R O O M 16 (Sixteen Series #1)

Part 2

TWO

I listened to the sound of the machine beside the hospital bed. This sound determines whether my father is still breathing or not. I sighed while staring at him. He has his eyes closed, like he was just peacefully sleeping.

It's almost a month since the incident happened. Up until now, we're all still waiting for him and the other teacher to wake up to know what really happened. The police's investigation is incomplete and there's no further evidence. The police did not gave it much attention. You can't really trust today's society. I'm not pertaining to all but some police sure are really lazy. If there's no strong evidence then that's it, the case would be closed.

I flinched after hearing the door opened.

"Is your father okay?" sambit ng papalapit na boses sa likuran ko.

I did not looked back, "He's okay. That's what the doctor said, pero hindi parin alam kung kailan ba talaga siya gigising."

Umupo siya sa upuan na nasa gilid ng kama at humarap sakin. "Mom, too," she said.

She sighed, "When will they wake up? Kahit isa lang sa kanila sana. We just needed a witness for that accident. Yung makakapagbigay lang sana ng konkretong impormasyon sa atin. It's still confusing, you know." Sabi niya habang nakakatitig kay Papa.

"Ano ba talaga ang ginagawa mong ‘yan?" Nakakunot-noong tanong ko sa kaniya.

"What? Aren't you confuse or you did not think it's suspicious?"

"What's suspicious ba?"

"What, Ace? You're not even worried why those students died while our parents were still here? Still breathing and fine?!" Napataas ng kaunti ang boses niya.

"What do you think is fine here, Shane?" sagot ko sa kaniya at itinuro si Papa na nakahiga sa kama ng ospital na ito, nakapikit na parang natutulog lang nang mahimbing.

"That's what I'm saying! Nothing's fine with this accident and those damned police are not even doing their job right!"

She's now breathing heavily.

"Trabaho nila ‘yun! Hindi natin kailangang pakialaman dahil unang-una wala naman tayong kinalaman!" I tried to talk with a low voice as much as I can.

"And what? You're just gonna sit back and do nothing?! Masasabi ko sa‘yo, hinding-hindi ipagpapatuloy nang mga walang kwentang mga pulis na ‘yun ang kasong ito kung walang sapat na ebidensya. Yes, the case is not closed yet but there's no progression! Ni wala man lang tayong balita na natatanggap kung ano na ba ang balita sa aksidenteng iyon!" Shane was pissed. Really pissed that I can even see her veins popping out of her throat.

"Well, of course, siguradong wala kang matatanggap dahil hindi ka naman parte ng aksidente!" I blurted back.

"Hah! Bakit? Sa tingin mo ba pati yung pamilya ng mga estudyante na na-aksidente ay may natatanggap na balita? There's none!"

"What?" Napakunot-noo ako sa sinabi niya.

"I heard it. Patuloy na nagrereklamo ang mga magulang ng mga estudyante dahil sa walang progresong kaso. Wala pa ring kahit anong ebidensya ang naipapakita. Well, that's because the police's are not even doing their job! Sabat ng mga pulis, wala raw silang nakikitang kailangang imbestigahan sa aksidente dahil "aksidente" nga raw ‘yun. It was clearly stated "raw" na nawalan nang brake yung bus." Mahabang eksplenasyon ni Shane.

"...Then what's the problem with that, Shane? Bakit pilit mong gustong malaman at imbestigahan mismo ang kaso? That's their job not yours." Paulit-ulit na sabi ko. Minsan talaga hindi ko maintindihan ang isang ‘to. Ang gusto ko lang namang ipunto ay wala siyang magagawa sa kasong ‘to. Hindi siya professional at lalong wala siyang sapat na ebidensya. Tsaka saan siya mag-iimbestiga? Doon sa pinanggalingan ng aksidente? I don't really get this girl sometimes.