Lennard washed the split crimson from his hands and then cleaned the other utensils that he used. He could still smell the blood that a moment ago was there, gleaming, enticing, “hmmm… it smells a lot better especially if it’s not mine.
”
The truth is that ever since he was a kid, he had always loved the smell of blood, he would usually cut himself just to see its redness trickle down his fair skin, the pain sends shards of excitement down his spine. He continued the practice until he’s old enough to know that self mutilation is a bad habit.
“What’s wrong with a single cut?
” Had always been his answer whenever someone discovers what he had been doing to himself. And once in a while, perhaps when they couldn’t find anything better to do, his parents would come into his room to have a “heart to heart” talk with their only son.
“As if I really give a damn on whatever bullshit that they want to say to me,
” he thought. “I’ll never change, especially if it is for the likes of them. I don’t give a damn to what they think and they don’t give any crap on what I think either. We’re already quits, what else is there to talk about? Nada!
”
He sighed and continued scrubbing his hands. His mother taught him well, she said that he must remain clean at all times… or else. He looked under his nails to make sure that there’s no dirt in there. Old habits really die hard…
“oh… God, I wish Carrine is here! I’m getting stiff!
” He sighed as he looked at the bulge on his pants. He just can’t understand, but lately, he gets aroused whenever he cuts himself and sees his own blood onto his skin. Carrine finds it odd that he have to hurt himself first before he could get to bed with her, she’ll never understand. “Well, can anyone ever understand me?
” He just pushes it from his mind every time; at least he still gets laid even though his habit is so retard.
When he was already satisfied with his hands and nails, he turned the faucet off. Just then, he heard some footsteps that are coming from the family room, “who’s here?
He thought, puzzled. “I know the schedule of this house perfectly and no one should be entering it at ten o’clock in the morning!
”
He heard the footstep once again and this time he moved. He took a saucepan from the sink and he walked silently to the wall beside the entrance to the kitchen. He waited for the intruder to come closer to where he currently is.
Patience is a virtue, that had been his mantra since six months ago and it had never failed him yet. Today is not an exception.
The footsteps were getting nearer to Lennard, and he nearly got off balance when a loud, booming voice he knew so well said, “Mr. Dalumpalad? Yooo hooo… It’s me Tomo!
”
“Oh, it’s just him,
” Lennard thought as he relaxed and put the saucepan slowly and gently to the table nearby. He dusted his shirt as if it was not as immaculate as he had worn it a mere minutes before. Then when he had finally made up his mind that he is presentable enough, he made his presence known to his unexpected guest.
“Hi, Tomo, what’s up?
” his cheery greeting belied the annoyance that he was feeling towards the intrusion.
“Oh, there you are!
” Tomo exclaimed, quite more excited than normal, Lennard noticed. “Is your Pops around? I’ve been calling him on his phone a few minutes ago but he wouldn’t pick it up. Did he go somewhere and forgot to bring his phone with him?
” The former added while obviously trying to take a look at what’s happening back in the kitchen.
Lennard tried to ignore Tomo’s actions and said out loud, “I don’t know where he is. You know that we rarely see each other these days, don’t you? But if you want, you can leave a message and I’ll put it on his bedside table so he could get back to you ASAP when he comes back.
” To which he quickly added, “That is if he only stepped out for a while.
”
“Ah, well it’s really not that serious, you know? I just want to borrow a hammer from your father so I could mend the broken fence at my backyard,
&rdquol he explained, still craning his neck, though his action is more restrained now than before, to see what’s behind Lennard.
“Liar, I passed your backyard just this morning and there are no problems with any of your fences whatsoever. You’ve got to be the nosiest and stupidest cop I have ever known to think that you’ll be able to have ample time to investigate while I get the hammer.
” Lennard thought sarcastically, outwardly he said, “Well then, if that’s the case, there’s really no point in troubling my father, is there? I’ll get it for you but be sure to give it back after you’ve finished with it, OK?
”
“Sure, don’t worry I’ll give it back, I promise!
”
“Don’t worry alright, don’t worry yourself ’cause I will be playing along with your game.
”
“Okay, so just wait here while I get the toolbox,
” Lennard instructed and on his way out he called, “And make yourself comfortable.
” While inwardly thinking, “not!
”
He intentionally took his time in taking the toolbox from the shed that was just a few steps away from their back door. He did it so Tomo could see his masterpiece — for he knows that it is what Tomo really came to their house for. “You know I can never really say no to you Tomo…
” he whispered wickedly.
Lennard counted one to a hundred while standing outside their back door. He knows that Tomo already found what he was looking for, and he was just giving Tomo some time to panic and for everything to sink in to him.
When he had finished counting, he opened the door and thought, “Ready or not, here I come!
” He set the toolbox on the table beside the saucepan he once held and rummaged for the hammer and when he found it, he held the hammer firmly in his hands.
“This is what you want Tomo, don’t you? Ha! I’ll give it to you alright!
” He thought with that mad look in his eyes. He followed the path leading to their study where he knows Tomo is standing rooted to the ground.
In this moment of madness, Lennard completely forgot that he almost does not stand a chance if he was to have a hand to hand combat with the senior policeman. For although Lennard may already be taller than the average Filipino with his 5′ 8″ height, Tomo still towers over him with his 6″ height and muscular body. But he knew that he is still better for he had the element of surprise on his side.
When he reached the study, Tomo was nowhere to be found, the study’s door was open alright but all he could see is his parents’ blood-soaked bodies. Carefully and trying his best not to create any sound at all, he walked towards his parents’ lifeless bodies, his whole body alert on any sudden movements and sounds that Tomo may produce.
But just when he passed the door, he heard a click and, “Stop right where you are, mister, just to whom are you going to use that for?
”
Like a child that had been caught in the act of doing something naughty, Lennard turned and as he did so, he turned the fiery madness in his eyes into something that quite resembles innocence.
“Why… for you, Mr. Tomo.
” He deliberately paused for his words to sink in then added ruefully, “you have been asking for this, haven’t you?
”
Tomo did not utter a word, instead he held his gun higher so now it is pointed directly to Lennard’s head. He took a step forward and commanded Lennard to give the hammer to him and when he was obeyed, he said, “This is all my fault, I should have told your father how sick you are sooner, maybe then this would have been avoided.
”
Realization lighted Lennard’s face, he allowed himself to chuckle for a few seconds before he let all the hatred and madness come back in the depths of his eyes.
“So how long has it been?
” he paused while trying to relax every muscle in his body, “to be way faster than he thinks I am,
” he thought then said to Tomo, “You’re the reason why my parents are already dead today, you know that?
”
Tomo felt an intense anger to Lennard’s enjoyment, the slight tremble in his hands gave Tomo away. “My … ? Fuck you! You calculating, drug-dependent bastard! How could you do this to them?!
” his shaking hand now more pronounced. The next words were spoken through clenched teeth while Lennard smirked on, “They-are-your-PARENTS! Goddamn you! You really are sick!
”
Tomo took a step forward, his face showing how furious he is while Lennard merely looked at his parents’ body. Lennard shrugged, his smile widened each moment and it made Tomo sick and more furious than ever.
“Do you know that my father’s last thoughts were the picture I drew of you riding my Mom?
”
Tomo gave himself away yet again by showing how shocked he is that Lennard knew. All the while Lennard looked on, enjoying the impact of his last words on the other man’s composure, his sick smile widened a bit more then his face suddenly hardened, “You’re not really as pristine as people thought, eh? So … how many wives have you already taken and how many bastards have you already fathered, huh?
”
Tomo still couldn’t react while Lennard went on, “He needn’t have died you know? My father… But he, just like you was as nosy as hell! He saw me do my Mom in. I told him I only did it because she’s a disgrace to him! … I told him I did it because she’s a slut! She’s been cheating on him since forever!
”
Feeling bigger every second as he relish the power he had over the other man, Lennard stepped forward while Tomo’s gun was being lowered.
The former continued, “But he won’t believe me! Apparently, someone with a big mouth told him that I just quit my job and is starting to take drugs! And I wonder, who could that idiot be? Huh, Tomo?! I explained that I only tried it once, but no… he wouldn’t believe me! So what do you think I should have done? Huh, Mr. Nice Guy… Not!
”
Then right after his tirade, Lennard walked briskly to Tomo and took his hand that was holding the gun then said, “Yes, I killed them both, and now it’s your turn!
” but before Lennard could turn Tomo’s hand to the latter’s head, Tomo pulled the trigger instinctively.
As Lennard, felt the bullet lodged in his skull, his eyes became wide in astonishment and in a tone of disbelief, he said weakly, “Bas-tard
” before hitting the hard floor. Tomo on the other hand seemed equally shocked. He started to go down on his knees when a voice in a megaphone stopped him by saying, “CUT!
”
Then people around the set busied themselves by taking care of the actors: retouching their makeup; and re-cleaning the set. Apparently, something went wrong and the director saw it, whatever that mistake may be. For all they care, everything is going well until Director K. Night shouted cut.
After a few minutes of giving orders and directions to the staff as well as to the actors, Director K. Night finally went to his seat and started to give instructions for the lights, cameras, then, finally, action.
Lennard was washing the split crimson from his hands…
