REVERSE ✓

Chapter 12: Secret

CASSIEN

"WHAT IN THE ALABAMA IS GOING ON?!"

NAPATALON AKO sa kama ko at agad na tumakbo sa isang sulok kung saan nakalagay ang enchanted broom ko. I briskly held it and pointed it to the man who were laying comfortably on my bed. My head aches so bad that in any minute, it might explode and splatter my head's pancakes on my room's floor. Madilim pa ang paligid dahil siguro nagising ako nang madaling araw dahil sa lalaking 'to. I couldn't speak, parang naglaho nanaman ang boses ko. May kumukulam ba sa 'kin, ha?!

"You're that surprised, huh. Do I really look like a vulgar to you? Seriously, the King Ranpo?"

Ha? Ano siya, poser? Ranpo was being held in custody by the police, he couldn't possibly be here. Is this Conan in disguise? Or someone else in disguise?

"Escaping prison was just a piece of cake. I even had a friend who made it a hobby."

So may kaibigan siyang kriminal na laging tumatakas sa kulungan!? Is this really Ranpo?!

"I just came here to warn you beforehand. And tell you. . . something." He got up from my bed with a serious expression on his face, avoiding my gaze. Umupo siya sa bedside at tinapik ang isang unan. "Go back to bed. If you aren't aware, you have a fever, Cass."

"How did you get in here? Paano ka nakatas? Bakit ka tumakas?!" Napahawak ako sa sintindo ko dahil sumasakit lang ito lalo dahil sa nararamdaman ko ngayon. Did he just say me that he had tell me something? What was it about?

I pressed my eyes closed and let go of the broom that I used for self-defense. Sa sobrang sama ng pakiramdam ko, parang umiikot 'tong kwarto ko. It feels like my room was alive and about to devour me. Kagaya noong SCP 002, The Living Room.

Ranpo got to his feet. Lumapit siya sa direksyon ko kaya agad akong umatras. Unfortunately, wala na akong aatrasan dahil pader na 'tong nasa likod ko. Is this the actual him? What if naka-disguise lang siya at may masamang balak sa 'kin? Shall I scream now so my mother would come to save me?

Pero sa loob-loob ko naman, medyo kampante akong si Ranpo nga 'tong nasa harapan ko. What is he doing here in the middle of the night? Tell me something? Sobrang importante ba kaya kailangan niya pang tumakas sa kulungan?

"Ranpo, bakit ka tumakas?"

"Because I want to tell you something myself. I don't you hearing it from others."

"A-Ano bang sasabihin mo?"

Nang makalapit siya, hinawakan niya ang dalawa kong balikat pero hindi na ako nakaangal dahil hinila niya agad ako papunta sa kama ko. Wait, wait, wait—

"Ranpo! Ano bang—"

Inihiga niya ako sa kama at saka nagbuntong-hininga habang nakatayo sa gilid at nakapamewang pa. "I'm telling you, Cass— I never fancied babysitting, of course you don't know. So do me a favor. Shut your mouth up and do as I say, alright?"

Who does he think he is? Boss ko? Mama ko? Kung makapagsalita siya, akala mong siya ang nagpapakain sa 'kin!

I sighed. Ipinikit ko na lang ang mga mata ko at inayos ang kumot ko. He doesn't seem to have any ill intention kaya makakapagpahinga ako. I also need to go to school tomorrow to give the papers to Marie.

Naramdaman kong umupo si Ranpo sa bedside ko. I heard a water spilling to water. Teka— ano 'yon?

My eyes took a peak. May maliit palanggana sa study table ko at may pinipigang towel si Ranpo. Ooooh, dito niya pa talaga napagdesisyunang maglaba!? The audacity?!