Three Young Sleuths - The Headless Figure Mystery

Chapter I - The Assembly

(To all readers, you may look again at the previous part, I've changed some names. Last update - December 26, 2014)

I walked towards our classroom while enjoying the Greek style. The road towards the learning studios were paved, rough, pebbled, and cemented very well, making a student with a good pair of shoes walk with comfort. The plants around the area beautify and improve the Greek surroundings which entertains the newcomers. There is no regret in going towards the school.

I've rendered the detail wherein this school is not the only competitive school around Tuguegarao City. Cagayan State University is just one of the many schools. St. Paul University Philippines, University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao, Cagayan National High School, North Central School, West Central School, and many others. Though the city is not merely safe anymore unlike last time, the schools hired trained security guards to guard the school from harm.

At last I went inside the classroom. The classroom, however, is not to be expected as of outside. It is not related to the outside design of the school. The four walls of the classroom are not touched by the painters. You can see the wall as only its progress is unfinished, wherein the walls can be seen only as mere cement which made me begin to think that the classroom is rushed and is destined to be finished at a later date. The floors are well furnished like that of a common room. The rectangular blackboard is very wide in width approximately 275 inches in length and 80 inches in width. The side of the blackboard has small doors leading to the place where one can place the cleaning materials like husks and soft brooms. The chairs were again, just like my old school which is SPUP, equipped with table designed only for the arm. The chairs inside the classroom are composed of forty-seven.

The ceiling is not also entertaining. It has the image of the ceiling of an old grocery store. The fluorescent bulbs are composed of four, placed equally distant from each other. The lockers seemed to be left out and remain unattended. Some of their locks are broken and were recommended to be repaired as soon as possible. For me, the school isn't prepared to meet its fellow students.

The room is filled with some students. I expect that the first week is filled with orientation, and so it happens. I thought that the orientation will be per class just like highschool, but the public announcement which aired just now ordered us to gather again at the centre square, where the statue of the goddess Athena rests.

The statue is visible to the outside of the school since the gates were not tall enough. From the outside view, the statue seems to be beautiful.

We were gathered on the square, from freshmen to seniors. Our batch is the last batch not affected by K-12 curriculum, as it gives description on six years of being highschool in which only two years of college regardless of the course are only being taken.

The centre is being crowded by students and the president of the school, Mr. Hoppins is already announcing the basics of the school. Thomas can be seen among the crowds with his 6-feet height. I can see him as well. Charlie, with her dominating blonde hair can also be seen by my visual field.

The orientation is quite boring, with only so much talking. The crowd were observed to be noisy, so the speakers were always giving signs about silence or keep quiet. Another problem is the sun. It burns our skin while listening to the announcer.

After the orientation, we were given forty-five minutes of break. I began to walk towards the canteen to eat. This is an opportunity to meet up with the two. While heading to the canteen I tried to look for them, but the number of students going in and out of the canteen decreases the probability of finding them. While looking, someone's hand landed onto my shoulder.

"You must be searching on me, and to another companion of yours." The man said.

I recognized the voice. I was sure that it is Thomas and even surer when I turned my head towards him. We started to have a conversation while walking towards the canteen.