The Girl who Lived

15. The Warning

"Justice is the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments."

I was quietly watching Wren when she recited the definition of the word justice. Namangha naman ako dahil eksakto talaga ang sinabi niya sa kahulugang nakalagay dito sa diksiyunaryo. We have an oral recitation today in our Political Theory class and I'm not that confident so I downloaded a dictionary app.

Sir Palmon would give a conceptual term to us and all we have to do is to give its meaning and interpret it afterwards using our own words. Wala naman akong problema sa pangalawa. Iyong pang-una lang talaga ako nahirapan. I'm trying my best though. Using the app is just my back-up plan. Gagamitin ko lang ito kapag wala na talaga akong masagot.

Maayos ko namang natago ang aking cellphone sa ilalim ng aking desk. I don't know if Klein saw me doing it because I can't check the direction of his eyes due to his sunglasses.

I even heard rumors about him earlier from my blockmates. Na baka daw bulag siya o may katarata kaya parating nakasalamin. But I'm as clueless as them because I also don't know what's with him. Pero hindi ko na lang siya ginulo pa dahil ang mahalaga, ginagawa niya ang kanyang trabaho.

I clapped along with my supportive classmates when Wren finished her recitation. Nainggit naman ako nang kaunti sa kanya dahil tapos na siya. That would really be the benefit if you're the first one to be called. Kakabahan ka sa una pero kapag tapos ka na ay hayahay na ang buhay mo.

But what happened earlier this morning crossed my mind again. I'm pretty sure that the sound was coming from Wren's room. Pero hindi na ako nakapasok doon dahil naabutan ako ni Butler Prius. Hindi ko alam na naglilibot na siya sa buong mansyon ng gano'n kaaga. But because of his appearance, I wasn't able to check on Wren.

I tried to act normal with her when we had breakfast together before going to the university. I don't want to accuse her but my mind got better of me. Pero hindi ko ipinahalata sa kanya na pinaghihinalaan ko siya. Kailangan kong makahanap ng ebidensiya para mapatunayan ang kutob ko. And it's a good thing that she's staying in my house for a while so I can keep my eye on her.

Sir Palmon's loud but low voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "The first basic concept reminds me of what happened yesterday. I hope those two victims get the justice that they deserve." Pagkasabi no'n ng aming propesor ay biglang umingay ang paligid. My classmates' voices filled our spacious room and the collective sound reminded me of bees buzzing around flowers.

Someone raised a hand afterwards. Tumango naman si Sir Palmon sa kaklase para bigyan siya ng pahintulot na magsalita.

"Those murders were the first killings that happened after almost two decades, hindi ba sir?" Malungkot namang tumango ang aming guro bilang sagot.

Lumakas nang bahagya ang ingay ng aking mga kaklase dahil sa tinugon ni Sir Palmon. Parang kami lang nila Klein at Wren ang hindi nakikipagtsismisan. All of my other classmates were having discussions with their seatmates about the recent happenings.

"Babe, natatakot na ako! Why would this happen while Mayor Prescott is away? No one will save us if this stuff continues!" rinig kong wika ng isang babae sa aking likuran. Lilingon na sana ako pero hindi na iyon natuloy dahil nakita kong nilalambing siya ng kasintahan niya. Gross.

"Don't be afraid, babe. You don't need the mayor. Ako ang poprotekta sa 'yo." Parang masusuka na ako sa kakornihan ng magjowa kaya pinilit kong ituon ang aking atensiyon sa ibang nag-uusap.

"Something's bothering me for a while. Hindi ka ba nagtataka kung bakit malapit sa university natin ang mga pinangyarihan ng krimen, Xenia?" tanong ng lalaking nasa harapan ko sa kanyang katabi.