“Just answer the damn question!” sigaw ni Ken.
Among us, he’s the most hot-headed right now. He doesn’t even listen to anyone na inaawat siya.
“I told you, I don’t know anything. Mali kayo ng kinausap.”
I’m bothered about why is she so calm despite of our intimidating looks right now. Halata naman sa mga mukha naming na hindi kami nakikipagbiruan sakanya pero parang mas maangas pa siya kung umasta.
“I can just kill you now if you won’t talk.” ani Third.
“Oh, come on! Ikaw? Pumatay? Baka nga hindi mo pa kayang pumatay ng lamok.” Sarkastikong sabi ni Miss Anika.
Napalayo ako noong bigla nalang binuhusan ng isang timbang tubig ni Ken si Miss Anika na kasalukuyang nakatali sa upuan.
“I told you, it’s not a good idea to include him in this plan.” Pabirong sabi ni Thana.
“Si Porsche…”
Lahat sila ay napatingin saakin. Nangunot naman ang noo ni Ken nang banggitin ko ang pangalan ni Porsche.
“Kasabwat niyo ba siya?” tanong ko.
Ilang segundo ang nakalipas at tumawa siya ng malakas.
“Bakit naman kami kakampi sa batang ‘yon? Anong mapapala namin sakanya?”
“Then why didn’t he die when he saved me?” tanong ko ulit.
This time, she laughed as if what I said was really funny.
“Of course, he won’t die. Paano naman siya papatayin ng isang imaginary killer?”
Nanlaki ang mga mata namin.
What does she mean imaginary killer?
“Oh? Gulat kayo? Hahahaha. You’re all naïve. You were drugged and you didn’t even know.” She laughed.
“Drugged?”
Binalikan ko kung anong mga nangyari noong oras na ‘yon. When are we drugged? Noong kumain kami? Was it in the drink?
“Miss Alvarado put something in Knight’s room before you all go there. Once you inhale it, you’ll be delusional in a few minutes.”
If we were drugged that time, then what happen to our classmates who died? Don’t tell me…
She smirked. Tinitignan niya kami na para bang hindi tamang ngayon lang naming narealize ito.
“Yeah, you guessed it right, you were killing each other.”
Bea fell on her knees.
“How… how is that possible?”
“What else do you know?” Thana asked.
“I know nothing, dear.” She gave us a smile.
If we were killing each other… how many of my classmates did I killed? I killed someone… with my own hands. Akala ko, pinoprotektahan ko ang mga kaibigan at kaklase ko. But… how did it come to this?
“Sinong amo mo?” Third pulled her hair. “You better answer the question.” Third gritted her teeth.
Pinakalma ni Thana si Third ng ilang sandal.
“I wish I can answer you. Pero hindi ko rin alam. Sa tingin niyo ba ginagawa naming ‘to dahil binabayaran kami?” She moved her head to remove the strands of her hair that’s covering her face. “We’re also like you, ginagawa rin naming ‘to dahil sa pamilya namin.” The smile on her face faded.
“Do you expect us to pity you?” ani Bea.
“I don’t need your pity.” She rolled her eyes.

Bea, “How long are you going to keep us here?
“I don’t know. But I know, that they’ll not let you leave too soon.”
Nangunot ang noo ko.
But before I even asked, Thana questioned her already. “What do you mean?”
“They’re planning to bring your new classmates here after New year.”
Shock was evident in our eyes. Mukhang hind inga yata nila kami balak paalisin ng gano’n kadali dito.
“That’s 7 days away!” Ken blurted out.
“Yeah, so enjoy your freedom for 7 days, I guess? There’ll be no killing until new year, I heard.”
“They got to be kidding me.” Thana almost whispered.

In the end, we couldn’t kill Miss Anika and it was never on the plan too. But it was in the plan na kapag nagkanda leche-leche na ang lahat ay we have no choice.
Ang hindi maalis sa isip ko ay ang sinabi niyang we we’re killing each other at that time. I looked at my hands. I can’t believe I already killed someone I’m trying to protect and I didn’t even know.
“It’s not your fauly.” Tinapik ni Bea ang balikat ko at niyakap ako sa tagiliran habang nakaupo kami sa kama ng kwarto namin.
“Hey, remember the time that I told you I like someone?” Bea bring this topic so sudden.
“Of course, why?”
Tinignan ko siya at umayos ng upo.
“I want to get out of here and confess to him.”
It was a long silence before we laughed together.
“Care to tell me his name? Hanggang ngayon hindi mo parin sinasabi kung sino siya.”
She sighed.
“Clarence, from class 3.”
My eyes widened and so as hers.
“You know him?”
I laughed.
“No.”
Hinampas niya ako matapos ay huminga ng malalim.
“I thought you knew him.”
We’ll get out of here, Bea. You’ll confess to him.