Book Of Unknown

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Matthew’s Point Of View

“Matthew! Mang Sinlac was found dead at the oval!”

Many students run into the oval, from the corridors of each building can be seen rushing downhill. My face went green when I heard Yco just said a few seconds, I’m now next to him, we’re running to the oval.

I ordered Ethane, Maureen, Yco, and Kalea to push away the students who were straining to approach the prostrate body on the oval floor. Even though I’m not that close to the body yet I can see the blood coming from the head and stomach.

I covered my nose when I smelled the pungent odor from Mang Sinlac’s body, I raised my knee and laid my arm when I was on the side of the body. I looked at it from the covered face to the stomach.

Tiningnan ko si Ethane, “Ethane, there’s a few curtains that are left in our room, give it to me.” I said.

He nodded and then ran to the student council’s building. I turned my gaze again to the prone body, Kalea approached me carrying a pad of yellow paper and a ballpen.

Tinakpan niya ang kanyang ilong at tumingin sa akin, “Any idea, Matt? I can’t believe this was happened last night, I can’t believe nor expect it.” She said as she wiped her tears dropping.

I rolled my eyes and saw a cracked bulb and the flashlight. I bit my lower lip when I felt a huge guilt. Sinakmal ko ang aking kamay, wanting to punch my face nonstop, if I hadn’t just thrown a rock at that bulb, this wouldn’t have happened.

I sniffed my mouth as I stared at the absence, “Kal, is there someone already checked our CCTV cameras?” I asked.

Ethane returned with a curtain and laid it down to cover Mang Sinlac’s body.

She shook her head and moved herself to Yco, “Kindly check our CCTV cameras, si Mang Coro ang nandoon ngayon,” sabi niya at saka lumapit muli sa akin.

Yco nodded and left, Maureen followed him. They had not gone far when someone approached them, they talked. Ilang segundo lang ay bumalik silang dalawa rito.

“Matt, sadly, the CCTV camera in this area didn’t get any footage, or any shadow except from Mang Sinlac when he’s holding a flashlight.” Yco said.

Sumakit ang ulo ko sa narinig ngunit hindi ako umaalis sa puwesto ko. “What… What did you just said? You got that news from gossipers, huh? That’s just a gossip, Yco, dang. I will let you to borrow my common sense if you need it.”

Hinaplos ni Kalea ang likuran ko. “Calm down, Matt, calm yourself, ‘kay?”

“Okay. Kami ng dalawa ni Kalea ang titingin sa CCTV cameras, from gate to oval, and each building’s CCTV cameras, got that, Yco?” sabi ko at saka tumingin kay Yco na ngayon ay nakatingin sa akin.

Umigting ang panga nito at tumango. “Okay. I’m sorry.”

Nakita ko si Bianca mula sa building namin, nasa loob siya ng room at nakasilip sa bintana. That’s good, she had to keep avoiding stangers.

I closed both my eyes and then squeezed with my thumb and forefinger. I took a deep breath and then opened my eyes.

“Kayo ang magbabantay dito, wala pa ang mga professors, headteachers, at lalong wala pa ang nakakataas sa atin. We’ll check the CCTV cameras after few minutes,” ani ko. “Kal, you write down those words that coming out from my mouth later, okay?”

He nodded and then I saw Gabriel and Bellia approaching our seats. Gabriel handed Bellia a handkerchief and then covered his nose with his wrist. I turned my gaze back to the body as I meditated.

“You should not come here nearly, Gabriel.” I heard Yco uttered to them.

Tumingin ako sa direksyon nilang dalawa at nakitang nakaharang si Yco sa dinadaanan nila, “Yco, that’s okay, let them,” sabi ko at saka tinanguan si Gabriel.

That bulb that Mang Sinlac was holding, I was the reason why he had to get another bulb. That flashlight, when Kalea and I were on our way to the headteacher’s office I saw a flashlight light that had a naughty grip, was he running so messy? It was my fault, it was all my fault. I’m sorry, Mang Sinlac, I didn’t know that throwing a stone at that bulb would be the cause of your death.

Walang ibang bagay at tao ang pumapasok sa isipan ko, kundi si Mang Sinlac lang at ang mga nangyari at ginawa namin kagabi. It was all my fault. I can’t help but to bit my lower lip when I heard other students what they are whispering about. Inilagay ko na lamang ang kamay ko sa aking labi.

Lumapit sa akin si Kalea, “This obviously happened between 9 o’clock and 10 o’clock, Matt. Our CCTV cameras didn’t get any footage here in the oval when it happened, that’s what Mang Coro said,” she said as she fixed her hair.

I just nodded, my other side went out of the blue right now. I don’t know what to do right now. I can’t barely move my feet and fingers.

“Hey, Matt. How was this happened?” I heard Gabriel ask me, but I didn’t repond.

“Someone attacked him. Siyam na saksak sa kanyang katawan, mula sa tiyan, dibdib at binti, sa kanyang ulo naman ay anim na saksak, if I’m not mistaken. My goodness, this is really, really brutal. May dala siyang bumbilya, we don’t have any idea kung para saan ‘yong bumbilya niyang dala. All we need to do is to seek justice.” I heard Ethane said to Gabriel and Bellia.

Tumayo ako, “We gotta go, Yco, Maureen. I leave this to y’all for a minute, we’ll be back after we watch and check each CCTV camera, okay?” I said as I took a step from them, Kalea was next to me.

Kalea and I went to the CCTV control room, mabuti ay nadatnan namin si Mang Coro roon sa loob na nagkakape habang nagbabasa ng dyaryo. Wala kaming alinlangan na lumapit sa kanya’t suyuin na panoorin ang camera sa oval between 9 o’clock and 10 o’clock.

“Hmm, masyadong madilim dito sa oval dahil nagkaroon daw ng problema sa circuit kagabi, kaya wala tayong masisisi kung bakit madilim buong gabi rito,” sabi nito at saka humigop ng kape habang pinapanood ang sinabi kong panoorin.

I saw to my side that Kalea glanced over me. I ignored it and I focused myself on the screen while scrutinizing. It was dark all around, almost nothing could be seen at 9 o’clock.

Inilapit ko ng kaunti ang mukha ko sa screen nang makakita akong may pumasok na tao sa Camera 8, “Mang Coro, itong Camera 8, makikita nating may pumasok na bagong guard dahil ang alam ko 6 to 9 o’clock ang duty ni Mang Sinlac when it’s evening, right?” I said as I pointed the screen on the Camera 8.

Itinutok din ni Mang Coro ang kanyang mukha sa screen at pinindot ang Camera 8. “Hmm, Camera 8 nga, hijo,” itinuro niya ang screen, “Sa entrance ito, mayroon ngang pumasok na bagong guard. Tama ka sa sinabi mong 6 hanggang 9 ang duty ni Sinlac.”

I put my eyes on Camera 12 of the oval but Mang Sinlac was not there yet. Muli ko namang inilibot ang paningin ko sa ibang camera at may nakitang liwanag sa isang camera.

Itinuro ko ang Camera 6 sa screen, “There, there’s Mang Sinlac, he’s holding a flashlight,” I said.

“Mm-hmm,” tumango si Mang Coro habang tahimik naman si Kalea. “Hindi ba’t may dalang bumbilya si Sinlac? May posibilidad na galing siyang stock room, kasi ang Camera 6 ay nasa building ng mga third year college, hindi ba’t malapit lang ‘yon sa cafeteria ninyo? Nasa tabi lang ng cafeteria ang stock room. So, umpisahan sa Camera 6 papuntang Camera 12 tayo.”

Pinindot ni Mang Coro ang pause. Sa Camera 6 ay nakita naming patungo si Mang Sinlac sa oval, wala akong ideya kung bakit doon pa siya dumaan kung pwede namang daanan na lamang niya ang mga office.

“Sa camera ng oval tayo mag-focus, baka may na-missed na tayo, how ‘bout that, Matt?” Kalea asked.

I looked at her and nodded. Nagkusa naman si Mang Coro na i-focus ang screen sa Camera 12. Muli niyang pinindot ang play at saka namin nakita si Mang Sinlac na naglalakad sa oval. “Suriing mabuti, Ortega at Sanchez.”

Malikot talaga ang pagkakahawak ni Mang Sinlac sa flashlight niyang dala. Ilang segundo lang ang lumipas ay biglang nawalan ng liwanag ang flashlight niyang dala.

Napatakip ng bibig si Kalea. Tiningnan ko ito dahil iba ang kanyang naging reaksyon sa nakita, “Yes?” ani ko at saka hinawak ang kanyang siko.

Naging mabilis ang kanyang paghinga habang tinatakpan niya ang kanyang bibig. “Y-you didn’t heard it? I h-heard Mang Sinlac shouted… He, he shouted, Matt. He shouted as if someone would hear him shouting, asking for help. Oh, my god, Matt. This is so freaking awful!”

Ipinindot ni Mang Coro ang throwback na mahigit 10 seconds. Buong atensyon kong pinakinggan ang speaker na malapit sa computer.

“Tulong! Wa… Wag!”

Napatitig ako sa mouse ng computer matapos kong marinig ang huling salita ni Mang Sinlac, ngunit hindi lang ‘yon salita, salitang nababalot ng takot.

“Wala kahit anino ang nandito, Ortega.” Mang Coro accused.

“Mang Coro, kung pwede lang ba sa ‘yo na hiramin namin ang CCTV control room mamaya? When it’s lunch time? Let us scrutinize from what happened last night, would you mind?” I asked without giving him a look.

Huminga siya ng malalim at saka isinandal ang kanyang likod sa upuan. “Hmm. Makakatanggi ba ako? Student councils kayong dalawa, e, bakit hindi, ‘di ba? Sandali lang, hindi ba’t may debate ka ngayong araw, Ortega?”

Kalea bit her lower lip. “I want to say that earlier, Matt. How ‘bout—”

“Is Matthew Ortega here?”

Lumingon kaming tatlo sa nagsalita.

“Oh, there you are, Mrs. Tuan is looking for you all the way around.”

Kumunot ang noo ko. “Why?”

“The debate for today will start at 9:30 o’clock, it’s already 9 o’clock, Mister.”