Chapter 17 - Hunter

"K-kuya?"

Paulit ulit na tawag saken ni Liam pero hindi ko man lang sya tinapunan ng tingin at nakatuon lang pansin ko sa katabi nya s-si.. si.. Dale.

How can he be alive?

"Hoy! Kuya!"

Bobo ka ba Aiden.. you could be just hallucinating

No, he's real.

"Yow Aize musta?"

Tawag saken ni Dale saka ngiti nya.. wtf, are you really--

"HOY KUYAA!"

Agad namang akong nagising ng bigla akong suntukin ni Liam sa pisngi dahilan para mapa yuko ako sa sahig.

"A-ano bang n-nangyayare sayo k-kuya"

Napahawak naman ako sa pisngi ko dahil sa saket.. bata pa sya pero anlakas na nyang manapak ah aish..

Napatingin naman ako kay Liam na kanina pa nangangatog yung paa at kitang kita sa mga mata nya ang takot saken habang may hawak hawak syang chocolates.. dumukot to sa ref.

Akto pa sana akong lalapit sa kanya at hahawakan kamay nya ng bigla na syang tumakbo paalis ng kusina, palayo saken.

Tsk.. umiling iling nalang ako saka napahawak sa ulo ko aish..

Ginala ko paningin ko sa buong kusina but.. Dale wasn't there.. arghh, stupid Aiden.

Told you it's just your hallucination..

It felt so real.

Dale's lost is really getting into you.

Yeah.. probably..

Sinandal ko naman sarili ko sa may lababo at huminga ako ng malalim.. aish, get yourself together Aiden.

Kinuha ko na ulet yung sponge saka ko na tinapos yung paghuhugas ng plato at ramdam ko na ding nabagsak na mata ko sa antok at pagod tsk..

Matapos ng ilang minutong paghuhugas agad naman akong lumabas ng kusina at napansin nasa may sala na sila paalis na ata.

"Thanks for the dinner and everything"

"No, it's nothing.. just a simple celebration for our company"

Sagot ni Dad dun kay Elmer saka na sila nagpaalam at isa isa ng nagsilabasan ng bahay.

Napatingin naman ako sa table ng sala namen at nakita ko don phone ko at dun ka pala ata nalapag kanina pagkadating ng mga bisita nila mama.

Agad naman na muna akong pumuntang shower saka dumiretso papuntang kwarto at nagbihis ng pantulog.

Napadaan naman tingin ko sa drawers ko at naisipan kong kuhanin ulet yung letter ni Dale saka yung Business Card nung Elmer na nilagay ko kanina bago ako maligo.

Aish.. what does Elmer know.. especially Dale.

Inexamine ko naman yung business card nung elmer at nakita ko yung picture nya.. his hair is brown at mukhang dati pa tong picture kase black na buhok nya ngayon, he's still tan with his shaved beard and intense brown eyes.

Steel Tech

"Your trusted partner on

metal supplies"

Elie Amer Aguila Cohen

:Chief financial Officer

SteeltechCo.org (W)

@ElieAmerCohen (E)

0953-4565-7230 (N)

I could literally just call him right away because of this HAHAHAHA.

Kinuha ko naman yung phone ko para irecord yung number na nakalagay dito sa business card ni Elmer but I was shocked ng may nakita akong notifs from Ava.

Ava ♡ (13) missed calls

Whut.. bat di ko man lang narinig kanina.. tinignan ko naman yung sound ng phone ko at nakasilent pala wtf.

Inunlock ko naman phone ko at nabaling tingin ko sa inbox.. 54 unread messages wth, agad ko namang clinick at nakita kong galing lahat ng messages kay Ava.. shet i'm ded HAHAHA.

Tinap ko naman yon at akala ko bubungad saken eh sermon pero iba ang nakita ko.

Ava ♡

:lovee?

:uy love

:lovee si Dylan

:nasa labas ng bahay namen

ako lang magisa dito

:huuy love

:loveeee

Napakunot naman noo ko at napapisil ako sa kamay ko ng mabasa ko text ni Ava nyeta.. anong ginagawa nung gago sa bahay nila.

Binasa ko naman kung anong oras nya tinext saken at kanina pa palang ala-shete tsk saka ko pa iniscroll pababa.

:love di daw nya ko titigilan

hanggat di ko pa sya binabalikan

:tagal na nameng wala anong sinasabe

netong nung nakaraang araw lang, tsk.

:uyyy, di ko sya pinagbubuksan sinisilip

ko lang sya sa bintana namen habang

nasigaw sya mula sa gate.

Ano bang sinasabe nung kakabreak nila, sinabe nya den yun nung nakaraang nagkita kame siraulo amp, tagal na nilang wala ni Ava eh.

Binasa ko naman na lahat ng text nya hanggang baba saka ko sya agad tinawagan aish, kanina patong mga texts eh aaaahhhh Aiden sksksks.

"Uy love?"

Agad na sabi ko ng sagutin nya yung tawag at saglet nya muna akong hindi nasagot at ang ingay ng background nya.

"Uy love sorry, pumasok lang ako kwarto"

"Anyare kanina love? Sorry di ko nasagot nakasilent phone ko eh tsk"

"Okay na po, andito na sila mama pinaalis na si Dylan"

Agad naman akong napabuntong hininga at napagaan yung loob ko sa nalaman ko phew, kala ko andun pa eh batukan ko yon.

"Ano bang nangyare bat sya pumunta?"

"Ewan ko don, di ata makamove-on si gago HAHAHAHA"

Saka kame nagtawanan HAHAHA, hays jusq kase antagal na nilang wala eh.

"Nagdahilan pang kakabreak lang daw namen last week dahil sa away jusq HAHAHA"

"HAHAHA, oo nga eh.."

Last week..

Narinig ko naman boses ng nanay nya sa background at mukhang tinatawag sya.

"Wait love sorry inuutusan ako, text nalang love youu"

Saka nya inoff yung tawag at saka ko naman binaba phone ko..

Bigla naman akong natulala sa pader ng kwarto habang nausog ako hanggang mapaupo sa kama.. hmmm..

An idea flew through my head... last week.. reason lang kaya talaga ni Dylan yon or.. is he like me.. yun lang yung naaalala nya talaga, hmmmmm.

You're becoming observant.

Well, thank you pero kung distraction nanaman to, no thank you HAHAHAHA.

Inalog alog ko naman ulo ko at pinikit pikit mata ko saka nako tumayo.

Tumingin naman ako sa salamin ng kwarto saka muna inayos ayos buhok ko ket matutulog naman nako HAHAHA.

Napadaan naman tingin ko sa ibabaw ng drawers at napansin kong nandun pa nakapatong yung nilabas kong letter at business card.

What should we do first? Sabay baling ko ng tingin sa reflection ko sa salamin.

Why are you asking me? i'm not down to that

Saka nya ko sinamaan ng tingin tsk, nagtatanong lang eh bawal ba.

Kinuha ko naman na agad yung letter at business card saka ko na ibinalik sa drawers para itago habang dali dali akong tumakbo papuntang kama.

Aaaaaahhhh, finally bed kumuha agad ako ng unan saka ko niyakap habang pinikit ko mata ko para magpadala sa antok at pagod..

Tsk may pasok nanaman pala bukas, but I'll try to find a way to talk to that Elmer..

He probably knows everything.

...

"Open your textbooks on chapter 36"

Sabi ng professor namen saka ko naman kinuha libro ko mula sa bag saka binuklat.. sksksks.

Don't get me wrong, I like being in school and also I know knowledge and education is the key to success but... be honest lahat naman tayo! tinatamad sa klase diba! inaantok nakooo! medyo di pa naman ako nakatulog ng ayos kagabe shet.

"Mr. Evans, chapter 36 not 178"

Sabay turo ni prof sa libro ko ng lumapit sya aish, sabog ako help HAHAHAHAHA.

Hinimay himay ko naman kada pahina saka ipinunta sa sinabeng chapter ni Prof.

"putsa, buhay pa no"

"kaya nga eh napilay na't nasaksak, pvta immortal"

Rinig kong daldalan nung iba kong mga kaklase sa likod habang tinitignan ako, jusq mga epal HAHAHAHAHA.

"Sinong nabulong bulong dyan! baka gusto nyang magturo dito"

Sigaw ni sir sa kanila saka naman sila nagsitahimikan, HAHAHAHA sayang sana pinatayo nalang ni sir.

Iginala ko naman paningin ko at naangkla yon sa table ni Dale.. an empty space.. I still can't believe na w-wala na sya..

"diba sya din daw primary suspect"

"oo nga eh, ewan ko ba dyan ayaw pa umamin buti nga di pa sya pinatay ni Dal--"

"Baldimero at Roldan, labas"

Napatawa naman ako ng mahina ng napikon na si sir sa kanila at pinalabas HAHAHAHA, nginang kadadaldal kase e.

Agad naman silang nagtayuan habang nakatingin ng masama kay sir saka isinabit mga bag nila sa isang braso nila saka naglakad papunta sa labas, sila pa galet amp.

Nagulat naman ako ng pagbukas nila ng pinto ng classroom may ibang tao sa labas at pinigilan yung pagsara gamet paa na agad nakuha ang atensyon ng buong klase.

"Sorry to interrupt, but may I excuse myself"

Sabi nung lalake sa pinto na may neutral na expresiyon sa mukha.. not serious, happy nor any kind of emotions.. just dull but his presence is enough to make an intimidating approach to us.

"Oh sure but who are they? what's your business here?"

Tanong ni prof sa kanya saka naman sya dumukot sa long black coat nya at ipinakita sa buong klase.. an ID.. he's a--

"I'm a detective and my name is not that of an importance but you can call me 'hunter' as that's what i'm called and i'm looking for a boy named Aiden"

Nagulat naman ako ng marinig ko pangalan ko at saka agad nagtinginan lahat saken, tsk I hate sudden attention being thrown at me nakakailang tusukin ko mga mata nila eh.

"O-oh that's me"

Sabay dahan dahan dahang taas ko ng kamay habang natayo mula sa lamesa ko.

"Can I excuse Mr. Aiden for a minute, we just have some few questions for him--"

Wait.. don't tell me that this is about Dale..

"about the case of one of your students"

Knew it.. they are still pointing fingers on me, i'm still the one they're blaming tsk.

Agad namang tumango tango si Prof sa kanya saka nya ko sinenyasan at inayos ko na agad mga gamet ko na nasa table at inilagay lahat pabalik sa bag saka ko binitbit sa isang braso ko habang naglakad nako papuntang pinto palabas ng kwarto.

Napatingin naman ako dun sa lalaki as I was heading to the door and I saw his deadly eyes.. emotionless, dull and nothing but just a dead soul.. his stare is so blank but so intense, so detective.

"Thank you for your cooperation"

Sabi nung lalake na si 'hunter' daw name saka isinara yung pinto ng room.

"Follow me Mr. Aiden"

Saka naman nya ibinaling tingin nya saken at saka naunang maglakad habang sinusundan ko lang sya from his back.

Napatingin naman ako sa kanya mula ulo hanggang paa and his seems like a dangerous man.. I dunno he is just kinda like it.. his attire too is unusual or may I say old but with a sense of fashion and moderness di gaya ng ibang mga detective ngayon na simple polo and pants..

He's wearing a black long coat na abot hanggang tuhod nya making it looks like a cape rather than a coat, a hairstyle na may biyak sa gitna na bumagay naman sa itsura nya, a black leather shoes and a polo with a tie inside his coat.. pretty much old school detective but kinda cool looking.

"You are a keen observer Mr. Aiden I must say, you even might grow up to be a detective someday"

Nagulat naman ako ng marinig ko syang magsalita habang nakaharap paden sa nilalakaran nya at nagbitaw nalang ako ng tipid na tawa HAHA.

"But you know, sometimes looks can be deceiving"

Sabi nya saken saka sya lumingon na kinatigil namen sa paglalakad at napaapak ako paatras ng medyo nilapit nya mukha nya saken.

"But what you've done is impressive but next time, be more unforthcoming"

Saka nya inalis ulo nya saken at patuloy na naglakad.. what is he saying? did he just noticed me looking at him..

Agad ko namang inalog alog ulo ko at saka ko lang nakita na anlayo ko na pala dun sa hunter dahil napatigil pala ko kanina sa sinabe nya kaya hinabol ko kaagad sya.

We've arrived at the school director's office.. which is the room of Tita Celestine, Ava's mother.. pagbukas na pagbukas ng pinto ay bumungad agad saken yung lamig ng aircon ni Tita.. mas malamig pa ata sa room namen HAHAHAHAHA.

"Take a seat"

Sabi saken nung hunter sabay turo nya sa likuran ko pagpasok namen ng room at nagulat ako ng may dalawang lalake ding nakaupo don na ngayon ko lang napansin and-- wtf.

"Aiden!?"

"Ray?!"

Wth why would he be here? Kala ko nagcr lang sya kanina!?

"Is he a suspect?"

Agad na tanong ko don kay Hunter ng nakakunot noo ko at tinapunan nya lang ako ng walang buhay na tingin at di na nagabalang magsalita at tinanguan nalang nya ko saka sinenyasang umupo.

Dahan dahan naman akong umupo sa tabi ni Ray at nilingon ko naman yung ibang katabi nya at naestima kong 4 apat kameng nandito at yung isa-- wtf.

"Lucas?"

Tanong ko saka naman lumingon saken yung unggoy ng nakakunot den ang noo at mukhang nagmamaktol HAHAHAHA.

"Can you just get over with it.. ngina di ko den alam bat ako nandito"

Sabi ni Lucas pointing at hunter telling him to start already saka naman sya umayos ng umupo habang tumayo naman yung hunter at hinila yung upuan nya papunta samen.

Sinilip silip ko naman muna yung lugar at nasa may waiting area lang naman kame ng office pero nung tinignan ko yung mismong loob wala naman ata si Tita Celestine.. well as usual, she just let the School head runs the school.

"Everyone here inside this room are possible suspects for Dale's death--"

"It's suicide right? he's fvcking hanging from the ceiling.. ano bang mga pinagsasabe mo?!"

Agad na putol ni Lucas at nagmaktol na nga HAHAHA such bad temper Adler.

Wala namang reaction yung hunter at tinignan nya lang si Lucas at biglang napabuntong hininga.

"It is not a suicide"

Di naman nako nagulat sa sinabe nya pero medyo natakot naden ako kase.. err-- confirmed na ba nila? may strong evidence na ba sila na hindi talaga sya suicid--

"Yes Aiden, we've found something"

Nagulat naman ako ng bigla nya kong sagutin.. wth, wait don't tell me he can read minds author? you fvcking weirdo HAHAHAHAHA.

"At exactly 9:48 AM.. the police found the body inside his room hanging from a ceiling by a.. rope the autopsy shows us that the time of death was 9:26 AM.. so probably at around 9:15 to 25 he was taking turns to whether he commit suicide or not, right? well here's the weird part"

Saka patong nya ng isang paa sa upuan nya at saka nya kame pinasadahang lahat ng tingin.

"Minutes after the scene, I got there.. they called me.. I checked the body and well, I pay attention to all the details.. I examined his neck and guess what? no rope markings nor bruises.."

Medyo napaisip naman ako sa sinabe nya at napansin kong saglet ding natigilan lahat.. hmmm.. it kinda makes sense.

"On that long period of time.. it will surely make a mark on his neck but nothing.. and I know this is kinda classified but.. the autopsy also showed us that it wasn't really a suicide for he was killed in a different way which I'm not going to tell... yet"

I can't help myself but I am impressed by him and all of these detective things.. it's kinda cool being like him.

"Now under some circumstances the first and near causes of murder that is said by his parents are because of anger.. that Dale had a fight with someone"

Tsk, yan nga din sinabe nila tita saken.. but why me? I've never been in a fight with Dale..

"Aiden.. has a recent situation involving him.. right?"

Agad naman napakunot ko sa sinabe nung hunter saken saka nya ko tinignan..

"What are you saying recent? I've been on the hospital?"

"Exactly.. you were stabbed by him right?"

Sagot nya saken saka naman ako napatawa ng konti.. tsk.

"Yes, i'm stabbed.. then why am I being at blame here?! Ako na yung sinugod sa ospital dahil sa pagsaksak nya ng patalim saken bat ako pa pinaghihinalaan?!"

"Mr. Aiden.. you were the last one Dale chatted.. the one he wrote letter of.. your name is on it, in blood.. now i'm not saying that you've set this all up just to mask up the murder to make you innocent.. but as from what I've known.. Dale doesn't call you 'Aize' that much.. he prefers 'Aiden' more.."

Medyo nairita naman ako sa reason nung detective, wth.. dahil lang kase don ako na pinaghinalaan punyeta.

"We can't take risks Mr. Aiden, we must take up possibilities.. so just cooperate with us"

Agad nyang sinabe at tumango tango nalang ako sa inis, ngina bat ba kase ako?!

Binaling naman ni hunter tingin nya sa katabi ko saka nya tinuloy tuloy pagsasalita.

"You were Dale's.. closest bestfriend.."

Napatingin naman ako sa kanya at napansing napakamao sya habang pinipisil kamay nya.. he may be can't bare the lost.

"Also just recently.. so recent.. after Dale's demise.. You've been on a fight.. you've both met somewhere right?"

Nagulat naman ako sa sinabe ni hunter atsaka kame nagkatinginan ni Ray wtf? Nagkita sila? All this we thought Dale was missing..

"A witness, your classmate.. saw you and Dale together on a café.. and bad luck you didn't even bother to cover your faces.. you were caught on tape by the stores cctv"

Napapikit naman bigla si Ray sa narinig nya saka napakagat sa ibaba ng labi nya at pinipigilan ata sarili nyang magsalita... suspicious.

"What have the both of you talked about.. care to share your conversation?"

Said hunter in a mocking voice to Ray at halatang iniipit nya si Ray para magsalita tsk.. detectives.

Saglit naman munang tumahimik yung kwarto at hindi agad nakapagsalita si Ray habang lahat kame ay nagiintay sa isasagot nya.

"Oh come on Ray!"

Rinig kong sigaw ni Lucas kay Ray at nagmamaktol nanaman yung unggoy.. HAHAHA.

"No, i-it's not me swea--"

"One thing Mr. Ray.."

Agad na putol ni Hunter sa kanya saka sila nagkatinginan ng diretso sa mata as I feel the atmospehere's tension rising..

"I'm used to lies.. so I can easily differentiate a liar from not"

Nagulat naman ako sa sinabe nung hunter at medyo nagalet..

Ray doesn't lie.. atsaka bat naman sya magsisinungaling?

"Yes I met him.. but I have my reasons"

Napatingin naman ako kay Ray ng magsalita sya at agad na nagulat sa sinagot nya.

Everyone became silent and we've all payed attention to him as we wait for his answers.

"i-i just wanna help him.."

"Is that all Mr. Ray?"

Tanong ulet nung hunter sa kanya.

"I wanna help him escape.. life"

...