REVERSE ✓

Epilogue: The Last Show

CASSIEN

THE VAN suddenly stopped.

"Hmm, looks like your big baby ran out of gas," Ranpo blurted. His demeanor was as calm as ever as he was looked through a window, observing Newt and the other person- which turned out to be Lisbeth. They were about a one meter away from the van. Kung hindi huminto ang sasakyan namin, malamang nasagasaan na sila at nahulog kaming lahat sa bangin.

Halos atakihin na ako sa puso dahil sa pa-suspense na nangyari sa 'min. Without my own notice, naramdaman ko ang dalawang kamay na pinunasan ang magkabia kong pisngi. I was crying unnoticed to myself. I looked up and blurry face of Ranpo came to my line of vision.

"Shh, it's alright now."

Is it over?

I came to my senses when I heard a door of a van being shut open. Nakita ko na lang na biglang hinigit ni Newt palabas ng driver's seat ang clown at pinadapa ito sa sahig, securing him with all of his might. Narinig ko ang sinabi ni Ranpo kanina. It couldn't be possible.

"K-Keith Abrantes?" bulong ko. I know na hindi lang katawan ko ang nanginginig kundi pati na rin ang boses ko.

Bumaba kami ng van at pinaupo ako ni Ranpo sa isang malaking bato. He remained silent and took a seat right next to me. Our current position, nasa harapan namin sina Newt, Lisbeth at clown- Ranpo and I watching them apprehend our perpetrator.

"Haa. . . I should've seen this coming," sabi ni Lisbeth at tiningnan nang masama ang clown. "Ito ba ang ultimate revenge mo, Keith?"

No, no. May sira na talaga ang pandinig ko. Hindi si Keith 'yon, my ears were tricking me! Tinakpan ng dalawa kong palad ang mg tainga ko para hindi ko na marinig ang pinagsasabi nila.

Some flashbacks streamed down my head.

Keith was sitting on our clubroom with an innocent face.

Keith smiling back at me as I steal glances.

Keith was feeding the stray cats.

Keith was offering his drink to me back in the hospital.

Keith was helping the kids in the market with me.

Keith waving goodbye to me.

"This doesn't make any sense!" I unbelievably gazed at Ranpo.

"Well, it would if you were only smarter."

"R-Remove the makeup," bulong ko at niyakap ang sarili ko. I had to make sure- Ranpo's just a human after all. Nagkakamali rin siya.

"There's no use, Cassien. Just accept the fact, okay?" I heard Keith's voice coming out of the clown's lips. At magmula no'n, hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Nahihilo na rin ako at parang mawawalan ng malay. Should I take a rest first? Napagod rin ako, e.

"Why did you do this!?" sigaw ko na puno-puno ng galit. "Hindi ka naman ganitong klase ng tao, 'di ba!?"

Unti-unti na rin akong nauubusan ng lakas. Hindi ko yata kakayanin ang revelation na 'to. Hindi ko inaakalang ang anghel sa paningin ko ay ang demonyong hinahabol namin.

"The motive?" Newt finally spoke. "You're Jillian Aragona's boyfriend before she died. And you believed these four friends of hers murdered her in the fire. That's where you're wrong, dark dragon. In fact, she committed suicide."

Nagulat kaming lahat. I even noticed how Lisbeth's hands were trembling. Simula nang makilala ko siya, I knew she was a sturdy woman but seeing her state right now, naalala kong isa lang din siyang taong nawalan ng kaibigan two years ago.