Prisoner's Base (COMPLETED) #YourChoice2017

PB9: Running Out Of Time

Z. SANDERS

Sometimes, even the most strongest and unemotional person in the world, will break in an instant when it comes to his/her love ones.

And Anitikos is one of them who gave in after he had seen the necklace. When he walkout at the scene yesterday, the campus police went back in their station. Inspector Lorenzo entrusted me his number, incase there will be developments.

"Ano bang meron sa kwintas na hawak ko? Bakit ganoon na lang ang reaksyon ni Aos?" tanong ko habang wala pa si Sir Homer, ang coach namin ng valleyball team. Si Heijie naman, hinihintay ang kanyang mga kasama sa basketball. Nakaupo kami sa damuhan ng field. Hindi muna pinagamit ang gym dahil pinipinturahan ang bleachers.

"Kapareho kasi 'yon ng kwintas ng kanyang kapatid."

"Then why he didn't get it from me? Baka 'yung necklace nga talaga ng ate niya ang hawak ko ngayon."

He shook his head. "I'm sure, peke na naman 'yan. Gusto lang talaga nilang paglaruan si Aos. Ganyan din noon ang nakita namin sa crime scene ng ibang mga suspect na namatay rin. Minsan nakalagay ito sa loob ng katawan, sa damit, sa nakabalot na papel at ngayon, sa box. Ang hindi ko maintindihan, bakit naka-address sayo? Bakit hindi kay Aos this time?"

Napaisip din ako. Of all people, why me? Wala naman akong kinalaman sa pagkawala ng ate ni Aos. Hindi rin naman nila ako masasaktan dahil lang sa necklace. Ano bang gusto nito? PBH, sino ka ba talaga? Bakit mo ginagawa 'to? Bakit mo dinadamay ang mga taong inosente?

"I abhor that giver," Heijie said in a while.

"Giver?"

"We call prisoner's base head as giver dahil nagdadala siya ng kamalasan, kamatayan, babala at kung anu-ano pa para paglaruan ang mga estudyante't guro." He stretched his right leg and adjusted his left knee. "Sometimes, necklace symbolizes pain," he said. "Para kang tinatali sa leeg. Every necklace indicates torture. Katumbas ng necklace ay ang pagdadala ni PB Head ng madugong pagka---"

"Enough," I interrupted. Parang hindi ko kayang marinig ang lahat ng detalye. My memory might explode again. Hindi ko kakayaning mag-isip pa. "I have enough knowledge to fulfill my curiosity about Aos reaction in that necklace."

Natawa siya. "Alam mo, hindi ko talaga lubos maisip," nanunuksong tugon niya. Tiningnan ko siya ng masama ngunit hindi natinag. "Bakit ka ba curious kay Aos? At bakit siya curious sayo? Samantalang halos magpatayan na kayo sa isa't isa? In your past life, nagkita na ba kayo?"

"You're making stupid questions again," I countered. "I just couldn't read his thoughts, 'yun lang. Like in mystery game, he's hard to decipher. He's just a puzzle for me, that's why."

Lalong lumawak ang kanyang ngiti. Minsan natatakot din ako sa mga ngiti niya dahil nakakapanlinlang. He's like a clown using his smile to cover the lies behind his tricks. Just like real clowns, when showing a trick, they tend to make people laugh just to deceive. But Heijie's stares and gestures, I think, they're genuine and true.

"He told me that before," he interrupted my thought.

"Huh?"

"Anitikos said to me that you're mysterious. He's also treating you as a piece of encoded puzzle that needs to be decoded. Can't you just open yourself together?"

"Like this?" I asked, raising my clenched fist.

"Woah!" he exclaimed. Lumayo siya ng kaunti sa akin. "Don't raise your fists, they look dangerous," natatawang sambit niya ngunit may bahid ng pagkasarkastiko.

"My hands maybe thin but they're stronger than you think. Bakit hindi natin subukan sa mukha mo?"

"Okay! Relax, I'm just kidding. Baka masira ang kagwapuhan ko, baka magkaroon ka ng death threats imbes na admiration letters," he said smiling.