Saving Humanity

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Accusation

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Accusation

Holly

This is clearly a set-up.

There's no way Jared would do that. He wouldn't kill an innocent person, much like someone he treats as a friend. Not Kenneth, or anyone in this Institute. Not even that asshole Max.

"You believe me, right? Sandy?" I say. I hate how desperate my voice sounds. "Alam mo na hindi gagawin ni Jared iyon, diba?"

Hinawakan ni Sandy ang kamay ko. "Jared is a good person."

Relief floods through me as soon as I hear the words come out of her mouth. I still have her. I still have her and James and Raf and Ephraim and--

"But we have to consider that even the kindest of people can still be triggered to do something unspeakable, especially if their lives are at stake."

Napatitig ako sa kanya. I can't believe it. Buong akala ko ay naniniwala siya sa kabutihan ni Jared. Dahan-dahan, inalis ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko.

"How could you say that?" I ask, my voice full of betrayal. "Kilala mo si Jared, diba? You know that he'll never do that."

In an attempt to ease the tension, James puts his hand on Sandy's shoulder and lets out a shaky laugh.

"What Sandy means is... It can happen to anyone, even to us." He gives me a tentative look. "Of course, naniniwala kami na inosente si Jared."

But I don't believe him. Not anymore.

I stand up, giving both of them a look of contempt. "Don't come around looking for us if the truth comes out. Because it will, I can assure you."

With that, I leave them dumbfounded. As I walk towards the cafeteria's exit, I can feel everyone's eyes following me out. Lahat sila alam na ako ang pinakamalapit na kaibigan ni Jared. We were famous when we first got here. At that time, we were the newest survivors in a long while.

Gusto ko silang sigawan. Gusto kong ipamukha sa kanila na hindi magagawa ni Jared na pumatay ng tao. They've all seen how good of a person he is. He never fails to complete his tasks. He even helps others to complete theirs. He never got into any argument, except with Max who is a complete asshole.

Pero wala na akong lakas. I keep seeing the look on Sandy and James's eyes. Pity, and fear. Pity for me, for having my closest friend sent to jail. And fear for Jared. because of what they think he did.

Sabagay, ano bang inaasahan ko? Hindi naman nila nakasama si Jared sa labas ng Institute. Hindi nila alam kung paano niya kami iniligtas ng maraming beses, gamit ang mga mabibilis niyang plano. Hindi nila kilala si Jared. Ako lang ang nakakakilala sa kanya.

I will do everything to get him out of prison. I will risk even my life, just so I could prove his innocence.

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang may makasalubong akong pamilyar na tao.

His eyes are brimmed with tears, and he's walking as if he has the weight of the entire world on his shoulders. When he sees me, a single tear escapes from his right eye and he lets out a quiet, strangled sob.

"Kenji..." Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko sa kanya. Nangako kami ni Jared na hahanapin namin si Kenneth kahit na anong mangyari pero... nabigo kami. What's worse is he's thinking that Jared killed his lover.

"You know how important Kenneth is to me," he says, his voice full of betrayal and grief. "You knew, Holly. Pero bakit hinayaan mo si Jared na gawin sa kanya iyon? Bakit hinayaan mo siya na patayin ang partner ko?"

"Kenji, I..." I step towards him, but he takes a step back. He gives me a pointed look, as if to tell me that he doesn't want even a single finger of mine to touch him. Somehow, that makes my heart ache.

I swallow, forcing the words to come out of my mouth.

"Jared didn't do it." I take a deep breath. "Hindi si Jared ang pumatay kay Kenneth. It was clearly a set-up. Kilala mo naman si Jared, hindi ba? Alam mo na hindi niya magagawa iyon."

"No." He shakes his head vigorously. "You're wrong, Holly. Hindi ko pa kayo lubusang kilala. And it was so stupid of me to let my guard down. I shouldn't have, especially when I'm around you."

He fixes his gaze at me, his eyes full of hatred. "Siguro kasabwat ka ni Jared. Siguro pareho ninyong pinagplanuhan ang lahat."

I start to say something, but he puts his hand up to stop me.

"Ano bang ginawang masama ni Kenneth sa inyo? I know he's a little bit of an anti-social, but is that a valid reason to kill him?" Pinunasan niya ang mga luhang patuloy na tumutulo mula sa mga mata niya. "I will never forgive you. You and Jared both."

My jaw hangs open, and I'm unable to say anything. The hatred in Kenji's eyes are so strong that it makes my own heart beat faster. Ito na siguro ang unang beses na may nagalit sa akin ng sobra sa kasalanang hindi ko naman ginawa.

Tumalikod siya at nagsimulang maglakad palayo, pero hinawakan ko ang braso niya upang pigilan siya.

I won't let him think the worst about us. Kaibigan niya kami ni Jared, at hindi magbabago iyon. I have to convince him to believe me.

Nang lumingon siya sa akin ay kaagad akong nagsalita.

"Hindi si Jared ang pumatay kay Kenneth," pag-uulit ko. "I was with him until past midnight last night. There's no way that he could've done that. Trust me, Kenji. Jared is innocent."

Tuluyan siyang humarap sa akin at tinanggal ang kamay ko na nakahawak pa rin sa braso niya.

"Oh, yeah?" He lets out a sarcastic chuckle. "If he's so innocent, why did he admit that he killed Kenneth, then?"

Natigilan ako. At first I thought I heard him wrong, but then he repeated the question and my brain just freezes.

Inamin ni Jared na siya ang pumatay kay Kenneth?

Kenji mistakenly sees my shock as a sign of defeat. "It's over, Holly. Jared will pay for the crime that he did. And I'll make sure that he'll pay well."

He walks away, and this time I didn't bother to stop him. I don't have the strength to do so. Wala akong ibang nagawa kundi ang panoorin siyang maglakad palayo.

It's impossible. Bakit aaminin ni Jared ang kasalanang hindi naman niya ginawa? I'm confident that he didn't do it. He would never harm someone else without any valid reasons. Especially someone he's close with.

Kailangan kong linawin ang lahat. I have to do something to somewhat prove his innocence. I have to find out who's doing this.

Kailangan kong makausap si Jared.