CON Lady (bisaya only)

Part 7

***Chapter Seven***

 

Nagsige lag huna huna si Patirica sa onsa kaha ang isulti sa iya ni Ralph na iya na-meet kahapon sa hapon. Wala sila kapadayon og storya kay gabei na. Niingon si Ralph na karong hapon na lang kuno sila magstorya inig kahoman sa ila klase. Isulti niya ang tanan niyang nahibaw-an. Dili na kapaabot si Patirica kay excited pud siya makahibaw sa nahitabo kang Connie. Dili una siya mongadto sa CON karong hapon para makasayo silag tabi ni Ralph.

Pagkahoman sa klase, nigawas dayon sa room si Patirica. Gitawag siya ni Devin, ang iyang crush. ..

            “How about if you take a ride with me?” offer ni Devin na nagpakilig kang Patirica pero...

            “No, thanks but I’m not going home yet. I got to meet someone.” Nagbasol si Patirica nganung karon pa man nga naa nuon siyay laktunon, sayang.

              “No, I know wher---....” wala na nakatiwas og storya si Devin.

            “I have to go, bye.” Nidiritso nag dagan padulong sa gawas sa skuylahan si Patirica.

Pagkaabot ni Patirica sa plaza, gipangita dayon niya si Ralph. Mayo nalang kay dili tantong daghan ang tao sa maong dapit. Dako og wanang ang lugar na naay mga lingkuranan sa ilawom sa mga punuan na dili kaayo dagko na kahoy, sakto ra na molandong sa mga manglingkod. Ni-ring iyang celphone. ..

            “Hello, I’m already here.” Matud ni Patirica.

            “Yeah, look to your left.” Nagbarog siya mga 100 meters away sa gibarogan ni Patirica.

            “Ok.” Gipawng na ni Patirica iyang cellphone pagkakita niya kang Ralph.

 Nagsul-ob og blue nga shirt si Ralph og black pants. Karon lang niya nabantayan na murag naay ka angid angid og dagway kini.

Nanglingkod sila sa sementong lingkuranan. ..

            “So, can you tell me now what happened to Connie?” sugod ni Patirica.

            “Yeah, I’m his boyfriend.” Makita sa mata ni Ralph ang kaguol. “It was six years ago, when she committed suicide. We were both 4th year nursing student back then. I was her first boyfriend. It all started when my ex-girfriend transferred to Don Sevirino University. Connie got jealous when my ex talked to me. I told her not to because I don’t love my ex anymore, we were just friends. She asked me to ignore my ex but of course i could’nt do it because she was my childhood friend. Our parents were good friends and business partners as well. She didn’t understand, she would not let me talk to my ex. One day, my ex asked me to help her with the assignment. I was having second thought if i would. Since Connie was not yet there, it was lunch break. She always go home for lunch. I decided to help my ex. We sat in the 4th floor of CON building. I didn’t know that Connie saw me i was with my ex, we were laughing together like what we used to be when we were just a little kids. My ex kissed me in my cheek, i didn’t saw it coming. At afternoon class, I didn’t saw Connie attended the class. After that, a body was found dead on the ground. It was Connie.” Wala mapug’ngi ni Ralph iyang paghagulgol sa hilak. “Sorry, i couldn’t help it.” matud niya kay Patirica.

            “No, it’s alright.” Naghuot pud ang dughan ni Patirica sa iyang nahibaw-an.

            “The investigation revealed that she jump from the rooftop.” Nitulo napud ang luha ni Ralph. “I blame myself to what happened to her, I couldn’t eat for a week. I couldn’t focus on my studies. I wanted to die just like her. I was thankful my family, friends that help me recover. But the hurt never left my heart.” Matud ni Ralph samtang nagkupot sa iyang dughan. “After I graduated I heard a lot of mysterious encounters in CON. I know it was Connie. Most of victims were boys. She also show herself with girls but never hurt them.” Medjo kalma na si Ralph.

            “But, how did you know I was talking to her?” curious na pangutana ni Patirica.

            “My younger brother told me, Devin.” Ni-pahiyom si Ralph samtang nagtudlo sa iyang kamot sa lalaking ganina pa nagtan-aw nilang duha samtang nagtabi. Niduol si Devin samtang nag-iisa sa iyang tuong kamot na nagporma og “hi” gesture.

            “Devin?? He is your brother!?”dili maka-tuo si Patirica apan tuod angid2x silag dagway. Ni-ngisi lang si Devin.. “Why didn’t you tell me?.”

            “Sorry.” Nag-ngisi lang si Devin.

            “And about the last when you told me you left your book, you were really following me?” pangutana ni Patirica kang Devin.

            “(wink with smile) You’re right.” Pag-angkon ni Devin.

            “Unbelievable.” matud ni Patirica na naglingo lingo og kausa.

            “You two are so cute together.” sungog ni Ralph samtang nagpahiyom. Namuwa gamay si Patirica. Gikilig ang amaw.

            “Ok, enough for this. What do you want me to do?” giiba niya ang usapan para mawala ang awkwardness na iya nabati. .

            “Yeah, here’s the plan.” Gisugdan na nila ang planu para kang Connie.