In a Split Second

Chapter 18

#IASS18

"So, shall we start?" sabi niya at binitawan ang kamay ko.

Bumalik siya sa lamesa at umupo sa upuan. Inayos niya muna ang mga papel na nakakalat at tumingin ulit sakin. Tumaas ang kanyang kilay dahil kanina pa ko nakatingin lang sakanya.

"Maiwan ko muna kayo," sambit ng pulis at bahagyang sumulyap kay Inspectora at tipid na tumungo lang ito.

Tuluyan nang sinara ng pulis ang pintuan kaya naiwan nalang kaming dalawa dito ng Inspectora. The room was gray but the light illuminated the whole room and there's only one table with two chairs inside.

I swallowed hard and approched her. I sat on the chair in front of her and avoided her gaze. I don't know what to feel. I bit my lip and played with my fingers. I'm so fcking nervous! I don't know maybe because of her intimidating presence or what questions she's about to ask me.

Kahit pa sa ayaw ko na balikan ang mga alaala sa pagkamatay ng oanilya ko eh kailangan kong sabihin sakanya lahat ng nalalaman ko para tulungan ako. I started sweating and she hasn't even started asking questions! Calm the fuck down Dominique!

"So, since my dear friend Ed wants me to work on your case. I accepted it since I've read your profile and I'm willing to help you if you just cooperate. I value my time so I hope you don't waste it," she said while a small smile appeared on her lips.

I swallowed hard for the fifth time and slowly nodded. So far so good huh?

"I'll get straight to the point," sambit niya at binasa ang papel na hawak sa kamay niya

"Your family was murdered on May 20th of 2020 at 5:00 in the evening. No murder weapon was found but we will try to find where it is soon. Cause of death is gunshots as it is written on this autopsy report," sambit niya at pinakita sakin ang papel.

"Tanong ko lang kung nasaan ka sa mga oras na ito. Ed said na dumating ka sa bahay niyo around 7pm ng gabi," sambit niya at pinatong ang dalawang kamay sa lamesa

Bumuntong hininga ako bago sumagot. "I was out," pag ummpisa ko at tumungo. "I was with my friend, Reign. Niyaya niya ako pumunta ng mall pagkatapos ng klase dahil tapos na ang exam namin."

"Hindi ka muna umuwi? at nagpaalam muna?" sunod sunod niyang tanong. habang titig na titig sakin

Umiling ako. "No...I only texted my Mom that we were out. My family knows Reign. In fact, they like her as my friend. I'm already grown up now kaya sa tingin ko hindi sila magagalit sakin," I said and I licked my lips.

"The outcome would have been different if you went home straight first," she said and pursed her lips

I was starting to get annoyed. I thought she's going to help me? pero bakit kinokonseniya niya lang ako? Tingin niya ba gusto ko ang nangyari?! It's not my fault for heaven's sake!

Kinagat ko ang labi ko at kinuyom ang kamao. Kinuha niya ang lapis sa tabi at nagsimulang magsulat sa maliit niyang notebook.

"Pwede bang ikwento mo sakin ang buong pangyayari?" tanong niya.

Nagulat ako sa tanong niya at sinulyapan siya. Well, here it goes. Babalikan ko nanaman ang masamang alaala. Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago magsalita.

"As I've said earlier, I was at the mall with my friend. Hindi pa dapat ako uuwi no'n dahil medyo maaga pa and I was enjoying her company pero biglang nagkaron ng emergency sa bahay niya kaya nagdesisyon kami na umuwi. Hindi na ako nagpahatid kay Reign dahil nagmamadali narin siya so nagcommute nalang ako," paliwanag ko at tumungo.

I didn't want to see her reaction nor want to see her sympathy. I'm getting tired of people looking at me and felt sorry for me, mas lalo lang akong nanghihina. Kahit sa ilang araw kong pagpasok ay halos nasa sa'kin lahat ng atensyon. It's funny cause I was not used to it. It felt awkward and uncomfortable.