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Chapter III: Love, Logic and Confessions
I just finished my dinner and I�m preparing my things for tomorrow�s classes. Rereading all the lectures that I had copied, I notice a small sheet of paper had fell from my notebook. I was wondering how did it get in there. I bend my back, to reach the paper lying on the floor, and took up the green stationery. It is a lyrics of one of Stacey�s composition. It was address to me, and it goes like this.
A Martyr Song
(To Louise from Stacey)
If I have a chance
I shall step aside
And I�ll tell you everything
Every feeling inside
But I don�t have the Charm
And I don�t have Cash
That�s why I lie and hesitate
To my heart that Start to palpitate
If I have to travel
Or to jump to the wildest river
Just to end this misery
To end this infidelity
Cause it�s hard to hide
And to camouflage
I just lost my dignity
My Pride my faith my glory
Bridge I
For you, for you, for you, for you
Chorus I
This life is over! This life is over!
Yes I don�t need another girl
This life is over! This life is over!
I don�t trust them anymore
This life is over! This life is over!
Cause you are the one I�m looking for
This life is over! This life is over!
And you are the one I�m dreaming of
If I have to fight
Or to Sacrifice
Just to make you satisfy
I will be glad to be crucify
If I have to choose
To live or die
I guess it�s better to be shot and die
Cause I think this life is worthless
Bridge II
With out you! Without you! With out you! Without you!
Chorus II
I can�t let you go, cause you are the one I�m looking for
I can�t let you go, cause you are the one I�m dreaming of
Upon reading the melancholic lyrics of Stacey�s piece of music, I realize that his fight and struggle to win my love was giving him a lot of heartache. I walk towards my antique cassette player and put the tape it the dusty machine, and play the recorded music of Stacey. The melody and the lyrics are full of emotion. It�s like I was listening to a singing guy who was oppressed and deprived from compassion. The words and the notes were striking the inner sanctuary of my conscience.
The song was about to end when I heard the most awaited ringing of the telephone. I click the stop button of the cassette and rush excitedly to the telephone desk. It was Stacey and his voice was as calm as ever.
�Hello� I said, breathing fast to regain the loss oxygen upon my long stride down the stairs.
�Hello, good evening may I speak to Louie.� he exclaimed with his gentle introduction, while I, organizing the couch beside the telephone desk to have a nice position.
�It�s me� I answered.
�Hello, how are you?� he inquired.
�Fine, what about you?�
�Hmm, doing well�
�So, what�s new� I exclaimed, my legs are bending, my knees touching my chest, and my feet were restfully residing on the yellow feathery sofa.
�Nothing, I just miss you, that�s all� he reacted.
�You said earlier that you have a good story to tell.�
�Yes, I had�
�What is it all about?�
�Hmm, it was about...� he exclaimed irresolutely. I was glad that I was talking again with Stacey, and his skill in conversing was as good as ever. He can make a girl excited upon his answers and responses. � It was about earlier. The episode inside the classroom�
�About Jason?� I continue.� No it was nothing, I have some notion about it but..�
�Nah, it was not about that� he murmured. �It was about Jeffrey�
�Jeffrey?� I asked very puzzled.
�Yes, Jeffrey, remember before Jason arrives� he clarified, while I was lying down on the soft settee in front of the television. �It was about his missing bag and possessions�
�I thought! I thought it was about, Jason that�s why I am so excited upon hearing from you.� I answered telling him a hint that I was about to give up Jason. Upon my recollection about his struggle, I realize it is time to choose whether who will stay or not.
�Nah, it was not related to it. Maybe you were thinking about that other incident. Nah it wasn�t about it�
�So what about the bag?� I cried disappointedly about my frustrated confession.
�I found it, and I know who is the culprit� he said, his calm voice had vanished and was shifted to his comical and excited attitude. �After rejecting me, he came begging for my help, ha ha ha! Just like what Sherlock use to say. Elementary my dear elementary, though it was easy yet exciting.�
�What are you talking about?� I asked. I realize that it was not the right time for my assertion. �So how did you solve it?�
I gradually notice the big change from his character, I know that he was carrying something new when I saw him back in that grill yesterday, it was his old traits, After a long vacation, it�s so common to him to learn and improve. But the sudden philosophical changes were telling me it was not the Stacey that I met in that sweet summer of 2003.
�Are you sure you want to listen to it� he said, while I was so bored with the logical explanation. �But it seems you�re thinking about something.�
�Hmm, maybe, cause I was just thinking about you and Jason.� I answered.
�I know that you�re waiting to hear about that other incident, about my quarrel with your boyfriend, I gave up my love cause I know that I am no match for him. But if you are not ready to listen to my adventures it�s ok, maybe our friendship had vanished after my missing actions. And perhaps you had finished choosing your knight of shining armor. And I guess it wasn�t me but who cares. I don�t� think you care.�
I was touched by the sharp words that I heard from Stacey. It was not like him, to hear those mischievous words coming from his mouth. After my reminiscences about our experiences, and when I was ready to give the fullest attention to him, those few sentences had crumpled it in just a tick of a clock. With the sudden ascending of my temper, I dropped the phone angrily. I was looking down at the floor for few seconds until I hear the phone rung for the second time.
�Hello, please forgive for my insolence� recognizing the voice and the apology. I know it was Stacey. �Hello, I know you�re there, please answer me�
Again I notice the change from his personality. It was like the first time when he used to beg for my attention. His voice is giving me an impression that he�s back from his senses. And his delusion had diminished.
�Hello, Louie please answer me, I�m so sorry for disregarding your feelings. If you only knew what had happen to me, this summer. And maybe��
�Maybe what?� I replied while still looking down at the marbled floor, waiting for a romantic word from him.
�And maybe you will understand why I am doing this. Cause I needed you and you know the reason why I gave up my love for you, cause I knew that I don�t have a chance. I had fought so many struggles and I don�t know what to think of. You�re always on my mind. When I look at the mirror, I see you. When I�m listening to music, I hear your voice. Even when my eyes were close, you�re appearance were still there, leaving me restless.� I heard the sobbing voice of Stacey and I was very much stroke by his statements. � So I look for something good that might divert my attentions, I knew that I only waste my time on making you believe that I love you. And I can�t help myself. You know what�s the main reason why do I want to write a novel�
�Why?� I answered.
�It�s because I want to write a novel about you, about the struggle of my love for you.�
�But why didn�t you tell me that your so in love with me?� I inquired sympathetically.
�I�m telling you but you�re not listening. I used to tell you, that I miss you, that you�re my only happiness, but somehow those words are not enough. It gives me an idea that I am only a toy, a machinery to fill the absence of Jason. So I decided to gave it up.�
�But Stacey� I said, his overwhelming emotion was enough for his tongue to produce an agonizing words.
�Isn�t that enough, I surrender� he continue. �I accepted your offer of being only a friend. Cause I thought that my feelings for you might diminish, but it was growing strong. I had tried to flirt with other girls. But it don�t do me any good, you�re still inside of me. And now that you�re going to tell me that, that I�m going loose my friendship with you, that you had choose Jason. My god Louie I don�t want to hear it�
I heard the words very clearly. His yelling voice had transferred his sufferings from me. I was petrified by his emotions. The tears unconsciously drop from my eyes, he was crying just like were on that shaded wooden bench last summer of 2003.
�Stacey� I said calling his name while wiping the tears flowing down from my face. �But you don�t have to suffer anymore�
�I don�t have to suffer cause you�re going to say goodbye. Louie please� he shouted anxiously.
�No, Stacey, listen to me. I will not going to say goodbye cause I love you. I love you more than anybody else in the world. I love you more than Jason. So I decided to choose, it was you Stacey, it�s you. I love you and I don�t want to hear another, heartbreaking words from you. It wounded me every time I hear your distressful tones. It injured me to hear you cry. And it had damaged my heart to let you suffer for a very long time, there�s nothing more I could say but I love you Stacey. �
For a few minutes we were silently holding the phone beside our ears. I was removing the trace of the tears by my hand, and I hear him rubbing his eyes. So I decided to break the silence.
�What are you going to say, Stacey?� I asked, regaining my usual pitch. � If you want to make me suffer, by not accepting my offer today, I will be glad to admit it. Because I know that I have to feel what you had experienced�
�Nah, you don�t have to do that, I don�t want you to feel those pains� he whispered. �I don�t want my only love to go through to those throbbing moment that I encountered. I love you so much, that�s it.�
I was really happy to hear those words from Stacey, cause I thought his love had vanished from his heart, it�s like we had fulfill the missing pages of our destiny. For me it was like a fairy tale, and for him it is a dream-come-true. We sat joyfully talking about the past from the beginning of our meeting until the very moment of our confession.
We were laughing, when he recall about the moment we met each other. When he asked my number and told me that he had admired me from the first time that he put his eyes on me. It was really awkward for him to say that he have a high regard for me cause he say I was really pretty. But the time was really fast and now we are engage by the unbreakable words that bind us.
�But what about Jason?� he inquired.
�I will talk to him tomorrow and tell him for a the upcoming break-up.�
�What about the pendant and all of the gifts that he gave you?�
�Simple, I will return it to him.�
�What if he insists his feelings, for you?�
�I�ll tell him that my feelings for him had gone.�
�What if he asks, why?�
�You, had a lot of questions.� I said with my humor.
�I just want to make sure that no body will stand in our way.� He clarified while chuckling.
�I guess it�s better for him not to hear about our engagement.� He asserted. I look at the pendant that Jason had bought for me. After two years, giving up the relationship with Jason is hard although not painful for my side. But all of the quarrels that we had encounter in the midst of our relation was enough to cut my connection with him, I admit that the feelings for him was still there but it is inaccurate. �And it�s better for us not to announced publicly our commitment�
�I guess you�re right about that� I supposed. �I have an idea, maybe we can keep our relationship secret�
�Hmm, it�s ok for me.� He answered. �Keeping our connection hidden, is giving me an exciting nerves. It�s cool.�
We were plotting for our affiliation for the future. And I notice when I look at the hanging rectangular wall clock above the television, that we�re talking for one and half hours. And I hear the beeping of the telephone signing me that our sweet conversation was about to end for less than an hour.
�I hear that unwanted beep again. Beep beep, beep beep.� he said while I was looking for the charger of the phone.
�If the phone hang dead it means that the battery had expired� I inquired.
�Yah, I know. I want to say sweet dreams before we run out of time.�
�Ok, you too.� I said, pressing my back on that soft sofa. � About you�re adventure earlier. How do you solve it?�
�Oh my god I almost forgot about it.� he said excitedly. � I guess you�re ready to listen attentively.�
�Ok, I�ll just lend you my ears�
�Since we don�t have enough time. I will make it fast and simple, but I will not remove any detail or all of the singularity out of it.�
I lied down on the couch, feeling sleepy after making my confession. I prepare my self to listen to him attentively.
�After you and Jason had walk out that gloomy room yesterday, I sat on my armchair for a few minutes, thinking of you and you�re boyfriend. It is already time for my next class so I arranged my things. But when I was about to leave the room, I heard Jeffrey was calling my name.�
� �Stacey wait,� he said with his full hesitation and agitation. � I�m really sorry about ignoring your offer earlier, but I think and realize that what you had said was right.��
� �So what was your plan� I inquired with my boldness, to make him believe that I am a very occupied person. �Ok here is a deal, meet me after my calculus class at the lobby ok. And prepare your self, cause I will be cross-examining you, try to remember every detail.��
� After that short yet direct statement, I went for my calculus class. One and half hour had past and I�m on my way on my appointment. I saw him at the crowded lobby of the school, sitting alone, with a vacant expression in his eyes.�
� �Sorry to keep you waiting� I apologize, even I believe that I don�t have to make an excuses. �So are you ready for my questions.� �
� �Yes� he said. �
� �I supposed that we need to look for a more intimate room� I explained. �Perhaps somebody might overhear our discussion.� We dash together that long corridor en route to the high school building.�
�We were at the other building when we saw an empty room. The chairs were scattered around, like the students that had used it were so unsystematic. I sat on a very disorganized armchair. And I invited him to sit in front of me. Then I start my cross-examination.�
� � Can you tell me what exactly had happen the moment you loose your bag� I inquired while I was holding my technical-pencil to write the important details in my notebook.�
� � I was with my friends last night, about seven o�clock at the front of engineering faculty room, there are only few people at that area on that moment.� he exclaimed. �We were busy on checking on the schedule on the bulletin board� �
� �So you are with your friends?� I inquired.� Are you carrying your bag at that moment��
� �Yes��
� �Sorry for bothering you, ok continue.� �
� � So we were checking about the schedule, and I realize that my bag was a burden and I decided to put it on the wooden couch beside the door of the deans office, behind me.� His eyes were wondering on my face. �I told my friend Rea to have an eye on it cause all of my belongings are in that classy blue bag. But I notice for a few minutes Rea is with me looking at the bulletin board and I asked her about the bag and she told me that it was still on the couch. So I look at the couch and there I saw my bag. � �
� �So you�re bag was still on that couch the moment you look at it� I asked, while listing the sequential occurrence about the night the he lost his bag�
� Why do you list it?� I said, listening attentively to Stacey�s short adventure.
� For me to have a solid material to rely upon my investigation.� he explained, his voice were as excited as ever �
�Ok� I answered shamefully for disturbing his narrative.
�Can I continue now?� he asked.
�Sure�
� �So I was thinking of my schedule to change it cause, I was really afraid to go home at night time� Jeffrey said while I am listening attentively and sketching some prototype of the bag. � I constantly forgot about my bag and I ask them to go with me at the comfort room. I realize that something was missing on my part when I stand in front of the mirror. I notice that my bag was not with me. I run towards the couch beside the faculty room and I notice that nobody was there. When I reach the couch I found that my bag was missing��
� �Wait I just want to clarify something.� I ejaculated. � You said you went to the CR with your friends, right?��
� �Right��
� �If my memory serves me right, your gang was compose of 5 personality.� I followed. �You, Mike which is also a gay, and the three girls Rea, Amy and Gina. So you went to the restroom with Mike, what about the three girls did they went to the restroom?�
� �They went to the restroom too.� He answered, waving his crossed legs back and forth �We had used the east side corridor the side were the male comfort room were located. And we were separated at the corner of ma�am Fe�s music room, in front of room 101� �
� �What do you do after you discovered that you�re bag was missing� I asked, suspiciously.�
� �I rush to the male�s comfort room, where I saw mike�s face was cover by bubbles of the soap. I informed him that my bag was missing and I asked whether they just make a practical joke out of me. But he said they weren�t.� �
� �Is any body in the circle of your friends was lacking of basic necessity, and might be needing some cash or money for a great purpose.� I inquired, and noticed the change from his attitudes.�
� �Are you suspecting my friends?� he asked doubtfully.�
� � Don�t be so sympathetic about it, cause in the situation like this everyone was a suspect.� I explain standing from the armchair and walks towards the blackboard to sketch the top view of the floor plan of the school. � That�s why were going to remove everyone, one by one, so is there a friend of yours that might be needing some cash in advance?� �
� � Nah, I guess not.� he answered, his elbow was on the surface of the armchair and his head was leaning on his hands. � Actually, I am the one who needed ample money at the moment, cause I only gave a note payable to the cashier just to be enroll this semester. And non of them might give me any problem cause I was their friends ever since ��
� �Are you sure they are not playing some jokes upon you?��
� � Yes, I�m sure about it� he replied directly.�
� �Beside of your company� I continue, completing the dirty sketch that I had drawn at blackboard. �Is there anybody else, that you believe that you had seen in that veranda?��
� �I think there�s no one in there, save for the two professor inside the faculty room.� �
� � There are two professor. How about students?��
� �Nah, I think at the moment the students are already on their way to their places. And the only students there, was me and my companions. I don�t notice anybody else��
� �Do you manage to get the name of the two professor.��
� �It was Engineer Monta�o and Engineer Elcana. But upon looking for my lost belongings we notice that a janitress was still around wiping the dirt of the floor��
� �What about the Janitress, did you get her name?� I asked, looking at the finish sketch of the school floor plan.�
� �No, I don�t get her name, I only inquired for her assistant.� He exclaimed staring at the plan that I had drawn.�
� � What about her reaction about your questions?� I remark �Are there any singular traits that you detected from her?��
� � Nah, nothing of the sort, save for the haggard face and restless eyes which is natural for the janitress for cleaning the embarrassing restroom of the school all day ��
� � What about the CST office?�� I questioned pointing at the CST room of my sketches.�
� �I remember, it is already close��
� � Let�s get back to the janitress� I said looking at the wide green field outside the window. �Can you give a description of her, dress, or any noticeable traits.��
� � Since you had mentioned it� he said while still looking at the map that I sketched. �I remember that her shoes were not polished, and water spots can be seen by a single look upon it, noticeable it was really untidy for her to wear those shoes. The rear end of her pants was wet, though it�s familiar for the janitress to have a splash on their pants upon cleaning the restroom.��
� �Where can I see Rea or Amy or Gina?� I asked hurriedly, while a theory is forming in my head�
�So what did you do then?� I asked flowing with his systematic methods.
�After he gave me the room number where I can have a contact of his three companion. I leave him sitting alone in that lonely room, I told him to meet me in the lobby before six.�
�But you had call me before six when you told me to charge the phone?�
�Yes, I was at the school gate, at the phone booth� he clarified.
�So what did you do next?�
�After my short conversation with Jeffrey, I went to room 211. Luckily Rea was there doing her assignment�
� What did Rea told to you?� I asked excitedly, relaxing my back on the surface of the feathery sofa.
� I obtain from her the greatest foundation of my theory.� He answered chuckling.
�What is it?�
�It�s about the female restroom. It was not clean nor soaked she said, and the floorings of the restroom was dry on that moment�
�So what did you make up from that?� I exclaimed.
�It only means, that the splash on the shoes and the wet pants of the janitress, weren�t come from the restroom, instead it came from outside�
�So what did you do after forming your theory.�
�I went to the lobby and checked the schedule of every staff of the school� he explained.
�But how?� I said, getting curious about his conclusions.
� By the punch card!� he said, with his exaggerating voice fulfilled the telephone line. �First I check the card of CET faculty members, then the CST, I ascertain upon peeping at the punch card cabinet, that ninety-eight percent of the staff of the school were out. I observe that most of them had signed out at five and the rest had signed out at six. Save for Mr. Elcana and Mr. Monta�o who singed out at nine. After I cautiously finished checking, the faculty punch card. I shifted to the other part of the Cabinet, to the punch card of the service crew. There I notice that all of the crew had left the school at seven except for Mrs. Castor a janitress who had been at the school from 6 am and signed out 9 pm.�
�That was long.� I continue, still on the couch staring a blank stare at the embroidered ceiling.
�Yes, that was long and reasonable� he whispered.
�Why reasonable?�
�Because she had been working like a machine for more than twelve hours. Reasonable enough to conclude that she really need a lot of money.�
�So what do you do after discovering it.�
�I was not certain to conclude that it was her who took Jeffrey�s bag� he said with his admirations to himself. �Yet, I don�t have a clue. So I went at the front CET faculty room, the place of the incident. Thinking how to start my investigations. I peek at my notes that I had written upon my interview with Jeffrey. There I remark that they had used east side of the corridor upon going to the restroom, I had form five theories in my head. And I take out the best that might fit in to the situation�
�What is it?� I asked with a very excited feeling upon his story.
�After they went to the comfort room using the east side corridor, the perpetrator had used the west side. The reason why Jeffrey and his friends never used that side is because that side was dark. The lights there were usually off at that time.� He explained while his methodical expressions. �So I conclude that only the janitress will be using that side instead of the east side.�
�What about the teacher? Why didn�t you suspect the teacher?�
�Cause they have enough money, and I think it�s harder for them to hide the bag inside the faculty room, where it can be notice with a single inquiry.�
�So what�s next?� I asked. My sleepiness had vanished.
�After constructing that theory, I figure out that the janitress had take a peep on it before taking it, when she saw that the content of the bag was plentiful enough for the solution of her problem, without an hesitation, she decided to take it. But when she heard a very loud step coming from her direction, she hurriedly ran to the shadowy side of the building. I realize that the best way for the janitress to maintain possessing upon Jeffrey�s bag is to hide it. When Jeffrey reached the couch he saw that his bag was missing so he rush to the restroom, to inform Mike. When they return they saw the janitress where wiping the dirt of the floor.�
�So how do you prove that your theory was correct?� I questioned him.
�I was certain about the theory, without doubt, I walk around to look for the location of her hiding place. And with the help of the wet pair of shoes of the janitress, I end up looking at the front of room 108, the back of the bookstore and also behind the CET faculty room.�
�The back of the bookstore�
�Yes, if you�re going to take a peek at that place, you might see the grass was growing around it. It was not concrete.� He explained. �I investigate there, remembering that it was raining last night, I immediately conclude that the source of wet shoes and the splash at the pants of the janitress had came from that part of the school. I saw the footmark still engrave on the grass. It was a mark of small and round shoe, I observe that the little but sharp spherical flower from the grass can be easily attached to a sheet of cloth. So I take two sample of it. If I am lucky enough I might see it at the bottom of the culprit�s shoes, or at the rear end of her pants.�
�So that�s how you find it.� I inquired.
�Yup, but before I found the perpetrator, I investigate some of the staff that might carry the traits of my theory. Looking at their ID, and checking their rooms beside every comfort room.�
�You did all that, but why.� I asked, opposing his ideas.
�For the sake of art� he answered.
�Art?�
�Yes, art of deductions and detection.�
�Ok, if that�s make you happy, I�ll be glad to support� I said still puzzled about his ideals in life. �What happen next?�
�When I realized that what I�m looking for was not around the campus, I start to ask some of the service crew where I might see Mrs. Castor. They told me that she was absent. I asked for her addressed and journey to Sagana.�
�Sagana?�
�Yup, that was the address that they had gave.�
�And what did you see in Sagana?�
�It was a very lonely old fashioned house situated along the asphalt road of Sagana. The flooring of the leaning house was 3 feet above the ground attached to its four feeble wooden pillar. The unpainted wooden wall was so antique, and it gave me an impression that the people who lives there was not wealthy. I look around to check everything that might be connected at the incident of the school. I enter and walk around the red soil of the empty front yard. Seeing the sliding window closed, I was convinced that no one is looking at me. I test everything but I feel really disappointed upon the outcome, perhaps my calculation since the beginning was inaccurate. I move back in front of the that somehow isolated house, I perceive that some shoes and slippers where on the ladder, moving towards the ladder, I was amaze when I see the round pair of shoes in a row with the muddy slippers. I look at the sole and there I saw what I am looking for. But while I�m in the middle of my examination, I heard the door above the ladder squeak. When I look up it was wide open, and there I saw Mrs. Castor was staring down at me with her, impatient eyes and exhausted face.�
�You�re so careless Stacey!� I said, worrying about the situations that he had experience earlier. �What did you do after she discovered you twittering around her quarters?�
�Don�t worry, I prepare myself for that situation.� He answered, with audacity. �And also she�s look harmless. I great her good afternoon�
� �What are you doing here young man.� she asked me suspiciously�
� � Ma�am I am Stacey Sanchez a psychology student � I said introducing myself to her. � I was sent here by my teacher to have an interview with you.� �
� �I don�t have a time for a silly conversation� she answered�
� � Ma�am please just a little talk and by the way I�m going to pay you 100 pesos after the fifteen minutes interview� I exclaimed offering her with a ready cash. She pause for awhile thinking whether she�ll fall on my bait�
� � Ok, just a few minutes cause I have something important to do� she answered and invited me to enter the secluded wrecked bungalow. � take your sit and be comfortable, I�ll just light the dry woods, I�m a busy person you know.�
�I was astounded by the sudden change of her characteristic. I sat down on an old plastic squared chair and observe the untypical surroundings. The bungalow was so simple and lacking of appliances. No dividers, no room, just a plain for cornered quarters. From my sitting place, located at the right side of the entrance, you can see the bed along with the open-holed cabinet, and old bamboo table, with another two squared chairs on both sides.
No faucet, no restroom. The dress was hanged at extended wirings, along the path of the front and back door. Some plastic bags are scattering around the floor and some sheet of paper. Upon looking at the detail of the room, I overlooked that the bed was occupied, I saw an old lady lying on the untidy sheet of the bed. The pillows were mapped with a spoiled liquid, and the unearthly aroma was all over the room. When I move my eyes and looked down under the bed, there was lying a very familiar blue bag. I was staring at it to check if it�s would fit the description of Jeffrey, and it fitted, I was really glad that it was still there. Suddenly the screeching voice coming from the back door was enough for me to spring from my chair. It was Mrs. Castor carrying a stained casserole.�
�� Sorry to keep you waiting� she said.�
� � It�s ok ma�am. Is it ok if I will do my interview outside?� I inquired, while looking at the old lady who was lying on that dirty bed. �Cause we might disturb your mother� �
� �No, I think it�s better to be in the roof,� she said, lighting the candle on the table. �The mosquitoes are spreading out of the field and you might catch a virus out there. Sorry for the inconvenience but we miss to pay the electric bill cause my mother was hospitalized, she was infected by dengue fever � �
� �Nah, it�s ok ��
� �So young man what are you going to ask me, I can answer you while I�m preparing our simple dinner.��
� �Before I start my interview, is there anyway, or short cuts, from this house to the school, maybe a grassy plains or something?� I inquired to be sure that the spherical flower from the sole of her shoes had came from the grassy space between the book store and the CET office. � Cause I was planning to take another way instead of using the asphalted street.�
� �No, nothing� she answered while removing the dirty sheet of the pillow and watching the boiling water outside. �I use the asphalt road more often, but why do you want to take a short cut��
� � I just want to have some fresh air from a grassy path towards the school, if there is a grass road?� I estimated. �
� � No, I think there�s no grassy road en route for the school, there is a muddy one, if you take that road and turn left there� she pointed outside the window to a moor. � but it is longer and it is a waste of a time in using that way.��
� �So you haven�t use that muddy path?� I inquired.�
� �As I said earlier I am a very busy person. I don�t have much time to fool around on that muddy road.� She answered, very annoyed. � By the way is that the content of your interview? �
� �Nope, I was the representative of the Psychology department.� I explained. � I was here to make a documentary of one of the most depressing story.��
�� Depressing! I guess it�s pity for your part.� she answered very offended.�
� �Don�t get me wrong, by the way, How�s you�re mother� I cried with my sympathy.�
� �Ah, she�s alright, the doctor said she only needs a plenty of rest and the right amount of the prescribed medicine� �
� �So that�s the reason why you had work overtime yesterday� I ejaculated �Working from 6AM to 9PM, that was a very exhausting day.��
� �How do you know about it?� she asked very puzzled�
� �I manage to a have a peek at your punch card, earlier and I manage to have a peek at your footprint at the back of the bookstore.��
� �What are you talking about� she ask pretentiously innocent, while her eyelids are shaking.�
� �See this � I hand her the sphere like thorny flower. � Look at the shoe that you wore last night� �
�She walks to the front door and lift the pair of shoes from the ladder. I can see the shocking guilt of her tears when she saw the thorny sphere clip on the sole of her unpolished leather shoe.�
� I explained every clue that I unravel and she filled the few missing link. She confessed everything to me. She told me that she needed a lot of money to buy the expensive medicine to make her mother recover fast, she even told me that they were left by his father when she was only 8 years old� he said while his voice had started to lower in pitch and in tone.
�So what did you do after the interview�, I exclaimed still attentive to his narrations.
�I told her and gave her an advice�
�So you suddenly became councilor� I followed, smiling.
�Yes, I told her that it is bad to steal from somebody else, but she beg for me not to surrender her to authority. I asked her who was in-charge when she was at the school doing his job and she answered that his younger brother was taking care of his mother when she was gone. I promise her that I won�t tell the authority about it in exchange for not doing it again. And before I leave, I gave her the 100 pesos that I promise after that interview�
�You gave her what?�
�100 pesos� he answered without awkwardness.
�Why�
�Cause I promise her.�
�But, why do you promise on giving her a 100 pesos�
�To find out that I am on the right track, for the sake of art, and to contribute for her pitiful life�
�You�re so sympathetic, so what about you�re promise to Jeffrey� I asserted, while I hear him yawning.
�After I call you, when I told you to recharge you�re battery. I went directly to the lobby and there I saw Jeffrey was impatiently waiting for me, and then I told him that he should start to forget about his possessions, and he should consider the incident was mere tool to save other peoples life. He was asking me about what happen but I leave him unanswered and that�s the end of my adventure earlier�
We sat for some quiet time, I notice that it was half past 12, and I realize that the beeping of the phone was getting faster. And then he broke the short silent.
�Come to think of it, I was doubly lucky today, after solving the mystery beyond the missing bag. �He said, his calmness is returning filling the telephone line. � And finally with the long struggle I gain your love. I was really happy.�
�I�m really happy for you� I approve while his purified voice was making my lids heavy. �I was glad you unravel the mystery and I was happy for my self that I realize that you are the reason why my heart continue to beat.�
Again we are in the middle of exchanging those old and undying words, when I hear the final beeping of the phone, the conversation turns into pure silence. I realize it was really late and I�m craving for my beauty rest. I place the phone on its charger and go directly to my room were I lied on my soft and tender yellow bed. Still thinking of Stacey I fell into my slumber where I dance with Stacey at the center of the medieval castle of my dream.
If you have comments or suggestions about the novel you can Email me at [email protected] I will be glad to listen to your advice.
Thanks for Reading!!!
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