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Chapter twenty-six

COURAGE

Sa pagbanggit niya ng numerong iyon, ang mga ulo ay dahan-dahang bumalin sa itinuturong suspek ng pinaghihinalaan ding suspek ng lahat.

As if I was drawing a circle, pina-ikot-ikot pa ang lahat, babalik lang din naman pala sa simula. Bago pa magsimula ang lahat kay Prisoner four na nakatuon ang atensyon ko. There was a tension between Prisoner three and four when we were at the lobby; as if they were plotting something against one of us. The missing guy, I figured it was him. Otso sila na naging nine bigla, but where could he possibly go?

If I were a criminal, where would I go after knowing I killed someone to avoid getting suspected?

"A-anong pinagsasabi niyo? I would never kill anyone! Nasa medical field both parents ko kaya hindi ko kayang pumatay ng tao!"

"Why so defensive?" pang-aasar ni Setsuna sa kaniya, humarap siya rito. "Do you mind?"

Mukhang hindi naintindihan ni Prisoner four ang pinapaalam ni Setsuna. Kunot-noo lamang ang binigay nitong sagot.

Despite Setsuna's slim figure, he managed to have to strength to pull his collar so that we could see Prisoner four's exposed skin nearby his chest area. It's full of hickeys! Almost all of our eyes widened by surprise. Umupo na ako sa upuan ko para makita pa ito nang maayos, but seems like Azazel still wants to be in the spotlight with Setsuna. Ansama ng tingin niya rito.

"Hey!" Prisoner four angrily brushed Setsuna's poor arm. Wala na siyang kawala sa kung ano mang sabihin niya, everyone is now deadly suspicious of him.

"Just like what I said, the dead body had hickeys too. Looks like they had a quick rough sex during the blackout. Isn't that right, Prisoner three?"

Mukhang paiyak na ang mukha ng babaeng binanggit niya. Kanina pa niya kinakagat labi niya at nanginginig sa takot. I observed her from my seat, there were no visible hickeys. Could it be that she's only a witness?

Not so long after, dahan-dahan siyang tumango. While Prisoner four seems to have a hard time controlling his anger, for the second time, he slammed his palms on his desk which suddenly become fragile because of him.

"Hey, chill man," mahinang tinulak paupo ulit ni Setsuna si Prisoner four. "With your atittude you'll become guilty in no time, that's boring."

"Let's hear from Prisoner three, uhh, we only have seven minutes left so make it quick; just like what they did—"

"What do you mean hear from Prisoner three—"

"Ssh! Sit down, Prisoner fourteen." They cut each other off, but Azazel was left defeated; he had no choice but to sit back down in his seat.

Lumunok muna ng laway si Prisoner three bago simulan ang kwento niya. It's probably from the pressure she felt, but one minute had already passed and we heard nothing but silence.

"If you don't start now everyone will die here. I mean, I don't mind but what about the others?" Sounding like a total psychopath, Setsuna managed to use reverse psychology on her. Huh, he surely learnt it from me.

Mukhang hindi na kinaya ni Prisoner four ang prisensya ni Setsuna sa desk niya kaya tinulak niya ito paalis, walang nagawa ang mahinang katawan niya at bumalik na rin siya sa upuan niya gaya ni Azazel. Dito na nagsimulang magkwento si Prisoner three.