REVERSE ✓

Chapter 13: Racing Climax

CASSIEN

"KUROBA KILLER The Second has awakened!"

Iyan agad ang balitang dala ng halos lahat ng morning news sa bawat channel. Pinapanood ko ang isang nag-viral na maikling video clip tungkol sa highschool student na inaresto mismo sa loob pa ng hospital. Yep, it was all about none other than Ranpo Kuroba- the self-proclaimed king from a secret detective club that I am in- being apprehended for attempted murder against Ava Luanda. My eyes squintwd whilst keenly observing every corner of the screen, naniniguradong hindi ako nahagip ng camera.

I sighed. No matter how much I played the video, hindi ko mababawi ang katotohanang nando'n ako na parang isang batang naliligaw at malapit nang umiyak. At least, Ranpo assured me that it wasn't him who attempted to murder Ava. Of course, I believed him.

Gawd, Ranpo. Bakit kailangan mo pang pumunta sa bahay namin kaninang madaling-araw para sabihing anak ka ng isang serial killer at subukan akong patayin?

Wait. Hindi lang 'yon ang nangyari.

Napahiyaw ako sa isip ko at agad na hinawakan ang dalawa kong nag-iinit na pisngi. Jusme! Parang sasabog na 'tong mukha ko! Sana panaginip lang 'yon, sana panaginip lang 'yon.

Napahawak naman ako sa labi ko. Did Ranpo actually kiss me? Or baka epekto lang ng hallucination ko dahil may lagnat ako? Pero parang himala na agad akong gumaling. Did he really catch me cold through the kiss. . .? Why would he do that!? Nasisiraan na ba siya ng bait?

Yes yes, that must be the case. Una, inalagaan niya ako. Pangalawa, sinakal niya ako. Pangatlo, hinalikan niya 'ko. He took my first kiss! A lot of things happened! Halos umabot na sa langit trust issues ko, patuloy na pinagdududahan kung si Ranpo ba talaga 'yung bwisita ko kanina. AAAAAAAAAH-

"Hoy, Cassien. Kinikilig ka ba habang pinapanood 'yang video na 'yan? So which one of us was the most attractive?" Conan suddenly blurted with a mocking smirk. Come to think of it, lahat kami ay nahagip sa camera- Ranpo, Newt, Conan, ako, Keith, Harper, Maisie and Ava's parents. Buti na lang talaga hindi masyadong nagtuon ng pansin si Mama habang nanonood ng balita kanina kundi sandamakmak na sermon nanaman baon ko.

Naaalala ko pala sinabi niya, "Oh, ayan. Kita mo 'yang lalaking 'yan? Nag-aaral din daw sa school niyo. Kapag malaman kong sumasama ka sa mga ganiyan klaseng tao. . ." Tiningnan niya ako ng masama at umakmang puputulan ng leeg ang sarili niya. I just received a death threat from my mother! Seriously?! I never knew she could jest like that. O baka hindi talaga siya nagbibiro. . .

"Of course, it's the Prince of Devils."

Naks, ang lakas talaga ng hangin ng air conditioner dito. Newt, Conan, and I were instructed by Ranpo to stay at the clubroom for the meantime before the so-called show start. However, medyo nagulat ako sa reaksyon nilang dalawa nang maibalitang anak ng serial killer si Ranpo. Did they know it all along?

"Hindi tayo nandito para magpaligsahan kung sino pinakagwapo, okay?" I reminded them at saka tinago ang phone ko bsa bulsa ng trousers ko. "We're here for the briefing."

"Right." Newt crossed his legs and exchanged glances with us. "They hyena, commonly called Lisbeth Linosa, will be the most probable next victim of this clown. However, after the attack yesterday, she was nowhere to be found."

"She ran away. . . para siguro iligtas ang sarili niya."

"Ranpo had thought all about this. As for he ordered me, I am going after the hyena. And Conan's be staying where Ranpo told him and. . ." Tumingin naman sila sa 'kin na para bang hinihintay ako kung ano'ng gagawin ko.

I only beamed at them. "Tee-hee~"

"Don't just tee-hee us," ani Conan at sumimangot. "Ano ba kasi 'yang iniutos sa 'yo ni Ranpo at bakit pinagbawalan kang sabihin sa 'min? Don't tell me. . . hmm, did something happen between you two?"