The Stray Kids of Edogawa Rampo

Confessions

Confessions

H I R O  Asahina
December 17, 2:38 pm.

Kung ano man ang ibig sabihin ng lugar na nasa loob ng ballpen na 'yon, 'di ko alam. Walang nakakaalam at kung meron man, ginagago niya kami.  Sa sobrang sakit ng ulo ko sa mga nangyayari, 'di ko nalang magawang makapagsalita. Walang imik kaming lumabas ng building na 'yon at hinayaan nang si June ang kumausap sa mga p toulis. Tulala at tahimik kaming lahat, akala mo may anghel sa loob ng kotse pero ang totoo, tensyunado kami.

Putangina naman, ayaw kong magpasko ng ganito.

Ilang minuto pa ay biglang pumasok si June at naupo sa driver's seat. He looked at us and sighed.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Dagdag trabaho na naman 'to." he rolled his eyes and started the engine. "Tello told us to drop by, asap."

Kumunot ang noo ni Lance, "Drop by, saan? Sa bahay niyang puro disected na palaka?" he sarcastically asked and
shook his head. "No, thank you."

"Hoy, Lance, walang nagtanong ng opinyon mo." Sabat ni June at napanguso nalang si Lance. Sa aming lahat siya ang pinakamaarte, kahit ipis 'di kayang patayin. "It must be important, it's about the logo we found on the tear gas remains in the concert."

Bigla akong nabuhayan sa sinabi niya. Right, it must be a good news, yeah? It's going to take us one step closer to unmask Edgar Allan Poe. "'Di kaya connected 'yung logong 'yon sa nakita natin ngayon?" I asked.

"There's a high chance that it is," June said as he drove, sumulyap siya kay Twelve mula sa salamin. He's staring blankly at the window beside him while his hand traced his lower lip. He looks like he's in a deep thought. "Twelve," June called.

"Chief,"

"Any thoughts?"

"Wala, 'wag mo ko istorbohin nagsho-shoot ako ng music video."

Tarantado talaga.

Nilingon ko si Zen sa likod at mahimbing siyang natutulog. All right, that might be too much stress for him. I am stressed as well. Dahil everytime na may nakukuha kaming impormasyon tungkol sa kalaban namin, may dumadagdag din sa mga problema namin. It seems like he's designing this game just to play with us.

Once we solved a puzzle, a new puzzle will take its place. Thus, it's never-ending. Alam kong masyado pang maaga para maburyo, but fuck.

Just who the hell is our enemy?

I was deep in my thoughts when my phone vibrated in my pocket. Hinugot ko ito agad at tiningnan kung sino ang tumatawag. I glanced at June's position and, as if it's automatic, he was glancing back. I answered the call and pressed the loudspeaker.

"Ano?"

"What the rotten hell are you doing with your convenient piece of tech junk?!" Tello came screaming over the phone.

My left eye twitched because of his welcoming statement, "You mean, cellphones? Yeah?"

"Whatever you call it. I have been contacting Chief and even that motherfucker from the Third Eye, y'all not picking up."

Napalingon ako kay Twelve at kasalukuyan siyang nakabusangot sa phone ko, "Sabihin mo nga sakanya, paano niya ako tatawagan kung wala akong phone?!"

Ang sabihin mo nasira mo na naman, "Translate mo sa English gago, 'di nakakaintindi ng Tagalog 'yan."

"Kita mo?! Kaya ayaw kong kausap 'yang tanginang 'yan."

I sighed and just scratched my nape, "June,"