A Devil Meets An Angel

Chapter 26

"Why were you still in the school at that time? What did you do there?", tanong ko sa isang estudyante na kagabi lamang ay nahuli ng mga tigapag-bantay ng aming eskuwelahan na may ginagawang ilegal kasama ang isa pang estudyante.

"Nothing.", maikli nitong sagot at nakatingin lamang sa sahig ng kuwarto ng student council.

"Nothing? You sneaked inside the school perimeter with this kid at midnight and snatched few belongings from the lockers at college department without asking the permissions of the school authority even the people who own the things you stole and you call that nothing. How smart of you, huh?", pag-kokompronta ko sa kaniya ng may pag-kasarkastiko. Tumingin lang ito sa akin ng masama at saka hindi na ulit nag-salita pa.

"If you will not be the one who'll admit what you did last night then, I might as well interrogate your companion.", sabi ko sa kaniya sabay lingon sa kaniyang kasama sa gilid na dalawang upuan lamang ang layo. Mukhang takot na takot ito dahil sa hitsura pa lamang niya ay namamawis na at hindi mapakali sa pag-kakaupo. He belongs to the lower classmen.

"Hey, buddy. I will just ask you one time and I need an honest answer and if I think that you are not telling the truth base on the evidences that we've provided then, I will have no other choice but to put you to the detention facility until you confess what you two had done. And, as we all know, detention is not a very cool place to stay in. Do we have an understanding?", pag-papaliwanag ko rito na sinuklian naman niya kaagad ng mabilisang pag-tango.

"You have the evidences. What more can you ask for? It possesses all the information-", nag-sasalita pa si Mr. Buenavista ngunit kaagad ko na siyang pinutol.

"You have the right to remain silent, Mr. Buenavista. I was questioning you a few seconds ago but you wouldn't admit anything and now that I am talking to your little pal here, you are interrupting. Please be quiet and wait for your turn to speak. The spotlight is not directed to you this time.", maawtoridad kong pahayag sa kaniya. Sinamaan lamang niya ako ng tingin at saka tumahimik na muli.

"Now, back to you, Mr. Fortejo. Will you please explain to us all the details that happened last night? I want you to be clear, concise, and consistent. No changing of statements.", pag-uutos ko rito.

"We were lurking around the vicinity of the campus while waiting for the guards to avert their attention and when they had, we hurriedly climbed the school walls and ran inside. We headed to the college buildings. Once we're inside the engineering department building, we went to the lockers' area and opened some of them. He was the one who gathered all the items you got from us and I don't know every single one of them because he put it immediately inside a bag.", pag-papaliwanag niya habang itinuturo ang kasamahan niya.

"Why don't you know the items he was getting that time? He didn't tell you?", pag-tatanong ko.

"No, he didn't and I also did not pay much attention to what he's doing because I was looking for anyone who might see us.", pag-sagot niya.

"Why didn't you had the discretion to know what he's getting so in case that something wrong might happen because of those things, you would know what to do?", patuloy ko.

"Because I was nervous and did not have the capability to think properly. I was worried and focused on the possibility that someone might catch us.", tugon nito.

"Was that your first time to do something illegal and against the rules?", tanong ko.

"Obviously. I wouldn't be this antsy if that was not my first time.", pag-sagot niya ng may kalakasan ang tono ng kaniyang boses.

"Were you and are still aware that what you did was wrong?", tanong ko muli.

"Yes, I was and still am.", pag-amin nito.