Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 24 Partner for Justice

OTTILIE VIRSES POV
 
 
"Plutus?!" Bulong kong asik sa kan'ya ng mabosesan ko ito. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"
 
Magsasalita na sana ito ng marinig namin ang mga yabag ng mga taong pumasok kanina sa library. Walang pasabi na kinuha ni Plutus ang kamay ko at saka ako hinila papalayo sa library. Naging mabilis ang bawat hakbang naming dalawa hanggang sa marating namin ang parking lot ng school. 
 
Pabagsak niyang binitawan ang kamay ko at saka hinagod ang buhok gamit ang dalawang kamay nito. I could tell he was holding back his anger. When he stopped moving, he looked down at me with a glare, and poked my forehead twice, each poke showing his annoyance.
 
"What were you thinking?!" he scolded, his voice low but sharp. "Do you know how dangerous that was?" He didn’t give me a chance to explain as he continued, "What if the killer had seen you? You could’ve been next!"
 
He attempted to poke again my forehead, so I immediately covered it. "Waaah! Tama na, masakit!"
 
That made Plutus hand stop, then he groaned again and decided to turn toward his motorbike. He opened the compartment of it to pull out an extra helmet. Without a word, he shoved it onto my head, buckling it tightly. I could hardly breathe, but his scent lingered in the air around me, somehow soothing my nerves from the tense encounter.
 
Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang mapangiti dahil sa amoy nito. Siya lang ang lalaking kaya kong amuyin na hindi ako nababahing dahil sa pabango nito. Pero mukhang wrong move ata ang ginawa ko dahil nakita niya ang pagngiti ko.
 
"Oh, you think this is funny?" he snapped, clearly irritated.
 
I shook my head, managing to mumble, "Hindi ah, nababanguhan kasi ako sa pabango mo, pahingi ako minsan." 
 
Plutus rolled his eyes, groaning again as he adjusted his own helmet and swung a leg over the bike. I stood to the side, feeling a bit lost until he glanced back with a sharp, annoyed look.
 
"What?! Hop on, or I’m leaving you here?"
 
I scrambled onto the bike, gingerly placing my hands on his shoulders. Pero mukhang mas lalo lang itong nainis sa ginawa ko. He snorted before grabbing my hands and wrap them firmly around his waist.
 
"Hold on. Tightly."
 
Before I could even respond, he sped off, and I instinctively tightened my grip around his waist.
 
"Slow down!!" I shouted. "Malalaglag na ako dito!" 
 
But Plutus only increased his speed. I have no choice but to shut my eyes as I cling to him as tightly as I could. Despite my racing pulse and the rush of adrenaline, I couldn’t help but feel his strong, toned body under my hands.
 
Ano ba 'yan, mamamatay na ako't lahat-lahat, itong muscles pa ni Plutus sa katawan ang napansin ko? First time naglapit ng ganito ang mga katawan namin, pero bakit parang nagugustuhan ko din ang pagkakayakap ko sa kan'ya? 
 
Huy, Ottilie, binabangungot kana naman! Tigilan mo 'yang iniisip mo.
 
The ride, thankfully, didn’t last long, and we soon pulled up to our house. I staggered off the bike, legs still wobbly, blurting out, "I’m never getting on that bike again!"
 
Plutus ignored my comment as he removed his helmet, then he turned to face me. I can see how bad his mood right now.

"Inside," he ordered, pointing his finger toward the door. "You’re explaining everything. Now."
 
My stomach churned, but I nodded, following behind him as he stepped inside.
 
When we were both in the living room, it felt like I'm a cornered mouse. Plutus was sitting across from me, arms crossed, jaw tight, clearly trying to hold back his anger. His eyes burned into me, and I struggled to even meet his gaze. The silence stretched, heavy and tense, until finally he broke it.
 
"Now. What were you doing in the library, Ottilie?" His voice was raspy but there was a sharp edge to it. "You have no business being anywhere near a crime scene, let alone the victim."
 
I swallowed, searching for words but nothing came out. His gaze didn’t waver, and that only made my nerves worse. What if ibitin na naman ako nito patiwarik? Or worse, baka makaisip na naman ito ng panibagong gagawin sa'kin?
 
"And don’t even get me started on the potions. What exactly were you planning with that potion?" He leaned in, his voice dropping. "And the camera. The DSLR." His fingers tightened on his crossed arms. "You’re really starting to test my patience, Ottilie. Do you have any idea how reckless that was?"
 
I hesitated, words tangling in my throat, but his glare was relentless. "I-I was just... I thought I could help," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
 
"Help?" he repeated, incredulous. "Let me get this straight, you think you can just waltz around investigating a killer by yourself? All because you think you’ve got some detective skills? Cute, Ottilie, really."
 
The silence stretched again as he seemed to catch himself, taking a deep breath before continuing. "And what do you think would happen if you were caught? Or if the killer was still there?"

I felt my face heat up with shame, so I look down at the floor, but I knew he wasn’t done. But I have to speak up for myself. Nahuli na ako ni Plutus at hindi ako titigilan bungangaan nito kapag hindi ko siya na-satisfied sa sagot ko.
 
I took a deep breath, feeling my chest tighten as I finally spoke up, my voice wavering slightly. "I’m not doing this just because I’m curious." I paused, gathering the courage to say it all. "This started with Elena. My best friend. She was the first victim. No one else knows how much she meant to me because I kept it quiet. But losing her… it broke me."
 
Plutus’s expression shifted, his jaw loosening slightly as he listened, though his eyes remained sharp. I could see the flicker of surprise beneath his frustration, but I pushed on, not wanting to lose the momentum.
 
"I can’t just sit back while more people get hurt. I’m terrified, yes, but if I don’t at least try to find out what happened, then… then I’ll never forgive myself. I started collecting evidence, taking photos, and tracking down anything that might lead to her killer." I bit my lip, holding back the rush of emotions. "Elena deserves justice. She deserves someone who cares enough to look into what really happened to her."
 
Plutus remained silent for a moment, staring at me. His expression was unreadable. "And you thought doing this alone was the best way?"
 
"I didn’t think anyone would understand, your highness," I admitted. "Everyone else seems to think it’s the red room's doing, the enchanted mirror's fault. But I know there’s a pattern. I just… need to find it."
 
Plutus quirked his eyebrow, clearly not impressed with my reasons. "Okay, fine. Let’s get one thing clear: If you’re really doing this, I’m coming with you. Non-negotiable."
 
I shook my head, feeling a rush of frustration. "What? No-"
 
He raised a hand to cut me off, "Oh, you’re going to let me, evil witch. Or do I need to spell it out for you?" His eyes narrowed as he leaned in.

"If you think you’re going to keep playing detective without me, I’ll personally have you locked up. Or maybe… buried in a nice, cozy coffin filled with bugs and insects."
 
I swallowed hard, clearly horrified by his new tricks. Sinasabi ko na nga ba, may binabalak na naman gawin sa'kin ang asungot na 'to. Mabuti na lang at hindi pa ko gumaganti sa ginawang pagsabit nito sa'kin sa puno. Kasunod na pala no'n ang paglilibing sa'kin sa kabaong kasama ang mga ipis at kung ano-ano pa. Gross.
 
Meanwhile,bPlutus clearly enjoying the reaction on my face right now.
 
"What? Suddenly not so brave?" he taunted. "If you want to keep snooping around, I’m coming with you. End of discussion."
 
A shiver ran through me, and I knew there was no winning against him—not with threats like that. I nodded reluctantly, muttering, "Fine… but you’re not going to boss me around."
 
Plutus just smirked, satisfied. "Sure, whatever you say. Just don’t get in my way."
 

To be continued...