Eyes, Nose, Lips

01

Hummingbird
_________

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Suddenly, I remembered the first time I wore this uniform—the day I became a police officer. I could still remember why I chose this path: the distorted truth everyone was chasing in this damned world. Everything seemed to be repeating itself, stagnant and unchanged.

But. . . I want to change this world. I want to make a difference in this world.

Pagkatapos ay napasulyap ako sa orasan na nasa ibabaw ng salamin. When I saw that I still had enough time, balak ko sanang magpunta na muna nang grocery store para bumili ng energy drink but a memory just flashed again in my mind, causing a headache.

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko.

"Napapansin kong madalas nang sumasakit ang ulo mo. . ."

When I heard Shyra's voice, I immediately pretended I was okay. I don't want anyone to worry about me. Pabigat na nga ako sa pamilya niya, dadagdag pa 'tong problema ko sa ulo ko.

"I'm okay, Shyra. . . W-what brings you here?" I asked coldly, as if nothing had happened, and slowly sat on the chair beside the mirror.

I looked at the clock again, sakto lang naman ang kilos ko ngayon. I woke up earlier than my usual preparation time. May palagay na rin kasi akong magiging maaga si Shyra sa pagpunta dito sa condo ko. She's always excited every Monday because it reminds her of when we officially started working at the San Condejas Police Station.

"We have a new case," Shyra breathed loudly with an unsure smile.
 
"And we have our new Deputy Chief coming this afternoon." I held my breath for three seconds, opened the water bottle, and drank some. "So, what's the new case all about?" I added to Shyra.
 
"Wala pa naman akong masyadong impormasyon tungkol do'n, but I think it's a serial killing. Sir Colado informed us to go to the station so that he can discuss it with us this afternoon. I'm sure, ipapakilala niya rin ang bagong Deputy Chief natin, 'no?" I heard her chuckle. 
 
I closed my eyes tight and breathed deeply, "Maybe, Shyra." 
 
"Then, let's go to the office now," Shyra suggested.

It's quarter to nine nang lumabas na kami ng bahay. Shyra and I walked across the street and waited for the bus. Maya-maya pa ay dumating na ang bus at kaagad na sumakay rito. 
 
Ilang minuto rin ang naging biyahe namin. Saktong alas diyes nang dumating kami ng Police Station. Pagkarating na pagkarating namin do'n ay bumungad sa amin ang mukha ng isang ina. I saw her eyes; it was crying. It was just not crying that she lost something, but it was a cry for help. 
 
Those tears that scream for justice, ang mga luhang hindi natatahimik hanggang hindi ito nabibigyan ng hustisya. 
 
That mother's face reminded me of a person. It was a story looking for a reader. Seeking for help, seeking for someone who'll look at her situation. A face of questions that needed to be answered. 
 
It somehow reminded me of her.

"Sir. . . tulungan mo ako. Pinatay ang anak ko. Pinatay ang anak kong walang kamuwang-muwang. Mabait ang anak ko. . . wala siyang kasalanan. Bakit siya pinatay?" paghagulgol nito habang nakakapit ang kanyang kamay sa laylayan ng damit ko.

"Nay, huminahon po muna kayo, okay? Tutulungan po namin kayo. Huwag po kayong mag-alala." Rinig kong pagpakalma ni Shyra sa ina.

Shyra spoke up first because I wasn't able to say a word. I can't even speak a single word, as if my tongue were tied to silence.

Napalunok na lang ako saka napaisip.

"Anong nangyayari sa'yo? Bakit hindi ka makapagsalita?" bulong na tanong ni Shyra sa akin.

"Well. . . uhm, actually,"

I paused and pretended to open a notebook and pen from my bag. "Pwede po bang magtanong nay kung anong nangyari? Maaari niyo po bang isalaysay ang eksaktong nangyari sa anak niyo?"

"Nasa kolehiyo pa lamang anak ko. Mabait at masipag siyang bata, walang naging kaaway at walang inaapakang tao. Kilala siyang mabuti sa kanilang klase dahil pinalaki ko siyang maayos. Pero nitong mga nakaraang araw, halos gabi na siyang umuuwi, palaging alas diyes na. Kinabahan na ako nang sunud-sunod na dalawang gabi siyang hindi umuwi. Nakampante ako dahil nag-text naman siya sa akin, kaya’t wala akong naging problema doon. Hanggang isang gabi, hindi siya umuwi, at wala ring text. Kinabukasan, nabalitaan kong namatay na siya. Lasog-lasog ang katawan ng anak ko, halos hindi na siya makilala; ang tanging naiwan na walang galos ay ang kanyang kaliwang kamay. Kawawa ang anak ko. Hindi ko maintindihan. . . bakit ang anak ko pa?" rinig kong patuloy na hagulgol ng ina.

I understand the mother's sentiment, marami na rin akong kasong nahawakan. Maraming iyak na ang narinig ko pero ang kasong ito, parang binabalik ako sa nakaraan. It was like the murder happened year ago was repeating itself.

"Tanging kaliwang braso lang talaga ang walang galos. Nakakapagtaka naman." Sambit ni Shyra nang makita ang mga litrato na ipinakita ni Sir Colado.

"It's a serial killing." I said. I sighed.

Ilang sandali pa'y nanahimik si Shyra. Nakita kong napahigpit siya sa larawang hawak niya. Her chest heaved and she looked out the window.

"Tulungan niyo po ako, Sir. Parang awa niyo na po, para sa anak ko, hinihingi ko ang tulong niyo. Hustisya para sa anak ko."

Parang bumigat bigla ang paghinga. Hindi ko talaga maatim ang marinig ang isang inang umiiyak para sa anak. Nawalan din ako ng ina, alam ko kung gaano kasakit mawalan ng taong mahal mo, lalong-lalo na kung pamilya mo ito.

"We will do our best, ma'am. Hustisya para sa anak niyo." I heard Shyra's voice assuring.
 
"We will investigate the death of your daughter. Rest assured justice will be given to her." 
 
"Ngayon mo lang ba narinig ang kasong 'to?" biglaang tanong ni Shyra.
 
"It just seemed familiar, h-hindi ko alam. . ." I shrugged.
 
"That incident with the Li—"
 
"No! Wala iyong kinalaman, Shyra. This is a serial killing case. It has nothing to do with that incident." I responded with a cold response. 
 
Ayoko nang balikan pa'yon. That was buried many years ago. I don't want to go back to that trauma.
 
"So, anong kaso 'to? Bagong serial killing case?" makulit na namang tanong nito at nakapameywang pa.
 
"It's the Hummingbird Serial Killing." 
 
My eyes suddenly widened when I turned behind my back and saw the woman who just talked behind us.
 
No? Eyaniah Nocie Licarno? She's dead years ago. She can't be this woman. That can't be! 

I took a step back, with my heart racing. Memories flooded over my mind. It's too way impossible, baka kamukha niya lang. Besides, she's not wearing any green jaded eyes.
 
"Deputy Chief Eva Colado, welcome to San Condejas Police Station." Magalang na sambit ni Sir Colado rito.
 
Kaagad namang napayuko ang ibang pulis na kasama namin sa loob, simbolo ng respeto. I also saw Shyra bowing before her.
 
"Uy, yuko ka diyan." Siko naman nito sa akin sa gilid ko kaya napayuko na rin ako ng walang oras. 
 
"This is my daughter; she will be the new Deputy Chief in this station. I will be retiring soon, so I want the best for this team. She'll be the head to all the cases I've handled and also to the ongoing cases. Is that even clear?" 
 
Everyone nodded, and so do I. I don't even have a choice.
 
"Deputy Chief Eva Colado can't be Eyaniah Nocie Licarno. That's impossible," I whispered to myself as I landed my eyes on her.
 
She saw me. . .  She stared at me, too.