The Punisher

TP Chapter 2

Dito kami ngayon sa school ng batang nawawala upang makahanap ng lead sa kaso. Syempre katulad ng pagmamanman ko sa target ko dati di din kami nakasuot ng uniporme para di magbigay ng kaba o attention sa mga tao. May nakita akong bata at kung di ako nagkakamali ito ang kaibigan ng batang si Kemuel.

"Hi little girl. What's your name? Would you like to buy some balloon. Look these are disney princesses balloon." Nagkunwari kasi kaming nagtitinda ng kung ano ano. Di naman bawal dito kaya sinunggaban ko na. Syempre ayaw ni Marcus, pero pinilit ko siya kaya ayon kasama ko siya ngayon.

"I'm Caroline. Yes, I want to buy one." Sabi ng bata sa loob ng gate. Nasa loob kasi sila bawal lumabas kaya sa labas lang kami.

"What a cute name, just like you so cute. So which one would you like?" Nginitian ko siya, kaya nakangiti din ito saking tinuro ang Elsa balloon. "This is for 50 pesos. Uhm cutie Caroline, where's your friend the boy with glasses? I was wondering, I didn't see him for a long time now." Tanong ko habang kinukuha ang balloon.

"Ah. You know him? Well, I don't know where he is. He's always absent these days. I already miss him. And some people says he's gone missing. Here is my fifty pesos." She said with a sad face and handed me her payment.

"Well, I hope he comes back already. So you can play with him again. Can I ask you something? If it's okay with you, this might help find your friend." Sabi ko sakanya na maypag-aalala.

"Sure, if it would help." Sabi niya na parang naexcite.

"Have you seen someone outside being his friend or someone who always talk to him?" Tanong ko. Nag-isip naman siya at biglang parang lumiwanag ang mukha.

"Ah yes. There was this woman who always talks to him. She's selling toys. Kim said she's a friend so I don't mind talking to her sometimes." Sabi niya.

"That woman, is she here right now or these days." Tanong ko ulit.

"No, not here." sabi niya after niyang inilibot ang paningin sa paligid.

"Can you remember the last time you saw her?" Tanong ko ulit sakanya.

"Uhm. I'm not sure but I think before Kim disappeared. Yes after that I haven't seen her again." Sabi niya na parang naghihinayang.

"You're a good kid. I'm sure if you keep on praying he will come back. Because you're cute and good, I want to be your friend too. Can I be your friend? As a friend offering take this. Caroline can you be my friend?" Sabi ko habang inaabot ang balloon na si Anna.  Tinanggap niya ito at tumingin sakin ng may malalaking mata sa tuwa.

"Sure.. thank you so much uhm.. I don't know your name." Sabi niya. Napatawa naman ako at ginulo ang buhok niya.

"Call me ate Lianne. Thank you for your time cutie. I think I have to go now." Sabi ko ng nakangiti. Ngumiti naman siya sakin.

"You're going already?" Parang nalungkot niyang sabi.

"Yes. Don't worry I'll see you very soon again. And besides you're already going too. Ba-bye cutie." Sabi ko sakanya with a promising smile. Ngumiti din ito at sumama na sa sumusundo sa kanya. Nagwave din siya sakin at ganon din ang ginawa ko.

"Tapos ka na?" Tanong ni Marcus.

"Oo tara, kain muna tayo." Sabi ko sakanya at tinungo na namin ang kotse ko. Sakin dahil tinanggihan kong gamitin ang police car.

Nagtake-out lang kami sa Burger King at tinungo ang park kung saan huling nakita ang bata. Sa kotse na namin kinain ito habang tinatanaw ang malawak na park.

"You said, you got a hold of the cctv camera here. What happen?"  Tanong ko kay Marcus bago kumagat sa burger. Uminom muna siya ng kanyang pepsi bago tumingin sakin.