Monday, a day after the incident...
Like I am waking up from a goodnight's sleep, I opened my eyes and found myself confined in a hospital room. Agad umatake sa aking memorya ang lahat ng nangyari kagabi- so many things happened that everything confused me. It even hurt my head remembering every detail.
I tilted my head when the white long curtains danced with the rhythm of the wind coming from the window. Tumingin ako sa wall clock, hating gabi na. Napatikhim ako at marahang inangat ang sarili mula sa pagkakahiga. This bed is so warm and comfortable though.
"Are you hungry?"
Muntik akong mapatalon nang mayroon akong narinig na nagsalita galing sa gilid ng kama. Tiyaka ko lamang nalaman kung sino iyon nang buksan niya ang lamp na halos katabi lamang ng kinauupuan niyang silya.
"Charteris? Why are you here?"
Lumapit si Charteris sa akin. He sat beside me, making the bed shrink on the side. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nanatiling nakatingin sa kanyang mukha.
"Hindi ka natulog? Your eyebags are so black, Charteris." Puna ko.
"Right." Sang-ayon niya, like he is already aware of it. "How's your feet? They were so red when I took you here."
"I-It's fine." I blushed, he took me here? "Oh, it might have been because I stepped on a lot of blood."
"Where were your shoes? You also smell like tobacco when I sniffled on your hair." Madilim ang kanyang mukha at dire-diretso ang kanyang pagsasalita. Did he wait for this moment to ask me those questions? I joke woke up!
"I removed my shoes, nahihirapan akong tumakbo sa taas ng heels and I probably smelled like tobacco because I met a man who smokes one while I am gathering evidences." Wala sa sarili kong paliwanag.
Parang na-trigger ang kaliwang kilay ni Charteris at napataas iyon. "You met a man?"
I nodded. "Mr. Cruz's brother."
"Uh-huh?" He probed, asking for more, like my little answers do not sate his curiosity enough. Though, walang bahid ng pagbibiro sa kanyang boses.
"He helped me get through the guards and did not care what I do around. It's thanks to him I did not get caught." I explained and sighed, bigla kong naalala iyong nakita kong hindi kaaya-aya bago ang lahat. I shrugged and looked at Charteris. "I suppose naibigay na sa mga pulis ang mga nakalap kong ebidensya?"Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.
Kahit parang marami pang gustong itanong si Charteris ay napatango na lamang siya. Biglang lumakas ang hangin sa labas at nagpumilit pumasok iyon sa loob ng kuwarto, ihinangin ang aking buhok at sumabog iyon sa aking mukha. Humalukipkip si Charteris at tumayo. Dumiretso siya sa malaking bintana at isinara iyon.
"What would you like to eat? You slept for 5 hours and we did not eat anything at the party, you must be hungry." Bumalik siya sa kama at naupo muli.
Napanguso at umusog papalayo sa kanya nang kaunti. "Where are the others?"
"Isaac and Earie went to the police station, while Ausell and Frey went to buy some food."
Sinundan ng kanyang mga mata ang aking maliliit na galaw, kasama na roon ang pag-usog ko alayo sa kanya.
"Why are you here? Wala ka bang errand?" I asked and look at him this time.
BINABASA MO ANG
High School Detectives
Mystery / ThrillerIn the prestigious halls of Delian Donegal Academy, six students from vastly different backgrounds find themselves drawn together by a shared curiosity and a thirst for adventure. After the sudden disappearance of the librarian, who leaves behind a...
