The Illusionist

Chapter 3

"CHAE-YA?" As the coin dropped on the ground, Seo Hyo forgot to compose himself. Napatakip siya sa kaniyang bibig nang makita ang katawan ng kaibigan na nabalot ng dugo.

Dumagundong sa paligid ang sigawan ng mga tao at hindi napansin ang sinabi ng lalaki. Nagsimula nang magkagulo ang lahat, nagsitakbuhan at nagtutulakan palabas ng exit sa dalawang rason; takot sa patay na katawan o takot na madawit sa kaguluhan.

The chaos didn't continue, however, when the man who pointed his finger on him ran towards the stage, looking at him with hatred and anger. This time, he screamed, "You are behind this, aren't you?"

Umalingawngaw ang malakas niyang boses dahilan para mapalingon ang mga tao sa kaniyang direksyon.

"A-are you insane?" Seo Hyo muttered. Salubong ang kaniyang mga kilay na nakatingin sa lalaki at ang kaniyang kaibigan, si Daejung. Ni hindi niya man lang ito napansin na isa pala ito sa nanonood. Kung sabagay, iba na ang kasuotan nito kumpara kaninang umaga, pati ang kulay ng buhok nito ay nag-iba at naging pula.

"Don't deny it!" Namuo ang mga luha sa mga mata nito at muli siyang dinuro. "You killed my friend!"

"What is this guy saying?" one of the people from the crowd whispered, followed by another one, then another one, until it became a pool of whispers about thinking of several guesses from their situation.

Meanwhile, he just stood there unable to move, and was still processing of what was laid in front of him. He couldn't look straight at the eyes of the dead woman lying on the ground. What happened in the morning flashed his mind like a palindrome, repeating and bopping his mind with a nightmare. He couldn't think of anything else to do, even though there was a thought slipping his mind that Daejung was trying to frame him. What else could be the reason why he was here and crashing his performance if not to cover up his murder?

One thing he just couldn't think of, out of all the time, why it had to be this moment? Was he trying to get the audience's sympathy?

"Hey! Sino ka para sabihin na si Kaspar ang pumatay?" sigaw ng isang babae mula sa mga manonood. "Papaano niya pinatay iyan kung nandito siya at nagpe-perform?"

"Oo nga! Wala ka ring ebidensiya para sabihin iyan!" sang-ayon ng isa. "Kagaya mo, lahat tayo ay nagulat sa nangyari."

"Tumawag kayo ng police. Bilis!" suhestiyon pa ng isa.

Dumating naman ang kaniyang ina. Hinawakan nito ang kaniyang braso. "Son, what is happening?" Napunta ang tingin nito sa patay na katawan at ni Daejung. Kamuntikan na itong matumba sa gulat kung 'di niya pa sinuportahan ang baywang nito.

"Hindi niyo naiintindihan!" sigaw ni Daejung dahilan para matahimik ang mga tayo. Hinarap ng lalaki ang mga manonood. "I saw him before the performance. My friend and I is supposed to watch his show to support him, after all, he is our friend too. We were ready to watch the performance when Chae-a left to the comfort room. Hinayaan ko lang siyang umalis, pero nagtaka na lang ako dahil hindi na siya nakabalik pa. Sinundan ko siya kanina pero nagulat ako sa nakita ko . . ." Daejung then, with a tearful eye looked at him with contempt. "This man killed her. I saw it with my own eyes!"

Napuno ng pagsinghap ang lugar dahil sa sinabi ni Daejung. Ang iba ay nakumbinse sa sinabi at nataranta. Ang iba naman ay nananatiling nagtatanong ang mga isipan, hindi mawari kung dapat nga ba nilang paniwalaan ang sinasabi ng lalaki.

This asshole, Seo Hyo thought. Tama nga na gusto nitong makuha ang simpatya ng mga manonood, pero bakit? If he just wanted to frame him, would it be best for him to call the attention of those in power? For instance, the police.

"Do you think the people are foolish enough to believe you?" He finally found his voice again.

Napalingon naman si Daejung sa kaniya. "You are the fool one." Muli nitong nilingon ang masa. "Listen, everyone. This man has been fooling you since the beginning. He is not someone you can trust!"