KISSING MONSTER

QUINZE

"Keep quiet, Seri." Autumn said.

"What are we doing here?" I asked.

"I'm spying someone here." aniya.

"Bakit kasi hindi na lang si Hayward ang isinama mo dito?"

"He's on the other side." seryosong paliwanag niya.

"Ow? Bakit mo pala ako isinama?" pangungulit ko.

"Basta." masungit niyang tugon.

Ryan calling...

"Autumn, sagutin ko lang tong tawag ni Ryan." paalam ko.

"Sige, pero dito ka na lang gusto kong malaman ang pag-uusapan niyo. And don't tell him that I'm with you." seryosong sambit niya.

Napailing naman ako sa kanya.

"Hey Ry," bati ko rito.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. Why?"

"Anong ginagawa mo ngayon?"

"Nothing. I'm with my Tito." I lied.

"Ow, may I know where are you right now?"

"My tito's office. Why?" I lied again.

"Nothing. I just wanna know."

"How about you? Where are you and what are you doing?"

"I'm in Bataan and walking around the beach resort."

"Bataan?"

"Yes, Mariveles, Bataan. I'm with my friends. We were having a vacation here."

"Exact place, Ry?"

"The Calixtro Beach Hotel and Resort."

Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Autumn at lalo siyang naging seryoso.

"Hey Seri, are you still there?"

"Y-yes."

"Ayos ka lang?"

"I have to go, Ry." paalam ko rito at hindi ko na siya hinintay na magsalita bago ko inoff ang tawag niya.

"Autumn, can you tell me who's your suspect?" seryosong tanong ko.

Please, don't tell it was Ryan.

"Your friend, Ryan Patterson." simpleng tugon niya.

"But how?"

"Do you remember your co-model Lester who died with headshot eight months ago?"

"Yes. What about him?"

"Two days before he died, you talked to me and he reveal something to me."

"What is it?"

"He told me that Ryan and his friends was the suspect of your family case. Then he gave me a full footage how they entered your family house. And also, a video clip where Ryan clearly say that you were the last target."

Napailing ako dahil hindi ako makapaniwala sa nalaman ko.

"You must be kidding me, right Autumn?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko rito.

Umiling siya. "I'm telling you the truth, Seri."

Napayuko ako habang nakatakip ang mga palad ko sa mukha ko at umiiling dahil ayaw ng magdigest sa utak ko ang nalaman ko patungkol kay Ryan.

"Hey,"

Napaangat naman ako ng tingin sa taong nasa harapan ko ngayon.

"Clark." sambit ko sa pangalan niya at yumakap dito.