I don't know what strings Trixie pulled dahil a private Jet service called for me na aalis ako the day after the news. But I'm still thankful to her and her deeds, akala ko nga she just said that to comfort me ngunit ginawa niya talaga. Hindi ako nag expect na tutulungan niya talaga ako dahil I just see her as an ordinary friend, ngunit ngayon ay nagbago na ang pananaw ko sakaniya. I'll make sure to repay her kindness once na magkita kami ulit.
Obviously hindi ko na cinontinue ang summer splash vacation, plus next week sabi ni Trixie may iba ulit na pakulo ang kompanya. They're really going to waste a lot of money to nonsense events? How ridiculous.
When I was finally back in New York, I purchased a secondhand car dahil hindi ko parin nacocontact si Tyrone kaya hindi ko alam kung saan niya nilagay ang sasakyan ko.
And now I am currently driving papunta doon sa bahay. I think I need to hire bodyguards and maids in my house even though I don't like it. I would rather much want to have a privacy of course ngunit dahil sa insidenteng ito ay nagdadalawang-isip na ako.
When I got home, maayos na ang mga gamit. Parang wala lang nangyare. I got inside and decided to cook myself some snacks. It's 3 in the afternoon and since wala akong gagawin, I'll just watch TV. I fished out my phone again and called Tyrone for the nnth time. Mas lalong lumaki ang aking kaba. Worry is getting bigger everday. Ano ba ang ginagawa ng baklang ito at walang miski chat or text manlang sa akin? Is he really that busy?
After cooking some popcorns and a juice, I put my phone down dahil hindi naman sinasagot ng manager ko ang aking tawag then I opened the TV and the first thing I heard was horrible.
"Tyrone Mondriguez, found dead on his apartment. Autopsy says that his body was dead for three days. One citizen found it after worrying for the victim because he's not--" Nanlaki ang aking mga mata at dali-daling in-off ang tv and slumped myself on the table.
"No.." Hindi pa ako naka move on sa summer splash party, ngayon si heto na naman?
I got up and gathered my things. This is not real right? This couldn't be real. Kailangan kong puntahan si Tyrone this day. I need to see him myself. I need to see him with that sour and strict expression of his. Hindi naman siguro totoo ang nasa news diba?
Pumasok ako sa aking kotse and that's when tears are starting to flow again. I started the engine and was frustrated dahil hindi ito umaandar. Nagsimula ulit manginig ang aking buong katawan.
This couldn't be right. Kinuha ko ang aking selpon at dinial muli ang number ni Tyrone ngunit ring lang eto ng ring. I tried again and was surprised when the call was picked up.
"Tyrone? Ayos ka lang?" I said while sobbing.
"Hello maam? This is the police, pwede ba namin malaman kung nasan ka ngayon?"
Napatakip ako ng aking bibig. It was like a reality slap on my face na mas lalong nagpaiyak sa akin.
What the hell is happening?
***
Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako sa kotse ko. I woke up from the ringing of my phone. Someone is calling me. I opened my eyes and answered the call, "Hello Farah, I heard the news. Do you want me to go home?" Trixie, it's her.
I cried again. I've been crying. Nakakapagod na. Wala na atang katapusan ang aking luha.
"Trixie... what's-what's happening..." I sobbed. I'm so tired, my heart is so heavy, "I don't know what's going on. God I want to know.." I continued.
"Hey hey, relax. Nasan ka ba ngayon?"
"I-I am on my way to the police."
I checked the time and it's almost 12 in the afternoon. Ang sinabi ko sa police ay pupunta ako sa presinto at 1. I was so exhausted na nakatulog ako for three hours.
This is a mess. Ang bigat ng puso ko. Bakit ba ito nangyayare? Am I being haunted by the past?
I tightly closed my eyesand bit my lower lip.
"Nakakapagod Trixie." Ani ko
"Do you want some company?" She said sincerely.
"No Trixie, you should enjoy your vacation. I will be fine." Sabi ko na nagpipipigil na naman sa iyak.
I'm glad I unblocked her three days ago. I think I'm going insane if no one checked up on me. I thought she was just an annoying person who always sticks up her nose to everybody's business. But I guess she really wanted me to be her friend.
"Hey Trixie, I'm sorry." I blurted out of nowhere. I'm too emotional right now. Ang daming nangyayare.
"Hey, whatever it is that you're sorry from, it's fine. Wala kang kasalanan." She said, and I can feel her smile through the phone.
I sobbed again.
**
The clock hits one at sakto namang nandito na ako sa sinabing Presinto ng pulis. They asked me a few questions related to Tyrone and where I'm from. At the end napatunayan nilang wala akong kinalaman sa kaniyang pagkamatay.
It was figured out by an autopsy na he died because of strangulation and not by the slice of his neck. Ang sinabi ay hindi ito suicide or aksidente kundi isa talagang murder case. The police are still looking for primary suspects at tintitingnan ang ibang camera footage sa building but they found nothing.
The investigation continued for days ngunit wala silang nahagilap and decided to close the case dahil wala rin namang masyadong pera ang pamilya ni Tyrone. His funeral was held a day later and the ambiance was pretty gloomy.
Mabigat ang dibdib ko na nakatingin sa kaniyang kabaong. Ngayon ay nakaupo ako sa pinakalikod kung saan hineheld ang funeral. His family were devastated, wala akong gana sa lahat and my heart can't take it if I will take a look at his casket right now. So I'll stand by and see things from afar.
Ilang araw na na wala akong maayos na pahinga at tulog, and even if I did sleep, I will only have nightmares of the things that are hapeening right now.
Gusto ko ng makalimot. I wish I have a family right now. Someone I can open up to.
I thought of Trixie, but she also have her own problems. Ayokong maging pabigat sa iba and rely on her everytime na merong mangyayare sa akin. Speaking of her, she always texts me, asking how I am.
The funeral of my manager was something in my memory could not picture well. Basta lumipas lang ang araw at mas lalong bumibigat ang aking loob.
Just like any other day, I woke up and I got out from my bed and went to the kitchen. I grabbed some water and poured it in a glass. Ang aking lalamunan ay sobrang sakit na at kasama na rin ang aking mata. I still can't sleep or eat well these past few weeks.
My phone beeped. A message.
Dahil dala dala ko lang ito sa aking kamay, wishing that Tyrone will call me and say that it's all a prank..
Patethic right?
I looked at the message and every inch of me wants to collapse.
"Did you enjoy the show? I won't let anyone have you."
Two pictures were attached. The dead body of Joshua in the hospital morgue, and the dead body of Tyrone in his bathtub.
My hands started to shake and goosebumps were starting to rise up. Hindi lang iyon aksidente? Someone is behind all of this? Ano bang gusto nila? Bakit nila ito ginagawa?
I tried calling the number ngunit a long beep was the only thing I can hear. Napaupo ako dahil nagsisimula na rin akong matakot. My knees are getting weak as my heart pounds faster and faster.