The Nobles

Chapter 24

No matter how hard... Or how different I see the world, specifically AIU now... I have to get up my bed and proceed with my day.

I did my usual and went to AIU. This time... Ayoko na maging maaga. Aaminin kong natatakot ako. Parang kahapon lang... Kausap ko pa si Tristan.

Ang gulo.

I made the whole "Singapore thing" an escape... And AIU a new life. Pero bakit parang lalong gumulo yung buhay ko?

May ilalala pa ba 'to?

I come to school with the death of Tristan as the talk of the place.

Papunta ako sa locker ko ng bigla akong hilahin ni Anja sa braso ko.

"You must be so happy and relieved that Tristan's death became a distraction on my revelation sa pagkatao mo!" She exclaimed at me. Unlike her usual self, halatang hindi na nakapagpigil si Anja sa galit na at hindi n'ya na kayang itago kung ano mang galit meron s'ya sa'kin.

Puwes...napuno na rin ako lalo na sa mga salita na lumabas sa bibig n'ya.

I twisted her hand and slammed her into the lockers. I notice her arch her back because of the pain.

Iniharang ko sa bandang leeg n'ya yung braso ko habang nakahawak ang kaliwang kamay ko ng mahigpit sa kanang braso n'ya.

"A person just died Anja!" I said in a hard voice tired of all her shits. "No one's asking you to grieve but for one second, can you please shed those insecurities lingering over your body and shut your fucking mouth?!"

When I saw her shaking in fear dahil I admit, I stoop low when I physically hurt her, I let go and went to our room.

I realized...tama s'ya. I should be the main attraction now after she revealed everything about me. Pero dahil sa nangyari kay Tristan...nawala ako sa usapan. Tristan's death saved me.

The profs are on a meeting because of what happened. Kaya naisip ko na munang lumabas to get some fresh air.

Looking at this school...napaisip ako. Ano pa kayang misteryo ang tinatago ng AIU? Ano bang meron dito sa mundong 'to? Nagkamali ba 'ko ng pag-pasok dito?

Nang makaipon ako ng lakas ng loob... I decided to go where Tristan's body was found. Napapa-isip pa rin ako sa mga na-obserbahan ko.

The athletes 'locker room is surrounded with caution tapes but the door is widely open.

Pumasok ako at na-obserbahan yung posibleng pinagtaliaan ni Tristan ng rope. May mga maninipis bakal sa itaas na nagpo-protekta sa centralized aircon. I then noticed... Na sa buong school eto lang ang may ganito.

But when I looked closely, these metals maybe strong enough but they're too thin. So kung nakaya man nito si Tristan... They should be a dent somewhere pero wala.

Kaunting puzzle pieces pa maniniwala na akong hindi ginawa ni Tristan 'yon sa sarili n'ya.

I was in the middle of the drawing conclusions nang may marinig akong ingay sa shower na nasa loob ng locker room.

Kinabahan ako na baka mahuli ako kaya nagmamadali akong lumabas nang biglang bumukas yung room.

I was shocked to death but it's just Nickolas.

I sighed in relief.

"What are doing here?" I whispered.

"Ikaw?" He asked the same.

"I was just looking for something." Sagot ko.

"Like what?" He wondered.

I really wanna tell him so I grabbed him our first and we went to the roof top.

He looked perplexed on my actions as I grip his hands up her in the rooftop. Agad ko rin namang binitawan 'yon.

"I know...you might think I'm crazy...but..." I tried explaining.

"Is this about Tristan?" He butted in and I simply nodded for response.

"Something's off about his death." I said.
"Ikaw anong ginagawa mo do'n?" I asked bago ko pa man sa kanya sabihin lahat ng naiisip ko.

"Same as yours." He said crossing his arms around him and standing valiantly.

"So the first thing I noticed is how he acted that day." I stated.

"Yah. Usually lumalaban si Tristan." He added.

"Then, when I looked at him he doesn't have bruises or marks around his neck kung sinasabing he hung himself. And the place..." Hindi ko pa natutuloy sumang-ayon na s'ya.

"But there are also no blood stains or such kung sasabihin man natin na he was murdered." Katwiran n'ya. "Wala rin tayong taong nakikitang pwedeng gawin sa kan'ya 'yon..." Dagdag n'ya.

There was clearly no autopsy conducted kaya lahat kami nahihiwagaan.

"One thing that's certain is that his death gives the whole AIU a clear message." I shivered at Nickolas's words.

"Break the barrier and the students' hierarchy." He said and I couldn't agree more.

"If we're going to assume that he is murdered...that is one reason for the crime. To tell us that." He added.

He quietly stared at me as the wind blows.

"How's your day going?" Nagulat naman akong tinanong n'ya ako ng gano'n out of nowhere.

"Everyone forgot the scene caused by Anja. But I couldn't say thanks to Travis." I said in frustration as I look down.

"Everything is gonna be ok." He said gently but awkwardly tapping my back.

"Get your hands off me." Masungit na sagot ko trying to change the atmosphere.

Inangat n'ya saglit ang kamay n'ya sabay pitik sa noo ko.

"I assume na alam mo na." He changed the topic placing his hands inside his pockets...like it became a mannerism.

"What?" Pabalang na sagot ko.

"Kung sino si Noah." Sagot n'ya.

"Of course I do." Sinubukan kong mag patay-malisya sa tanong n'ya.

"That he's my brother." He revealed. Hindi ako nakasagot saglit.

"I guess so." I said shrugging my shoulders.

"So you must have been that close to him para sabihin n'ya sa'yo yo'n." He concluded.

Masungit n'ya akong tiningnan at napa-isip din naman ako sa tanong n'ya.

Are we? I asked myself.

"Hindi lang talaga s'ya mabigat kasama." I tried defending our connection and he just scoffed at what I said.

"Well in that case..." He snapped back to his usual self. That cold, loveless, mischievous Nickolas.

"I hope you don't end up together." He said.

My eyebrows met at what he said.

"Dahil siguradong aagawin kita."