Tenth - Findinng Out

“I HAVE A PLAN,”

All of us exchange looks when Xheidan and Marcus said those words at the same time. All together in time, they also look at each other as of what happened.

Papalit palit lang ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa. Their look to each other weren't chill neither sharp, it's in the middle of it, parang hindi nila inaasahan ang nangyari.

“Sino ba 'yang katabi mo?” Tax whispered to me and pointed Marcus using his lips.

“Marcus,” I answered.

I core back my attention to the two guy looking at each other now. Even Crizeliah is just watching until someone finally uttered.

“What's the plan?” Crizeliah asked them.

“Like what I have said, there's already a plan I made up with myself,” Xheidan said, leaving Marcus's eyes in the air.

We all were just listening and so as Marcus.

“If there is no such a hope to use that website as a lead finding out who's the person behind it, pwede intrude through mano-mano ang gagawin natin. First of all, this website is leaking an information through documents that they were leaving somewhere to seize up by someone. In that case, my plan is, we could take the documents that they were leaving somewhere. Using the document that could be taken, we could trace finger prints or whatsoever by the person who last held that,”

“How can we do that?” Crizeliah asked.

“Simple, we'll just stay in track with that website. Kapag nag labas sila ng documents or lead where to find it, we have to get that immediate,” Xheidan answered firmly.

“How about you, Marcus. What's the plan you're pertaining at?” Crizeliah looked at Marcus.

Umayos ako ng upo.

“It is not really that dissimilar to his plan, the different of my plan to his is were not taking the documents,” he crossed his arms.

“Why?” Crizeliah asked.

“Like what Asthreittle have said, doing this is too risky, and so as his plan. Also, there are authorities working with this, we couldn't say if we could take the document earlier than authorities,”

I nodded. Now, Marcus is the one uttered my name naman. Iniisip ko tuloy kung sinasadya ba nila iyon o talagang my words would just help them explain these things.

“So what exactly is your plan?” Xheidan asked. Me and Tax just remain silently listener.

“In my plan, we're not taking the document, instead, we'll track the place where it would be left out,” he looked at me.

“Wait, I don't get it?” Crizeliah mumbled.

My brows were bit knitted already. Puzzled on what Marcus is trying to say.

“Ganito. It's just way similar to that guy's plan, the difference is we'll not going to take or do something in the documents. Like what I have said, we'll just track the place where the document would be left, look for informations that could be act as a lead to find out who is the person left the documents. For example, if the document was left in a one specific place, we could seek out for a CCTV footage near that place, identify who's the person brought the document in that place and that would be our first lead,”

Hindi ko napigilan ang pag tango. Their plans were way evident, I was amused that they think of those. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay ako ang walang maitutulong rito, aside that hacking and programming is the only thing I know I could help, wala nang iba pa.

“How about you Asthreittle? Have any plan?” Crizeliah looked at me.

Ba't ako????

“Ahm, I have no plan but I could stick with the website, if there are any code needed to decipher or accounts to hack on, I could help within it,”

“Then I think this plan is settled? We'll just talk about what is way better between Marcus and Xheidan's,” Crizeliah uttered.

“SANDALE??? ANONG GANAP KO?”

We all looked at Tax who is beside me.

“You have an important task,” Crizeliah answered with a small smirk.

“So we'll do this when?” I asked them.

“As soon as possible. The upcoming update, pwedeng iyon na ang umpisahan natin,” Crizeliah said.

“Yes, we need to stay tune with that website 'cause the documents or information would eventually vanish as soon as someone took the documents.” I asnwered.

In that sudden pick, bigla akong napatingin kay Marcus, saktong nakatingin din siya saakin. Marcus is biting the side of lower lio while just watching around.

“Marcus, the document?!” I asked to him.

In the moment, I remember what he have told me yesterday.

“Here,” he raised a piece of paper that I think ay kanina niya pa hinahawakan sa ilalim ng lamesa. I took it from him dahilan para mapunta saakin ang lahat ng atensyon.

“This is the file that is uploaded in the website yesterday,” I said, not mentioning that Marcus stole it.

“The content says—”

“Once wreck the edge of the bridge, the connections would follows,”

I read the context in my mind at the same time how Xheidan cut off Marcus's words. I look at him with perplexed. How did he knew that?

“How did you...?” I asked but without completing my words, I stopped as Xheidan raised an identical copy of the paper in my hand.

“I have mine too,” He said firmly before slapping it to the table.

My eyes were bugged. I didn't expect that.

“How did you got it?” Marcus asked Xheidan with a perplexed in his eyes.

“The file was stolen yesterday, containing a blank documents through it. I was confuse if the file was really blank or it was just block by the other server. In instance, I knew my hence were right when I reach the other servers account and seen this file in their software with a content. I wasn't expecting that the other server I was pertaining is you,” Xheidan said to Marcus.

What the fuck? Bakit hindi ko naisip iyong ginawa ni Xheidan?

Imbis na panoorin silang dalawa ay itinuon ko nalang ang atensyon ko sa papel na hawak ko. Maybe I should review this infact that I haven't scanned it since last night

                            Domino

          Was just like a domino, once wreck a single one, everything connected with it would wrecked as well. There were now dots, connecting each of them. Tell one to sing, you'll get everyone around it.

Inilapag ko sa lamesa ang papel na hawak kong papel, at this moment, may bago nanamang mag papasakit sa ulo ko.

“Are we gonna deal with this today?” I asked them.

Aside that I don't feel like adding a new headache to my head at this moment, I also have something to do today.

“I have just said that we have to do this ASAP,” Crizeliah answered.

“No, I disagree,”

We looked at Xheidan.

“Do you think this would work out if we do it now? We all just met today, exchange words and mumbled but we don't even had any accurate plan,” Xheidan continued.

“He's right, the plan isn't even detailed still. All we have to do right now is to plan everything. Mahirap na sumugod tayo ng walang maayos na plano. We can't say, paano kung mahuli tayo?” Marcus commented.

“Then we'll plan whole day,” Crizeliah declared which made me stand.

“HUHHHH?? BUT I HAVE IMPORTANT MATTER TO DO TODAY???” I exclaimed.

Gosh!  Kung mag papa whole day pala siya, sana nag inform muna siya!

“This is important,” She said.

“Pwedeng sa ibang araw nalang? This is unjustifiable. All I knew to do with this discussion is just have a talk and introduce with Marcus, masyadong pabigla bigla, Crizeliah. I can't cancel my important matter today,” I said while standing. All their eyes were on me.

I heared Xheidan's silent gasp that makes me look at him with a sharp eye.

“Then kailan? Bukas?” She asked mockingly.

“I'm free tomorrow,” Marcus said.

“I'm cool with it,” Xheidan uttered.

“Me too, guys,” Tax mumble.

“WHAT?? WE HAVE CLASSES TOMORROW?” I exclaimed.

“Then when?” Crizeliah gasped on me before rolling her eyes.

“You can continue doing the plan today, ako lang naman ang mawawala but in case that I would go home early, babalik nalang ako rito. But are you guys seriously would stay here the whole day?! It's just morning!” I said.

Sasakit ata ang ulo ko sa kanila.

“You're right, guess we'll just update you with the plan,” Marcus smiled to me before looking at Crizeliah. “I'll go around four,”

“Fine,” Crizeliah looked at me “But we have a meeting tomorrow,”

“What time?” I asked and seat for awhile. Nakakangalay rin pala.

“First class?”

“WHAT?! Finance ang first class ko!” I complain.

“So what?! My first class is Politics and I'm all fine! Quit being maarte nga!”

“ANONG MAARTE? KAARTEHAN BA YUNG NAG AAYOS NG PAG AARAL?” I shot back.

“FINANCE IS TOO BASIC, WHY WORRYING TOO MUCH?! GOSH!”

“YOU'RE THE EDITOR IN CHIEF THEN YOU'RE NOT PRIORITIZING YOUR STUDIES?!”

“I COULDN'T SAY GHORL, YOU'RE JUST SENIOR,”

“WOW, THEN I HOPE YOU ASKED A COLLEGE ONE FOR THIS?”

“STOP SHOUTING, YOU'RE SO LOUD!”

“WHY?! YOU'RE SHOUTING TOO!”

“CAUSE YOU'RE FREAKING SHOUTING! YOU'RE SO LOUD!”

“LOUD... YOU'RE SO LOUD TOO! WALA KA SA LOUD HOUSE!”

“UHH! STOP STOOPING DOWN! YOU'RE SO CHILDISH!”

“YOU ASKED A CHILDISH A HELP FOR THIS?”

“AREN'T YOU GONNA STOP?!”

“IKAW ANG MAUNA!”

“STOP SHOUTING TOO LOUD, IT HURTS MY EARDRUMS!”

“MAUNA KA NGA!”

“I'M STILL THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF! WATCH YOUR TONE!”

“HA! I'M THE VICE CHAIRPERSON DIBA?!”

“WOW?!!!! I PUT YOU IN THAT POSITION!”

“EDI KASALANAN MO!”

“UHH! HINDI KA PA TALAGA TITIGIL?!”

“BAKIT?! GAGAWAN MO BA AKO NG ARTICLE DAHIL DITO?! EDI WOW!”

“YOU'RE SO CHILDISH!”

“AND YOU'RE THE MATURE ONE?”

“YES!!”

“BAKET?! HA?!”

“I WON'T BECOME A EDITOR-IN-CHIEF IF I AM NOT!”

“PWET MONG MAY ROCKET! HA-HATDOG!”

“BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”

We both looked at Tax who laugh out loud.

“Bakit kayo nag sisigawan? Mag kaharap lang kayo oy! HAHAHAHA” He laugh once again.

“SHUT UP!!!!!” We both shout on him

“Is there any popcorn vendor outside?  Sayang ang libreng pelikulang napapanood natin. See? I won't be surprised to see them pulling each hairs,” Marcus.

“I think there is. You'll buy? Could you buy me too? Don't worry, I'll pay,” Xheidan.

“Of course, hayaan ninyo muna silang mag away ha? I'll buy popcorn first, I'll be back,”

“Okay, I hope there would be no saliva dropping that would happen,”

“BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA,”

**

“KANINA KA PA?”

I stopped infront of Keilos who's now leaning his back over the door ofy apartment unit. I just scratch at the back of my head when he slowly looked at me with a bit dismayed in his eyes but in a sense of humor.

“Hindi naman, mga 20 minutes lang naman akong nakatayo rito,” He squinted his eyes on me before standing straightly and pinching my cheeks.

“Sorry na! Heto oh, bumili ako ng barbeque,” I show him the plastic of barbeque I bought outside.

“Dapat lang!” He said and smiled widely.

Me and Keilos entered my apartment unit first, aside that I need to change my shirts, Keilos said that he needed a seat cause he got tired of waiting outside. Pwede naman kasing tumawag saaking nandito na siya.

“Bakit ang tagal mo? Sabi mo ten?” Keilos asked while sitting in my bed.

“Nako, don't try asking me, maiinis lang ako,” I rolled my eyes.

Before I got here, nakapag sigawan muna kami ni Crizeliah sa loob ng office niya, just gladly that her office was sound proof so guards won't trigger as of our loud voices. In the end, we all have just decided to have a meeting in our last class tomorrow so that we're all in the same class to absent, of course, including Xheidan. Nakakairita lang kanina dahil wala manlang sa tatlong mga kasama namin mga lalaki ang umawat saamin. Well, I do know that we're not that low to end up pulling each other hairs like what Marcus thought us but, duh? Kahit awat manlang hindi nila ginawa? Tax just laugh on us while Xheidan and Marcus just literary bought their snacks while watching us! They were unbelievable!

“Doon na tayo sumakay sa sa terminal, punuan dumadaan dito,” Kelilos said and pointed the terminal of jeepneys at the other side of the road.

“Wait, bibili lang ako ng palamig,” I said before going to the palamig vendor at our back.

“Bilisan mo, ha!” He said to me, I just nodded.

I went straight to the palamig vendor. Mataas na ang araw dahil mag tatanghali na kaya talagang mainit. When I finally gon infront of the vendor, I immediately bought two and while waiting, I just stand there.

“Hindi na talaga ligtas ngayon. Nung nakaraan ay may biglang binaril doob sa may saamin, naka motor daw 'yung bumaril! Eh yung binaril ay drug addict!” I heared someone from my side whispered to the person beside her.

“Grabe naman. Ito ba 'yung War On Drugs na sinasabi nila? Pero 'yung pulis at senator na protektor ng sindikato ng droga, nirereject kaso sa korte?!” I heared someone replied.

When I hear those words they were saying, a suddenly chills climbs up to my spine. I was stunned as of the words overheard but I manage not to show it off. In that case, it made me strengthen more my urge to know who are the unveil criminals in the government.

But the thought of the court is rejecting the case of the senator and police made me harden my fist.

“Hoy, ang tagal mo,”

I looked at Keilos when he held my arms, sakto namang iniaabot na saakin noong vendor ang binili ko. Before leaving, I glance once again to the two woman talking beside me awhile ago.

Everything weren't take that long, the traffic wasn't that heavy and it's so mich in favor for us cause we reach our destination for almost 40 minutes. In a blink of an eye, we're already infront of my parent's house.

Hindi ganoon kaganda ang bahay namin, hindi rin ganoong kalakihan. We're not rich, we're not also poor, maybe just between it. We're not living in a subdivision, ang bahay namin ay nakatayo sa isang squater area, I'm not againts through it dahil dito sa bahay na ito ako lumaki.

I look around, there were a lot of kids in the tiny street here, playing outside, ang iba ay marurungis pa at hubad. I just sigh for that. I'm lucky to grow up with a damn strict parents, not really that strict, just normal parents that wants their child to grow up goodly.

Ewan ko ba, nasaan ba ang mga magulang nila? Why are they letting their child went out like this? Inaalagaan ba sila nito?

“Ang judgemental mo talaga,” Keilos said beside me while also looking st those kids I was looking at.

“Ikaw 'yon,” I smirked at him.

“Hoy! Ang inet-inet nag lalaro kayo rito? Mag si uwian nga kayo!” Keilos said to them, tatawanan ko na sana si Keilos pero imbis na sundin siya ng mga mata ay nag tayuan pa ang mga iyon.

“Bakit? Siga ka?” A boy I think in the age of seven told Keilos those words. It just made ne raised my brows.

“Tara na, Keilos,” I called him. Mukhang papatulan niya na ata 'yung bata kung hindi ko pa hihilahin.

“Grabe mga kabataan ngayon, no? Nu'ng bata ako, hindi naman ako ganiyan,” Keilos shook his head as of dismayed.

Keilos and I were used to be part of Youth Organization back when we were still living here during high school. We do really care about kids here. Napansin namin nang mabuwag ang organization na iyon ay lalo dumami ang mga batang lansangan, nadagdagan pa dahil dumami rin ang mga batang ina dito sa lugar na ito.

Maybe that's why a lot of middle class people were thinking that people who are living in squatter are uneducated, nainis pa ako noon dahil sa squatter rin naman ako nakatira yet maayos naman ako. Hindi naman lahat ng lumaki sa squatter ay squatter rin ang ugali. Maybe a right guardian could guide their childs to a right path. Ganoon naman ang kailangan diba?

I don't know, noon ay sinasabi ko lang sa sarili ko na ayos lang na ganiyan ang mga bata because I said to myself that the important thing is they are enjoying. Pero sana ay mayroong mga magulang ang gumagabay sakanila.

“Ayusin mo Youth Organization dito,” I told Keilos.

“Nako, baka mas malaki pa nga ang gang dito kaysa sa Youth Organization natin dati, eh,” He said.

I clicked my tongue and we both knocked on the door.

“Asthreittle! Keilos! O, pasok kayo!” my mother said when she saw us as she opened the door for us.

“Si papa, po?” I asked her.

“Nasa trabaho pa, nak,” She said before offering us a lunch.

“Linggo po, ah?” I asked her.

“Sideline niya tuwing linggo. Kain na kayo,” She said.

“Si Archie? Wala po rito?” I asked her when I couldn't find my niece around.

“Sinundo ng tita mo kagabi. Kumusta, anak? Si Senator, nakausap mo na ba?”

Nag tuloy tuloy lang kami sa kamustahan. I told my mom everything happens for my first month living alone and of course, I told her everything without hesitation, just except sa ginagawa ko kasama sila Crizeliah. I don't think so if they have to know it. In the end, ibibigay ko rin sakanila ang pero kapav tapos na ang lahat.

“Tita ang sarap parin po ng luto niyo! Nakakamiss po!” Keilos said to my mother.

“Syempre, darating kayo kaya nag luto ako,” My mother smiled.

“Mukhang wala pong welding si Manong Selo ngayon, ma, ah?” Me and Keilos chuckled.

“Yung ingay na mas malakas pa sa karaoke,” Keilos laugh.

I looked at my mother when she went stunned for a while. Saglit siyang napatulala sa kawalan na ikinapag taka namin ni Keilos.

“Ma, ayos ka lang po?” I asked her.

“Wala na si Selo, anak. Nabaril siya ng riding-in-tandem nu'ng nakaraan lang,” She answered.

Nag katinginan kami ni Keilos.

“Ma?” I called her makes her look at me. “Wala po pala,”

I was planning to asked my mother if my neighbor Selo is a drug addict but I don't feel like it's fine to asked that. I just hope that it's not connected in any drug cases.

It's already getting dark when my father arrived in our house, like what I have did with my mother, nag kamustahan lang rin kami bako kami mag paalam ni Keilos.

“Bukas na kaya kayo umuwi, anak? Delikado ngayon sa daan,” My father said to us.

“May pasok po kami bukas ni Keilos, eh. Dalawa naman po kami,” I said with a smile in my face.

“Opo tito, mag iingat po kami,” Keilos told my father.

“Sige, dito nalang ako ha? Ingat kayo,” My father said before leaving us sa tapat ng kalsada nang makalabas na kami sa iskenita.

“Katakot naman kadiliman dito,” Keilos chuckled while we're waiting for a public jeepney to stop infronr of us.

It's already dark dahil gabi na, hindi ganoon karami ang tao o tambay rito sa harap ng kalsada as of the cause that some tanods we're roaming here every night, so ending, sa looban lahat sila tumatambay.

It's already too dark and quiet outside, kaonti rin ang dumadaang tao pero hindi naman ako nakakaramdam ng takot the fact that I'm with my besifriend Keilos.

“Bakit ang tagal?” Keilos irritatedly complain when there's still no jeepney stopping infront of us.

I just protruded my lips ang silently praying na sana ay may dumaan na. Naiisip ko palang na maraming namamaril na nakamotor dito ay ninenerbyos na ako tuwing may dumadaangmotor sa harapan namin.

“Takot ka?” Keilos asked me.

I gasped. “Baka ikaw,” I chuckled.

Maya maya ay hindi ko na napigilan ang pag kapit sa braso ni Keilos. I now starting to feel the cold air of the night, it was just a bit strange that there's no any jeepney passing in the road. Me and Keilos looked at each other.

“Doon kaya tayo malapit sa market?” I asked him.

“Pwede, tagal, e,” He said.

We're already in our way having our steps going to take the way going to the market when we heared someone speak in our back. With our curiousity, we looked at our back.

“Hoy! Kumusta?”

We saw a two guy at our back. One is in the motorcycle, the one who spoke while looking at the man infront of him age is around 30s, I think. They weren't that near from us but still enough for us to see what is happening. They we're not facing us so I think they have no idea that there are somebody watching them.

Seeing a motorcycle, it already gaves me a goosebumps. I just breathe before deciding to pull Keilos out of here to go at the supermarket's waiting shed to look for a jeepney but we suddenly stopped and almost jumped from our spot when we heared a gun shot from our back.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko at halos mapako ako sa kinatatayuan ko. The chills and colds rapidly cupped my whole system and the scared crept into my whole body.

“Tara na!” Keilos whispered at me before ever dragging ourselves out of that place.

Did... Did we just film someone killed tonight?! Fuck!

“N-Namatay ba siya?” I asked Keilos while my whole body is trembling as we reach the supermarket's waiting shed.

“Hindi ko alam! Hindi ko tinignan,” Keilos answered, the frustration and scared could overheard in his voice.

“N-Nakita ba tayo? Keilos..” I asked him and held his hands. His now panicky looking around.

“Hindi ko alam, Asth...” He answered and went closer to me.

We're both shock and frightened because of that. I couldn't stop my hands from trembling and sweating. As of the moment, all I did is to pray na sana ay may dumaan nang jeep. When a public jeepney finally stops infront of us, we immediately hopped in while we're both tense and trembling.

“Ayos lang ba kayong dalawa?” A one woman concerningly asked us when she notice our state. We're almost ten inside the jeepney, and if we said what we have film, pwede kaming maging delikado kung may kasabwat rito lalo na't napapansin ko ang dalawang lalaking kasama namin na panay ang tingin saamin.

“A-Akala ho kasi namin ay may multo,” I silently answered while Keilos is cupping my hands. I could feel his hands sweating and being cold as an ice.

We arrived in my apartment unit around ten in the evening. Keilos just stay for awhile with me while we're resting. The creep is still cupping us.

“We should report this to the authority,” I said.

“Tama. May plate number ba?” He asked.

“Hindi ko nakita,” I answered.

“Sige... Pero kailangan pa ba nating gawin 'yon?”

“Keilos..” I looked at him.

“Hindi na natin kailangan Asth. Makikita rin naman nila ang bangkay doon diba? Paano kung ireport natin ngayon tapos kasabwat 'yung pulis? A-Anong gagawin natin?” He asked panicky.

“Keilos..” I look at him with a sharp and creep combining within.

Even me, I was nervous.

Keilos looked at me with hesitation in his eyes, in the end, he just hardly closed his eyes before taking the phone from his pocket. In that moment, I pull out my phone too to watch a news ngunit sakto nang mabuksan ko ang online news ay bumugad saakin ang bold headline ng current news. Naibaba ni Keilos ang hawak niyang phone.

“APAT NA PINAG HIHINALAANG KASANGKOT SA DRUG TRAFFICKING, SABAY-SABAY NA NATAGPUANG PATAY SA IISANG DISTRIKTO SA LOOB LAMANG NG ISANG ARAW. KASABAY NG PAGKA DISKUBRI SA MGA BANGKAY AY ANG ISANG MENSAHIN NA KASAMA SA KATAWAN NG ISANG NATAGPUANG BANGKAY”

“WE WILL FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE.”