Erudition of Doyle: Volume One

CHAPTER 8: CASE III - HAPPY FACE HIDES EVERYTHING

Case 3: Happy Face Hides
Everything (The Welcome
Party Turned Horror
Chapter, Part Two)

ROSALINDA

TODAY is Saturday. As usual nakikinig ako ng mga videos from a YouTube channel named Eternalised, a video titled The Dark World of Franz Kafka. Katabi ko ngayon si Raleigh na nakahalukipkip, wala paring pinagbago ang ekspresyon nito sa mukha, nakasimangot.

The moderator and all of the members of the club are now heading to Harley's mansion, where the welcoming party will be held tonight. Nakasakay kami ngayon sa van na tagapagmayari ni Doyle. Naglalaro ngayon si Harley at Doyle, magkatabi pa ang dalawa at masayang naglalaro. Me and Harley don't talk too much, there's awkwardness between us. Hindi ko naman masisi dahil nalayo siya sa'kin, matagal kaming hindi magkasama, kaya nawala 'yung samahan na binuo namin noon.

As long as I see him alive and enjoying his life with his adoptive family, that's all that matters. The past is the past. I shouldn't dwell on the past and instead focus on what's currently happening today and in the future. I have to remind myself of this, although I know it can be challenging, especially when it comes to remembering and facing past traumas. But, I have to train myself. I'm getting older, and I need to be mature.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti nang natamaan ko siyang nagtatawanan kasama si Doyle.

"Man, please move!" Pagmamakaawa ni Ajax sa lalaking kanina pa nakatulala at tila ba'y naglalakbay ang utak at huwisyo nuya sa ibang mundo dahil hindi niya naririnig ang taong nasa likuran niya. "Gusto kong makatabi ang babaeng pakakasalan ko, kaya shoo!" Pag-abog niya ngunit nanatili siya sa kaniyang puwesto.

Napatingin ako sa dalawang kanina pa sobrang tahimik. Si Harriet at Clark na magkatabi sa kabilang upuan. Both of them look not interested in opening a conversation with each other, I heard that both of them are the only introverts in this club. Magkatabi pa talaga ang dalawang matatahimik. Introverts are not quiet all the time, they generally prefer to listen and observe rather than the center of attention and that's what they are doing now.

"Hey Raleigh, you want to be alone right? Come on, move your butt! Let's exchange seats." Pagpupumilit pa niya sa lalaking hanggang ngayon ay hindi parin gumagalaw sa kaniyang kinauupuan. Para ba siyang naging estatwa.

Ajax couldn't resist playfully tapping the face of the person in front of him. "Hello?! Is anyone home there? Ears, eyes, nose, nasal hair, blood, bones?" He paused for a moment and then continued with his gentle taps on Raleigh's head.

Anong pinagsasabi nito?

"Brain are you there?!"

He's so loud.

Natahimik ito saglit, kumunot ang noo niya't nilalalakasan na ng konti ang pagsasampal. He keeps trying to get Raleigh's attention. "Cerebrum, cerebellum, lymbric system, brainstem, thalamus, hypothala—"

"Ano ba?!" Marahas na hinawi ni Raleigh ang kaniyang kamay.

Agad namang umatras ng konti si Ajax, tinatakpan pa ang mukha na para bang natatakot. "Please, wag mo 'kong sasaktan!"

"Ano bang gusto mo, ha?!" He asked as he was clenching his teeth with his knotted forehead. "Kanina mo pa ko kinukulit, gusto mo bang makita sa San Pedro, ha? Dadalhin kita doon!"

"Let's switch seats." Pilit siyang ngumiti.

"'Yan naman pala ang gusto mo, pwede mo namang isabi 'yon na hindi na kinakailangang manampal." Tumayo siya at mabilis namang nagpalitan ang mga ito ng upuan.

Umabot hanggang langit ang mgiti niya nang nakatabi na niya ako. "Ikaw 'yung hindi nakikinig, ulol." Pabulong niyang ani sa ere.

Nilakasan ko ang volume ng aking cellphone at saka nilalakbay ang tingin sa imahe ng labas ng bintana. Gayon pa man, naririnig ko parin siya. Sinandya niyang nilakasan ng konti ang natura niyang boses.