The Girl who Lived

22. The Message

Pagkahapon ay pumunta na ako sa Vale University. The memory that I'd seen earlier today  created a ruckus inside my head. But I didn’t allow it to consume my mind because I still have an important thing to confirm.

Pagkapasok ko pa lang sa classroom ay sinalubong na agad ako ng mga kaklase ko. They all have the same worried expression on their faces when they looked at me.

“Are you sick, Amity?” tanong ng isang babaeng naaalala ko bilang ang student monitor namin. I shook my head at her as I made my way towards my seat. Pinadaan naman nila akong lahat habang ako ay lumilinga sa buong silid.

May sumulpot namang isa pang babae sa harap ko at inilahad niya sa akin ang kanyang cellphone. “Someone saw you in the hospital, Miss Amity. May nangyari ba?” she asked afterwards with concern flashing in her eyes.

Her phone’s brightness was very high so I squinted in order for me to get a better look. Pero kumunot naman ang aking noo nang makitang litrato ko ang ipinapakita niya.

It was a stolen shot of me leaving the hospital. But who the heck captured that photo? Is someone stalking me?

“I just visited a friend. Sino pala ang kumuha niyan?” pagtatanong ko sa babae. I tried my best not to raise my voice at her because I was still taken aback. Seeing that photo gives me the creeps.

“Pinost po ito sa fan page niyo. I’m sure that the photographer is one of your supporters.” Tumango lang ako sa kanya pagkatapos bago ako umupo. I almost forgot that I’m quite famous around here. Pero parang hindi ako mapakali dahil do'n. I instantly felt caged and watched. Nanliit naman ako pagkatapos sa aking kinauupuan.

“Hey, Amity! Bakit hindi mo kasama si Klein? Did he get fired?” tanong naman ng lalaking nasa harapan ko. Si Kuya Ramon na kasi ngayon ang katabi ko.

I didn't have the chance to answer him because his seatmate interfered. “Haven’t you heard the news? He got into an accident.”

When I wandered my eyes, I saw that some of my classmates were still looking at me. I sensed that they wanted to ask me something. But my serious aura today seemed to make them think twice before approaching me.

It’s already one in the afternoon but the other seat beside me was still vacant. “Where’s Wren?” tanong ko. The girl whose name is Xenia answered me.

“She didn't attend our classes earlier, just like you. She rarely gets late so I'm guessing that she's also absent this afternoon,” sagot niya sa akin habang pinapaikot niya ang hawak na ballpen gamit ang kanyang mga daliri.

Nanlamig na lang bigla ang aking kamay. Hindi na ba siya papasok ngayong nadiskubre ko na siya ang nasa likod ng lahat ng mga pagbabanta?

I was able to conclude that because I did some research while I was on my way here. At may nahanap akong isang online forum tungkol sa malagim na aksidente kung saan isa ako sa mga biktima.

In that site, I saw that the members promoted hate and blamed one of the deceased for causing the accident. And unfortunately, Walter Oliveros was the main topic of the heated discussion.

Sinisi nila ang tatay ng aking kaklase kasi dahil daw sa kanyang kapabayaan ay nangyari ang aksidente. But it was clearly stated in the news that the transportation vehicle fell of the cliff when the brakes malfunctioned. Nawalan na lang ng kontrol si Mr. Oliveros dahil umuulan din ng gabing iyon.

Hindi ko natapos basahin ang mga nakalagay sa site na 'yon dahil sumama ang loob ko kahit hindi ako ang pinapatamaan ng mga masasakit na komento. Pero paano na lang kaya kung nabasa iyon ng pamilya nila Wren?

Wren may be a shy and quiet person but people like them are the scariest when they explode. 

At kapag naaalala ko kasi ang matinding galit ng caller ay naiisip kong maaaring gano'n din ang naramdaman ni Wren nang isinisi sa yumao niyang ama ang nangyaring aksidente.