DETECTIVE FILES. File 3 (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 4: A HAPPY RETURN (Part 1)

Chapter 4: A Happy Return (Part1)

"Bestie! Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap. Saan ka ba nagsususuot?", Jeremy asked nang makabalik ako. I tried all my might to follow the girl but I can't. Ni hindi ko nga maabot ang lagusan na binuksan niya. Isa pa ay nasa isip ko pa rin ang pag-uusap namin kanina. She knows my name and she said we have a friend in common. A friend which I have an endearment Bestie. Ah, maybe she got it wrong. I have no friend with an endearment Bestie except for Jeremy who calls me that but I do not call him that way. But does the girl really mean Jeremy?

To avoid further commotions ay pinauwi na ang lahat ng mga estudyante. Jeremy pulled me while I am in the state of confusion. Hinila na niya ako papasok sa bus matapos muling siguraduhin ng ilang staff na wala sa amin ang responsible sa nangyaring nakawan. The museum staff said that they are still chasing the guy who was responsible. Nagtatalo ang kalooban ko kung sasabhin ko ba ang tungkol sa babae at hindi ang lalaking hinahabol nila ang salarin. But who knows, maybe those two are accomplices.

Sa huli ay napagpasyahan kong sarilinin lamang ang nalaman. The valuable things are returned anyway at isa pang rason ay ang sinabi ng babae. She said she just came to take something that was stolen from them. Anong ibig sabihin niya sa sinabi niyang iyon? Does she mean that the ring she took belongs to her and not to the museum? Ninakawan ang magnanakaw. That's her words and my mind says that I shouldn't believe to a thief. They are good in fooling people. Patuloy pa rin ako sa kakaisip sa babae when Jeremy waved his hands in front of me. Nasa bus na kami at pabalik na ng Bridle.

"Kanina ka pa tulala Bestie, ano bang iniisip mo?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Ah, he's the friend the girl was talking about. I grabbed him by the shoulders at hinarap siya, making my face closer to him.

"Woah, what are you doing Bestie? Hindi tayo talo at isa pa patay ako kay Gr-"

"By any chance, may kilala ka bang babae na kulot ang buhok, matagkad at maganda?", I asked immediately without listening to his claim kanina. Geez, what is this guy thinking? I would kiss him? Oh come on.

"Marami akong kilalang babae but I am not a playboy okay? Sila lang-"

"Je."

"Seryoso ako. Marami akong kilalang babae."

"No. She wants to give you something. Wait", wika ko at kinapa sa bulsa ko ang singsing na binigay ng babae. Maybe Jeremy will recognize her kapag nakita niya ang singsing.

He let out some air by popping his cheeks. "Tss. Ano na naman yan? Bigay ng babae? For sure it's chocolate. Lately I've been receiving a lot of it from my fans."

I rolled my eyes at him. Fans my ass. How did he get some fans?

"No, it's something expensive", wika ko. Oh, nasaan na ba ang lintek na singsing na iyon? I continued searching on my skirt and vest's pocket.

"Ah! I know it! Expensive chocolate?", he said with a big smile.

The hell?!

"Sabing hindi nga ito chocolate", inis na wika ko. I found the ring at agad na ipinakita iyon sa kanya. "Here."

Ang malawak niyang ngiti ay unti-unting nawala at napalitan ng- galit? Then the anger disappeared and then there was longing and sadness in his eyes. Dahan-dahan niyang kinuha ang singsing mula sa kamay ko at nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip. He is not smiling like he used to. Maybe the ring brought back some sad memories.

"Je? You know that ring?"

Nagpakawala siya ng pilit na ngiti. From how I see it, the ring really reminds him of something sad kaya naging ganoon siya. Ang nag-uumapaw na energy niya ay tila naubos ngayon.