SPENTICE and the FIERY PRIEST

SATFP: Chapter 23

"From where Father Jacob's accident happened."

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo ro'n?"

"I checked something."

"And that something is?"

"That something is for me to know and for you to know later. After I finally confirmed it."

He scoffed while looking at me, still serious as well as his tone of voice.

What is wrong? What is wrong with him? Why is he acting like that?

"Alam mo ba? You are too mysterious," saad niya.

Yes, I am. I'm mysterious to someone who don't know the real me.

"At dahil do'n, you make me feel so confuse."

Hindi ako sumasagot sa bawat litanyang binibitawan niya.

I let him express what he feels and what he wants to say. That's why I stay quiet and didn't interrupt him.

"Confuse na nakakapag-isip ako ng kung ano-ano sa 'yo. I don't want to think of it but... I can't help it. Bago pa lang kita nakilala at hindi pa kita gano'n kakilala. I know that Father Jacob trust you that's why I did too."

Napagulo siya ng buhok niya at napahilamos. Frustrated.

"Kahit na nagtataka ako kung bakit ka palaging nasa simbahan at kinakausap si Father Jacob in private, hinayaan ko ang pagtataka na 'yon. Father Jacob said that you and your family are kind and trustworthy."

Mukhang alam ko na kung ano ang patutunguhan nito. The way he's telling me this right now is like he's suspecting me.

"I don't know if I could trust you anymore. Tell me, Spent... Should I trust you?"

And he's doubting his trust on me.

Tell me, fiery priest, will you trust me if you'll knew that I am a criminal?

That I am a mafia boss daughter who kills people? That I am a part of my father's mafia and my work is all about it?

Mapagkakatiwalaan mo pa ba ako kapag sinasabi ko sa 'yo ang tunay kong pagkatao?

I know that trust is not something you can gain too suddenly. Many people says that they can't give their trust so easily but they wrong. They often give their trust on someone they still don't know. Kagaya nang pagsakay sa mga public vehicle para ihatid ka sa paroroonan mo. You don't know the driver but you know that he will take you to your destination. Why? Because you trust him without knowing it.

"I didn't tell you to trust me, fiery priest."

Tumango siya. "Yeah, right. You didn't."

"And I'm not begging for your trust. It's up to you if you'll trust me and believe me that Father Jacob's accident is planned," I calmly said.

"It's up to me? Wait—? What? What did you say?!"

Napaayos siya ng tayo nang marinig ang sinabi ko. Napataas pa ang boses niya at nawala ang pagkaseryoso niya kanina.

I think he is acting like that awhile ago dahil nagsususpetya siya sa 'kin. Ang suspetya niyang hindi ko alam kung ano.

What is he suspecting me?

"I'm not repeating it twice, fiery priest. What you heard is right."

"Pa'no mo nasasabi—"

Inangat ko ang hintuturo ko na parang pinapatahimik siya.

"No questions first. Sasagutin ko lahat ng katanungan at pagdududa mo mamaya after I finish checking something."

Tuluyan na akong bumaba sa motor ko at dire-diretsong umakyat sa taas.

"Hey! Spentice! I'm not yet done talking to you!" pahabol niyang sigaw habang papasok na ako sa bahay.

"I know! I said I'll get back to you later!"

Just wait and I'll tell you everything about Father Jacob's death.

Sinarado ko ang pinto at ni-lock 'yon.

I don't want anyone to disturb me while I'm investigating. I need to focus my attention in it.

Pinasak ko ang flashdrive ko sa laptop at inobserbahan ng maigi ang mga footage na nakuha ko.

Pinagdugtong-dugtong ko ang mga footage na nakuha si Father Jacob at ang sasakyan na nag-aabang.

Simula sa kumakaway siya sa 'min at ang nakaparadang sasakyan na bigla na lang umandar at bumulusok kay Father Jacob. It is exactly the same black tinted car with no plate number and has a white X scratch on the driver seat's door.

These CCTV footages are the strong evidence to confirmed my hunch and to explain it to fiery priest clearly.

"SPENTICE!"

Muntikan na akong mapatalon at maibato ang mouse na hawak ko dahil sa lakas ng kalabog pintuan at ang pagsigaw ni fiery priest.

"Nagdududa na talaga ako sa 'yo! Stop making any excuses and tell me what is happening?!" he shouted while walking towards me.

How did he get in here?! Ah, oo nga pala. He has the main keys while I have the spare key. Stupid question.

Humarap ako sa kanya habang nakaupo pa rin at siya ay nakatayo sa harapan ko at may galit na galit na mukha.

"Eh 'di lumabas din sa mismong bibig mo that you're suspecting me. Nagpaligoy-ligoy ka pa, hindi na lang idirekta. Suspecting me for what, fiery priest?"

"Stop messing around! Seriously?! We are on a serious situation right now between misunderstanding!

"There is no misunderstanding. You're just overthinking."

"Overthinking ba ang tawag sa taong naguguluhan na sa 'yo?!"

"Ikaw ang nagpapagulo sa sarili mo, Father Josiah."

"Ano?!—"

Handa na sana siyang manigaw ulit nang inunahan ko na siya.

"This is the evidence that Father Jacob's death is not just an accident but a planned accident. See it for yourself."

Tumayo ako sa kinauupuan ko at binuksan ang refrigerator para kumuha ng tubig.

Ininom ko 'yon habang tinitingnan si fiery priest na pinapanood ang CCTV footages.

"Wala akong naiintindihan kung ano'ng meron sa video na 'to."

I sighed bago lumapit sa kanya at mag-explain.

"Why I think that the accident is planned? First one..."

I explained everything na nasa video. Detailed kung detailed para mas maintindihan niya ang tinutukoy ko.

Nang matapos kong i-explain sa kanya lahat ay pinaulit niya ulit na panoorin ang footages.

"How did you get this?"

"Sa mga may-ari ng CCTV's. Nagpaalam ako sa kanila kung pwede ko makita ang mga footage nila the time where the accident happened and asked them if I can get a copy of it. Kaya iyan."

"Why are you doing this, Spent?"

He paused the video and look at me directly.

Uminom muna ako ng tubig bago siya sagutin.

"To justify Father's Jacob death."

"At bakit mo kailangang gawin 'yon?"

"Dahil mahalaga sa 'kin si Father Jacob. He needs justice so I'm finding one to have the justice he wants. By investigating first."

"I don't why but I can't seem to trust your explanation why are you doing this."

"Not a problem to me. Hindi naman kita pinipilit na pagkatiwalaan ako."

"Spentice!"

"Why the hell you keep calling my name?!"

"Kasi naiinis na ako na ginagawa mo kong clueless sa 'yo! Sino ka ba para mag-imbestiga?! Pulis ka ba?!"

"Can you please stop shouting?! I can hear you loud and clear!"

"Kung sasabihin mo lang sa 'kin at ipapaintindi mo lahat hindi ako—!"

"Okay, fine!"

Napabuntong hininga ako at napainom ulit ng tubig. Sumandal ako sa poste ng pader habang inaalisa ang takbo ng utak ni Father Josiah.

Ano naman ang gusto niyang malaman at ano ang ipapaintindi ko sa kanya?!

He's stressing me out! Siya ata ang mas magulo kaysa sa 'kin!

"What do you want to know?" I asked.

Pinakalma niya rin muna ang sarili niya bago magsalita. "Everything about you."

"Do you know the word, privacy? Sorry but I can't tell you anything about me except that I'm a human being like you."

Kita ko kung paano nag-igting ang panga niya habang diretsong nakatingin sa mga mata ko.

"Do you think I'll believe that?"

"Siguro? Pero nakuha mo na ba at naniniwala ka na ba na ang pagkamatay ni Father Jacob ay sinadya at hindi aksidente?"

"Papanoorin ko ulit ang mga footage mamaya pagkatapos kong makilala kung sino ka talaga."

"Spentice Viglianco is my full name. Now kilala mo na ako, bumalik ka na ulit sa pinapanood mo nang maniwala ka sa sinasa—"

"Bakit ka palaging nasa simbahan?" tanong niya at pinutol ang sinasabi ko.

Nabigla ako sa tanong niya kaya hindi ako agad nakasagot. I cleared my throat.

"Para magsimba, malamang."

"No. Hindi magsisimba ang nasa labas lang. Maluwag pa sa loob at pwedeng-pwede ka ro'n magsimba kaya bakit nasa labas ka lang?"

"Uh... Mas trip kong nasa labas ako kapag nagsisimba?"

Palihim akong napasapo sa noo ko. I'm answering fiery priest questions like an idiot.

"Ano'ng meron sa vault na nasa kwarto ni Father Jacob sa simbahan at natatakpan ng upuan?"

Sa tanong niya na 'yon ay biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ko at dahan-dahang napaalis sa pagkakasandal sa pader.

I saw how a smirk formed in his lips.

Looks like someone just discovered my mission.