Chapter 43: Murderer, Jeremy Martinez (Resolution Chapter)
"Amber, help me please. Ayoko sa ganito. I'm handcuffed. Pakiramdam ko ay napakasama kong tao", wika ni Jeremy. Nasa Conference room ako ngayon kasama ito kung saan ito kasalukuyang naka-detain. Pinapauwi lamang ito sa dorm upang makapagbihis but of course, he's accompanied with a police officer. He was a little bit haggard, marahil ay dahil sa kanyang kalagayan ngayon. He is held as a suspect for a brutal murder, for goodness sake!
Naalala ko ang footage na nakita ko. I'm sure one of them is him, hindi ko alam kung bakit ngunit pinagdududahan ko na ang pagiging inosente ni Jeremy. Sino nga ba siya? Is this planned all along? Mula sa physical transformation nito hanggang sa mga nangyayari ngayon, planado nga ba ang lahat ng ito mula sa simula pa lamang? Hindi ko lubos maisip kung ganoon man ang nangyayari ngayon.
Another one in the footage is Math. I'm positive that it's Math too. Kasabwat ba siya ni Jeremy? Bahagi ba sila ng Genesis? Did they plan this all along?
"Hoy!", pukaw ni Je. "Bakit nakakunot yang kilay mo?" He was looking straight at me. Hindi ko namalayang nahulog na pala ako sa malalim na pag-iiisip.
I grabbed his arm and he winced a little nang masaktan ang nakaposas niyang kamay.
"Aray Amber-"
"Sigurado ka bang inosente ka?", I asked directly on his face.
His facial expression becomes puzzled. Saglit na rumehistro ang pagkagulat sa mukha nito but it immediately disappeared.
"You're doubting me?"
"Gusto ko lang malaman ang totoo. Pagod na ako sa mga kasinungalingan", wika ko sa kanya. As much as possible, I will not immediately believe to any charade, if that's what he's doing. He's my BESTFRIEND, kaya kailangan ko siyang tulungan. If he did it, labas na ang pagkakaibigan namin doon. He must face the consequence of his conduct.
But I hope he didn't. He is My Jeremy and I cannot imagine him doing unlawful deeds. Ni hindi ko nga maisip na kaya nitong manapak, pumatay pa ba kaya?
"By doubting me?" May hinanakit sa boses nito.
"I just wanna make sure." Uh, nagi-guilty ako somehow.
Tumawa si Jeremy ng mapakla. "Aray ko beh. Of all people, you're the last person whom I thought will doubt me."
I felt a pain in my chest. Bakit ba masakit ang epekto ng salitang iyon sa akin? Am I really doubting him?
"Je-"
"It's okay Amber. Alam kong wala naman talagang magtitiwala sa nerd na tulad ko." He pushed himself in the chair that he was sitting. Right that very moment ay nais kong bawiin ang sinabi ko ngunit hindi ako makapagsalita.
"No, Je-"
"Am I not a trustworthy friend?"
"Jere-"
"Oh, I see. I'm not." His eyes start to water na parang isang salita ko na lamang ay malalaglag na ang mga luha. Puno rin ng hinanakit ang boses nito. God! Anong klaseng kaibigan ako?
"Je .. It's not like that. Hindi ko alam anong nararamdaman mo ngayon-"
"I'm still alive but I'm barely breathing", wika niya. Oh, he's making me feel guilty for our friendship.
"Jeremy we're doing our best to clear your name. Gray and I are doing our best since wala kang magawa dito."
"Just prayed to a God that I don't believe in", wika niya.
"Yes, let's just pray." Ako na siguro ang pinakamasamang kaibigan.
"'Cause I got time while she got freedom", he said at napakunot ang noo ko.
"Huh?"
"But when a heart breaks no it don't break even... even..... even nooo", Jeremy said at bigla itong napasimangot nang bigla na lamang itong binatukan ng bagong dating na si Gray.
"Aray ha! Kahapon ka pa Silvan, kung di lang ako nakaposas baka inupakan na kita."
Gray frowned at him at naupo sa tabi ko. "That's a song of my favorite band."
Song? Eh? Kaya pala tila pamilyar ang pinagsasabi ni Jeremy. Loko talaga ito, kailan ba ito titino?
"Anyway, I have a lead."
"Lead?"
Tumango si Gray. "But I still have to find concrete evidences. Now tell us what are your fingerprints doing there. No, what are you doing up there."
"Gray, sabi ko naman na hindi ako nagawi sa crime scene. Fine, I've been up there but not at the crime scene."
"Jeremy, your fingerprints are there."
"Hindi ko nga alam!"
Napakamot na lamang si Gray sa ulo niya. "Ano ang ginagawa mo sa fifth floor?"
"I cannot tell you."
"Jeremy-"
"It has nothing to do with this case."
"How about Math?"
"She's still boastful as ever." Yeah, he hates her.
"She's on the footage too."
"Really?" , Je asked but he doesn't seem surprise. Tila inaasahan na nito ang sinabi kong iyon.
"Jeremy, you're hiding something", wika ni Gray. His gaze is boring through him.
Nagpakawala si Je nang pilit na ngiti. "Tinatago? Wala ah."
"Alam kong may tinatago ka", pagpipilit ni Gray. He's in his usual way, the intimidating one. The kind of which will make you confess your secrets.
"Fine! Aamin na ako", Jeremy said and I felt my chest ached. Bahagi ba ito ng Genesis? He let out a big sigh. "Aamin na ako. May tinatago ako...."
"Continue."
"Aamin na ako na...."
"Na?", Gray asked but Jeremy let out a big sigh again.
"Na?", tanong ko na rin.
"Na....."
Shit! Masasapak ko na talaga ito, isang pambibitin na lang!
"Na?", Gray asked with irritation.
"Na may balat ako sa binti, malapit sa pwet!!!!", Jeremy said and he covered his face with his palm. "Yan ang tinatago ko, matagal ko na yang tinatago!"
Anak ng siopao at pizza naman oh!
Halatang nagpipigil lamang si Gray. He asked him again. "Not that. Yung iba mo pang tinatago."
He sighed again. Tumayo siya at bahagyang lumapit kay Gray. He raised both his arms. "Meron talaga akong tinatago. Tingnan mo ang boxer shorts ko."
Bahagyang napaatras si Gray. "What the hell?!"
What the hell talaga?! Nababaliw na ba si Jeremy? Is he gay at type niya si Gray?!
"Gusto niyong malaman ang tinatago ko diba? Nandyan ang tinatago ko", he said at lumapit ulit kay Gray. "Kapkapan mo ang boxer shorts ko Gray."
"Stay away from me Jeremy, baka hindi ako makapagpigil", wika ni Gray. Oh Je, please kung mahal mo ang mukha mo, stay away from Gray and his punch.
"Do it Gray! Alangan namang si Amber ang ipapakapkap ko! I want you to do it!", he said. "Do it now! Hurry!"
Wait, ito ba ang tinatago ni Je? His gender crisis? How about Victoria? Front lang ba iyon upang pagtakpan ang totoong siya? Oh no!
Please no!
"Jeremy!"
"Bilis sabi!"
"You're crazy!", Gray exclaimed. "I'm going out now!"
Yes, mas mabuti pang umalis na kami at magpatuloy na lamang sa pag-iimbestiga! My God, I can't believe it!
"Argh! Gray, isa!" Jeremy was starting to become irritated.
"Wag mo akong bilangan! Marunong akong magbilang."
"Gray!"
"Jeremy, I have no problems with the third sex as long as they're not taking sexual advantage on me-"
Napakunot ang noo ni Je. "Sexual advan- what the hell?! Ano bang pinagsasabi mo?"
Maging ako ay naguguluhan din. "Err, hindi ba uhmm- ano, bakla ka Je?"
"What? Sinong bakla? Ako? My God! Yan din ba iniisip mo Gray?", Je asked at dahan-dahang napatango si Gray. "Oh no! Mapapa-Pak Ganern ako sa inyo!", he said while chuckling.
"Jeremy umayos ka. We have less than a day to help you out of this mess", wika ko sa kanya. "What's with your boxer shorts?"
"The key! Susi ng posas mga beh! Help me out! Nakuha ko yan sa tatanga-tangang pulis kanina nang pakainin nila ako! Get me out of here! Dali!", he said. Lumapit siya kay Gray at agad naman siyang kinapkapan ng huli at agad na nakuha ang susi. We freed him from the handcuffs and we snuck out of the conference room with Jeremy.
God! I almost thought- Oh never mind. Ang mahalaga ngayon ay nailabas na namin si Jeremy sa conference room. Makakatulong siya sa amin sa pag-iimbestiga. If he's not the murderer, he must knew something about this case dahil nandoon siya sa fifth floor.
We sneak inside the crime scene kasama si Jeremy. Halos masuka pa ito nang makita ang nagkalat na dugo doon.
"This is a brutal murder tapos ibibintang nila ito sa akin? I'm too kind for these", komento ni Jeremy. We're glad na class hours ngayon kaya walang tao sa dorm. We had free access in every room there, kailangan nga lamang magmadali.
Lumapit siya sa mga minarkahan ng pulis para sa pag-iimbestiga. "Those are your fingerprints", wika ko sa kanya.
Bahagyang bumakas ang kaseryosohan sa mukha nito. "I swear from my ancestor's grave that I haven't gone into this room. I don't know kung paano napunta dito ang mga fingerprints ko. Impossible! Very impossible unless may magic na naganap."
Yes, very impossible but magic? Magic? Naniniwala si Je sa magic gaya ni Cooler? Eh? May magic nga ba?
Magic like putting Jeremy's fingerprints in the crime scene here even though he hasn't been in this place. He roamed his gaze around the room at naghanap pa ng maaaring maging ebidensya na makapagpapalinis sa kanyang pangalan bilang primary suspect.
"The cap must have been planted in order to incriminate you Jeremy but the mystery there is the fingerprints. It can't be planted unless you're drugged or what at dinala ka nila dito to spread it but there's no scenario like that in the footage. We cannot make some alterations on the video-"
Bahagyang napatigil si Gray sa pagsasalita. It's like he said something magical. Parang may nasabi ito na makakatulong sa amin upang malutas ito! He said it like he just started to scratch it and disclose the truth behind this case.
"There's no doubt that these fingerprints are not planted. It's really the prints that the murderer left", wika ni Gray. He smiled at us like he was saying he got some of this case.
"Ibig sabihin ay si Jeremy nga ang may gawa?, I asked shockingly. No! Jeremy can't do it.
"I didn't! Hindi ko alam kung bakit nandito ang mga fingerprints ko!", Jeremy stressed again.
"What do you think of hackers? Hindi ba't posibleng malaki ang papel na ginampanan nila sa krimeng ito? it's obvious that the Genesis is the one behind all of these cases based on the structure of the case mula sa mga nawawalang estudyante hanggang sa stab wounds and cuts at the victim's tummy", panimula ni Gray. Hackers? Hackers are amazing. I really find Ryu's skills in cracking government or any other accounts that he wished to crack but how do they play big role in this case?
"And? Ano naman ang ginawa ng mga hackers?"
"Alterations", wika ni Gray. Inilibot niya ang paningin sa crime scene and we did the same.
"This crime scene is what it really seems to be. The place looks like there was some struggle between the victim and his attacker. The fingerprints on the place. It's all as it is. What the hackers did was to have some alterations in the school files, specifically on Jeremy's medical and other important records kung nasaan ang fingerprints niya na pinagbasehan ng mga pulis sa pagma-match ng mga fingerprints na naiwan dito", wika niya. He is in his usual airy mood kapag nakakalutas ito ng kaso. He must have been sure about this deduction.
"You mean the trick in this crime is the alteration of records of the school?", tanong ko sa kanya. The school's system is not hard to crack but I never thought of something like this. Marahil ay ang ibig sabihin ni Gray ay pinalitan ang mga naka-save na record about Jeremy and exchanged it with the culprit's.
But why did the culprit choose Jeremy? It's possible that it was someone who has grudge for him but I don't think anyone has. Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Zywon sa akin. He said that Plumbite was someone whom Gray and I would not suspect of doing it.
Kung pagbabasehan lamang iyon, maaring kwalipikado si Jeremy sa mga iyon. We won't suspect him of doing it dahil akala namin ay napakabait niya upang gawin iyon. Second is Math. We won't suspect her for doing it since we thought that her loyalty is with us lalo na at malaki ang pakinabang namin sa kanya at sa mga imbensyon niya.
And come to think of it! Both Jeremy and Math are spotted on the footage! Posssible bang silang dalawa ang may gawa niyon? Hindi kaya magkasabwat silang dalawa ni Math at bahagi sila ng Genesis?
"Hindi ba't hindi naman personally na kinunan ng fingerprints si Jeremy? We can request for that. The culprit is someone lurking out there. The culprit that is part of the Genesis who tried to obliterate Jeremy's name, that someone used Jeremy who's helpless ngunit malas na lamang niya, he used the wrong person."
Jeremy cut in. "That's possible but who could have done it? Hindi ba sinabi mo kanina na may lead ka na sa kasong ito?"
Napatango si Gray. "Yes but I haven't got much on that lead. Kailangan ko muna ng tamang proof para dito. And oh, if they were able to alter the computerized record of Bridle, ibig sabihin ay may kasabwat din sila na mula sa staff ng Bridle."
Parehas kaming nagulat ni Jeremy sa sinabi niyang iyon. it only means one thing: The Genesis had already inhabited Bridle High School for their evil deeds!
But I thought they occupied St. Therese Academy? Ibig bang sabihin ay mas marami na silang ginagawang kuta?! If there will be more missing students cases, ibig bang sabihin ay naperpekto na nila ang nootropic na pinagkakaabalan ng organisasyon?! Oh no! We can't let that happen!
"Wala ba kayong napapansin sa kwartong ito?", he asked. "Hindi ba't mukhang may nangyaring konting panlalaban? The bloods that were scattered everywhere told us so. Maging ang magulong paligid ay makapagsasabi na ganoon ang nangyari. Then it's safe to assume na maaaring may mga marka mula sa panlalaban na iyon ang kung sino mang tunay na gumawa nito."
"Then we can narrow down our guy to those people na maaaring may mga scratches o kaya ay pasa sa katawan nila, tama ba?", tanong ni Jeremy.
Scratches and bruises?
Sino ba ang mga nakita kong may scratches at mga pasa sa katawan?
Ah. My classmates. Hindi ba't sinabi nila na nagmukhang wrestling ang nangyari sa PE basketball naming? But one with outstanding scratches was Marcus.
"Marcus...", wika ko. Nakapagtatakang mas visible ang mga scratches nito sa katawan, kaysa sa ibang meron ang mga kaklase namin. It's safe to assume that he did more on the basketball but something is telling me it wasn't like that.
Nagtatakang napatingin sa akin si Jeremy. "Marcus? Why? What's with Marcus?"
Nagpakawala ng isang ngiti si Gray. I didn't tell him about Plumbite and the other stuff that Zywon told me but he got this much on this case. Marahil ay matindi ang kagustuhan nitong malinis ang pangalan ni Jeremy. Or maybe he's really a good high school detective.
"He really is suspicious", komento ni Gray.
"Really? You found him suspicious?", tanong ko sa kanya and he nodded.
"Access within the crime scene is not hard for him lalo na at occupant siya dito. His scratches are suspicious too. His body built was similar with the third suspicious guy on the footage. As of now, yan pa lang ang pinagbabasehan ko. No concrete evidence if he really did it but once we were able to check the records, we will know sooner", Gray said in his usual lopsided smile.
That's it! Kaya pala tila pamilyar ang pigura ng isang mystery guy na nasa footage other than Math and Jeremy! It was Marcus! But why Marcus?! He's fond of Jeremy, why would he incriminate him? Posible bang nagkunwari lamang itong tila aliw na aliw kay Jeremy but in reality, he really framed him in this brutal murder?
Sabay kaming napalingon sa may pinto nang makarinig kami ng mahinang palakpak mula doon. Nang ibaling ko ang paningin ko sa gawing iyon ay nakatayo doon si Detective Adler who was clapping his hands slowly as he smirked at us.
"Bravo. Amazing realization everyone", wika niya at pumasok, he locked the door from behind at lumapit sa amin. I sensed danger in him at mabuti na lamang ay hinila ako ni Gray palapit sa kanya and he hid me behind him.
"What are you doing here?", tanong ni Gray dito. He maintained his cool like he always do in some situations that weren't that desperate to him.
"How rude. Hindi mo ba naaalala na parehas tayong binigyan ng tungkulin na imbestigahan ang kasong ito? With that, you shouldn't be surprised to see me here", sagot nito. He's making me irritated in every way. I guess my first impression of him as a fame whore detective will last.
"God, I hate to see him", bulong ni Jeremy sa tabi ko. Well, we all do.
"Oh, really? Aren't you spying on us?", tanong ulit ni Gray and the detective's laughter filled the room. It's annoying.
"Spying and investigating are two different things, you know it well. If you say spy, it's done secretly so I guess this is called investigating since I'm trying to find out facts to learn how did the murder happen", sagot ni Detective Adler.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Ang totoo niyan ay parehas na tayo ng anggulong tinitingnan. Ayaw ko mang aminin but you got on that realization first than I did. Balak ko sanang isumbong kayo kanina nang makita ko kayong tumakas palabas ng conference room but then I was curious when you all headed here so I followed you", wika niya.
"And you listened to our conversation?", tanong ni Jeremy.
"Yes."
"And what are you planning to do now?", I asked. Inilabas ko ang sarili mula sa likuran ni Gray. I think I have to learn to defend myself, hindi ganitong palagi na lamang nila akong pinoprotektahan.
"Truth is my comrades discovered that our prisoner had escaped so they're searching for him now and I told them that I have the prisoner kaya kailangan mo nang sumama sa akin ngayon Ginoong Martinez", wika ni Detective Adler kay Je.
The latter stepped backward at idinistansya ang sarili kay Detective Adler. Humakbang naman ako sa harap ni Jeremy and spread my arms like I was protecting him. Yeah, I will protect MY Jeremy no matter what so I'll start protecting him from people who wants to detain him even if he didn't do anything unlawful.
"Sorry but I can't let you. You see, the big bad killer is still free kaya kailangan naming siyang hanapin. He should be the one you're detaining, not Jeremy", matapang na wika ko. I will kiss myself later for acting so tough.
"Yan din ang nasa isip ko Amber kaya bakit hindi na lamang natin sabay na puntahan ang taong pinangalanan ninyo. Marcus, isn't it?", he said and I don't trust him with this but we have to take shots. Nagpalitan sila ng masasamang tingin ni Gray bago binuksan ni Detective Adler ang pinto at lumabas doon.
"The students are out by this hour. Let's go", wika niya. Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo at sabay na napabuntong-hininga. I guess we have no other choice kaysa naman magpumilit ito na kunin si Jeremy upang ibalik sa loob ng conference room.
Nagpunta kaming lahat sa cafeteria at hinanap ang taong pakay namin. Gaya ng inaasahan ay naroon nga siya at kasalukuyang umiinom ng hot chocolate. He rose from his seat nang makita kami at agad na kumaway sa amin.
"Jeremyyy! Welcome back dude! Na-miss ka namin. How are you feeling?", tanong niya. Ang sabi kasi ng guro ay may sakit daw si Jeremy kaya nag+absent ito. Good thing that was what she said dahil iyon din ang naging alibi namin sa mga naghahanap kay Jeremy.
"Never better", tipid na sagot ni Jeremy. Binati rin siya ng iba pang mga kaklase naming naroon na kasama ni Marcus. Detective Adler cleared his throat for a while at tila naintindihan naman iyon ni Gray. He didn't waste any time.
"Marcus, can we talk for a while?", Gray said at sumang-ayon naman ito. He acted like he's not guilty of anything. Well, good acting skills Marcus! Pang-Grammy's!
"Sure", he said and he excused himself from the others for a while at sumama sa amin palabas ng cafeteria. Hindi naman nagtaka ang mga kaklase namin sa pagsama ni Marcus samin. We headed to the nearest bench a doon kami pumwesto.
"Jeremy!"
Napalingon kami sa pinagmulan ng boses. It was Math. She ran towards our direction at lumapit sa amin.
"Oh", she mouthed. Bahagya siyang lumapit sa amin at nagpalipat-lipat ng tingin kay Marcus at Detective Adler. Alam kong alam na niya kung bakit kami nagtitipon doon base na rin sa kaseryosohan ng mga mukha namin. Mukhang wala na itong balak na umalis pa doon kaya nagsalita na si Gray.
"What were you doing on the fifth floor of the boys' dorm?", deretsahang tanong ni Gray. He also stated the date and time ngunit wala man lamang rumehistro na pagkagulat sa mukha ni Marcus, bagkus ay cool na cool lamang iton habang iniinom ang kanyang hot chocolate na dinala niya.
"Of the dorm? I haven't been there, fourth floor lang ang kwarto ko", wika niya. He avoided our gazes ngunit tila wala man lamang sign na kinakabahan ito sa ginagawa ni Gray na informal interrogation.
"Aha! Nandito ka lamang pala!"
Sabay kaming napalingon sa pinagmulan ng boses at nakita namin sina Inspector Boom at Inspector Fenris. Hanggang ngayon ay inis pa rin ako sa presensya nila so I darted a deadly glare unto them ngunit wala lamang iyong epekto.
"We have to take this kid, Detective", wika ni Inspector Boom kay Detective Adler at bahagyang lumapit kay Jeremy. Agad naman itong napaatras at bago pa man ako makapagsalita ay humarang na si Gray sa harap ng mga pulis.
"Nope. You'll catch the bad guy after this", wika niya.
"Anong ibig mong sabihin?", naguguluhang tanong Inspector Fenris. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin nito sa lahat na naroon at maging kay Detective Adler. He was giving him a 'what-is-this-all-about' look. The detective just shrugged his shoulders at nagpatuloy naman sa pagsasalita si Gray.
"So back to you Marcus. What are you doing there again?", tanong niya. Marcus put the styro cup of his hot chocolate on the bench at hinarap si Gray.
"Ano ba yang tanong mo bossing? What is this all about?"
"We saw the footage and you cannot deny it", wika ni Gray. Bahagyang rumehistro ang galit sa mukha ni Marcus ngunit agad din iyong nawala.
"What's going on here?", Math whispered at sinagot siya ni Je nang tingin kasabay ng paglagay nito sa daliri sa kanyang bibig, asking her to keep quiet which she gladly obeyed.
"Gray-"
"Let's do it the hard way. Why did you kill the victim and incriminate Jeremy on the process? How were you able to alter the school records that contain Jeremy's fingerprints? Ano ang kinalaman mo sa Genesis?", deretsahang tanong ulit ni Gray and this time nawalan na ng kulay ang mukha ni Marcus. I was like watching a glass of milk being emptied.
Bahagya itong napaatras but he was able to redeem himself. Lahat kami na naroon ay halos hindi makapaniwala ng ito ang gumawa niyon. He chuckled a little at hinarap si Gray.
"So, that's the reason why Jeremy is missing in action these past days an not because he's sick. I don't know what you are saying, Gray", wika nito. His body still had some scratches and bruises! No doubt! It was from a fight and not from a basketball match.
"Paano mo nakuha ang mga sugat at pasa mo sa katawan?"
"This? Baka nakakalimutan ninyo, nagkagulo kami sa PE kaya doon it-"
"It wasn't from a game. It's surely from a fight", kumbinsidong wika ni Gray. Napamaang saglit si Marcus and I am sure that anger is what I saw in his eyes. He picked up the hot chocolate at tila amused na tiningnan si Gray. He's good in shifting his emotions as I've observed.
"Really detective?", he asked at uminom mula sa kanyang styrocup. "I never tought that I would be a subject of your investi- AAAACCCCCKKKKK!"
Bigla na lamang nitong nabitawan ang hawak na styrocup at napahawak sa kanyang leeg. His eyes started to bulge at bigla na lamang bumula ang bibig nito. His body is shaking as he fell on the ground.
Napatingin na ang mga estudyante sa gawi namin at nataranta naman kami nang makita ito. Gray kneeled on his side and touched his pulse.
"It's erratic. Mukhang nilason siya", wika ni Gray. The police immediately helped Marcus at agad nilang tinulungan ito. Pinulot naman ni Gray ang styrocup na naroon at inamoy ang laman niyon.
Humarap siya sa amin at ipinakita ang styrocup. "He was still drinking this at the cafeteria. If he was poisoned, it must be here to prevent himself from turning in to us. Isa lamang ang ibig sabihin nito, one of the seven of us here put the poison on his drink to silence him."
I clenched my fist as I think of the Genesis. They're heartless! I think I'll concede with Zywon's statement. I will CRASH them. Kung nilason nga si Marcus, it only means one thing just like what Gray said.
Aside from Marcus who was probably Plumbite, one of the seven of us here is a minion of the Genesis!
But the question is... who?
#
-ShinichiLaaaabs.