REVERSE ✓

Chapter 03: Master Of Disguise

CASSIEN

UNBELIEVABLE. SURREAL. That pair was the abstract of my reaction upon Ranpo's approval of my application. It was utterly unbelievable yet at the same time, very hilarious. Somehow, hindi matanggap ng utak ko na chocolates lang pala ang kayang magpatiklop sa lalaking 'yon. At first, I thought Conan was messing around not until I heard it from Ranpo himself. I was like: Seryoso? Gano'n-gano'n lang 'yun?

"Don't be so full of yourself, Cass," panimula ni Ranpo sa pag-uusap habang sabay kaming naglalakad patungo sa aming classroom. "I can kick you out anytime soon after I receive the chocolates. Aside from maidens, we don't permit dumbasses there."

Dumbasses?

I glanced up to him and squinted my eyes. "I'm not as dumb as you think I am."

"Yeah, you're dumber."

Aba! Sumosobra na 'tong lalaking 'to! Kung makapagsalita siya, feeling niya ay kilalang-kilala niya na ako. Uh, doesn't he? Pero mas nabigla ako nang huminto siya sa tapat ng isang classroom at saka pumasok do'n.

Whoa, have I been too dwelled in my thoughts not to notice our classroom right away? Kailangan ko na yata talagang magpa-check up. May direkta kayang cure para sa mga taong laging lutang?

I just watched Ranpo walked inwards confidently whilst our classmates ceased their current occupation. Is it just me or parang nakakapanibago sila? I was about to enter our classroom but a guy within spoke.

He was smiling down at Ranpo. "Oy, may bisita tayo, guys. Kulang ata sa tulog, o."

Eh?

I scanned the surrounding, each corner of the classroom and the sea of faces only to remind me that this wasn't our actual classroom. Buti nalang 'di pa ako tuluyang nakakapasok!

Ranpo froze at the aisle as I notice his cheeks and ears were burning red. Bahagyang nanlaki rin ang kanyang mga mata at pinilit na ngumiti. "S-Sorry."

When I looked up at the top of the doorway, I saw the template of class STEM 11-C. That means our real classroom was just around the corner!

Tinakpan ko ang aking bibig para mapigilan ang sarili na tumawa. Habang pinagmamasdan ko si Ranpo na dahan-dahang naglalakad paatras, I couldn't help wondering how could he keep up a tough attitude before me.

Moreover, I didn't foresee this coming — na mayroon din pala siyang shy-type side behaviour! If I hadn't talked to him yesterday and discovered their secret lair, I'd still betoken him as a typical classmate of mine.

Nang makalabas siya ro'n, mapang-asar akong ngumiti at sinabayan siya sa paglalakad patungo sa katabing room — which is our class. Medyo namumula pa rin ang mukha niya dahil sa kahihiyan. Huh, so the King has weird weak spots, too. First off, chocolates. And now, shy-type side? Pfft. I even have to slap myself to gain the confirmation of reality.

Bago kami makapasok sa classroom namin, Ranpo halted me by extending his arm to block my way.

"I've given Conan his assignment and as a new recruit, you ought to come with him. Investigate the Crocus street. Check the CCTV's from the each pavement from the nearest stores. The culprit must've gone under surveillance."

"You gave him? 'Di ba dapat trabaho 'yon ng president? Ni Newt?"

"I know much better than he does."

Ang hangin, a. He did have a superiority complex.

Then, something snapped in me. "Wait, you mean iisa-isahin namin ang lahat ng taong dumaan sa apat na corner ng pedestrian sa Crocus street? Ang dami no'n!"