The Seer: Vindicata

Chapter 4 : Puzzle Piece (Part 2)

DOROTHY

The next day, things seemed normal. The security in the university became stricter and tighter for the death of my classmate served as a lesson to the school administration. However, hindi pa rin maipagkakaila na may nagbago sa mga estudyante lalo na sa mga kaibigan ni Zachary. The whole class was still in gloom.

It's already break time. Sadness was still prominent in the room. Habang ang ilan ay nasa labas upang kumain, ang iba naman ay sa loob nagste-stay. May isang grupo ng mga lalaking naggigitara sa likod, may ilang kumakain, may ilang nakatunganga at nagbabasa, ngunit may isang grupo ng mga babaeng nagtipon sa isang portion ng classroom para magkwentuhan. Dahil malapit ako sa kanila, sapilitan nila akong isinali sa kanilang usapan. I had no choice.

"I have something to tell you, guys." said Anitta Balderama, the loudest girl in the class. Her tone today was slightly downcast yet still eager to spill some tea.

"What is it?"

"Ano 'yan, gurl?"

Inilapit niya ang mukha sa limang babaeng kaharap niya ngayon, kasama na ako. Sa hindi sinasadyang pagkakataon, napatingin ako sa babaeng nasa di kalayuan, tulala. She looks so restless. She’s Gwen Balmaceda. Sa pagkakaalam ko, she has something for Zachary, and the death of her crush must have brought a big effect on her.

Anitta whispered. "Promise me you won't tell anyone about this."

"S-sige."
“Gurl, kami pa ba!”
"Oo naman, ano ka ba..." everyone agreed.

"Here it goes. I heard, may note daw na nakita katabi ng bangkay ni Zachary kahapon."

Napansin ko na napalingon si Gwen sa gawi ni Anitta. Narinig yata niya ang sinabi ng kaklase namin. The name of her crush captured her attention.

"T-talaga? Ano raw sabi sa note?" ang sabi ng isang babae. Mas kinapalan ko pa ang mukha ko at pinalawak ang tenga dahil baka may makuha pa akong bagong impormasyon sa kanya. Although she’s a well-known chismosa in the campus, she might have something na baka makatulong sa akin.

"Shh," Anitta positioned her forefinger before her lips. "Ang lakas ng boses mo."

"Ay. I'm sorry."

"So here it goes. Mayroong note na nakita sa tabi ng bangkay ni Zach. Ang weird, right? Wala raw fingerprints ang note na 'yon. So that means, walang kahit na sino ang nagkaroon ng contact with the paper."

"What's in the note?" nagniningning ang mga mata ng mga kaklase ko habang hinihintay ang sagot ni Anitta. Ako, I already knew what she was saying pero I chose to remain calm and silent. Geez, why am I included in this circle in the first place?

"It said, 'vindicata.' Strange, right? May natatandaan ba kayo sa salitang 'yon?"

"Gurl, wait. Parang narinig ko na ‘yan noon…”

“Shocks, same. Teka. Nag-iinternalize ako.”

“ Oh my god! It's somewhat similar to Dakota's suicide case, right? When we were in Grade 11?" a girl spoke in shock.

Nagkatinginan ang mga babae habang may dalawang napahawak sa kanilang bibig. Looks like I already know where this coversation will lead us. Napatingin sa akin si Anitta.

"Omg!"

"Shocks, oo nga, 'no?"

"I know right. Grabe, ang weird ng mga nangyayari sa section na 'to, 'no?" Anitta mumbled.

"Sinabi mo pa."

Muli na naman akong napatingin kay Gwen. Nahuli ko siyang nakatingin sa gawi namin, pero iniwas niya ang sarili. Nang ibalik ko ang tingin sa mg babaeng kasama ko ngayon, sumenyas sila sa isa't isa. They must have been talking about me.

"Ay, oo nga pala. Transferree ka nga pala, Dorothy."

"Gurl, hindi mo pa ba alam?" a girl shockingly asked me. I guess I need to know something. "A-ang alin?"

"I guess, hindi nga," inayos niya ang sarili bago magkwento. "Last year, a woman named Dakota De Luna was found dead inside the abandoned building near the St. John Hall. Kaklase namin siya sa block section na ito and that time, we were Grade 11 students."

Nagsimulang lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko. My tears want to fall down my eyes. No, Dorothy. No. You shouldn't be showing them this. They shouldn’t know everything. Inosenteng-inosente sila tungkol sa relasyon niyo ng kapatid mo.

"W-what was the reason of her death?" nagkaroon ako ng lakas para magtanong. This is my chance to know everything I want to know. Tsismis man o hindi, what they will spill might be vital in my mission.

"She hanged herself. Tapos, may mga sugat siya at cuts sa katawan. The police closed the case and concluded it was a suicide, pero a note was found near her. And you know what, gurl? The note was exactly like the one found at Zachary's crime scene!"

I couldn't move nor speak a word. Now, I know. But I do not believe them. Someone must be behind the horrendous death. Might as well find its connection with Zachary's demise. Maaaring related ang dalawang insidente.

"The police tried to investigate, but they can not prove it's murder. Kulang ang mga ebidensya at hindi nila maiconnect ang lahat ng pangyayari. So they stick to what they concluded initially."

Paanong mangyayari iyon? Days after her death, when I was still in Manila, I've received a snail mail containing pictures of my sister being killed. Sinubukan kong hanapin ang sender noon, pero walang naibigay ang company kung saan iyon ipinadala. If it was suicide, paano nakunan ang mga litratong iyon?

Something is really off.

"Have you searched the meaning of Vindicata, gurl?"

"Gurl, duh? Hindi ba't may Spanish class tayo? We once studied that term. It means, 'revenge.'" Anitta insisted.

"Well, if that's the case, I don't think it's suicide," a girl spoke in a declaring manner.

"Oh my god. Is it possible na may serial killer dito sa school?" the girl beside me reacted, she looks so terrified. "Gosh! This is scary!"

"Mga gaga ba kayo? It's impossible!"

"And how?"

"Sabi nila, Dakota was depressed. There's a certainty that that was the reason why she hung herself."

"Hmm, sabagay."

"Plus, matagal ang interval between the time of Zachary’s death and Dakota’s. Don't worry about it too much. What we need is to just be alert. Besides, walang mangyayari 'cause the security inside the school's already tight. Muntik na nga akong di papasukin kanina, e."

"That's because you look like a criminal, gurl!"

"Wow. Ang perfect mo, ha?"

“Speaking of looks. You know what? Kamukha mo siya,” said Anitta after putting the spotlight on me, again. Oh god. Baka mahalata niya.

"Ah, g-ganun ba?"

"Uy hindi, a." sabi ng isang babae.

"Hmm, I guess ako lang? Haha! But nevermind."

She chuckled. Tumunog na rin ang bell at nagsibalikan na ang mga estudyante sa mga upuan nila. Matagal bago nag-sink in sa akin ang mga sinabi nila tungkol sa kaso ng kapatid ko, but at least, I've encountered yet another information to work on.

Thanks for your talkativeness, Anitta.

***

Hello! The succeeding chapters will be posted anytime this week. :) Tell me your insights about this chapter below, thanks!!