The President's Paramore

Episode 40: Walter

AFTER a few minutes of lingering silence with nothing but fear and sympathy for Walter, we have already reached the police station. Marami na rin ang mga media na nag-aabang dito. Ani Thelma, dito dinala ang kaibigan namin matapos makita ng awtoridad ang tungkol sa CCTV footage ng condo building ni Rebecca Bustamante.

All of their eyes are on us the moment we stormed out of Lijah's car. Hanggang sa dire-diretso na kaming pumasok sa loob ng police station. Noong una ay akmang pipigilan pa sana kami ng isang pulis pero sinabi namin na malapit na kaibigan kami ni Walter. In the end, they allowed us to enter but with one condition, bawal kaming mag-cover ng kahit na anong report footage inside the station.

On my mind, I am yelling, "why would we fucking do a report shoot here when the freedom and the life of our close friend is at risk?!"

Naglakad na kami papasok. Pinatuloy nila kami sa isang bakanteng kwarto na may salamin. Just like in the movies, alam namin na ang salamin na iyon ay transparent. Na may manonood sa amin sa likod niyon.

"I really just can't believe this, guys," sambit ni Lijah, "nakasama ko pa siya kahapon, eh. He is actually broken hearted because he and his girlfiend had an argument again."

"Na naman? Nag-away na naman sila?" Thelman facepalmed.

Then it was my turn to ask a question, "wait, sino nga uli iyong girlfriend niya?"

"Si Althea, right? Remember her? The daughter of the corrupt Mayor of Davao City?"

"Oh, right," tumango ako, "pero bakit ba kasi may pagpunta pa itong si Walter sa party na iyon? Imbes na nananahimik siya habang sinusuyo si Althea—"

Natigilan ako sa pagsasalita nang biglang magbukas ang pinto. Then there is an initial stabbing pain on my chest the moment Walter's eyes met mine. Right now, his hair is messy. Malaki ang eye bags niya at mababakas sa kanyang mukha ang takot. Nakasuot pa rin siya ng damit na siyang nakitang suot niya sa CCTV Footage.

His looks is way different from his usual playboy looks.

"Walter!" Thelma mumbled then walked towards him. She hugged him tight.

Wala na kaming hinintay na sandali pa ni Lijah. We also walked towards him and gave him a tight hug. Nagsimulang pumatak ang mga luha sa mga mata ko nang gumanti siya ng yakap sa amin.

"Ano ba kasing nangyari?" Hinampas ko siya sa kanyang braso. Tuloy-tuloy na ang hindi mapigilang luha sa mga mata ko.

Huminga siya nang malalim. Matapos ay naupo sa bakanteng upuan, his face darkened more and the sadness on his eyes is obviously mirorring what he has inside his chest.

"To be honest, hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang nangyari," napahilamos siya sa kanyang mukha, "ang huling alaala ko na lang talaga ay iyong marami akong nainom na alak. Then I just passed out before I can even stop myself from lying down on that bed."

"And then the next morning. Nagulat na lang ako na nagising ako sa kama na iyon," a long moment of silence has pass, seems like he can't say the next words that he is ought to say, "t-then there was a knife on my hand, it was full of blood."

Habang patuloy siya sa pagkukwento ay garalgal ang kanyang boses. He was so close at crying but he is handling it well.

"Then when I went to the bathroom, I saw Rebecca. Lifeless. B-Bukas 'yung mga mata habang naliligo siya sa sariling dugo sa bath tub."

The three of us gasped but no one dare to mumble even a single word. Seems just like me, all they wanted to do now is to just listen to what Walter has to say.

"That time, tuliro na talaga ako. Hindi ko na alam kung anong dapat na gawin. Punong-puno ako ng kaba. Ng takot. Ng kilabot," tears are now escaping on his eyes, "at alam kong guguho na ang mundo ko. Alam kong magiging magulo na ang lahat sa akin. Alam kong ang kasunod na nito ay ang pagkabasura ng lahat ng pinaghirapan ko. Ng lahat ng pangarap ko."