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Chapter 30: Rules
TRAVIS
What on earth did just happened?
The looks on the faces of Mr. Tan and Mrs. Tejada when they returned back to the podium simultaneous to the time when the old woman in red left it, was beyond unexplainable. There was fear in their eyes. They feared to come back to the microphone and continue their job. They feared that after hearing those words, they would become speechless. They feared facing the saddened crowd anymore. In a matter of seconds, they suddenly turned into lost puppies. Coward. Pitiful. But they knew to themselves that regardless of what happened, the show must still go on. “Part of saying goodbye to someone we love is keeping a final memory with them, “ Mr. Tan ad-libbed. “And so, with shatters and flashes, let us all be together in taking final shots of memories with our beloved Principal,” Mrs. Tejada added. “May we call on the husband of the late Mrs. SerenaRelated chapters
The Photo Collector Chapter 31: The Shout Of Fear
Cautious and quiet, the two bands and I, and the rest of our classmates who were on the fifth and sixth rows of the church pews, intersected at the center of the pulpit. LD set up his drum set, Chuck tuned his guitar, and Jieve tested the keys of his piano. On the other hand, the girls from The Star Harmony including Jermaine took care of the microphones. The rest of us positioned ourselves; some were sitting on the stools, while some were standing in line behind.We waited for Mrs. Tejada’s go signal, and in two minutes, she gave it.After that, we began the elegy. The ever exaggerated and ever manipulated piece of elegy.• • •The song ended, thankfully, after chanting a ballad containing series of throat-aching riffs and old-fashioned melodies. It did went well. Their original composition worked. Their plan of implanting to the minds of the family the idea of see
The Photo Collector Chapter 32: Leakage
She jumped in shock and fell out of the transit down to the ground in front of me. Her shrieking continued, and the longer she did it, the paler she became.“Rabiya!” I went down on my knees and netted her bare shoulder with my hands. I moved her farther away from the door and joggled her body. “Hey! What’s wrong?” I crawled to her front to see her full reaction.Her eyes were red and wide opened, with veins almost popping out due to fear and horror. Tears drizzled from it, sweeping the make-up off as it streamed down to her cheeks. She kept shouting. Nonstop. But her vocal chords couldn’t take it. As she went running out of breath, her voice faded in the air. One gasp. After that, a series of inhalation followed.People from inside the chapel had heard the noise, so they must have been on their way to us by now. But before anyone else arrived, I cupped Rabiya’s face with my flounderin
The Photo Collector Chapter 33: Interrogation
RABIYAFebruary 25, 2021Thursday, 10:17 a.m.Case #64721.292.2OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTION OF POLICE INTERVIEWINVESTIGATOR: Good morning, Ms. Matthews. Good morning, Mr. Exposito.EXPOSITO: After everything that is happening right now, you still have the balls to say that? I don’t care if its part of interrogation ethics, or let’s say for the sake of formality of this interview, but you’re being insensitive.MATTHEWS: (cries silently)INVESTIGATOR: I’m sorry, Mr. Exposito, but I’m just following the police interview protocol. I understand you’re feeling a little upset right now, but—EXPOSITO: Upset? No. No! I’m not upset. I’m disgusted. You already saw the crime scene, didn’t you? How do you feel? If you are on my position, if you are a student who just wanted to offer some help but ended up seeing th
The Photo Collector Chapter 34: Lockdown
“You are unbelievable,” I said the minute I stepped out of the chapel after we’re done participating in the thought-provoking interrogation.Travis grunted. “I just saved ourselves back there, so you’re welcome,” he replied, straight-faced, walking a few steps ahead of me.We halted outside the caution tape surrounding the transit van where the crime scene happened. Three patrol cars, including the one Philip’s Dad used last night, was parked on the left part of the chapel beside the flagpole. As the investigation team began their job, we saw the vice-principal walking from the pavement towards the vehicle where the teachers and other staff were standing; discussing about the traumatizing death of the owner of HCU and her chauffeur.The Vice Principal Mr. Morales was an invisible man. He rarely showed up. He would only go to school when the principal had meetings or errands to attend t
The Photo Collector Chapter 35: Home
I slammed the door of the car close. I assisted Travis as he laid down on the inclined seat next to the driver’s.He scooped his hand into his blood-soaked jacket, and dragged the butcher knife off his abdomen full of cuts and slashes. Looking at the sharp-edged weapon, I wondered, What does he think he’s doing?“What happens when you lose a lot of blood, Rabiya?” Travis asked out of nowhere, in the middle of his sufferance, as he raised his jacket up and handed me the weapon.“It could lead you to a Hemorrhagic shock,” I answered. “Where’s the first-aid kit?”Travis’ abdomen was swelling red. It had a long cut that stretched all the way from the lower part of his chest across his stomach. There was a numerous of bruises surrounding his core, but unlike the long, wide opened wound, they were not bleeding. With his eyes closed perhaps because of the dizzin
The Photo Collector Chapter 36: "I Promise You That"
GEODIEEvery time something would happen terribly wrong, silence was our first go-to friend.Sitting on my armed chair, I looked at the clock as if it was an enemy to me. I watched it’s every movement, from how its longest hand transferred from one number to another. I had been doing it consistently for about fifteen minutes straight when suddenly, a knock on the door broke my concentration.“Open it!” Janvic shouted while leaning on the corner of the room, squeezing himself between the bookshelf and the square table. “That must be Mrs. Tejada,” he added as he tried to access the only opened window facing the outside.Nicole was the nearest to the door, so she took the job of twisting the knob. Slowly and while looking at us, she swung the classroom door open. “Oh, hey! It’s you!” Nicole greeted with a vibrant smile. She swept her slightly coiled hair onto he
The Photo Collector Chapter 37: Lunch
SAMANTHA(2 hours in lockdown)The hot argument that happened two hours ago divided us into groups and set barriers between us all.The Black Chain remained in tuck like they should. All of their three members were leaning on the wall, slouching beneath the white board while feeling the chilly sensation of sitting on the floor.The Star Harmony occupied the teacher’s table on the corner; taking advantage of the deafening silence as they took a quick nap while waiting for Mr. Morales’ promise of free meals.Andrei, Benedict, and Janvic belonged to the same bundle. They were those who just kept standing by the opened window; gazing at the outside for hours without getting bored.Ashley, Jacel, Nicole, and Jermaine played UNO Cards. I found it hard to figure out how they did it, but they seemed enjoying the game pretty well. Given that the game itsel
The Photo Collector Chapter 38: The Encounter
CYLVIA (20 hours in lockdown) We were all awaken by the buzz of a long and ear-shattering sound of the University buzzer. It’s annoying rhythm stayed in the air for a while, and it didn’t stop until everyone of us was irritated and could no longer return back to our sleep. It was roughly around eight in the morning, and just like yesterday’s weather, the sun ditched us and did not show up again.Everything was happening really, really fast, that our senses could not cope up with it. The next thing I knew, we all looked awfully stressed. And if I had to point out the reason behind it, I should say it was because of the scenario that happened the whole day—from the very first hour in the morning to the very last our hour in the night—yesterday. It was definitely one hell of a reason to end our Thursday with anger. We never had a nice rest. We were left sleeping on the floor, in our black and white outfit th
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