapit ang pasko at binati ako nina Mommy at Daddy. We opened our Christmas gifts for each other. We spend time together hanggang sumapit ang alas dos. We decided to rest kaya nagpunta na ako sa kwarto ko. Dinala ko na si Filter at inilapag ito sa rug na nasa paanan ng kama ko. I was about to turn of the lights nang may tumawag sa akin. It was an unregistered number. What now? Is this a prank call on a Christmas day?
Kahit nag-aalangan ay sinagot ko pa rin ang tawag.
"Get out of your house," wika ng nasa kabilang linya. I recognized his voice and it was Gray! Looks like 11:11 is really effective. But why is he acting like a jerk? Ni hindi man lamang ako binati!
"Ayoko nga. It's 2 in the morning at maginaw sa labas," wika ko sa kanya. Nasa subdivision ang bahay namin kaya hindi maingay ang paligid. Kaninang pagsapit ng alas dose lang maingay dahil may mga fireworks.
"Just get out okay? I'm freezing here," wika niya. Wait. He's outside? I jumped out of my bed at agad na lumabas. I was outside when I realized that I'm in my pajamas and a black spaghetti-strapped top. I saw him leaning on a black Porsche. Oh, his Porsche. Tumuwid siya ng tayo nang makita niya ako.
"Merry Christmas," simpleng bati niya. God! I missed him! It's been a week and a half since the last time that I saw him. I prevented the urge of throwing myself to him and give him a tight hug.
"Merry Christmas Gray," bati ko rin sa kanya. Binuksan niya ang kotse and he pulled three paperbags from inside. Una niyang inabot ang isang itim na paperbag. The paperbag's print was the skeleton on the Nightmare before Christmas.
"Open it. It's Ryu's gift for you," wika niya. Ryu's gift? Ibig sabihin ay nagkita sila?
"Nagkita kayo?" I asked and he nodded.
"I went to the Vander Mansion by 1, Dad's request since Cronus asked him dahil sa kanya lang naman ako nakikinig, I mean my adoptive dad. I'm being amiable with those mafia guys nowadays," sagot niya sa akin. "Buksan mo na. He told me to watch you open his gift."
Agad ko namang binuksan iyon and I almost cursed Ryu to death when I saw what's inside. It's a pair of red and black sexy nighties! What the hell! Ano'ng akala niya sa akin, nasa honeymoon?!
"Tell him not to show himself to me. I will kill that perverted jerk once I see him!" inis na wika ko. Inabot naman niya ang pink na paperbag.
"Cooler's gift."
Agad ko iyong kinuha at binuksan. It was earings with my birthstone. Uh, ayaw ko ng isipin kung gaano kamahal ang halaga niyon dahil baka makonsensya lang ako na gamitin iyon.
"Send my gratitude to him." Inabot niya ang huling paperbag sa akin.
"And this one is Jeremy's. It's a pair and he said I can have the other one kaya kinuha ko na."
Binuksan ko iyon and there was a photoframe inside with a photo of me and Gray. It was a stolen photo during my debut. Gray and I were dancing and we're both smiling in that photo. I already saw all the photos took by the hired photographer on my debut but this one is really awesome.
"I'll chat my thank you to him later," wika ko at muling ibinalik sa loob ng paperbag ang frame. "Thanks for delivering them by the way."
"I don't have a gift for you as of this moment but I have a code for you to decipher," inabot niya sa akin ang isang nakatuping papel. "Call me and tell me your answer if you have already deciphered it. Saka ko na rin ibibigay ang regalo ko sayo."
"I don't have a gift for you too. Ibibigay ko na lang din kapag nagkita pa tayo," sagot ko sa kanya at kinuha ang papel.
"It's getting cold. Pumasok ka na," he said and I nodded matapos magpasalamat ulit. I took a step backward and turned on my back ngunit muli siyang nagsalita.
"Crap, I forgot something."
The next thing I knew was that he pulled me on my waist and he hugged me tightly. "Merry Christmas Amber."
Yeah. It was a MERRY Christmas indeed.
***
It's already six in the morning and I haven't slept even a single minute! Damn Gray! Kapag nagka-eyebags ako ng ilang kilo ay kasalanan niyang lahat. His tight hug left me sleepless kaya pinili ko na lang i-decipher ang ibinigay niyang code and another damn him! Ang hirap ng ibinigay niyang code! Haller! I'm not as smart as him! The code goes like:
A Message from Giovan Battista Bellaso ~
IMCCWQBXWGNFOFMHRKCYPKPEX?
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Argh! Who the hell is Giovan Battista Bellaso? Classmate ba namin iyon o taga ibang section na mula sa Bridle? Inis na nilakumos ko ang papel na sinulatan ko. Nakakainis naman eh! Humiga ako sa kama at nahagip ng tingin ko ang desktop computer na nasa sulok ng kwarto ko. Uh, I'll cheat! Ise-search ko sa facebook o kaya sa google yang si Giovan na yan!
Agad akong bumangon at nagpunta sa harap ng PC. I typed the name sa google at lumabas ang mga impormasyon tungkol sa kanya. He was an Italian cryptologist who invented different ciphers including Vigenère cipher which was strengthened by Blaise de Vigenère by creating an autokey cipher. That's it! Vigenère cipher!
Agad kong pinag-aralan ang cipher. I tried using Giovan Battista Bellaso as the keyword but the word is incomprehensible. Hindi kaya Merry Christmas ang keyword? I tried again using Merry Christmas as the keyword. I located the keyword on the row and find the cipheredtext in the square. I located the corresponding letter in each column and I got the following letter.
I - M - W
M - E - I
C - R - L
C - R - L
W - Y - Y
Q - C - O
B - H - U
X - R - G
W - I - O
G - S - O
N - T - U
F - M - T
O - A - O
F - S - N
M - M - A
H - E - D
R - R - A
K - R - T
C - Y - E
Y - C - W
P - H - I
K - R - T
P - I - H
E - S - M
X - T - E
WILL YOU GO OUT ON A DATE WITH ME?
He's asking me for a date? Uh, maybe just a friendly date. Ayon nga sa kasabihan, do not assume unless otherwise stated! But damn him! Ilang oras akong hindi nakatulog just to crack this code tapos ganito?! He could just ask me directly! Agad kong kinuha ang cellphone ko at tinawagan ito.
"So, is it a Yes or Yes?" he asked directly. Namumuro na nga yata ito sa ginagawang hindi pagbati kapag kausap ko ito sa telepono.
"I want to wring your neck, alam mo ba? I haven't sleep even a minute because of this!" wika ko sa kanya and I heard him chuckled.
"I'll consider that as a yes. Thanks Amber. See you on the 30th," he said at pinatay ang tawag. The hell! Did he just hang up on me?
But uh, I'm looking forward for December 30! Oh, I wish I could drag the days upang maging Rizal Day na! I ran towards the mirror. Fine, I don't want to drag the days! I need enough time for a beauty rest.
Oh God! I've got some bags down on my eyes. Uh, I need to sleep!
###
End of Detective Files (File 1 Part 2)