Chapter 40: Murderer, Jeremy Martinez
(Introduction Chapter)
He was once a braced geek. He used to wear his old-fashioned uniform, buttoning it like he was choking. His hair looks like he was bathe inside the mouth of a big dinosaur. He always wear his thick glasses. A total nerd.
He is Jeremy Martinez. Not a day passed that I never thought of how happy his life is, along with the difficult moments. He always laughs like there is no tomorrow that makes me wonder how he is able to do it.
After Gray presented the files of the case of Jomari Sanchez, one of the missing students who was found dead, I can say that every evidence really points out to him. The case wasn't known to the student body to avoid further issues na tiyak pagkakaguluhan na naman ng media.
The cap obviously belongs to him. Several pieces of hair recovered from the inside have roots with tissue attached match to those of Jeremy's medical records. There were his finger prints too that were scattered around the area. This has been bugging me since last night. It bothers me more than how my so-called relatives treated me.
The case is handled by that jerk detective, Detective Maverick Adler, so I would be seeing him alot inside Bridle.
Nasa gym kami at hinihintay ang aming PE teacher. Habang naghihintay ay napagkatuwaang maglaro ng mga kaklase ko, headed by Jeremy. They call the game battle of the brainless at panay ang tawanan nila dahil sa kakwelahan ni Jeremy.
Poor Jeremy! He doesn't know that any moment by now, may mga pulis na maaaring dumampot sa kanya, but Gray and I will prevent it to happen.
"Jeremy, ano ang pambasang hayop ng Pilipinas?", Marcus asked. They're forming a little game show. "Nagsisimula sa letrang K at kulay itim!"
"Kuto!"
Nagtawanan ang mga kaklase namin dahil kay Jeremy. See? Is he really able to kill someone?
"Hindi! K ang una at W ang last letter", wika ng kaklase namin.
Jeremy grinned. "KutoW?" Mas lalo pang lumakas ang tawanan nila.
"Loko ka Jeremy!", natatawang wika ni Lorie.
"Wala sa ulo Jeremy! Nasa lupa!"
"Aha! Kutong Lupa!", Jeremy hissed.
"Argh! Ewan ko sayo! Ang tamang sagot ay kalabaw!", Marcus announced. "Next question. Saan binaril si Dr. Jose Rizal? Clue, nagsisimula sa letter B."
I was just staring at them and thinking that Je or the others would say Bagumbayan but he didn't.
"Sa Back?", Je asked which made Marcus frown. "What? Di ba pinatalikod siya nun?"
"Hindi! Clue, pwede rin na ang simula ay L", the gamemaster said. Oh yeah, Luneta.
"Sabi na nga ba! Sa Likod?", he said cheerfully at natawa ang mga kaklase namin. Meh!
"Argh! Hindi pa rin. Para mas madali, gamitin natin ang kaniyang modern name. RP ng initials." I heard someone whispered Rizal Park and I thought Jeremy heard it too but I made a face when he spoke.
"Oh my God! Sa Rear Part!"
The class started giggling again. If this would be in another situation, marahil ay natawa na rin ako but my mind seemed to be preoccupied with the thoughts of the case. Gayundin si Gray. He is sitting on the other side of the bleachers at abala sa sinusulat sa maliit na notebook nito.
"Jeremy, it's either Bagumbayan, Luneta o Rizal Park", natatawang wika ni Marcus.
"Whoah! Mukhang may tatanghalin na tayong kampeon nito!"
"Next question. Ano ang pambansang kasuotan ng mga kababaihan? B.S. ang initials."
Jeremy thinks for a while. "Bathing Suit?" Seriously?
"Hindi, tagalog ito."
"Blusa at Sando?"
"Mali. It's Baro at Saya! Eh, sa kalalakihan naman, ano ang tawag sa pambansang kasuotan. B rin ang simula.", Marcus asked.
"Brief?" Oh? What the hell?
"Hindi, manipis ito."
"Bikini brief?", he asked and laughter cracked inside the gym.
"Tanga! Barong tagalog! Next question. Ano ang pambansang bulaklak ng Pilipinas? Nagsisimula sa letrang S."
"Sunflower!", Jeremy shouted. The others giggled.
"Mali Je! Tinutuhog ito."
"Squid Ball!"
Natawa ulit ang mga ito. "Mali! Nilalako ito sa daan!"
"I know it! Sitsaron!", Jeremy said. Aliw na aliw ito sa battle of the brainless nila. Meh! I don't like the title of the game, so degrading.
"Jeremy, sabi namin bulaklak."
"Edi sitsarong bulaklak! HAHAHAHAHAHA!", Jeremy laughed.
"Hindi nga! Bulaklak sabi! A ang last letter."
"Sitsarong BulaklakA?"
Really Je?
"Argh! Last clue, kapangalan ng dating OPM singer!", my classmate said.
"Alam ko na! Sharon Cuneta!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Everyone laughed. Looks like they're enjoying this brainless battle.
"Ang daya niyo naman! Kanina pa kayo tanong ng tanong sa akin. Ako naman", Jeremy ranted.
"Game!"
"Shoot!"
"Gusto ko yan Je!"
"Sige, eto ah? Ano ang apelyedo ni Fernando Poe?"
"Ano?", they asked in unison.
"Beshies, kayo tinatanong ko, wag niyo akong ina-ano. Hindi ako nagpipick-up line", Je snorted. "But for starters, it's Junior. Ang apelyido ni Fernando Poe ay Junior! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
May mga natawa pero mas marami ang napa-pokerface. Oh Je, you're bad.
"Eto seryoso na. Ano ang first name ni Nemo?", Je asked.
"First name na niya yan", wika ni Yuri.
"No. No. No."
Nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip ang iba. "Sirit na Jeremy."
"Oo nga. Parang di naman sinabi na may first name other than Nemo si Nemo ah."
"Edi Sarahero", Je said with his annoying grin. I knew it. Ang kasunod ng ngising iyon ay malutong na tawa.
"Sarahero?"
"Sarahero Nemo! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH
AHAHAHAHAHA!"
Napatawa na rin ang iba while others are still processing the joke. Oh yeah. I feel them.
"Isa pa ha. Ano ang last name ni Punisher?", Je asked.
"Alam ko!", Kevin answered. Nasa Marvel comics yan diba? Si Frank Castle, lumabas nga siya sa Amazing Spiderman!"
"Eeenk! Mali."
"Eh? Ano pala sagot?"
"Edi Rano. Punisher Rano!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Eto last nato. Ano ang first name ni Janno?"
"Ewan."
"Di ko rin alam."
"Sirit na."
"Edi Eduman. Eduman Janno!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Nagsimula ulit na magtawanan ang mga naroon and I just sighed as I watch them.
"That's your third sigh for today."
Napalingon ako sa nagsalita sa likuran ko. It was one of the person that I don't want to see. I chose to ignore him like he doesn't exist but his next statement made me wanna kick his ass.
"So young and full of life. You cannot trust people by their appearance, right? Look at him. Ni hindi ako makapaniwalang isa pala siyang murderer."
Napatayo ako at hinarap siya. Damn this famewhore detective! He's really testing my patience, isn't he?
"Who are you to judge him? He didn't do it! I warrant you on that", wika ko sa kanya. God! I would love to shave his head and throw him to the pits of hell for thinking bad about Jeremy.
"I just relied on the present evidence. Any moment by now ay maaaring dumating na ang mga pulis", wika niya.
"What? Why?!"
"For the safety of the students."
"Jeremy didn't do it!", I shouted on his face. "Baka nakakalimutan mong we have this thing called 'innocent until proven guilty'! Look at him! Do you think he's capable of doing brutal way of killing?"
The detective's face seemed used with every word I say. "It actually looks like you're more capable of doing it than him."
It's his way of agreeing on what I said so I let it pass. I wanna smile at him for conceding to the idea that Jeremy wasn't the kind who looks like capable of a brutal murder.
"But let me tell you Vander. Looks aren't the basis if someone is capable of murder or not. Not because you look kind doesn't mean you're kind. Not because you look innocent doesn't mean you're innocent."
That made me hate him more. Don't tell me that he believes that Jeremy did it? Bigla na lamang akong nakaisip ng hindi maganda tungkol sa pagpunta niya dito.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?"
He shrugged his shoulders at sumandal. "I'm observing the suspect. I'm also waiting for my comrades."
Oh? He's not saying the police, is he?
"You can't do it!", wika ko. My voice was loud and made every student inside the gym turn their gazes to us.
"Kinuha mo ang atensyon nila. Now they might be wondering why I'm here", he said. He smirked when he saw Gray approaching us with his clenched fist.
Oh, Detective Adler! Don't mess with him again! I'm telling you, he got an iron first. On the second thought, mess with him at nang makita mo ang hinahap mo.
"Hello Silvan."
Inilapag ni Gray ang kanyang backpack at hinarap si Detective Adler. His eyes are saying everything. By merely looking at his eyes, alam mo nang galit ito at nagtataka sa presensya ng detective.
"I don't own the gym but I don't think that you should be here", wika ni Gray.
Detective Adler raised his arms in surrender. "Whoah. Okay, okay. But it's not you who I came for. I wanna see the suspect", he flashed a dangerous grin.
"Shut up Detective before I release my demons", Gray said. His figure of speech is kinda funny but it's not a perfect time to laugh.
"Tsk tsk tsk. I guess it's in the Vander's blood, you're both good in intimidating people but sad to say, you don't have an effect on me", wika niya.
Then two men entered the gym. Tila may hinahanap ang mga ito and when they glanced at our direction ay lumapit sila sa amin. Gray recognized them as police officers in civilian attire. His figure stiffened at lumipat ang tingin niya kay Jeremy na aliw na aliw habang kausap ang mga kaklase namin.
"Ikaw pala Gray! Kumusta?", wika ng isa sa naka-civilian na police. It was a friendly greeting but Gray ignored it. Oh? I thought he's friends with the police?
"Hey."
"Ah, ang mahilig pumapel", wika naman ng isa pa. "Mukhang maiinis na naman ako sa iyo Silvan."
Gray smirked. "Really? I'm glad that I have that impact on you."
"Mayabang ka pa ring bata ka. Kung sina Tross at Dean ay nahahawakan mo sa leeg, ibahin mo kami. Hindi kami tulad ng mga walang kwentang pulis na iyon na humihingi ng tulong sa mga bubwit", one police said which made me raise my brows at them. Anong problema nila kay Detective Tross at Inspector Dean?
Tumikhim si Detective Adler. "Ganyan ba kayo magbatian?"
Gray smirked more. "Oh, my bad. Hello Inspector Boom and Fenris." He doesn't sound friendly though.
The Inspectors shot a glare at him. "Hello." Bumaling ito kay Detective Adler. "Hindi kami pumunta dito upang makipagbatian. Nasaan ang bata?"
Detective Adler pointed Jeremy using the cigarette that he had tucked on his ears. "That one."
I felt myself panicked. Don't tell me they're picking him right here right now?
"You can't take him with you!", I hissed at them. I wanna kiss myself for being brave. Truth is kinakabahan ako for Jeremy that's why my legs are quivering.
"Sino naman ito?"
"Ah, baka yan ang sinasabi nilang alagad din nina Tross at Dean. Ah! Pathetic cops", komento ng isa. I wanna kick his balls for saying it. I believe that Detective Tross and Inspector Dean trusting us the case isn't pathetic. They seek for help upang mapadali ang pag-iimbestiga, unlike this two. Iisipin pa ba nila ang sariling kapakanan kaysa sa nangyaring krimen? I don't think it's bad to ask for help in the quest for one truth!
"What are you doing here?", tanong ni Gray. In fact he already knows why they are here but he still asked.
"We're taking the kid."
"What the hell?!", I hissed. "Do you have any warrant?"
"Meron. Don't worry we're detaining him inside Bridle as of now dahil marami pa rin ang mga umaaligid na reporters."
Tila bombang sumabog iyon sa pandinig ko. Whaaaat? They're keeping Jeremy behind the bars kung mangyaring walang nga reporters and news people sa labas?
"Pinayagan iyan ng Bridle? I thought they don't want chaos in here", Gray said.
It was Inspector Fenris who answered. He's young but he looks scary. May peklat ito sa pisngi and I'm thinking that he looks like a sexual offender with such scar. Oh, sorry for the prejudicial description.
"Hindi kami nakauniporme upang hindi halata."
"Matatalino ang mga estudyante ng Bridle. They would know if something is not right. Magtataka sila kung bakit sinundo si Jeremy ng dalawang lalaki. Why don't you allow us to do it?", wika ni Gray. He must have something in mind. We must do everything to clear Jeremy's name!
"That's a good idea", wika ni Detective Adler. "And in return for your help?"
Oh, very good detective! You know that we need something in return.
"Bring us with you kung saan niyo siya idedetain."
"You wish!"
I was almost losing hope. They're not in good terms with Gray kaya imposibleng pumayag ang mga ito na sumama kami.
"Too bad. Akala ko pa naman papayag kayo, lalo na at alam kong you just had a rough sex with your mistress on the police car—"
"P*tang ina mo! Paano mo nalaman iyan?", galit na wika ni Inspector Fenris. Oh? Hindi lang pala ito mukhang manyak, totoong manyak nga ito.
"I just know. And Inspector Boom just commited a fraud to—"
"Holy crap! Sagutin mo kami kung paano mo nalaman ang mga iyan?", galit na tanong ni Inspector Fenris.
"Sinusundan mo ba kami?"
"Nope. I just heard from the two noisy inspectors. Yes, directly from the two of you", wika ni Gray. I was amused by how he was able to turn the tables. Parang kanina lang ay nagmukha kaming kawawa.
"Wala kang ebidensya."
Gray grinned. "Unfortunately, I do." Inilabas niya ang cellphone at pinarinig sa amin ang naroong record.
"Syempre Boom, masigla ang araw ko. Cliopatra just gave me a blow. Nakatatlo kami sa loob ng sasakyan!"
"Aba ang lakas ah! Nako, pag nalaman yan ng asawa mo, lagot ka."
"Hindi niya malalaman dahil tayo lang naman. Matagal ko ng ginagawa to. Ikaw? Bakit malaki ang ngiti mo?"
"Nagkapera ako. Yung matandang tinulungan ko sa mga pinroseso niya nahuthutan ko. Nag-uumapaw naman kasi ang pera noon. Sinabi ko rin na may mga police charges at kung anu-ano pa."
Pinatay ni Gray ang record. The cops face infront of us ashen. bago tuluyang nawalan ng kulay. Their smirking faces are now as colorless as a clear water.
"Paano mo nakuha iyan? Nasa sasakyan kami habang nag-uusap! Imposibleng nasa sasakyan ka rin!", galit na wika ni Inspector Boom. Nakatunghay lamang si Detective Adler, amused by how Gray outwitted them.
"I have my ways." Gray said at bahagyang sinulyapan ang mga kaklase ko mula sa di kalayuan. His way? Lumingon din ako doon and I saw Math grinning at us. She winked when she look at our direction. Ah! Math and her bug! It's always handy, eh?
"So? Isasama niyo kami o pupunta ako sa gate kung saan nag-aabang ang mga reporters. Surely you wouldn't want a headline with your names on it."
"Damn you!"
Nagsalita na si Detective Adler mula sa pananahimik. "Mukhang walang ibang paraan kundi hayaan sila."
"Sige. Sumunod kayo sa amin sa conference room. Dalhin niyo ang suspek."
Hindi na ako nag-aksaya ng panahon. I immediately run towards Jeremy's direction. I excused myself from the group at hinila si Jeremy.
"Yow Bestie.... Luh! Where are you taking me?", he said. He's still joking. Isn't he aware of the alleged murder na ginawa daw niya?
"Je, we need to talk."
Lumapit na din sa amin si Gray. "Kailangan ka talaga naming makausap."
"Ikaw Gray ha. Kanina ko napapansin na ang lagkit ng titig mo sa akin. Walang talo-talo bro! Paano na si Victoria—"
I cut him off. "Je, this is a serious matter. We have to follow the tracks of those three but make your steps small upang makapag-usap pa tayo."
Jeremy became serious. Naramdaman marahil nito ang pagiging seryoso namin. "What is this about?
Si Gray ang nagsalita. "Jeremy, do you know that one of the seven missing students was found dead?"
"Yeah, I knew about it. Why?"
"Your cap and fingerprints were found at the crime scene", wika ko. Jeremy just walked like it was nothing.
"And so? Wait! My cap and fingerprints, you say?", nagulat ito. Oh, I'm expecting that he would.
"The victim is Jomari Sanchez. Multiple stab wounds. In his room on the fifth floor, they got withholding evidence, a cap that belongs to you."
Jeremy is now confused. "Wait, hindi ko nga kilala yan and I haven't gone to fifth floor! My cap was lost, few days ago! Don't tell me they're detaining me?"
I felt a cold sweat slipped over my body as I slowly nodded. Shit! Why Jeremy?! Bakit ito pa?
"Isa iyan sa rason kung bakit ka nila ide-detain, they said you didn't divulge important evidence like the lost of your cap which I found so baseless. I lost my handkerchief too, should I report that?", Gray asked.
Jeremy stopped from his track and I thought he's gonna cry but he didn't.
"Someone's trying to get away from murder and framing me in the process!", he said. His face is serious and gone was the Jeremy who laughs like there's no tomorrow.
Yes! Definitely! Someone is really trying to make him take the blame. Damn that organization!
But why Jeremy? It's the question that is running in my mind as we walk towards the conference room.
#
—ShinichiLaaaabs.