The Alphabet Killer

28

-28-

AS THE interview was going on, nakikita ko ang pagtingin ni Auden sa kamay ko. Nakita niya siguro ung engagement ring.

"You are hired, welcome back. Ellouise" Ngumiti si Ezio at tumayo na kasama ang ibang board members. Ngayon lang ako nakakita na kasama ang board members sa nagiinterview

He tapped Auden's shoulder, tumayo na rin ito. "Follow me" Auden formally said. I looked at Ezio

"Sakanya ka magtatrabaho" At umalis ang gago. Sinundan ko nalang si Auden. I looked like his secretary once again.

I saw his eyes it's now both blue, naka contact lens siya. I miss his different eye color. "Ms. Sanchez, pakidalian ang paglakad" Sabi nito

Nagmadali akong lumakad, he pressed the button on the elevator door, bumukas un. Nauna siyang pumasok, sumunod ako at sa likod ng pwesto

Why am I feeling so nervous around him? Dahil siguro sa ngayon lang ulit kami nagkita. "Kamusta kayo ng boyfriend mo?" Boyfriend? Kelan pa ako nagkajowa?

"Pardon?"

"That guy, Joaquin is it?" Bahagya akong natawa, "excuse me, Mr. Tolentino. If you are reading a bachelor magazine you will know that Joaquin just came out as gay" Ngumiti ako sakanya ng sarkastiko

Natatawa nga ako nung nag reklamo si Joaquin na kasama siya sa bachelor magazine. Eh bachelorette nga daw siya. I saw how stunned Auden was.

Bumukas ang elevator door, lumabas kami. We went to the parking lot, lumakad ako papalapit sa kotse, tinaasan ko ito ng kilay kasi nakikita ko kung paano niya tiningnan ang sasakyan ko

"I'm so proud of you, you've been successful." He said with all honesty

Somehow that made my heart flutter, what a sweet tongue he have. Sumakay na ako sa kotse at hinintay siyang magusad.

Tiningnan ko uli ung engagement ring, "paano kaya kung sinangla ko ito" I spoke out what im thinking. I laughed on my own

I'm getting crazy na talaga, umusad ung sasakyan ni Auden. I followed it. Nakarating rin kami sa kompanya.

We entered the parking lot, at pinark ang kotse namin. Pinatay ko na ang makina, kinuha ko ang susi. Lumabas na ako, I followed him to the elevator.

"I like the ring" Lumingon ito at ngumiti tas tiningnan uli ang ring finger ko.

"Thanks, a guy gave it to me." Di ko ito tiningnan nung nagpasalamat ako.

It was really awkward for us. It's back to one for us again. It's really hard when we are back to one again

Nagstop ang elevator sa archi department ng opisina, pinauna niya ako na lumabas. Everyone there stood up. Parang dati di sila ganito ah

"Hello, everyone. You might know Ms. Ellouise Aira Sanchez as one of my ex-secretary. Now that she is successful, she will be joining our team of architects." Ngumiti ito habang pinapakilala ako

"Welcome back, Ms. Sexytary" A guy cheered from the back, I chuckled.

Lumingon ako kay Auden na, umiigting na ang panga. At binigyan ng matalim na titig ung nag cheer kanina, "I don't want any guys to talk to her, asking about her personal life and shit. Only business." Sabi nito at bumalik na sa may elevator.

Umiling nalang ako, wtf is happening. "Hi, I'm Kellie Mercedes. Im the head of this department. It's nice to meet you"

"Nice to meet you too" Nakipag kamay ako dito

She just toured us around the department. Wala naman itong pinagbago eh.

I LEANED on the glass and look at every building, I crossed my arms. "She forgave me" I whispered to myself.

Nakarinig ako ng barag ng pinto, I looked over at my door. Nakatayo dun si Leanna, mukhang galit na galit. Kumendeng ito palapit sa table ko

Inalis ko ang sarili ko sa pagkaka sandal, "what do you want now" I asked in a bored matter "I heard she's here" Galit na ani nito

"Oh? Ano ngayon? She's my employee not yours" Umupo ako sa swivel chair ko. "Fire her then!"

I put my elbow on the table, I leaned myself towards her, "you aren't the boss here, Ms. Gavin." I put on a smug face

"I'll tell my dad to pull out his investment" Paghahamon nito, I leaned myself on my chair. "Then tell him that, I don't care. It's your loss anyway"

She stormed out of the room, after some minutes biglang bumukas nalang ang pinto ko. I sighed heavily, can't this people knock

"Sir, Ms. Gavin are causing chaos at the architecture department." Nagpapanic na sabi ng sekretarya ko. Tumayo ako at nagmadaling pumunta sa department nila Ellouise

Halos liparin ko na ang department nila dahil sa kaba na kung anong gawin ni Leanna kay Ellouise.

I calmed down when I saw Ellouise, but Leanna was furious at her. "You fucking left him, tas babalik ka nalang na parang walang nangyari?!" Sigaw nito kay Ellouise tas tinulak niya ito

"Kasalanan ko ba na dito ako inilagay? I applied at Mr. Ramirez company" Mahinahong sabi ni Ellouise

"I don't fucking care, okay na eh. Pero dumating ka pa! Ang kati mo rin tao, you came back just to what? To get money from him?!" She spat out some nonsense.

Lumakad ako papunta kay Leanna at hinawakan ito sa braso, I looked at my employees who are just watching, "get back to work" I coldly said

"Ano ba, she need some teaching" Leanna tried to get out of my grip "layuan mo si Auden, our I'll fucking strip your dignity."

"And I'll strip your father's success." Her face suddenly went pale, I dragged her out of the department.

INAYOS ko ang gagamitin ko, it's already night time. Zachary was there already. It's my last being the alphabet killer.

I already left it on my past, because of her. I grab my phone dahil may tumatawag, I answered it

"He's at his house. Resting. Be careful, Tolentino"

I ended the call. Halos paliparin ko ang kotse ko papunta sa dating baranggay nila Ellouise.

It's the last time I'm going to kill people. Bad people.

I put my mask on, naka park lang ang kotse ko sa malayo. I'm not risking myself.

Inakyat ko ang bahay niya, I carefully land myself on his balcony. I grab my knife on my boots, I open the door slowly.

Then I killed him, carve out the letter O.

Umalis na ako pagkatapos nun, it was easy since he was sleeping.

Bumalik ako sa kotse ko, I went in. I wrapped the knife in a tissue at nilagay un sa zip lock bag. Inalis ko na rin ang maskara ko at bumalik na sa bahay.

Lahat ng ginamit ko as Alphabet killer ay inilagay ko lahat sa box. I caress the mask, I felt somehow relieved na di na ako papatay.

It's for her, it's for my Ellouise.

-T.M.B-