Bring It On, Detective

QP

AND HERE THEY are in UCLM, Dahlia's school. They already told Dahlia that they have decoded the cryptic message already, so here they are.

"Sa logbook na lang po, Miss, at pakitanggal na lang po ng baseball cap." Elisheva followed the guard's instructions. Kita niyang pinagtitinginan din sila ng mga estudyante na naroon, pero hindi na lang nila iyon pinansin.

They used fake names when they logged in, and the guard bought their reason that they need to pay the remaining balance of their nephew.

He snaked his arm around Elisheva's waist, at ramdam niyang napaigtad ito at napatingin sa kanya. He looked at her and smirked.

"We're acting as a couple, aren't we?"

"PDA 'to, Detective!" mahinang sita nito sa kanya habang naglalakad sila papunta sa cashier.

"Nah. What's wrong with grabbing my wife's waist, huh?" He squeezed the side of her waist, making her flinch. Rinig niya pang napasinghap ito.

"Pinagtitinginan tayo!"

"Let them watch."

He brushed his hair upwards, and when she clicked her tongue, mas lalo siyang napangisi.

He won.

She let him hold her waist until they got to the cashier, but instead of stopping, they continued to walk instead until they reached the cafeteria. Umupo sila sa isang bakanteng upuan na naroon, and from here, they can see Dahlia with her boyfriend. Saglit itong napatingin sa direksyon nila bago muling nakipag-usap sa nobyo nito na parang walang nakita.

"Okay, Ellie. Do your thing. I'll order us food." Muli niyang pinisil ang bewang nito bago dahan-dahang binitawan.

Fuck. Na-miss niya na kaagad na hawakan ito.

He shook his head and went towards the stall that sells footlong and burger.

"Dalawang footlong at real leaf, Miss," he stated casually and put a 200 peso bill on the counter. Inabot naman kaagad nito ang bayad.

"Parent, Sir?" the lady asked, and he nodded. He cocked his head towards Dahlia.

"'Yan po ba ang vlogger, Miss?"

Napatingin ito sa ipinahiwatig niya at saka tumango. "Famous na famous 'yan dito, eh. Mabait, matalino, at talented pa. Sobrang matulungin din."

Napatango-tango siya sa narinig. No wonder. . . no wonder why she was stalked.

Nang makuha niya na ang order, he went back to his table. Elisheva was on her phone. To some, it might look like a natural behavior, but for him, alam niyang ginagamit lang nito ang kilos na 'yon upang hindi mahalata ng mga estudyante na nagmamasid ito sa paligid.

There were students who kept on looking at them, especially him. He brushed his hair upwards and sat in front of the lady.

"Here's our food."

Kaagad naman si Elisheva ng isang footlong. Kinuha niya ang isang bote ng real leaf at binuksan iyon saka ibinigay sa babae. Kita niyang saglit itong natigilan sa ginawa niya bago kinuha ang bote.

"Thank you," she muttered in a low voice and bowed her head, focusing her attention on the footlong kaya 'di niya makita ang mga mata nito, but surely they're emotionless as hell.

Pansin niyang namumula ang mga pisngi nito na ikinakunot ng kanyang noo. Naiinitan ba ito? Damn. Sana pala, nagdala siya ng pamaypay.

Tumikhim ito. "Anyways, Detective. I spotted someone," saad nito at nilantakan ang pagkain. "I already sent a text to Dahlia, asking her if he was familiar, but she pinched her boyfriends cheeks."