The Stray Kids of Edogawa Rampo

Audacity

Audacity

M I A Ortega
December 23, 2020, 11:15 am.
Oedipus HQ.

'Di ko masikmurang padaanin ang pasko na ganito. Kakabalik ko lang galing disgrasya at disgrasya na naman ang nadatnan ko. June has been holed up inside his office and we can't even get a hold of him. Kahit si Ash na sa HQ na nakatira ay 'di makayanang pumasok sa loob dahil kay June. I can't exactly describe how he's dealing with it. He looks frustrated and depressed all at the same time.

Twelve, ano na namang kalokohan 'to?

"Alam kong problemado tayong lahat sa pagkawala ni Twelve," sabi ni Ash habang nakaupo sa sahig. "Pero hanggang kailan tayo mags-stay sa hallway?"

"It's been three days and we're doing all our meetings here," Zen mumbled whole tousling his blonde hair.

Von sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose, "Chief, that kid, will explode any minute now. 'Di ko masabi kung maigi ba para sa atin ang kausapin siya."

I shook my head, "Whatever it is, 'di pwedeng tumagal siya dyan kakamukmok." I tucked some strands of my hair behind my ear and walked towards the office's door. "I'll talk to him."

Lance held my arm. "Mia,"

"Lance, ano ba," hinigit ko ang kamay palayo sa kanya. "Pipigilan mo na naman ba ako?"

Binaba niya ang tingin sa sahig at bumuntong-hininga. It has been three days ever since Twelve was abducted, at sa loob ng tatlong araw na 'yon parang namatay ang buong agency. Lahat kami gusto siyang hanapin, pero lahat kami hindi alam kung paano. Lance has been restless, June locked himself in the office, all of us lost pace because of this incident.

At kahit pa mamatay-matay na ako sa pag-aalala, 'di ko pwedeng hayaan ang sarili kong maging emosyonal.

"June is..." Lance said as he swallowed an invisible lump in his throat. "He's not in a good condition right now."

Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata, "Exactly the reason why I need to talk to him, Lance," I told him. "I'll smack him back to condition."

"Are you sure you're already okay, Mia? Baka mamaya mabinat ka kakakilos mo." nag-aalalang tanong ni Crysa.

"Ay ses, ready na ngang manapak oh, mukha bang 'di okay 'yan?" Ash rolled his eyes and I just glared at him.

Huminga ako ng malalim saka sinusian ang pinto. They all watched me enter the office with worried and sad eyes, and I just can't stand it. I balled my fist and closed the door behind me, the room was pitch dark and I can't almost see anything if it's not because of the faint ray of light glistening from the closed blinds.

Naglakad ako papunta sa desk niya at andoon siya, nakayuko na parang nagdadasal sa desk niya. June is just a 17-year old boy who happens to be so gifted he became our chief, our leader, and our guide. Kahit ano man ang pagdaanan namin, in the end of the day, 'di mababago 'non ang katotohanang bata lang kami. Mga menor-de-edad ang bumubuo ng organisasyon na 'to, at menor-de-edad lang din ang nagpapatakbo nito.

"June," I called him and pulled a chair. Naupo ako sa harap ng desk niya. I tried to catch a glimpse of his face but it's hidden between his palms.

"Mia," he said in a hoarse voice.

"How long are you going to stay like this?" tanong ko sakanya. "Nag-aalala na kaming lahat sayo."

He finally sat properly and revealed his face. His dark circles worsen and he's also pale as hell. His palms are filled with bruises and wounds and he looks hella fucked up. Wala akong masabi. With Twelve gone, he left June miserable like this.