Tides Turned (Ruin #1)

Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

Autumn cursed loudly and slammed her iPad shut. Kakalabas ko lang sa kwarto at siya agad ang nabungaran ko sa couch na mukhang problemado. Napatingin naman siya sa gawi ko.

Her jaw clenched, then she yielded with a sigh. "We still haven't found any info about Casthania. Bukod sa mga personal details niya, wala na. The others are confidential and require a request just to get them."

Humugot ako ng isang mabigat na buntong hininga saka naglakad papunta sa couch. Umupo ako sa harapan niya.

"They are mysterious and private with their lives." umirap siya. "Well, what else do we expect? Their one of the biggest and richest family."

Hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman ko sa oras na ito. It had been three months since Autumn and her friend tried to find information about Casthania that we could use against her. Pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin. I had no idea that Casthania was this powerful. Ang hirap hukayin ng itinatago niya.

"But still, I found something fishy."

My gaze narrowed into a squint.

Muli niyang binuksan ang laptop niya at iniharap ito sa akin. "Look at that image, try to find something unusual."

Itinuon ko ang buong atensyon ko sa litrato. It was a picture of Casthania. Nakatalikod siya at papasok sa loob ng opisina niya. Someone took a picture of her and I guess she doesn't know it. Sinubukan kong hanapin kung ano ba ang kakaiba sa litrato na 'yon but I failed. There is nothing suspicious here.

I glanced at Autumn lazily. "What's wrong with this picture? Wala namang kakaiba dyan."

Her eyes rolled. "Stupid. Kung matalino ka talaga, you'll quickly notice because its too obvious."

"Matalino ka naman pala, bakit hindi mo na lang sabihin?" ganti ko.

Nalaglag ang panga niya at napailing nang paulit ulit. "Seriously?" she said in a disbelief.

I rolled my eyes as my response to her. Autumn looks somewhat annoyed at me. Padarag siyang tumayo at umupo sa tabi ko.

"Here, you didn't notice this?" Itinuro niya ang hawak ni Casthania na cellphone sa litrato.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "And? Anong meron dyan?"

She looked at me with shock and disbelief. "You're really stupid, Isca. I can't believe you." umiling siya. "As you can see, Casthania holding a phone. At first glance, you'll think there's nothing unusual about it. But if you looked deeper, you will notice that there is."

She tried to zoom in the photo. Ngayon ay kitang kita na ang hawak na cellphone ni Casthania.

"The phone she use is keypad. Who would think that Casthania, one of the richest and most famous in the field of business is using a keypad phone? It doesn't make sense." nalukot ang mukha niya.

"Paano kung diyan siya kumportable?"

Ngumisi siya. "No. What if 'yan ang ginagamit niya sa pakikipagusap sa mga taong nakakaalam kung sino talaga siya? What if that was the time she just finished talking to them? And theres a witness who misheard their conversation. What if their conversation is something that will ruin Casthania's image? That's why the witness needs an evidence so she took a photo of Casthania."

Napatigil ako at saglit na napaisip.

"And look at that phone, its Nokia, a keypad one. Just so you know, keypad phones is helpful in security and cybercrime protection, because it is hard to get internet access and other virus attacks on that phone. In simple words, she's protecting herself."