Island of Obsession (Island Series 2)

CHAPTER 9

"Sino kaya ang gumawa ng karumal-dumal na krimen kay Brianna?" I overheard my classmates gossiping behind me.

"Maybe it was the one who spread her sex video," one of them replied.

I swallowed hard and bit my lip at what I heard. I was the one who spread those videos. But I didn't kill her. If someone finds out that I was the one who spread those, I would surely be implicated in Brianna's murder.

Brianna's tragic death has spread like wildfire throughout Embera, becoming the main topic in both local and national news, even reaching the Philippine television channels. The authorities are currently conducting an in-depth investigation. Nalaman namin na sa isang lumang bodega siya pinatay. Hindi gaanong kilala ng ibang tao ang bodega na iyon dahil ang sabi-sabi ay dekada na rin ito sa Embera—sa katunayan, dati itong pabrika na ginawa na lamang bodega dahil na rin sa medyo kalayuan nito sa pangunahing lungsod ng Embera. 

However, the authorities did not publicly disclose the details of how she was really killed. They only mentioned that it was a brutal way and that it was sensitive, so Brianna's family decided not to reveal it to the public for now. That's why many are eager to know the truth about her death. Isa na ako roon.

Rumor has it that she was dismembered, with her hands and feet cut off. Some say she had multiple stab wounds and that her body was slashed. Hearing that from others makes my stomach turn. Totoo man o hindi, paano nasikmura ng pumatay kay Brianna ang ganong klaseng pagpatay?

Nagtaka rin ako kung bakit siya naroroon, kasi ang alam ko ay malapit lang sa bahay nila ni Moon sila magkikita. Bukod pa rito, hindi naman lumabas o umalis ng bahay si Moon sa gabing iyon, at wala rin akong nabasa sa kanilang pag-uusap sa Messenger na doon sila magkikita.

Plano ko sanang tanungin si Moon tungkol dito, pero baka magtaka lang siya kung paano ko nalaman na may usapan sila, kaya minabuti ko na lang na huwag na. Binasa ko rin ang iba pang nakachat ni Brianna sa kanyang Messenger sa gabing iyon ngunit wala akong nakita na kakaiba. Wala rin akong nabasa na may kikitain siya sa lugar na iyon, kaya mas lalo akong nagtataka.

"I don't think so... maybe one of the instructors involved in the issues?" dinig kong sabi ng isa sa likuran ko.

She has a point. Perhaps they were afraid of ruining their reputations because they were linked to Brianna since they are teachers. But, I don't think they would do that either because being involved means they need to protect their image, and killing Brianna would be too risky for them.

Who might have killed her?

"Hoy, tama na ang tsismisan baka biglang pumasok si Sir Ong," sita ni Rosie sa kanila.

Agad naman silang tumahimik at nagsibalikan sa kanilang mga upuan dahil malapit na ang oras para sa PE class.

Sir Ong was our PE instructor, the one I saw kissing Brianna in the abandoned comfort room beside the clinic, along with Brianna's friends.

"Ayos ka lang, Andeng? Kanina ka pa tahimik," tanong ni Rosie sa akin.

I smiled and held her hand. "Ayos lang ako, nakikinig lang ako sa tsismisan nila," I said with a slight laugh to ease the unexplainable tension.

Tumawa naman si Rosie sa sagot ko. "Ikaw talaga, huwag na nating isipin iyon. Ginagawa naman ng mga awtoridad ang matinding imbestigasyon kaya sure akong sa lalong madaling panahon makakamit na ni Brianna ang hustisya niya," aniya.

I nodded.

Gulat pa rin ako sa mga pangyayari. Ano ang dahilan ng pagpatay sa kanya? May kinalaman kaya ang sex videos na pinost ko? Bakit hindi sumipot si Moon sa pagkikita nila? Bakit nandoon sa lugar na iyon si Brianna? May kinalaman kaya si Moon?