Fifth Chapter - The Position

What. The. Actual. Hell?

Seriously? When did that website start throwing some riddles?

I blink a couple of times, sinking that context that have just read. If this is the actual website that I used to visit, I could precisely tell that it wasn't graduate from that. That website reveals evidences that could point out a kind or frightful crime and doings of such a heightened classes of people, I could already tell that the main are those politician either way part of government which is on the nose of the person behind that site. How come this happened?

Staying up too late was never, ever, really part of my vocabulary, well I could say that the idea was on the hook but doing that wasn't really part of my life. Wow, exaggerated. Tho even things that were too important to me, I would never waste my time of sleep just to do those in late night. I would rather wake up early than usual to do those than staying up. The reason is, I value my sleep time too much. I know sleep is a kind of one most important essential in human life. Well man, I could think that I would die if I lost an hour of sleep.

I sigh heavy.

Thinking of staying up was already hooking my brain but guess what? It's already one in the freaking morning! My eyes were already too deep saying how much sleepy I am. I can't understand why do a lot of people and teenager tho could do this! A lot could even stay until four in the morning.

“I fucking need to sleep...” I groan and change my laying position.

Have you even been in a situation that you badly want to sleep but your mind keep on working—not that I'm saying that our mind aren't working when we're asleep—throwing scenario that would makes you think of it? Cause now? My mind is doing it.

I don't know but what I've read about that website made me like this. I keep on thinking 'bout it instead of having asleep. Nakakaburda. Pakiramdam ko ay mababangag ako sa pag pasok ko sa araw na ito.

It's already seven when I found myself woke up. I'm glad that I didn't take later than that cause I have a ten a.m first class. Enough that I awaken, that website didn't let me go as still. Nabuburyo na ang utak ko.

As of infuriation, I grab my laptop and hence to visit the website. It's already morning and it's already been exposed for a couple of hours, I was thinking that it already disappeared like what were happening to those documents that were being posted there in a couple of hours but I was a kinda surprised to see the same caution flashing over the home page of the website.

Opps! Seems like no revelation?

Where? Go, find it.

Would be revealed? Go, seek for it.

If Jershey don't want to sleep yet, he'll take it, make sure not to spill so there would be no wetness.

Under the only black table is an attache case. Go, take it.

Seriously? Who the hell is Jershey?!

It seems like this would going to be my breakfast. Cracking this riddle if this really called one.

Where? Go, find it. Seems like telling the reader to find the document. Hmm. Document is the only thing that is being posted and uploaded in this website and as basing on the question where, this was kind of taking and asking the same question that is emerge in the reader's mind as seeing this empty website. Where is the document? Exactly what is in my mind. The website told to find it, but how?

Would be revealed? Go seek for it. Go seek for it, hmm, does that even differ in the first one which telling to find the missing document?

I rolled my eyes. Bangag na nga akong nagising, lalo pa akong mababangag dahil sa website na ito. I sigh and read and text again.

The text If Jershey don't want to sleep yet, he'll take it, make sure not to spill so there would be no wetness acting like the actual riddle in the whole pharagraph text in the caution. I closed my eyes and think.

Let me put myself to Jershey's perspective. If I don't want to sleep yet, I'll take it. Take, it only saying that it means a thing, tangible as to point it out. If I don't want to sleep yet, what would I take?

I look around my whole room. If I don't want to sleep yet, what would I take?

My gaze suddenly stopped to the set of medicines I have flattered to the side side table. I suddenly shook my head and twisted my lips. It only means to me that I would take a sleeping pills, that literally goes on unto my mind but as realizing the word 'don't', it only means that it was on my point of veiw. I don't. The 'don't' word revive my whole thoughts regarding to the sleeping pills. If I don't want to sleep, it is seriously part of my decision and taking pills was just an option if I have really on the gut having no choice.

Don't, it means purpose.

Just don't spill it so there would be no wetness. Spill... saying to point a liquid, they even dropped the word 'wetness' so liquid was really pointing in this sentence.

Hmm...

“If I don't want to sleep yet, I would take it, just don't spill so there would be no wetness,” I massage my chin.

What liquid would I'll take if I don't want to sleep yet?

I closed my eyes hardly. Sa school nga ay hindi ako sumasagot sa mga riddles, sa bagay na ito pa kaya?

I irritatedly drove away my eyes off from the screen. Pakiramdam ko ay napaka tanga ko para hindi ito masagutan.

My eyes bugged in sudden as my glance met the figure of cafe outsude infront of the apartment building. That was just infront so I could see it as I look at the out of my window. I slowly stand up at went near to the window to see it more. My eyes were dropped open as stare to it.

Jershey's Café De Letá

I look back to my laptop. Was it coincidence that they use both Jershey's name?

I think deeper.

Jershey's Café...

I GOT IT!

So, the person behind the website is trying to point out this café? How didn't I think of a coffee in the first place?! Yes, if someone don't want to sleep yet, they'll take coffee. Coffee could be able to spill and cause wetness. Bakit hindi ko naisip iyon?!

Gosh! Akala ko noon ay matalino na ako, hindi pa pala ganoon.

But why do that riddle seems too shallow?

SHALLOW BRU, HINDI MO NGA NASAGUTAN!

Before going to the campus, I visited the café first. Pagka pasok ko palamang ay malalaman ko na agad na yayamanin ang mga nag pupunta rito.

I stopped infront of the counter to check their coffees and some breads. My brows just brood as I saw how much were those displayed in there.

What?! Mas mahal pa ata rito kaysa sa Starbucks ah?!

“What's your order ma'am?”

I stunned for awhile as the cashier asked me. I examine the menu again and look for something much cheaper. I feel like my eye would spit off our as of seeing the costs. I wasn't even familar to the coffees displayed too kaya hindi ko alam kung ano ang piiliin. If I chose something that takes too much of my allowance and that tastes bad, masasayang ang pera ko!

“What can you recommend?” I asked the cashier.

“If you like a kind of sweet and less bitter, you could try our Merchiades latte. If you want clearer and both less sweet and bitter, you could try Termonce Americano. If you want something like chocolate or mocha, you could try Frappe Mocha.”

“Hmm, how much is the Frappe Mocha?”

“600 pesos, ma'am,” She smiled.

I gulped and almost dropped my jaw off to the floor!

Oh my ghosh! Who crazy would waste a 600 pesos just for a one cup of coffee if you could just buy an instant coffee sachet?! My ghosh!

“How about Merchaides Latte?”

“520 pesos, ma'am"

I nodded and order the Merchianes Latte. It's way cheaper than the Mocha, I could still save a 80 pesos if that's what would I buy. I didn't even know why I brought myself here. Curious lang naman ako rito, bakit biglang napagastos ako?

I look around the whole coffee shop as I'm already on my table. The tables inside here were all dirty colored wood and if I would look around, there's no black table that could be seen.

“Shit. Did I just seriously wasted a 520 just for you?” I said to the coffee as if it has a capability to answer me.

I start sipping the coffee, dahan dahan lang iyon para hindi mabilis maubos.

Nilalasap ang 520 na kape.

While sipping my coffee, I was occupying myself by inspecting the whole shop by my eyes. I then look at the couple of man sitting at my back. They were both wearing a black polo and seems having a discourse. I just look at my coffee and act  naturally

Eavesdropping in their discourse wasn't really in my plan but as I heared an what they were talking about, it suddenly takes my attention.

“The senate has been planning to pass a new bill to the house of the representative to be approve and so to the congress but all of these were not letting go out to the media,”

What? Hindi ba dapat ay ibinabalita iyon? So that mass could react if there would be petition or none?

“If those would still be kept, their hence was to be end up as a concurrent resolutions, not transmitted to the President for his signature and therefore have no force and effect of a law.” The other one said.

“But that's a bill, it would be passed to law if it was approved by the the both houses and the President,” the perturb could overheared in his tone.

“We have nothing to worry if the majority of the congress would vote 'no' in this bill, nevertheless, they would surely moved it pass to be as a concurrent resolution,” The chill voice said.

“Hindi nga. Could you even understand me? This is the same bill passed a couple of years ago, right? And that year, the President died while the mass media or anyone have no idea what's the reason. The palace just said that that the President had a heart attacked without even showing a medical examination. The first lady and her child? Where are they? They were vanished but the administration kept it from the nation. This in not acceptable,”

W-What? The first lady and their child vanished?

“Who are the authors of the bill?”

“Hindi pa ako nakakakuha ng kopya,”

“This needed to be broadcast, bro,”

I heared a sigh.

“But I know who headed.”

I suddenly sideways my head to their direction. My eyes were serious and ears were captivated to heared what it was.

“THE—”

“Hi, can I occupy this seat?”

I look at the guy who occupied the chair infront of me, sharing a table with me. I almost rolled my eyes because of that. I haven't able to heared who's the author of the bill because of him!

“Sure, nakaupo ka na, e..” I mutter the last words.

I suddenly gulp and raised my head to look at the guy infront of me as I realized who was it. When our eyes met, I could feel that my body could melt anytime.

Just what the actual fuck?

“I'm familiar, am I not?” he smirked.

The guy I saw in the website last night.

He's right infront of me.

I look away, lips were parted, can't believe what's happening. Why the hell is he here? Did he knew that someone will going to check out this place when the riddle he posted get cracked?

I looked at him. He's way lighter now than then. Is he really the person behind that website? Is he curious who might take the documents? Fuck, I can't help but to feel nervous. First of all, he have caught me surveying the website, he even intrude on my front cam! And now, he's right infront of me.

“Quit staring. If you wanna kiss me, just do,” He looked at me.

My eyes bugged and look away.

What the hell? Why would I kiss him? Yeah he's cute, ahm, quite handsome, but what he have said is quite insult in my part!

I sipped on my coffee. Maybe I should go now. Wala rin naman akong mapapala rito. The fact that I have no capability to take that attache case wherever it was, this guys is also here.  I was a bit tense na baka mapahamak ako.

“You're prettier in person.”

WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK IS HE SAYING??????!

I felt my cheeks burn.

I pressed my lips together and look away. I hold on to my cup more tighter, feeling uneasy.

The guy infront of me look away. He rest his right arm over the table while the other hand is holding the cup of his coffee. I think is a year older than me base in his built. I notice that his cup is way bigger and beautiful than mine, there's also a cream inside. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay ang dukha ko dahil 520 lamang ang nabili ko. Well, nevermind.

He look outside the glasswall, sitting still and looking somewhere seriously. He's wearing a round glasses that makes him more attractive.

“Is it you?”

He look at me.

“Is it you, the person behind that website?” I continued.

He look at me intently, glancing at the counter then back to me.

“You think?” His voice is hard.

“I don't know,” I utter.

He sigh and lean his back. He bit the side of his lower lip before.crossing his arms.

“Do you think it's me?” A small smirk is plastered in his lips.

“I don't know but it's possibly you. I saw you in that website,”

He rest his both arm in the table while the hands were cupped together. He move somewhat closer to me and look directly into my eyes.

“So it's possibly you too? I saw you in that website too,”

I knitted my brows.

“Yes, but it wasn't me,” I look away back to him. “I was just trying to find out whose in that website too,” I breath.

“Then we're same. I was there as of a same reason with you.” He said.

We ate by a silent for a moment of staring until he utter again.

“You're here because of the riddle, aren't you?” He said.

I suddenly nodded and lean my back. Again, I look around.

“I never notice any black table here since I get in,” I said that makes him nod.

“It's not here cause it's inside the manager's office,”

I look at him with astonish.

“How could you say so?” I asked, a bit curious.

“The owner of this coffee shop is the manager's fiancee, Jershey. There's no other place here that could have any table except the manager's office. That's the last check.” He said and sipped over his coffee.

Wow. I never think of that.

“Are you planning to get it?” I asked with a bit of nosey. Ops, I hope he won't get offend.

His gaze dropped on me for a meantime before he lick his lips and respond.

“How about you? Are you planning to get it?” he asked back.

Damn, he haven't answered, he just threw my question back to me.

“N-No,” I sipped over my coffee.

“Same. Infact...“ He look sideways, I follow his line of sight.

I saw a one man wearing a black jacket talking to someone over the counter, he has a built and looks like a massive. After talking with someone, he enter a one way going inside and a door.

“...someone would already get it,” The guy infront of me added.

When I look back to him, our face almost hit each other,gladly that I immediately move away. He smirked to me and sipped again onto his coffee.

“You know him?” I asked.

He shrugged and lean.

I look at the way that the man take. When he's already going out from there, he's holding an attache case. My eyes went wide because of that. So it's really true? Did those guys cracked the riddle too?

I look intently to the man who went out of the office. My eyes wen't wider as I seen his face.

He's the one I saw in the apartment building last last day. The man who's wearing a full black.

I sigh and then look back to the table, my eyes were knitted.

“Hey, anong oras na?”

I looked at him, he has a watch too so I grimace on him but I just glance on my watch and I almost jump as I sa the time.

Shit! I need to go!

“Hey, you're leaving?” He asked when I leave my seat.

“Obvious?!”

He chucked sexily that made me rolled my eyes.

“Wait, what's your name?” He asked when I was already turning my back to him.

“Asthreittle,” I answered quickly. Para akong naiihi dahil sa state ko.

“I see,” He nodded. I was just about to take a step to leave when he speak again making me look him back.

“I'm Marcus, by the way,”

“Sige, sige,” I immediately answered and turned my back again but he speak again!

Gosh! I'm getting late!

“What?!” I asked, a bit nettle.

“How can I contact you?”

“I don't know!” I was already tense to go off. Natatawa nalamang siya saakin.

“Here, my calling card. Call me when you're free,” He smiled and hand me a piece of small hard paper.

“Okay. I'll go now,” I said and immediately.

In my rush, I wasn't able to realize that I left my coffee in the table so I get back immediately, when Marcus saw me, his bottom lip arched up. I just get the cup of coffee and then leave.

Aba, sayang ito if I'll just left it. 520 rin ang gastos ko dito.

I walk passed by to the two man wearing a black who's having a discouse awhile ago. I wasn't able to heared their other conversation awhile ago when Marcus arrive. That's why I wasn't able to know who's the head of authors of the bill they were pertaining.

I was kind of lucky to ride a public vehicle right away. When I'm inside, I couldn't stop myself from thinking about anything that I've knew just this morning.

First, the bill that the two man were pertaining about. I was a bit bothered what was it, how bad was it enough to the one man to feel perturbed, will it affect a lot of people? Why are they keeping it from the nation? Was that the reason why the President died a couple of years ago? Was the first lady and her child really vanished? I don't know. A lot of questions keep on intruding my mind.

Next, the document. Why is Marcus here? Probably because the riddle and document brought him. Is Marcus wasn't really the person behind that website? How did he know that simeone whould already get it? Who is the man that took the attache case? Why is he in our apartment building last time? How did he knew that the riddle's pointing out is that café?

Shit! Umagang umaga ay sumasakit ang ulo ko.

I let out a heave sigh all together the thought inside my mind. It's too early, I'll just deal with that later or sooner.

I reach the university almost ten minutes, gladly that it wasn't that traffic. As enough that I landed my feet off the ground, my eyes suddenly saw Xheidan's figure boredly standing beside the main gate of the university. He was like waiting for someone.

“Xheidan!” I called and walk towards him. “Good morning!” I greeted.

Xheidan's bored eyes glance at me. The moment that he met my eyes, he immediately gasp and rolled his eyes.

Wow! What is this? A morning gasp?!

“Am I required to greet back to you, miss vice-chairperson?” He squinted his eyes to me.

“Huh?! Are you fine?” I asked and look at him implausibly.

Xheidan rolled his eyes from me.

“Sir ito na ho!”

I look at a man running towards our direction. He handed an envelope to Xheidan and without any words, Xheidan left me alone, heading the way going inside the university.

“Bastusan?” I mumbled and run towards him.

I was looking at him with a sudden implausible expression. What vice chairperson was he saying? Is he sick?

“Xheidan! What do you mean by vice-chairperson?” I asked when I already reached him.

“Tss,” I gasp and walk away.

I look at him back confusedly. I just let him left while I waa left dumbfounded. I look around the whole area. I somewhat caught some other students looking at me and sometimes gossiping. What the hell is happening.

Later on in my way, I suddenly stop infront of our university's bulletin board. My eyes bugged when I saw something that made me run the way going to the editor-in-chief's office.

Yawa naman. Why did I become a vice-chairperson?! Ano 'to? Magic?

I stopped infront of Crizeliah's office, I was surprised when I saw Tax get out from there.

“Hi Asthre— ay miss vice-chaiperson pala!” He said to me and laugh.

HUHHHH?!!! He's studying here too?!

“P-Padaan nga!” I said and get inside.

“Have a nice day!” he laugh again.

When I finally entered Crizeliah's office. I saw her standing near her table with a telephone in the side of her ear. When Crizeliah notice my presence, she then look at me with a smile before putting down the telephone.

“Good morning, vice-chairwoman,” Crizeliah smiled.

“What the hell?! How did that happened?!” I exclaimed

“Chill. Hindi ba't napag usapan na natin na tutulungan kita? Heto na—”

“But I haven't accepted it yet!”

“Why are you shouting?” She protruded her lips.

“Crizeliah! I said I'll just try. I haven't agreed for it yet,” My brows went aline while my eyes were fixed to her.

I don't know what to feel. I don't even want it anyway.

“It's way similar, Asthreittle,” She sit in her swivel chair.

“How did you do that? The vice-chairperson, what happened to her?” I walk towards his table.

“Hmm. She was caught defecting some records and accounts base on last conduction of audit. I have already made an article and printed some news paper regarding her issue. I thought that's a great timing to put you in the position like what I have told you,” She said.

“But I was just senior!” I said.

“Why, can't you be? There's a senior that is part of committee, it's not that different,” She smiled to me and cupped her hands together.

I breath. “I can't accept this! Sana manlang ay ininform mo ako,” I irritatedly look away.

“Oh, isn't it given? We have already talked about it, Asthreittle. You should be thankful,” Her bottom lip arched up.

“But this is unfair! I haven't even worked for it. I don't deserve that,”

“You're work for me is already enough,”

I swallowed.

“But I'm not doing it anymore. I'm dumping that offer,” I let out a hard breath.

Crizeliah's expression immediately change. Her eyes get up to me and gaze intently.

“What?” mabagal niyang ulit.

“I'm dumping your offer. I don't want to investigate Xheidan,”

I saw how Crizeliah's eyes tinted and came sharp, that way I think if she's mad or what. Crizeliah's eyes stucked in me, she was like digging the inner thoughts in my mind.

Crizeliah stare on me was interrupted by a sudden rang of telephone beside her. She sigh and then get it.

“Hello?”

I look away.

“Yeah, fine.”

I look back to Crizeliah as I overheard the back off of the telephone.

“Let's discuss your matter in break time.” She stated and left her seat. She fixed her coat and leave the office making me alone inside.

I just sigh and closed my eyes hardly. Having a position of any committee in this university wasn't really important to me. All I have to pursue is to be in dean's list, that's all.

I leave Crizeliah's office and take my way going to my first class. I just groan as I realize how late I am. I sigh again ang scratch the back of my head.

I was already about to turn to the stairs when a running girl from the upper floor bump on me that made us fall to the floor.

My eyes were closed as I feel the pain in my back. The hit was too hard enough for me to feel the cold floor. Panting, I tried to open my eyes and get up. I was suddenly surprised when I saw the girl who bumped to me.

My eyes were shocked and full of confusion as I get up. My heart is pounding as of the hit exposion and fall of the floor. I follow the girl's figure when she look at me with a surprised in her eyes too before she run away.

The way her eyes look at me, para siyang takot. I can't explain but it has a hint of scare and void.

My eyes knitted. I was confused. Why does she seems uphold and in hurry as if someone is trying to chase her? I then closed my eyes and felt the guilt inside me. I sigh again.

It's her. The former committee vice-chairperson.