Detective Files Untold

I- PAYMENT FOR SNEAKING OUT

I — Payment for Sneaking Out

The thought that Gray spent his birthday with Math really annoyed me! Siguro ay tuwang-tuwa siya habang kasama ito sa kaarawan niya with his family, samantalang kami ni Khael ay halos mamatay na sa kamay ni Lowie at ng mga bad breath niyang minions?! Nakakainis lang! Kabadtrip!

"Bestie?"

"What?!" Hindi ko napansin na naiinis pala ang ekspresyon ko habang nakatingin kay Je. He raised both his arms as if he surrendered. "Sorry." Argh! Ito! Ito ang epekto ng pag-iisip ko sa nangyari sa kaarawan ni Gray! Kung hindi lang talaga ako magkakasala ay malamang hiniling ko na na sana ay nalunod na lamang si Math!

But wait, kung sakaling malunod man ito, sigurado akong ililigtas siya ni Gray! And by that, kakapit sa kanya si Math at- no! No way! Worst, i-mouth to mouth siya- arrrgh! What the hell am I thinking?!

"Hoy, Bestie! Ang laki ng problema mo, ano?" Jeremy nudge me on my elbow at mabilis na kinuha ang pizza na nasa platito. "Akin na lang 'to, ha? Mukhang wala ka namang balak kumain eh."

"Je?"

"Yes, Bestie?"

"Ano'ng regalo mo kay Gray noong birthday niya?" tanong ko. Jeremy has a big mouth and I'm risking by asking. For sure he will spend the whole day teasing me about it. Siya kaya ang 'kapitan ng barko'. Meh, I don't even know what he means when he said that. What ship?

He motioned his fingers and pointed it on his temple. "Hmmm, since he lost in our deduction battle and we dated-"

"We didn't date!"

"Wag kang OA, Bestie, it's not the kind of date that you think of." Niyakap niya ang sarili niya na tila ba ano mang oras ay may gagawin ako sa katawan niya! Wow lang, ha!?

"Pero, Bestie, naisip ko lang, ha? What if bigyan natin ng isang malaking gift si Abo?" suhestiyon ni Je.

"Malaking gift like?"

"Have you been to a stag party?"

I frowned at him. "Je, stag party is restricted to men. Paano naman ako makakapunta sa stag party? Unless I'm a stripper."

"Exactly!"

"Exactly what? I'm not a stripper!" Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong ipakain sa kanya pati ang platitong nasa harapan niya. Could you believe it? Nilibre niya ako ng pagkain pero siya lang din pala ang kakain?!

"Alam ko, Bestie. Pero how do strippers appear in a stag party?" Tanong niya sa akin.

"Kung pagbabasehan ang mga napanuod ko sa mga palabas, strippers are usually dressed in a bunny or sexy bikinis and hide inside a big box na bubuksan ng soon-to-be groom for an element of surprise."

"Bingo!" bulalas ni Je. "And I think that's the best idea!"

"WHAT?! Reregaluhan mo ng stripteaser si Gray? What the hell are you thinking, you whore mind!" Napatayo ako sa upuan ko at napalakas ang boses. I looked around the cafeteria at napansin ang ilang nakatingin sa akin. Yeah, I never fail to attract attention.

"Who said I'll hire a stripteaser?" sagot niya at bahagyang sinulyapan ako. He even wriggled his brows in a silly and annoying way.

"Je, do you want to kiss my fist?" kalmadong wika ko. What now? He wants me to be a stripteaser? Una sa lahat, stripteasers need to be seductive. I think I am six meters below from being seductive. Second, stripteasers must be physically enticing thus proportionate in every aspect. Another six meters below the proportionate in every aspect- if you know what I mean. Pangatlo, guts. Stripteasers must have the guts. I have all the guts in dangerous situations but not this one! This is dangerous but to another level! Pang-apat- bakit ba ako nag-iisa-isa ng mga ito? Am I conceding to Jeremy's crazy and pervert idea?!