CHAPTER 6: The First Page

Nakatitig si Serena sa unang page ng folder.

For several seconds, neither she nor Damian spoke.

Nakalatag sa harap nila ang isang lumang dokumento. Bahagyang naninilaw na ang mga gilid nito, pero malinaw pa rin ang mga nakasulat. May mga petsa, reference numbers, at pangalan na hindi pamilyar kay Serena.

Sa pinakailalim ng pahina, may maikling note na nakasulat gamit ang red ink.

Serena leaned close.

“Is this an official report?”

“Part of one,” sagot ni Damian.

“Part of one?” Napatingin sya kay Damian. “Meaning, may iba pang folders?”

“Most likely.”

“Then why are we staring at this one like it’s going to explain everything?”

“Because it might explain something.”

Serena gave him a look.

“Wow. Very helpful, Sir.”

Hindi pinansin ni Damian ang sarcasm n’ya. Inayos nito ang folder at inilapit sa ilaw.

Tahimik ang safe house maliban sa mahinang ugong ng refrigerator at paminsan-minsang patak ng ulan sa bintana. Late na, pero wala ni katiting na balak si Serena matulog habang nasa harap nila ang unang totoong lead tungkol sa pagkamatay ng tatay n’ya.

Tinignan ulit n’ya ang dokumento.

Nasa itaas ng heading:

INCIDENT REVIEW – VALE INDUSTRIES

Sa illaim nito ay petsa.

Ang mismong gabi kung kailan namatay ang tatay n’ya.

Humigpit ang hawak ni Serena sa gilid ng papel.

“Read it,” sabi nya.

Tumingin si Damian sa kanya. “You can read it yourself.”

“I know. I want you to read it.”

Saglit itong nag-isip, bago nagsimulang magbasa.

“Initial incident review concerning the death of Mr. Christopher Vale, conducted following the reported security breach at Vale Industries.”

Napayuko si Serena.

Iba ang pakiramdam kapag naririnig n’ya ang pangalan ng tatay n’ya sa isang malamig at opisyal na dokumento. Para bang hindi ito tungkol sa taong nakasam n’ya sa loob ng maraming taon, kundi isang pangalan lang sa isang report.

Hindi na ito mapalagay. Ngunit nagpatuloy si Damian sa pagbabasa.

Itinuro ni Serena ang nakasulat.

“11:42 p.m?”

“Yes.”

“That’s not right.”

Napatingin si Damian sa kanya. “What do you mean?”

“My mom told me the police arrived before midnight. She said she was already at the hospital when they called her.”

Damian studied the document.

“Do you remember the exact time?”

“No. I was younger. I remember the call came late, and I remember my mom leaving the house in a hurry.” Huminto sya sandali. “But I remember her saying the police had already secured the building.”

“Then we need to verify the timeline.”

“Why does everything have to b e verified?” Napataas ang boses ni Serena. “Can’t one thing just be what it says?”

Tinitigan s’ya ni Damian.

“Not when the document itself may have been altered.”

Natahimik si Serena.

Tumingin ulit s’ya sa papel. May ilang entries sa ilalim ng initial report. Ang iba ay may mga guhit na parang kinansela, habang ang ilan naman ay may reference codes na hindi n’ya maintindihan.

Then she saw her mother’s name.

VIVIENNE VALE – PRESENT AT LOCATION

Natigilan si Serena.

“Present at location,” mahina nyang inulit.

Hindi sumagot si Damian.

“Where?”

“The report doesn’t specify.”

“Then why is her name here?”

“I don’t know.”

Mabilis s’yang napatingin dito.

“You don’t know, or you’re not telling me?”

“Serena.”

“No, don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Say my name like that whenever you don’t want to answer.”

Bahagyang sumandal si Damian sa upuan. Hindi mabasa ni Serena ang expression nito.

“I’m not withholding an answer. I don’t have one.”

Gusto nya itong paniwalaan.

That was the problem.

Tinignan nya ulit ang dokumento. Sa ilalim ng pangalan ng nanay nya, may isa pang entry na bahagyang natatakpan ng dark mark.

Inilapit nya ang papel sa ilaw.

“Can you read that?”

Lumapit si Damian para tignan.

“Looks like a reference number.”

“Looks like someone tried to cover it.”

Sinuri nito ang marka nang hindi hinahawakan.

“Could be damaged.”

“Or someone didn’t want us to see it.”

“Both are possible.”

Napabuntong-hininga si Serena.

“You always have to make everything sound like a possibility.”

“Because itis.”

Tinitigan nya ito.

“Do you ever get tired of being right?”

“Not when it keeps people alive.”

Agad na sagot ni Damian.

Walang naisagot si Serena.

For a moment, napansin nya ang pagod sa ilalim ng mga mata nito. Ilang oras na itong gising, pabalik-balik sa terminal, sa safe house, at sa investigation. Para itong taong sanay nang gumalaw kahit kulang sa tulog.

She looked away first.

“Fine. What’s next?”

Binaliktad ni Damian ang pahina.

Wala nang laman sa likod nito maliban sa isang faint stamp at panibagong reference code.

Sinuri nya ang folder at ang mga loose sheets sa ilalim nito.

“Some pages are missing.”

“Of course the are.”

“Serena.”

“I’m just saying. It would be too easy if the truth came with a complete set of instructions.”

Bahagyang gumalaw ang labi ni Damian, halos maging ngiti.

“Noted.”

Napansin ‘yon ni Serena.

“Was that a smile?”

“No.”

“Sure.”

Inilapag nito ang unang pahina sa mesa at binuksan ang laptop.

“Let’s check the reference numbers.”

Inilapit ni Serena ang upuan.

“Can I help?”

“You can read the entries while I search the archive.”

“I can also use a laptop, you know.”

“I’m fully aware.”

“Then give me something to do.”

Saglit syang tinignan ni Damian bago iniikot ang laptop para makita nya ang screen.

“Check the dates against the company records you remember. See if anything doesn’t match.”

Umayos na ng upo si Serena.

“Finally, a job.”

“Try not to sound so surprised.”

“Try not to sound so bossy.”

They worked in silence for several minutes.

Kinukumpara ni Serena ang mga petsa sa mga naaalala nyang dokumento mula sa company ng tatay nya. Nakita na nya ang ilan sa mga records na ‘yon years ago, noong buhay pa ang tatay nya. Noon, wala lang sa kanya ang mga numero at entries.

Ngayon, bawat detalye ay parang may dalang posibleng sagot.

“Damian.”

Napatingin ito sa screen nya.

“This date,” sabi ni Serena. “The report says the security breach was recorded at 11:42 p.m., but this company log shows an access entry at 12:17 a.m.”

“Technically, the next day. But yes, same incident.”

Lumapit si Damian para i-check ang record.

“Who accessed the system?”

“The record doesn’t shoe a name. Just an internal credential.”

“Can you trace it?”

“Not from this copy.”

Pinag-aralan ni Damian ang screen.

“Save it.”

“I already did.”

“Good.”

Sumandal si Serena sa upuan.

“See? We make a good team.”

Casual lang ang pagkakasabi nya.

Pero napatingin si Damian sa kanya.

For a second,parang biglang tumahimik ang buong room.

Then he turned back to the laptop.

“We make a functional team.”

“Wow, romantic.”

“Don’t start.”

“Who said I was starting?”

Binigyan sya nito ng tingin.

Napangiti si Serena unconsciously.

It was strange, how quickly the tension between them could shift. Isang dandali, gusto nyang kalugin si Damian para makuha ang sagot. Sa susunod, nagbabatuhan na sila ng remarks na parang mas matagal na silang magkakilala.

Hindi nya alam kung ano ang gagawin sa ganitong pakiramdam.

And she wasn’t sure she wanted to.

By the time they finished reviewing the first page, tumigil na ang ulan.

Nasa mesa pa rin ang folder, pero iba na ang pakiramdam sa silid. Nakumpirma nilang hindi tugma ang official timeline sa company records. Nalaman nilang present ang nanay nyang si Vivienne sa location. At may ebidensyang may nagtangkang magtago ng bahagi ng report.

Hindi pa sapat ang lahat para ipaliwanag ang pagkamatay ng tatay nya.

Pero sapat na para patunayan na hindi kumpleto ang kwentong alam nya.

Tumayo si Serena at lumapit sa bintana.

Sa security cameras, makikita ang tahimik na gate at ang walang katao-taong kalsada sa labas. Hindi pamilyar ang bahay. Hindi pamilyar ang silid. At ang lalaking nasa likod nya ay isa pa ring tao na hindi nya lubusang naiintindihan.

Yet he was the only person standing beside her while the truth began to unfold.

“Do you think my mom knows about this report?” tanong nya.

Isinara ni Damian ang folder.

“I think she knows more than she has told you.”

Napalingon si Serena.

“That’s not the same as saying she’s involved.”

“No. It isn’t.”

Bumalik ang tingin nya sa bintana.

“I don’t want to believe she had anything to do with my dad’s death.”

“Then don’t decide that yet.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“No,” mahinang sagot ni Damian. “It isn’t.”

Muli s’yang napatingin dito,

May something sa boses nito na hindi nya pa naririnig noon. Hindi awa. Hindi rin simpleng reassurance.

Recognition.

Napaisip si Serena kung ano ang pakiramdam ng may alam kang katotohanang hindi mo pwedeng sabihin kahit kanino.  Na ang mga taong mahalaga sayo ay maaaring konektado sa isang bagat na kakila-kilabot, pero kailangan mo pa ring magpatuloy.

Napatingin sya sa kanyang mga kamay.

“What happens now?”

“We verify the timeline. Then we find out who altered the report and why.”

“And my mom?”

“We speak to her when we have enough information to ask the right questions.”

Kumunot ang noo ni Serena.

“I don’t like waiting.”

“I noticed.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

Serena had her arms crossed.

“Then promise me something.”

Nagbago ang facial expression ni Damian.

“What is it now?”

“If you find something about my dad, you tell me. Even if you think I won’t like it, or it would hurt me.”

Hindi agad sumagot si Damian.

Serena held his gaze.

“I’m not asking you to protect me from the truth. I’m asking you not to keep it from me.”

Matagal sya tiningnan ni Damian.

Then he nodded. “I promise.”

Dapat  gumaan ang pakiramdam si Serena.

Instead, mas lalo nyang naramdaman kung gaano na sya nagsisimulang umasa rito.

Bumaling sya bago pa nito mapansin.

“Good. Because if you break that promise, I’ll make your life miserable.”

“I have no doubt.”

“And I’m very creative.”

“I’m beginning to understand that.”

Napatingin sya rito.

There it was again–that almost-smile.

It was becoming annoyingly distracting.

Later, inilagay ni Damian ang folder sa isang locked case at dinala sa maliit na office ng safe house.

Nakatayo si Serena sa doorway habang pinapanood ito.

“Are you going to sleep?”

“In a while.”

“That’s what you said three hours ago.”

“I have work to finish.”

“You also have a body that apparently needs rest.”

Lumingon si Damian.

“Are you concerned about my health?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m concerned that you’ll collapse and I’ll have to explain to your secret agent friends why their security consultant died from stubbornness.”

Bahagyang nagtaas ito ng kilay.

“Secret agent friend?”

Natigilan si Serena.

Then she pointed at him

“See? That’s your fault. You keep acting mysterious, and now I’m making jokes about it.”

“Try to make them better.”

Napasinghap sya.

“Excuse me?”

Naglakad si Damian palabas ng office.

“Good night, Serena.”

Pinanood nya itong umalis.

“Good night, Sir.”

Huminto ito sa dulo ng hallway.

“Don’t start.”

Ngumiti si Serena sa sarili.

“Wasn’t planning to.”

For a moment, inakala nyang may sasabihin pa ito.

Pero wala.

Nawala ang tunog ng mga hakbang nito sa hallway, at naiwan syang mag-isa sa tahimik na bahay kasama ang folder na nakasa sa loob ng locked case.

Bumalik si Serena sa mesa at tiningnan ang mga notes nya.

Hindi naging misteryo ang pagkamatay ng tatay nya. Isa istong trahedya–isang bagay na nangyari, isang bagay na kinailangan nilang tanggapin, isang bagay na natutunan nyang mabuhay kasama.

Ngayon, alam nyang may report.

May timeline na hindi nagtutugma.

May pangalan na bahagyang binura.

At ang nanay nya, na naroon sa isang location na hindi nito kailanman nabanggit sa kanya.

Nakatitig si Serena sa bakanteng bahagi ng folder kung saan dapat naroon ang mga nawawalang pahina.

Whatever had happened that night, someone had worked hard to make sure the truth stayed buried.

And now, someone knew they were looking.

Isinara nya ang notebook.

Tomorrow, they will find the next piece.

And maybe, if she would be brave enough to ask the right questions, she would finally know why her mother was at the location the night her father died..