Kinabukasan ay maaga akong pumasok sa school. Hinanap ko agad si Clarie, nagtanong-tanong ako sa department ni Jessica. Ang sabi ng iilan ay wala pa raw ito. Itinanong ko na rin kung pumasok na ba itong Jen.
"Anong kailangan mo, miss?" Wika ng isang babae sa likod ko. Si Jen ito base sa boses.
"I'm looking for Clarie and Jen. Kilala mo po ba sila?" I asked politely. I saw a glimpse of shock on her face. Agad naman siyang nakabawi and she plastered a smile.
"Ako si Jen. And Clarie is not around."
"Oh, can I talk to you in private?" Magalang kong tanong.
"Sure, ngayon na ba?"
I looked at my wrist watch, may 30 minutes pa naman kami bago magstart ang first period.
Tumango ako. "I still have 30 minutes bago magstart ang first period, how about you?"
"Same," tipid niyang sagot.
Nauna na akong maglakad, sa field ang tungo ko. Medyo kakaunti ang tao rito at magkakalayo pa kaya makakapagusap kami ng masinsinan.
"Ang totoo niyan, nasa Cr din ako kahapon. At narinig ko lahat ng usapan ninyo. Mula nang pumasok kayo hanggang sa makalabas." Pag-amin ko.
"Itatanong mo rin ba kung si Clarie nga ba ang totoong may sala?" She hit the bull's eye.
Tumango agad ako. "But Gwendolyn, she don't believe that Clarie is innocent."
She sighed. "No one believes Clarie either." Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.
"You don't believe her too?" Kunoot noong tanong ko.
Nag-iwas siya ng tingin at yumuko. Kumibot-kibot ang labi niya kaya inasahan ko nang may sasabihin siya ngunit nag-ring na lang ang bell ay wala pa rin akong nakukuhang tugon mula sa kaniya.
I patted her shoulder and said. "Even if you don't believe her, please don't hurt her. She's also been through a lot." I smiled. "I will help her to prove her innocence." Dugtong ko at iniwan na siya doon.
I heaved a deep sigh nang makalayo sa field. For now, I will focus on my studies dahil nalalapit na ang exam.
"Good morning everyone. Our topic for today is about the Crime of Killing." Paunang wika ng aming guro. "Before that, may you give an example, Mr. Alvarez."
Turo nito kay Liam na umagang-umaga pa lamang ay nakapangalumbaba na.
Liam stood lazily. "Homicide." He answered.
Our instructor nodded. "Stand still. Define Homicide." She followed-up.
Umayos ng tayo si Liam. "Homicide is defined as the killing of human being by another."
"Thank you, Mr. Alvarez." Matapos sabihin iyon ng instructor ay naupo na si Liam.
"Another," Walang nagtaas ng kamay upang mag-volunteer na sumagot.
"There are lots of Crimes regarding to killing. Come on class, I know you know it!" Pangungumbinsi ng aming guro.
Jisnel raised his hand. "Okay, Mr. Facuña."
"Murder, Ma'am."
"Good, now define murder."
"Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being with malicious intent."
"Thank you, Mr. Facuña."
Someone raised her hand. "Yes, Ms. Lee?"
"Ma'am, what is the difference between murder and homicide?" She asked.
"Thank you for that very wonderful question Ms. Lee. Wow pang beauty pageant lang ang intro." She joked. The whole class laughed and giggled, including me. She's cute.
