Eyes, Nose, Lips

04

Alive
_________

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" asked the little girl peeking the window outside.

It had been a week since we moved to this village. Everything was new to me—the environment, the people living, and the way they lived. 

I met someone. I met her.

The first thing I noticed were her green jade eyes. She seemed to come from a wealthy family, loved and adored by everyone in this village.

I was still in my first year of high school when I actually met her. She seemed quiet and doesn't really talk too much. Her skin was so pale that I mistakenly thought she might have a skin condition.

The Licarno family—that’s who they are. Ang pamilyang Licarno ay sikat sa lugar na iyon kaya lahat ng tao na nakakasalubong nila ay binabati talaga sila. Bukod sa isang gobernador ang ama nito, hindi ko maipagkakailang, maimpluwensiya at makapangyarihan ang kanilang pamilya.

She was so different, and I can't seem to read her—she's like a concealed secret. It seemed like she has hidden depths and aspects that aren't immediately visible to comprehend. 

"Anong gusto ko paglaki?" napaisip ako, napabuntonghininga. 

"Yeah? So, what do you want when you grow up? A doctor? An engineer? A lawyer?" sunod-sunod niyang tanong sa akin kahit sa bintana ko lamang siyang kausap.

Malapit lamang ang bahay namin sa kanila. Kumbaga, magkapitbahay kami. 

"Gusto kong maging pulis. . . gusto kong protektahan ang mga taong mahal ko at ituwid ang mga kamalian na ginagawa ng mga tao." 

"Is that what your heart wants?" taas kilay niyang tanong.

"Oo, kasi gusto kong maging bahagi ng pagbabago, gusto kong baguhin ang mundo." Tanging sagot ko. 

"Pero kailangan mong maging matatag. Ano ang gagawin mo kung isa sa mga mahal mo ang maging salarin sa krimen? Dadalhin mo ba sila sa presinto para gawing miserable ang buhay nila at mabulok sa kulungan? Kakayanin mo ba iyon? Kakayanin mo bang makita silang nahihirapan?"

Hindi ko inaaasahan ang mga tanong niya. She's smart, I say.

"Siguro naman hindi 'yan mangyayari sa pamilya ko o kung sa magiging pamilya ko man." Peke kong tawa.

"You can't be so sure. . . hey what's your name? You're new to here? Ngayon lang pala kita nakita dito."

"Y-you can call me officer Agoncillo. Kakalipat lang namin dito sa lugar niyo no'ng nakaraan." Kamot ko sa aking ulo.

"Oh you're acting like one huh? Okay, Officer Agoncillo, I am Eyaniah Nocie Licarno. You can call me Eya, or Niah or. . . anything you want."

"How about you? Anong gusto mo paglaki mo?" pabalik kong tanong.

"Eyaniah Nocie Licarno, where the hell are you? I'm going to kill you!"

"No! No! No!"

I was breathless. Muntikan na akong hindi magising. Para akong binangungot sa nakaraang iyon. . . Pero bakit hindi ko lubusang maalala ang lahat? Isang palaisipan pa rin ang nangyari noon. Ten years ago, it was supposed to be buried deep, but why is it coming back to life? 
 
Shyra's not even here, so there's no one I can talk to. Tanging sarili ko lang ang nagpapakalma sa akin. 
 
Wala sa oras na napaupo ako. Kinuha ko ang laptop ko sa bag, scanned the whole picture of the Hummingbird serial killings. I looked and looked at the picture all over again but. . . there's nothing I gained.
 
"Sino ka ba talagang killer ka? Bakit ka pa bumalik!" I groaned in frustration. 
 
Maya-maya pa'y biglang nagvibrate ang phone ko. Dali-dali ko naman itong kinuha sa itaas ng cabinet, and I saw a text message. 
 
The murderer still lingers. I know who the real murderer is. 
 
I heaved a deep sigh when I saw the text message that appeared on my cellphone. Hindi ko alam kung scam text lang ba o ano? But when another minute passed, nagsend ulit siya ng mensahe. This time, there were pictures of the Hummingbird serial killings. 

Napahilamos na lamang ako sa sariling mukha bago maglakas loob na lumabas ng kwarto. Kutob kong nasa paligid lamang ang nagsend ng message. 
 
I tried calling Shyra, but she wouldn't answer. Ilang beses na akong nagparing pero wala, baka tulog na nga siya.
 
I took a step closer to the door, and another text appeared in my cellphone again.
 
Death can be a funny thing. When that blood runs through your own veins, unending joy you will receive. 
 
"Is this some kind of your prank? Get out, you moron! Face me!" I shouted, clenching my own fist.
 
Natahimik ako saglit. A few seconds later, I heard a knock. Dali-dali ko namang tinanaw ang labas through the doorhole. There I saw Shyra knocking. 
 
Kaagad ko siyang pinagbuksan ng pintuan saka mabilis na ipinasok sa apartment ko. "What are you thinking? Hindi ka na sana nagpunta rito, Shyra!" pasigaw kong sambit sa kanya.
 
"But I saw your missed calls; sinong hindi mag-aalala, ha?" her voice is trembling. 
 
Kitang-kita ko ang pamumutla niya, tagaktak rin ang pawis niya. Ang sobrang ikinagulat ko nang makita ko ang mga paa niya, hindi na pala siya nakasuot ng tsinelas dahilan sa pagmamadali niyang magpunta dito sa apartment ko. 
 
"Pero kahit na, mapanganib, Shyra. I tried to call you in order to warn you. Someone texted me. I don't know if it's a scam, but I think it's not. The murderer still lives. The murderer is alive." 
 
"A-ano? The murderer is alive? What? How?" tila nanginginig nitong boses. Hindi ko man masabi pero pati ang mga kamay niya'y nanginginig na rin sa takot.
 
"Anong what? You don't know anything, and it's a good thing. It's fine; you don't need to know about the murderer, please. . ." I sounded like I was pleading. 
 
"We're in this together, Cy. Hindi naman ako pwedeng tumunganga 'di ba? Paano kung umatake ang murderer na hindi natin alam?" she even hissed, heaving a deep sigh.
 
"No! I order you to hide Shyra. Kayo ni Tita, magpakalayo-layo muna—"
 
May sasabihin pa sana ako sa kanya nang bigla niya akong patigilin sa pagsasalita. "I am a police officer too, Cy. You can't deny that fact. Sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, mananatili ako sa propesyon ko." 
 
"I can't force you enough, but I am warning you. The murderer is still alive, Shyra."