A/N: It's been a while since I last updated this story, but I've finally decided to edit and post the banked chapters that I wrote a few months ago. If you're still interested in this story, read on. If you need to re-read, go ahead as well. Enjoy!
TONY
I WAS prepared for almost everything—blackout, earthquake, fire, police raid, etc.— but never for this one. Hindi agad sumagi sa isip na pwede palang mangyari 'to. If I had known beforehand, I could have done something about it. I could have prevented blood from being spilt in the apartment. No, I wasn't being metaphorical here.
Mag-aala-sais na ng gabi. Nakatambay ako sa couch at walang tigil sa pagta-type sa aking laptop. Octavio sat on the opposite end, playing with his tablet, maybe? But I didn't mind his presence. Focused ako sa ginagawa ko. Parang lumilipad na nga ang mga daliri ko sa bawat pindot. The noise must be distracting Octavio because I could hear him clicking his tongue every ten seconds.
The only time I took a pause was when I heard a scream from my room—which was Cleo's room for now.
I was so worried that I quickly threw my laptop to my side, sprang from my seat, and rushed in front of my room door. Medyo exaggerated ba? Maybe she saw a cockroach kaya siya napatili. But I wanted to be sure. Kumatok agad ako sa pinto at hinintay ang kanyang response. For a second, I thought of slamming the door open, especially if it's an emergency, but I contained myself.
"Okay ka lang ba Cleo?"
I leaned my left ear to the door's gap, trying to listen to what was happening inside. But I couldn't hear anything. Napalabas tuloy sa kanyang kuwarto si Emil na bumato sa akin ng nagtatanong na tingin. I shrugged as I had no idea why Cleo screamed.
Hindi ko namalayang gumalaw ang doorknob at biglang bumukas ang pinto. Dahil naka-lean na ang halos buong katawan ko, muntik na akong tumama sa harapan ni Cleo. Mabuti't mabilis ang reflexes ko at agad kong na-regain ang aking balanse. Tumayo ako na kunwari'y walang nangyari.
"May problema ba?"
Cleo couldn't look at me straight in the eye. Nasa sahig ang kanyang tingin na parang nahihiya pa. Her cheeks were almost as red as tomatoes. She's cute when she's blushing.
"Uhm..."
My eyes shot a sideward glance at Emil who came closer.
"May nag-iwan ba ng threatening letter sa kuwarto mo?" tanong niya. Halos magdikit ang kilay ko sa kanya. What kind of question was that? It's impossible for anyone to sneak into our unit without anyone noticing. Unless if the perpetrator was invisible.
Umiling si Cleo, ni hindi rin niya magawang tumingin sa kasama ko.
"Nakaidlip ka ba tapos masama ang panaginip mo?" At least, my question was more plausible than Emil's. We haven't seen her around since the three of us boys held a talk. Mas posible ngang nakatulog siya.
BINABASA MO ANG
Everyone is Witness
Mystery / ThrillerEveryone is witness to the death of Damon Dominic, except for that one person who might have murdered him. After a "person of interest" is identified, three campus journalists will launch their own investigation to prove her innocence... or guilt. K...