Endless Pen [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SIX

ATHANASIA'S POV

"Kompirmadong reader mo ang killer, Ma'am," sabi ni officer Benjie na may bahid ng kasiguraduhan ang tono ng pananalita.

"We're just assuming that it's one of my readers because of the coincidences," I tried to reason out but I know that in the back of my mind, he does have a point.

"Pero sobra naman po atang pagkakapareho iyon kung hindi niyo ho reader. Eh Miss, kasasabi niyo lang po kanina na magkaparehong-magkapareho po ang mga suot at lahat ng physical features ng mga biktima at ng mga karakter niyo sa nobela niyo po," pag-uulit niya.

Hindi ko naman sinabi sa kanyang pareho ang mga pangalan sa mga karakter ko ang pangalan ng mga biktima dahil kahit ako ay gulong-gulo na.

Muli siyang naguguluhang tumingin sa akin. "Miss Dolores—"

"Asia." Bahagya itong natigilan kaya tiningnan ko siya at seryosong inulit ang sinabi ko. "Asia na lang po."

Ilang segundo siyang napatitig sa akin. He then cleared his throat before he spoke. "Miss Asia, may posibilidad kayang malaman natin kung sino po ang reader niyong maaaring suspect sa krimen na ito?"

Napabuga ako ng hangin saka isinandal ang likod ko sa sandalan ng upuan. "Mukhang mahihirapan ho tayo," sabi ko habang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana ng fast food chain.

"Bakit naman po?"

I turned my head to look at him. "I have almost seven million followers on that writing platform."

Gusto ko sanang matawa sa dahan-dahang panlalaki ng mga mata ng pulis kaya lang pinili ko na lang itong pigilan.

"So... Uhm... how should we know who's who?"

Napabuntong hininga naman siya. "Ang dami mo naman po pa lang readers. Mukhang mahihirapan ho tayo."

May ideya namang biglang pumasok sa isip ko pero mukhang mahihirapan kami at higit sa lahat ay ayoko ng ideyang ito pero sa sitwasyon namin ay maaaring maging madali ang paghahanap.

"May mga contact information po ba yung mga follower niya sa platform na 'yun?" Napatitig naman ako sa pulis. Mukhang hindi niya rin alam ang paggamit ng app o website ah.

I shook my head. "Not all of the information is real since pwede ho ang dummy account or second accounts."

Nagtatanong naman itong tumingin sa akin. "Ano po yung dummy account?"

"Not real identities, I believe." Napa-ah na lang ang pulis saka mabagal na napapatango. "Anyways, I'll think of ways to lure out the murderer, and I'll call you as soon as I come up with a concrete plan."

Tumango naman ang pulis saka muling inabot ang folder niyang may files. "Sige po, Miss Asia. Maraming salamat sa kooperasyon." Tumayo siya saka bahagya yumuko bago umalis.

Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ni Officer Benjie ay umupo si Bangun sa iniwan nitong upuan, at may dala-dalang pagkain. Inalok niya ako kaya naman kumuha ako ng fries.

"So, did you gain interest in the case?" agad nitong tanong sa akin habang kumakain ng burger.

I nodded. "The killer seemed to make my characters true to life. It's actually astonishing."

"Astonishing? Such a big and positive word right there. But do you believe that it is one of your readers?"

My eyes squinted as I stared at him. "You're playing with my mind, right? You probably know who the killer is but won't say it to me."

Bangun smiled and shrugged. "Can't do. Gods' rules."

I let out a heavy sigh. "This is pretty interesting and the only plan that's occupying my mind is difficult on my part."

Kumagat ulit si Bangun sa burger niya bago sumagot. "Well, basta ba may sarili akong copy nung libro at pipirmahan mo kaagad yung akin para hindi na ako makipila pa, okay na plano 'yun."

I flatly looked at him. "So it really is planned out already." He answered me with a shrug, which made me sigh.

So I guess I should contact that publisher immediately to make this one work quickly. I took a deep breath and let my back rest on the chair. My most awaited first-ever book signing event. I'm gonna hate this.

Buong maghapon ay nasa isip ko ang plano kong iyon—plano ko nga ba o plano na ng nasa kataas-taasan? Napabuntong hininga na lang ako.

Kahit ang pagdating ko sa apartment ay hindi ko ganoon namalayan. Hindi ko nga rin napansin kung kailan umalis si Bangun. Napailing na lang ako. Paniguradong panay na naman ang reklamo nun.

Nang ibagsak ko ang katawan ko sa kama ay muling pumasok sa akin ang kailangan kong gawin. I had no choice but to sit up and reach for my phone to call that pushy publisher.

(M-Miss Infinite Ink! You... You actually called!) The person on the other line seemed to be talking to somebody else. (Seryoso ba 'to? Infinite Ink naman yung nakalagay sa caller ID, diba?—Hala! Oo nga! Kausapin mo na dali! Baka mawala pa 'yan!—S-Sige sige. H-Hello, Miss Infinite Ink... Nandyan ka pa po ba?)

I stupidly nodded—as if they could see me. "Yeah. About the publishing of my novels—" The person on the other line audibly gasped which caused me to stop talking.

(T-Tatanggapin niyo na po ba?)

I massaged my forehead, still contemplating myself. I'm still having second thoughts up until now, but if this is the only way to lure out the devil, then I should at least do something to make my life interesting. "Yeah."

The person on the other line squealed. (Nako! Maraming salamat po, Miss Infinite Ink! Hinding-hindi po kayo magsisisi sa pagtanggap ng offer po namin.)

I let out a heavy sigh. "May... I ask when will I be signing the contract with you?"

(As early as possible po, Miss! Ayos lang po bang bukas din ng umaga?)

"Nine AM would be nice."

(And that's perfect po, Miss. Ayos lang po ba na mag-take ng pictures? Paniguradong dadagsain tayo ng fans niyo po, Ma'am. Ayos po ba sa inyo mag-schedule ng book signing niyo po?)

I took a deep breath. This is my plan. It'll work. Just a little sacrifice, Asia. Just a little. "Yeah, but I do have a request."

(Ano po 'yun, Miss?)

Ilang saglit pa akong hindi nakapagsalita hanggang sa kinaya ko na. "Could we do an early and exclusive one in Sitio Tumana?"

(Sitio Tumana ho? Check ko po muna, Miss—Anong sabi?—Nagtatanong kung pwedeng magpa-early book signing sa Sitio Tumana. Eh saan ba 'yun?—Sitio Tumana? Hala ka! Hindi kaya nakakatakot doon? Eh kababalita lang sa TV na may nagpakamatay na naman doon eh—Hayaan na natin. Bigyan na lang ng maayos na lugar at security. Once in a lifetime opportunity oh—Ay sige, bahala ka—Miss Infinite Ink?)

"I'm here." Actually, kanina pa pero ayos lang naman. "Would my request be granted?"

(Yes po, Miss. Maraming salamat po.)

That somehow made me smile. "Thank you as well. Bye."

When the person bid goodbye as well, I ended the call and put my phone back on my table. I lay down on my bed and closed my eyes.

Now, all I have to do is let them announce the event and sign a lot of books. I let out a sigh. I'll just inform Officer Benjie tomorrow morning. Right now, I think I need to sleep.

And I think my mind felt tired after a couple of minutes, so it decided to rest.