Chapter 6: VI

The luminous reflection of the fire bewitched my eyes. A hypnotizing voice echoed in my mind. I have no words to explain what I'm feeling right now but I feel like I was in a kaleidoscope world.

"Alakin!" I heard a woman's voice yelling at me!

Nabuhay ang animo ko sa aking narinig. I diverted my gaze to her.

"What is happening to you?" It was Tril. Her hands were untied. I gazed at mine, and it was late until I realized I was also untied but our feet were still tied.

I didn't answer Tril.

"Nasaan tayo?" Haliya asked, while her eyes were confusedly glued to the table that was full of food. I also observed a huge tapestry hanging on one of the trees, centered on us. There's a torch on each side. We don't know what's in it because it was folded.

Katabi naman ng puno ay isang kulay gintong treasure box. Malamang may kinalaman ang lahat ng 'yan sa mangyayari ngayon.

"Wait, aren't we on the campsite?" nagtatakang tanong naman ni Tril habang ang mga mata nito ay palingon-lingon sa paligid.

"I don't think so. I can't see any cabins in here," ani Elyt.

"Ibang klase naman talaga itong Kampo Morte. Bakit parang habang tumatagal mas lalo tayong pinapahirapan? Ano ba talaga ang plano nila sa atin?" naiiritang saad at tanong ni Dem.

"Kill us." Napatingin kaming lahat kay Elyt nang sabihin niya 'yon. He looked at us and chuckled. "What!? Hindi pa ba halata? Lahat ng ginagawa nila sa atin dito will just put us to death. If all of us aren't just smart enough to play along probably all of us are dead now," sabi nito.

"Elyt, don't say that. We're already scared of what might happen and adding some possibilities to it might lead us to anxiety. One of us might lose focus, so please let's not talk about it," mahinahong wika ni Tril.

"At least we are ready," Elyt whispered and smirked. Tril just smirked.

My eyes focused on the center of the table where a green liquid is in a bottle of wine and arrange in circles. It was circling up the cake. I must guess it was some kind of liquor. Suddenly, a loud buzz was heard that made us cover our ears in pain, and a birthday song again just play.

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

"Why do they keep playing that song!? It is not my Birthday and I'm not happy!" saad ni Dem na para bang siya ang kinakantahan.

"Shut up, Dem! There's no room for your silly jokes right now!" Tril shouted at him.

A generated voice of a woman plays.

Unseen from the naked eyes

Visible in cloudy whites

Thirteenth toast to reveal

Culprit is waiting to unveil

"What does that mean?" Elyt asked.

"I guess it has something to do with the liquors on the table," I said as my eyes were glued on it.

"Thirteenth toast to reveal... wait does that mean we need to drink those liquor?" Tril asked. Without hesitation Dem suddenly put his hands on the liquors near him.

"Stop!" I yelled. All attention is on me. "Don't touch anything! We must not first do things without certainty. This is another hell game, we don't have any idea what kind of death trap is waiting for us," I suggested.

"Sorry," Dem apologized and pinched his other hand.

"What are we going to do now? Sit in here and wait for chivalry to arrive?" Elyt interrupted. Our eyes met sharply.

"Think. That's why we're born with a brain. I guess that's the best we can do now. You can use that instead of waiting for chivalry to arrive," I sarcastically responded.

Elyt gave me a playful smirk. "What if... what Dem was doing is right?" he replied with a question.

"What if it's not? Are you willing to risk five lives? Every action we do reflects on us... you said that right?" I replied.

"Alakin, Elyt, don't start it again, please!" mariing sabi ni Tril.

"I'm now impressed with how your brain works," saad ni Elyt at ngumiti.

"There are letters carved on the base of the glass, we need to find the letters corresponding to each and fit it in... " All of us looked at the glasses and he was right; I didn't see that earlier. "It's a puzzle," he added. He diverted his attention to me. "Now, did I use my brain wise?" he asked. I just responded with a plain smile.

"Saan naman natin hahanapin ang mga letters?" tanong ni Dem.

"Sa pagkain siguro," sambit naman ni Tril habang nakatingin sa lamesa na punong-puno ng pagkain.

"So, ano pa ang hinihintay natin? Tayo na at magsimula?" Haliya spoke.

"Wait, p’wede ba natin hawakan 'tong mga pagkain?" tanong pa ni Haliya. Napatingin silang lahat sa'kin. They're obviously waiting for my command.

"You can do whatever you want, just be careful," sagot at paalala ko. I can't think of any idea right now. My mind is not in condition.

Dahan-dahan nilang hinawakan ang mga pagkain, iba't ibang pagkain ang nakahanda halos lahat siguro ng klase ng pagkain ay narito; fruits, vegetables, sweets.

Inisa-isa nila ang pag-uusisa sa pagkain ngunit wala silang nakita. Hindi ako tumulong sa pag-uusisa nila. Blanko ang utak ko. Nabaling ang tingin ko sa harapan ko. Napakunot ang noo ko sa aking nakita. Marahil ay sa pagtataka.

A birthday song was played earlier, obviously, the said crime took on a birthday party. Then why are certain plants such as cassava, lima beans, almonds, pits, and seeds of common fruits, such as apricots, apples, and peaches are served?

"Sandali, wala naman kwenta 'tong paghahanap natin, bakit wala naman tayong nakikitang letters?" wika ni Dem.

"Should we eat to find it?" Tril asked.

It was right at that moment my logical thinking started to function again.

"NO!" I suddenly shouted.

Nagulat silang lahat, at halos mabitawan nila ang mga hawak-hawak na pagkain.

"Put everything down! Do not eat anything!" I exclaimed.

"Alakin? What is happening?" Tril asked.

"Poison. There's a poison on the food," I said, their jaw dropped out of shock.

"Wait, what? And... h-how did you know that?" nauutal na tanong ni Haliya.

I show them the seeds and plants of cassava, lima beans, and almonds in front of me.

"The poison they used is released from natural substances in some foods. These have substantial amounts of chemicals which are metabolized to cya--"

"Cyanide," Elyt interrupted me.

"Yes. The food probably has cyanide poison. Do you know what most murderers used to poison a person in some movies? It was cyanide. They put cyanide poison in it and once we intake foods with it we might die," I added.

"Buti na lang pala hindi ako nagutom," saad ni Dem at tinapon ang hawak niyang apple sa mesa.

"Ano na ang gagawin natin ngayon?" tanong ni Tril. I diverted my gaze at the wine glasses filled with a green liquor.

I slightly close my eyes and focused on the stem of the glass of wine because I observed something in there but it is still unclear.

"Alakin, what are you doing?" Tril confusedly asked. Hindi ko siya pinansin, nakapokus lang ako sa ginagawa ko.

I used my left hand to cover my left eye and there I saw small words carved on the stem of wine glasses.

"La Fee Verte," I said, almost in a whisper.

"What?" All of them asked in unison.

Suddenly, the two phrases from the clue repeatedly echoed in my mind.

Unseen from the naked eyes

Visible in cloudy whites...

Unseen from the naked eyes

Visible in cloudy whites...

Unseen from the naked eyes

Visible in cloudy whites...

"I knew it!" I exclaimed with visible excitement drawn on me.

"Unseen from the naked eyes. Visible in cloudy whites. The letters are in the liquors, the reason we didn't see them, is because it was the same colors as the liquor. In order to get see where the letters are we need to change its colors... into cloudy whites," I explained.

"W-wait, is that possible? Is there a liquor that can be changed in color?"

"Yes. Absinthe or also known as La Fee Verte... " All of them were clueless. I continued, "the drink is known for its emerald blue-green clarity, because of its chlorophyll content. When mixed with water, the liquor changes to cloudy white."

"So, we need water to fill it, to make it visible in our eyes?" Elyt asked.

I looked at him, "Yes."

"Saan naman tayo kukuha ng tubig?" tanong ni Dem.

"Haliya, tignan mo nga kung ano’ng laman niyang malaking gold na bowl." Utos ni Tril. Napatingin kaming lahat sa dalawang malaking gold na bowl katabi ng mesa at may sarili itong stand. Each bowl has its own gold stand. The design looks like a skeleton hand. A little bit creepy.

Tumayo sa pagkakaupo si Haliya at sinubukan maabot ng tingin ang glass bowl, malayo ito ng kaunti at mataas sa ulo ang lagayan kaya nahihirapan siyang makita kung ano ang laman nito ngunit kung itataas mo ang kamay mo ay kaya mo itong maabot. Mahirap din sa sitwasyon namin kasi nakatali pa rin ang aming mga paa.

Habang pilit itong inaabot ni Haliya, narinig ko ang mahinang pagbibigkas ni Elyt ng salitang "Pyrex."

Napansin ko rin na nag-isip ito ng malalim.

"Wait, malapit na!" wika ni Haliya.

"Go, Haliya you can do it!" Tril cheered.

"I got it." Naabot niya ang rim ng bowl.

"Ano’ng laman?" Dem.

"Hindi ko makita. But it is liquid, I think it's water," she said and soak her fingertip on it.

"No--" Before Elyt could utter those words, Haliya already screamed in pain.

"What's happening?" Tril hysterically asked in confusion.

Haliya showed her hands to us, and we saw her fingers slightly burn.

"What the f*ck is that!?" Dem asked as fear drew over his face.

I diverted my gaze at Elyt. He was uttering words like he was memorizing something.

"HCl, HNO₃" I heard him utter repeatedly. I don't know what it was, I'm not really into science. I hate it, actually, but surely it was a formula.

"Elyt, I know you knew something! What is that?" I asked him seriously. He stopped his uttering and diverted his attention to me. All eyes are on Elyt now.

"I think what's in there is a royal water, not a literal water," he said.

"So, hindi pala tubig 'yan? Punyeta!" Dem cussed.

"Royal water? Wait, is it an acid?" I curiously asked.

"It is," Elyt answered.

"What kind of acid?" Tinignan niya ang glass bowl.

"I saw on the glass its formula. HCl is a formula for hydrochloric acid and HNO₃ is a formula for Nitric Acid. If the two acids were combined and mixed, it can create one of the strongest acids called Aqua Regia or also known as royal water. It is extremely corrosive and may result in explosion or skin burns if not handled with extreme caution." We all diverted to Haliya after he said that.

"Haliya, you need water for your skin burns. Is it fatal?" he asked.

"I-I think I can still handle it," she said with visible pain in her voice, "Don't worry about me. Just go continue and focus," she added.

"Saan na tayo ngayon kukuha ng tubig?" tanong ni Dem.

"I think the other bowl is the water," I said.

"We'll find it out then. Royal water can dissolve noble metals, such as gold and platinum," he explained, "Do we have a rope?" he added.

"Our stuff are in there," sabi ni Tril sabay turo sa isang puno sa aking likuran kung saan nakatambak ang mga gamit namin. "Ano ba kasi ito!?" inis na dagdag ni Tril sabay sipa sa isang sanga ng kahoy, napunta ito sa paa ni Elyt. Tinignan naman niya ito ng bahagya.

"Sandali, that acid can dissolve gold, right? Bakit hindi natunaw ang glass bowl?" nagtatakang tanong ni Tril.

"The glass bowl is made of Pyrex. The acid won't dissolve it and Aqua regia doesn't readily react with glass," Elyt answered. I'm impressed with his knowledge of Chemistry.

"That's impressive! I observed that you're really good at this kind of stuff. How did you know about all of this?" Tril asked.

"Malamang nag-aaral," Dem interrupted sarcastically.

Tril gazed at him sharply. "Hindi ikaw ang tinatanong ko, manahimik ka!" usal ni Tril at inirapan ito. Tinawanan lang ito ni Dem.

"I am a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry student," he responded.

"You want to be a chemist?" I asked.

"I wanted to be a Forensic Scientist in the future." I'm right, Elyther is really a forensic student. "But I didn't expect it would be early." He chuckled and we are all shocked when he pulled something from his neck. It was a necklace.

"What are you doing?" I asked. He stares at me for a while and gazed back at the necklace which is now on his right hand.

"This necklace was given by my brother," he said and released a deep sigh as he looks at it with heavy emotions visible on his face. "I'll use this necklace to find out what it was, this is made of Gold." Agad-agad niyang kinuha sa tabi ng paa niya ang sanga ng kahoy na napunta sa kaniya. Nang makuha ito ay tinali niya ang kwentas niya sa dulo nito.

"Wait! Hindi ba mahal 'yang kwentas mo?" tanong ni Dem. "At saka hindi ba importante 'yan sayo?" dagdag pa nito.

"Do we have a choice?" he responded. Napakamot na lamang ng ulo si Dem. "Besides, the value of something will lose its significance if the person who values ​​it also loses it." He looks at all of us and continued, "I mean death." Ngumiti ito ng pilit at iniabot kay Haliya ang sanga ng kahoy kung saan nakatali ang kwentas nito.

"Haliya, can you do it again? Kaya mo ba?" tanong nito kay Haliya na hanggang ngayon ay hawak-hawak pa rin ang isa nitong kamay habang ang mga pawis nito ay tumatagaktak at medyo namumutla na rin siya.

"Y-yeah, kaya ko," sabi nito sabay kuha ng sanga ng kahoy kay Elyt. Napansin ko ang sugat sa kamay niya, namumula ito. It looks swollen.

Tumayo ulit siya sa pagkakaupo. Sinubukan niyang abutin muli ang isang bowl gamit na ang sanga ng kahoy.

Nanginginig ang mga kamay nito marahil ay sa takot o pangamba.

We just observed her slowly getting into the bowl. Nang maabot ay nilublob niya ang kalahati ng kwentas sa bowl at iniangat din ng mabilis. Napansin namin na walang side effects sa kwentas. It didn't dissolve, probably it is really the water.

"That's it! It's water!" Elyt exclaimed in excitement. Halos bakas rin sa tuwa si Dem, Tril at Haliya.

"Haliya, can you put the necklace on the other bowl?" Naging seryoso bigla ang mukha ng tatlo ng sabihin 'yon ni Elyt.

"Elyt, bakit? You know it will dissolve," Tril uttered curiously.

"Oo nga bro, sayang naman 'yang carats mo," Dem agreed.

Napatingin si Elyt sa kanilang dalawa.

"I know, but I want to make sure if I'm wrong or not. I want evidence if it is really Aqua Regia," he said.

"Elyt, sigurado ka ba?" tanong ni Haliya.

"What's the point of proving your own basis?" I interrupted and all attention are on me.

"Absence of evidence is considered false claims. It is like what's the point of your opinion if there's an absence of truth? We need evidence not to prove our point but to justify its legitimacy," he responded.

"Mga bro tama na 'yan, nahiya ang kabobohan ko sa dami niyong nalalaman," pabirong saad ni Dem. Napatingin kami sa kaniya ng bahagya at natahimik na lang.

"Ilalagay ko na ba, Elyt?" tanong ni Haliya. Elyt nodded his head as a response.

Haliya started to soak Elyt's necklace. Nang iangat niya ito nakita nga namin na nalusaw ang parte ng kwentas.

"Guess you're right, Elyt," sabi ni Tril. Elyt smirked a little, I don't know if he's satisfied to prove his evidence.

Maya't maya pa ay kinuha nito ang isang cup na malapit sa kaniya.

"Haliya, use this. Kumuha ka ng tubig sa bowl," utos nito kay Haliya. Walang pakundangan namang inabot ni Haliya ito at sinunod ang utos ni Elyt.

Nang makakuha ay binigay niya ito kay Elyt. Bahagya itong tinitigan ni Elyt pagkatapos ay lumingon sa akin at sa 'di inaasahang pangyayari ay iniabot niya sa akin ito.

"It's on you. You know what to do," sabi nito. I looked at him seriously, he raises his brow as a sign to get it from him. After a few seconds of staring, I get it from him.

"Yiee, magbabati na sila," asar ni Dem.

"Psst! Stop it, Dem!" pagsuway ni Tril sabay hampas ng marahan sa balikat nito.

Sabay kaming napatingin ng maigi kay Dem, nanlaki naman ang mga mata nito.

"Opss, sorry!" sambit nito.

"Alam niyo Alakin at Elyt, mas nakakatuwa kayong tignan pagnagkakasundo kayo. Kaya sana iwasan niyo na ang pagdiskusyon kasi pareho naman kayong may punto lagi," giit ni Tril.

"Mahirap pala talaga pagsamahin ang mga matatalino. Siguro kahit sa mga simpleng bagay lang may kung anong klaseng pag-aaral muna bago magkaintindihan e' 'no?" wika ni Dem.

"No need to worry we're not fighting anyway," I just said.

Tumayo ako at binigay kay Dem ang cup. Nagulat naman ito.

"Bakit ako? Ano’ng gagawin ko?" tanong nito.

"I can't reach it, you should do it." Napatingin ito kay Tril na may halong pangamba na makikita sa mukha niya. "Don't worry I'll guide you," sabi ko sa kaniya kaya namuo ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. Agad-agad naman niya itong kinuha sa akin.

"Just pour it on the glasses," sabi ko sa kaniya. Akmang ibubuhos na niya ito ngunit napatigil siya.

"Dem, bakit?" Tril asked curiously.

"Sandali, hindi ba kailangan lang naman nating kunin ang letters sa loob? Bakit kailangan pa natin buhusan ng tubig kung p’wede namang kunin na lang?" tanong ni Dem.

Napatingin kaming lahat sa isa't isa. Dem actually has a point and to be honest I didn't think about it.

"You're actually right," I said.

"Wow, ginamit ang utak!" pang-aasar na papuri ni Tril sa kaniya. Ngumiti naman ito ng may sarkastikong pagyayabang.

"But we must stick with the clue. It is a must... to avoid any danger it may bring us," I added.

"Kaso kalahati lang," dugtong naman na pang-aasar ni Tril. Inirapan na lang ito ni Dem at sinunod na lang ang sinabi ko.

Nang ibuhos niya ito sa isang glass bowl, unti-unting nag-iiba ang kulay nito. From emerald-green to cloudy whites. A small letter was already visible on the glass. Kinuha ito ni Dem.

"Letter R." He showed us.

"Give me that." Kinuha ito ni Elyt kay Dem at hinanap ang letter sa base to fit it in.

"There, I saw it," he uttered and fit in the letter.

Maya't maya pa ay nagulat kami sa sigaw ni Haliya. Napatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya. She was sitting and covering her face out of fear.

"Haliya, bakit?" tanong ni Elyt na malapit sa kaniya. May tinuro ito sa table. Hindi namin ito gaanong makita kasi may mga pagkain pa sa table. Kinuha ni Elyt ang mga nakasagabal na pagkain.

Napaupo si Elyt sa takot at gulat ng makita ito.

"What is it?" tanong ni Tril. Binigay muna ni Dem ang cup kay Tril at siya ang nagpatuloy na kunin ang mga nakasagabal na pagkain. Napatigil si Dem sa nakita.

"F*ck!" Tril groaned when she saw it. What we saw is the dead body of I think a woman. Her mouth was full of blood and is sewn. Its flesh was ripped off.

"Dem, continue pouring the water. The table is an LCD screen. Something will come out on it every time we fit in the letters," I said.

Dem started pouring each glass. The letters eventually come out and every time we fit the letters on the base of the glasses a dead body comes out. Right now, we got the letters R, F, I, D, Y, A, T, T, H, E, H. Two glasses left.

"Wala ng tubig," Dem said, "Haliya, kumuha ka pa." Utos nito sa nanginginig na Haliya.

"Haliya, are you okay?" nangangambang tanong naman ni Tril. Tumango lang si Haliya at kinuha ang cup kay Dem.

Napatingin ako kay Elyt ng mapansin kong nakatitig ito sa mga letters na nilagay namin sa base ng glasses.

"Walang nakaukit na letters sa dalawang natirang glass," wika ni Elyt kaya napatingin kami rito. Tril checked it also.

"Oo nga. Paano na 'to?" nangangambang tanong ni Tril.

"Guys, sandali a’. May ita-try lang ako," saad ni Dem at saka walang pakundangang nilublob ang mga kamay sa isang glass. He raised what he got from the glass.

"DEM!" sigaw ni Tril. Napahinto rin si Haliya sa pagkuha at muntik na rin itong malaglag mabuti na lamang at nakahawak siya sa rim ng bowl.

Nabaling ulit ang tingin naming lahat sa hawak-hawak ni Dem. It wasn't a letter but a number. Number 3.

We observed what was going to happen because what Dem did might cause us trouble. A moment of silence while we are observing the surroundings. The birthday song keeps playing.

"I guess we're fine," Elyt utter. Nakaramdam ako ng hapdi sa balat ng may pumatak sa kamay ko na liquid.

"Sabi sa iny--" His words cut off when a shower of liquid poured into us. I feel its heat on my skin. I am lucky because I was wearing a hoodie jacket.

"Guys, it is hurting!" Haliya scream.

"It's Acid!" Elyt shouted.

"Dem, put it back!" I shouted. Binalik naman ni Dem ang nakuha niyang number sa glass. Suddenly, the shower stopped.

"G-guys, I'm really sorry!" Dem apologized.

"Your sorry cannot ease the pain it already brought," Tril said in tears while hugging herself.

"Dem, please stop doing reckless actions. You know how much it cost us. It cost our lives. So, please listen to us," I said. I refuse to blame him. I realized Tril is right, blaming one another will bring no good.

"Let's end this," Elyt interrupted.

"Haliya, are you okay? Can you still do it?" I asked. She just nodded as a response.

"The remaining inside the glasses are numbers. Dem got the number 3, so probably the last letter is number 1." Elyt releases a deep sigh and continued, "The Hidden message is FRIDAY THE 13TH."

Nagulat kami ng ilublob niya ang dalawang kamay at kinuha ang mga numbers. The liquid started to sprinkle again.

"Elyt, what are you doing!?" I yelled and I stand up from sitting. I reached for his hand and held it.

"Get off of my hand! The more you will stop me the more pain we will endure! I'll end this f*cking hell!" he yelled. Everyone is screaming in pain now.

"What will happen after, huh!? Look at them, they're hurting!" I exclaimed while my eyes widened.

"We already are! But you know what? Pain is nature in humans to make them alive," he said and pushed me away. Napaupo ako. He put the number 1 and 3 on the base of the glass. I thought it wouldn't fit, but it did.

I observed that shower stopped and the body on the screen of the table is now complete. The outside of the table is glass that's why it wasn't affected by the acid they sprinkle on us. Also, the acid didn't burn our skin fatally, it only leaves pinkish dots but it hurts really bad. Sobrang hapdi nito sa balat.

Napatingin ako kay Elyt na ngayon ay nakaupo na at dinaramdam din ang hapdi sa katawan.

"I know what I did is not right, but I only want to end this," wika nito.

Napansin ko na may umangat na susi sa cake.

"Let's end this," saad ko. Iwinasiwas ko ang mga pagkain na nasa lamesa para makita ng buo ang mga patay na katawan sa screen. All of them were blooded but the blood looks unsettling, it was mixed with dark green liquid. Their mouth was sewn and the other guy he's naked and his manhood was cut off. It was really disgusting. The image on the screen looks like, The Last Supper. Weird.

"Haliya, can you still do it?" I asked Haliya who was groaning in pain. She stared at me for a while then looked onto the table and she started vomiting.

"Gusto ko nang umuwi." She cried softly, while still vomiting.

Nagtitigan lang kaming apat. I guess we are all fed up with what's going on with us.

"A-alakin, ako na lang siguro. Ano ba ang gagawin?" Tril volunteered.

Napalunok ako saglit para pigilan ang namumuong emosyon sa akin. Nang makaramdam ako ng ginhawa ay agad na rin akong patuloy na nagsalita.

"J-just get the key on the cake," sabi ko. Walang pakundangang kinuha naman ito ni Tril.

"Got it! Pagkatapos, ano’ng gagawin?"

"We need to use it to open the treasure box. I guess something is in there," sabi ko.

"But how can we do that we're still in chains?" tanong ni Tril sabay tingin sa mga paa.

"The Royal water," Elyt interrupted. "It is our only choice." Napatingin kaming lahat kay Haliya na hanggang ngayon ay nahihirapan pa rin sa kondisyon niya. Napatingin din ito sa'min. She looks like she doesn't also have a choice because she's the only one nearest to it.

"I-I'll do it," she said, and we all gave her a smile, to at least lessen her fears.

Elyt gave her the cup and she started to stand and get some.

"Just be careful, Haliya," paalala ko.

Sa kabila ng hirap niya ay naabot niya ito at sa kabutihang palad ay nakakuha siya rito. Una niyang binigay ito kay Tril dahil siya ang unang nangangailangan nito. She started pouring it carefully to avoid any burns.

"Freedom at last!" Tril exclaimed when she was finally untied. Ilang minuto rin bago natunaw ang nakatali sa paa nito. Hindi gano'n ka kapal ang ginamit na chains sa amin kaya mabilis lang din itong natunaw.

Hindi na siya nagsayang ng oras at dumiretso na siya sa treasure box. While us are waiting to be untied.

"I'll open it now!" she shouted. Kasabay ng pagbukas niya ay ang pagbuklat din ng malaking tapestry. May mga nalaglag dito na mga papel at parang huminto ang oras ng dahan-dahan itong nagkalat sa ere. Nakatingala lang kami sa malaking tapestry na kung saan nakapaloob ang litrato ng mga naka-unipormeng estudyante. 12 of them.

Kasabay rin nito ay ang pagtanggal ng pagkakatali namin. Namuo sa mga labi namin ang ngiti ng matanggal ito. Para kaming isang agila na nakalaya sa hawla.

"Guys! Something is in here, take a look at this!" Tril yelled while looking inside the treasure box.

Agad-agad naman kaming tumakbo papalapit sa kaniya. Naiwan si Haliya sa upuan kasi sobrang nanghihina pa rin ito. Kumuha ako ng isang papel na nalaglag. It was actually a newspaper. I read the headline.

Friday the 13th Massacre

Twelve students were found brutally poisoned to death in a private bar. One student went missing.

Tinignan namin ang loob nito may isang litrato kami na nakita. Kinuha ito ni Tril.

Ang buhok nito ay kulot at hanggang balikat, mayroon din itong makakapal na kilay, na sa sobrang kapal ay halos magkalapit na ang mga kilay nito. Nakasuot din siya ng malalaking salamin at may makapal na mustache. Kung akalain ay isa siyang lalaki ngunit sa kabilang banda ay nakasisiguro ako na isa siyang babae. May balat din ito sa leeg.

May nakalagay sa picture na label 'The Celebrant Killer’

"She's the killer," Tril utter.

"Look what I found out in the newspaper." Pinakita ko sa kanila ang nakalagay. "It was Friday the 13th when that massacre happened and I must guess it was a birthday party and of course, the Celebrant was the Killer," dagdag ko pa.

"And for sure she use a cyanide poison to kill them not the Aqua Regia because it will burn her skin if it is the one she used," dagdag pa ni Elyt.

"Ano kaya ang nagtulak sa kaniya para patayin ang mga kaklase niya? Imagine that was 12 lives," saad ni Dem.

"Malaking dahilan. It looks like she's really angry with them. Maybe there's another side of the story," sabi naman ni Elyt.

"Malalaman natin 'yan." Napatingin kaming tatlo sa hawak-hawak na bote ni Tril. May mga papel na nasa loob nito. Binuksan niya ito at kinuha ang ilang pirasong papel. It was a letter.

I am Kara, a girl who killed her friends.

I grow up without knowing the value of friendship because I didn't have one. I was raised by my father. He was a garbage collector in the days. He did his best to feed me and make sure my stomach is full despite how people looked down on him; on us. He's the only one I have but society takes him away from me. Every harsh word they threw at him made my father weak; it was like his everyday meal... and day by day it slowly poisoned him. No matter how I tried to appreciate him to prove how worthy he was; that I accepted, and I am contented with what we have... it didn't work. The silence of acceptance can't cast away the clamor of judgment. He was fed up, so he ends his poison. He takes his own life and leaves me in this cruel society. What happened to my father is also my fate. When I got to school, I never thought that people are really the worst living things that exist on earth. I experience every bit of it. I met friends who I thought would be the first people to accept me for who I am. Sabi nila tanggap nila ako, ngunit kabaliktaran naman ang aking tratong natatanggap. They bullied me and made fun of me. I became a slave in the group. I only wanted to fit in, but it just made me far from who I really am. In their minds, I am weak. All their judgment made me a loser but this time I won't let them win. I won't let their judgment win.

I lived in the clamor of judgement, and on this day I was born I'll make them taste death.

"That's it the other side of the story. I guess that justify her will to kill her friends," I said.

"Wait, may isa pang papel sa loob," sabi ni Tril at inabot ng daliri ang papel. Pagbukas nito ay nabahid ng pagtataka ang aming mukha. Nagtitigan silang tatlo habang ako ay nakapokus lamang sa papel na hawak ni Tril.

It was us. Our student records. Binasa ko sa utak ang nakalagay rito, 'REPORTS OF BULLYING INCIDENT'.

"Are we all a victim of bullying?" I asked them.

"Yes," they said in unison.

"Then that's another reason why we are here," I said. We all looked at each other.

Our bracelets suddenly light up.

~~UNVEILED~~

"Sa wakas makakapagpahinga rin!" Dem exclaimed in joy.

Another announcement pops up. May nag-appear din na direksyon dito.

~~Proceed to Location~~

Pinuntahan na nila si Haliya para alalayan, naiwan ako saglit habang hawak-hawak ang papel na ebidensya na iniabot sa akin ni Tril. Nilagay ko ito sa bulsa ng hoodie jacket ko ng hindi nila nalalaman.

Pumunta na ako sa kanila at tinulungan mag-ayos ng gamit namin na nakalagay sa gilid ng puno. Bakas pa rin sa mga katawan namin ang mga sugat na natamo namin dito. Tinulungan ni Tril si Haliya, at ako na lamang ang nagdala ng mga gamit ni Haliya at ang mga gamit naman ni Tril ay dala ni Dem.

"I just realized that the lives from the mysterious crimes we unveiled are relatable because we also experience those... having trust issues, an orphan who's been deprived of love from their parents, a victim of unjust and judgmental society... do you think why we're here is because they wanted to teach us a lesson that despite every obstacle life threw to us, no matter how we're all fed up of living life... still we shouldn't commit such inhuman act?" Tril query when we are about to leave the place.

Tril has a point and I agree with what she said.

"Well, maybe you're right," Elyt also agreed.

Papaalis na kami ng may marinig akong tumatawag sa pangalan ko.

'Alakin'

Napalingon ako sa isang puno sa gilid ko. Hindi ko lubos asahan ang nakikita ko ngayon. Tumayo ang mga balahibo ko sa katawan at tila ba'y hindi na naman makagalaw ang aking mga paa. Parang huminto ang galaw ng orasan at rinig ng tenga ko ang bawat tibok ng puso ko.

Paa. 'Yan ang aking nakita. Nakasabit ang katawan nito sa puno.

Pumikit ako saglit ng biglang may naramdaman akong mabigat na kamay na dumampi sa balikat ko.

"ALAKIN!" It was Dem. Bumalik ang animo ko.

"W-we need to go," sambit ko.

Naglakad na kami papalayo at hindi ko na masyadong inisip ang aking nakita. Ngayon pa ba ako matatakot kung kailan halos naramdaman at nakita ko na lahat.

Naglalakad na ulit kami ngayon. Nasa likuran lang nila ako nakasunod.

"Bro, bilis!" sabi ni Dem at huminto sila para hintayin ako.

I looked at them and it feels like their movement is taking a slow phase.

Biglang sumagi sa isip ko ang krimen na ginawa ni Kara.

All of us are victims of a judgmental society. No person in this world is exempted. Even the most glorious one is also a victim or who victimizes. Either where we stand in between, we can't deny the fact that judgment is natural to us. It is unfortunately part of our existence.

But why are we bound to suffer with this nature who poisoned our existence?

I also don't have any idea why. But don't be one of Kara. Don't let the clamor of judgment poison your heart.

Never let it make you who you are not.

On the other hand, real friendships will never be a danger nor a burden on our lives, they should be our haven. Our remedy is when there's a person who poisons us with their sweet lies.

Friendship is more than everything but a manifestation of love. Above all, it's okay to be friends with no one, it will never make us less of a person. What made us less of a person... is trying to fit in with anyone's condition. Don't get out of your own box by just trying to fit in a wrong circle.

I sighed and immediately run to them.

These people in front of me... their silence of acceptance speaks volumes of friendship.

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