REVERSE ✓

Chapter 11: The Sunshine

CASSIEN

"MIND EXPLAINING?" Newt inquired with a wide grin on his face. Heto naman ako, hindi makagalaw sa pwesto dahil sa mga naririnig ko.

"Sinabi ko na nga, 'di ba?" Ramdam ko ang lubhang pagkainis sa tono ng pananalita ni Lisbeth. "He texted me to come over here dahil may sasabihin siya tungkol kay Ava at Dudley. Pero nang makarating ako, he's passed away."

How could she utter that with a straight face? Naninindig na nga ang mga balahibo ko. "Huh? Do you really think we'd believe you? Let's say na totoo ngang t-in-ext ka niya, but you plausibly killed him the moment you arrived," sabi ko naman.

"Princess," Newt called out to me, na para bang sinasabi niyang tigilan ko na ang pananalita. I sort of felt offended but he must've just wanted the best for the situation.

"Kung 'di kayo maniniwala, tingnan niyo sa logbook kung ano'ng oras ako pumasok sa gate ng school. There's no other way to enter this place anyways. Makikita niyong dumating ako alas-sais kanina. Pero five to six ang time of death."

"Did you notice anything peculiar?" he asked.

"Wala."

"Why did you drag the photograph to the stairs as well?"

"I remembered noong pinatawag niyo kami sa office ni Harper at tinanong kung ano'ng kinalaman ni Jillian sa mga clowns. It is a piece of evidence kaya alam kong makakatulong. You've been investigating, right? But you still haven't proven to me that you didn't kill Darius. Now what? Care to explain how did you find this place? And why'd you go here at such early hour?"

Newt removed the grim from his face at hindi na nagpakita pa ng emosyon. Nanatili lang ang kanyang tingin kay Lisbeth— parang wala talaga siyang balak sagutin ang mga tanong nito.

"Fine, fine. Marami pa akong gagawin at ayoko'ng sayangin ang oras ko sa inyo. See you around," ani Lisbeth at ngumisi. Sa kabila ng inaasal niya ngayon, kita kong nanginginig ang mga tuhod niya. She's been acting tough all the time but she was just as fragile as everyone else. Her two friends just died after all and the other one was hospitalized.

Speaking of who, I wonder how was Ava doing. Noong huli kaming nagkita, she wasn't fine at all. She pointed Ranpo with a dreadful expression. Why would she do that, anyway?

"Silence is the loudest answer at some times. It conveys more and deeper emotions than any song, poetry or confession," panimula ni Newt nang tuluyang makaalis si Lisbeth. "But Princess, we'd better pack up for our classes."

*

AS USUAL, ang boring ng maghapong klase. No, hindi ko sinasabi 'yan dahil isa akong matalinong nilalang na alam na lahat ang mga tinuturo school. Hindi ko rin sinabi 'yan dahil isa akong palakol na estudyante na walang kagana-ganang mag-aral. What I mean is, mas gusto ko pang maggala kasama ng detective club member at magkipaghabulan ro'n sa killer clown na 'yon.

"Agreste, busy ka ba ngayon? May gagawin ka ba mamaya?"

Tumingala ako para tingnan kung sino ang nagsalita at tumawag sa 'kin— it was Marie, our class president. Teka, hindi naman siguro niya ako yayayain makipag-date, 'no? Come to think of it, kailangan kong pumunta sa clubroom after ng klase para makibalita sa kaso at makatulong. Should I refuse?

"Uh. . ."

"Medyo masama kasi pakiramdam ko ngayon," sagot niya nang mapansing wala akong masabi. She then scratched the back of her head. "Pero pinapa-check-an pa ni Sir 'yung quizzes natin at ng kabilang section. P-Pwede bang patulong? Nag-ask na ako sa iba nating classmates pero. . . ehehe. Mukhang busy rin sila."