The text message was sent the day Jasmeen died. It's the very same message that I've read from the murder-mystery novel that Penelope's working on. The very same novel that Kinsley was helping her with.
Penelope mentioned that Kinsley gave her the idea, that she was so invested in the novel that she helped Penelope brainstorm.
On Penelope's novel, the protagonist received a text from her bestfriend with the same message that Kinsley received in real life. Some details are not actual facts if the character is based on Kinsley... but the scenario? I can't possibly be mistaken. There is no way in hell that it's just a mere coincidence.
How the characters in the novel planned to go out and how the protagonist found her bestfriend's lifeless body hanging on the ceiling... It's all too familiar. Parehong-pareho.
What if Kinsley was up to something for the past six months? What if she knows the truth about her bestfriend's death? What if Jasmeen's death wasn't a suicide like everybody believed and she was actually murdered?
It's a possibility that Kinsley was investigating Jasmeen's death for the past six months... and maybe when she got closer to uncovering the truth, the culprit killed her to shut her up.
My mind was running with endless speculations and theories over what I've found out. If my hypotheses are correct... then I just found a clue to a possible murder! Not only that but this means the killer is still out there which means this body is in danger!
"Are you okay? You're very pale," a voice snapped me out of my trance.
I was brought back to present time. My breath was ragged. I feel like I'm slipping in a panic attack. I looked around and I was reminded of where I am and who I'm with.
I brought my eyes to Jakob. Hindi ko man lang napansin na nakabalik na siya. He looked worried as he watched me from the opposite side of the table.
My eyes then went down to the table and realized that our orders were already served. How long was I trapped in my own head?
"Hey... Are you alright?" Jakob called for my attention again.
I feel so suffocated. I wanted to tell him what I found out. But how can I explain it to him without sounding crazy? Hypothetically, there's a reason why Kinsley hid the truth and investigated it on her own. It was only a suspicion and she had no proof.
Gusto ko nang umuwi at tawagan si Penelope. I want to ask her more about the novel she's working on with Kinsley, but I can't ditch Jakob just like that.
Huminga ako nang malalim at pilit na kinalma ang sarili. I can't help my heart from wildly racing inside my chest.
I forced a smile at Jakob to keep him from worrying. "I'm just hungry. Kain na tayo."
Nag-iwas ako ng tingin kay Jakob at nagsimula nang kumain. I focused on my monster burger with fries and strawberry milkshake.
I could still feel his heated gaze on me. So to pretend that I was okay, I took a huge bite on my burger and smilingly looked at him as I chewed.
From the way his jaw ticked and the way he darkly stared at me, he didn't look convinced but he didn't push me for information either. He let it go.
Wala akong gana kumain pero pinilit kong ubusin ang binili ni Jakob para sa akin. I never attempted to start another conversation and Jakob didn't either.
Jakob drove me home as soon as we were done with our food. I couldn't get away fast enough as I mumbled a brief thanks and darted towards the gate. Hindi na niya pinasok ang kotse niya sa loob at hindi ko na rin naman siya inimbita.
Like usual, Kirsten and Nial were hanging on the living room. Nakaupo silang dalawa sa sahig. The television is open but no one was watching. They were both busy working on something.
"Oh, Ate," Kirsten said when she saw me.
Nial's attention drifted to me because of that. He cutely grinned and waved before going back to doodling on the paper.
"Hey. Where's Noah and Mom?" I asked.
"Mom's at the kitchen. Si Kuya Noah naman 'di pa nakakauwi," sagot nito.
I nodded. "I'll just be in my room."
I resumed walking. My steps were rushed. I wanted to be alone and be able to hear myself think without disruptions.
As soon as I was in the safety of my room, I called Penelope. It took a few rings before she answered.
"Hey!" she happily greeted.
"Pen, I have a few questions about your novel. Okay lang ba?" I eagerly asked.
"Oh," she paused briefly. "Sure. Ano 'yon?"
"When did you start conceptualizing it with me?"
"Hmmm... I can't remember the exact date but it was May. Two months after..." she trailed.
"Jasmeen's death," I supplied.
"Oh. Alam mo na pala! I almost mentioned it last time but I was hesitant because I don't know if it's the right thing to do... so I didn't." She heavily sighed. "Anyway, yes. You told me you think someone killed Jasmeen and that it wasn't a suicide then you convinced me to write a novel under that genre. I thought it was an intriguing plot so I agreed."
"Why was Jasmeen's death ruled out as suicide?"
"Because of the suicide note that the investigators found in her laptop and they didn't find anything else to conclude it as murder," she patiently explained and then gasped. "Why are you asking? May naalala ka na ba?"
"No. I was with Jakob earlier at the cemetery. He told me about Jasmeen but I feel like it'd be too insenstive of me considering the date today if I asked him more about his sister's death."
Penelope breathed out. "Oo nga pala. I forgot that it's her birthday. I'm gonna visit her grave, too. Nakapunta na kaya si Maqui?"
"You should ask him. Thanks, Pen."
"No biggie. See you soon!" she bid before ending the call.
Silence wrapped me once again and the thoughts started flooding in. All I have right now is a hunch. It's possible that my guesses are false.
There's a possibility that it's just a coincidence or that maybe Kinsley's just in denial which is why she imagined an alternate universe where Jasmeen didn't commit suicide and was actually murdered. Maybe she was just really inspired by her bestfriend's death... but then her own death won't make any sense if that's the case.
Hindi ko na alam kung anong theory ang uunahin. All I know right now is I need to have a more solid proof. I need to know what Kinsley had been doing before September 28. Before thinking about anything else, like who's the killer, I have to confirm if she was really investigating Jasmeen's death because if that was the case then I can conclude that someone tried to her, too.
But where do I start? I have no freaking idea where to look. I found the first clue in Kinsley's phone. Maybe I can dig something by searching through it? Kahit kailan kasi ay hindi ko 'yon kasi hinalungkat. I just use it to text and call. Maybe I can find something.
With that in mind, I started browsing my phone. Inuna ko ang messages niya. I found nothing suspicious there. Unknown numbers are normally blockmates. Ang madalas lang na contacts ni Kinsley ay ang pamilya at ang dalawang kaibigan niya na sina Maqui at Pen.
My eyebrow raised when I saw Jakob's name. The last text was dated before Jasmeen died. Jakob's replies were cold and dismissive while Kinsley's texts were flirty and obviously interested.
Napansin ko na palagi pang si Kinsley ang nauuna. Maikli lang ang thread nila dahil madalas hindi sumasagot si Jakob kapag 'di importante.
Thu, 12 Feb, 2:30 PM
Kinsley:
Hey. Do you have plans this Satuday?
Jakob:
Why?
Kinsley:
Valentines. Hehe.
Jakob:
Busy.
Kinsley:
Sungit :(
Napangiti ako roon. I don't know why but seeing him dismissing Kinsley made me giddy. What? Ugh. The hell... Fabienne, focus!
Knocks on my door made me look away from my screen. I don't even know why I panicked and hid my phone like I was caught redhanded. The door opened and Kirsten peeked through the small gap.
"Ate, kain na raw dinner."
I nodded at Kirsten. She didn't wait for my response and left, closing the door. Hinayaan ko na lang muna ang phone at tumayo na mula sa kama para makababa na ng dining area.
The family's complete. Pati si Noah ay nakauwi na. Tahimik na umupo na lang ako sa usual na pwesto ni Kinsley. The two maids were still setting the table for us.
Afritada ang ulam. I reached for the rice and got myself the right amount. Pagkatapos ay nilagyan ko ng ulam ang sariling bowl ko. The others were preoccupied with filling their own plates.
"Kinsley, anak, I heard from your brother that you visited Jasmeen's grave?" Mariah, who was seated at the head of the table, opened the conversation.
"Yeah," I casually answered and began feeding myself. "I was with Jakob."
"Do you... remember anything?" she carefully asked. She looked a little hopeful. Pati si Noah at Kirsten ay nag-aabang ng isasagot ko.
I heavily sighed and nodded. "No."
Their shoulders sagged in disappointment. They didn't say it outloud but I can see it through their faces and read it through their body language.
I can be very perceptive when it comes to reading people, as long as the one involved is transparent. There are people with complex minds who are hard to read and are also good at subtly evading.
"Oh, well... It hasn't been a week. I'm sure your memories will slowly come back soon," Mariah positively said.
"Right," I returned the same enthusiasm and smiled.
She warmly smiled at me before transferring her gaze elsewhere. Her forehead creased. "Nial, sweetie, stop playing with your food."
My eyes flew to the youngest of the siblings. Nial was seated on Mariah's left. Sa tabi naman niya ay si Kirsten.
"Sorry," he glumly said and straightened on his special chair to eat properly.
I think he sensed that I was watching him because his head turned to me. He cutely grinned at me. Nakita ko na naman ang cute na bungi niya. I smiled back but it faded when I remembered the first time he smiled at me like that.
"I kept our secret, Ate. Can I have my cookie now?"
That's what he told me when I first came to this place.
A secret. We had a secret. Does it have to do with Kinsley's investigation? It could be nothing but it's still a lead. It's my only lead right now.
I patiently waited for bedtime. Pagkatapos kasi kumain ay lilinisan pa si Nial bago matulog. I need to speak to him alone. After a few minutes, I headed to Nial's room.
I knocked on the door before opening it. Nang sumilip ako ay naabutan ko pa siya sa biglang paghiga sa pagpikit para magpanggap na natutulog. I noticed the airplane toy he was holding in one hand.
"Hey, Nial," I called.
He peeped by opening one eye. He opened his eyes completely when he saw me. He looked relieved. "Oh. It's just you, Ate!"
"Can I come in, Nial?" tanong ko.
He sat up and cutely nodded. "Sure, Ate."
His innocent eyes followed my movements as I entered the room, closing the door behind me. I walked towards his bed and sat on the side.
"Remember our secret, Nial?" I judiciously asked.
"Yes, Ate. I remember." He eagerly nodded.
"I'll give you your cookies tomorrow... but can you tell me what's our secret?"
His whole face lit up. "Okay!"
Nial hastily got out of bed. He ran towards a wooden chest. He opened it and threw some toys on the floor before bringing out a police car. He ran back to where I was and proudly handed it to me.
"Here, Ate. Our secret."
My forehead was creased as I stared at the bulky police car. I hesitantly took it from Nial. "This is our secret?"
"Yes, Ate. You said I was good at hide and seek, so I should keep this hidden from anyone."
I lifted it up to inspect it properly. I turned it upside down and my eyes widened when I heard something clank. I brought the police car closer to my ear and shook it. There. I heard it perfectly. Something was clattering inside.
I placed it on my lap and tried to figure out how to open it. My eyebrows lifted when I managed to remove the cover. I anxiously lifted the top. I gaped when I saw objects inside the container. A printout of Jasmeen's text, candid polaroids of a girl, and a small key.
I was right.
Kinsley knows something about Jasmeen's death... and someone tried to kill her for it.