Decipher me, Detective

CHAPTER 1: FIRST DAY, FIRST MURDER ENCOUNTER

I was slowly walking down the road, dinadama ang bawat paghampas ng malamig na hangin sa aking balat. Tila ba nakakawala ng problema ang ganitong pakiramdam.

Kasalukuyan akong patungo sa aking bagong eskwelahan, kung saan ilang kilometro lang ang layo sa bago rin naming tirahan.

Hindi ko mawari kung bakit ako inilipat ni mama ng school. Though malapit lang rin naman ang school ko dati sa bahay na nilipatan namin. I was transferred and enrolled here ngayong second sem ng grade 11 ko. I think the name of the school is Audrina? Audrian? Basta, something like that. It's a private school and hindi naman 'daw' ganung kamahal ang tuition fee. It's a prestigious school indeed, that everyone seems to be honored na makapasok dito.

Anyway, I don't think na makakasundo ko kaagad ang magiging classmates ko since I'm always getting a hard time approaching someone. Though may mga times rin naman na nawawala yung hiya ko.

After a few steps, nakarating na rin ako sa wakas sa bago kong school. It's been two days since nagstart ang classes for second sem. Surely, may nalesson na and I'm late.

I've got my own schedule and I need to find my room immediately!

I checked my sched and first subject namin ay practical research which is sa CTE bldg, room 104. But the problem is, I don't know where is that building! Sa laki ba naman netong school na 'to, makikita ko ba agad yun?

So, I consult the guard na nasa assigned sa gate. He said na sa quadrant 4 ko iyon makikita katapat ng canteen 3, which is nasa dulo pa. Hay! Now I hate walking. Tinanaw ko iyon and hindi ko alam kung ilang hakbang na naman ang gagawin ko makarating lang don.

"Bago ka lang ba dito?" he asked me with a curious face.

But before I could answer, nagsalita na naman sya.

"Ah! Oo, ikaw yung transferee na galing sa Aoyama High ano? Balita ko matalino ka daw?"

I didn't bother to answer him dahil wala na kong time! I thanked him nalang at sinimulan na ang paglalakad ko. It took me 7 minutes na makarating don. Hinanap ko na agad ang room 104 dahil baka nagsisimula na ang klase. I knocked in door at maya-maya ay may lumabas na babae, siguro yung teacher namin.

"Yes, dear?" she asked cheerfully.

Wow, she's too young para maging teacher. At napaka-ginhawa ng expression nya, nakakahawa.

"Uhm, I'm looking for Ms. Romualdez. Is this her class?" I asked with a slight smile. I feel shy, you know. There's a beautiful woman in front of me.

"Yeah, that's me. Are you the transferee?"

"Yes, ma'am. Ngayon lang po naayos ang requirements ko kaya ngayon lang rin po ako nakapasok. Pasensya na po."

"Oh, that's fine. I'm expecting you, by the way. Come, I'll introduce you to the class." she held my wrist at hinila ako papasok.

Pagpasok namin ay binitawan na nya ako at sinundan ko lang sya sa gitna. Nakaramdam naman ako bigla ng pagkahiya dahil nakatingin silang lahat sakin. Yes, lahat.

"Class, meet your new classmate. Uhm—" she looked at me at alam ko na ang ibig nyang sabihin.

"Uh, I'm Theron Julien Mendoza. Transferee from Aoyama High—" after I mentioned my previous school ay nagbulungan na agad sila.

Yeah, rival school ang pinapasukan ko dati at ang school ko ngayon.

"I'm 17 years old and I hope I can get along with you all well. And you can call me Ther, by the way."

I don't know if it makes sense na sinabi ko pa yung age ko. Ugh, whatever.

"Alright, time's running. You may seat aaaaat—" she paused habang nakatingin sa kanyang class masterlist.