Case on a Silver Platter [Course 1]

Chapter 5: Elusive Eloper

Kalliope

We three just met today but another mystery presented itself in front of us. Coincidence or not, we were pulled into this case.

North agreed to help Azrael and Jefferson to find where Gabrielle might be and we agreed to help also. The girl was last seen last week, Tuesday night, almost six days now. That’s quite alarming.

The missing girl's name is Gabrielle Villaluz, 2nd year student of College of Education, Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Filipino. She is the girlfriend of Jefferson Sales, second year Architecture student and team captain of CA+d basketball team, and the best friend of Azrael Chavez, also a second year student of College of Criminal Justice Education. They were friends since highschool.

She was last seen with Jefferson that Tuesday night, caught in cam and even posted on the school’s gossip page. Ang sabi pa rito ay nagtanan ang dalawa kaya hindi ang mga ito pumasok hanggang Biyernes. But it turned out that Gabrielle just helped Jefferson with his bags after her classes because he will be taking care with his sick mother, as he stated. Naghiwalay din ang dalawa matapos daw mag-text sa babae si Azrael upang makipagbati. And that was the last time Jefferson last saw her.

Meanwhile, Azrael denied that he texted the girl last week because they weren’t in talking terms yet. Apparently, they had a misunderstanding before her disappearance. He found out that Gabrielle is really missing because her parents informed him that she hasn’t been home since Tuesday night and reported it to the police just earlier. He seemed to confront Jefferson to Gabrielle’s whereabouts because he saw the post about them eloping.

Now, we need to find the missing damsel that has been missing the last six days. And it is possible that we might be too late if something bad happened to her, but we need to be positive right now.

Nandito pa rin kami ngayon sa bench malapit sa may greenhouse habang nag-iisip ng posibleng gawin. The police has been notified already, therefore they must be searching for her right now. But Azrael want to do something, maybe for his peace of mind.

North gave the two worried men sweets that he bought earlier on one of the booths. “Sweets helps to lighten up the mood, you know.”

Tinanggap naman ito ng dalawa ngunit parang wala silang ganang kumain ngayon kaya hindi iyon pinansin.

“W-what if something bad happened to her already?” Azrael quivered. “I-I mean, it’s been six day already!”

“Ano ka ba? Why would you think about that!” Suway ni Jefferson sa kaniya. “Let’s hope that she’s okay and safe.”

“There’s nothing much we can do right now with little information to where she could have been,” North stated. Humarap ito sa amin. “What do you think, guys? Do you have something in mind?”

Napaisip ako. Wala kaming tyansang mahanap ang babae kung hindi namin alam kung saan siya maaaring pumunta bago nawala. O baka nasabi niya bago mawala?

“Bago kayo naghiwalay ng hapong iyon ni Gabrielle, sinabi mo na dapat ay makikipagkita ito kay Azrael para makipag-ayos, tama?” I asked Jefferson. Tumango naman ito. “Did she tell you where they would supposedly meet?”

Napatigil si Jefferson na parang inaalala ang nangyari noong Martes. Baka medyo malabo na ito dahil matagal na rin iyon. “Parang may nasabi siya n’on na dito sila sa campus mag-uusap ni Azrael bago umalis.”