Napakurap ako ng ilang beses.
This can't be true. Paano niya nagawang magbalat-kayo bilang si Rivon? Halos matuptop at napahawak ako sa aking bibig nang masilayan ang tunay na katauhan ni Rivon. Kahit sila ay halos mabigla at manlaki ang mata sa ginawa ng babae.
"Valerie?!" hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Quade. "B-Bakit...bakit ikaw."
"Everything happens for a reason, right, Xavien?" Tumingin siya sa huli at ngumisi.
Matalim na nakatingin si Xavien sa kanya at balak na nitong saktan ang babae pero patuloy lang ako sa pagpigil sa kanya habang nakahawak sa braso ko.
"The way you manipulate everyone, especially Amie," she added.
"A-Anong ibig mong sabihin," pilit kong saad kahit na takot na takot na ako. Hindi pa rin naalis ang nakatutok na barl sa amin. Bahagya pa itong tumawa ng ubod nang lakas at muling naging seryoso matapos ng ilang segundong pagtawa.
"So, you don't know all along," she said, playing an innocent smile like how she plays the Rivon character.
"Stop it, Valerie!" sigaw ni Quade sa kanya pero hindi nito tinapunan ng tingin ang lalaki. "Pinapahamak mo lang lalo ang sarili mo!"
"You should be the one who is scared, Valerie. The first day that we met, I knew something was off. It's because eyes can tell everything; they don't lie, and I knew it!" Xavien exclaimed.
"Well done. Your deduction is right, but something is always missing," she said calmly as if there was no chaos around her.
I felt her fingertips touch my skin and play an innocent smile again. "There's another side that you don't know, Amie. Since you've stepped foot in that school," she mumbled.
"They know you, Amie. Since the very start, hindi mo ba naisip ang lahat kung bakit ka nakapasa sa entrance exam with a perfect score? Kung paano nila iniiwasan ang mga tanong na bumabagabag sa 'yo? At kung paano ka nila tratuhin na kaibigan habang ang malaking sikreto ay nasa harapan mo na pala," she said.
"Itigil mo na toh, Valerie. Hindi siya maniniwala sa 'yo!" sigaw ni Athena. "Kahit ano pang sabihin mo hindi makikinig sa 'yo si Amie!"
I looked her in the eyes. Kahit isa sa kanila ay walang bakas ng pagkabigla sa sinabi ni Rivon. They already know and they hid the truth since the beginning of our friendship.
What the damn hell?!
"H-Hindi ako naniniwala," I protested.
Kahit na sinabi ko ito parang ipinapahiwatig sa akin ng isip ko na maniwala ako sa sinasabi niya and if she's tell the damn truth, hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko.
I thought all of them could be trusted, but I was wrong. I've been manipulated for so long that I didn't notice every detail of their lying in front of me, and how they laugh with me, knowing that the truth that I'm eager to know is correct in front of me—all of them straight in the face.
Gusto kong magwala, sumigaw at tumakbo pero putangina bakit hindi ko magawa?!
"If I'm lying to you, why don't you ask your fake friends?"Quade cut her off.
"I said stop, Valerie!" muling sigaw ni Quade ngunit hindi nakinig sa kanya ang babae.
"If you're siding with me, Quade you know it's better for her to know the truth-para magising na siya sa katotohanan dahil sa simula pa lang ay niloloko niyo na siya!" bulyaw ni Valerie.
Piniglas ko ang pagkapit ni Xavien sa aking kamay. Nakayuko ako at nagsisimulang magbagsakan ang mga luha sa mga mata ko.
"S-Sabihin mong hindi iyon totoo, Xavien. Please...sabihin mo," pagmamakaawa kong sambit sa kanya.
BINABASA MO ANG
Highschool Detectives ①
Misterio / Suspenso(SELF-PUBLISHED UNDER IMMAC PPH) HIGHSCHOOL DETECTIVES: FILE 1 MAZE. MANIPULATION. MURDER. MAYHEM. Amie never expected the cryptic invitation from Amethy High-a prestigious school where sharp minds are honed in the art of deduction. The invitation i...
