Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 43 6th Victim

OTTILIE VIRSES POV
 
 
Nakakapagtaka na magaan na ang pakiramdam ko pag-gising ng umaga. Ang buong akala ko talaga ay hindi ako makakapasok ngayong araw dahil ang sama talaga ng tama ko kagabi. Pesteng ulan kasi 'yan, idagdag pa ang nabugbog kong kalamnan. 
 
At dahil nga good mood ako ngayong umaga, naisipan kong magluto ng almusal namin ni Plutus. Speaking of Plutus, saan kaya pumunta ang isang 'yon kagabi? Hindi ko na talaga siya nahintay at nauna na akong matulog.
 
After a while, Plutus stumbled into the kitchen, looking like he hadn’t slept in days. He sank onto a stool at the counter, rubbing his eyes with a long-suffering sigh.
 
"Morning!" I greeted him cheerfully, giving him my brightest smile.
 
Plutus rolled his eyes heavenwards, muttering, "Lucky for you to wake up like that."
 
I couldn’t help but laugh softly while stirring the pot. "Bakit parang puyat na puyat ka ata? Saan ka ba galing kagabi?" 
 
He waved a dismissive hand. "Nothing. What are you cooking?"
 
"Sopas," I said, proud of my efforts. "Paki-tikman naman para makakain na tayo."
 
Plutus scowled but got up reluctantly. He leaned over the pot, his eyebrows knitting as he studied it. 
 
"Why the hell is it red?"
 
"Kung hindi mo naitatanong, it's a famous dish in the human world," I assured him, flashing a big grin.
 
Plutus looked unconvinced but tasted it anyway. No sooner did he take a sip than he spun around and spat the soup into the sink, quickly grabbing a glass of water to rinse his mouth. 
 
"Napapano ka diyan?!" I rushed over, feeling worried.
 
"Did you put poison in this?" He glared at me, incredulous.
 
My eyes went wide and I shook my head frantically. "Hah?! Bakit naman kita lalasunin?"
 
Plutus ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated by the second. "Is this a punishment? Goddamn, that was horrendous!"
 
Nagulat naman ako sa pang-aakusa nito kaya nagmadali akong binalikan ang niluluto ko at saka tinikman ito. Pero halos isuka ko na pati laman-loob ko dahil sa sama ng lasa nito.
 
"Pero... ang alam ko talaga may ketchup sa sopas, kaya nga red soup, eh." 
 
Plutus grumbled as he picked up his bag. "After I took care of you all night, pulling an all-nighter, this is how you thank me? By poisoning me? Really, Ottilie?" He shook his head, leaving the kitchen.
 
I stood there, stunned by what he’d just said. He took care of me last night? Suddenly guilt washed over me. No wonder I was feeling better. With no time to remake breakfast, I quickly prepared a sandwich, poured coffee into a tumbler, and tucked them into my bag.

I'll give it to him as a peace offering. 
 
~~~
 
Pagkarating ko sa school, naabutan ko si Plutus na nakadukdok sa upuan nito. Poor, Plutus, mukhang napuyat talaga siya sa pag-aalaga sa'kin. At dahil wala pa naman ang teacher namin, nagmamadali akong umupo at saka nilabas ang baon ko.
 
Asan na kaya sila Jenna at Dylan? First time kong naunahan ang dalawang iyon sa pagpasok. Ipinagkibit-balikat ko na lamang ito at hindi na inintindi pa. Kinalabit ko ng mahina si Plutus para gisingin ito. 
 
"Plutus... gising na muna," mahinang tawag ko sa kan'ya.
 
"Go away," he grumbled. 
 
"Mag-almusal ka muna, tinimplahan kita ng kape," mahinang turan ko malapit sa tenga nito. 
 
Lihim akong napangisi ng dahan-dahan itong bumangon at saka ako tinitigan ng masama. Nilipat ko sa lamesa niya ang dalawang makapal na triangle sanwich at ang tumbler na may lamang kape. Napangiti ako ng sinimulan niyang kainin ito ng tahimik. 
 
Ilalabas ko na sana ang libro sa bag ko para sana magbasa ng ilapag niya sa lamesa ko ang isang sandwich. 
 
"Eat," Plutus commanded without sparing a glance towards me. 
 
Ang lapad tuloy ng ngisi ko at masayang nilantakan ang pagkain ko. Saktong-sakto hindi pa ako nag-aalmusal, peste kasing sopas 'yon, mas papasa pa atang deadly weapon dahil sa sama ng lasa. 
 
"Uy alam mo ba, may nakita na namang patay na estudyante kanina," Edric said.
 
Their topic immediately caught my attention, while Plutus’s head turned slightly, just enough to catch their conversation. 
 
"Yeah," Steven replied. "Jenna and Dylan found the body early this morning. In the academy's lab."
 
Tila pinagsakluban ako ng langit at lupa dahil sa narinig.

Another murder.
 
"They said... both hands were removed," Edric whispered, sounding horrified. "Jenna and Dylan are in the faculty room now, giving their statements."
 
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... kakapanalo pa lang niya ng award noong nakaraang linggo ah?" Sabat ni Rich Ann. 
 
"Panigurado, may kinalaman dito ang red room," sambit ni Steven. "Mukhang siningil na siya ng mahiwagang salamin." 
 
Napapatango-tango naman ang mga classmates namin sa sinabi ni Steven. Hearing those made a terrible tightness form in my chest. I clenched my fists under the desk, trying to keep my composure. 
 
It has to be him again... my father.
 
The sickening realization hit me harder than I expected, making my eyes sting. Rage and despair twisted inside me. I pushed my chair back, ready to leave, I couldn’t stay here any longer.
 
But before I could stand, Plutus’s hand shot out, grabbing my wrist and forcing me back into my seat. His eyes narrowed at me in warning.
 
"Stay," he snapped. "What, exactly, do you plan to do, Ottilie? Run out there and miraculously stop all this on your own?" He whispered.
 
"I can’t just sit here, I need to see the body," I clenched my jaw, meeting his glare.
 
His eyes darkened, there's a flicker of frustration in them. "Then don’t make it worse by acting recklessly. Think for once, and sit down."
 
I swallowed hard, his words stinging, but I knew he was right. He finally let go of my wrist, his eyes still fixed on me, daring me to make another move. Napayuko na lang ako at hindi na nakipagtalo pa, hindi din naman ako mananalo sa isang 'to.
 
"Listen," he said, leaning closer so only I could hear, "we’ll look into this, alright? Right after class. But you need to keep your head on straight."
 
Wala na akong nagawa kundi tumango na lang habang nakatitig sa magagandang mata ni Plutus. Tss, ang sakit sa mata ng gwapo niyang mukha, masyadong nakakasilaw, kaya mabilis kong iniwas ang tingin sa kan'ya. 
 
"Promise?" I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.
 
"Tss, demons don't make promises but you can trust my words," he hissed. "So, sit here, take a breath, and let’s do this the smart way. Losing it now won’t help anyone."
 
Just then, Mrs. Willows entered the classroom, and everyone immediately quieted down.
 
"Good morning, everyone," she began, her gaze sweeping across the room. "I know there have been... unsettling events on campus, but I expect all of you to remain focused. We will start today’s discussion, so please take out your textbooks."
 
As I opened my book, I could still feel the weight of Plutus’s gaze, his silent reassurance somehow grounding me. For now, I’d keep myself together. But the thought of my father out there, causing all this pain… that was something I’d need to face soon.
 
~~~
 
After ko mag-duty sa faculty, pasimple akong lumihis ng daan para makipagkita kay Plutus sa harap ng morgue. Pagdating ko, naabutan kong nakasandal si Plutus sa pader habang hinihintay ako. 
 
"Sensya na, natagalan," hinging paumanhin ko sa kan'ya na nagpa-irap lang sa mata nito. 
 
"I'm working hard, and here you're slacking off," Plutus grumbled while he opened the door.
 
"Slacking off mo mukha mo, masyado lang talagang oa magpagawa si Mrs. Olea, kulang na lang, ako magcompute ng grades natin," reklamo ko sa kan'ya bago inilabas ang camera sa bag ko. 
 
"Whatever," maarteng turan nito.
 
Nang mahila ni Plutus palabas ang bangkay sa loob ng freezer, sinimulan na namin gawin ang pakay namin. Napapa-iling na lang ako habang kinukuhaan ng litrato ang bangkay. 
 
"The name's Noah Morgan, a talented artist," Plutus muttered while watching me take photos. "And just like the other victims, the killer dismembered his hands clean and precise, using the same twisted method."
 
Napabuntong-hininga ako nang matapos ako sa pagkuha ng litrato. Bagsak ang mga balikat habang tinititigan ang mukha ng bangkay. 
 
"Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa din ako makapaniwala na ang amang inakala kong patay na ay buhay pala, at isang mamamatay tao," malungkot kong sambit. 
 
"Mukhang hindi na 'ko sa sementeryo dadalaw nito kundi sa kulungan na," matabang kong pagbibiro. 
 
"Tsk, if you're done, can we go already?" Plutus protested. "It's full of fucking germs here." 
 
Kahit papaano naibsan ng kaartehan niya ang bigat na nararamdaman ko ngayon. Mahina akong natawa bago itinulak pabalik sa loob ng freezer ang katawan ni Noah.

Rest in peace, Noah.

 
To be continued...