Willford University

ᗯᘮ - Chapter 46

Hotel Amanda

Tama nga ang sinabi ni Olivia. Mayroon ngang wide road sa likod ng abandoned building na pinag-ganapan ng nakaraang task.

"Help me with the fences." Sabi ni Lucas sa mga lalaki.

"Do you have your guesses?" Walang alinlangang tanong ni Olivia. Napataas naman ako ng kilay.

"Wala pa but I am observing." Sabi ko.

"I have one guess." Sabi naman ni Annica kaya napalingon kaming dalawa sa kanya.

"Sino?" Agad namang siyang tumingin sa akin.

"I am not sure with this but you're the most suspicious person in this group, Topaz. Think about it, you're a transferee pero ang dami na agad ang naiinvolve sayo." Ngiti niya at napangiti rin ako.

"Miscalculations can lead to misfortune, Annica. You shouldn't stick with simple and obvious facts to conclude something. It'll be of your death." Naiiling pero matigas kong sabi bago tumingin sa direksyon ng mga lalaki na iginigilid ang fences.

Jack, as usual, was wearing his cold look. Hiro with his blank stare. Caleb with his innocent but jerky look. Lucas with his usual look, parang madaming alam. Napatingin naman ako sa nakabusangot na si Annica at bored na si Olivia.

Napabuntong hininga ako. I can't get any clues! Naputol naman ang pagiisip ko nang biglang bumukas ang wrangler at sumakay muli silang apat. Hindi na sila nagsalita at pinaandar agad ang sasakyan.

Lumipas ang 30 minutes at hindi pa rin nagbabago ang itsura ng nadadaanan namin.

"This is really creepy. Ito yung tipong nakikita mong roads sa mga horror movies. Wide fields na walang kung ano tapos makakakita tayo ng small cabin... or actually, a building!" Sunod sunod na sabi ni Annica.

"Lucas, turn left. May building akong nakita." Sabi niya muli habang tinuturo iyong medyo malayong building na kahit papaano ay natatanaw pa rin.

"I'm not sure if this is the right way though!"
Pahabol niya. Kumaliwa ang sasakyan at medyo malayo na rin ang narating namin nang palapit ng palapit ang sinasabi niyang building.

I let out a sigh nang makita ko ang nakapaskil na Hotel Amanda na words sa entrance.

"Okay, I am starting to get creeps." Maarteng sabi ni Annica habang bumababa kami ng sasakyan.

"This doesn't look abandoned though." Sabi ni Caleb. I had to agree dahil mukhang bago pa ang building.

Hindi na kami nagtagal pa sa labas at pumasok na rin kami sa hotel. Napalunok ako dahil nagiisang babae lang ang nasa lobby at nakangiti ito sa amin as if she was really expecting us.

"Shit. This is your fault, Annica. I am having weird and scary thoughts." Bulong ni Olivia.

"Dude, I have to agree. That's a really creepy way to welcome people lalo na at nagiisa lang siya rito sa lobby." Kilabot na sabi ni Caleb.

"Welcome to Hotel Amanda!" Sigaw ng babae kaya napatigil kami sa paglalakad. "What can I do to help you?"

"Uhh, we are looking for Melissa." Sabi ni Lucas.

"Ohh, Melissa. But she's dead why are you looking for her?" Ngiti niya sa amin na parang wala siyang sinabing mali kaya naman napahawak si Annica ng mahigpit sa braso ko.

"But we were asked to look for her. We have a co--" Agad kong sinipa si Caleb at tinakpan ang bibig niya. "Shut up, Caleb. She's not Melissa, don't tell her the code. Remember, we're on a mission." Matalim kong sabi sa kanya. I could feel him gulping sa ginawa ko kaya tinulak ko siya palayo sa akin. How can this guy be so careless?! Unless, he's doing it on purpose?

"She's dead? Did you kill her?" Walang alinlangang tanong ni Hiro kaya napatingin kaming lahat sa kanya.

Natawa naman ng malakas ang babae. "I didn't." Ngiti niya sa amin. "But her body is in this building. Do you still want to look for her? She loves hide and seek!" Sabi ng babae at kinalibutan ako sa pagkakasabi niya. Nakakasigurado rin akong hindi lang ako.

"Really? I love hide and seek. Tell us, can you?" Sabi ni Jack as he steps forward. Automatic naman akong tumingin kay Olivia na nanlaki ang mata na mukhang gustong pigilan si Jack.

"I see!" Sabi niya na may kasama pa ring ngiti.

"Her body lies in the dark where silence surrounds. A noise couldn't be heard or you'll be kicked out. Find her and you'll get to what you are looking for." Dagdag niya bago siya ngumiting muli sa amin. Lumayo kami ng kaunti sa kanya at nag-usap usap.

"O-okay? What the heck was that?" Sabi ni Annica na may kasamang pag-paypay sa mukha niya.

"That's a clue! We're already in a mission. Isulat niyo agad ang sinabi ng babae before we forget it." Nagmamadaling sabi ni Lucas.

"Oh shit. Find her and you'll get to what you are looking for lang ang naalala ko. Sabi ni Caleb.

Nag-usap agad kami upang alalahanin ang sinabi ng babae hanggang sa makumpleto namin ang sinabi niya.

"Her body lies in the dark." Malakas na sabi ni Annica at napaisip kaming lahat. Tahimik kami ng ilang minuto nang biglang lumabas si Hiro. Nakita rin namin ang pagtingala niya doon sa labas. Pinapunta niya kami roon at tinuro niya ang building.

"Look. Kung mapapansin niyo, sa lobby lang nakabukas ang lights. The other remaining floors are lights off. Umaga o gabi, dapat may lights ang lahat ng parte ng hotel maliban sa mga kwarto but look, sa lobby lang bukas ang ilaw." Sabi niya at agad ko namang nagets ang pinaparating niya.

"That means the body is really somewhere here in the hotel." Dugtong ko at tumango siya.

"Your phones are with you, right?" Tanong ni Lucas and we all nodded.

"Let's all split by partners. Isang grupo ay tatlo. Let's look for Melissa's body. We already exchanged numbers so be sure to call each other kapag may nakita kayo. Always take the clue in your minds while looking for the body."

Napataas ako ng kilay sa suggestion niya. Well, that's kind of suspicious or maybe not... There can be two reasons. It's either he forgot that the main purpose of this mission is to look for the spy or he is doing it on purpose so that he won't get caught.

Hmm. I have my eyes on you, Lucas Sevilla.

"Aren't you scared? We're looking for a dead body here!" Annica yelped.

"As if we have a choice." Sabi ko sa kanya ng may kasamang irap.

I should be regretting what I did! Bumuga ako ng hininfa. Sa lahat ng pwedeng maging kapartner, siya pa? Okay lang naman ako kay Annica pero minsan talaga ay sumosobra ang pagrereklamo niya to the point na nakakairita na.

"Let's go!" She nervously said pero nauna siyang maglakad.

Napailing na lang ako at naglakad na rin.

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