Tease Out the Truth

Kabanata XXXVI: Who is Who

Kabanata XXXVI: Who is Who

DAVE

"Let go of me, pricks!" sigaw ko sa dalawang lalaking nakahawak sa braso ko at kinakaladkad ako patungo sa isang pasilyo.

Ipinasok nila kami ni ate Darlene sa isang basement at iginapos sa upuan. Umalis naman kaagad ang mga lalaki at iniwan kami ni ate.

I couldn't just believe that we got caught, and most of all my mind refused to believe that Reign was one of them because it's just too impossible. She's a detective student and she had helped me with my problems. She couldn't be one of them. I am sure she was just being framed up by those bastards.

"Dave, I know you're confuse right now, but Reign couldn't do that, could she?" my sister Darlene asked.

"No. And I am hoping that she's still with us."

Ate Darlene tried to shift on her sit despite being held down by the ropes that bind her.

"Dave, I think it's possible that JDC was the reason why mom died," nabigla ako sa sinabi niya.

"Do you believe me now? Do you believe now that mom died not because of the accident?"

Napatango siya. "I just realized this while we were being held captive in that room upstairs," panimula niya. "You were with mom noong nangyari ang aksidente. Surprisingly, noong sumabog ang kotse, ikaw lang ang nakalabas that's why you were able to watch how mom died."

Naaalala ko pa rin ang pangyayaring iyon. It was a traumatic experience. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nahirapan si mama na tanggalin ang seat belt niya noon when in fact bagong bili lang namin ang kotse.

"What's fishy here was that, how come that mom wasn't able to removed her seat belt? Do you remember that time when father investigated the case?" Ate Darlene questioned.

I nodded my head. "According to what I have read in the case files, the seatbelt's lock can be easily removed. Of course, mom was knowledgeable about handling a car so it would be impossible if she was not aware of it. Unless, there's something more to it."

"It is definitely possible that suffocation and burns weren't the main cause of the death of mom. It could be something else; like there was something inside the car that time, and if you weren't able to get out of that vehicle, you could have been dead too," she said and looked at me with wide eyes.

Napaisip naman ako. When Reign and Arya were kidnapped, JDC used a chemical that paralyzed them, as well as Ms. Avi when she was abducted. And when we visited the house of Mr. Charles, for the celebration of our tournament, I was pricked on the neck with a paralysing liquid. I think I know the reason now.

"Wait, JDC was known for paralysing liquids which he injected to his victims. I think that was the reason why. Maaaring nag-iwan siya ng chemical sa loob ng kotse noon. Mom might have inhaled it and so she was paralyzed, thus, she was not able to get out of the car," napasabunot ako sa ulo dahil sa realization ko. Bakit umiyak lang ako sa gilid noon? Bakit hindi ako nakagawa ng paraan?

"Don't blame yourself, David. It was not your fault. Mom wouldn't be happy if you're not saved that time, you know that," my sister reminded me.

Things brought me back to that time when we had that accident eleven years ago.

Mom and I were driving  happily that time after  attending a social gathering held at Reign's family house. Reign and I had a great time that time, and little did I know that I would lose someone.

The car was pulled into a halt. I was not paying attention because all I did was to eat my ice cream. Mom tried to start it up again, but the car refused.