How To Make A Serial Killer

| 23 : Snitch |

----- CHAPTER 23 -----

"Ginagawa n'yo rito?" Bakas ang iritasyon sa mukha ni Zambrano nang umagang-umaga ay sumugod kami sa bahay nila. Ni hindi kami pinapasok, para tuloy kaming namamasko sa harapan ng gate nila.

"You might be the next target. It's better if we all just stick together," paliwanag ni Stu, seryoso sa bawat salitang binibitiwan.

"Tungkol na naman ba 'to sa sinasabi ninyong Berdugo?" kunot-noong tugon ni Zambrano.

"Come on, man. Hanggang ngayon ba, ayaw mo pa ring maniwala?!" bulalas ni Meow.

"Bro, I almost died last night!" giit naman ni Ashton. "I mean, look at our injuries! Do you really think this isn't real?"

"Ang Berdugo ay nagpaparusa ng mga makasalanan. Kayo na mismo ang nagsabi noon." Napabuga ng hangin si Zambrano bago kami isa-isang tinapunan ng matalim na tingin.

"At sa tingin ninyo, ako na ang susunod dahil lang sa video na 'yon?" he spatted out sarcastically, his voice full of contempt. "Some society we live in, huh?"

Natahimik ang lahat at pare-parehong nag-iwas o di kaya'y nagbaba ng tingin sa lupa.

I decided to take a step forward, facing him as I sighed. "Look, we don't give a fuck whether you're into dudes. We're not some homophobic assholes na mahilig magsabi ng Godly stuff pero nangpe-persecute naman ng ibang tao. But what if the Berdugo is?"

"I'll take my chances. You guys should just go home," he said flatly as he slammed the gate right in front of our faces.

"Fine!" napasigaw na lamang ako sa inis. "Don't say we didn't warn you!"

"Did you receive a card?!" pahabol na sigaw Stu pero wala na kaming ibang narinig mula kay Zambrano.

***

"Seriously . . . how long are we supposed to do this?" balisang tanong ni Lindsey habang nakapwesto kami sa sofa nina Stu. Ginawa pang unan ng bruha ang hita ko.

"Oh, come on, the movie's not that bad. Panoorin mo kasi, 'wag tutulog-tulog lang diyan," giit ni Ashton na nakahilata sa sahig kasama sina Herb at Meow. Para lang kaming nagmo-movie marathon.

"Shh . . . this is the best part," saway ni Herb na kanina pa tutok na tutok sa pinapanood namin.

After attending our evening classes, dumiretso kami sa bahay nina Stu. We decided to stick together considering there's safety in numbers. Besides, their personalities aren't that bad. Pretty tolerable, I must say, so it feels like we're just hanging out sometimes.

All of a sudden, the doorbell rang. Napabangon sila at pare-pareho kaming nagkatinginan. Just like that, tension filled the air as we fell silent.

"M-May inaabangan bang bisita sina Stu?" nauutal na tanong ni Ashton na umusog papalapit sa direksyon nina Meow. Guy looks traumatized after what happened to him. If I were him, I'd be scared, too! He's basically the Berdugo's unfinished business! At least si Donovan, nasa Manila para magpagamot at hindi basta-bastang mababalikan.

If only we all have the privilege to just pack our bags and leave this place behind.

"It's probably Klaus," sabi ko na lamang. "Bailey's boyfriend."

"Doorbell ba namin 'yon?" bulalas ni Bailey na bumababa mula sa hagdan habang yakap pa ang unicorn plushie niya.

Mabilis akong tumayo at humarang sa harapan niya. "Kuya mo ang lalabas para tingnan kung sino."