Chapter 8 Confusion

• Black and white symbolize a lot of things in life. Black represents evil, darkness, night, and despair. It's the color used to convey certainty and authority, and when used in opposition with white, it's a symbol of the eternal struggle between day and night, good and evil, and right and wrong. These two colors also represent mourning, purity, and perfection of the deceased person's spirit.
• In the hall, everyone wears either of the two-color. Each person coming in and out of the hall has sadness, misery, or even regret on their face. Others are stunned, trying to grasp everything. Others weep and mourn over the death of a relative or a friend. Other visitors are questioning who ruthlessly took on the life of an innocent, positive, and amiable Sam. Everyone who knew him could not imagine who was offended or fought by him. If anything, Sam is better known as a person who will do everything to keep the people around him from getting into trouble. That is why it was a huge mystery to most why his life was taken.
• Some even wonder if he committed suicide. Perhaps, despite his positive personality, he was a sad and depressed person. But those who know him better do not agree with this. “There’s no way Sam will take his own life,” Dale said, who was Sam’s friend since high school.
• Today is the second day of Sam’s funeral wake. All of Sam’s teammates are in the funeral hall. Their coach, Mr. Oliver, along with Dale, Herbert, and Angelo, greeted the guests who were coming to the funeral hall. Their manager, along with Martin, Nelson, Troy, and Kim, was serving the guests who were still inside. Karl, Andrew, and Kaye; are helping Sam’s mother to attend to those guests who pay respect in front of Sam’s burial urn.
• All of Andrew’s teammates during high school are in the hall as well. For them, it wasn’t an ordinary funeral. It reminds them of the three funerals they attended 5 years ago.
• "We all know who did this," Yakov said quietly, who was sitting in front of a long table beside Brad.
• "We are not sure," Gary objected, though his facial expression could not hide that he agrees with what Yakov had said.
• "Bro, we all heard from Andrew. Allen is out, and this happened as soon as he got released," Yakov retorted with a tone of frustration.
• Gary lowered his head. They are terrified of the thought. Five years ago, their situation was exactly the same. As one of them disappeared one by one, there was also a
• mixture of nervousness and fear for those they left behind. They had felt that any time, one of them will be gone as well. When their friend Lev died, they thought at first that he was just hit on by some random killer. But when Ralph died next, they knew it was not a simple accident or a coincidence anymore. They were being taken one by one. Then Emman died and Andrew's best friend emerged as the suspect in the deaths of the three.
• Although it was painful for them to lose three friends, they felt relieved when Allen was caught. They had felt then that they could finally live without fear and apprehension.
• But now, the fear they once felt has returned and reminded them of the painful past.
• "We are still not sure. But just to be safe, don’t go anywhere with no company," Will advised. He was sitting beside Gary, opposite Yakov.
• "Tell that to yourself," Brad uttered against Will.
• "Have you talked with Andrew?" Terry cut them off before the two could even make a commotion.
• Will slightly shook his head.
• "That’s the only thing he said to us. Allen was released. He said nothing other than that."
• They knew that the only person who was having more of a hard time and was afraid by now was Andrew. He had lost three people and now he lost another important person in his life.
• "I wonder what he’s feeling right now," Yakov said as he averted his gaze towards Andrew.
• The others followed and looked in Andrew’s direction as well. They sighed as soon as they saw his expressionless appearance as he faced the guests.
• *****
• Karl, Andrew, and Kaye sat on the side to rest while no guests were coming in yet to visit Sam's burial urn. As they silently watched around, Karl averted his gaze at Andrew. He hasn’t talked to him that much since Sam's death. Although he wanted to know what he was thinking, he gave him space.
• "Karl."
• Karl looked up at Dale, who’s walking towards them.
• "Captain," Karl responded as he stood up from the floor.
• Dale approached him and leaned over to give him a whisper.
• "A detective is here to ask you some question. I guess you’re the only one he hasn’t talked to from our team.”
• “Alright, captain.” Karl said as he turned to Andrew, "I’ll be right back."
• Andrew nodded in response. Some guests arrived, so Andrew left as well, with Kaye leading the arriving guests to the burial urn.
• When Karl came out of the funeral hall, he immediately noticed a man who he thought was in his late thirties. He was wearing a long brown coat. The man exudes the aura of a detective, so Karl immediately assumed that he was the detective.
• "Excuse me," Karl uttered as he approached the man, who immediately turned to him.
• "Mr. Karl Rodriguez?" the man verified.
• "Y-Yes. I’m Karl Rodriguez." Karl responded as he reached out his hand.
• The man also reached for it and shook his hand.
• “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Karl Rodriguez. I’m Detective Michael Carter and I’m handling Mr. Sam Andres’ case.”
• Karl nodded after shaking his hand.
• "Do you already have a lead on who possibly did this to our vice-captain?" Karl asked. Frustration and urgency were clear in his voice.
• The detective held the cigarette in his mouth first. He pulled it out of his mouth and blew smoke from it that made Karl coughed. As an athlete, they cannot be addicted to any vice, such as cigarettes and other harmful vices. That is why he is not used to inhaling cigarette smoke.
• The detective ignored Karl's reaction. But even before he answered the young man, he threw the cigarette he was holding in the trash can that was quite close to them. When he returned to Karl, he was already holding a small notebook that he had taken from his pants.
• “What is your relationship with Mr. Andrew Sy?” The detective started as he looked at the notebook he was holding.
• The sudden question immediately took aback Karl. Was it because Andrew is related to Allen so this was the first thing he asked, he thought to himself.
• The detective looked at him, reading his face. Not long after, Karl noticed he was staring at him. He was so lost in thought that he forgot to answer. "I-I'm Andrew's boyfriend."
• "Hmm ..." the detective turned his gaze back to the notebook he was holding, confirming everything that was written on it. He then took the pen dangling from his shirt. "Where were you on the evening of July eighteen until four in the morning of July nineteen?" he continued questioning.
• That was the day Sam died, he thought. He heard that Sam’s body was found laid on the grass near the river at around six in the morning by a citizen walking with a dog. According to the police, his body temperature was at thirty-four point one degree Celsius when he was found, and concluded that he died two hours ago from the time they found him. On the autopsy report, he died because of an overdose of a strong antidepressant drug.
• "We finished our practice at around seven in the evening." Karl started. "Andrew and I went home at seven-thirty. I think… around eight when we arrived at his condo unit. I stayed all night at the condo and then I went out with Andrew at six-thirty in the morning the next day to come to school,” He added.
• "Alright. It was exactly what Mr. Andrew told us." the detective commented as he took down notes. "Then... Did Mr. Andrew perhaps go out that night?" he went on.
• Karl pondered as he tried to remember what happened that night. And from what he could remember, Andrew went out that dawn to buy at the convenience store. But he thought that information should have been given by Andrew already. He wondered if the detective was just verifying that information or perhaps it was a piece of information that Andrew did not even disclose to the detective. Karl darted his eyes towards the notebook held by the detective. He could not see it and that did not help him decide. Should he tell him? Was it for verification purposes or information that might put Andrew at risk if he disclosed it? He was lost in thought again when the detective spoke again.
• "Mr. Karl?"
• "Y-Yes?" Karl faltered as the detective gazed at him.
• "Did Mr. Andrew go out that-"
• "No," Karl cut him off. "As far as I could remember, I don't remember him coming out that night. I just remember that he slept first while I was studying in the living room. I fell asleep after that and that's all I remember." He added, trying to put steadiness on his voice. Andrew could have gone out that night and came back while he was still sleeping. Pretending that it was all he remembered won’t hurt, he thought.
• The detective stared at him for a few seconds and then nodded. "Alright. That's what he said, too. He didn't come out during those hours," he commented.
• Karl suddenly felt confused. Though he did not confirm it himself, he was quite positive that Andrew would disclose that information from the detective. But then he considered maybe Andrew was afraid that he’ll be suspected the way Karl assumed.
• "Last question, do you know anyone who may have been offended or quarreled with by Mr. Andres?" the detective questioned again.
• "No one," Karl answered immediately. "He’s too kind. I don't think he can actually offend someone."
• The detective nodded as he looked down at his notebook. Karl suddenly thought of few people who considered that Sam might have committed suicide because of the cause of his death. And just like what his other teammates had said, he didn’t believe that Sam will take his own life.
• He then thought of Allen. He thought that if he mentioned Allen, they would actually consider that Sam was murdered and did not commit suicide. Thou Allen did not actually name himself. He was sure that it was him who was giving him warning those past few days.
• But he hesitated. He’s not in the right position to say anything about him. If there was, it will be Andrew.
• "Did Andrew tell you if he knows someone?" Karl asked.
• “Hmm… He said nothing. Is he suspecting someone?”
• It made Karl bewildered. Karl expected Andrew to mention Allen to the detective, but then he didn’t. Andrew had been afraid of Allen since they released him. He had always been alert and anxious about his surroundings that somehow made Karl noticed he was already changing. From that once cheerful Andrew to someone who became paranoid and serious. He sometimes thought Andrew was not the same anymore and has become a different person. So he expected that Andrew would mention Allen because of his fear of him.
• But for what reason he did not even mention it to the defective? Is he scared? Isn’t better for him to tell them? Karl suddenly having lots of questions in his mind. Karl actually noticed Andrew acting strange, or he expected him to act differently at least. The day they went to the hospital, he said nothing. He was shocked but quiet at the same time. Sure, it was a common reaction. But he expected Andrew to cry and cursed Allen’s name. But Andrew never cried once in his presence. He then considered that maybe it was Andrew’s normal behavior of coping with someone’s death after he had experienced it many times before. But now, these thoughts were suddenly making him questioned Andrew’s actions. Allen was the only person they could suspect, but why did Andrew not even inform the detective about Allen. These thoughts were making Karl more confused.
• “Mr. Karl?”
• His thought bubble suddenly exploded when he heard the detective’s voice. He did not realize that he was already brooding.
• “I-I’m just asking. If I can think of anyone, I will tell you.” Karl answered.
• "That's what I'm about to say," the detective said. “Here’s my number. Contact me if you remember something that will help the investigation.” He handed the paper with his number written on it to Karl.
• Karl then reached for it. He looked at it for a bit, then he turned his gaze back to the detective. "I will."
• The detective smiled at him and bid him goodbye. As soon as the detective went lost from his sight, Karl plodded towards a large rock leaning against the wall. He settled down on it, lowering his head.
• “What am I thinking? Am I really…” Karl held his face with both hands while his elbows rested on his thighs. “What’s going on?” he murmured.
• He was so lost in thought when he heard a text notification on his phone.
• Since that day, Karl never went back to the funeral hall, not even to Andrew’s condo unit. No one saw him where he went. He just disappeared…