11:31 P.M.
Manila National Police Station.
July 20th, the year 2018. Friday.
"I'm gonna be inquisitive to you that will be both helpful to us. Don't frighten yourself with my questions, Xian," Marcus whispered. He knew no one could hear it outside of the investigation room in case someone was watching them. Marcus raised his eyebrows as if asking if Xian understood it. Xian nodded, although he didn't know how to comprehend what he whispered.
"I'm gonna ask from the very start: Can you narrate what happened the day of your accident? How far did you remember something about that tragic day?" Marcus queried. He crossed his arms arrogantly. He pretended to be investigating a loathing stranger across from him. Xian swallowed first before placing his hands on the table.
"I don't remember the exact date. I had gone to Kelly's Diner early that morning before the accident happened while I was chasing someone. A person wearing an oversized black hoodie. The one who rode off from his motorcycle. He's trying to spray paint something on the car that was parked at the entrance of the lot. I assumed he is also the one who did something barbarous to my car," Xian spoke softly.
Marcus retrieved the pen from the clipboard. He wrote his statement on an official, sealed paper. He sighed as he wrote Xian's name over the top and the first half of the sentence he indicated. He averted his eyes again to Xian as it huffed an air towards his mouth.
"I went there because I wanted to talk with Carmela, who was also working there as a server for the morning shift. I dined in for a few minutes. The atmosphere changed and a heated argument developed between us," Xian went on.
It felt like they were in an isolated room with only one light on. The rooms darkened, the atmosphere was humid. Marcus clenched his jaw right away. Xian had been there to talk out the closure he wanted to accomplish a long time ago? He cheated on his relationship with Carmela, that's all.
Marcus loathed Xian the day he broke his promise, and he couldn't forgive him. Marcus liked Carmela in the first place. He knew he wouldn't stand a chance, he let his feelings blow away in the wind.
"You got into a heated argument with Ms. Torres that day?" Marcus asked while gritting his teeth and gripping the pen over his hand tightly. His face was serious while Xian nodded.
"The heated argument was all about our past relationship, nothing else. Carmela was still in a grudge with me when I had to confront her that day. She walked out of the Diner right away when she's done talking, that's all," Xian added. Marcus squinted his eyes.
"I thought we let ourselves clear. About the way you will talk with Carmela after you broke your promise?" Marcus asked. He let his emotions slide into his work. He's asking that question to Xian not because he is a lieutenant, but because he is one of Carmela's best friends.
"Marcus, I know what my promises are. And I knew I broke it right away when I cheated upon Carmela. I know how to be regretful for every incorrect decision I made. I learn from my mistakes, Marcus, so you don't have to take it out on me," Xian muttered. Marcus saw how he fumed. Xian didn't expect the interrogation would have gone wrong.
Marcus letting his emotions be at bay, it was dangerous to do so. Xian tried to control himself from answering back rashly to the Lieutenant. Marcus shook his head a little. He set aside those emotions and focused upon the questions he needed to adhere to.
He cleared his throat and said, "Let's go back to the questions. After Ms. Torres left the diner, leaving you behind, what did you do next?"
Xian answered, "I was going to follow her that day, but her co-worker who had red hair and named Michie halted me."
Marcus nodded as he took down the keywords of what happened next, alongside the name of Michie. Xian continued to say the exact details of the day he got into an accident.
"It literally astonished me by the way she talked. It felt like she really knew me well. I guess it was because I am a famous painter, and all the people at the Diner recognized me. Michie lent me a handkerchief that day," Xian added as he rubbed his thumb with another finger.
"Carmela used another name on that diner. She doesn't want to recognize," Xian also said, even though he knew it would alarm Marcus. Marcus halted from jotting on the clipboard. He tilted his head to one side, confused.
"Carmela did what?" Marcus asked, waiting for Xian to continue what he was stating right now.
"She used another name at the Diner. I saw her nameplate when I went there. Her name wasn't Carmela Torres, it was Lori Ramirez." Xian spoke quietly. He regretted it as soon as it rolled out of his tongue.
Marcus clenched his jaw, furrowing his eyebrows. He knew it could get Carmela behind the bars if everyone found it.
He stood up from his seat and opened the door towards the control room. He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw it was empty and twisted off the recording of the interrogation. Xian was so confused, looking through his reflection over the side.
For sure, Marcus was doing something in the control room outside. Marcus sat down on the chair as he held his forehead as he thought it might lose his badge whenever he was doing it.
Marcus scrambled upon the mouse of the computer and deleted the recorded video. He can't contain the problems that were stacking up at each other in his thoughts.
Margo is dead. Katrina went missing. Xian's fingerprints were found on that scene, even though they can't deny that it was not him. The red-haired girl named Michie Alestre. The person wearing an oversized black hoodie that was trying so hard to kill all of them.... Now Carmela was using another name?
Marcus stood, going back inside the investigation room. He sighed and raised his hand to stop Xian from what he was about to say.
"I don't even know that Carmela was using another name for her service at the Diner. It is an act punishable by the crime of Article 178, using a fictitious name and concealing their real name." Marcus brushed his face as he sat down over his seat earlier and put his elbows on the table as he leaned forward.
"So, do you have to arrest her if that was the case?" Xian asked, as Marcus nodded. He turned off the recording so that no one could hear them or anything. He retrieved the pen again from the table as he composed himself. Xian narrowed his eyes.
"So you turned off the recording of this interrogation?" Xian asked immediately, which made Marcus look up at him. Xian snickered and looked to the other side as he realized what Marcus did over the outside.
"You still look for other ways to save us from this situation even though you knew it was illegal?" Xian scoffed. Marcus placed the clipboard on the side. He started staring right through his eyes so immensely.
"Marcus, what was happening right now... We should face it. The problems that are granted upon us need to have an answer. In what ways do we have to solve this cruel situation rather than running away from it? We should think about how we can bravely answer these questions about this person who wanted us to be dead!" Xian shouted over the room as it resonated in Marcus's ears.
He knew Xian had a point. He was wide awake with the reality surrounding them. Marcus knew that what he was doing was all illegal towards the law and towards his conscience.
"Remember that if you want to run away with your problems and your mistakes, deal with what consequences you have to receive." Xian gritted his teeth.
"Don't lose the numerous chances to solve the problems that come your way rather than running away from them. Deal with it, face it. Instead of turning your back on it, do what you think is right. Open your eyes wide awake through reality," Xian said as he exhaled towards Marcus.