Chapter 5: Touch

Bella’s POV

The campus police later came into the scene.

As what I heard, the boy's name was Gerald, Tracy's boyfriend. They were about to cut class when a black van stopped in front of them. Four masked and armed men got down from the van and tried to shove Tracy inside the vehicle. Gerald and Tracy tried to fight back but they were greatly outnumbered by the armed men. Tracy was eventually taken while Gerald managed to run away.

He went back to the campus and then that was when we witnessed him running towards the gate.

Pinabalik kami ng mga pulis sa klase habang naiwan naman sina Gerald at  kasama ang mga pulis. 

The three girls whom we talked earlier also insisted to say. They were Tracy's friend so they also wan't to know what happened to her. 

Habang naglalakad kami pabalil, hindi ko maiwasang mabahala sa nangyari kay Tracy. Maaaring ganoon din kasi ang nangyari kay Katrina at ang mas nakakatakot pa baka mangyari ulit iyon sa isa sa mga kakilala ko o kaya naman ay sa akin. 

I immediately shoved away the thought. I don’t want to think too negatively about the incident. It will just cause me too much anxiety.

 ‘’Okay ka lang?’’ Napabalik ako huwisyo. Nahlia gave me a concerned look.

‘’Ah eh, oo okay lang ako.’’ My lips partly curved into a smile. ‘’Ano na ang gagawin mo ngayon…after what happened? You need a new partner. Gusto mo samahan kita kay sir Benedict para makapagpalit ka ng partner?’’

‘’No, don’t bother. Ako na lang ang kakausap sa kanya mamaya. Hindi mo na ako kailangang samahan.’’ Hindi ko na siya pinilit pa. May aasikasuhin din kasi ako mamaya.

---**---

I have never seen the school corridor this silent. Kakaunti na lamang ang mga estudyante sa paligid. Wala na rin ang mga nagtatakbuhang junior students sa quadrangle. Tanging ang nakakabinging katahimikan ang maririnig sa buong campus.

I turned right and took several flights of stairs leading to the third floor. The walk was long but I was already used to it since our house also has a long staircase.

I ignored the ‘’restricted area’’ sign hanged on a wooden door. I pushed it open and it delivered me into a very spacious open space--the rooftop.

She was already there, just as I expected. She loves to spend her time here before she goes back to her dorm.

She’s silently sitting near the edge of the rooftop with her eyes glued between the pages of a book. Her glasses reflected the orange sky as the sun began to submerge in the horizon.

Hindi man lang siya gumalaw nang dumating ako. It seems like she was unaware of my presence.

I cleared my throat to get her attention.

Vee lifted her face and shot a glance in my direction.

She looked at me, her mouth slightly open.

‘’Bella? Anong ginagawa mo dito?’’

‘’Uhm, sorry kung nadistorbo kita.’’ Lumapit ako sa kanya habang siya naman ay inayos ang sarili at tumayo. ‘’May mga itatanong lang sana ako.’’

‘’Tungkol saan?’’ Binalik niya ang hawak niyang libro sa kanyang bag.

‘’Tungkol kay Ate.’’Napahinto siya nang saglit sa ginagawa at tumingin sa akin.

‘’Sige. Ano ba ‘yon?’’

‘’May isang bagay lang na bumabagabag sa akin.’’

‘’Sure, you can ask me anything.’’

‘’The nigh that Ate disappeared, do you think it wasn’t just an ordinary incident?’’ She was caught-off guard by my question. I don’t want to waste any time.

Binaba ni Vee ang kanyang bag at sumandal sa harang ng rooftop. Hanggang balikat niya ito kaya imposibleng mahuhulog siya kapag sumandal siya roon. ‘’I have my theories but they are just theories. Apart from that, I have no concrete idea about the incident. What’s with this sudden question?’’

Hindi ko maiwasang makonsensya sa ginagawa ko. Hindi naman sa wala akong tiwala kay Vee ngunit gusto ko lang talagang masigurado na mali ang sinasabi ni Gino na may kinalaman si Vee sa pagkawala ng ate ko. The idea alone sounded absorbs but I just want reassurance. I’m trying to see how she will react to my questions.

‘’Do you think she’s still alive?’’

‘’In all honesty, no. Bakit ba bigla ka na lang nagtatanong ng mga ganito? Are you sure you’re okay? Did something happen?’’

‘’No, wala naman. I’m just curious, that’s all.’’

Lumapit siya sa akin at hinawakan ang dalawa kong balikat. ‘’Look Bella, I know Stephanie means everything to you but you know what your mother said, we need to move on. It is hard, I know, but the more we dwell into the past, the more painful it gets.’’

I can still remember those months of therapy I went through. They helped me for a while but they weren’t enough.

Napayuko ako. Every time I hear Stephanie’s name my eyes start to burn. I took a long breath and looked at Vee.

‘‘You’re right. I know. Pero hindi naming pwedeng wala tayong gagawin. Dead or alive Stephanie still needs the justice she deserves. So Vee, please if you know something, tell me.’’

‘’This is not something we should get ourselves into, Bella. There are things that are better left for the authorities to do.’’

‘’Authorities?’’ I tried to keep my voice from rising. ‘’Vee it’s been a year. Don’ tell me umaasa ka pa rin sa kanila.’’

‘’Uncle Akinu is now holding the case. I’m sure he will solve it soon. For now, don’t stress yourself too much about it. You should not let it affect your life too much.’’

‘’What do you mean?’’

‘’The former detective who investigated your sister’s case has gone AWOL. The police department does not know his whereabouts so they tasked uncle Akinu to do the job.’’

‘’Bakit ngayon mo lang ito sinabi sa akin?’’

‘’I thought you knew. You know my uncle. He’s a great detective. We should just trust him.’’

‘’No. Pagod na akong maghintay, Vee. Hindi pwedeng tutunganga na lamang ako dito habang si Ate ay…’’ I was not able to finish my sentences when Vee touched my face.

‘’Look at me, Bella. Alam ko sa ngayon mahirap mangapa sa dilim pero hindi mo dapat masyadong pinapahamak ang sarili mo.’’

‘’Pahamak? What do you mean? May alam ka aba na hindi ko alam, Vee?’’ I stared at her. I’m trying to read her facial expression.

‘’No, just forget what I said. My point is all of this is not good to your mental health.’’

‘’This whole ‘waiting’ is the one harming my mental health!’’

‘’Exactly, so please don’t stress yourself too much.’’ She took a glance at her watch. ‘’It’s already 5:30. I think we should get down.’’

Isinabit na niya sa balikat ang kanyang bag at tumalikod sa akin.

‘’Vee.’’ Huminto siya. ‘’Can you promise me something?’’

Hinarap niya ako nang nakakunot ang noo.

‘’Ano iyon?’’

‘’That you’ll always be honest to me when it comes to things about my sister.’’

‘’I will.’’ She smiled and left me behind. I eyed her as she disappeared from my sight.

Pinili ko munang manatili at mapag-isa.

Nilabas ko ang cellphone ko at tinext si Nana na medyo matatagalan pa ako sa pag-uwi dahil may inaasikaso pa akong school works.

I took a seat and closed my eyes. The cold breeze touched my face. The silence was calming. It feels like a soft bed after an exhausting day.

My conversation with Vee played on replay in my mind. The detective who worked with my sister’s case has gone AWOL. Could this be just a coincidence? Also, why do I feel like Gino’s claim about Vee seems plausible? Vee has always been acting weird these last few days and our conversation just a minute ago only gave rise to some suspicion.

Argh, I feel like a bad friend. Vee always has back when things about my sister get rough. And now, I’m doubting her just because some random guy said something about her.

Tumayo na ako muli at nagtungo papunta sa pinto paalis sa rooftop. But as I pulled the door open, a bulkly figure met my eyes. 

‘’David?’’ David's eyes stared at me like a starving lion.

‘’Bella…’’ He tried to grab my arm but I immediately stepped back. Parang wala siya sa sarili at sabik na sabik akong tinititigan.

‘’David, let me through.’’ Hindi niya ako sinagot. Gusto ko tumakbo pero nakaharang siya sa pinto.

Nagulat ako nang bigla niya akong hinawakan at pilit niyang nilalapit ang mukha niya sa mukha ko. I tried to push him away but he was stronger than me.

He slammed me on the ground. A shot of pain exploded in my back. His right hand held both of my arm while the other one caressed my thigh.

Tears blurred my vision. I shouted for help as loud as my voice could make.

I couldn’t move and fight back. Napapikit na lang ako dahil parang wala na akong magagawa pa. 

His hand slowly rised to my groin. I tried kicking him hard but all of it was in vain. 

‘’Let me do this, Bella. I swear this won’t hurt you—‘’ 

A loud ‘whack’ sound made me open my eyes.

Beside me was David lying unconscious. 

"Are you okay?" A guy in front of me asked. My tears blocked me from clearly seeing him. He held his hand to help me stand.

My body was trembling. Hindi ko inaakala na mararanasan ko iyon.  I immediately hugged my unknown savior. 

I feel disgusted with myself, even though I should not. That monster almost took my dignity.

I buried my face in my saviors' chest. Wala na akong paki kung mabasa man siya ng luha. 

‘’It’s okay. Everything’s fine.’’ His hand gently patted my back.

It took quiet a while before I finally calmed myself. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I let him go from my hug and brushed away my tears.

Now that I can cleary his face, he kinda looked familiar. I think I have seen him before somewhere but I just could not point my finger on it. He has an oval shaped face. His hair spirals into short curls and I have to raise my head just to meet his face. 

‘’I’m Flint.’’ Tinapon niya ang hawak niyang kahoy sa gilid. ‘Di ko man lang napansin na hawak niya iyon kanina sa sobrang takot. ‘’Do you have your phone with you? We need to call the police immediately before this bastard wakes up.’’

It took quiet a while before I finally processed what he said. With my shaking hands, I searched my bag. Finally, I felt the rectangular device between my fingers and handed it to him.

Mahahaba pa rin ang mga hininga ko mula sa takot at pag-iyak. The worst part was, I can still feel the ghost of David's touch in my thigh.