In The Last Sunset: A confession, not a story

Chapter 4: The Unraveling

Thea and I didn't waste time, we agreed to go immediately to Laguna to see the body and confirm whether it was Rei and not. They also need DNA for a few tests to determine the corpse identity.

Thea informed me that the police called her earlier to tell her about the body, she was asked to check it. The medical examiner that is in charge told Thea that the body is probably six to seven years old, though they cannot really determine unless they did a full and official autopsy.

"Do you think it's Rei?" I asked her. Thea is sitting in the passenger seat, she looks nauseous as if she's going to vomit anytime, I remind myself that I am driving with a pregnant woman and I need to drive slow. Thea, despite her circumstance looks hopeful, it made me wonder if like me, she's still hoping that Rei is alive, that somehow, she managed to survive in the midst of that cruel water but I know it's impossible. It has been seven years already, if she's alive, we will know.

It is a long and quiet drive, naka-ilang stop kami since Thea needs to pee every now and then. She was quiet all the way as if she's thinking something and I don't have the means to start any conversation with her. I was already tired, exhausted and my head kept buzzing every now and then.

When we arrived at Laguna, sinalubong kami nang dalawang pulis. The one police officer is well built and tall, he looks young, as if he just graduated from academy while the other police officer looks older and serious, he was fat and slow moving but he greeted us with a reassuring smile, the type that will convince you to immediately trust him. "Ma'am, are you Miss Althea Concepcion?" said the younger policeman.

"Misis Althea de Chavez '' Thea corrected, a little annoyed at being called by her maiden name "kasal na ko" the police led us to an isolated part of the river, medyo mabato doon. The young officer accompanies Thea, he looks anxious at the sight of the pregnant woman. Medy maputik ang daan since umulan daw dito kahapon which makes our walk a little harder.

If I knew that it would be this hell of a road, I would wear shoes or anything comfortable. I find it hard to walk here with my heels, my ankles hurt at ilang beses na akong muntikan matumba. I made a mental notes to always keep a pair of shoes as a car, just in case something like this happens. From here, I can hear the silent hum of the river. Maya-maya pa we can already see the river, it was brown and covered by green algae, it smells like canal water mixed by garbage. The police directed us toward one side of the river bank. The first thing I noticed is the yellow police tape that surrounds the area and the pungent smell.

"nandito na po tayo''

I noticed Thea covering her nose, she looked like she's going to puke. I gave her my handkerchief as we stared at the body bag in front of us. The young officer walked toward the police bag and looked at us, waiting for our sign. Inod at him and he opened the bag. The smell first hit us, it was disgusting, it smells like it's been rotting for years. There's only bones inside the bag at mukha pang kulang kulang ang buto, the bones are covered with black mud and moss.

It was impossible to determine whether it was Rei or not.

I stared at the corpse in front of me and started to feel nauseous, it was a grimy sight. I felt the food I ate earlier forcing it way out to my stomach, I fought the urge to vomit as I noticed the faded shirt of the corpse, it was not wearing any pants, or underwear. I stared at Thea who was staring at the corpse, her forehead creased as she declared "this is not Rei" before breaking into a sob.

"sure po kayo?"

"walang bracelet na galit si Rei" she pointed at the pink beaded bracelet, I agree. Rei is not the type of person to wear pink, Rei was a person who doesn't acknowledge any color in the color wheel except for black and white plus Rei doesn't wear any accessory as she sees it to be too girly and a waste of precious metals.