7: The Big News

*CHAPTER SEVEN*

"Bran Davis has been brought to the hospital after he accidentally fell from the rooftop of his house. It was said that he is drunk and depressed after knowing that his name was involved in the latest murder in the City."

"Bran Davis has sustained a grave injury after he fell from the rooftop of his house, the reasons are yet to be investigated."

"Top personality of Randolf Nuñez murder case has been brought to the hospital after falling from the rooftop of his house."

"Iba talaga kapag mayaman, nahulog ka lang sa rooftop ng bahay mo dahil sa kalasingan, headlines kana ng ilang news media outlets." Patawang sabi ni James sabay lapag ng kanyang cellphone sa study table ng room namin.

Mahilig kasing manood ng balita kanyang Cellphone yan, kaya everytime na gigising yan ang page agad ng mga news media outlets ang iba-browse niya sa kanyang Cellphone.

"Baka kinarma lang yang Bran na yan. Halata namang sya talaga ang nagpapatay dun kay Nuñez, eh." Sabi naman ni Melchor na kakalabas lang ng banyo ng room namin.

"Agree with you buddy." Sabi naman ni Eric.

"Hey Buddies!!" Malakas na sigaw ni Ben, ang isa naming ka roommate na mahilig sa sports pero may pagka-bakla, habang malakas na binuksan ang pintuan ng aming room. Nagjo-jog na naman siguro sya sa labas. "There was a certain user in the Lexington's Platform whose name is Phantom Hero that posted a very interesting video. He is openly exposing the secret of the Davises!" Sabi pa nito. Pinaghalong excitement at amazement ang emosyong makikita sa mga mata nito habang ipinakita sa amin ang kanyang Cellphone.

"What?!"

"Seriously?!"

"Is that true?!"

Sunod-sunod na sambit nina James, Eric at Melchor. Samantalang kaming dalawa ni Sandro ang nagpupunas pa ng aming kanya-kanyang mga mata dahil kakagising palang namin.

"Look at this!" Sabi pa ni Ben.

Pinakita nya sa amin ang isang video na may caption na 'The secret of the Davises was finally revealed' sabay play nito. Agad na makikita sa medyo madilim na video ang apat na lalaking nag-uusap habang may hawak-hawak na mga basong may laman na wine. Ngunit kahit na medyo madilim ito, kitang-kita parin ang mga pagmumukha ng apat na nag-uusap.

"Hey! T-that guy with mustache wearing a pair of glasses is the City Prosecutor, right?" Nabiglang sabi ni Sandro nang makilala ang isa sa mga taong nasa video.

"You're right, Sander. He is our very own City Prosecutor." Sabi naman ni Ben sabay bigay ng approve sign kay Sandro. At yes, Sander yung tawag nya kay Sandro, hindi namin alam kung bakit.

"And that guy in the Tuxedo suit is the retired City Police Chief." Sabi naman ni James.

"You're right, James." Tugon naman ni Ben kay James.

I am really amazed the fact that these guys are really informed. Kilala nila yung mga malalaking tao sa lungsod. Samantalang ako, si Bran at yung kanyang ama lang ang kilala.

"Damn!" Tanging sambit ni James nang dumating na sila dun sa part na tinanong ng City Prosecutor si Bran tungkol dun sa hitmen na binayaran nya upang patayin si Nuñez. "So he's really behind the killing of Randolf Nuñez?!" Sabi nito.

"This is insane. This is really insane." Parang di makapaniwalang saad ni Sandro.

Kakagising pa kasi nung tao tapos ay ganitong uri ng balita pa ang makikita, syempre, baka iniisip nyang panaginip lang ito.

"The guy who posted this video is courting death." Parang kinakabahang bulong ni Eric.

"Unless he is really the Phantom Hero. The hero who went viral last night after saving Janine Valle." Sabi naman ni Melchor.

"There were theories about that." Tugon naman ni Ben kay Melchor. "Kasi isipin nyo naman, who would dare go to Brans house and take such video and post it in a social media platform? At kung mapapansin nyo, the one who caught the video was hiding dahil may nakaharang na kung ano sa halos kalahating parte ng camera nito as seen in the video. Tapos magalaw pa ang video." Sunod-sunod na sabi ni Ben.

"That makes sense. Pero mas mabuting hintayin nalang natin ang reaction ng mga Davis dito. Dahil tiyak na paiimbistigahan nila ito sa mga autoridad. Until then, let's not jump into conclusions." Kaswal na sabi ko.

Napatingin silang lima sa akin.

"Panira ka talaga ng moment, Gale. Maligo ka nga, ang baho mo!" Sabi ni Ben sa akin sabay pinandilatan ako ng mga mata.

Sa aming anim, si Ben lang yung mukhang ayaw sa akin. Pero wala akong paki dun.

Kaya as usual, kibit balikat lang ang tugon ko sa kanya sabay kuha ng aking tuwalya at tumungo sa banyo ng aming room upang maligo nang makapag-prepare na ako sa aking pasok mamayang alas syete ng umaga.

....

Pagkatapos kong maligo ay nadatnan kong ang uusap parin ang limang roommates ko tungkol sa latest events na nagpapagulo sa online world ng buong lungsod.

Pero pinabayaan ko nalang sila dahil baka mahalata nilang alam na alam ko na ang buong pangyayari.

Kaya ang ginawa ko ay nagbihis nalang at kaswal na umalis ng Dormitory para pumasok sa aking klase ngayong umaga.

Mamaya ko na titingnan kung ano reaction ng lahat kung makikita nila ang tungkol sa video na pinost ko kagabi.

"Shit! Shiittt!"

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang makarinig ako ng galit na galit na boses ng isang lalaki.

"When I found out who did this, you will see!!"

Nang tingnan ko ang direksyon kung saan nanggaling ang boses na yun ay nakita ko ang galit na galit na mukha ni Kenny.

Ahh. Nakalimutan kong pinag-tripan ko pala kagabi ang kanyang kotse. Haha kaya galit na galit yan.

I just smirked as I walked pass the Dormitory's parking area.

Medyo nakabawi narin ako sa gagong Kenny na to. Next si Gin na naman ang pag trip-pan ko hanggang sa mapag-trip-pan ko na lahat nang mga mahilig man trip sa akin.

"Catch this weakling!"

Narinig kong sigaw nung alalay ni Jeric na nang-asar sa akin kahapon ng 'when money talks, Gale will dance'.

Isa rin pala ito sa dapat kong paghigantihan at pag trippan. Trip din kasi ako ng isang to kahit na second year palang siya at masasabing baguhan sa Dormitory namin.

Hindi ko pinakinggan yung sinabi nya, ngunit naramdaman kong may binato syang bagay sa akin. Pero nagkunwari akong di ito nakita, at nung malapit na itong tumama sa aking ulo ay pasimple akong huminto at sinalo ito nang di nakatingin dito.

"Ohhh!" Narinig kong sabi niya nang makita ang ginawa ko.

Isa palang matigas na bola ng baseball ang ibinato nya sa akin. Talagang trip ako ng isang to ah. Wala naman yata akong nagawang kasalanan dito?

Pss.

Anyways, pinagti-trippan naman ako ng karamihan dito sa Academy kahit na wala akong ginawang masama sa kanila.

"This weakling have nice reflexes." Tumatawang puna niya. Kasama nyang naglalakad si Jeric ngayon.

Ewan kong anong pumasok sa isip nito at bigla nalang nambabato ng bola ng baseball. Kung iba yung binato niya nito at tinamaan sa ulo, tyak na tulog ang walang swerteng taong yun.

This bullies really are bold.

"Thank you, man." Pasimpleng tugon ko sa sinabi niya sabay mabilis na ibinato sa kanya ang hawak kong bola.

"Ahhh!!" Napasigaw ito at natumba nang tinamaan ito sa tuhod. Sinadya ko ring patamaan ito sa parteng yun nang magtanda. Haha

"Ohh! Sorry, man. I didn't thought you have terrible reflexes.. Guess I am not the one who's weakling here." Pasimpleng sabi ko sabay lapit sa kanya.

On my way to him pasimple kong siniko si Jeric sa kanyang tagiliran.

"Ughh!!" Napaungol ito sa sakit at natumba rin sa gilid.

"Oh Sorry Boss Jeric. Diko napansing nandyan ka pala, nahagip ka tuloy ng siko ko." Sabi ko rin kay Jeric.

Hindi agad nakasagot si Jeric marahil ay hindi pa ito makahinga sa sakit. Sapo-sapo parin nito ang nasaktang tagiliran habang nakapikit ang mga mata.

What a bunch of weak kids. Tapos ang kakapal ng mukha na mang-bully ng iba.

Tss.

"Sorry, Bro. Diko sinasadya." Sabi ko sa alalay ni Jeric nang makalapit ako sa kanya. Hinawakan ko ang kanyang tuhod upang kunwari ay tingnan ito.

"Ahhhh!! Aray!!" Napasigaw ito sa sakit dahil hinigpitan ko ang pagkahawak ng kanyang tuhod.

"Weak." Sabi ko sabay bitaw sa tuhod nito at pailalim na tiningnan sya sa kanyang mga mata.

"You.." Sa kabila ng sakit na naramdaman ay tinaliman nya parin ako ng tingin.

"What?" Tugon ko naman sabay hawak sa kanyang tuhod.

"Ahhh!! Bitiwan mo ako." Napasigaw ulit sya dahil sa sakit. Nanginginig narin ang kanyang mga paa dahil sa ginawa ko.

"Next time, mag ingat ka sa mga taong babatuhin mo nang kung ano-ano kahit wala naman silang ginawa sayo ha? Because if you're going to throw something at me again. I wouldn't be holding back my strength anymore. Let's see what will happen then." Sabi ko sabay bitaw sa kanyang tuhod.

He was already sweating profusely the moment I left him.

Hindi ko na pinansin si Jeric na kasalukuyan paring umuungol sa gilid dahil sa sakit.

I can't believe that I still have this extraordinary ability with me the moment I woke up earlier. Baka kung wala na to sa akin, nawalan na ako ng malay matapos tamaan nung binato nung weak na alalay ni Jeric.

If this ability will remain, then I can teach all those bullies a lesson they won't forget.

Bzzzt!

Bzzzt!

Napatigil ako sa pag-iisip nang nag-vibrate yung tracking device na binigay ng mga Smiths sa akin. Kaya dali-dali ko itong tiningnan.

Nakita ko sa maliit na screen nito ang isang location na naka-pinpoint. At malapit lang ito mula sa aming Dormitory dahil base dito sa mapang nasa screen nasa 300 meters lang ito mula sa kinatatayuan ko.

'Abigail needs me.'

Bulong ko sa isip at mabilis na tinungo ang location na nasa aking tracking device.

Hindi ko lang masyadong binilisan ang aking pagtakbo dahil may mga estudyante nang nagjo-jog at nag lalakad sa mga oras na ito. Baka kung ano pang-iisipin nila kapag makita ang kakaibang bilis ko.

Pagkalipas ng tatlong minuto ay narating ko na ang location ni Abigail. Naka-upo sya sa isang bench habang parang may pinanood sa kanyang Cellphone, may suot rin syang earphones sa kanyang tainga.

Ahh. Akala ko kung ano nang nangyari sa kanya.

She's wearing a pink short joggers that perfectly fits with her white, long curvy legs. She's not fat, it's just that her body were so beautifully balanced, not skinny nor fat. She has an hourglass body figure and with her pretty and innocent face, she's more like an angel that have descended from the heavens.

Anyways, why am I describing her?

"Gale?"

I hear her call me maya-maya lang. Kaya nilapitan ko na sya.

I insisted her to call me by my name dahil napaka-awkward kapag tinawag nya akong Mister Rushton gayong halos magkakasing-edad lang kami.

"You're the one who did it right?" She said in very low voice, pero rinig na rinig ko ito.

"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion as I didn't get what she said.

"This." She said sabay pakita sa akin ng kanyang Cellphone kung saan naka-play yung video na pinost ko kagabi.

"Ahh. That.." Hindi agad ako makasagot sa kanya. "Why? What about it?" Pero tinanong ko sya to avoid her question.

"The Police has just conducted an investigation on this matter while arresting the persons shown in the video. However, Bran Davis and his father has escaped and the police couldn't find them anywhere." She said in a very serious tone. "The Davises will surely hunt you down because of this." She added. She's not throwing a glance at me as if we're spies pretending not to know each other while exchanging informations.

Napabitaw naman ako ng malalim na hininga matapos marinig ang sinabi nya. Akala ko kung ano nang sasabihin ng babaeng to. "They won't find out who took that video." Pasimpleng tugon ko.

"I just hope so." Tipid na sabi nya nang hindi parin nakatingin sa akin.

"Don't worry Miss. I am very cautious in my every moves. And if ever they would found out about me, I won't be bringing your family with me." Seryosong sabi ko sa kanya.

"I am not concerned that you would do that. I am just worried since the video exposes something about the dark web and the deep web. The persons behind these untouchable realm won't rest easy with this issue until they found out who posted the video." She said. "Gale, the world isn't as simple as you think it is. There were certain lines that should not be crossed."

Napatingin lang ako sa kanya habang sinasabi nya ang mga bagay na ito. Hearing that from a fragile and innocent woman makes me feel like something was off with her. Suddenly she seems to be full of mysteries.

"Consider that a warning." Sabi nya ulit sabay tayo mula sa kinauupuan. "This is only the best that we could do for you." Dagdag nya pa sabay harap sa akin.

Nag-uusap kasi kami nang hindi magkaharap.

As I stared at her pretty and innocent face, I saw something in her eyes. Something that I could not explain.

She is very different today that when I first met her yesterday.

Something is really off with her.

"And by the way. According to the current news, the Dark Web has already knew that the 'Phantom Hero' is a student of Lexington Academy." Sabi nya sabay alis.

What?

I was stunned with what she said.

They already have that accurate information after just a few hours? How did they found out?

Oh no.

I should really be careful from now on.

Hindi naman siguro ako nakita sa CCTVs dahil mabilis naman ang mga galaw ko.

Dahil sa kaba ay kinuha ko ang aking cellphone at tiningnan ang mga balita ng mga news media outlets online.

"The Nuñez muder case is now officially closed after a mysterious person called a Phantom Hero posted a video online exposing the dirty side of the Davis family."

"City Police has issued a warrant of arrest for the City Mayor Davis and his son Bran Davis, this is after a video exposing their hidden secrets has circulated online, courtesy of a mysterious person called Phantom Hero."

Tama nga si Abigail, headlines na pala yung video na pinost ko at may warrant of arrest na ang Davises. Well kung hindi sila mahanap ng mga pulis. I can certainly find them.

Nag scroll pa ako sa aking cellphone upang maghanap ng mas interesting na news or articles tungkol dun sa pinost ko.

Puro kasi tungkol sa Davises at Nuñez murder case ang nasa headlines. Kaya sinubukan kong mag search sa online blogspots upang tingnan ang mga articles na related sa Phantom Hero.

"How did the Phantom Hero got those videos? Is he the reason why Bran Davis fell from his rooftop? How did he to go through and escape the heavily secured residence of Bran Favis that easily? Is this Phantom Hero the same person that save a student last night? This article will dissect the current issue about the mysterious Phantom Hero."

Hmm. Interesting tong article na to.

"Will the Dark Web rest easy after being partly exposed in the most hottest issue in the City?"

"A certain member of the Dark Web has exposed that the Phantom Hero is a student from Lexington Academy. How did they found out? Read this article."

Ahh so ito pala yung sinabi ni Abigail. Well, kakabahan na ba ako nito?

"A Dark Web post confirmed that an elite organization is on the move to investigate the real identity of the Phantom Hero in order to take him. The post also mentioned that the Class A assassin of the said organization would be the one to do the said task. How would the mysterious Phantom Hero react with this?"

Bigla akong kinabahan dahil sa nabasang article. So the Dark Web is on the move.

And what is this Class A assassin?