[ WANTED: BFF ]

[14] Investigation

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Wednesday.

Tapos na ang classes ko by 3 P.M kaya dire diretso na ako mula classroom papunta sa parking lot kung saan naghihintay ang driver ko. While walking, I checked my phone since kanina pa ito vibrate nang vibrate habang nasa klase ako. I saw two or three messages from Alex. Dalawa ay nagtatanong tungkol sa kung ano sa modelling at ang isa, ina-update lang ako sa pagse-self study nya.

For the meantime kasi, sinabihan ko syang mag-self study muna since hindi ko pa sya mahaharap para maturuan ngayon. I'm busy catching up with studies dahil naging medyo busy ako these past few days at medyo napadalas ang absent. Nag-aaral pa din naman ako, noh. And in case namang may questions sya, sabi ko i-message nya lang sakin para sagutin ko kung nasa mood ako.

Anyway, wala ako sa mood ngayon kaya hindi ko na lang muna pinansin ang messages nya.

As soon as I entered the car, I motioned my hand towards the driver. Agad naman nyang nilapag sa kamay ko ang hinihingi ko. I swiftly tore open the top of the manila envelope as I've done this so many times already. And as expected, nasa loob ang ilang pictures. I took them out and started to look at them one by one.

They were investigative pictures of baklita.

Yes, pina-investigate ko si baklita. Lahat naman ng dumaan sa posisyon nya ay pina-investigate ko din. Of course, sa ganoong paraan ko natutuklasan ang mga kabalbalan nila and now, I'll check how baklita is behind my back.

The first photo was of him coming out of a house. Maliit lang ang bahay; two storey pero makitid dahil malapit lang din ang mga kabilang bahay. Kahoy lang at mukhang luma na, pinagmukha lang bago sa blue paint na ginamit. Either way, it looked like the average cozy filipino home. I checked the note at the back.

"An auntie, uncle, a grandmother; five young children, 2 girls 3 boys, age range 5-10, and Mr. Hermosa."

The second photo--or rather, a set of photos-- was of him just walking on a sidewalk. Unclear as to what it means, I checked the note at the back once again.

"Doesn't take transportation. Takes 20 minute walk to and from house and university."

Napataas ang kilay ko. Kaya pala kung lakarin nya lang ang buong kahabaan papuntang Starbucks Argonaut ay ganun ganun na lang.

This time, the set of photos were shots of him in class. Lahat ay medyo may kalabuan since it was probably captured from afar, at pinipilit lang ma-anggulohan sya through the classroom windows. Lagi syang secluded sa isang tabi. No one ever took the seats around him na para bang may nakakadiri syang sakit.

I checked the backs of the photos pero walang notes. Most probably dahil self explanatory na sila.

Medyo napakunot ang noo ko. So totoo ngang wala syang friends?

"Is this all?" Tanong ko sa driver. Natingnan ko na lahat ng photos, pero wala talagang photo na may kahalubilo syang mukhang ka circle of friends nya. Walang ibang pictures kundi ang paglabas masok nya sa bahay, pagbili ng street foods, naglalakad sa daan o mag-isa sa classroom.

"Yes ma'am."

"Hindi sya nagbilin na i-check ko ang e-mail ko?"

"Hindi po ma'am. Yan lang po binigay nya."

Lalong kumunot ang noo ko. If the private investigator captured a video that would surely peak my interest, for sure sinend na nya sa e-mail ko. So receiving nothing means wala syang nakuhanan.

I picked up my phone and called the investigator.

"Miss Kate," he greeted with familiarity.

"Are you sure this is all?" Agad kong tanong. I can't help but question since usually at this point, we already find out that I'm being backstabbed. I heard him chuckle.

"Yes, Miss Kate. Quite surprising but so far, there's nothing suspicious about your current employee."

"Are you sure you checked everything?"

"Yes. I followed him wherever he went. Walang ibang pinupuntahan si Mr. Hermosa kundi school, bahay, at food stalls sa kanto nila." Medyo tumawa ulit sya. "He seems to live an honest lifestlye, Miss Kate. But don't worry, I'll continue investigating him."

Pumikit ako at humingang malalim. This feels so unusual, but I trust in him. Ilang taon na din kasi syang nagtrabaho para sakin at lahat ng dumaang applicants ko, sya ang nag-imbestiga. So I know he's good at his job.

"Okay. Thanks for confirming."

At binaba ko na ang tawag. I stared at the envelope on my lap. This is truly unsettling me. Hindi ako sanay. Does he really live an honest lifestyle, or he's just good at covering his tracks?

Napatalon ako sa upuan nang biglang may kumatok sa bintana ko. It was baklita, trying to look if there was someone in the car. Kahit i-glue nya ang mukha nya sa salamin, wala syang makikita sa loob dahil heavily tinted ang windows.

I studied him carefully habang mukha lang syang tanga doon na payuko yuko sa bintana.

Then I shook my head.

Mukha nga syang mumula-mulala, but starting from the first day I saw him, he already gave off a strange aura. Oo, iba sya sa mga previous applicants ko. I'll give him that. But by the way he acts, the way he deals with my bitchiness, and the way he looks at me; It's like he knows something.

Something about me that he shouldn't.

I took in a deep breath and rolled down my window.

"Uy! Hi Kate!" Matamis na bati nya.

"Sa kabila ka dumaan." I said coldly, not even bothering to look at him. Hindi nya na pinansin ang katarayan ko at umikot na lang papunta sa kabila. I looked down at the envelope once again before dropping it into the lower pocket of the car door.

I still don't trust him.

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