Her Hidden Ability

Chapter 27: The Target

RAYA's POV

"I want you to investigate the gangs around our school," pauna ni Sir Nics.

Nakaupo kaming apat sa harapan niya at nag-abot siya ng folder sa amin isa-isa.

"Sir, ano namang kinalaman namin sa kanila?" tanong ni Javin, binuklat ang folder.

Binuksan ko rin ang folder at agad na tumambad ang iba't-ibang picture ng mga kabataan na nasangkot sa rambol sa labas ng school namin. Napakunot pa ang noo ko dahil wala naman akong nababalitaan sa mga ito.

"Many of the Prime Academy students have become their victims-taking their money, physically abusing them, and threatening them," paliwanag ni Sir.

"Then this should be passed to the authorities. Hindi naman kami pulis," sabi ni Reeve at hinagis sa table ang folder.

"They're already handling this case, but they found something unusual," paliwanag ni Sir.

Napatingin kami sa kanya.

"They're targeting students who are part of the Prime Selection."

Napatingin ako sa mga kasama.

"Baka naman nagkataon lang?" tanong ni Javin.

"Probably... but they're committing the crimes chronologically, following the order of the students listed in the Prime Selection List."

Natigilan ako. Naisip ko agad ang mga dating kaibigan. We were also part of that list during the Prime Selection.

"Paano po ba nakaayos ang listahan niyo?" tanong ko.

I need to know. Kailangan kong protektahan sila Zesha, Freya, at Paul.

Kung sinusunod nila ang pagkakasunod-sunod ng mga nasa listahan... hindi malayong kami ang susunod na target.

"We have the original list. When we deployed the list, it was shuffled," paliwanag ni Kreed. "So what do you mean by chronologically? Was it based on the distributed list or the original list we had?"

"Unfortunately, it was based on what we have." Buntong hininga ni Sir.

"How could this happen? We prepared those discreetely." Kunot noong sabi ni Javin.

"We did...but the school management had a copy."

Tumingin ako kay Sir Nics. "Do we have any idea who's behind this?"

Umiling siya. "The authorities are still trying to figure it out, but based on the pattern, the next few students on the list need to be cautious."

"Pang-ilan po ba ako?" Hindi ko maiwasang tanong.

"Panghuli ka." Sagot ni Javin na parang nag-iisip pa.

Nilingon ko siya.

"Yeah, panghuli kang niligay sa listahan." Kumpirma niya.

"We were permitted to look through the students' documents to include in the selection, but we had a hard time finding yours, which is why we put you last on our list." Singit ni Kreed.

Alam kong pare-pareho kaming may iniisip-paano kung hindi lang ito random attacks?

"Sir, what exactly do you want us to do?" tanong ni Kreed, seryoso ang boses.

"I need you to gather information. Be observant. Try to find out who among the students are connected to these gangs. Any detail, no matter how small, could help."

Napabuntong-hininga ako at muling binalikan ang mga larawan sa folder. Maraming mukha ang hindi ko kilala, pero may iilan na parang pamilyar.

"One more thing," dagdag ni Sir Nics. "Be careful. If they find out you're looking into them, you might become their next target."