Play Dead: The Gangster's Glory

Chapter 2: The Girls

"Can we please talk about the elephant in the room?" pagbasag ni Dafne sa ilang oras na katahimikan.

"What elephant?" taas-kilay kong tanong, may pagka-sarkastiko.

Bumuntong hininga nang malalim si Nya. "Kalimutan na lang natin 'yon. It's not our business. We shouldn't dwell on it," aniya.

"But it is our business! Pinag-uusapan nila ang watch mo!" ani Dafne. "And how can you just do nothing after hearing all that shit?"

"Don't worry about the watch. Sabi nga ni Xyla, it's just a watch. Pwede namang palitan," ani Nya.

"Wow. Suddenly, pwede namang palitan 'yon? Akala ko ba unique at walang kagaya?" panunukso ko.

Nya hissed. "Because they're dangerous. Let's not pry into it anymore."

"So, we're just gonna do nothing? I feel like I'm an accomplice! This is aiding and abetting!" ani Dafne.

I chuckled as I opened my laptop. "Naaalala niyo ba 'yong pinag-usapan nila sa storage room?" tanong ko.

Sabay silang napatingin sa akin. Dafne looked scared, while Nya looked intrigued.

"Poisons?" Dafne asked.

"Yup," sagot ko. "They have Nya's watch. I'm sure of that. Pero hindi lang 'yon ang mayroon sila."

Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Dafne tila inip na inip sa akin. Napairap na lang ako. They're not even trying to think. They just want to be spoon fed.

"What fears them the most is for other people to find out about something... something they don't own."

Nanliit ang mga mata nila. They finally looked like they're putting two and two together.

"Yeah, the poisons," ani Dafne.

Tumango ako at kwinento sa kanila ang narinig ko sa restroom.

"Okay... so... ano 'yon? Sino naman ang Bistrael at The Core? Anong kinalaman nila sa relo ni Nya? Sa poisons?" gulong-gulong tanong ni Dafne.

Hindi ko siya sinagot. Sa halip ay sunod kong kwinento ang narinig kong usapan ng mga babae pagkalabas ng restroom bago sumulpot si Dwight.

"So? Ano nga?" tanong ni Dafne.

I puffed out and looked at her impatiently. "Don't you get it?"

Pinandilatan lang ako ng mga mata ni Dafne. I couldn't help rolling my eyes for the nth time.

"The girls in the restroom said may problema ang Bistrael, that they lost something. While the ones who have Nya's watch are also in possession of poisons that aren't theirs," paliwanag ko.

Tinaas ko ang aking kilay upang maghanap ng kasagutan mula sa kanila, pero batay sa kanilang ekspresyon ay mukhang wala pa rin silang maintindihan sa mga sinasabi ko.

"Oh, come on! It's all connected! Those girls stole not only Nya's watch, but Bistrael's poisons, too. At ngayon, they're scared that these people would come after them, which means hindi lang kung sino-sino ang Bistrael. If these girls are dangerous, I bet Bistrael is more," sabi ko.