Finding X

Prologue

I was looking outside the window enjoying the pitter patter of rain as i sip my coffee. I closed my eyes and smiled, today feels like a wonderful day. I used to enjoy living a solitary life that was ruined when two rowdy idiots came and squeezed themselves into my life. They were supposed to be here 10 minutes ago, I wonder why the delay. As I look back outside, I saw a figure running towards the coffee shop. Hmm..that red shirt is awfully familiar, it looks like some idiot I know would wear. Tinignan ko ang espresso ko na halos ubos na, what if nakalimutan pala nila na pumunta?

"Aletheia!" Napatingin ako kay Sam na tumatakbo at mababakas mo sa mukha niya ang pagka taranta. Basang basa siya sa ulan na tumutulo pa sa maputla niyang mukha.

"Anong nangyari sa'yo?" Tanong ko

"S-si Maldive nakita sa apartment niya n-nagpakamatay da-" Hindi ko na siya pinatapos at agad lumabas sa coffee shop kung saan kaming tatlo dapat magkikita patungo sa apartment ni Maldive.

•••---•••

When I arrived, there are several police cars and investigators scattered around the area. Sinubukan kong pumasok nang pigilan ako ng isang police officer.

"I'm sorry miss. Hindi ka pwedeng pumasok-" hindi natuloy ng officer ang sinabi niya nang magsalita si Detective Edmund.

"Thea. Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

"Tito please let me in. Kailangan kong makita ang kaibigan ko"

"I can't do that thea. Alam mong hindi kita pwedeng papasukin-"

"Tito, please. I need to go inside. Kaibigan ko ang nasa loob" I desperately pleaded and I know he can't resist me, after all ako ang paborito niyang pamangkin.

"All right.Pero 'wag mong sasabihin sa mama mong pinayagan kita, baka ako ang patayin niya" He sighed.

Mabagal ang mga steps ko papasok sa apartment as I am afraid of what I'm about to see. Maraming mga police officers and authorities ang nandoon and some even looked at me as if I don't deserve to be here. I understand na I'm just a senior high-school student but not to brag or anything, I once helped Tito Edmund sa isang case when we were on Cebu for our family reunion trip. He even said na pwede akong maging detective like him but I declined and removed the thought out of my head. Even though I admit that idea seems gratifying to me, ayaw kong magaya sakanya na nawala ang asawa't anak dahil pinapatay ng nakalaban niya sa isang case.

Bago kami pumasok ay tinignan ako ni Tito and said "Don't touch anything thea. Kailangan nating i preserve ang mga bagay for observation." I nod my head at sinabing "Yes tito" even though we both know that I will touch almost about everything and observe them. Pagpasok ko sa apartment nakita ko ang katawan ni Maldive na naka handusay sa sahig at may hawak siyang baril sa kanang kamay niya. Her eyes were closed and she almost looked serene if it wasn't for the blood slowly trickling down her face.

Inalis ko ang tingin ko sakanya and I looked around the room. Agad kong napansin na magulo ang apartment and I'm pretty sure this is not a suicide case. Maraming signs of struggle sa room ni Maldive at sure din ako na left- handed siya. If it is a suicide, dapat na nasa left hand niya ang baril. I still remember the first time I met her. Nahulog ang dala dala kong libro at pinulot niya iyon gamit ang left hand niya. Pag nagtatas siya ng kamay gamit ang left hand niya, pag nagsusulat, kumakain, laging left hand ang ginagamit niya. I used to observe how her left hand seems to be the dominant one. 'I need more proof na magpapatunay na hindi ito suicide' I thought. Lumapit ako sa study desk niya at nakita ang ilaw na nasa right, mga libro at notebooks, ballpen, cigarette ashtray na nasa left. 'Definitely left handed' I thought. Napansin ko rin sa isang papel na nakaipit sa isa sa mga notebooks niya

"I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it."

This is not Maldive's calligraphy. Plus this line is from a book I've read. I think isa sa mga works ni Mark Twain. And there's no way na nagbabasa ng librong ganon si Maldive. She absolutely despise reading books. Naghalughog pa ako sa mga notebooks hanggang mapunta ako sa diary niya. Since last month ay may sinusulat na siya about someone who keep stalking ang texting her. And from her words, I know that she is aghast while writing these. Kaya pala medyo jumpy siya this past couple of weeks. Nang mapunta ako sa last page ng dictionary niya ay may nakasulat sa isang malaking 'X'.

May sino solve ba siyang math problem at nainis kay x kaya dinoodle nalang niya ito? Or is X a person? This only made my mind muddle.

Is it possible that whoever this person who stalked Maldive is 'X' and is the one behind her death?