Chapter 1: The Suspects

How could the perpetrator do such crime? How could he/she managed do that to a lady of kindness?

Eena is an epitome of decency. She is like a living angel. I can justify that since I was once showered by her warmed heart. I guess almost everybody does.

If she knew she can help, then she will. If she knew someone hate her, then she will feel nothing but empathy.

She don't deserve what she had gone through. Hmm. Actually, no one does.

As I was drowned by my thoughts, my eyes hit Tivo. I immediately averted my gaze. He's looking at me, too.

The maintenance guy, a lady in her 20s, Celestine Sevilla and Triptivo Lopez.

Great! What a wonderful reunion!

We all reunited in a crime where as we are all suspects.

"So, we are going to start with you Ms. Torres since you were the one who saw the body first." I respond a nod at the officer. "What were you doing at the victims unit? How are you related to the victim?"

"Ms. Fortalejo is an acquaintant of mine. She do have personal appointment with me at her unit, 8:oo pm in the evening."

"How did you find the body?"

"As I have said I have a personal appointment with her at 8:00 pm in the evening at her unit. When I reached her unit, I pressed the doorbell a couple of times but no Eena answered. I was about to call her when I slightly hit the door. That was the time I found out that the door was opened all along. My curiosity attacked so I decided to enter the unit and that's when I saw Eena."

I hope I didn't look constipated. Triptivo is looking at me, shamelessly. So awkward!

"What were you doing around 7 pm?"

"I was fixing some of my staff in my unit at the upper floor."

"Do you have a proof to your statement?"

"I think the CCTV camera in the upper floor will do. You can check that I went out of the room around 6 am, went in at 10 am and after that I didn't left my unit until 8 pm. About the appointment," I fiddled at my phone and held it to them. "That's her email to me."

"Last, about my statement on how I found the body, I don't have any concrete proof since CCTV cameras in this floor were having technical issues and so this floor is sort of prohibited to roamed around unless one of the host will inform the management. But I assure you that's the actual truth."

The officer nodded and wrote down the statements I have said.

"Mr. Castro, you were the one who called us right?"

"Yes," Mr. Castro nodded. "Actually, Ms. Torres told me to, since I was too flabbergasted and have lost my senses when I saw the Ms. Fortalejo."

"So, you were the second person who saw the victim. How come?"

Mr. Castro nodded. "I was told to clean Ms. Fortalejo's unit around 8 pm."

"Who told you then? Personally? If not, at what time?"

"Ms. Eena," then he shook his head. "...through intercom. That was 7:52 pm."

I contemplated Mr. Castro, thoroughly. He is trembling big time. His hands were shaky while his knees can't stop vibrating.

I kept looking at him when I felt someone was throwing me daggers of look. My eyes traveled to where it came from.

Goodness gracious!

Can he quit staring at me? It makes my heart pounding. I-I mean pounding due to nervousness. Yeah, right! nervousness.

I diverted my attention and decided to listen at Ms. Manansala's words.

"My friend can prove my alibi that I spent the remaining time with her that's why I logged out 7:56 pm."

As I have observed, she can't stay firm. She seemed so defensive.

If I look at Mr. Castro and her, their whole body were shaky. Only differs at their eyes, Mr. Castro was looking at the floor while Ms. Manansala was looking everywhere.

Someone cleared his throat loudly and spoke, "I am Eena's best friend. I presumed you knew already that my contact was on the dialed number. She called me and so I came. She looked miserable when I came. After a few minutes of her crying, she let me go home. I didn't bother asking her why-what happened since she's not used spilling and just called Celestine for companion. I left her unit at 6:35 pm. I logged out 8:00 pm because I stalked Ms. Manansala first. No offense meant, Darlene, I have a feeling that you were the reason to why Eena looked like a mess earlier." he frankly said.

"But, I didn't really left when I heard about what happened here." Triptivo stated without stopping for the officer to ask.

Well, he already stated all the answers the officer might threw.

The officer nodded and write again.

"Lastly, Ms. Sevilla. How are you related to the victim. What did you do with the victim at her unit?"

"I'm Eena's best friend, too. She cried and told me why. It's about Darlene, again." I saw her hands turned into fist. "They argued again about money. That girl!" Her voice raised and pointed her index finger at Darlene, "She always asks for Eena's money for her school when the truth is, it is for her vices!" Celestine Sevilla is really mad. "I will not be shocked if you were really the culprit behind this since you always physically abused her whenever she don't buy your act! I fvckin' hate you, Darlene. Hella to you!"

Her veins were visible, a sign that she's really tensed.

"Y-Yeah!" She raised her voice "But..," and it slowly turned into a little. "...I can't and will never reach with such kind of leverage."

"Really?" sarcasm and rage were evident at Triptivo's voice.

Darlene stood up. "Are we talking about the motives here now that can triggered to do that unto Eena?" she laughed. "Why don't you ask them officer? The marveled attorney Triptivo Lopez, remember you two shouting at each other in some room in BTV building? Prosecutor Celestine Sevilla..," she uttered sarcastically. "...remember when you two minutely fight using your taekwondo skills at her unit and yesterday you bent your knees, crying?"

I looked at Celestine who is obviously containing her anger.

"While, Atty. Cynwise Torres," I looked at her in confusion. Why does my name involved? "Remember when you slapped Eena at the elevator?"

My mood suddenly swang. By her statement, memories flashed that were supposed at the back of my brain.

"Officer?" the officer looked at me. "Did you see that?" confusion is written at him. "Look at the window."

As the police officer looked at the window, I stood up and slap Ms. Manansala so hard that made her out of balance.

I sat down and dusted my hands exactly when the officer looked at us. I can feel Triptivo and Celestine's stares at me.

The officer looked at me confusedly but didn't utter any words.

"Let me explain my side," I firmly stated like I did nothing earlier. "We argued? Yes. I slapped her? No. I just wake her senses up because she had withdrawn words that weren't to be withdrawn." I paused. "I always wake up person who dug that were just supposed to hosed. So, shut your mouth, Ms. Manansala."

I calmly lean my back against the backrest. "I'm capable of doing such things. I won't lie because everyone is capable of. But, I don't want to put myself at hell. I'm a lawyer so I'm aware of my conducts and I always based it, in law." I smiled. "I prefer words to afflict, not violence to lacerate."

"Based it in law? Why did you slap me, then?" she smirked. "Isn't it---"

I sighed. "I wake up senses. Didn't you hear me? Or you can't just comprehend the words I have said? Too high, I guess."

Her eyes widened after she heard what I have said.

They all looked at me, shockingly.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" I innocently asked.

Darlene Manansala looked at me then pointed me, "Are you accusing me of being an addict?"

"Got 'ya!" I heard Triptivo murmured.

My brows furrowed. "Did I accused you? Did I ever accused you? Did I really accused you? Watch your words, Ms. Manansala."

She was about to attack me when the police officer restrained her.

Silence deafened.

"I-I and E-Eena fight b-because--"

Celestine was cut off by Darlene Fortalejo, "Because you love Triptivo while Triptivo loves Eena!" she laughed. "Don't you ever deny it."

Celestine just bent down her head.

Triptivo sighed. "We argued about a feature in her show. I want her to give to me for she risking her life if she will pursue it."

There is a little bitterness in me. He do really care for her. But, at least now, he's a real man.

Not anymore a boy, who once treat my heart as his toy.

*****