The Enigma of Erald

CHAPTER FIVE: End With A Pak!

ERALD

THE K-OS Club wanted to have some fun? Fine, we would play along.

"A-Anong gagawin natin? Paano natin made-defuse itong bomba?" nangangambang tanong ng lalaking nakatutok sa package. Nakita ko sa paggalaw ng kanyang lalamunan ang paglunok niya ng laway, malamang dahil sa takot.

Time to enter scene. He had nothing to be afraid of. Our club would come to save the day... just like what our predecessors did a few years ago.

"Dala mo ba ang camera mo?" tanong ko kay Charlotte. She gazed at the Chemistry Society booth where almost every student in the open area gathered. May bahid ng pagkabahala ang kanyang mukha, which wasn't surprising because of our situation.

"Oo, bakit? Do you need to use it?"

"Let's consider this case as one of our club activities. Kailangan natin ng documentation, 'di ba?" sagot ko. Inalis na niya ang kanyang pagkakahawak sa braso ko. "Ayos lang ba kung ikaw na bahala roon?"

"Leave it to me!" Nanumbalik na ang sigla niya kumpara kanina. Pumunta siya sa aming booth para kunin ang kanyang camera at isinabit ito sa kanyang leeg.

I went to the Chemistry Society booth where onlookers had nothing better to do than stare at the bomb. May ilan pa ngang nananalangin na yata sa kanila. I had to slip through the crowd before reaching the table.

"Walang mangyayari kung tititigan lang natin 'yan." Mabilis kong nakuha ang atensyon ng lahat. My classmate Clyde was among the crowd watching my every move closely. "Sa ginagawa n'yo, nagsasayang kayo ng oras."

"Si-Sino ka ba?"

"Forgive my manners, I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Erald Castell, proud member of the QED Club." Itinuro ko ang booth namin sa kaliwa. "Sa mga ganitong sitwasyon, handa ang aming club na tumulong sa inyo."

"QED Club? Meron palang gano'ng klaseng organization, 'no?" bulong ng ilang estudyanteng nasa likuran ko. Parang first time pa lang nilang marinig ang club namin. Nakakainsulto. Imbes na patulan ko sila, minabuti kong tumahimik at magpokus sa kung ano ang dapat gawin.

"That's the only detective club in this school." To my surprise, Clyde took the initiative to explain what we do. "Dissolved by the school admin a few years ago, the club is ready to make its comeback today. Tama ba ako, Erald?"

"Talaga? May detective club pala rito?"

"Ah, oo! Parang may naikwento ang mga senior ko noon!"

His tone suggested that he knew what I intended to do. Did he see through my plans again? Wala bang nakakalampas sa observation skills ng lalaking 'to? Or was I that too predictable?

I shrugged him off my thoughts. Sa ngayo'y mas importanteng ma-defuse ang bomba at magpakitang-gilas sa mga estudyante rito. Kapag nagawa ko 'yon, aayon ang lahat sa aking plano.

"Mr. Detective, paano mo kami matutulungan?" tanong ng lalaking nasa kanan ko. "Kahit nga kaming taga-ChemSoc, hindi alam kung paano ide-deactivate ang bombang 'to!"

Hindi kasi tayo magka-level ng utak. I would have told him that if only it wouldn't make the situation worse. Inilapit ko sa 'kin ang mapanganib na kahon para tingnan kung ano ang laman nito. Around twelve minutes was left on the timer. An old cellular phone attached to three wires with distinct colors was also found in the box.

Sa puntong ito, wala nang dapat sayanging anumang segundo.

"May mga nabasa na ako tungkol sa improvised explosive device." Maingat kong sinuri ang bomba habang nakatapat 'to sa aking eye level. "Some bomb squad uses self-controlled explosions to dispose of it. Papasabugin nila ang bomba gamit ang ibang pampasabog."