The Stray Kids of Edogawa Rampo

Abilities of a Stray

ABILITIES OF A STRAY

"Underestimating is not one of the choices,"

Z E N Gomez

December 7, 10:34 pm.

Spencer Moore's Residence, Basement.

Spencer is currently laughing hilariously at me, his PS vita on his tummy as he rolled on the floor. Natauhan lang siya nang mahulog ang PS vita mula sa tiyan niya at kumalabog ito sa sahig. He sat up and stared at me.

"Bro, you have one heck of a life,"

"You don't have to inform me. I know I'm this interesting."

"You are!" he stifled his laughter. "So, you're saying that you got kidnapped by someone while other bunch of someones is trying to kidnap you? Oh my, God!"

Naikunot ko ang noo, I massaged my temples as annoyance started to pulsate on my veins. "Spencer, can you please stop talking as if this is some kind of a good surprise?"

Umiling-iling siya saka tumayo papuntang fridge, he snatched a bottle of Gatorade and tossed it on my direction. I caught it with poor accuracy.

"I wasn't surprised, really. I expected the worse," he said as he gulped from his bottle. "Sadyang nakakatawa lang talaga pag naririnig ko siya ng live sayo," he grinned and waved my middle finger at him.

I collapsed myself on his bed and stared at the ceiling. I sighed through my nose and closed my eyes. My mind is scattered and I don't know what should I do. Those guys. Kung totoo nga ang sinasabi nila, sila nalang ang pag-asa ko. And that man named Edogawa Rampo is bugging me. How did he know about me and my problems? How did he manage to trace me? And why is he doing this? Why does he want to protect me?

Anong koneksyon niya sa mga problema ko?

"Does your new housemates know that you're here?" I heard Spencer asking. I opened my eyes and saw that he's back on his PS vita.

"No," I replied hoarsely. "I sneaked out. I can't tell them about you, baka mamaya kalaban sila at madamay ka pa."

Spencer glanced at me for a sec then went back on his gaming, "You walking jar of trust issues,"

"I know," I sighed. "But look how fucked up I am. I don't know who to trust anymore. Lahat sila mga bulag na sa pera, I can be good as dead any minute now."

"Why? Are you afraid?"

Napatingin ako sakanya, a bit shocked with his nonchalance. "No. But it doesn't mean that I would want to die."

"Is there something worth living for?" he asked once again. Spencer, the creep. Anyone? "You said it yourself, you're fucked up. Fifty shades." He looked up and grinned.

I shook my head and ran my fingers through my hair, tumulala ako sa pader ng mga ilang segundo bago sumagot. Ang hirap ng tanong.

"I wanted to live because..." I trailed off, finding the right words to say. "Because..."

"One...Two...Three—"

"'Cause I'm still hoping there's a reason," I uttered out of nowhere. And I can feel Spencer's scrutinizing stares on me. "A reason why I'm the only one who's alive. Rason kung bakit ako andito."

The room suddenly sank into deafening silence. Spencer didn't speak, and so do I. Para akong mahihimatay sa sinabi ko. Pakiramdam ko sinigaw ko sa buong mundo na flat ang Earth. I felt amazingly ridiculous. But maybe that's really the thing that has been bugging me these days. For almost six months that I've been an orphan, di ko makapa kung anong gagawin at saan pupunta. Palaboy-laboy. Ang pinagkaiba ko lang sa mga pulubi ay may sangkatutak akong pera, pero bukod pa 'dun, I can't spot anymore difference.