Campus Hunter (Hunter Series #1)

Chapter 15: Betrayal

The evidence that will point to the real situation is complete.

I didn't want to see the killer, so I told Brandon about my thoughts. He didn't agree and he brought me to the clinic where the culprit is being held.

Gising na ang dalawa at doon nagpapahinga. Some of their classmates from different courses and sections are also here, mabuti at nandito sila bilang witnesses.

Sadness was evident on their faces. Nadia doesn't deserved this. Naikuyom ko ang kamay ko nang tumingin ako sa salarin. Plastic!

"We want to report our findings because you're friends with Nadia," Brandon said. Tinignan niya ako at tumango ako. Pwede naman itong hindi gawin ni Brandon. Siguro ay gusto niyang mahuli sa patibong ang suspect.

"Yesterday was Sunday and IA expects students to be productive even on the weekends" panimula ko "We all knew the issue of Nadia Quilet's photo. Actually it was not an issue. Big deal lang sa mga insecure."

Alam ko naman na dapat ihiwalay ang emotion sa bagay na ito pero naiinis talaga ako. I am a woman and I understand how Nadia felt that time.

"Nadia was discovered lifeless this morning by her professor and classmates. According to the evidence, it was not suicide, but murder."  

Nakarinig ako ng ilang pagsinghap. Napansin ko naman ang pagtulo ng luha ni Mia. "And the murderer is Nadia's friend."

"We're friends and we can't kill her," Mia said immediately while crying.

"Don't accuse us. Hindi mo naman alam ang pinagsamahan naming tatlo," lumuluhang tugon ni Ava.

"I have evidence," I replied.

I raised my index finger. "First, the victim's experiment."

I raised my middle finger. "Second, the organic compound."

I raised my ring finger and looked at the culprit. "Third, Nadia's missing phone."

"According to the investigation, homicidal poison was discovered in Nadia's body as well as in the vomited substances. However, no organic compounds were detected in her experiment. It was not, therefore, a suicide."

"Then who killed Nadia?" agad na tanong ng isa sa mga kaklase ni Ava.

"The one who poisoned her is the one who put an organic chemical in her drink," tugon ko. "Let me tell a story," saad ko sa kanila.

Tinignan ko sa mata ang dalawang kaibigan ng biktima at nakikita kong walang bakas ng pagsisi sa mata ng salarin.

"Nagpasama si Nadia kay Ava at Mia sa classroom kahapon since they were friends. Gusto niya ng karamay. She conducted an experiment to divert her attention and reduce her sadness." 

Because I had all the attention no one noticed the culprit's reaction.

"Ava and Mia left the classroom to buy snacks. Bumili sila ng lemon juice since ito ang unang makikita sa food stall. Matapos nito ay pumunta si Mia sa pasta stall habang si Ava ay dumeretcho sa restroom. Ava returned to the canteen para sunduin si Mia and went back to the classroom. Unfortunately, naiwan ni Ava ang wallet sa restroom at nagpasama siya kay Mia na bumaba ulit para kunin ito. Pabalik na sila when they received a text message from Nadia na she didn't want to be disturbed. Ava and Mia went to their respective units and didn't come out."

I feel the tension inside the clinic. Nagpatuloy pa din ako. "The poison detected in her body was the same substance identified in lemon juice that the culprit used in her class experiment on August 8. Walang report na lumabas sa data na isinoli niya sa storage ang organic compound. Nagkaroon ng effect sa katawan ng biktima ang compound after four to five hours. Pwede pa siya sigurong mailigtas kung bumalik sina Ava at Mia sa classroom, kaso hindi ito nangyari. Sumuka ang biktima at bumagsak habang hawak ang kanyang tiyan. Then she died because of dysrhythmias and heart failure."

Saglit akong huminto at tumingin sa salarin. "Am I right Ava? That's how you killed Nadia," 

Muli akong nakarinig ng mga pagsinghap. Tumingin ako sa kanya at mababakas sa mukha niya pagkailang because she can't look straight to my eyes.

"That's not a solid evidence," matapang na tugon ni Ava bagamat bakas sa mata niya ang pangamba.

"If so, can we check your unit room? Sabi kasi ni Nadia nandoon daw ang cellphone niya." Bakas ang takot sa mukha nilang lahat.

"W-what does s-she mean A-ava?" nahihirapan na tanong ni Mia habang umiiyak. Hindi na natapos ang kanyang pag-iyak. Alam kong sobra siyang nasasaktan. Hawak na nito ang kanyang dibdib habang pinapakalma siya ng mga kaklase niya.

Tinignan ko si Mia. "Nang pumunta siya sa restroom ay nilagyan niya ng Ethylene glycol ang lemon juice. Lahat ay nilagyan niya ayon sa result ng test. That's the reason kung bakit ka niya sinama pababa ulit knowing na you have an asthma at kakagaling niyo lang sa ibaba, ayaw ka niyang madamay," paliwanag ko sa kanya.

"Pagdating ninyo sa restroom ay pumasok siya sa cubicle at doon siya nagsimulang mag text. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya kinuha ang phone ni Nadia, maybe she stole it. Hindi niya pwedeng itapon sa basurahan ang cellphone because it's Sunday. Halos walang tao dito kapag weekends because all of us went home. There were very few students yesterday so when you throw them in the trash you will notice because every corner of IA has cctv at ito ang unang hahanapin ng mga investigators."

Tumingin ako kay Ava na walang bakas ng pagsisisi. "You also can't leave the academy because we have a rule that if a student wants to go home on the weekend, he or she can only go out on Friday night or Saturday. Kaya hindi lumabas ang salarin sa unit at doon tinago ang cellphone at ang container ng Ethylene glycol. You also can't throw it away this morning because almost all the students go straight to their classrooms lalo na at Monday. Ayaw mo naman makita sa cctv na ikaw lang ang nagtapon sa garbage bin, am I right?"

"Ako dapat ang magiging modelo, Ako dapat ang IA Queen. Destroying and ending her life was my greatest experiment," tumawa na ito na parang nawawala sa sarili habang si Mia naman ay tuluyan nang inatake ng asthma. Agad naman inaresto ng mga pulis si Ava.

Hindi na ako magtataka kung si Ava ang pasimuno ng bashers ni Nadia sa Social Media. Kung nabubuhay si Nadia ay masakit ito sa kanya. Masakit ang saktan ka ng tinuturing mong kaibigan. 

After the investigation ay nagpaiwan si Brandon at sumama sa amin. Nagpunta kami sa canteen. Sa unang pagkakataon ay hindi nagtilian ang mga estudyante kina Cloud. Natakot siguro dahil sa kasama namin na may matipunong katawan or siguro ay kumalat na ang chismis na SOCO ang kasama namin. Mukhang alam na din ng halos lahat ng mga estudyante ang nangyaring krimen.

"How did you know each other? Stella," Pagusisa ni Cloud habang nakaturo kay Brandon.

Tumingin ako kay Brandon at ningitian siya at alam na niya ibig sabihin nito, pagod na ako magsalita.

"I'm Brandon Miller. His father became a good friend of mine. I was one of his scholars then while studying at the National Police Institute. I became part of SOCO at an early age. Uncle Adler took me to settle the matter with his son, who died five years ago. I'm sure you've heard the news," bakas sa mukha niya ang pagkalungkot. Naging close kasi sila ni Kuya Zander.

Uminom siya ng inorder na kape at nagsalita muli. "Nakakasama ko din si Stella sa ibang crime scenes noon kaya sanay na yan but when she became a college student pinatigil na siya ni Uncle Adler dahil nakakasira ito sa career niya," paliwanag niya.

Bakas sa mukha ni Ulap ang paghanga, "Wow, you're really cool Stella!"

"Tskk, walang cool doon," pahayag ni Kurt at uminom ng kape. Ang sama naman niya buti pa si Cloud na a-appreciate ako.

"Anyway," napatingin kami kay Bradon. "I want to let you know that the crime scene cannot be disclosed outside of academia. Hanggang dito lang ang balita because this is a school rule. For sure there will be a school announcement later."

Napakunot noo ako. Ito 'yung sinasabi nina Pat at Charlotte. Hindi lumalabas ang mga nangyayari sa academy. IA will do everything possible to maintain the school's honor. May dignity nga ba?

Where's Uncle James? Hindi ba dapat magparamdam na siya because this is not an ordinary incident!

End of Chapter 15