The Visit of the Silent Devil

⸙.One

ONE.

"Yes, Mrs. Silvano. We'll be waiting here."

Wika ng Principal at agad na binaba ang telepono, lahat sila ay nanatiling tahimik sa silid. Bulungan at ang tahimik na pag-iyak ni Chleo ang naririnig nilang lahat.

"Ms. Forbes, why did you strangle Marvin?" Kalmadong tanong ni Teacher Linda, the head guidance counselor.

Napayuko si Chleo habang pinaglalaruan ang sariling kamay. She tried to stop her tears ngunit lalo lamang sya nabibigatan sa nangyayari.

"I'm sorry… but it wasn't m-me." She replied while sniffing.

"Liar! We clearly saw what happened!" Muling sigaw ni Celine.

"Ma'am!" They all looked at the door when a student shouted, nakataas ang isang kamay nito para makuha ang atensyon ng mga guro. Binaba nya ang kamay nya at inayos ang nakasabit na bag nito sa kanyang kaliwang balikat.

"Yes, Mr. Walter?" Teacher Linda asked.

"Not to meddle with this business but I just wanna ask if you're aware about what happened earlier at the cafeteria?" The student asked while chewing his mint gum. He turned his gaze to his friend in the room who's now mouthing him to leave.

"What are you doing?" Matthew mouthed to the student, kahit kailan talaga ay mahilig mangielam ito. Si Matthew na nga ang nahihiya para sa kanyang kaibigan.

The student playfully chuckled as he saw how stressful his friend is. But he just wanted to make things more interesting that's why he's meddling with the issue.

"What happened?" The principal asked.

"Oh, you didn't know?" the student asked and even raised his brow. He went inside the room like he was invited. Umupo ito sa couch at sumandal. Napabuga nalang ng hangin si Matthew dahil sa inaakto ng kaibigan.

"My apologies, Mr. Principal. He's
Gunner Nicholas Walter. A student of mine, I'm so sorry for his careless act." Magalang na sabi ni Teacher Linda sa principal at yumuko ito.

"It's fine, what are you saying again. Mr. Walter?" The principal asked and fixed his glasses.

"Ah, it seems like there was a little, hmm. Accident between Chleo and Marvin at the Cafeteria earlier." Gunner replied.

"Accident?" One teacher asked.

"Yeah, he accidentally bumped you right?" He asked and looked at Chleo. Inangat ni Chleo ang ulo nya at tumango. "…kaya natapunan ka ng juice." pagpapatuloy ni Gunner. Tumango ulit si Chleo.

"So you mean, dahil lang binangga ka ni Marvin. Sinakal mo na sya?" Celine asked in range.

"No… hindi ko gagawin yun." Chleo quickly denied.

"Then why? Bakit? Bakit mo kailangang gawin yun?" Muling tanong ni Celine, halos natuyo na rin ang mga luha nito.

"I--"

"Mrs. Silvano!" hindi na natuloy ang sasabihin dapat ni Chleo ng dumating na ang kanyang Tita Rosette. She's her guardian. She's still wearing her office suit with her Gucci bag.

"Goodevening, I'm sorry ngayon lang ako nakarating. I was at work when teacher Linda called." Her guardian said. Umupo ito agad sa tabi ni Chleo at agad nya itong yinakap.