The Sleuth Project ✓

Chapter 28: Another Conundrum

/28/
Another Conundrum

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"GIRLS, GISING!" A loud, booming voice shouted from just outside the girls' dormitory, followed by a succession of rough knocks on their door.

Ann did not stir from her bed at first, ignoring the loud voices that seemed to be coming from the corridor, not until the knocks turned into loud hits.

"ANN! QUEENIE! SERA! BABA NA DAW GALIT NA SI PROFESSOR ZALDIGA!" A familiar voice yelled, at sakto namang bumukas ang pintuan ng kwarto ni Ann.

"HOY LOBRIS GUMISING KA NA DIYAN." Tulirong sabi ng dalaga at agad na hinablot ang kumot ng dalaga.

"ANONG ORAS NA BA?" Ann groaned in irritation, curling her body into a ball as Queenie quickly opened the blinds in her room, causing Ann to wince from the sudden sunlight." ANG AGA-AGA PA ANO BANG PROBLEMA NILA?!" She snapped as she sat down on her bed.

"Nakita yung pandesal na pinakain ni Sera sa aso ni Kuya Guard Tino kagabi nung papunta kami sa dorm nina Rein." Queenie snapped back, pulling a startled Ann out from her bed.

"Now all of us girls are being investigated. Either iniimbestigahan kung may tumakas sa'tin kagabi, o kung may pumasok dito sa girls' dormitory nang wala paalam." She said grimly, before calling out to Sera to wake her up as well.

"SERAPHIM LOUISE MADRIGAL GUMISING KA NAAA!" Bulyaw ni Queenie bago binalikan ng tingin si Ann.

"I'M UP OKAY, HUWAG KA NANG SUMIGAW!" Sigaw pabalik ni Sera mula sa kaniyang kwarto.

"Magbihis ka na. Kanina pa tayo ginigising nina Mira." Queenie told her, throwing a pair of the Castillo uniform towards Ann.

"Alam mo Q, huwag kang mag-alala," Sera suddenly said out of the blue, popping her head into Ann's room.

"At p'anong 'di ako mag-aalala?!"

"Chill, okay? Tinapon ko na 'yung pack ng pandesal sa basurahan nina Jarrell kagabi. Any evidence that we snuck out last night has been disposed of because of moi, so calm down." Sera frowned as she combed her hair.

"I'm not worried about that. Madali namang malusutan 'yung pandesal." Queenie muttered as Ann washed her face in the bathroom adjacent to her room.

"Then what are you worried about?" Tanong ni Ann nang matapos itong maghilamos.

"QUEENIE!! BABA NA DAW!" Another voice yelled out from outside.

"WE'RE COMING!" Queenie thundered before looking at the two girls gravely.

"Alam niyo ba kung bakit tayo pinapababa? Pinapa-assembly tayong mga babae sa labas ng dormitory para iinspect nila isa-isa ang mga dorms natin." She said gravely, dahilan para mapatigil si Ann.

"Now tell me, p'ano natin itatago yung mga pieces of evidence na nandito sa kwarto natin??" Queenie demanded, which was enough to wake the two girls up.

"Okay, listen." Ann said quietly as she zipped her skirt. "Queenie, iwanan mo lang ang mga pigments dito sa kwarto. Hindi nila papansinin 'yon. They'll just think it's an invention of yours, or something you're researching for academics."

"And Sera??"

"Queeni, you and Sera have nothing to hide because your parents have nothing against you having connections with Rein, Quinn or Jarrell. I on the other hand..." She exhaled before reaching out from her drawer to show her small burner phone. "...Can't let anyone see these conversations between me and Rein. Do you girls have any ideas?"