Tease Out the Truth

Kabanata XXVI: The Winner

Chris

The simulation test lasted for an hour and Zanaya even managed to take a nap. Luckily we were still part of the competition. Four groups have survived the second level and we were currently inside a room waiting for the third challenge.

Transparent ang wall ng silid na kinaroroonan namin kaya naman napapanood pa rin kami ng mga tao at nakikita namin sila. Habang naghihintay ay hindi ko maiwasang mapatingin sa mga manonood.

"Chris nandoon si ma'am Roque oh!" turo ni Arya sa mga bleachers sa arena. Kaagad ko naman siyang nakita. Si Arya kumakaway pa dito.

Napatingin ako sa ibang kasamahan namin ngayon. Lahat sila ay mukhang seryoso at desidido talagang manalo. Ngunit hindi naman kami papayag na matatalo kami dahil para sa aming akademya ang labang ito.

"OMG! Si matandang Dragona nandito!"

Napatingin kaming tatlo sa itinuturo ni Arya. Who was Dragona?

"Arya, sino na naman ba iyon?" tanong ni Zanaya.

I am also curious because the code name was somewhat familiar. I think I've heard it before.

"Naaalala niyo pa ba 'yung professor natin sa 'Deducing Behavior'?" tanong niya. "Si Ms. Dimalanta."

Her image suddenly popped out in my head. Now, I remembered her. She's the old terror lady. She's being feared by every student in Zyfford because of her looks and yeah, she's just too terror to handle. But I like all the lessons that she have taught us especially that topic on manipulative people.

"What is she doing here?" takang tanong ni Dave.

"Baka para manggulo," Arya revealed. Her tone was so serious as if she's so sure that was the motive of the professor.

"Eh, why would she do that?" Zanaya asked in a curious tone. Even I am curious as to why she was here. Mrs. Roque was the only one allowed to go to accompany us, unless Ms. Dimalanta had other motives. The question was, what would that be?

"Ms. Dimalanta is a close friend to our family. And I don't think she will do something connected to JDC," Dave asserted with simple directness.

Zanaya snorted at his statement, "You're so sure with that? 'Yun ngang mukhang anghel mong kaibigan nagawa kang kalabanin at lokohin."

"Angel is different from Ms. Dimalanta, okay," he said with a sigh of irritation.

Kaagad naman kaming pumagitna ni Arya sa usapan nila dahil baka lumalala pa ito.

"Hep, hep, hep! Tama na 'yan. Basta ako, masama talaga ang kutob ko sa matandang dalagang iyan. Ever since the world began," Arya remarked acidly.

Well for me, I have no issue with Ms. Dimalanta, given the fact that I didn't even know her personally. But for Arya, she seemed so bitter about her. Napagalitan na siguro.

"Naku, baka naman kaya ka bitter sa kanya ay dahil sa masungit siya," Zanaya chimed in and looked at her with a suspicious look.

"Hindi ah. Basta may bad vibes akong nararamdaman sa kanya, period."

"Enough of this. Magsisimula na ang third challenge," I said with a burgeoning excitement.

"Oh, thank God!" Zanaya said with a note of relief. Halatang naiinip siya sa paghihintay.

"This is the last challenge. We need to passed this. Kailangang accurate ang deductions at tayo ang mauna," sabi ni Dave sa amin. He sounded like a leader now, unfortunately, he was injured on some parts of his body that's why he couldn't move that much.