DETECTIVE FILES. File 1 (Published under PSICOM)

CHAPTER 42: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Part 1)

Chapter 42: Phantom of the Opera (Part 1)

It's the last day of November at bukas ay papasok na ang buwan ng Disyembre. What's with December by the way? Ah, Pasko. At Araw ni Rizal. Uh, my birthday too. My 18th birthday.

At dahil Ber months na ay malamig ang panahon. Umuulan din sa labas at nasa may bintana lang ako habang nakatanaw sa patak ng ulan sa malawak na soccer field ng Bridle. It was Saturday morning at katabi ko ang isang baso ng gatas. I just received an early call from my parents abroad. They were asking me for my debut's preparation as well as the gift that I want.

Kung ako ang papipiliin ay ayaw ko ng cotillon but Mom was the one persistent about it. Ayon sa kanya ay nakagpareserve na sila ng Grand Hall ng isang hotel with a capacity of 100 guests. Meh! I only have less than 10 people to invite in my mind. Well, iimbitahin naman siguro nina Daddy ang mga kamag-anak namin. I'm not close with my cousins kaya sila na ang bahala. Kakalapag ko lang ng baso nang muling tumunog ang cellphone ko. It was Gray.

Uh, why call this early? Alas sais pa lamang umaga. Agad ko iyong sinagot at hindi man lamang ito binati.

"Good morning," he said on the line. "Huhulaan ko kung nasaan ka. Nasa may bintana ka at tinitingnan ang patak ng ulan?"

I rolled my eyes at iginala ang paningin sa labas. He must be watching me from somewhere. "Where are you?" tanong ko sa kanya. "Stop looking at me."

"I'm somewhere out of Bridle. Maaga akong tinawagan ni Detective Tross and I'm on my way there," sagot niya. I can hear a car's engine kaya marahil ay nagsasabi ito ng totoo.

"How do you know I'm beside a window?"

"Simple! Malakas ang naririnig kong patak ng ulan. It's too early to take a walk around Bridle kaya sa may bintana lamang ang naiwan na lugar kung saan maririnig mo ang malakas na patak ng ulan. Eliminate all other factors, and the one which remains must be the truth," sagot niya.

"Fine. Bakit ka tumawag? I'm sure you didn't call just to deduce where I am sitting," wika ko. It's too early. Malamang kung hindi tumawag sina Daddy ay tulog pa ako hanggang ngayon.

"I want to ask a favor. Maari mo bang kunin ang envelope na nasa drawer ko? I will text you an address at ihatid mo rito. Please?" he asked. Malambing ang boses nito, palibhasa may pabor.

"Too tired," I said grumpily. Naghikab pa kunwari ako.

"Please?"

"Ayaw."

"Please? Please? Please?"

"Ayaw. Ayaw. Ayaw."

"Amber, please?" pagsusumamo nito. I gave up. Pagbibigyan ko na lang.

"Don't end the call, I'm going now," wika ko sa kanya at sumunod na ito. I walked my way towards the boys' dorm habang dala-dala ang payong ko. Tahimik doon at tila wala pang gising dahil walang tao sa lobby.

"No one's at the lobby," pagbibigay-alam ko sa kanya. "You should have asked your roommates to do this you know."

"Umuwi sila kaya walang tao sa room namin. I'm on the first floor by the way. Room 101," wika niya. Wait, he wants me to enter their room?! That's too awkward! Kadalasan pa naman sa mga lalaki ay makalat. What if there are used underwear na nakakalat doon?! That's gross!

"Damn you Abo!"

"Wag mo akong tawaging Abo."

"Or should I call you Filter?! You know like the one you used in photos, Grayscale!"