Checkmate, Alas

Chapter 25: Clock Cipher (Nine)

The headmaster keep on talking about the tournament. Nakinig lang ako sa kaniya pero hindi nagsalita. I don't know what's the purpose of this dahil tapos naman na 'yung tournament.

"You may go now, Nine." he said and it's like a music in my ear.

"Good bye, Headmaster." nakangising sabi ko.

Nakasukbit sa kanan kong balikat ang backpack ko habang nakakapit ang kanang kamay ko doon. While my left hand is holding my phone. I'll text Yuan and tell her that maybe I can go to their house. Besides, I met Kuya Yelix earlier at the cafeteria and he told me to tell him more about our relationship.

Nakangisi ako habang nagtitipa ng text kay Yuan. I still can't get over the fact that she's actually my girlfriend now. I mean, it's a dream come true.

We used to be bestfriends when we were young but suddenly she stay away from me. It was a big question but I realized that it was my fault when I heard her reason.

I was about to type my message to Yuan when I saw a message from unknown number. With my brows furrowed, I opened the message only to find out an weird numbers.

From: Unknown Number

Wanna be a hero? Go to this address:
19:17:AM:08:13:08:13:06:00:17:14:14:12:00:08:13:00:21:AM:11:11:13:00:07:08:06:07

Photo attachment

I don't have any idea about those number and letters but when I opened the photo that was attached together with that weird message, I felt like my world stop.

It was a picture of Yuan, nakatali sa upuan ang katawan at walang malay. Sa harapan niya ay ang porcelain na chess board na nakaayos ang mga pieces. Looks like they'll going to play but what the fuck? Bakit nakagapos si Yuan!?

Pumikit ako ng mariin. I gritted my teeth and clenched my jaw as I keep on looking at Yuan's photo. The place wasn't familiar to me because it's quite dark.

I decided to reply to the unknown sender.

To: Unknown Sender

Where the fuck did you brought Yuan!?

He replied immediately after I sent the message.

From: Unknown Sender

Solve the first message I sent and it'll lead you to where we are.

Nasa loob pa rin ako ng campus. I think of dialing the sender's number so I did.

"The subscriber cannot be reach. Please try again later."

What the actual fuck!? Kakareply niya lang sa akin 'di ba!?

I called the number again and again pero parehas lang ang sinasabi. Galit akong tumakbo patungo sa parking lot kung nasaan ang kotse kong nakaparada.

Pinatunog ko ito at tyaka binuksan ang pintuan at pumasok sa driver's seat. Tinapon ko sa loob ng kotse ang backpack ko at nagsimulang magmaneho palayo ng school.

I don't have any idea where they are. I dialed Frank's number while I'm still driving. My phone was connected to my car and after a few rings he answered.

"Yes dude?"

"I'll send you a number. Can you track it for me?" sagot ko. Ang mga mata ay nakatutok pa rin sa kalsada. It's damn traffic! Bakit sa lahat ng pagkakataon ngayon pa!?

"Sure. Send mo lang."

"Salamat."

Tumigil ako sa pagda-drive dahil naka-red ang stoplight. Sinamantala ko 'yon para i-send kay Frank ang numero na nag-text sa akin. He had knowledge about hacking so he's a great help.

I stared at the first message again. I didn't get those number that he sent. Is this some kind of codes? My sister's good with this but I can't bother her right now because she seems so off this past few days. I have to solve this myself.

Nang mag-green ay ibinaba ko ang phone ko at nag-maneho na. I drove all my way to our subdivision. Should I inform our parents? But they're not home. But still they have the right to know.

I parked my car sa bungad ng subdivision. Kinuha ko ang phone ko para tawagan ang parents ni Yuan ng may mensahe akong natanggap. I immediately opened it.

From: Unknown Number

Don't tell everyone about this or I'll do something you might regret.

"Putangina!"

Paulit-ulit kong sinuntok ang manibela ng sasakyan ko. I don't fucking know what to do! I feel so helpless! Hindi ko kakayanin kapag may nangyaring masama kay Yuan! Whoever the fuck this sender is I'm sure they'll pay!

Frank's calling kaya agad ko itong sinagot.

"Anong balita?"

"Dude, hindi ko ma-track. Mukhang maalam din 'yung owner ng number na 'yan. I can't find any information about that number." bakas ang disappointment sa boses niya.

I clenched my fist and closed my eyes. Huminga ako ng malalim bago sumagot kay Frank. It's not his fault. It's the sender's fucking fault.

"Sige. Salamat pa rin."

I ended the call.

Muli kong pinuntahan ang message na may mga numero. I copy the message at pumunta sa safari na app tyaka ito pi-naste. Inalis ko lang 'yung parte ng message na naiintindihan ko.

I'm waiting for the result at kung mamalasin ka nga naman bakit biglang bumagal 'yung putanginang signal!?

"Bullshit!"

I cursed a lot at ini-start muli ang sasakyan ko para pumunta sa parte ng subdivision na may signal. Walang masiyadong dumadaang sasakyan kaya ang mata ko ay nasa phone ko pa rin.

I stepped on the break ng lumabas na ang mga resulta ng sinearch ko.

Hindi nga lang 'yon 'yung kahulugan nung mismong message. I scanned the results and they're all saying that it was a kind of code called Clock Cipher.

I searched for the image of it para ma-decode ko 'yung message.

Kaagad akong nabuhayan ng may lumabas na resulta! It was an image with a two circle and there are numbers and letters inside those circles.

It took me fifteen minutes to finally solved the code.

Training room in Vallen High

'Yon ang sinasabi nung code.

Meaning to say they're now at Vallen High! It was an hour of drive from here. But I will do whatever it takes to save Yuan, my girl.

Pinaandar ko ang sasakyan pagkababa ko ng phone at mabilis na nagmaneho sa Vallen High.

I hope nothing bad happened to Yuan. Hindi ko alam kung anong plano 'nung kung sino man 'yon. But I have a hunch that he's a boy and studying at Vallen High. Doon din nag-aaral ang kapatid ko pero kagaya ng sinabi ko kanina, I can't drag her to this mess.

"Fuck! Yuan please be safe!"

I don't pray that much but this time I'm praying so hard.

The idea that he's a student, medyo napanatag ang loob ko doon. He'll not do anything bad because he knew the consequences. His reason must be valid!

Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela at ito na 'yata ang unang beses na nagpatakbo ako ng ganito kabilis. Good thing hindi fraffic papunta sa Vallen High.

I hope that I can make it on time.