chapter 21

The tindera shrieked that almost made my heart jumped in surprise, "Ano pong mayroon?" tanong ko rito. Inabot niya sa akin ang sukli ko ngunit kaysa na mga barya'y puro kendi ang nakalagay sa ibabaw ng kamay ko. Nabalot ng pagtataka ang mukha ko.

"Wala ng barya e. Puwedeng 'yan na lang?" she said, approaching me with a smile and acting so different from before. I nodded and let it pass by. She thanked me as if I'm the kindest person she has ever met.

When my data restored back, after a few seconds of waiting the download was finished at last. I sat down in one of the chairs placed outside the store.

When I opened the document, a picture of a ripped page from a book greeted but I noticed something odd about it. The lost written words in the parchment. The only letters left were: i and s on top; l and l on between; and m and e on the bottom. What could these letters possibly mean? What could be the hidden message behind this?

I made my mind work like a genius but I failed miserably. No answers came rushing to me. I stuffed my phone back in my pocket and wandered off on my way, still trying to ponder like a mad man.

That was when I stumbled with an acquaintance. Sam and I bumped into each other causing us to sprawl onto the ground.

"What's your problem!" she squealed like a pig as she dusted off the dirt in her dress, "You make my dress so dirty. Argh." she complaint that made me snort because she  looked like a spoiled brat kid having unreasonable tantrums. When she noticed that, she held her head high and stood up to face me, arms placed akimbo, "May galit ka ba sa akin?" I shook my head in opposition to her statement.

"Bakit ka ba nandito? Hindi ka naman napunta sa mga ganitong lugar e. I bet you're lost. Come on, I'll help you." I said and extended my hand to show my pure intentions. She rolled her eyes and ignored my hand hanging in the air, "Let's go." I smiled bitterly and led the way.

"Anong street ba?"

"Gallia street raw e." sagot niya, her eyes searching for something.

"I knew it." asik ko. Her attention turned to me, eyebrows creasing, "You're meeting with your boyfriend. Am i right?" Her cheeks blushed. That alone was enough to confirm my theory.

"Please don't tell anyone." her tone became soft. I smirked, "Ayoko nga." pang-aasar ko then took it back when I saw her eyes almost tearing up, "Okay, joke lang. I won't tell anyone." She immediately sniffed and her tears stopped. That was some talent she has. No wonder why, she'll be a good actress if she aspired to be one. She likes attention. She knows how to act.

"Anyways, why are you here too? You seem like you're looking out for someone."

I sighed, "It's nothing."

She shrugged her shoulder, "Okay."

We walked in silence until a police officer came to our direction. My heartbeats jumbled in synchronized fear and surprise. Then I noticed that the police officer has his eyes fixed to Sam. Did this girl do something against the law?

My heart were filled with relief when the police officer greeted Sam, not cuffed her hands— "Sam! Musta na kayo ni detective?"

"Okay lang rin." sagot nito't tumawa ng napakalakas na para bang wala ng bukas. Makailang segundo'y napansin niya ako't tinuro, "Sino 'yang kasama mo?"

"Ah, kaibigan ko po." aniya.

"Nice to meet you ineng." I nodded my head as a response. He shifted back to Sam, "Sige Sam, una na ko. Mag-iingat kayo ng kaibigan mo a." paalam nito sa amin at bumalik na muli sa kaniyang pagpapatrol.

That was the time it sank to me.

"Detective ang papa mo?"

She nodded, "Yes. Sa kaniya ko rin nakuha yung critical thinking skills ko. It runs in our blood. Being amazing runs in our blood. It can't be helped if we're too dazzling to normal people." She turned around and started to walk but I grabbed her arm to stop her. I cleared my throat and swallowed my pride.

"Do you know something about Vivienne's case?" Her eyes were squinting as if she's questioning my existence. To my question, she answered: "Yes,  everyone knows about it. The big mystery behind Vivienne Cruz's death— napalabas pa nga siya sa TV, right? She's a big star but I felt pity for her. Her life was stolen from her, that's the worst thing someone could ever robbed." she said while staring in my eyes directly.

Nilabas ko ang phone ko mula sa aking bulsa at pinakita sa kaniya ang picture ng punit na pahina, "Prove me that you're dazzling. Can you solve this?"

Her jaw clenched as she raised her brow at me, "Of course, I can." she said confidently and snatched the phone away from my hand. I saw her squinting her eyes as if she's thinking about it thoroughly.

After a couple of minutes, she handed back my phone. Naglabas siya ng maliit at kulay pink na notebook at isang ball pen. She started to scribble something.

"Alam mo if hindi mo kaya—" Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko nang punitin niya ang page na pinagsulatan niya't ibinigay iyon sa akin. It resembled the ripped page in the picture. She opened her mouth to start boasting: "This is so easy peasy."

She stood beside me and started explaining, "Based on the characters left, there's definitely a hidden message on it. My speculations are: the first word is a name, preferably someone who has a name that ends with -is; the second word is kill; the third word is obviously me. In conclusion, it has a pattern of 'name-kill-me'."

"Are you sure about it?" I asked, dumbfounded. She nodded assuredly and told me, "Can we please go to my destination? Let's quit this game of yours. My boyfriend's probably waiting for me." And so we went on. I pushed myself to walk even though my head's burning with uncertain suspicions.

There's only one person I know whose name ends with -is. I gulped in the thought I've had. I thought they were good friends. Did I get it wrong? Why would he do it? My heart thumped louder as I reminsced what I've found the day I was locked in the janitor's room.

Now that I think about it, it's very fishy.

When we reached Gallia street, a boy approached Sam. He hugged her and clung to her arm. Before they went away, Sam told me: "Don't tell anyone that I'm dating Manong Cris' nephew, can't let it be a news tomorrow. I trust you, hater. Toodles—"

My head clouded for a bit. He's Manong Cris' nephew. My adrenaline rushed, seeking for an adventure. Little did Sam know, I tailed after them. I stood very afar from them to avoid any kind of ruckus. My hunch was right. Manong Cris' house was right beside his boyfriend's. I fished my phone out and typed the tiny info I've garnered for today. When I spun around, my face showed horror and surprise when I happened to crash with Manong Cris. I fell in the ground, making my butt hurt. He extended his hand to offer help. I was afraid to look up for I feared something horrible will happen but my feelings started to stir in motion. I unconsciously looked up. I didn't see Manong Cris but I saw the Cris he was before. My world spun slower. He's the same Cris Vivienne has fallen in love with. I tried to clear my thoughts and reach for his hand. When I got up, everything went back to normal.