Behind the Veil

(4) Baby Steps

GLAD that Bryan volunteered to bring the wounded victim to the hospital. It allowed us to leave the scene without revealing our identity.

"Oh," abot ko pabalik kay Alvarez ng balaclavas habang naglalakad kami pabalik ng dorm. "Bakit ka may ganyan? Magnanakaw ka 'no?"

"Sa itsura kong ito?" he asked in disbelief.

I quickly scan him from head to toe. "Oo."

"Tsk! Kasama ito ng boxer na regalo ni Davian, okay? Bakit kailangan ko magnakaw, e kaya ka pa pag-aralin ng allowance ko."

Sa bagay.

"Kung ganoon ano'ng ginagawa mo sa lugar na 'yon? Kasama ka nila 'no?"

"Tingnan mo 'to! Una magnanakaw, ngayon naman gangster. Pangit mo humusga, magkasama na nga tayo roon kanina."

"Sensya na mataas trust issue ko sa kupal."

He let out a resigned sigh. "Alam mo pagod na 'ko mag-explain. Ang layo rin kaya ng tinakbo ko roon kanina."

Same. Naguguluhan din ako sa mga nangyayari kaya kagaya niya'y mas pinili kong manahimik na lang. Pero hindi rin nagtagal ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin dalawa.

"Ikaw? Ano'ng ginagawa mo roon?" putol niya.

"I'm following someone," I admitted.

"Takte ka! Ikaw pala itong stalker sa'tin dalawa tapos ako itong pag-iisipan mo ng masama. How dare you!" he dramatically said. He's now walking backwards only to face me.

"I have reasons, ikaw?"

"The map sends me there,"

Bahagya akong natawa sa sinabi niya. "Buti pinagkatiwalaan ka ni Dora."

"Haha, funny." he laughed sarcastically. "How about yours? I bet you have a better reason."

I sighed when I remembered the image of the victims.

"I saw the victim anxious earlier with these people. I'm curious and my curiosity brought me there."

Mula sa sulok ng aking mga mata nakita kong pinasok niya ang parehong kamay sa magkabilang bulsa.

"Curiosity kills that cat," he used the common proverb we all know.

"But a cat has nine lives. Isa lang naman ang kinuha ko," I defend, arms locked in front of my chest.

"Nine lives my ass!" he snapped. "Kapag ba nasagasaan ng truck ang pusa, sa tingin mo babangon 'yon na parang walang nangyari?" he asked.

"A truck can kill a cat. Ganoon din ang kaya nilang gawin sa'yo. One wrong move against their way, you're dead." and he uses his hand to mimic a handgun to shoot me.

"Kilala mo sila?" kwestyon ko na nagpahinto sa kanya. Ilang segundo rin siyang nakatayo roon bago lumingon sa direksyon ko.

"Malay ko," tugon niya at nagmadali sa paglalakad pero hindi ko siya hinayaan. Ginamit ko ang talento ni Elly sa panghihikayat para magsalita siya.

"Damit!" he cussed out of frustration, having no choice to spill the tea. "Fine! I'm going to tell you, but make sure it won't reach the others." kondisyon niya. I give him an assurance nod.

"They called themselves Nocturno. A group that uses advanced technology to hunt down their victims every night through devices. There are rumors from students telling that this group creates various fake profiles on LU's platform to harass and humiliate their victims by sharing personal information about them, that includes their dirty little secrets..."

"The reason why they're doing this is to order their victim to do something in favor of them. Once the victim disobeys, Nocturno will link their secrets against them. Then after carrying out these actions, they erase all traces of their presence on the platform. I thought it was just a rumor. I thought their activities were limited to the internet not until I saw what happened back there. They aren't just rumors. They are real and capable of hurting people..."