Take Me to Isaiah

Chapter 05

Chapter 5 – Lollipop

We keep on searching to find some clues in the house. Luckily, the crime scene was been preserved even though the case was already closed as suicide.

"Ano to?" tanong ni Irene at tinignan ko naman ang kanyang hawak. It's a bottle of medicine. "Are you blind? It's a medicine," sagot ko at sinuri ito.

"Sorry naman, hindi ako marunong magbasa ng espanyol. Unlike you who's pure filipino but acts like one of those colonizers!" inis sa asik niya sa'kin. I shrugged her off and suspiciously eyed the bottle, "Shh! Hinaan mo nga yang boses mo, baka marinig ka pa nila sa labas."

"Eh ano naman kung marinig nila ang pinag-uusapan natin?" tanong nya naman sa'kin. God, this woman is driving me crazy! Imbes na tumahimik, mas lalo lang siyang nag-iingay!

I told Inspector Cha a while ago to talked with that true-blue spanish assistant just to get out of here because I want some peace. But there's Irene who's spitting again nonsense!

How can I concentrate solving the case?

Dinukot ko ang cellphone  at earbud sa bulsa. Pagkatapos, isinuot ko ang isang earbud sa tenga.  I scan my playlist on spotify and press the song "Lovely by Billie Eilish".

Mahina lang ang volume kaya dinig na dinig ko pa ang malakas na buntung-hininga ni Irene sa gilid ko. "And now you're ignoring me? You idiot!"

Hindi ko siya pinansin at kumanta na lang, "Isn't it lovely? All alone? Heart made of glass my mind and stone."

Kinuha niya ang earbud ko sa tenga at hinarap ako.  "Isaiah!"

I gave her my half-smiled face, "Do you know why I let Inspector Cha talked to Flavio the assistant?" I even gestured my thumbs-up hand outside. Tinignan niya ito at umiling.

I inched my face towards her to whispher on her ears, "He's a spy."

"Huh? Pa'no mo naman nasabi?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong. I clap once, "You can call me paranoid. But still, mabuti nang hindi niya malaman kung ano ang ginagawa natin," sagot ko sa kanya.

Finally, she nods and shut up. Ibinigay nya sa'kin ang eardbud ko. Isinuot ko naman ito pabalik sa tenga, pero ngayon ay hindi na ako nagpa-music.

I eyed the bottle of medicine and found out it's not an ordinary medicine. I mean, this is not a medicine at all!

"What's wrong?" tanong ni Irene nang makita ang reaksyon ko. Ibinigay ko sa kanya ang bottle, "Matapang ka diba? Inumin mo nga," sabi ko at natatawa naman siya sa'kin na para bang sinasabi niyang hindi ako baliw katulad mo. When I shake it, there's still liquid inside.

"Hindi mo kaya? Weak ka pala eh!" I said to make her do it. She bited her lips because of what I said and immediately grabs the bottle. She was about to drink it when I noticed something underneath of the bottle.

"Oh f**k!" I cursed and grabs the bottle away from her. Nanlaki ang mata ko kung ano ang meron dito, it has an X symbol underneath the bottle when Irene tried to drank it. That symbolizes this is a poison.

Yawa! Muntikan ko na siyang malason kanina! "This . . . is a mercury. It's a kind of poison  that will only effect if you will mix it with food."

"It's not mix with food so that's okay. Akin na yan," She tried to snatch again the bottle but I stop her. "Ano ba, Irene! Baka mapano ka! Ayokong gumastos ng pera sa libing mo no!" sabi ko sa kanya at tumawa naman siya.

I waved my hand in front of her face, "Oo na! Oo na! Ikaw na matapang. Wag mo ng inumin 'to," sabi ko sa kanya at tinignan ulit ang medicine.

"Sige, sabi mo eh. Ano bang meron jan?" tanong niya at sinuri na din ang poison. Nagsimula akong magsalita, "Kaya pala may mercury lining sa gums ni Veronica," usal ko sa sarili.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

Hindi ko pinansin ang tanong niya at napangisi," The murderer is interesting," bulong ko at ibinigay sa kanya ang bottle. "Tama nga ang hinala ko, it was mercury poisoning. Mercury  poisoning is a type of metal poisoning due to exposure to mercury."

"So you mean . . . Veronica was poisoned?" gulat na tanong niya. I nodded, "Symptoms depend upon the type, dose, method, and duration of exposure. And for Veronica's case, she must have been struggling when the poison begun to scattered her body." I explained.

"I don't understand," bulong ni Irene at mukhang malalim ang iniisip. She stared at me, "Please englighten me."

"Simple lang, the murderer must be one of her acquaintances to freely interact with her in this house. Spaniards like to give gifts with each other as a friendly gesture when they visit a friend. It could be expensive clothes, things, or food," sabi ko at tinignan ang kabuuan ng bahay. Napadako ang tingin ko sa sunog na lamesa. May nakita akong plate doon at hinawakan ito.

"If I'm not mistaken, it must be a food. The murderer mixed the poison on the food, and it must have the right dosage and time to put up the scene."

"What if Veronica didn't eat it?"

"Shhh, listen. I'm not yet done."

Sinenyasan nya akong magpatuloy, "I will give you a concerete explanation for that. The symptoms of  mercury poisoning includes muscle weakness, poor coordination, trouble speaking or trouble hearing,  anxiety, and hallucination."

Irene interrupts again,"Alam ko na! Kaya pala hindi siya humingi ng tulong o sumigaw man lang nang nagsimula ang sunog na nasa kanyang harapan lang ay dahil sa epekto ng lason."

I nodded at her,"Yes. Her crazy dance in front of the painting was also the effect of mercury poisoning."

"Now it makes sense." She said. I put back the plate and think. I think something is not right.

According to the witnesses's statement, walang pumasok sa bahay ni Veronica sa araw na yun. Then, it must have been the other day the murderer visits her house. If it was the day before yesterday, paano niya nagagawang i-estimate ang dosage at oras para gawin ang krimen?

"Anong iniisip mo?" tanong ni Irene st kinuha ang plate na nasa lamesa. "Iniisip ko kung paano patayin ang ang naglason ni Veronica," seryosong sabi ko.

Hinampas naman nya ako sa balikat,"Umayos ka nga!"

"Seryoso ako, Irene. Hindi ko alam kung bobo ba ang murderer o pabaya dahil naiwan niya pa dito ang bottle of medicine."

"Maybe the murderer did it purposely."

"Anong klaseng logic yan? If I were the murderer, I would've keep it in my house."

Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Irene, "Isaiah, wag kang magalit ah?"

"Ano yun?" Nagtataka kong tanong sa reaksyon niya. "What if this is Veronica's belonging? What if . . . she committed suicide by poisoning herself?"

I shrugged her off, "Are you dumb? Hindi yan magagawa ni Veronica!" inis kong asik sa kanya.

"You said it yourself that if you were the murderer, you would keep that bottle of medicine to your house."

"That's absurd, Irene! You don't know her! She's not like that," sinigawan ko na siya dahil sa inis. What nonsense is she talking about? Hindi siya nakakatulong!

Irene suddenly said,"Stop investigating now, Isaiah." Her eyes were now glazing in anger at me but at the same time, concerned.

She continue, "I'm afraid you might commit a mistake and will get you into trouble someday."

Nanlaban ako sa kanyang titig, hindi ko siya sinagot. Umalis na si Irene sa harapan ko, "You're emotionally unstable. Don't do stupid things."

I smirked, "Fine. I'm emotionally unstable. But what can you do? I will find the murderer without your help. Veronica was murdered. Her death was injustice, and I will surely bring the murderer into death penalty."

"Then how will you explain the fire?" tanong niya. Hindi agad ako nakasagot, "I will think about that later. Let's go." I walked past at her. She remained still. "Where are we going?" tanong niya, mukhang wala na siya sa mood ngayon.

"Let's visit Veronica's funeral. Kukunin natin ang kanyang painting" sabi ko at umalis na nga kami sa bahay ni Veronica.

+ + +

There are a lot of people inside the funeral. Some of them were from medias, they were holding their cameras and microphone. Are they going to broadcasts Veronica's death around the world? Pay some respect!

Gustong-gusto ko silang palayasin sa loob pero wala akong magagawa dahil unang-una, hindi nila ako kilala. Pangalawa, hindi nila alam na kilala pala ako ni Veronica. Her ex-boyfriend to be exact. For more precise, ex-internet boyfriend.

Who would've believe me?

No one except her.

They are all wearing black tuxedos. Veronica's body were now cremated and put in a small jar in front. Inspector Cha really did it faster than I've thought. Pumunta ako sa harapan at naglagay ng white rose doon sa may glass table, in front of the little white jar.

I wandered my eyes. Nandito naka-display lahat ng paintings ni Veronica. It looks like an art exhibition. Maraming mga bisita ang tumitingin rin dito. Just like me, they must feel pity for the tragedy of Veronica, lalo na't namatay ito sa kalagitnaan ng sunog.

I saw Inspector Cha and Irene talking to Inspector Ricardo, together with some Spanish people and Americans. It must be the art collector Flavio the assistant talking about.

Nang papunta na sana ako sa kanila ay may nabangga akong bata sa tuhod ko. He looks 3 years old based from her height. Umupo ako at tinignan siya, "Are you okay?" I smiled at her. Her eyes were big and she has freckles around her rosy cheeks. Typical americanas.

"I'm sorry. My nana told me I should avoid spanish people." She said and rejected my help to help her stand up.

My smile widened of what she said. Ganon? Mukha pala akong espanyol? Gusto kong matawa sa kanyang harapan kaso baka umiyak at mapatay pa ako kung sinong nanay nito.

"Don't worry. I'm not Spanish." I assured her. She just shook her head and bited the candy lollipop in front of me. Bakit feeling ko mukhang pinapainggit ako ng batang 'to sa kanyang lollipop?

Tag-piso lang yan sa'min sa Pinas!

"Who gave you that lollipop?" tanong ko sa kanya at itinuro ang kanyang kinakain. "Why? Don't tell me you're going to snatch my lollipop!" She shouted at me and hides her lollipop at her back. I bited my lips to prevent from laughing.