Ito na talaga ang last update, guys! The next update will be the last three chapters and the Epilogue. So medyo matatagalan pa ulit siya. Kapit lang, kasi nalalapit na ang rebelasyon at ang pagtatapos! Speaking of pagtatapos, I would like to take the opportunity to thank esmikaCK20 for a very cute book cover that she made for TLISA! (hindi ko pa siya malagay kasi balak ko siya ilagay sa last part ng story.)
This chapter is dedicated to a fellow mystery/thriller writer, NotYourDreamGirl18. Goodluck sa atin sa mga next attacks ng Incognito! Our chapter's track is Say Something by A Great Big World feat. Christina Aguilera.
SPOILER: Bumigat ng sobra ang loob ko sa pag-sulat ng chapter na ito. Please don't hate me or what for doing this. The story's been plotted long ago and things just have to happen. Read away, guys~
***Dawn's POV***
"Haaai! Kailan kaya ulit tayo makakaranas ng ganun, no? Ang hirap din pala ng naka-kulong lang sa loob ng school, buti nakakayanan niyo?" Naka-tayo so Joyce sa tapat ng kama niya at nag-i-stretching. Kalalapag lang namin ng mga gamit namin mula sa overnight stay namin sa Crowne Pacific Hotel.
"Marami naman kasing pwedeng gawin dito sa school, Joyce. Masasanay ka rin."
"I guess that's what keeps the SC busy. Para hindi ma-bore to death ang mga estudyante dito!" She chuckled and opened her closet. Humiga muna ako sa kama ko at nag-isip ng kung ano'ng pwedeng gawin ngayong araw ng Linggo. I felt something moved around my neck and I remembered that Vince gave me this last night. Hindi ko akalain na may pagkakataon pala na maibibigay sa akin para maramdaman ang ganito. To be loved and to love.
"Day dreaming lang ang peg, Ate Dawn?" Nagulat pa ako nang marinig ko ang tinig ni Joyce. "Ganda ng kwintas! Bigay ni Kuya Vince 'yan?"
"Oo. Ang daya nga kasi hindi ko man lang siya nabigyan ng kahit ano. Lagi na lang siya ang nagbibigay sa 'kin."
"May tanong lang ako, Ate Dawn. Simula ba nung umpisa, type mo na talaga si Kuya Vince?"
"Bakit mo naman naisip ang tanong na 'yan?"
"Just answer the question, okay?"
"Ang kulit mo talaga, eh no?" I chuckled at her persistence. "Well, to answer your question, hindi. Never did I imagine na magugustuhan ko siya."
"What happened, then?" She was now seating on her bed, holding her towel and undies. Mukhang balak niyang maligo, pero inuna pa ang chismis.
"Nadaan ako sa tiyaga. Tapos ayun, hindi ko namalayan, gusto ko na rin pala siya."
"Taray ng love story niyo! So, siya lang ang naglakas-loob na ligawan ka sa buong Monte Carlo?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean... kung... may ibang nanligaw sa 'yo. Or... nagparamdam man lang, ganun." I felt like she's trying to direct the conversation towards something that I couldn't figure out.
"Wala. Walang may lakas ng loob, maliban kay Vince."
Early the next morning, students were crowding in front of the Admin Building. Nailabas na pala ang Top of the Class list. I stood a few feet away from the crowd and waited for the number to decrease. Ayokong makipag-siksikan sa dami ng taong 'yan. Besides, parang alam ko naman na kung kaninong pangalan ang nakasulat sa number one. Meron pa ba'ng iba?
"I'm on top! I'm on top!" I felt my body being lifted off the ground at nagpa-ikot ikot ang tingin ko sa paligid. Tumigil na ang pag-ikot at dahan-dahan akong ibinaba muli sa lupa. I had to grab his arm for support. Medyo nakakahilo ang ginawa niyang pag-ikot sa akin.
"I'm sorry, Dawn. Okay ka lang ba?" Concern was evident on his tone as he held my shoulders and looked into my face. Ikaw kaya iikot-ikot, hindi ka mahilo? Kaya ayoko sa amusement park simula bata ako, eh!
"Okay lang, okay lang. Ano ulit 'yung sinabi mo?" His gave me a wide smile and a quick hug.
"I'm on top!" He pulled my hand and we went through the crowd to see the bulletin board. I looked at the list and stared at it for a couple of seconds. I had to blink multiple times kasi baka namamalik-mata lang ako. Pero kahit kusutin ko pa ang mga mata ko, 'yun talaga ang nakasulat. Vincent Pineda on the number one spot of the Top of the Class list. It's unbelievable kasi kahit kailan, hindi siya nasama sa list na ito.
"Congratulations, Vince!" I hugged him and I could still feel how happy he was. I was surprised when he cupped my face with his hands and kissed me. In front of this crowd.
"Ayieee!!!" Students cheered and teased us as our lips parted. Sobrang nakakahiya 'to. I never showed weakness to anyone. Well, with an exception of one.
"Grabe ka!" Hinampas ko ang braso niya at ramdam na ramdam kong namumula na ako sa ginawa niya. I grabbed his hand and walked out of that place. Tama na ang palabas sa umaga!
"Hahaha! Sorry, Dawn, galit ka ba?" He stopped walking and looked at me. He had his playful smile on and I didn't know what to feel at that moment.
"Ikaw naman kasi, bakit kailangan mong gawin 'yun!"
"Sorry na po. Masyado lang akong masaya, that's all. Hindi na mauulit, promise!"
"Dapat lang! Baka masuntok na kita sa susunod!" We both laughed and headed to the Cafeteria.
Days passed at hindi pa rin nawawala ang saya kay Vince dahil unang beses na nangyari ito sa buong buhay niya. His mother and sister even came here yesterday and brought food for us. Red was on second place and I ranked fifth. We had lunch together and I saw how proud Vince's mom and sister were. Nagpasalamat pa sila sa akin dahil ako daw ang naging dahilan ng malaking improvement na ito sa kanya.
"Ate Dawn, may sasabihin ako sa 'yo." Bungad ni Joyce sa akin pagpasok ko pa lang ng kwarto noong gabing iyon. I had dinner with Vince at tumambay pa kami ng konti sa Campus Grounds. May meeting daw kasi ang Math Club nila Red, kaya wala pa siyang makakasama sa kwarto. He mentioned that wanted to be a doctor. He finally decided on something to study in college. Gusto niya daw kasi mag-specialize sa mental health para sa akin. Mukhang hindi pa siya talaga sigurado sa kursong 'yun, malamang magbago pa 'yun, we still have five months left before graduation.
"Ano 'yun?" I stood behind her. She was doing something on her laptop at nagulat ako nang makita ko kung ano ang pinagkaka-abalahan niya. It was about Espada.
"Nag-specialize na din pala sila sa ibang weaponry related to swords-- knives and daggers alike. At mas marami na ang ni-re-recruit nila na younger than eighteen years old." That meant faster and stronger minions for them. The guys that killed the girls in Sisters of Mary used knives to execute their task. Ibig sabihin, matagal na nilang pina-practice ang mga tauhan nila sa ibang gamit maliban sa espada.
"Iisa lang naman ang lider nila, 'di ba?"
"Oo. He's only known as Mr. S. Bakit?"
"Ano'ng atraso namin sa kanya para gawin niya sa amin ito? As far as I know, wala talaga akong matandaan na naka-banggaan noong nasa Sisters of Mary pa ako. Pwede kayang kumikilos mag-isa 'yung mga tauhan niya?"
"Imposible 'yun, Ate Dawn. They're known for their loyalty and obeying orders. Hindi sila pwedeng kumilos sa sarili lang nila kasi may parusa kung mangyayari ang ganun." She scrolled on the pages and I saw a few photos of their victims throughout the years. Nakakakilabot.
"Hai... Ano ba talaga ang dahilan nila?" I went to my closet and got my case notebook.
"Congrats nga pala, Ate Dawn! Number one pala si Kuya Vince ngayong midterm! Inspired na inspired, grabe!" I was looking at the red notes on my hand when she said that. And then something clicked in my head. Number one. You're the #one. One. Si Jennifer, si Nina, ako. We all placed number one on the Top of the Class list in Sisters of Mary. As if fate's helping me, the pages showed me the note that I wrote before-- Left for the US. I left! That made Anastacia, who was in second place, the Top student. That's why she... "Ate Dawn? Okay ka lang?"
She stood and walked towards my direction. Naka-upo ako sa sahig kaharap ang aparador ko habang hawak pa rin ang mga red notes at ang case notebook ko. The Villanueva sisters. Ngayon naisip ko na. They're twins! One couldn't tell them apart unless you're a very close friend or relative. In that case, malamang na nalito din 'yung mga minions na 'yun kung sino sa kanila ang Top one na si Athena!
"Ang tanga ko!" I exclaimed and Joyce jumped in surprise. She sat on my bed and looked at the things on my hand.
"Ano ba 'yun, Ate Dawn? Tungkol sa mga kaso?"
"Lahat kami, number one. Number one ng Top of the Class list!"
"Napag-usapan na natin 'yan dati, 'di ba? Sabi mo pa nga, hindi naman number one 'yung ibang naging biktima kaya malabong 'yan ang trend nung mastermind."
"Jennifer was the Top of the Class in first year. Nina was the one the next year. Tapos ako. Pero umalis ako ng bansa kaya noong nagtapos ang school year, si Anastacia ang naging Top of the Class." And we were both silent for a minute. "Athena and Minerva Villanueva were identical twins. Malamang, nalito din 'yung mga minions sa kanilang dalawa, kaya pinatay na lang sila pareho." Para akong nawalan ng lakas after I did the deductions. Sobrang tanga ko not to figure it out on an earlier time.
"Oh. My. God." I slowly turned to face her. "Athena Villanueva was last year's Top of the Class, right? Technically the first one HERE in Monte Carlo kasi--"
"Shit!" I stood up right away and grabbed my cellphone from my study table. Sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko na parang sasabog na ito anumang sandali. The other line just rang until I heard the message telling me that the subscriber cannot be reached. "Call Principal Abad and send her to the Boys' Dorm!" Agad akong tumakbo palabas ng kwarto nang hindi alintana kung ano'ng suot ko noong gabing iyon.
Kung may ibibilis pa ang mga paa ko, sana ngayon na iyon mangyari. Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kung may mangyaring masama sa kanya. Hindi pwede. I dialled the number again, pero parehong resulta lang ang nakuha ko. Lord, please... I made a silent prayer as I dashed out of our dorm and made my way towards the other dorm's direction.
"Hindi ka pwedeng tumawid, Dominguez." Pag-harang sa akin ng gwardiya ng Dorm's Gates. Problema 'to.
"Kuya, please, emergency 'to! Kailangan kong pumunta doon--"
"Makikita mo pa naman si Pineda bukas, bigyan mo naman ng konting space ang relasyon niyo. Ang babata niyo pa-- Oy, oy!" Hindi ko na pinakinggan ang litanya niya at tinalon na lang ang bakal na harang na namamagitan sa daanan ng dalawang Dorm. Narinig kong nag-radyo siya at humingi ng tulong sa iba niyang kasamahan. Saka ko na pag-iisipan ang haharapin kong parusa sa pagtawid na ito. Kailangan ko lang masiguro na ligtas siya.
Bakit ba parang ang layo ng gate sa dorm ng mga lalaki?! Unti-unti ko nang naramdaman ang hingal at pagod sa pagtakbong ginagawa ko. Sumasakit na ang mga binti ko at parang hindi ko na kayang tumakbo pa. Hindi. Kailangan mong makarating doon at makita siya. Sana mali ako. Ngayon ko lang hiniling na sana magkamali ako sa isang bagay. Matagal ko nang gustong matapos ang pala-isipan na 'to, pero hindi ngayon. Hindi sa ganitong paraan.
Binagalan ko na ang pagtakbo ko at natanaw ko na ang entrance ng dorm nila. May ilan-ilang estudyanteng nakapansin agad sa akin at tinitigan akong mabuti habang lumalakad ako palapit sa dorm nila. Diniretso ko agad ang hagdan papuntang second floor nang may humarang na ilang lalaki sa harapan ko.
"Dawn Dominguez... Sobrang tapang mo naman yata para pumunta dito sa ganitong oras ng gabi. Hindi ka man lang natinag doon sa guard?"
"Pare, hindi na yata makapag-pigil na hindi makita si Vincent!" At nagtawanan sila habang humakbang palapit sa akin ang unang nagsalita.
"Hindi ka man lang ba natakot na pumunta ka dito mag-isa?" Hinawakan niya ang baba ko pero agad kong hinampas palayo ang kamay niya.
"Wala akong oras makipag-usap sa inyo. Excuse me." I shoved them away and was able to take a couple of steps towards the stairs pero minalas pa rin nang hawakan ng isang lalaki ang siko ko at hatakin ako pabalik sa pinanggalingan ko.
"May gagawin ba kayo ni Vincent na hindi pwedeng ipagpa-bukas? At ikaw pa talaga ang pinapunta niya dito! Sobrang gwapo naman talaga ng taong 'yun, no? Napa-amo niya ang mabagsik na si--" Hindi na niya natapos ang sasabihin niya dahil inunahan ko na ng sapak ang bunganga niya.
"Sira ulo ka, ah!" Sumugod ang isang kasama niya at agad ko namang nailagan ang suntok niya. Hinawakan ko ang braso niya at siniko siya sa mukha. Mukhang sa ilong siya tinamaan. Nakita kong namilipit ang dalawa sa limang humarang sa akin at agad silang nagtakbuhan nang ambangan ko sila ng suntok.
"Mga walang kwenta!" I whispered to myself as I quickly climbed the stairs going up.
I was one room away from theirs nang mapansin kong bukas ang pintuan nila. The light was on, so I decided to look inside. Dahan-dahan akong pumasok sa kwarto at agad kong nakita si Red na nakaupo sa sahig at nakasandal sa pader na katabi ng pintuan. Nilamig ang buong katawan ko at pakiramdam ko natuyo lahat ng dugo ko sa katawan nang makita ang itsura niya.
"Red?" Mahina kong inalog ang naka-tulalang si Red. Hindi pa rin siya gumagalaw. Doon ko lang narinig ang lagaslas ng tubig mula sa shower nila. Lumingon ako at hindi ko nakita ang taong hinahanap ko. Hindi pwede. Hindi pwede 'to! Unti-unti akong tumayo at lumakad papunta sa banyo nila. Palakas ng palakas ang tunog ng tubig habang palapit ako ng palapit. Ayokong makita ang nasa loob noon, pero hindi umaayon ang katawan ko.
My feet dragged me to the restroom and tears started to form in my eyes. Tumapat na ako sa bukas na pintuan ng banyo nila at biglang naubos ang lakas sa katawan ko sa nakita ko. Napaluhod ako sa sahig at tumulo na ang mga luha. Hindi ito totoo. Hindi pwede ito. I repeated the same chant in my head, wishing that I would wake up to Joyce's voice. Pero walang nagbago. This was reality. My reality.
I slowly crawled towards him. I never minded that my uniform would get wet. The restroom was flooded with water mixed with blood. He was placed inside the tub at para lang siyang naka-warm bath. The shower was pouring contiously on the tub, hitting his feet. His head rested on the other side of the tub with his eyes closed. More tears fell from my eyes when I reached the tub. His arm was hanging on its side and I immediately grabbed and embraced it.
My mind went blank. Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng dapat kong gawin. I just stayed in the flooded area, holding his hand. All I could hear was the sound of water from the shower. I wished the water could wash away the pain. Sana ganoon lang kadali. I closed my eyes and felt the numbness slowly embracing me. This was it. Ito na ang hangganan ng lahat. I heard the water stopped and a pair of hands tried to pull me away from the tub.
"Dawn... Get up, please." It was Red's voice, for sure. I didn't budge in my position, I even inched closer to the tub and held his hand tighter. "I'm going to drain the water now." I stopped his hand from reaching the drain in the tub. Hindi ko kaya. Hindi ko kayang makita ang ginawa sa kanya. I could see cuts on his arm that I was holding and I couldn't bear to see a lot of these on his entire body. If only I knew it earlier.
I screamed my lungs out and cried all my emotions. I knelt in front of the tub and rested my head on its side. "Aalagaan kita habang-buhay, Dawn! Pangako ko 'yan sa 'yo!" His promise rang in my ears and that made me cry more. I lifted my head and looked at his face. Sa kabila ng mga sugat at hiwa, I could still see the pretty face of the person that loved me for who I was and accepted me-- past and flaws. And now he's gone and I was alone again. I blinked my tears away and looked around-- everything was red. Red!
Tumayo ako at dumiretso sa study table niya. I opened every book and notebook in search for the cursed paper. Nothing. Sunod kong binuksan ang aparador niya at agad bumungad sa akin ang pulang papel na naka-push button sa likuran ng pinto ng aparador-- You're the #1. Be ready to face Death.
---END OF CHAPTER 11.17.14