[Lark's POV]
'DIFDLNFPOUIFQMBZHSPVOE'
I post the code in front of the refrigerator and attached a photo that is slightly rotated that make it looks like a diamond and that photo indicates the number 1. They can't do anything about it, they can't do decoding, they're not as smart as my Dad and Tito Andrei. Meaning, they'll just find me when Dad arrives home from work. Inilagay ko ang mga gamit ko sa isang bag. Kumuha ako ng lubid at itinali iyon para makababa ako sa likuran. I can't use the front door since Manang and her other knights will stop me again. No, not this time.
Nang tuluyan na akong makababa ay humakbang ako at tumalon sa fences. Bumagsak ako sa damuhan at mabilis na tumakbo. Habol habol ang hininga ko ay dumaan ako sa playground.
'AM:11:11:18:14:13:18:00:07:14:20:18:04' iniwan ko iyon sa seesaw kasama ang isang figure na circle with 12 dots on it's side. Dad will find it fast, he's great.
Agad akong tumakbo pagkatapos sa park. "Lark!" nilingon ko siya at nakita siyang kumakaway.
"Tumakas ka?" I nods. Kumunot agad ang noo niya at tiningnan ako ng masama. "Anong code naman ang iniwan mo?" I just shrugged my shoulders. She is always like this, scolding me like she is my Mom. Oh, speaking of Mom. I missed her... Dad told me everything about her kaya kahit hindi ko na siya nakikita ay parang kilalang kilala ko pa rin siya. After Mom's death, he didn't love again. Faithful or just afraid, I don't know.
"Let's find some cases to solve?" she said with full of determination. "You're just bored aren't you?" I asked.
She playfully slap me on my shoulder. "Bored agad?"
We decided to go on a coffee shop before finding some mysteries, or maybe the mysteries will find us — that's cool.
"Ililibre mo ba ako, Lark?" I looked at her. "No. Why would I? You have your own money," I said frankly. "Tsk. Kuripot!"
"No, just wise."
Pagka-order niya ay naghintay kami sa isang vacant seat. In front of us is a group of peers and eating happily.
"May tatlo d'yan na nagpa-plastikan lang," I give her a puzzled look. "I'm a future psychologist, my dear Lark. Believe me."
Ever since we were kids, palagi niya na iyang naging linya. She enjoyed reading people's mind by just observing their behavior or the way they move. Sometimes, I find her creepy. I find it hard to lie, she's a great lie detector, I'm telling you or should I say warning you? Nah? Okay.
"CR lang ako," tumayo ang isa sa mga magkakaibigan. People around him just nods and he proceed to walk towards the comfort room.
I watch them as they eat the chocolate cake in front of them since Allison is a boring conversation partner.
Sa gitna ng pagkain nila ay biglang napahawak sa leeg ang isa sa kanila at ilang segundo lang ay bumagsak na siya sa lamesa. People around the victim starts to panic. I stand up and walk towards their table. "I'm a student detective from DU," kinuha ko ang wallet ko at ipinakita sa kanila ang ID ko. "Do not touch the victim," agad silang gumilid at nagbigay daan. "Sigurado ka bang matutulungan mo kami? Highschool student ka lang ah?" she raised her eyebrows on me. "Sigurado ka bang nakakatulong ka, eh mukhang puro daldal lang alam mo?" nagsalita si Allison sa gilid ko. Her arms were crossed and eyebrows are raised. Amazona.
"Excuse me?"
"Eh di dumaan ka," mataray na banat ulit ni Allison. Naglakad paalis ang babae pero hinila siya ni Allison pabalik.
