22nd Incident: Deal 建て 

What?! Fiance mo si Dr. Carl Higashi?

Dito na nga nagdidikit-dikit ang lahat. Para talagang pinaglalaruan kami. Parang sinasadya na magkita-kita kami para. Kasi nga hinatak ni Ayame si Ayako sa kwarto kung nasaan ang photo ni Dr. Carl Higashi.

Ngumiti lang si Mamiya-san. At pumunta sa pintuan at nagsalita.

"Let's go back to the session room. Things might have changed." Sabi niy Mamiya-san sa amin na hindi man lang lumilingon at dire-diretso ang lakad.

Pagdating naming lahat sa session room na pinangggalingan rin namin. We decided to talk about it. At ako ang nagsimula ng tanong.

"Do you know anything about the 23:57 urban legend, Mamiya-san?"

Ngumiti si Mamiya-san at hindi naputol ang reaction nito. Walang gulat or any change ng facial expression nito sa sinabi ko. Inayos lang niya ang salamin niya habang nakangiti. She walked towards her desk in and opened a drawer.

I am anticipating that something will be unveiled. I think my girlfriend is anticipating this too.

She took Dr. Carl Higashi's ID inside.

"This was the only item found when he committed suicide four years ago. My fiance was one of the thirteen people who died in the 23:57 incident. By the way, How did you meet my finace?"

Nagkatinginan na naman kami ni Ayako. Napansin ko na bahagyang isinara ni ayako ang kamay niya na nasa tuhod niya. Kapag ganito ang ginagaw niya, hindi siya komportable sa mga nangyayari. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya.

" We met him when I was admitted in Shibuya Hospital. Few days back. And as you;ve said earlier, he already died four years ago. We just happen to talk to while I was there. I suppose you know what I mean."

Nanlaki ang mata niya.

"I need to go to Shibuya Hospital!" tumayo siya.

Galit siya. Kitang kita ko na nanginginig pa siya sa galit. Something far different from her usual cheerful but professional attitude towards us. Bakit galit siya?

"Wait, you can't go to Shibuya Hospital." Pigil ko sa kanya. Hawak hawak ko ang braso niya. At hawak rin ni Ayako ang balikat ni Mamiya-san.

"He was gone along with Nurse Riiko. They took the soul of Daisy—" Napatigil ako. Bakit nga ba banggit ako ng banggit ng pangalan, di naman niya kilala yun. "— Daisy is also one of the cursed ones. A mysterious ghost along with Dr. Higashi and the nurse took her soul with them. I know what I'm saying to you now is shocking but—"

Di pa ako nakakatapos ay biglang sumagot si Mamiya-san.

"So even after death, he is with that nurse! You don't have to explain, Kobayashi-san. I know about the curse. And I am cursed too by going to Shibuya Station and rode the last train. I decided to curse myself."

"Why would you do that?!" Ayako asked

"My reason is pretty complicated. I loved him. Actually, up until now, I still love him." At tumulo na ang luha niya. Inalis niya ang salamin at kitang kita na parang nanghina na siya habang pinupunasan niya ang luha niya.

"Carl and I had a wonderful relationship. It was perfect that we decided to get married. Then, one day, he just became cold. He became different. Then, I found out that he was cheating. He was with that nurse!"

"You mean, Nurse Riiko?" I was really puzzled. At hindi ko sigurado kung tama ba ang tinanong ko pero tumango naman si Mamiya-san.

"Yeah, he was having an affair with that nurse. I caught them but I was silent about it. I had to tell my dad and I cried to him. Little did I know that my dad was moving and doing the revenge for me. My dad was one of the pillars of Shibuya Hospital. He suspended Carl and the nurse. Every hospital in Tokyo rejected them. Carl was ambitious. He will not transfer to other place. Being a doctor in Tokyo was his dream. And my dad ruined it. Carl was really depressed and he was slowly ruining himself too. And then, he committed suicide. And then, I found out that he committed suicide with that nurse." At bigla na lang tumulo ang luha sa mga mata ni Mamiya-san. "Until the very end, he was with that nurse. Even after death, he was with her."

Agad siyang niyakap ni Ayako.

"Then why would go to the point of getting yourself cursed?" Ayako is also crying.

"I wanted to see him again. I wanted to know if getting cursed will make me be able to see him again."

Naasar ako. Hindi ko naiintindihan ang pinanggagalingan niya. Siguro may point siya. Pero naiinis ako. Hindi ko alam kung sa nangyayari o kay MAmiya-san mismo.

"I wanted to see him."

"You can't see him. As I've said before, they took Daisy and left." Sagot ko sa kanya.

Tumahimik siya. Tumahimik ang buong kwarto.

The ring of my phone broke the awkward silence.

Si Rio.

Kahit wala na siya, magaling pa rin siyang mambasag ng katahimikan.

"O anong kailangan mo?" unang sagot ko sa kanya.

"Di ikaw ang gusto kong kausapin. Pakausap nga don sa Psychiatrist."

Bastos to a. Di ko alam kung paano niya nalaman ang phone number ko.

Ibinigay ko ang phone ko kay Mamiya-san.

"Yes?" sagot ni Mamiya-san sa phone.

"Un. Got it. I will. Thank you."

At yun lang ang narinig ko at ipinasa niya ang phone kay Ayako.

Nang makarating na kay Ayako ang phone ay natawa lang si Ayako.

Anong sinabi niya sa dalawa?!

Agad kong kinuha ang phone.

"So ano na?" tanong ko kay Rio.

"Pumunta kayong Private I Café. May nalaman ako."

"What?!" Sige pupunta na kami diyan!"

Nagmadali na kaming tatlo. Pero hindi ko pa rin alam kung bakit natawa si Ayako nang kausapin siya ni Rio. Argh!

Mabilis kaming lumabas ng kwarto. May dinalang tablet si Mamiya-san. Papalabas na sana kami sa pinaka pintuan nang bumilis ang kabog ng dibdib ko sa gulat. Nakita ko na may mga nakasilip sa labas.

Holy shit!

Agad akong nagtanong kung may asin si Mamiya-san. Sinabi ko na kakailanganin naming iyon para sa mga random na ghosts sa labas. Nagulat siya at medyo halatang nataranta. At kumuha siya ng isang garapong asin. Di ko alam kung matatawa ako ano e.

Isinuot ko sa kanya ang bracelet charm na binigay sa akin ni Rio. Kailangan niyang makaligtas. Saka may asin naman na ako. Ang importante makarating kami ng Private I Café.

Matindi ang mga multong ito kapg wala kang suot na bracelet charm. Asin lang ang pinangsasaboy ko at bawat hawak nila sa akin ay nararamdaman ko ang diin. Dama ko ang galit nila. Bakit nga ba nila kami hinahabol? Kung ang mga naka surgical masks na ghosts na ito ay gustong matahimik, dib a dapat hinahayaan na lang nila kami na gumawa ng paraan para ma solve at malaman ang totoo?

Hingal na hingal ako nang makarating kami sa Private I Café. Nagmadali na akong pumasok sa loob at hindi ko na pinansin ang mga bumati sa akin. Pasensya na pero nagmamadali talaga ako.

Nakasunod naman sa akin sina Ayako at Mamiya-san. Huminto ako saglit para mag scan ng mga tao. Hinahanap ko kung nasaan nakaupo si Rio. At ayun nga siya. Nasa dulo. Kitang-kita ko ang pink nitong buhok. Buti na lang. Nakita ko si Rio na kumaway na rin sa amin habang nakangiti. Nakita ko rin ang kasama niya pero hindi ko kilala dahil nakatalikod ito.

"Come here! Come here!" signal ni Rio sa amin. "I have a surprise for you!"

Patuloy kami sa paglalakad nang mapuna ko na ang hitsura ng taong ito at mamukhaan. Si Police Inspector Ueda Kotaro!

Paanong?!

"Surprise!" sambit ni Rio habang patuloy sa pag-ngisi.

This is just insane! Paano nagawang mapapunta ni Rio si Police Inspector Ueda sa Private I Café. At nagkakape pa silang pareho!

Anong magic ang ginawa nitong si Rio?

" I took care of him while you were away! Sabi ko sa inyo, ako ang bahala e." sabi ni Rio habang proud na proud sa sarili.

"Paano mo—" tanong ko sa kanya pero hindi ko pa natatapos ang sinasabi ko ay pinutol niya na ito at nagsalita.

" Nang makuha ko ang ID niya, nalaman ko agad kung saan sa Shibuya siya naka assign. Naisip ko na puntahan siya doon kasi yun lang ang alam kong pwede niyang puntahan. Besides, nakasulat rin sa ID niya ang address niya kaya kung di ko siya makita sa post niya, pupuntahan ko siya sa bahay niya. Pero swerte, tama ang unang pinuntahan ko. Hehe!" paliwanag ni Rio. "By the way, this person is cursed too! I can see it in his aura ever since I first saw him."

Si Police Inspector naman ay hindi kumikibo. Medyo naiilang nang tingnan ko siya. Umupo kami sa mesa nila Rio. Katabi ko si Ayako at si Rio. Habang sa kabila umupo si Mamiya-san na parang pinag-aaralan ang expression ni Police Inspector.

"Police Inspector Ueda, why did you follow us in Shibuya Hospital? And why were you running away?" tanong ko.

"You better talk or I will just report you to the Shibuya Ward Police for stalking. You know how stric the Tokyo police are in terms of stalking." Dagdag ni Rio.

"Please don't—" pagmamakaawa ni Police Inspector kay Rio. " I need my job to uncover the mystery of 23:57!"

Sinita ko siya dahil lumakas ang boses niya. Wala namang tao ang nakarinig. Well, sa tingin ko. Pero kahit na, iba pa rin ang nag-iingat.

"Then, let's have a deal. Answer his questions and cooperate with us and you don't have a problem with the Shibuya Ward police anymore." Patuloy ni Rio habang iniinom ang strawberry smoothie niya at nakangiti. "It's a win-win deal isn't it?"

"I am investigating Oliver's case. Actually, I am investigating every people connected to the 23:57 incident."

"So that's why you were one of the visitors who had a one on one session with me!" Mamiya-san interrupted.

"It's not just that. It's just part of the reasons. But I am in the curse too and I was getting paranoid. I needed help then. That is also the reason why I recommended you to Kobayashi-san during his stay in Shibuya Hospital."

"So why are you at the Shibuya Hospital then?" Tanong ni Ayako.

"I was at the Shibuya Hospital because I want to confirm something. I was investigating if the ghosts are still in Yuya's room. The ghosts of the doctor and the nurse." Police Inspector Ueda explained. Then there was silence.

"They were there..." I contintued.

"Yeah. That's why I learned that the nurse named—" napaisip si Police Inspector at naglabas ng libro na may hinahanap. Inaalala niya ang mga pangalan.

"Nurse Riiko. The doctor is Dr. Carl Higashi." Ayako told Police Inspector Ueda

"Correct. Her complete name is Riiko Katou" He confirmed. "The nurse is actually connected to the waitress of Private I Café who committed suicide."

Medyo napakunot ang noo ko.

"The waitress is named Yuri Katou. Yuri is actually the workmate of Daisy Figueroa. I found out that she is the one who posted the infor of Daisy'sjournal content on a blogsite. Yuri is also Riiko Katou's younger sister."

"So if we analyze, Yuri is cursed because of Riiko." Napaisip ako.

"If Rio is cursed because of his classmate, Gen. Then, Ayako is cursed because of Ayame. Then, why are you cursed?" I asked Police Inspector Ueda.

"I am cursed because of Police Inspector Sawada. He was with me when I met you in Shibuya Hospital."

"Sawada committed suicide."

Holy shit! All this time, yung kasamahan niyang police na kasa-kasama niya, siya pala ay ghost din.

"All of us are cursed because we are connected with someone who died during the 23:57 incident four years ago. How about you? Who was the person who made you cursed?"

Napatanong din ako sa sarili ko. Hindi ko alam.

Bakit nga ba?

"Hindi kaya siya ang connected sa'yo?" turo ni Rio sa labas.

At nakita ko ang nakaabang sa labas. Ang mid thirties na lalake. Nakangiti ito sa akin. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat.

Tak. Clack Shik.

Umuulan na pero malakas pa rin ang tunog na iyon sa tenga ko. Kahit na nasa loob ako ng café at nasa labas siya. Rinig na rini ko ang tunog na iyon.

Nasa harap na siya ng salamin kung nasaan kami at iyon na lang ang pagitan namin. Papalapit ang kamay niyang para akong inaabot. Tumagos ito sa salamin.

Hinidi ko alam pero napapikit ako.

Pagkadilat ko, nasa tapat ko na ang nakangiti niyang mukha.

Namumukhaan ko siya pero hindi ko lang maalala kung sino siya.