Wild Flower

IX: Cotton Candy

HEMLOCK

"Inspector, I have the identity of the suspect. Arrest him immediately."

"Tss. At paano mo naman nalamang siya-"

"Just do as I say!"

"Affirmative."

The call ended. Wolf sent me the photo of the suspect and so did I to Jameson.

I'm convinced that it is a plot of revenge. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong. I'm human, after all. But the reason why still bothers my mind.

I headed towards the shed where we sat earlier and left the body. I have no responsibility regarding it, after all.

Compared to the weather a while back, it's unusually cloudy and windy now. The smell of the Lavenders flooded my nose when I removed the gas mask.

The wind blew across my face. Cool and comforting.

Then came a dark memory, a memory about a single cone of Cotton Candy...

"Hemlock."

I woke up from the nightmare I was about to enter.

"Bakit, Wolf?"

He placed his hands in his pockets. "Are you sure? About him being the killer."

I nodded. "Yes. We all begin chasing ghosts until we finally catch their living selves. We start with illusions gradually turning into reality."

He seated beside me and looked at the gray and white sky. "Bakit ba napakagaling mo sa mga salita?" He asked like nothing happened during the call. "I mean, you always get the right words even if the feelings you feel are indescribable."

I smirked at his compliment. "I guess it's all because of a wide range of vocabulary? Hehehe... but my guess is that you just have to use the right adjectives and use the right things to compare something."

This time, it was him who nodded. "Ok. Napaisip ako sa sinabi mo ngayon lang. That we are chasing ghosts. And that we start with illusions turning unto reality as we unravel the truth."

"True."

Why do I get the feeling that he is the one I'm closest to? Kahit anong masakit na salita, parang nagde-deflect lang. It's like he has an invisible shield protecting him from my poison-tipped arrows.

"May I try poetry?" He turned his head towards me.

"Sure. Basta sigurado kang maganda, k?"

"Ahaha! I'll try."

"Don't try. Do it."

"Sige, sige, here it goes."

He looked around for some time, trying to look for inspiration.

"Purple flowers stretched across the horizon beneath the clouded sky, the sun was hiding behind its curtains, jealous of your smile."

"I admit it, may talent ka, at least."

"Talaga?"

"Yes. Pero para kanino ba iyan?"

"In case I met 'The One', handa ako."

"Oooooooh, kaya pala."

An awkward silence developed between me and my cousin until the others finally arrived.

Crossing my legs, I spoke. "What took you so long?"

Bella spoke while catching her breath. "Ikaw kaya ang maligaw sa kagubatang kulay ube, mahahanap mo pa ba kung saan ka nanggaling?"