LOHIKA [COMPLETED]

Chapter VI [Edited 2022] - The Bracelet

Jiwon and Kit headed to the rooftop, but they found out that it was closed. Unable to do what they were planning, they decided to just go home.

The following day, everyone was stupefied to see the grieving mother of Renz Mendoza in front of the senior high building, crying as she finally got to see the last place where her son was found alive.

"Natividad, kolektahin mo ang mga assignments. Pakidala sa faculty," huling bilin ni Mrs. Gonzo bago ito lumabas ng silid aralan.

Jiwon did her task. Dinala niya sa faculty ang mga assignments ng kanilang section para sa Business Math subject. Nang makarating siya doon ay naroon din ang ina ni Renz Mendoza. Kausap ito ng mga guro habang habag na habag sa pag-iyak.

Hindi nakayanang magtagal ni Jiwon sa loob, lumabas agad siya at doon nadatnan niyang nakatayo at nakasandal sa pader ng faculty si Jayce.

Jayce wiped his eyes as he saw Jiwon. He managed to walk a few steps away but...

"Jayce!" she called him.

Tumigil sa paglalakad ang binata. At dahil hindi ito lumilingon ay ang dalaga na ang naglakad papunta sa harapan niya.

She saw that his eyes were shaking. He couldn't meet hers. "May gusto ka bang sabihin sa kanya?" She was referring to Renz's mother.

Imbis na sumagot ay tiningnan nito ang kanang kamay. There was a reddish mark on his wrist. Agad niya iyong tinakluban ng isa pa niyang kamay nang mapansin niyang doon rin nakatingin ang dalaga. Then he walked past her, in a hurry, as if someone's chasing him.

Nagdaan ang maghapon na walang ibang nasa isip si Jiwon kundi ang kahinahinalang marka sa kamay ni Jayce.

"Jiwon, may party tonight sa bahay namin. Can you come?" Hanny's face was so hopeful. She never failed to invite her whenever there was an occassion, and Jiwon never failed to say no. Ngunit kahit na ganoon ang sagot parati ng kaeskwela, hindi pa rin siya nawawalan ng pag-asa na balang-araw, magbabago rin ang sagot nito at makakasama rin nila sa labas ng eskwelahan ang magandang dalaga.

"No, I'm sorry," Jiwon's usual reply.

"Jiwon!"

Nabaling ang tingin niya sa binatang tumawag sa kanya na nakatayo sa pinto ng kanilang silid aralan.

It was Kit. May hawak itong ring na may nakasabit na mga susi. He waved it in the air. Proud of himself again that he was able to make the girl he liked to smile. Her eyes were beaming with hope.

They ran upstairs to the rooftop. Nang mabuksan nila ang pinto, ay pinasadahan ni Jiwon ng tingin ang buong lugar.

Isang magulo at makalat na rooftop ang tumambad sa kanila. Basta na lang nakasalansan at nakakalat ang mga sirang upuan. Tila matagal na iyong hindi nabibisita ng management ng eskwelahan.

"Mukhang... wala naman tayong clue na makikita dito," Kit said with disappointment showing in his innocent face. Indeed he was the typical type to give up when something feels too complicated. Maliban lang sa nararamdaman niya sa dalagang kasama.

Imbis na magpadala sa disappointment ng binata, pinagsama-sama ni Jiwon ang lahat ng impormasyon na alam niya. "Umakyat sa fourth floor si Renz around 7:20 am. Nakita pa siya ni Dylan sa comfort room na umiiyak. Then he went here. 7:33 siya nahulog. Based sa kwento ni Dylan, sandali lang ang itinagal ni Renz sa cr. Two to three minutes is enough para umiyak siya du'n at mag-isip ng gagawin. Another minute para umakyat dito. The question is... anong nangyari dito sa rooftop for the rest of the minutes na natira?"

"Baka pinag-isipan niya kung magpapakamatay ba siya o hindi," he said as if it could help in deducing the case.

"We can't just write a story. Hindi pa rin natin na-coconfirm ang alibi nina Akina at Jayce. Ayaw magsalita ni Jayce, absent pa rin si Akina." Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad patungo sa mismong lugar kung saan sinabi ng mga pulis na tumalon si Renz.