The Stray Kids of Edogawa Rampo

Vintage

VINTAGE

"Someone might call or never,"

H I R O Asahina

December 6, 11:07 am.

Look, you can call us fools, idiots, morons and lunatics or whatsoever but trust me, sumama kami kay Twelve for fun. We didn't know his cause, his background or his real identity. The idea of Twelve's existence is shrouded with mystery na gustong-gusto namin malaman. Every time we get curious and ask him about these, he'll shrug and say that he'll only disclose some personal information if and only if we're complete. And being complete means having Zen Wysteria-Gomez on our side.

Kaya di mo kami masisisi kung confused na confused kami.

"Rampo Edogawa?" Lance furrowed his brows and rested his back on the couch. "Anong klaseng pangalan 'yan? Adik din ba 'yang umampon sayo?"

"Actually, Rampo Edogawa is one of the best Japanese mystery authors. He's like the Sherlock Holmes of Japan," sabi ko saka humarap kay Twelve. "So, alias lang ang alam mo tungkol sakanya."

Tumango-tango si Twelve. Sa estado niya ngayon, he doesn't seem to be emotionally affected with the topic. "Yep. The rest is mystery. This house was entitled to him pero nung tinanong ko ang landlord, kahit kailan di niya daw nakita ang taong 'yun. Even in his documents left here, the names are always an alias. Minsan nasa katauhan ng babae. But yeah, he introduced himself as Rampo Edogawa to me, so I call him as it is."

"How did you manage to live?" Zen asked, nakasandal siya sa bedrest at matalim padin ang titig. Well, at least di na siya nagwawala. "Your story is suspicious, just so you know."

Twelve grinned, "Why, of course, it's suspicious. Ilang bata lang ba sa buong mundo ang kayang mabuhay nang walang kahit sino?" he answered back with a sly smile. "Magulang, kamag-anak, kaibigan. I had nothing."

"How about your education?" tanong ko. "Nag-aaral ka ba?"

"Hindi,"

Lance slapped his forehead, "I expected this answer but why..?"

"Bakit?" Twelve asked with nonchalance. "I didn't go to school. I mean, I would LOVE to but how? Di ako marunong mag-enrol."

I squinted my eyes, "But you don't seem to be illiterate to me."

"Aba-HOY!" Dinuro niya ako. "Mukhang adik lang ako pero di ako mangmang!" he yelled. "Rampo Edogawa taught me everything I know right now. I've read a lot of books from the shelves of this house. Kung ano ang alam ko ngayon, lahat 'yun galing kay Edogawa at sa lahat ng librong nandito."

I let out a low whistle. I was never a fan of books. Kung papipiliin ako, mas gugustuhin kong magtrabaho sa McDo kaysa mag-aral.

"Wait, wait!" Lance suddenly sprung from his seat. "You said that he's the one teaching you stuffs, right?"

Tumango-tango si Twelve, "Oo, bakit?"

"So, ibig sabihin nakita mo na siya?!"

"Oh, about that!" tumayo siya mula sa pagkakaupo at lumapit sa isang cabinet.

Sa pinaka ilalim ay may kinuha siyang maliit na wooden chest. He pulled a string necklace under his collar and it revealed a key which looks unfamiliar. Ilang buwan na ako dito pero di ko pa nakikita ang susi na 'yan. He unlocked the chest using that key and it revealed a...

"Telephone?" sabi ko nang makita ko ang isang maalikabok at sinaunang telepono. 'Yung de-ikot ang keypad?

"Mali, pashnea!" he screeched, "It's a vintage telephone."