That Summer When She Cried

That Dark Night Of Deeper Meanings

Ironies are like tamarinds. You don't always see it the way candies are available. But when it's there, your face would surely turn sour.

-Jeric

--

"Bodyguard, choose one person you will protect," LA said.

Jeric pointed out one.

"The bodyguard has chosen. You cannot be killed. If the Mafia chooses to kill you, you will be saved. You may now close your eyes, bodyguard," he instructed. "Mafia, open your eyes. Who's your victim?"

The Mafias pointed out one.

"The Mafias have chosen who to kill. Close your eyes," he further led the game. He was suppressing his laughter. "Informant, you may open your eyes and point the person you want to know the identity."

The informant pointed out a person and LA secretly gave that informant a signal that the person chosen was a civilian.

"Close your eyes now," he said. "And it's daytime. You can all open your eyes now."

They were all smiling, excited to find out who got killed.

"So, someone died last night," LA said. "This person was walking somewhere in C5. I don't know why he was walking in such place anyway. So, while he was walking, someone pushed him on the road. Just his misfortune, there was a ten wheeler truck na papadating. He was hit and he died."

They laughed upon hearing the murder story.

"Who died?" AVO asked.

He pointed him out. "It was you," LA laughed.

"Me?! Damn! Who killed me?" reklamo nya.

"I can't say. You'll know. You can watch the whole game at this point. You're eliminated from the game. What's your role?"

"I'm a civilian, damn you people! Once I get the turn to be the Mafia, I'll kill you first," he complained. "Seriously, how can I have fun if I'm the first one out?"

"Sorry. But you can give the next victim an interesting death. The rest, you may now accuse."

"I'm accusing Thomas," Norbert said and pointed him out. "Nakita ko yan kahapon sa C5 nakapark yung sasakyan, parang may inaabangan. Ang tagal nyang naghihintay."

"O, Thomas, anong not guilty plea mo?"

"Oo, nasa C5 ako. Pero nasa C5 ako kasi inaabangan ko si Ruffa na dumating. May lakad kami kahapon kaya hindi ako yun," he said. "Saka ang tangkad ni Opstal para maitulak ko sa highway! Baka hatakin pa ako nyan e!"

"Sino na namang Ruffa? Di ba Trish yung dine-date mo ngayon?" singit ni Norbert, referring to his current affairs. Parang balita lang.

He did not answer while he had a smile on his face, unable to deny nor confirm, but he was surprised that they knew.

"Baka may iba pag weekends. Hindi namin alam yang Ruffa na yan Pare! So, who thinks Thomas is guilty? You may raise your hands now," LA said. He counted the number of hands which flew up in the air. Jeron even raised his' both. It was more than half.

"Sorry," LA was grinning. "You've been accused to be guilty. You're out of the game. What's your role?"

"Ako? Ako talaga? Murderer?" he said. He twisted his card and showed it to them. "Civilian ako."

"Two civilians down," LA said.

The game went on. It was nighttime again and Jeric chose who to protect. The Mafias opened their eyes, they pointed out one to kill.