Lost N Found

File IV: Jack 'n Jill

The moment I watched the whole news, I already knew that there's something eccentric about it. The title of the news, its reporters and anchors and the news they delivered. Also, the station's channel is X13. I never heard of that channel in my whole life!

I tried to shift the channel into different stations but it didn't move. What is happening in our tv? Pinukpok ko pa ang hawak kong remote control sa aking palad baka sakaling mahina lang ang battery nito pero kahit anong gawin ko ay ayaw malipat ng channel.

Nilapitan ko ang tv at tiningnan ang likuran nito. May mga buttons naman ito sa may gilid kaya doon ko nalang ililipat ang channel. Pagtingin ko ay may nakasaksak na flash drive sa likod ng tv. Binunot ko ang kulay itim na flash drive at pinagmasdan ito.

Aha! Kaya pala hindi pamilyar sa akin ang channel dahil hindi ito totoo. Gawa gawa lang ito! Pero paano napunta ang flash drive sa likod ng tv? Ibig sabihin... may pumasok sa loob ng bahay ng hindi ko namamalayan!

Tumakbo ako paakyat ng hagdan papunta sa aking kuwarto. Isinaksak ko ang flash drive sa usb port ng computer ko. The computer software detected that the flash drive contains viruses that's why I pull it off the computer. Itinago ko ang black flash drive sa drawer ng table kung saan nakalagay ang computer. I will bring it to an IT friend tomorrow and have it checked.

The next day, I was awakened by the loud ringing sound produced by the telephone downstairs. My eyes grew bigger as I looked at my table. A rummage of papers, books and sticky notes are all over the desk. A realization then struck me, the flash drive!

I got up and went near the table. The drawer underneath it was open. I searched for the black flash drive but it was gone. Nothing else was stolen except for that thing. I wish we have a cctv camera installed in the house. I almost forgot about the telephone, good thing, it rang once more. I headed downstairs and reached for it.

"Echarri's Residence. Serene speaking," inilapit ko ang telepono sa aking tenga, pinapakinggan kung sino ang nasa kabilang linya. I hope it isn't Mom.

"Good morning honey! How's there?" It was Mom's voice. I bit my lip and gulped. This is what I am afraid of. 

"Everybody's fine, there's no need to worry about," I lied, biting my fingernails in anxiousness. Hindi niya pwedeng malaman na nawawala si Lev dahil malalagot ako.

"Good to know that, can I talk to Lev? I've got something to tell him," Mom's said in excitement. I can hear Mozart's  playing in the background.

I swallowed the lump on my throat before I replied, "Sorry to say Mom but Lev is not in the house right now. He takes Pangaea with him for a stroll."

Out of the blue, Pangaea barked. I sshh him immediately. I hope Mom didn't hear it or else I will be doomed.

"Did I hear Pangaea barked? I thought Lev take him out?" Mom asked in a suspicious tone.

"Of course, it isn't Pangaea. We all know that he rarely barks. I am watching Scooby doo right now and it is Scooby who barked," palusot ko pero mukhang mas lalo lang akong nalagay sa alanganin.

"Scooby doo never bark Serene. Are you hiding anything from me? You better tell me what it is," Mom voice turned into a threatening tone. When she calls me by my name it means that she's serious.

"M-mom? I ca-can't un... der... stand... it's... Cho-ppy!" I acted and hung up the call. I sighed in relief. Whew! I was almost caught.

Bumalik ako sa kuwarto para kunin ang cellphone ko. The cellphone is on top of the desk. Mabuti nalang at hindi ito ninakaw. Paalis na sana ako when something caught my attention. There's a sticky note pasted in the computer's screen. Kinuha ko ang kulay yellow na sticky note at binasa ang nakasulat dito.