The Girl who Lived

31. The Advice

“Puta! Bakit ka pumasok?” malakas na bulalas ni Qadim. His thunderous voice echoed in the four corners of the room, making me recoil slightly. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagtitiim-bagang siya ngayon.

But the heck! Wala siyang karapatang sigawan ako ng ganito!

“Do you really expect na tutunganga lang ako sa labas pagkatapos mo akong talikuran? Grow up, Qadim! Matuto ka rin sanang rumespeto kapag may kumakausap sa ‘yo!” I said angrily. Nakita kong naglakad siya papunta sa akin at alam kong ipagtutulukan niya ako palabas kaya hinarang ko ang aking kamay sa kanya.

I can feel the strong beats of his heart when my palm met his broad chest. I forcefully pushed him away but he didn’t move much. “Lumabas na tayo...” wika niya na may halong pagsusumamo. He was using his body to block the web from my sight but I had already seen enough.

“I'm so tired of being clueless about things, Qadim. Instead of pushing me away, can you just enlighten me about what I'm seeing?” matamlay kong saad. My breaths were already labored. Pagod na akong makipagtalo sa kaya.

I don’t want to be ignorant any longer. Iyon lang naman ang gusto ko. Was it too much to ask?

Mukhang wala pa ring balak si Qadim na magsalita kaya mahaba akong napabuntong hininga. “Ano ang Equinox Organization? At bakit may ganito sa bahay mo?” tanong ko sa kanya.

“My father made this...” panimula niya. He sat on the armrest of a couch before he looked at me. The fluorescent lamp was casting his shadow on the floor as he spoke.

“He works as a private investigator. But I don’t know why he’s determined to put this organization into light. Parati ko siyang nakikitang pumapasok sa kuwartong 'to noon pa man,” he said grimly.

“Bakit? What’s with this organization?” My lips were pressed into a thin line as I waited for his response. I really don't have a single clue about what this association is all about and why Qadim doesn't want me learning anything about it.

Tumikhim ang lalaki bago tumingin sa akin. Ipinagkrus ko ang aking braso sa harap ng aking dibdib dahil hindi ako komportable sa titig niya. “It is a secret syndicate which commits crimes for different reasons. They also engage in illegal activities in exchange for money or anything that will benefit their organization.”

Wait... what?

Napatingin ako kay Qadim at wala akong nakitang bakas na nagsisinungaling siya. “I read in my father's research that there are six primary members in that organization. Distinguishable code names that represent a part of the day were given to those individuals. So he assumed that they are named Dawn, Morn, Noon, Dusk, Twilight and Midnight. They were given those aliases by the head of the organization who goes with the moniker Day because their names determine the time when they execute missions ranging from robberies to mass killings.”

I almost forgot how to breathe for a moment. My eyes went up to the polaroid photos attached from strings on the ceiling and I gaped when I saw that they were photos of murders and other heinous crimes.

“Kagagawan ba nila ang mga ito?”

In my peripheral view, I saw Qadim nodded. The pictures were printed in black and white but that couldn’t hide how the victims were brutally slain. But other crimes were cleanly done, like a perfect shot in the middle of a person's forehead.

“Pero bakit hindi sila nahuhuli?” taka kong pag-usisa.

“They are all powerful and dangerous. The organization is not only composed of gangs and skilled mercenaries, but also of people with high ranks in society. Kaya dahil doon ay protektado sila at nagagawa nilang linisin ang mga krimeng ginawa nila. My father tried infiltrating their system but it was a hopeless case. Hindi na niya sinubukang magsumbong sa kapulisan dahil baka may makaalam sa kanyang ginagawa. Because there’s a possibility that there are spies working in the police station and even in other agencies.”