Beneath The Clandestine Paradise (Chaotic Series #3)

Kabanata 46

Beneath The Clandestine Paradise

Kabanata 46

"Kami mismo ang nag-imbestiga. Grim has found the gunman of Arivaro's case ten years ago. Sa isang provincial city jail niya nahanap at kinausap niya mismo ang pumatay. You know how he's good with words, right?" ani Simon at sinalpak ang flash drive.

Nasa penthouse na kami. Zame called to inform us that they are on their way back. Someone called Teylie to assure us that Grim and Zame are indeed coming back. Thank God nothing happened to him!

"Let's watch this footage," Simon clicked the cursor.

The old CCTV footage of the hospital. Kitang-kita kami roon ni Arivaro na palabas. We were talking and he was holding me. Nasa kalagitnaan na kami ng hagdan pababa nang bigla siyang bumulagta.

"See?" Simon paused the video.

"What do you mean?" Kumunot ang noo ko dahil hindi ko siya maintindihan.

Nakaupo si Simon at Yary sa sofa. Kami naman ni Kristina at Rems ay nakatayo. Teylie is beside her Tito Simon, drinking water.

"Watch carefully, Arie. Noong una, hindi mo iisipin na pwede 'yon. Pero kung tatalasan mo ang isip mo, posibleng ikaw talaga ang target."

I watched the footage closely again. But because my mind was worrying about Grim and Zame, I couldn't focus properly.

Hininto ni Simon ang video. "O ano? Gets mo na?" Nilingon niya ako.

Tumango ako at umiling. Pati ako ay hindi ko naintindihan ang sinagot ko.

Tumikhim si Teylie.

"Mom, look at this," She forwarded the video, slowed down the speed, and started pointing out in detail. "You two were walking outside, and then you were so close to each other. Just before the shooting, he suddenly moved to the right, at mukhang may sasalubugin sana kaya natakpan ka po. The moment he moved, he was shot. It means, kung hindi ka niya natakpan, ikaw po ang tatamaan."

My jaw dropped. Teylie forwarded the video again and played it at normal speed. I watched it closely.

I couldn't believe what they observed. Noong una, hindi ko binigyang pansin ang kuha sa CCTV. It traumatized me. Isang beses ko lang pinanood dahil lumabas sa imbestigasyon na may nagplanong pumatay kay Arivaro because he failed saving a child, and the parents were mad due to unsuccessful operation.

Bahagyang lumakad si Arivaro sa kanan dahil may sasalubungin dapat kaming kaibigan niya. At saktong pagtapos no'n, bumalagta na siya.

All this time, mga Fontalba ang nasa likod nito? They... tried to killed me. I was the target.

I heard the sound of elevator. Narinig ko agad ang mga yabag ng dalawang magkapatid. Grim looks cool and sleepy. Lumapit siya sa akin nang may ngiti sa labi. Hindi naman ako makangiti.

"Shit's done," he said cooly and kissed me on the lips.

"Sa harap ko pa talaga naghahalikan." I heard Rems murmur.

"Grim, isn't really true? The Fontalbas are the mastermind of the crime?" Hindi ko makapaniwalang tanong.

"Yup," he glanced at Teylie. "Good job, babe."

Teylie gave her a proud thumbs-up. Kumindat pa siya sa akin.

"Umamin ba ang mga Fontalba? How did you make confess the gunman? Baka naman nagsisinungaling lang ang killer?"

"Hindi aamin ang mga Fontalba sa kasalanan nila pero may tetestigo. The eyewitness is in my hands, Arie. Kung natakasan nila 'to noon at gumawa ng kwento para sa iba mabunton ang sisi, sa akin hindi sila makakatakas. They are done blaming you. They are done with us. Ako ang tatapos," he said while looking me in the eyes. "Tapos na sila sa'yo."