Chapter 9: Jace's Investigation

Jace woke up early the next day to talk to Regina. He wanted to more details so he would know how to at least protect her. After that, he asked his friends if he could help him investigate about what happened. Buti nalang ay walang ganap ang kanilang leader kaya pumayag itong samahan siya. They were sitting at the exact place where Regina and her friend dined in. Dahil inaantay nalang nila ang go-signal ng owner para makita ang CCTV. Since malapit na kaibigan nila ang may-ari ay pinagbigyan sila nitong makita ang footage. They just have to disguise upang makaiwas sa mga tao at sa mga matang maaring nagbabantay sa kanila. Maya-maya pa ay pinapasok na sila nito sa isang kwarto.

"Here's the footage that happened at around 10:15 am." Sabi sa kanila ng controller. Makikitang pumasok ang magkaibigan at masayang nagkukwentuhan ang mga ito habang papunta sa kanilang lamesahan at umupo. The first twenty-minutes of the footage seemed to be normal. Nothing strange happened. Not until their orders arrived. His forehead creased as he watched the waitress put something under the table. Which Regina couldn't see due to the tables' design and style.

Jace's eyes narrowed and let out a deep breath. Sa isang anggulo naman ng camera ay nakita nilang parehong nagtungo sa banyo ang dalawang babae ngunit magkaibang oras. Then Regina was seen with someone wearing a black hoodie and a black mask leaving the place. An hour later, Jazy was seen looking for her friend. Inalala ng binata ang naging usapan nila.

"Have you seen his face?"

"No. But it just feels strange. I was able to hold his wrist before I totally passed out and I felt something. I think he wears a bracelet with a moon-shape on it, and his wrists are kinda thin. It doesn't seem like a man's wrist."

"What made you say it's strange?"

"Because he has this sweet scent. I actually felt like I had smelled it before. I just don't know where."

Jace narrowed his eyes and gave a smirk. "It is weird how there were just two people who entered the bathroom door. And they were all of the same gender."

"Have you noticed those loopholes?" asked the lider.

"Yeah. At least we got this footage as evidence just in case."

Nagpasalamat ang mga ito at ngiting tagumpay silang lumabas at sumakay ng kotse. Pansin naman ng kasama na maaliwalasbbvhnhbgfvvgfc ang mukha ng binata. Kung kanina'y kunot-noo ito at malalim ang iniisip, ngayon naman ay parang nabunutan ito ng tinik sa dibdib. 'I knew it.' Jace thought.

Alam n'yang planado ang mga nangyari. Napangiti ito sa isiping malilinis ang pangalan ng dalaga at pwede na itong makabalik sa trabaho. But his smile slowly faded when his friend tapped his shoulders.

"I think someone has fallen in love." Kantyaw na sabi nito sa kanya. 'Fallen in love?'

Alam n'yang hindi na n'ya maitatanggi ito. Sa tagal nilang magkakasama sa grupo ay alam na nila ang ugali ng isa't isa. He looked at him, smiling and started laughing as if saying he wasn't. But he's in denial whenever someone notices it. "I just feel bad for her."

Hindi nalang muling kumibo ang kasama kahit batid nitong ayaw lang aminin ng binata na nahuhulog na ang loob nito sa dalaga, or baka naman nahulog na talaga. While heading back to their villa, he closed his to escape time.

Alas-kwatro ng madaling araw palang ay tumunog na ang telepono ng dalaga kaya't nagising ito.

"Who would call at this time?" Regina said in her mind as she slowly opened her eyes and checked her phone. May takot itong nararamdaman. The call was from an unregistered number. She didn't pick up the call at first, but it rang again for the second-time. Dito ay sinagot na n'ya ito. She didn't speak until she heard the person on the other line. .

"Regina?" bigkas ng isang lalaki. Agad na tuluyang napabangon ito nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses. "Hey, it's Jace. Sorry to disturb you."

Nakahinga ng maluwag ang dalaga ng malamang ang binata pala ang nasa kabilang linya.

"How are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm okay. Why did you call? And how did you get my number?"

"I'll explain it later. I need to see you."

Sinabihan ng binata ito na lumabas papuntang park malapit sa tinutuluyan nila dahil kailangan nilang mag-usap tungkol sa nangyari. Nagtataka man ay sumunod na lang ito, pakiramdam niya ay nakahanap siya ng kakampi. Nang magkita ay agad nilang pinag-usapan ang nangyari.

"A bracelet? Are you sure?"

"Yes. I can't be wrong. I'm sure it was a bracelet that he's wearing. It has a moon-shaped thing in it."

"Can you remember how tall this guy is?"

Ipinikit ng dalaga ang mga mata at pinilit na alalahanin ang itsura nito. "He's actually just two- inches taller than me." Sabi nito at muling ipinikit ang kanyang mga mata. Black large hoodie na naka black mask, naka suot din ito ng sumbrero kaya hindi nito naaninag kahit manlang ang mga mata nito., at that moment, she remembered a very important detail that could lead them to that person.

"The person's facemask has a letter 'J' on it." Sinabi nito sa binata na parang naka burda ang alpabetong ito at sa gilid ay may maliit ng bulaklak.

"Okay. You need to stay home on this day. I'll let someone watch over you, but please, don't let anyone know about what we've talked-about."

"What?" she uttered. She was confused.

"Trust me, we will clear your name."

She just nodded and agreed to it. Bago paman sila makabalik sa villa ay nagsalita muli ang dalaga. "I really didn't know what happened that day. But I assure you, nothing happened at the hotel. I'm not that kind of girl." She looked down as she said this. Nahihiya ang dalaga dahil ang akala nila ay pariwarang babae ito. Pero mas lalo s'yang nakaramdam ng hiya dahil hindi n'ya alamkung bakit s'ya nagpapaliwanag.

"Ssh," he whispered as he put his finger on her lips. "You don't owe anyone an explanation."

"Do you believe in me?" In a desperate voice, she asked. She wants to hear from him, he believes in her. She's hoping that one person will believe her.

"What do you want me to say?" he responded.

Pagkarinig nito ay agad na napayuko ang dalaga, ilang segundo ang nakalipas ay hindi nito namalayang unti-unti na palang tumutulo ang luha niya. She tried to stop herself from crying, but what can she do? She was judged, and the worst is that even one person doesn't seem to believe in her. Hindi n'ya namalayang papalapit na pala sa kanya ang lalaki.

"If you want me to believe in you, then I'll believe you." He took a step closer as he put his right hand on her cheeks to wipe her tears and said, "But even if you don't say or ask me these things, I would still believe you."

He held her chin up and looked her straight in the eyes. For a moment, there was silence between them. His arms wrapped around her as he slowly lowered his head and opened his mouth over hers. As his lips touched hers, she made a wide-eyed innocent look as it reminded her of a fairytale story. Right there, she surrendered to his warm lips and secure embrace as her heart beat fast.

EARLY morning the next day, Regina woke up with a heavy feeling.

"Reg, how are you?" Tanong ni Jazy sa kaibigan. Huling dalawang araw na lang ay kailangan na nitong bumalik sa trabaho dahil may next flight ito.

"My konting sakit ng ulo, but I'm doing just fine," she answered. "Ano ba yan, babalik ka na sa trabaho," she added, and frowned.

"Wag ka na ngang malungkot. Panigurado naman makaka-lipad ka padin. Tsaka, mas okay na din na magpalipas ka muna dito, enjoy mo nalang muna ang maganda view."

"What would I do without you?" Palambing na sabi nito sa kaharap at niyakap ang kaibigan. "Napaka-swerte ko talagang may kaibigan akong tulad mo."

Regina and Jazy were highschool friends. Magkaiba man sila ng pinasukang kolehiyo ay hindi nawalan ng komunikasyon ang dalawa. Pagkatapos grumaduate ay sabay na nag-apply ng trabaho ang dalawa sa isang airline company. Aside from Jazy's looks, ay pasok din ang tangkad nitong 165cm sa requirement ng airlines para sa mga babaeng gustong maging flight attendant. Hindi katangkaran pero ang importante ay pasok s'ya. Muntik pa ngang hindi makuha si Regina dahil 160 centimeters lang ito, pero dahil sa pagpupursige ay nakapasok din sya. Regina closed her eyes to a flash of memories imprinted in her mind.

"Grabe no? Answered prayers talaga. Makakalipad na din tayo sa wakas!" sambit ni Regina.

"Ay true ka jan girl! At saka, makakaipon na din ako pang travel. At uy girl, may afam kanina, nakita mo ba? Jusko day tutuklawin ka na ng ahas, di mo pa makita. Ayan o, asa harapan mo!" Nguso nito sa direksyon ng isang lalaking matangkad na nakasuot ng puting polo at itim na pants.

Regina turned and looked at the guy. He's pale, he has big almond-shaped eyes, roman nose and thin kissable lips. Tingin nga niya ay papasa na ito bilang isang leading man kung sakaling mag-artista ito. She slowly smiled as she realized that the man standing near to her was someone she knew.