ROGER's POV
Silence.
I can hear nothing, despite the many people around.
Numb.
Is all of this real, or just a dream?
Until now, I still can't believe everything that has happened. The people I was with just last night are now dead.
Ka Pineng? When did he die? Was he killed by the killer? How did he die?
According to Arthur, Ka Pineng's body was found inside the bathroom. The back of his head was shattered. Most likely, he was struck with a hammer. It's only now that it's sinking into my brain. That's why he did nothing but give me orders. That's why he left me with all those instructions. That's why he suddenly vanished. That's why—shit! I'm crying!
I hugged myself. My whole body was shaking. I slowly looked up at the sky. A heavy downpour began to fall from above.
We are still at the Villaverdes' former house. I'm sure I'm one of their suspects. But they won't find any evidence that I did this. Arthur approached me. "Looks like a storm is coming..." He handed me a cup of coffee.
"I didn't do this." I took the coffee and took a sip.
"I believe you, Mr. Santos." He took a sip as well. "Don't worry. We won't arrest you as long as we don't have solid evidence."
"Your mother... can you take me to her?"
He cleared his throat. "I can take you to her later."
"Is it far?"
"Maybe an hour's drive. But let's stop by my apartment first. It's near here."
"She's not with you at your apartment?"
He shook his head. "She's at our old hospital right now. She's with my youngest brother, who is a doctor."
"Is she sick?"
He let out a sigh. "Not really. Just old age, I guess, so she's quite weak," he looked at me. "But she's still talkative. She has no other stories to tell but those about the Villaverdes."
I pulled the photo album out. "Will she still recognize the pictures here?"
"Maybe?" He grimaced. "If it's a Villaverde, she'll likely recognize them."
She would surely recognize Clarisse—or Clarisse Villaverde—in these photos. Suddenly, my phone rang. "There's a signal here?"
"Only inside is there no signal." We were currently in my car. He tapped my shoulder. "I'll be back." Then he left.
I answered the call. "Hello?"
"Mr. Attorney, it's Marvin." A voice answered on the other end.
"Marvin?"
"Madge's husband."
"Oh!" I stood up. "Where are you?"
"I'm here in the Philippines because I heard my wife is missing. Is there any news?"
How do I explain everything to him? "Marvin, I think we need to talk."
"Where are you now, Attorney?"
I explained to him where I was, and he said he was willing to come to me no matter how far it was. He said he couldn't stay still at home doing nothing. He was deeply worried about Madge's disappearance.
I met Marvin because Mrs. Ocampo recommended him to me for a case before he worked abroad. Whatever that case was, I can't remember. I knew them as close friends of Mrs. Ocampo, aside from Clarisse.
I was startled when Arthur suddenly rushed toward me. "Mr. Santos..." He was panting. "We found an injured woman in the basement..."
"What?" I didn't hesitate and quickly ran inside the house. Police officers were scattered inside, and there in the basement, I was met with the body of—
Clarisse!
I immediately approached Clarisse, who was being moved onto a stretcher. "Clarisse..." I was tearful. She had a wound on her forehead. "Jesus Christ, what happened?"
She was struggling to breathe but forced her eyes open slightly. "M-Maria..."
"W-What?" I leaned my ear closer to her.
"M-Maria... O-Ocampo..."
I turned pale at what I heard. "Mrs. Ocampo?"
She slowly nodded and then lost consciousness.
"No, Clarisse! No, please, no!.." I tried to wake her up, but she wouldn't stir.
She was immediately placed in an ambulance. Fortunately, there was a nurse there. "Sir, it looks like she just lost consciousness. Let's take her to the hospital."
I just nodded. But before we could move, Arthur arrived. "Mr. Santos, we have a problem." He couldn't look at me properly. "Because of the heavy rain, the vehicles can't pass through to the town." He looked at Clarisse. "The hospital is in the town."
"What are we going to do?" I was holding Clarisse's hand.
"Better we take her to my mother's place for now. My youngest brother is a doctor and can help us. Besides, the place where my mother lives used to be a hospital, so the equipment there is complete."
I just nodded at Arthur. He joined us as we headed to the place he mentioned. Clarisse was in the ambulance, and Arthur and I were in my car. Luckily, the road to the place was paved, so there was no flooding. When we arrived, we were met by two other nurses along with Arthur's younger brother, Rico, the doctor. They immediately took Clarisse to an emergency room.
"Mr. Santos, this is Rico. My brother." He introduced me to his doctor brother.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Santos." Rico immediately shook my hand.
He usually works at the hospital in town, but he couldn't go in today because of the heavy rain. On weekends, he stays here at this old hospital because of their mother. This house is huge, with three floors. It was a hospital back in the day but went bankrupt, so their mother—whom they call Inang—lived in it.
Once Clarisse was on an IV, Arthur approached me. "Who is Mrs. Ocampo?"
"She's the one behind all of this," I replied firmly. He had also heard Clarisse mention her earlier. He immediately called their station and filed a report.
"Stay here for a while. I'll just talk to Rico about her condition." He was looking at Clarisse.
"Thank you, Arthur..."
He just nodded at me.
We are currently on the first floor. Their mother is on the third floor, where Rico is preparing some of her medicines. The two nurses who met us earlier are Inang's personal nurses. Arthur said I should just talk to Inang later when she wakes up. Counting them, only four people live in this large house, including Rico. It's a wonder they aren't afraid in this house! I'm starting to feel nervous. Or maybe I'm just traumatized by Clarisse's old house.
The only one with me now is the nurse who brought Clarisse here. "Sir, I'll just go to the restroom," she informed me.
When she left, I took the jar Ka Pineng had entrusted to me. Is it true that Ara is inside this? If there's a time I should talk to Ara, it's now. While I'm with Clarisse.
I slowly opened it.
The lid of the jar, just slowly.
Then I placed it at my feet.
I stared at it intently.
Stared.
Stared.
But there was nothing.
Then.
After a while.
It was like...
Like there was...
There was...
Ah, nothing!
There really was nothing.
It seems Ka Pineng was just fooling me. I leaned back in my seat. Then again, he did have that medicine man vibe to him.
Then my gaze shifted to Clarisse. This woman really made me worry so much. Then I suddenly thought of Mrs. Ocampo. I shook my head. That crazy woman! She was Ara's killer! I clenched my fist in anger. That woman will pay!
Suddenly, I felt sleepy. I remembered that I had barely slept. I kissed Clarisse's hand and bowed my head.
"Dad..." I jumped.
I stood up! I looked around. That was Ara's voice! Or maybe it was just my imagination. I'm just so exhausted. I sat down again, but I couldn't keep still.
It really felt like I heard Ara's voice.
"Dad..." There was the voice again.
I was on the verge of tears. Damn, I'm getting goosebumps! "A-Ara..." I was trembling.
"Dad..."
From—
Behind me!!!
I quickly turned around. "A-Ara..."
There!
Standing there was—
Ara!!!
My daughter!
She looked the same. Beautiful and looking like a young woman now. But I was paralyzed. Was I really seeing this?
"Dad..." Ara was tearful. "I'm sorry..."
My feet, which refused to move, walked toward her. All my fear vanished when I saw her tears. "Oh, Ara..." I hugged her. Tight!
She's real!
"Dad, I'm sorry..."
"Shhh... I should be the one to say sorry. I wasn't a good father to you..." My voice was cracking.
Ara began to sob. "Dad... I miss you... I love you so much, Dad..."
I muffled my cries. My tears were pouring. "I love you... Ara..." Finally, I said it to her. A word I had withheld from her while she was still alive.
She was still in my embrace, crying.
I pulled away from her and stroked her face. My daughter is truly beautiful. "Don't ever forget, Ara... Daddy loves you very much, okay..." Oh God! These words are not enough for her to know how much I love her. It's a shame I can't be with her anymore. It's a shame she's gone.
She wiped my tears. "Dad... take care of yourself, okay... don't tire yourself out too much at work..."
At those words, I really began to sob. "Ara, I'm sorry... if only I could bring everything back, my child... if only I could bring everything back... Daddy would make up for all my shortcomings... oh, huhuhu... My God..." My tears wouldn't stop.
She hugged me again.
I returned her hug even tighter. "I love you, Ara..."
Her hug tightened as well.
"Ara... tell me who killed you..."
She whispered in my ear. Then, she said the name.
THAT was when I jerked up from my bowed position. Dammit! It was just a dream.
I had fallen asleep!
But it felt so real! Then I looked at the jar at my feet. So if that's the case, it was true. But I only talked to her in my dream.
I looked at Clarisse. She was still unconscious. Then I stepped back. And I left the room.
It was already night. The rain had stopped. I had been asleep for a long time. Then I started thinking.
Could it be true? The name Ara whispered to me, could it really be them? Could they really be the one who killed Ara? But what if it was just a dream? How could she possibly kill Ara?
Suddenly, Arthur appeared in front of me. "Mr. Santos, someone is looking for you."
Behind him was Marvin. "Attorney." He shook my hand.
"It's good you made it, even with the heavy rain earlier." I had texted him the exact address before we arrived here.
"I did have a hard time, Attorney, that's why I'm late." Sadness was evident on Marvin's face.
"By the way, Mr. Santos," Arthur interjected. "Inang is awake. I told her about the Villaverdes and—she's looking for you."
I just nodded at Arthur. We went up to the third floor since Clarisse's nurse was already there watching her. While going up, I explained everything to Marvin. He was in a daze and couldn't even speak. If I were in his shoes, I would be dazed too.
In a few minutes, we were in Inang's room.
I was shocked by Inang's appearance; she was extremely old. Her eyes were partially closed and her face was slightly lopsided. She was in a wheelchair and was constantly on a dextrose drip. She was very thin and extremely wrinkled.
But one thing I noticed clearly—she had no toenails.
In that room were Rico and his two nurses. "Take Clarisse to the hospital in town tomorrow; it's too late in the night," Rico said.
"Thank you," I replied. But I turned my attention to Inang. I pulled the photo album from my coat pocket and showed it to Inang, though I wasn't sure if she could still see it.
The old woman took it and flipped through it. But Inang stared at the photos for a long time, especially the picture of Clarisse and the woman sitting beside her. Arthur and the others were looking at each other because she was just staring there.
Arthur approached and spoke a bit loudly to his mother. "Inang, do you recognize the person in the photo?"
She didn't respond. She just kept stroking the photo.
I was the one who approached. "Inang, do you know this woman?" I pointed to Clarisse in the picture.
Inang nodded. "S-She's Clarisse..."
We all looked up. Clarisse is Clarisse.
She even pointed to it. "This is Clarisse..."
She still knew Clarisse. I then pointed to the woman beside Clarisse in the photo. "And this, Inang, do you know this woman?"
She nodded again. "This is—
ARA..."
My eyes widened. "This woman?" I pointed to the one sitting again.
Inang nodded and pointed to the woman sitting beside Clarisse in the photo. "This is Ara..."
"That's impossible, Inang. Ara is my daughter. That's not Ara." I said in a raised voice.
She pointed to the photo again. "This is Ara. Clarisse's sister. Ara... I can't remember if Ara was Clarisse's sister or twin, they don't look alike..."
Shit! I stepped back. Clarisse had a sister or a twin? And her name was ARA? I suddenly remembered the name Ara whispered to me in my dream. When I asked her who killed her. Her answer—
CLARISSE.
Then suddenly, the lights went out.