Book Of Unknown

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Bellia’s Point Of View

It’s already 12 o’clock, it’s our lunch time. Tahimik kaming naglalakad papuntang CCTV control room, kasama ko si Gabriel at Kalea. Pinayagan kami ni Matthew na samahan silang mag-imbestiga at suriin ang mga bawat CCTV cameras, ngunit pinaalala sa amin na hindi pupwedeng makarating saibang estudyante ang aming malalaman kung mayroon ‘man daw.

Bago ako pumasok sa loob ay tiningnan ko muna ang paligid para siguraduhin na walang nakakita sa aming dalawa ni Gabriel na papasok ng CCTV control room.

When we entered. Gabriel quickly closed the door. Matthew was already inside busy writing while in front of the laptop, Kalea approached him and then she suddenly whispered something that caused him to turn to where we were standing.

I heard him sigh and then massaged his shoulder with his left hand while closing his eyes, “I’ve been waiting for y’all, are there many students outside so you’re just now?” he said and then opened both eyes.

Tumawa si Gabriel at saka niya inalis ang kanyang necktie, “Yeah. My friend, Bellia, may gusto siyang ipakita sa atin. I’ve been so curious about it, lately. So, may I sit beside you?” sabi nito nang makalapit siya sa puwesto ni Matthew.

Sumulyap ito sa akin at saka ako sinenyasan na umupo sa kanyang tabi, sinundan ko naman ito at saka umupo sa bakanteng upuan na nasa tabi niya lang. I heard Gabriel whistled when I sat beside of Matthew.

There are many cameras here. I made sure that our University has 20 cameras, only now did I find out that our school is really this big. There are only two chairs here, and they obviously just borrowed the chair I’m sitting on. In front of us are five TVs on the wall, medium in size for me, each TV has four cameras, there is also a table overlaid with a keyboard and mouse.

Tumingin ako kay Gabriel na ngayon ay nakatingin din pala sa akin habang katabi niya si Kalea, tumango siya ng isang beses na parang sinasabi na umpisahan ko na ang pagsasalita sa kanila.

Inilingon ko ang sarili ko kay Matthew na nakatingin din sa akin, huminga ako ng malalim at saka tiningnan siya sa kanyang dalawang mata, “I don’t have any, any idea about the crime. But, I’m hoping that my beans will help you to solve it.” I said as I bit my lower lip.

Bumuntong hininga siya at saka isinandal ang kanyang likod sa upuan, “Spill the beans, then.” He said.

Wala akong naging reaksyon kundi ang itutok ang aking sarili sa mga TV, inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa lahat ng mga camera at saka nakita ang camera ng oval, ito ay nasa Camera 12. Pinindot ko ‘yon at saka pinindot ang throwback na mahigit 2 hours and 54 minutes minutes— 9:06 o’clock.

Iginalaw ko ang mouse at saka pinindot ang play, tahimik naming pinanood ang camera sa oval kanina. Hindi pa nagpapakita ang babaeng estudyante na nag-iwan ng itim na gloves sa oval. Wala sa isang minuto ang lumipas ay nakita ko ng naglalakad ang babae.

“Watch this, everyone.” I said as I pointed to the girl student, “This, this girl. Recognize her.”

Umalis siya sa kanyang pagkakasandal sa upuan at saka itinutok naman nila ang kanilang sarili sa babae. Naramdaman kong hinawakan ako ni Gabriel sa aking balikat na nasa likod ko pala ang puwesto, hindi ko ito pinansin dahil kailangan kong bigyang pansin ang isang ebidensya.

Ilang segundo ang lumipas ay tumayo na ang babae at saka naglakad papalayo roon sa puwesto. Tama nga ang hinala ko, siya ang nag-iwan ng itim na gloves doon.

Nakita ko ang aking sarili na lumapit doon, sunod ay si Gabriel. Pagkatapos ay ang paglapit ng isang FBI sa gloves at ang pagsigaw nito sa mga kasamahan. Ipinindot ko ang pause at saka sinulyapan ang reaksyon ni Matthew.

Nakakunot noo ito at saka pa umigting ang panga. Limang segundo bago niya ako tingnan at saka sumandal muli sa upuan. “What do you mean about that, Laurent?”

Bumuntong hininga ako at saka umayos ng upo, “After that FBI checked the black gloves, he said the gloves had blood. We only use white gloves, especially at the laboratory, at wala ng iba para gamitan ng gloves, ‘di ba? So, if you’re asking what’s my point, my point is— the girl student who left the black coloured gloves with blood on the oval’s floor, was she the one who killed Mang Sinlac?” I asked them— took a look at each of them.

Napahawak ito sa kanyang labi habang nakatingin sa akin. Sinulyapan ko si Gabriel na nasa aking likuran, nakatingin siya kay Matthew, at habang si Kalea naman na nasa likuran ni Matthew ay nakatingin sa TV.

“You have a point there, Laurent. Thanks for sharing your idea.” He said.

Huminga ako ng maluwag sa narinig mula sa kanyang bibig, he just thanked to me. Hinawak ko ang kamay ni Gabriel sa aking balikat at saka sumulyap dito, nakangiti siya habang hinigpitan ang hawak niya sa aking kamay.

“But, I… I want to tell both of you something, something important, and I don’t want to be spread about this one.” He said as he took a look at Kalea.

Nakita kong umiling si Kalea nang magtagpo ang mata nilang dalawa, ngunit umiwas naman siya ng tingin sa tinginan nila. “So, we—”

“Pft. Dude, you already spilled the tea last night, didn’t you? You, and Kalea are now officially dating, aren’t you? Ah. Yeah, that’s a sign— sign of aging.” Gabriel said to him.

Nagtagpo muli ang mata niya at ang mata ni Kalea sa sinabi ni Gabriel, hinawak ni Kalea ang balikat ni Matthew at saka ito hinaplos-haplos. “Yeah, you’re right, Gabriel. We’re now dating, please, don’t let someone know about this, okay? You both have our trusts.”

Napansin kong umigting ang panga niya at naging iba ang tingin niya, kung kanina ay nabalot ng pasasalamat ang kanyang mata, ngayon naman ay halatang nabalutan ng disappointment.

Tumango si Gabriel at saka itinuro ang pintuan, “I heard that Mrs. Tuan just canceled the debate, is it true, Matt?” He asked as he looked at him.

He nodded and moved the mouse while his eyes were on Gabriel. “Yes, it is. We talked about it, we must. Next week will be the new schedule of the debate, maybe. And I already talked to Mr. Rivas, too. He didn't agree with Mrs. Tuan’s decision, but he doesn’t have the right to be against the headteacher’s decision.”

Sa kanilang pagtitigan ay mayroong kumatok at saka pinapasok naman niya kaagad. I know this girl, she have a nul on her jaw. Pumasok ito sa loob habang may hawak na panyo, habang hawak niya ang door knob ay nakatingin ito kay Matthew.

“Mm-Matt, I received a text from lolo, you’ll still come? He’s been waiting for you all this hours.” She said to him without taking a step.

He took a look on his wrist watch as he gazed at the girl, “I’ll text him. Tell him that I’ll go, you wanna come?” tanong niya sa babae.

Lolo? What’s the meaning of that? Are they cousins? I can’t believe this.

Umiling ang babae, “I want to come, too, but I have to attend a quiz bee. I will visit him on sunday, as usual. Pinapatanong niya kasi, that’s why hinanap kita nang walang oras. Mauna na ‘ko,” sabi nito at saka ngumiti, hindi na niya hinintay ang isasagot ng kausap.

“Who’s that, Matt? What does she mean lolo? Do you both have a connection? Blood?” Gabriel asked him as he lay his arms on my chair.

Tumingin siya kay Kalea, sunod naman kay Gabriel. “She’s Bianca, we’re cousin, mother-side. I have to visit our grandfather on this day— my mum’s father.”

Tumango si Gabriel habang ginagalaw ang kanyang hintuturo, “So, how ‘bout the crime? You’ll visit your grandfather and leave behind it?” tanong niya.

Bumuntong hininga siya, “The crime can wait, Gab, and so my grandfather can’t. I will talk to the FBIs tomorrow, habang nandoon naman ako sa mansyon ni lolo hindi mawawala sa isip ko ang krimen.” He said.

Gabriel nodded as he pouted. “Mm-hmm, don’t be a turd, Matt, I know you.”

Kumunot noo ako sa narinig, turd? What was Gabriel’s on this world thinking? Is he out of his mind? That’s so rude to hear.

Tumawa siya at saka umiling-iling, “Oh, c’mon, Gabriel. It won’t happen again. I won’t let that happen again, okay? I thought you’d have forgotten ‘bout it, hindi ka talaga ulyanin— and I like that on you,” aniya at saka napapangisi pa habang nakatingin kay Gabriel.

Tumalas ang tingin ni Gabriel sa kanya at saka ito lumabas ng CCTV control room without uttering a single word, what’s between them?

Bumuntong hininga siyang muli at saka inayos ang kanyang uniporme, “Don’t mind him, he still can’t get over it. I’m gonna leave you both now here. Kalea, you know my gaze, alright?” sabi nito at saka tinitigan si Kalea.

Tumango si Kalea at hinawak ang likod ng upuan ni Matthew. “Yeah, and please, mind to stop giving me a gaze like that? My soul is freaking out, dude.”

Tumayo siya at saka binulsa ang kanyang cellphone, “I’m off, Laurent. You both have to get-to-know each other. Don’t worry about the crime, Laurent, let us— student councils handle it, okay? Don’t stress yourself out.” aniya at saka binuksan ang pinto.

Lumabas siya at saka marahan namang isinara ang pintuan.

Naramdaman kong sinulyapan ako ni Kalea kaya naman ay ibinaling ko ang tingin sa kanya. “So, what’s between Matthew and Gabriel?”