Note by The Gangster

CHAPTER 8

I dedicate this chapter to my beshieee hahaha. ka apilyedo niya yung Chief Police! Hello beshiee!
After 2 years, again, nakapag-update na naman! Hope I have silent readers who will go out from the shell to inspire me to continue this story CHAR

XX

I don't know if I should really be relieved now that I'm with Masen. Ngayon pa ulit kami nagkasama after nung nangyari sa party. We are still not in talking terms. Wala pa din akong planong magsalita lalo na sa nangyari lang ngayon. I am not in my right mind, honestly. I am shocked and I am not even sure if I am allowed to grieve. Sumisikip ang dibdib ko. We just lost a friend. A dear friend. I am in pain.

And I think I am about to lose myself. Nakakunot-noo ako nang maalala ko na gusto ako makausap ng police. It sure as hell looked like they believe that I know everything. To put it bluntly, as if I'm they key to the answers to this horror. Pero bakit?

I only had the rose drawn from the blood in mind. It looked familiar to me. I felt nausea as familiarity is too strong.

It was like the rose that I got from home. The deadly rose with a note by the gangster.

Panic dawned on me.

"The rose!" I blurted out.

Masen was quick to stop the car and faced me. I thought that I surprised him with my words but no. As I looked at his face, he was just as panicked as me.

"I'm sorry, Chan." He said na mukhang nahihirapan sabihin iyon. I just asked him through my eyes. I'm just too tired to open my mouth. I think I'm good as dead tired.

"But you have to come back to your senses! Ora mismo! Kung gusto mong sampalin kita para bumalik at imulat yang mga mata mo, kahit bestfriend man kita, gagawin ko! Please, maging little devil ka ulit ngayon na!"

He looked past through my window so I followed where he was looking.

CITY POLICE.

My eyes were wide open as I realized where we are now. The signage of CITY POLICE may be with bright lights but I know that such place will never be welcoming. For innocent ones, yes. But for the opposite? Tell me about it.

"W-why?" I finally managed to ask Masen. "Why did you bring me here?"

"You ought to know what you need to know. This may be the place."

I swallowed hard. If Masen was telling me this is the place who will give me answers about my dad, then why am I here for Nova's death, too? Umiling-iling ako. I don't freaking understand!! The Chief Police from earlier made it clear that I have the answers. And it's adding up to my fright.

Narinig ko nalang na bumukas yung pintuan ng kotse. Masen pulled his hand for me. "You just have to be brave like you are from the start. And please, ibalik mo muna 'yung angas mo! Di bagay sayo 'yung natatakot! Mukhang nasasanay ka nang ma baby ng Espanyol na 'yun ah?" He unbelievably rolled his eyes at me. What the hell? Pagkarinig ko pa lang sa patawag sa unggoy na 'yun, lahat ng emosyon sa aking katawan ay mukhang nag laho except sa galit. Oo, nakakagalit talaga! Anong baby pinagsasabi nito?! Ginagawa niya akong pusa kamo! Na dapat isiksik lang ang sarili sa sulok at manigas sa takot! Ugh, I hate how he instills this feeling on me!

At bago pa man ako makasagot kay Masen, namalayan ko nalang na nasa investigation room na ako ngayon. Bahadya kong nabasa ang label sa labas bago kami pumasok. Chief Taboada escorted us here with a grin on his face. I'd be hysterical sa takot kung hindi lang ako binabalot ng pagod at katanungan. I seem to forget how creepy he is.

I remembered his face before. He was the one of the officials who handled my father's case and just ended up and concluded everything with pitied eyes on me and my grieving family. Oh, how frustrated and angry I was remained in my memories and can be put to life again. Just like now. Naikuyom ko ng mabuti ang aking mga kamay as I reminisced how I've known Chief Ryan Taboada.