Take Me to Isaiah

Chapter 06

Chapter 6 – Nana

"Nope. I just wanted to buy some, like yours," turo ko sa kanyang lollipop. It's color rainbow with a heart shape.  She smiled, "You can't buy this in other shops. My uncle said he will only give this lollipop to me and to nana."

My eyebrows quirks up, "So cute. Your nana is very special huh? She have your share to this lollipop."

Her face suddenly became gloomy, "Unfortunately my uncle said  nana can't taste this lollipop anymore."

Just like her, my smile fades instantly. I don't want to know about what this kid talking about. But she told me anyway, "Mister, why did my uncle said nana can't take it anymore?"

"I . . .  don't know. Who's your nana?" tanong ko sa kanya kahit mukhang alam ko na. The little girl pointed the white jar where Veronica was cremated. "My uncle said she's inside of that thing. Mister, do you think my nana fits there? I don't think so." Naawa ako sa bata dahil wala itong kamuwang-muwang sa nangyayari.

Nagsimulang kumarera ang puso ko dahil sa kanyang sinabi. This kid also lost her nana, maybe this is one of Veronica's friend. What a cute little kid. I spread my arms, "Do you want a hug? Mister can give you warm hugs just like olaf."

The little girl accepted my hug. After a few seconds, she asked me. "What's your name?"

I answered, "You can call me Isaiah."

Bumitiw siya sa pagkakayakap sa'kin at nag-isip. "Hmmm, I think your name is cool!" She giggles.

I half-smiled, "Really? Veronica also told me that . . . " Yes, she once told me that my name is cool, coming from the bible.

"Isaiah. . . Isaiah. . . " bulong nya sa sarili at malalim ang iniisip. "Are you the one my nana always told me?" 

Nanliit ang mata ko sa kanyang sinabi,"What did she talk about me?"

"She said Isaiah will always be her own hero. My nana keeps on telling me stories about the hero who saves painter just like her."

Yawa! Gusto ko nang maiyak ngayon sa harapan ng bata. Kanina lang nag-aalala pa ako na baka mapaiyak ko ang bata 'to pero heto ako ngayon, mangiyak-ngiyak na dahil sa tuwa at sa sakit.

"Can you tell me her stories about her hero Isaiah?" I asked the child but there was a man now standing beside her. I look up and saw an american. He looks old and his belly were sticking out on his black tuxedo.

Nagsalita ito sa'kin,"Thank you for finding me child. Excuse me," He said to me and whisper something to the little girl. The kid smiled at me and waves her hand as a sign of goodbye.

I smiled at her and bid goodbye too.

Pumunta ako kina Irene at Inspector Cha, "Nasaan si Inspector Ricardo?" tanong ko nang makitang wala na ito sa kanilang tabi.

"Why?" Inspector Cha eyed me suspiciously. I told him the reason, "I want him to redeem the painting of Veronica."

Inspector Cha's eyebrows creased, "Anong kailangan mo don?"

"That painting is very strange."

"How could you say?"

"Look, doon nagsimula ang apoy sa canvas na yun according to the witnesses's statements. How come hindi ito nasunog? There must be somethinf wrong with that painting." I explained to him. Napaisip naman siya. "We can't do anything about it, Isaiah. Ibinenta na iyun ni Inspector Ricardo sa art collector ni Veronica."

"Try to persuade him. Baka pwede pa 'yun, total kapatid siya ni Veronica."

Napailing si Inspector Cha bilang sagot. Dismayado ko siyang tinignan, "Ano? Hindi mo magawa? Edi ako na lang ang kakausap sa kanya!" inis kong asik at umalis doon. Pipigilan pa sana ako ni Irene na kanina pa tahimik pero hindi niya nagawa.

Hinanap ko si Inspector Ricardo at nakita ko siyang kausap ang matandang lalaki kanina kasama ang batang babae. I forgot to ask her name. An idead popped on my mind, naglakad ako patungo sa kanila. "Hey kid. Do you still remember me?" tanong ko sa batang babae na kumakain pa rin ng lollipop.

"Mister Isaiah!" Maligaya niyang sabi dahilan upang mapatingin sa'kin ang matandang lalaki at si Inspector Ricardo. "Right, it's me. I forgot to ask your name. What's your name?" tanong ko sa kanya at hinawakan ang kanyang buhok.

"My name is Katarina," sagot niya. Nagsalita naman ang matandang lalaki, "And who is this young bachelor?"

"Isaiah Alegres, sir!" We shook our hands and he laugh. "Oh, so you're Isaiah Algres? We were talking about you earlier," turo niya kay Inspector Cha. Hindi naman makatingin si Inspector Cha sa'kin, "I'm flattered, Sir." I said for formalities.

"I heard from Inspector Cha you were restarting an investigation of Veronica's case. What made you think it's not a suicide?"

I answered, "Yes, it may look like a suicide case. The doorknob were locked, so with the window, preventing an outsider to invade the house while the fire initiated. However, there are some clues that doesn't match. Just like the last painting of Veronica." Sinulyapan ko si Inspector Cha na ngayon ay nakikinig na sa'kin.

"What about the last painting of Veronica? Inspector Cha already sold it to me."

That rings a bell. So this old man in front of me is the art collector of Veronica.

Nagsimula akong magsalita, "I know, Sir. I am here to ask your permission. Can you let me have Veronica's painting? I think it has something to do with the case."

He eyed me suspiciously, "Give me a valid reason, Mr. Alegres. Why do you want it?"

"The fire started on the painting itself. How come it wasn't burnt?"

Nanlaki ang kanyang mata, "You mean, that painting was the last painting Veronica works on?"

"You didn't know?" I asked. He sighed and shook his head, "Then this is a murder! Who dared to hurt my painter?!" inis na niyang asik. Napatingin ako kay Inspector Cha, "Calm down, Sir. It might affect your health." He said and pats the art collector's back.

He turned to me, "Isaiah. Your request is too much."

Hindi ko siya pinansin, "Where's the painting, Sir?" tanong ko sa kanya. He answered, "Just give your adress to my butler, I will deliver it to your house."

I nodded. He grabbed my hand and holds it close, "Mr. Alegres, please do everything to give justice to Veronica's death. She's a great artist. I want to tell the world who dared to murder her." 

Tinignan ko siya ng seryoso sa mukha, "You can count on me, Sir."

+ + +

"Call me Sir Morrison." The art collector said, who has now a name. Inspector Ricardo breaks our contact and smiled in distraught.

"Mr. Alegres, can I talk to you in a minute?" Inspector Ricardo asked and I nodded, leaving  Katarina and Sir Morrison behind.

Pumunta kami sa isang lugar kung saan walang halos tao. Tumigil si Inspector Ricardo sa paglalakad at tinignan ako, "We made it clear that if you want to restart the investigation, do not tell others about Veronica's case as murder. The public knows it was suicide," duro niya sa'kin. Halata ang pagtitimpi sa galit sa kanyang mukha.

I answered, "Why? Are you nervous?"

His back  straighten up, "Yes. What if the public knows? I already told them that was a suicide case. Even if you said it was murder, do you have evidence now?"

"If I have, why do I need to tell you?"

"Mr. Alegres, I gave you a chance because you are Inspector Cha's friend. And about Veronica's case, why are you even concerned about it? Are you her friend? I didn't know she has a Filipino acquiantances."

That caught me off guard. Hays, bobo ka talaga, Isaiah! Oo nga pala, he has the right to raise his suspicions about me. He doesn't know my real identity.

"I'm sorry, Sir." I apologized and he slightly nodded. "But I still have a questions for you."

"What is it?"

"Why did you sell the last painting of Veronica?"

"That painting reminds me of her. You know, we're not totally in good terms. However, even though we quarrelled a lot, I still care for her as her older brother. Our parents died when she was still 18, she must've hurt a lot." Nagsimula siyang magkuwento, kitang-kita ko ang sakit at pagsisisi sa kanyang mukha. It's very pure.

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita, "After that, she was suicidal. She even tried to commits suicide. I wasn't there for her because of my job as the Chief Inspector. I was very busy and tired everytime I get off to work that's why we have this walls build up in our relationship as siblings."

Napakuyom ang kamao ko hindi dahil sa sinabi ni Inspector Ricardo, kundi dahil sa sarili ko. So she was suicidal when we chatted each other that time? How come I didn't know?

Yawa! I thought I already knew her, all of her, but it turns out I wasn't enough as her friend by her side.

"I don't exactly know  what was the reason behind her success. When she was near to death by her attempt to kill herself, she became mature. She didn't do it again. Instead, I think her  dwelling pain inside makes her famous by painting. That's why she became like this, a famous painter all over the world." He smiled sadly of the thought and looks at me in the eyes.

"As much as I've wanted to publicize her death, I can't. I don't want to stain her reputation as a great painter by some dim-witted murderer. This is the least thing that I can do for her." He said and taps my back. I am left in awe-struck. He's right at some point.

He doesn't want the media to know that Veronica's case was murder that's why he immediately sold the painting to the art collector. Kaya pala hindi niya din ipinaalam na ang last painting ni Veronica ay hindi nasunog dahil magtataka ang mga tao dito lalo na't doon mismo nagsimula ang apoy. People would think there's someone who inititated the fire to kill Veronica and own the painting. He doesn't want to raise any suspicion, if someone knows about it, then they will conclude it was murder.