By Ardy & Dave

Then Laura approached me and asked, “Sir Dave, mahimo ug naa ko’y isulti nimo?”

I answered, “Ha? Unsa man?”

I was intrigued by what Laura wanted to tell me. Just the same I gave her all the attention so I can hear what she had to say.

“Sir,” she started, “Sure jud mo nga dili mo diri maniudto?” 

I smiled, I can feel the genuineness of Laura’s offer for us to have our lunch in her new home.

“Dili na lang tingali, kay naa pud mi laing lakaw. Next time na  siguro. Mobisita lagi mi ug usab dire, puhon, ug magdala na pud mi ug atong kaonon,” I said as I smiled.

Laura then smiled back at me. She tried to let us stay for lunch but the group had other plans.

Yet, there was one thing in my mind at that point that prevailed: HOW DID THIS YOUNG LADY SUFFER AND SURVIVE THE ORDEAL?

Honestly, I felt that Mary Joy is far from being okay. She spoke with a low voice indicating that she is hiding something and I just can’t put my finger on it. She is still a mystery to me.

I know that it will take a while for the mental scars to heal and it will take some time before Mary Joy will be able to return to her old self.

That was the first time that I met her and I immediately felt that there is something wrong somewhere. No matter how much her mother, Laura, would say that they were already “okay”, still I could sense they were not fully okay. It is not hard to decipher that there is something intrinsically wrong with the situation considering the ordeal Mary Joy experienced.

At that point, I wanted to sit down and interview the suspect and find out the real reason he went berserk. My training in my course and in my work seems to compel me to go and seek the story from the other side. At that moment, it seemed that I had to go and see the suspect. I know Ma’am Ardy felt the same. Is this the proper time? 

But when is the proper time? When will I have the opportunity again to really ask the suspect what pushed him to do such a thing? There seems to be something deeper than what I saw and heard in the place and from people living there. Those we met outside the house seemed to withdraw from giving us more information. Their short responses of “Wala mi kahibawo,” and “Ambot,” and “Dili lang mi mag-apil apil.” Were pieces of jigsaw puzzle to me.

When will I be able to gather all the pieces to complete the picture for my jigsaw puzzle about what happened to Mary Joy?

Perhaps, as the case goes to court, it is best to let the wheels of justice take its course and let justice prevail. The important thing at that point was to find out how we can extend our help to Mary Joy so she can live a normal life.

I wanted to throw more questions to Mary Joy but the time didn’t allow me to do so. Mam Ardy and I were with a group and a few hours really were not enough to allow us to ask questions and get the answers to what we were looking for.

I turned to Laura and asked if they already have an electrical connection given the situation that the house is new and probably the fixtures have not be installed yet. My questions were just to while the time away as I waited for everyone in the group to be ready homeward bound.

Laura told me that they are getting power from a neighbor as their meter was yet to be installed.

I looked at Ma’am Ardy and I knew there was something lurking in her mind. I could read her facial expressions that she wanted to say something to me.

“Ma’am naa kay isulti naho,” I anticipated what was lurking in her mind.

Ma’am Ardy smiled and looked at her phone and then started typing some words on the keypad. She then nodded a bit as if telling me to check my phone.

I got the cue; my phone beeped as a text message arrived, I did not look at the phone immediately as I stepped back so I could have a private moment before reading the message. 

Indeed the message came from Ma’am Ardy. My eyes were wide open upon reading the text message, and I stopped myself from laughing so hard. (To be continued)