Be the First

40 : Unveiled

TW: This chapter includes scenes that deal with suicide. It may be difficult to some readers. Please engage in self-care as you read.

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"Nagtulungan kayo para i-set up ako?" Tanong ko kay Izrajel. But I guess there's no point in asking now when everything just made so much sense.

Naaalala ko na lahat at nag-click na ang lahat ng nangyari sa akin.

Kaya pala noong drama night, bigla siyang nawala na parang bula.

At wala sa mga CCTV footages na kita siyang kasama niya ako. We were all caught that night but I was the only suspect. Ang weird rin na mababa lang ang parusa ni Izrajel kahit na magkasama naman kaming dalawa no'n.

Plus the fact that he actually didn't tell me I was removed from the Journalism Club, and he chose not to give me the removal notice from Miss Mendez.

It all makes sense now.

"Perfect! Ang galing niya, oh." Sagot ni Stella pagkatapos bigla siyang pumalakpak. Tuwang tuwa siya sa hitsura ko ngayon. "Hay... hindi ko ine-expect na ganito pala kasaya na makita kang ganyan, Dani. So lost and so... broken."

I tried to search for answers in Izrajel's eyes. Pero wala akong makita kundi galit lang. He stood there in silent rage, with eyes that used to be so warm and kind, now suddenly turned cold and steely.

Was he wearing a mask all this time?

"You're quite a stain that's so hard to get rid of." Sabi ni Stella dahil hindi nagsasalita si Izrajel. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin. "And if you ask why we did that, alam ko namang alam mo na ang sagot. That is to--"

"That's enough." Mabigat ang boses ni Izrajel. "That was quite a show, Stella. You've said enough. Leave us."

"Pero--"

"Leave."

"Fine. Bilisan mo lang. We still have a game to play." Padabog na nagmartsa si Stella paalis hanggang sa kaming dalawa na lang ulit ni Izrajel ang naiwan.

"Tears. How inconvenient." Sabi niya sabay dukot ng kung ano sa bulsa niya. He reached for my arm to hand me his handkerchief. Pero initsa ko lang 'yon sa lapag. May gana pa siyang mag-alok ng panyo sa akin? "Are those tears even real?" Tanong niya.

Ibang iba ang Izrajel na kaharap ko ngayon. Para na akong binabaliw ng mga iniisip ko. Lahat ng mga sinabi niya, mga ginawa niya, mga halik niya--ibig sabihin pagpapanggap lang.

"You're the one to talk about being real." I spat at him. Pinunasan ko na naman ang mukha kong basang basa na sa luha. "Bakit?" I whispered to him. As my body starts to weaken, so is my voice. "Bakit? Ano bang ginawa ko sa'yo?"

"Erah Jane." Sagot niya sa akin. Hindi ko maintindihan. "Does that name ring a bell, Dani?"

I blinked at him. "What do you mean?"

Para siyang nagpipigil ng galit. "I expected this response from you." Tila dismayado siya sa sinagot ko kanina. "Of course you didn't know. Wala ka namang inintindi kundi sarili mo lang, diba?"