Erudition of Doyle: Volume One

CHAPTER 5: CASE II - THE SECRET OF ARTISAN EATS

Case 2: The Secret of Artisan
Eats (The Missing Children
Chapter, Part Two)

ROSALINDA

Nakaupo kami ngayon sa loob ng Seven Eleven. Napalingon ako nang maramdaman ko ang presensya ng kasama ko. He brought me a bottle of water and a donut, while he got himself some Tic-Tac candy, fresh mint flavor.

Pilit akong ngumiti nang tanggapin ko ang mga binili niya. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya, sa naamoy niya mula sa karne ng steak. Thinking about it makes me lose my appetite. I don't want to think about it.

"Stop thinking about it, as long as you didn't take a bite," he said, trying to calm me. He put five pieces of candy in his mouth, angrily chewing them with loud crunches. "Right! We have to call the police. I'm too traumatized by what I saw. Quick, call the police!"

Tumango ako at mabilis kong kinuha ang aking cellphone, ngunit hindi ko ito mahanap sa shoulder bag ko. Sa pagtaranta ko, kinakapa ko na rin ang mga bulsa ko, subalit wala pa rin akong mahawakan. Nasaan na 'yon?

"Rale."

Sinipat niya ako ng tingin. "Ano?"

"Nasa'yo ba ang cellphone ko?" taranta kong tanong. "Hindi ko mahanap sa bag ko." Umiling lamang siya bilang sagot. "Saan na ba 'yon?" Muli kong hinalungkat ang bag ko.

"I believe this is yours," a boy stated confidently, his voice very familiar. Napatingin ako sa kaniya, at nakita kong nakangiti siya. He looked innocent, with neatly styled, slicked-back hair. Nakasuot siya ng puting polo at itim na slacks, both well-ironed.

Inagaw ko iyon mula sa kaniya. Umupo siya sa tabi ko at nagsalita muli. "It seems you don't remember me," he said, moving closer.

"You're that short guy," Raleigh said, his eyes widening. "You're Doyle, right?"

Who?

"Short?" Doyle's veins popped from his forehead. "Ah yes, I am that little guy," mariin niyang sabi.

"Paano mo nalaman na akin 'to?" I asked. I never showed him my phone, and my wallpaper isn't even my picture. It's plain black, so there's nothing to see but darkness. May password din ito, so he couldn't have opened it to check my accounts or gallery. So, how did he know? Is he secretly following us?

"Well, that's a secret," tugon niya.

"That's why I felt like someone was walking behind us-you're following us, aren't you?" Raleigh asked, certain despite his phrasing. Lalo namang ngumisi si Doyle.

"Oh, yes, of course, that's part of my mission."

"Mission?" pag-uulit ko.

"Oh, it slipped my tongue," he said, covering his mouth as his innocent expression turned mischievous. "You heard nothing, alright?" His child-like voice sounded playful.

"Man, you look like a grade seven student," Raleigh remarked, making a face. "How old are you?" he asked, a teasing smirk on his lips.

"You really have a sharp tongue, boy," Doyle said, his flaming eyebrows slowly meeting. "Well, I'm just fifteen."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. "Fifteen?!" Gulat na sabi namin ni Raleigh, sabay kaming nagkatinginan habang nakaawang ang bibig.

"Wait, Mr. Ivaldez said you're a grade 12 student," Raleigh continued, shocking me further.

"Yes, so what?" Doyle crossed his arms, making them his pillow, then yawned as he looked at the ceiling. "Man, I'm getting sleepy. Investigating for two days straight is making me miss my beauty sleep."