The Red Box

CHAPTER 2: RED BOX

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa nakita kong balita sa cellphone ko. Hindi ko matanggap ang balitang iyon.

The police called me when they found out that I was Lara's best friend and her only family in this city. I called my parent's and told them what happened to Lara, they immediately go to the police station where the police told me to go.

Iyak lang ako ng iyak habang hinihintay sila mommy sa police station. Hindi ko matanggap at mas lalong sobra akong nasaktan dahil sa nangyari.

"Mom, Lara won't leave me right? Hindi ito totoo, Lara is still alive. She's not dead, mom, please tell me, she's still alive," umiiyak kong saad. Pinipilit na sabihin sakin ng mga magulang ko na hindi ito toto lahat, na isa lang itong panaginip at gisingin na ako sa katotohanan. "Mom, why can't you say anything! Please, say something!" Pilit ko pa dito.

Umiiyak na tiningnan lang ako ni mommy and she hugged me, so tight. Iyak lang ako ng iyak at hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin ko. I don't have best best friend anymore.

Lara is now gone. Hindi na sya babalik dito at yakapin ako para patahanin. My dad talk to the police habang pinapatahan ako ni mommy. My brother is also hugging me, trying to calm and comfort me.

I tried to calm my self-pero palaging tumutulo ang mga luha ko. Bumitaw ako sa yakap ni mommy at lumapit ako kay daddy ng nabitawan na din ako ng kapatid ko.

"Your daughter is one of our suspect, sir, dahil nakita namin na sya ang huling tumawag sa victim," rinig kong saad ng pulis kay daddy.

"Why are you suspecting my daughter? She's her best friend, she would never do that to her," madiin na sabi ni daddy, bakas dito ang galit dahil sa sinabi ng pulis.

"We don't have any other option, sir, we need to collect more evidences and to know her reason why she called sa biktima."

They suspect me that I killed my own best friend. And I can't blame them dahil ganun naman talaga ang mangyayari pag may patayan na nangyayari. They will open the victim's phone and go see through her contact and then suspect the person kung sino man ang huling tumawag sa suspect.

"I will defend my self. Kailan magsisimula ang imbestigasyon?" matapang kong saad sa mga pulis.

My dad look at me worriedly, but I just nod at him. I want them to know that I would never kill my best friend. I want to prove them wrong.

"Bukas na bukas na magsisimula ang imbestigasyon," the pulis said. "If you'll excuse me, mr. and mrs. Reyes."

At umalis na ang pulis. I bit my lower lip and tried to stop my tear's, but I failed again.

"Mom, I want to see Lara po," umiiyak kong sabi.

Tumango naman si mommy sakin habang hinawakan ako sa kamay at pumunta kami sa morgue kung saan nila inilagay si Lara.

Iyak at hagolgol lang ang ginawa ko sa buong byahe, hanggang sa narating na namin ang morgue. Nasa labas palang kami ay para ng napako ang mga paa ko, ayaw nitong maglakad papasok, knowing that my best friend is inside of it, lying on the metal bed-lifeless.

Pero pinilit ko parin ang sarili na pumasok, sa tulong ni mommy. My knee's became weaker and weaker as we almost reach the room. I once again bit my lower lip when the guy who guide us dito sa loob stop walking sa isang bed.

Para akong sinaksak ng pauli-ulit habang nakatingin sa isang katawan na tinabunan ng puting tela. Inilapit ako ni mommy doon and I slowly open the puting tela.

My tear's fall again and again, yung tipong parang wala ng bukas para ipagpatuloy pa ang pag-iyak. My parent's cried silently, but I cried louder and louder. My shoulder tremble as I cry non-stop.