“Totoo ba?” pagtatanong ng isang estudyante sa classmate nito.
“Yep. Narinig ko kay Dad. The case was so famous 5 years ago.” Sagot naman ng classmate nito.
Nakuha ang attention ni Andrew ng mga nag-uusap nyang classmates sa harapan. “5 years ago” ringed on his ear like an alarm. An alarm that he doesn’t want to hear but still rings no matter how he tries to ignore it. He couldn’t help but listen to what they’re gossiping about.
“He killed three people but since he was still a minor back then, dinala sya sa Juvenile center.” Pagdudugtong ng classmate nito.
“OMG nakakatakot.” Tsaka na niyakap nito ang sarili habang nakikinig sa kwento ng classmate nila.
“Bakit pinalaya?” tanong naman ng isa pa nilang classmate.
“Sabi ni Dad, maganda daw ang records. They think the guy was cured. And you wouldn’t believe i
Kakatapos lamang ni Karl mag-shower ng madatnan nya si Andrew na nakatayo sa tapat ng bintana. He was leaning sideways against the glass window with a worried expression. Napansin naman ni Karl ito kaya agad nya itong nilapitan.“Okay ka lang?” yapos ni Karl mula sa likod ng kasintahan.“I’m fine.” Sagot naman ni Andrew, pero bakas sa tono nito na may bumabagabag sakanya.Agad namang pumasok sa isip ni Karl ang payo sakanya ni Sam. Alam nyang malimit kung magkwento si Andrew sakanya pero ika nga ni Sam, walang masama kung sasabihin nya na bumabagabag ito sakanya.“Andrew…” Karl murmured against Andrew’s head. “Don’t you trust me?” he added na agad na nagpalingon kay Andrew sakanya.“What are you talking about?” tsaka na hinaplos ni Andrew ang kanang pisngi ni Karl. He looked Karl i
“What are those?” pagtatanong ni Andrew ng maupo ito sa kabilang silya habang nakatingin kay Karl na kaharap ang mga nakapatong na notebooks at intermediate papers sa lamesa.“Ahh, mga notes to ni vice-captain nung 3rd year sya, pinahiram nya sakin.” Sagot naman ni Karl.“Hmm, that’s so nice of him.”Napangiti naman si Karl as he read on Sam’s notes. Same si Karl at Sam ng course kaya naman malapit din sya dito. Unlike sa iba nilang teammates, Sam is that one varsity student na hindi lang talent sa sports ang meron pero may angking talino din. That’s why as much as possible gusto ni Sam na makatulong sa teammates nya, not just in volleyball but also in academics.Habang binabasa ni Karl ang mga notes ni Sam ay napansin nitong natahimik si Andrew. Napatingin sya dito at nakitang nakatulala ito patuon sa kanyang ginagawa.&ldquo
Black and white symbolize a lot of things in life. Black represents evil, darkness, night, and despair. It's the color used to convey certainty and authority, and when used in opposition with white, it's a symbol of the eternal struggle between day and night, good and evil, and right and wrong. These two colors also represent mourning, purity and perfection of the deceased person's spirit. In the hall, everyone wears either of the two color. Each person coming in and out of the hall has sadness, misery, or even regret in their faces. May iba na nakatulala, trying to grasp everything. May iba naman na umiiyak at labis ang pagdadalamhati sa yumao nilang kamag-anak o kaibigan. Other visitors are questioning kung sino ang walang-awa na kumuha sa buhay ng isang inusente, positibo, at pala-kaibigan na si Sam. Lahat ng nakakakilala sakanya, walang maisip kung sinong may hinanakit o nakaaway nito. If anything, mas kilala si Sam bilang isang tao na gagawin ang lahat pa
It was already two days ago ng nilibing si Sam and three days ago mula ng nawala si Karl. Matapos ang bente-kwatro oras na paghahanap sakanya ng kanyang teammates at mga kamag-anak, minabuti na nilang i-report ito sa pulisya. He was then tagged as a missing person and they have carried a search since then. Allen Sanchez was also deemed to be the primary suspect for his disappearance and was also considered being the person behind Sam’s death. “Is it really alright for us to gather like this?” pagtatanong ni Herbert habang nakaupo ito sa isang upuan sa loob ng café. He looked around cautiously, then immediately lowered his head and whispered,“Isn’t Allen Sanchez still on loose?” Napatingin naman sakanyang sila Nelson at Troy na nasa harapan nya. Nakaupo ang mga ito sa tapat nya. Sa tabi naman ni Herbert ay si Dale na mukhang nahawa sa pagiging alerto ni Herbert
A night sky full of blotted stars could have been so calming and satisfying to the eyes. But for this night, the sky is beige, awful, and weeping. The vengeful clouds blindfolded the stars, throwing its sorrow waters down to the land. And for every drop it falls, tears are being washed away from Andrew’s face as if hindering to console his emotions overflowing with hate and guilt upon himself. The drops of rain slowly wiped the bloodstains on his white shirt out, leaving only a few traces. His breath was unsteady and his legs were trembling from the combination of cold and perhaps from the rush he made of the warehouse heading to the place where his mind takes him. He was no longer wearing any shoes. His pants were grubby on their knees from the constant stumbling and falling on the ground. At one last turn, he stepped on the grass, falling on his knees in front
8 years ago… Almost four years na nung namatay ang ina ni Andrew. Simula noon ay kinamuhian na nito ang kanyang ama. Bukod pa doon ay hindi na nito kaya pang tumira sa loob ng kanilang malaking mansion. Sa tuwing mapapadaan kasi ito sa kwarto kung saan nagpakamatay ang kanyang ina, ay hindi nya mapigilang maalala ang mga huling salita nito. Ang boses ng kanyang ina na dati ay napaka komportableng pakinggan, noon ay nabalot na ng takot sakanya. Lagi nya itong napapanaginipan. Kung minsan pa nga ay hindi talaga maganda ang mga nakikita nya sa kanyang mga panaginip. Dahil sa mga nakakatakot at karumal dumal na mga bangungot nito ay hindi na nya maalala ang tunay at maamong itsura ng kanyang ina. Lalo pang nakadagdag sakanya ang mansion nilang napakalawak, napakalaki, walang buhay, at tila kakainin sya ng buhay. Dahil sa trauma na natanggap nya, ilang beses itong pinatingin sa
Siguro ay nadala lamang si Emman or marahil ay sa unang pagkakataon ay may pumansin sakanya kaya nya nasabi ang bagay na iyon kay Andrew. Ang totoo ay hindi nya lubos maisip at di pa rin ito makapaniwala sa sinabi nya. Ang alam nya lang ay nahihiya syang humarap muli o magpakita kay Andrew na sya namang tila nagkaroon ng maraming lakas ng loob. Mula ng araw na iyon ay palaging hinihintay ni Andew si Emman pagkatapos ng practice. Naging busy na din kasi sa school si Allen kaya hindi na nya nasusundo si Andrew. Nagtataka na nga ang kanilang mga teammates kung kailan at sa kung paanong paraan naging close ang dalawa. Although hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman nila na kayang makipag-kaibigan ni Andrew sa lahat pero hindi sila makapaniwala na kahit si Emman ay kaya nitong paamuin. Well, hindi naman sila nag-iisa dahil kahit si Emman ay nagtataka din sakanyang sarili kung bakit sya sumasama dito. Noong unang hinintay sya ni Andrew ay sinabihan lamang sya nito ng,
"You’ll be alright. Just pay a visit then leave," Emman assured as he hugged Andrew na yumakap din naman sakanya pabalik.It was Andrew’s mother's death anniversary. Never itong bumisita sa lahat ng death anniversaries ng ina nya but Emman encouraged him to do so. "She was still your mother no matter what she did," Emman had once told him.Three years ng magkasintahan ang dalawa. Kilalang kilala na ni Emman si Andrew pati na din ang nakaraan nito. Emman knows everything about what happened to Andrew’s mother and even what his father did. Kahit yung mga panahon na nawala sa sarili si Andrew ay inamin din nya kay Emman. Andrew told him everything. Wala itong nilihim sakanya at maluwang itong tinanggap lahat ni Emman. Alam nito kung gaano kahirap kay Andrew na harapin ang ama nito or even visit his late mom whom he hated for leaving them. But for Emman, it is better than having no parents at all. And also, he thought, Andrew can never mov