Chapter 24 - Trust

"Well yeah, looks like they're really going to kill me after all the guns and shit a while ago huh"

I scoffed and immediately stand away from the table avoiding the broken glasses from the floor.

"You should understand that your life is in danger Aiden.."

He redirect his gaze towards Ava.

"..and you also"

Her eyes widened and was caught off guard as she nodded slowly to his statement.

"Oh.. I know.. anyways, i'm sorry for the glasses kuya-- ahmm.. Elmer"

"It's alright"

She quickly step away from the table and avoided the broken glasses as she went and stood beside me.

"Maybe he just need some air to cool off, the things we're hearing it's kinda too much to bear"

He slowly nodded to her as Ava held my hand and pulled me away from the dining area.

I let myself wash away to her kung san man nya ko dadalhin habang ramdam ko panghihina ng katawan ko.

Hays, lol who knew? A simple desire.. 'an I just wanna know the answers' could led me to this mess HAHAHA

Well, curiousity kills the cat.

Meow HAHAHAHA.

Raulo HAHAHAHA.

"Do you believe him?"

She asked while shutting the door and pulling me out of Elmer's house.

I didn't answer immediately and I just strolled my eyes around the forest surrounding us.

"Cool ng Resthouse nya no, in the middle of tall trees--"

I was abruptly interrupted when she snapped her fingers in front of me.

"Rude HAHAHA"

"I said, do you trust him?"

I stared at her completely gazing off and can't find a single word to answer as I let myself dive in to her ocean eyes.

I kinda love it when her eyes does that.

"Love"

She uttered again with authority as I exhaled out a small amount of air.

"I just.. I don't know"

I bowed down a little with my head on chaos.

She clicked her tongue and reached out for my chin, raising it up.

"I know you're tired.. I am too but you know we got each other and it's better than being alone"

I sighed in relief and smiled towards her.

Glad I have her, nakakatanga nung ako palang magisa dealing with things I thought was just my brain messing me up or people tricking me and scaring me.

Thankful den may mas matanda ng natulong samen.

Though I'm not that fully convinced about Elmer.. yet.

"Highers.. I also heard it from that Gundrick"

I said with Ava nodding in agreement with me.

"He's kinda telling 'some' truths but nah I don't know"

She sighed with a heavy tone.

We're immediately startled when the door on our side opened and a head was peeking, looking at us with brows furrowed.

"All good?"

Weirded out but we smiled awkwardly to him.

Bruh kakalabas palang namen nagtatanong ka na agad kung ayos na kame HAHAHA.

"If you may please, come in immediately, I have more matters to talk about"

His face suddenly became serious with his voice becoming more deep as sincerity is showing on his blue eyes.

We just nodded at him as he widely opened the door and walked, leading the way in.

"More matters.."

I muttered as my eyes collided with Ava, both confused and hungry..

Hungry for answers..

Even if the consequences are deadly.

We willingly step inside.. into the chaos

Inexchange..

For the truth

...

"You got the balls to show up after being 3 hours late in your afternoon class Mr. Evans!"

"You got the guts to show up, being 3 hours late in your afternoon class Mrs. Gale!"

Lol Ava's teacher has a pretty loud voice, dagundong sa buong building eh sumabay pa sa boses ni Maam Lyn HAHAHA.

"Must be fun on your date huh?"

I immediately lowered my head as the atmosphere around me got heavy with all of their eyes striking me.

"I won't accept you on my class, you're immediately zero in all of the activities we're going to take"

My eyes widened as I raised my head looking towards her.

Fvck, that stings.

Lol, balance your studies and those shits stuffs Aiden.

Sksksksks.

Zero record, wtf.

"I hope this will be a lesson for you to never set-aside education Evans.. now, get out"

I slowly nodded at her and reached out for the doorknob at my back.

I opened it and glanced at the room for a second and I saw everyone looking at me and Ray--

Wait whut.

The door closed shut and I was left facing it, completely frozen as my mind malfunctioned, errored.. argghh.

What the hell did I just saw?

Please, forget about it.

What?

I said, don't mind it.

Don't tell me you knew!?

It was completely wiped out of your mind.. it's for the best.

I clenched my fist in anger as I sharply breathed in and out.

You know if I could punch you, I would

It's been so long, can you just forget about it?!

Shut up, tsk.

So Dale was not the only one.. fvck, Ray has it too, the eyes. That explains why they were so close.

So much close.

Guess I don't know a thing about my friends huh, hahaha.

"Love?"

Agad akong napalingon sa likuran ko and I saw Ava looking at me with her brow raised.

"Napalabas ka den no HAHAHA"

I smirked at her and sighed heavily.

"What's wrong--?"

"Ray has it too"

I uttered gripping my hands in anger.

Hey by the way, fvck you.. I trusted you.

I just want your safety--

Safety bullshits.

"Tara canteen nalang muna tayo maguuwian naden naman maya-maya, 3:57 na oh HAHA"

She smiled and held my hand as I let myself wash away with her again.. aish.

Bat ngayon ko lang naalala kay Ray amp.

And why did I didn't saw his eyes like that from the past few days.. pero sabagay..

We barely even hangout that much since I got admitted to the hospital several times and much worse when Dale.. left.

Our gang became silent.. nagulat na nga lang kame ni Ava na nagliligawan na sila HAHAHA.

Or ikaw ang nanahimik at napalayo sa kanila.

Shut up.

"Bat pa ba kase tayo humabol sa klase HAHAHA"

She uttered laughing sabay abot nya saken ng paper plate.

Guess what we're eating HAHAHA.

"I really love their siomai kesa yung sa mga labas"

I said changing the topic cause attending PM class was a bad idea of mine HAHAHA.

"Sa labas eh kulang sa lasa"

"Wag ka magsalita habang nanguya, taba mo"

I immediately looked at her pokered face habang patuloy paden na nginunguya pagkaen ko.

Di naman ako mataba eh mema to, psh.

"Weird no"

She said as I continued eating.

"We were just studying 'normal' living a 'normal' life, having 'normal' fun.. then in just a second"

She snapped her fingers in front of my face that startled me.

"Our life is on the edge of a cliff"

She went back to her plate and continued eating too while I was left staring at her from what she said.

Well, yeah.. I didn't saw this coming but meh we're already in this mess sksksks.

"Elmer said that the highers are 'special' or 'gifted' people like us right? That can perceive the real reality?"

I nodded at her as I drink from a water bottle.

"Well look at that, we're 'special' and 'gifted' HAHAHA"

She laughed and I smirked raising my brows in agreement.

Lol, kinda like a superpower.. a power that sucks, wish I was normal.

"Anyway, are we gonna trust his plans?"

She stopped eating and looked at me straight in the eyes as hers turned ocean blue.. again.

Weird, lagi ko na nakikitang nagiging ganon mata nila pero nagugulat paden ako HAHAHA, di nako nasanay.

"Yeah, what he said actually got a point though and I'm kinda starting to trust him"

I said as she smirked at me with a hint of disagreement.

"Woah hey, maybe we just judged him easily.. I don't want to be that 'judgemental' guy"

"Okay okay"

She quickly interrupt me and continued eating again.

Why? Totoo naman eh, yeah I trust him but not that completely.. I still apply caution.

We were immediately startled when the school bell finally rings, making us eat fast. Lol dapat kase dumiretso uwi na kame eh kaso kase magtataka mga magulang namen bat ang aga nakauwi HAHAHA.

"Hey, we're gonna be escorted later right?"

I nodded and drank again.

"Pwede samahan mo muna ako, or una kana.. I want to talk to Ray"

"What why?"

She quickly stopped me as I wear my bag around my shoulders.

"He might know something about Dale's case.. besides, on our interrogation someone saw him with Dale, hours before what happened.. he might help us.. he might be a loophole like what Elmer said"

I explained while exhaling a huge amount of air.

"Dale's case is our key on exposing the 'highers' scheme, showing them out from their nests towards the light.. we need to focus on it"

"But how? We're not even allowed to intervene on the investigation, we're not investigators" Ava reasoned.

"A Loophole can help.." He said.

Confusion rolled around our heads as we gazed off from what we've heard.

"A Loophole?" I asked.

He nodded to me slowly as he drink from his coffee mug.

"People, a reasonable gossip, an informant anything that can be an evidence or someone that is connected to the case that we can easily reach out without intervening the Investigations team" he explained.

We slowly nodded at him clearing things up.

But lol, A Loophole?! where can we find a thing or someone that could help us like what he's talking about HAHAHA.

"Okay okay, i'll come with you"

She said while reaching out to her bag and carries it on her soulders.

I immediately went out of the canteen with her following me from the back.

The schoolgrounds were crowded with students, that even the field are close to being full of them. Lol, I can't understand why many students are enrolled here.. sobrang strict kaya ng grading system HAHAHA di man lang ba nila inisip yon?!

Sabagay di ko den inisip yon nung nagenroll ako dito basta 'elite' school daw kuno HAHAHA.

"Salubungin naten sila malapit sa gate, dun tayo sa kabilang side ng school laging nadaan"

She suggested sabay turo nya sa kabilang bahagi ng field kung san den may pathway ng mga estudyante.

I nodded at her and we mmediately dive in to the crowd, squeezing our way through some of the students walking and some that are even standing and talking at the middle tf..

Can you move aside? Wth bat gitna pa talaga! Pareport ko kayo sa nanay ni Ava eh.

We've quickly gotten to the school's gate and wandered our eyes around looking for my classmates at baka nakalabas na at kanina pa nandito but surprisingly wala pa kong nakikita.

Sana late sila pinalabas ni Maam Lyn

Sana late sila pinalabas ni Maam Lyn

Sana late sila pinalabas ni Maam Lyn

HAHAHAHA.

Bad.

Oh shut up.. can you just disappear?

Mamamo disappear HAHAHA.

Lolz, funny.

Ano ba tingin mo saken bubbles..

Bubbles.

Bu-bbles

BU-BBLES.

Oh for petes sake, Shut up!!

I immediately covered my mouth when I shouted out my thought again fvck.

Buti nalang maingay paligid at konti lang mga nakapansin sksks aish.

Bu-bbles--!!

Wtf!

Oof--

"Oh, sorry sorry"

I quickly apologized as I've bumped on someone making him back up a little.

"Sorry, I didn't saw you because of the crowd--"

"It's alright"

He muttered that was like a whisper more than a voice..

"O-oh okay.."

I slightly lower down myself to see his face that was being blocked by his hood but was immediately stopped by him.

"Oh sorry, I was just a--"

I was cut off and my eyes widened when his hoodie suddenly fell off from his head revealing a familiar face to me.

Wth is this real or am i?

He quickly walked pass me bumping me on my shoulders.

"Wait! Hey!"

I looked back and followed him shouting as he was running along with the crowd's flow, wth.

"Love?"

Napatigil naman ako at agad napalingon and I saw Ava na nauna na pala saken sa paglalakad.

"What happened?"

I looked back from the crowed searching for that guy but was quickly gone.

"I'm sorry.. I just bumped on someone"

I reasoned saka nako naglakad ulet while holding her wrist.

Aish, weird.. that hooded guy.

Am I hallucinating again?

Arghh.. Dale, shet.

Still can't get over his death. Pity.

Wow, baket? Sa tingin mo ganon nalang kadali yon? Shut up you don't even know how it feels, you're just an empty void of voices circling around my head that I was unconciouslly giving life!! How can you know theses kind of things when you're just inside my head!! Pity yourself dumbass!

Arrgghh..

I immediately stopped climbing up the stairs when my head started aching again like before, aish.

"Love?"

You know you're only hurting yourself when you're saying that..

Fvck you.

"Anyare?"

I shook my head and immediately stood up with my hands on my head habang pinapakiramdaman ko lang yung kirot sa ulo ko.

"No, i'm good just a mild headache"

I reasoned saka nako ulet nagsimulang maglakad paakyat habang nakaalalay saken si Ava mula sa likuran.

Aish.

We immediately got to our floor and noticed an unusual thing, shet.

The hallway is empty.. and quiet.

Agad agad kameng tumakbo sa pasilyo papunta sa room ko at agad nakahinga ng maluwag ng makita nameng may mga tao pa sa loob.. phew--

"Oh.. Aiden? Ava?"

Bungad na tanong samen ni Julius habang may hawak hawak ng walis.

"Si Ray?"

"Baket? Nakaalis na kanina pa, kasama nila Joshua atsaka nung ibang mga babae"

Wtf, we're late. Damn it.

I immediately stepped back with my legs growing weak and leaned back towards the metal bars of the ledge at dahan dahang nagpabagsak sa sahig, aish.

Tsk..

"Huy baket? Anyare sa inyo?"

He asked out of confusion.

"No, it's nothing.. thanks Julius haha"

"Wao spokening dollars Ava ah"

She stared at him blankly as he lowered his head towards the ground.

"oh, sorry"

He muttered and continued sweeping the floor.

Ava walked closer towards me and decided to sat down on the ground also beside me as we leaned the back of our heads on the wall.

"Hays, this is so frustrating"

I snarled while taking off my bag, tsk.

She patted my shoulder and sighed heavily while staring at me.

"Yeah, it is but.. we can try again tomorrow"

I bowed down as I played with the lines on the palm of my hands.

"It's just a matter of trial and error.. if things don't work out today we can always try again tomorrow and that was the greatest thing that we have.."

She put her hands on mine and gently held it while looking at me then up to the ceiling.

"...a chance"

I smiled at her as I slowly looked up also to the ceiling.

I also really love it when she does that.. advising and all, it's great to know that someone cares for you the way you care for them or even more than you.

Hays.. ewan ko ba, I easily get frustrated on these things.. nagiging oa nako sa mga gantong bagay.

Maybe because of the fact that they've been going on in my life for too long and the progress that i'm making towards knowing.

I'm becoming scared to fail.

Aish, damn it.. another drama in my life HAHAHA.

"Ms. Gale, Mr. Evans"

We quickly turned our gaze to our left when a deep voice echoes towards the hallway.

A cop?

"Are you the one Elmer sent?"

Ava asked as we immediately stood up from the ground.

"Your life is in danger, believe it or not.. korny man sa pandinig or whatsoever you need a guard that will escort you"

Elmer uttered.

"I'm SPO4 'Police Executive Master Sergeant' Edward Gado Sr. Nice to meet the both of you"

He reached out his hand and I held in as we shakedhands.

"I'll be escorting you from now on, wherever you go and whatever you do"

I will be right here waiting for you~

Lah, ako unang nakaisip nung kanta epal ka!

Ay tanga, ako ikaw diba?

Tch.

"Okay, thanks? HAHA"

He nodded to Ava and stepped aside as he points forward the hallway.

"Oh right right walk, tara na Ava haha"

Wtf, weird guard, a police guard HAHAHA I thought securities like men in black attires, with black shades on and wearing ear pieces communication why a police Elmer? HAHAHA.

We got off the building and noticed 3 cops waiting on us at the pathway too.

Wth, bat ganito kadame?

"Will they escort us too?"

Ava asked and was completely ignored when the cops just followed us, mouth shut wth.

"Wait a second"

We got startled and immediately stopped when a cold voice with authority in his tone was heard from our backs.

We looked behind and was shocked when a familiar person was shown to us.

"Back off, Mr. Cohen changed his mind.. I'll be the one escorting them"

He uttered in pure sincerity as he walked intensely towards us with each step making the atmosphere heavy.

"Hey, wait who are you--"

"Look up on your station sergeants and talk to Mr. Cohen.."

He grabbed the both of us on our wrists and pulled us away from the scene.

"..'Hunter' will take it from here"

We left the police at our backs scratching their heads as we're being by pulled him with the both of us confused on his actions.

"W-wait what are you doing man?"

I pushed him away and took off his hands from holding me as he looked at me dead straight in the eyes.

"Trust me, I know what i'm doing"

He uttered.

Ava stepped back from him and went on my side with a hint of scaredness from her eyes.

"Who are you anyways?" She asked.

"You can call me Hunter.. and Aiden"

He looked straight at me with his dead cold eyes creeping deep inside my soul.

"I don't trust the ones handling Dale's case.."

He uttered in a serious tone.

"I suspect foul play"

...