🎭ANDRIE

Parang hangin lamang ang limang buwan. Everything and everyone was a messed. A total chaos. A catastrophe.

Series of unwanted things happened, most especially death. For the past five months, marami na ang kaklase naming namatay at may iba namang pinaglalaruan ang buhay.

Jamaica was accused stealing the answer key of the exam.

Zabeth was rushed to the hospital after being locked in the broom stand; she was suffocated.

Someone leaked Clyde's past relationship with Diane.

Jazmine's clandestine feelings towards her cousin was revealed by the hacker of MSF.

Jacobo, Meghan, Patrick, and Therese's family issues.

Miah, Jasmine, and April's corrupt politician family.

And Clyde Uy's picture with Zoe during grade 10...

Ako naman? Pinagbintangan lang naman akong may relasyon kami no'ng isang professor na nasa early 20's niya pa.

I didn't deny the rumors dahil nakakapagod mag-explain sa kanila. I know myself better than they do. I will leave it to their imagination. Bakit naman ako mag-abalang linisin ang pangalan ko kung hindi rin naman sila makiking?

“Do you think Clyde Uy was the one taking revenge for Zoe?” Tanong ni Gab nang maupo siya sa tapat ko. Nagsandok siya ng kanin at ulam na niluto ni Clyde.

“I can't tell that right now,” ang tanging sagot ko.

Nang lumabas kasi ang picture na 'yun ay sinubukan namin ni Clyde na maghanap pa ng iba pero wala na kaming nakita. At hanggang ngayon pa rin ay hindi pa rin namin nare-retrieve ang footages.

I wonder who's the black hat hacker.

Clyde and I are red hat hacker pero kahit kaming dalawa na ang nagtutulungan sa pag-hack, hindi pa rin namin nare-retrieve ang footages.

Mukhang matibay yata ang hacker sa kabila. We cannot manage to get in the system. We were even blocked one time! Muntik ko na tuloy suntukin ang screen ng computer kung hindi lang ako pinigilan ni Clyde.

“Pero bakit may litrato silang dalawa ni Zoe na magkasama? Hindi naman niya pinapansin si Zoe noon?” Napaisip si Patrick, hands under his chin.

“Parang imposible naman na siya 'yung pumapatay?” It wasn't a statement, it's more on a question.

Ako rin. Parang ang hirap paniwalaan na si Clyde Uy ang pumapatay. He looks too innocent, well, for me. Malaki siyang tao but he looks harmless. Tahimik nga siyang tao. He only talks if you talk to him first.

“Who knows? Anyone can look like an angel but their personality is otherwise,” said Clyde, not looking at us. Obviously, he's on his laptop. Magulo ang buhok niya, mukhang stress na stress.

“How about Ayesha? She was seen holding a knife?” Gabriel looked away, trying to avoid Welvin's eyes. “No hate, Vin, pero sa panahon ngayon, hindi natin maiwasang magduda sa lahat.”

“Hindi ba't kayong dalawa ang nakita sa crime scene?” Patrick tilted his head to Welvin's side. “Hindi mo nabanggit sa amin na magkasama pala kayo no'ng araw na 'yun. Kayo ba ang pumatay?”

Welvin gently shook his head. “Hindi ako ang pumatay kay Audrey. Hindi rin si Ayesha. Basta, naabutan ko na lang siya ro'n na hawak-hawak ang kutsilyo-”

“So siya nga ang pumatay?” Jacob blurted out, making Clyde looked at him. He closed his laptop.

“Ayesha can't kill someone, Cob,” pagdepensa ko sa kaibigan. Oo, I saw the post but I don't think Ayesha really did that. “Maybe she was just framed up.”

May gusto pa sana siyang sabihin pero itinikom na lang niya ang kaniyang bibig at hindi na nagsalita pa.

But then, I was not sure with my words, too.

I hope Ayesha did not kill Audrey.

🎭JAZMINE

“I swear, mapapatay ko talaga kung sino man ang nagpakalat na may gusto ako kay Dyl!”

Sinubsob ko ang mukha ko sa aking unan at doon sumigaw. Zabeth was tapping my back while Sierra was murmuring something I couldn't understand.

“Ikaw naman kasi, sino pa ba ang iba mong pinagsabihan?” Ani Angel na parang ako pa ang may kasalanan. Wow! Victim blaming at its finest!

“Wala naman akong ibang sinabihan bukod sa inyo, 'no! Ngayon tuloy ay hindi na ako pinapansin ni Dyl,” I pouted while stating facts. Simula kasi nang ma-issue 'yun ay hindi na ako masyadong pinapansin ni Dyl, hindi tulad noon.

“Hay nako, sis, ikaw naman kasi, bakit sa dami ng pwede mo maging crush, pinsan mo pa talaga?” Zabeth bubbled her cheeks, trying not to laugh.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. “Ikaw din, bakit sa dinami-rami ng pwede mo maging crush, 'yung prof pa talaga natin sa General Chemistry natin!”

“At least we're not related by blood,” she stuck her tongue out and made a face.

If only my intrusive thoughts win, hinila ko na 'yang dila niya o hindi kaya'y tinusok ko na 'yang mata niya.

'Di bale, mas matangkad naman ako sa kaniya ng two inches.

“Pero seryoso na 'to. Paano na 'yan ngayon, hindi ka na niya pinapansin?” Zabeth lifted a brow.

“Ako na bahala ro'n, basta samahan mo na lang ulit ako sa HUMSS building,” I winked at her.

Ngumiwi siya. “Ewan ko sa 'yo. Dinadamay mo pa 'ko sa paglalandi mo.”

“That's what friends are for,” I tapped her shoulder and went out of the room.

I will get him, by hook or by crook.

🎭TIFFANY

Levi's consistency was showing. Despite being busy with his studies, he never failed to message me ‘good morning’ to ‘good night.’ He would also visit me here if he doesn't have classes. He would just bring his books and study in the garden of our building. He will wait for me even if I am pushing him away.

I do miss him but still, I am pushing him away. Natatakot kasi ako na makita niya sa mga mata o maramdaman niya ang tibok ng puso ko na may gusto pa rin a sa kaniya. That after all these years, I'm still into him.

I'm afraid that history will repeat itself. Paano na lang kung hindi niya pala talaga ako gusto? That he only felt a deep remorse? Na baka nasasayangan lang siya sa friendship namin? And in order to bring that friendship back is to reciprocate my feelings?

I know I should not think about these things. He's Leviticus Psalm Arcanghel for Pete's sake. He isn't the type of person to play someone's feelings. Kasi kung ganoon siyang tao, edi sana noong umamin ako sa kaniya ay pinaglaruan niya ang damdamin ko. But he did not. Instead, he rejected me in the nice way.

It's just me who can't accept rejection that's why I decided to put a gap between us.

“Wala ka bang klase?” Tanong ko sa kaniya nang maabutan ko siya sa labas ng classroom namin. He was there, reading his thick leather-bound book. His hair is kinda messy. Ang ilang hibla nito ay napupunta sa kaniyang specs.

He gently shook his head. He left a bookmark on the page he was reading before closing the book. “I won't be here if I have.”

“So ano? Pilosopo ka na ngayon?” Hindi ko maiwasang magsungit. Nagtatanong ako ng maayos tapos ganiyan niya ako sagutin? What the fudge!

He lick his lower lip to moistened it. “I'm sorry,” he sincerely said.

Bakit parang double meaning?

Argh. I heaved a sigh. I was exaggerating it.

“May gusto sana akong sabihin,” tinaasan ko siya ng kilay para ipagpatuloy niya ang kaniyang sasabihin. “Can I-”

“Levi! Tara na, p're! Kanina pa kita hinahanap!”

A not so familiar voice interrupted him. I squinted my eyes to the man running toward us.

Oh, Therese's ex.

Nang huminto siya sa tapat namin ay yumuko siya at tinukod ang dalawang kamay sa kaniyang tuhod. Hinihingal siya.

Sakto naman bumukas ang pinto ng classroom namin at may lumabas na babae. She was too focus on her phone so she did not notice us, that's why I called her.

“Therese,” I said in a low tone. Mukhang natigilan naman 'tong lalaki sa harap ko at dahan-dahang nag-angat ng tingin at saka lumingon sa kaibigan ko.

Napatingin naman si Therese at medyo nagulat pa dahil sa nakita niya. Para siyang nakakita ng multo.

Multo ng nakaraan.

The guy stood straight and tapped Levi's shoulder. “A-ano p're...bukas na lang pala. Una na 'ko, bye!”

And then he ran away as fast as he can.

“Ano nga ulit 'yung sasabihin mo?” Tanong ko nang mawala na sa paningin namin 'yung lalaki. He just shook his head. “Parang sira 'to.”

“Maybe the other day,” he said, briefly.

That “the other day” took several days. Sa tuwing sasabihin na niya sana kasi ang gusto niyang sabihin ay palaging may sisingit sa usapan namin kaya hindi niya na itutuloy at sasabihin sa ibang araw na naman.

Naiinis na tuloy ako kaya minessage ko siya sa Facebook dahil naka-block ang number niya sa 'kin. Nag-isap muna 'ko bago nagtipa.

I saw the date of our last conversation. It was during my birthday.

Tiffany Descarten : Alam mo naiinis na 'ko sayo dahil ilang araw na 'yang delayed ang gusto mong sabihin

Tiffany Descarten : Pwede ba sabihin mo na lang ngayon? Hindi ako nakakatulog ng maayos dahil sa 'yo

Levi Archangel : So you think about me, huh?

Levi Archangel : That explains why I couldn't sleep at night because you're thinking about me the whole time.

Tiffany Descarten : kapal mo!!! gusto mo ba block kita ulit?!

Ang kapal kasi! Pero medyo tama siya ro'n. Minsan kasi ay hindi ko maiwasang isipin ang alaala namin. Pero sana naman magpaka-humble siya minsan.

Levi Arcanghel : Okay, I'll stop.

Levi Archangel : But I won't tell it through chat. I want to tell it personally.

Tiffany Descarten : tapos hindi mo na naman itutuloy hay nako ewan ko sa 'yo

Levi Archangel : Okay, I'll say it

Levi Archangel : Proverbs 31:29-31
“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Oh? Are we on a Bible study now? Did he miss going to church with me? Ako rin. Simula kasi no'ng mag senior high ako, hindi na ako madalas nakakapunta sa church namin.

Levi Archangel : I wanted to say it personally, Tiffany, but you're impatient so...

Levi Archangel : I already asked consent from your parents, and of course, your grandmother. I have their approval already.

Levi Archangel : Can I court you, Rhiannon Tiffany Descarten?

🎭 ZYRA

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin kami nagpapansinan nina Tiffany. I noticed that she became aloof after what happened that day. Ang madalas na niyang kasama ay si Levi, 'yung escort niya.

Everytime I try to talk to her, lalayo siya. She became distant and awkward whenever we're around. Or should I say whenever I'm around. Hindi na siya madalas nagsasalita na para bang natatakot siya na may masabing mali.That if she will say anything she isn't supposed to say, it will be the end of her. O sa kung sino man ang pinagtatakpan niya.

Tiffany is really good in keeping secrets. She's known as the gatekeeper of our class. Kahit kasi sekreto ng kaayaw niya, kapag sinabihan siyang huwag sabihin sa iba, she will not say anything. Not unless she has the approval.

“I don't think Tiffany is the killer, Zy. You also accused me before but I have proven myself that I am not,” Margaret was busy braiding my hair. “Maybe she's innocent, too.”

I want to shook my head to show disapproval but I can't because she's braiding it. Baka hilahin niya pa ang buhok ko. Mahirap na.

“Not this time, Marga,” I refute her claim. “If I had mistaken about you, it doesn't mean na mali rin itong kay Tiffany.”

“But she's our friend,” there's a hint of worry in her voice.

Kahit ako naman ay hindi mapakali. What if this time, tama ako. Na isa siya sa killer? Paano na lang ang pagkakaibigan namin?

“But what if all this time niloloko niya lang talaga tayo? What if I'm right, Margaret? What if Tiffany is one of the killers?” I argued. I'm giving Tiffany the benefit of the doubt.

“And what if it's the other way around?” She defended our friend again. It irritates me but I keep it to myself.

“Okay,” tanging nasagot ko. “Pero ipagpalagay na natin na hindi siya killer. It's a win-win situation for us, most especially for our friendship,” I sighed.

She didn't utter a word.

“Pero paano kung isa siya sa pumapatay? How would you feel after knowing that our dear friend is a killer?,” I tried to look at the other side of the story. Hindi naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon, sa brighter side na lang kami titingin.

Hindi siya sumagot.

“See, you can't even say anything to defend her in that aspect,” I said, disappointed because she's one-sided.

“Why do you like pointing finger, Zy? You pointed your finger first to me and now you're pointing your finger to Tiffany. Why, Zyra?”

It caught me off guard.

“Is it because you're the real killer here?” She said in a monotonous voice. “I wonder who are your accomplice.”

___________