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. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? What if the killer had seen you? You could’ve been the next victim!”
 
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, wonderful. Now you’re smiling,” he said dryly. “Did getting nearly killed suddenly become entertaining?”
 
I shook my head, "Hindi ah, nababanguhan kasi ako sa pabango mo, pahingi ako minsan." 
 
He rolled his eyes, put on his own helmet, and got on the motorcycle. I stood to the side, feeling a bit lost until he glanced back with a sharp, annoyed look.
 
“What are you waiting for? Get on before I leave 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.
 
Sa sobrang bilis magpatakbo ni Plutus, nakarating agad kami sa bahay. Walang traffic, traffic sa kan'ya. Feeling niya siguro hari siya ng daan.

Nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko na bumaba sa motor nito.

"Hindi na ako sasakay sa pesteng motor na 'yan!"
 
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 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 sat across from me with his arms crossed and his jaw tight. He looked like he was trying very hard not to explode. His eyes were fixed on me, making it difficult to even look at him.

The silence stretched, heavy and tense, until finally he broke it.
 
“Now. What were you doing in the library, Ottilie?” His voice was low and sharp. “You had no business being near a crime scene, especially with a victim there.”
 
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 that potion,” he continued. “What exactly were you planning to do with it?”

He leaned forward.

“And the camera. The DSLR.”

His arms tightened across his chest.

“You’re really testing my patience, Ottilie. Do you have any idea how reckless that was?”
 
I hesitated before finally speaking.

"I-I was just... I thought I could help," I
 
“Help?” he repeated. “Let me understand this. You thought you could investigate a killer by yourself?”

He gave me a mocking smile.

“Because you think you’re some kind of detective? How adorable.”
 
I frowned.

He took a deep breath and continued.

“What did you think would happen if you got caught? Or worse, 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.

"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 stayed quiet for a moment.

"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 raised an eyebrow.

“Fine. Then let’s make one thing clear.”

He pointed at me.

“If you’re going to keep doing this, I’m coming with you. No arguments.”

I immediately shook my head.
 
"What? No-"
 
He raised a hand, stopping me.

“Oh, you’re going to let me, evil witch. Or do I need to explain it in a way your tiny brain can understand?”

His eyes narrowed.

“If you think you’re going to play detective without me, I’ll personally have you locked up.”

He paused, then smiled in that annoying way of his.

“Or maybe I’ll bury you in a nice, cozy coffin with a few bugs and cockroaches for company.”
 
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.

"Fine… but you’re not going to boss me around."
 
Plutus smirked, clearly satisfied.

“Sure. Whatever you say.”

He stood up.

“Just try not to get yourself killed. It would be terribly inconvenient for me.”
 

To be continued...