QUADRO

Chapter Bente

HANZ’ POINT OF VIEW

I was about to enter the Academy's gate, nang naagaw ang attention ko sa nagsisiksikang mga tao malapit sa park. What's with the commotion over there? I asked myself. Dahil takang-taka ako kung anong nangyayari, naglakad ako kung saan may nagkukumpulang mga tao.

I noticed there was a yellow tape surrounding the scene, may mga pulis din at ambulance. There was an accident here?

I saw some students from our Academy, but I never saw the three girls. Annabella, Michaela, and Elizabeth, they're not here.

Lumapit pa ako at tumingin din sa tinitignan nila, napatingin pa sa akin ang mga kapwa ko students sa Academy and I saw how their expression changed.
Pity. Doubt. Worried. For what?

They gave way for me, para makita ko ang pinagkakaguluhan nila. However, my heart beating rapidly. Why do I feel that I won't like what will I see?

True enough. I stood frozen, unable to speak as my own two eyes saw Christina's dead body. Her fingers were chopped off, she had many bruises, her face isn't almost recognizable. Her cheeks has X mark too. Damn!

W-What happened? This is not an accident. This is not unintentional. Who the hell did this to her?! Christina, what happened to you?

Lalapitan ko na sana ang patay na katawan ni Christina pero pinigilan ako ng mga pulis.

“Sir, hindi po maaaring lumapit sa biktima. Ini-imbestagahan pa po namin ang nangyari.” the police officer said to me.

“But I know her! She's close to me!” I replied and try to push him but he hold my wrist tight but with gentle.

“Sir, please cooperate. Hindi puwedeng magulo ang investigation. Mahihirapan po kami nito kapag na interrupt ito.” informed by the police officer.

“May I ask? When did this happen? I want to know.”

Tumango ang police, “Ayon sa observation namin, mukhang kagabi lang po nangyari ito sa student dahil kitang-kita po na preskonpa ang kaniyang mga sugat. At ang matindi pa po nito ay, mukhang malinis ang gumawa nito sa kaniya pero ginagawa po namin ang lahat para matunton kung sino ang gumawa nito.”

“Is there no CCTV around the area? Please check it, Sir. It may help the process of your investigation!” I said and saw the staff from the ambulance carrying Christina's body sa kanilang sasakyan.

Umiling ang police na tila bigo, “ ‘Yon nga, Sir. There's no CCTV in this area kung saan mas naging pabor ito sa taong may gawa sa estudyante. Mas naging madali ito para sa kaniya at sinamantala niya ito dahil gabi ang pangyayari. But we will try na mag imbestiga kung may finger print na naiwan sa biktima at gumawa ng autopsy report para mas maka sigurado.”

Tumango ako sa kaniya at nagpa-salamat. I couldn't believe it! Sino ang gumawa noon kay Christina? Is it possible na iisa lang din ang gumawa nito sa nangyari sa Academy?

Maya-maya ay nagsi-alisan na ang mga tao at nilisan ang park. Pumasok na rin ang mga students galing sa Academy namin.

Hindi pa ako bumalik. I'm trying to search for something that could lead me who's behind this cruelty. I balled both of my fist.

“Sir, you have to go back now. Kami na po ang bahala dito. Kung gusto mo, give me your contact mo so I can inform you kapag may nakuha na kaming lead.” Suddenly, the police officer said that woke me up from my trance.

Tumango ako at binigay sa kaniya ang number ko at nagdadalawang isip na umalis.

Bumuntong hininga ako, naglakad pabalik sa Academy namin kahit mabigat ang paki-ramdam ko.

Why does Christina have to end up in that way? What did she do? Did she do something wrong? Or it was really intentional? Maybe there's a motive of the victim's perpetrator.

When I entered the Academy's gate, someone called my name.

“Hanz!”

I looked behind me, I saw Michaela, Elizabeth, and Annabella.

Nilapitan nila ako at nginitian except of course Annabella. It's not new to me, she doesn't like me. She doesn't want to be friends with me. I wonder why.

“Morning, girls.” I said plainly. Perhaps, they didn't know yet what happened to Christina.

“Ang cold mo naman ngayon, Hanz? Okay ka lang ba?” Michaela asked with a slight blush in her cheeks.

This girl. I know she likes me, she always have that blushing effect whenever she and I having conversation everytime na nasa iisa kaming table nagsasama-sama.

I didn't answer her. I don't even know what to say.

“Bakit may mga police at the park, then?” Annabella suddenly asked.

I glanced at her for several seconds before looking away.

Elizabeth and Michaela probably waiting to my answer because they're looking at me like I know something's up.

I inhaled deeply and looked at the three girls standing in front of me. Waiting for my explanation.

“Christina...” that's the first thing I said that made them confused.

“Anong nangyari sa kaniya?” Elizabeth immediately asked me.

“She’s...dead— she's gone.” I dropped it.

Nakita ko ang gulat sa mukha nila, but I can't decipher Annabella's face. It's just empty, like she's not interested at all or it was nothing to her.

“Ano?! Kailan pa, Hanz?” Asked by Elizabeth again.

“The police told me that Christina is already dead possibly last night. She was found dead there at the park.” I explained. Annabella's expression didn't falter.

Namutla ang mukha ni Michaela. Tumingin siya kay Elizabeth kaya niyakap siya nito.

“It’s happening again, Elizabeth.” Michaela said while her voice is shaking. Might be because of the news I told them that it frightened her.

I just dropped it like a bomb. Who wouldn't be frightened? But they didn't know how actually Christina died.

“How did she die, Hanz? Christina is kind. Wala naman yatang may galit sa kaniya.” Elizabeth

“It was brutal, Elizabeth. Her fingers chopped off, her face, her both cheeks rather have X mark. She have many wounds and bruises.” I said to her with low tone voice.

“Who on earth will do that to her?” Annabella asked while looking around. Bigla na lang ito tumingin sa akin ng malalim.

I don't know why but from the first time I met her, I feel like there's something off with her attitude and behavior. Or was she like that from the beginning?

She may act cold, nonchalant, disinterested, I know she's still kind and a good friend. I don't want to doubt her, maybe it's her nature to be like that.

“Only with inhumane behavior or a person with psychotic way of thinking.” I shrugged. But I had the glimpse a flash of anger in her eyes. No, maybe it's just my illusion.

“Indeed. That person is too cruel to kill an innocent creature.” she said and walked away from us.

“Mauuna na rin kami, Hanz.” Elizabeth said and wave her hands.

“Bye, Hanz.” Michaela said weakly.

Tumango ako sa kanila at muling tinanaw si Annabella.

Weird.

TO BE CONTINUED.