The Stray Kids of Edogawa Rampo

Surprise

Surprise

H I R O  Asahina
December 27, 5:49 pm.
Leonhart St., 887 Malfoy Building

Tatlong araw na naming ginagawa ‘to.

We’ve been taking turns to guard the house recently. Ah, ‘di bahay ang binabantayan namin syempre, ‘di naman ‘to tatakbo. ‘Yung telepono, ‘yun ang inaabangan naming tumunog. We don’t know when would Edogawa call us again, the last time he did, he just made us more confused than we already are. Kung ako ang tatanungin, we’re actually moving based on trust. Para kaming mga bulag na tao na sumusunod lang sa boses ni Edogawa, mga walang alam at walang kamalay-malay. Still, we are on the position where trust is the most important thing that we should flourish among us.

“May choice ba tayo?” these words suddenly slipped as I do the laundry, mababaliw na ata ako kakakausap ko sa sarili ko.

“Ha?” Zen glanced at me as he hung the clothes from the dryer. “You saying something?”

Umiling-iling ako saka nagpatuloy sa pagbabanlaw ng mga damit. Mga housewife, amputa. Lance and June have been stressing themselves out lately. Gusto ko din tumulong dahil nayayamot lang kami ni Zen dito, pero ‘di naman namin pwedeng iwan ang telepono na walang bantay.

Nang matapos kami sa paglalaba ay bumalik na naman kami sa pagtunganga sa sala. Zen and I didn’t have much to do, to be completely honest. ‘Di naman sa ‘di kami madaldal. Zen has been fond of us ever since and we don’t feel awkward with him anymore. He still has this tiny trust and anger issues but it’s not something big of a deal, he’s just Zen.

"Zen,” tawag ko sakanya nang lumipas na ang limang minuto kakatulala namin. He glanced at me and lifted a brow, “May tanong ako, pero baka masyadong personal para sayo.”

‘Di siya kaagad sumagot sa akin, bahagya niyang iniwas ang tingin na para bang nag-iisip kung papayagan niya ba akong magtanong o hindi. Medyo nakonsensya tuloy ako, dapat pala ‘di ko nalang in-open ang topic. I’m just curious, that’s all. Bukod sa mga bagay na alam ko at pinapakita niya sa amin, wala na akong masyado alam sa kanya.

“Hmm, ano ‘yon?”

I thought he would back out, he didn’t though. I was secretly relieved.

I shifted on my seat, “May…” I hesitated for a second and gulped.

“May…?”

“May pinaghihinalaan ka ba na posibleng pumatay sa mga magulang mo?”

I finally said it. The expression on Zen’s face is really hard to read, but I know that this is really uncomfortable for him. Matagal ko na ‘tong gustong itanong sa kanya, pero ‘di ako makahanap ng tamang tyempo. 

“The Wysteria-Gomez massacre was a big news,” sabi ko nang hindi siya magsalita. “Your clan is technically one of the richest here in the country and even in Southeast Asia kaya ‘di lang Pilipinas ang nayanig sa nangyari sainyo. But haven’t you noticed? That this massacre died so easily as if it didn’t happen? Na kasabay ng pagkamatay mo, namatay na rin ang issue na’to?”

Tiningnan ko siya ng maigi at nagsalita ulit, “Don’t you think that someone out there is doing something?”

Zen’s throat moved as he gulped down, he sighed and licked his lips. “Hiro, being a bourgeoisie family is really hard, everything is about money. That’s why our parents decided to seclude themselves away from our relatives. They’re…” he sighed heavily before continuing, “…toxic greedy monsters.”

He’s really uncomfortable, I can see that. His eyes were shaking, avoiding my gaze. Parang may mga naalala siyang bangungot. I suddenly felt pity towards him, Zen has been so strong with us all this time. ‘Di ko alam kung dahil ba ‘yon sa galit niya sa mga gumawa nito sakaniya o para malaman ang mga sagot na gusto niyang mahanap, pero kahit pa alin man ‘yon sa dalawa, sobrang tatag niya para umabot dito.

“Isa lang ang pwedeng gumawa nito, isa lang,” he said in almost a whisper. “Hindi ko na hahayaan na may makuha pa siya sa akin ulit.”

He’s talking about the fucking ten million dollars that his parents left for him. I sighed and stood up. Tinapik ko ang balikat niya at ngumiti, “’Di natin hahayaan ‘yon,” I told him. “I’ll make you tea.”

Dumiretso ako sa kusina para magtimpla. Andoon pa din siya, nakayuko at ‘di gumagalaw. I seriously feel guilty about asking pero huli na ang lahat. I put the kettle in place when we heard a car parking outside.

“Ang aga naman nila,” sabi ko saka binuksan ang kalan. Bumalik ako sa sala para pagbuksan sila ng pinto but Lance already sent the door flying. June followed him and their faces…

“Ano, ngumuya na din ba kayo ng moth balls sa sobrang stress?” tanong ko sakanila.

The dark circles under their eyes worsen and they looked like they didn’t shower at all for three days. ‘Di magkamayaw si Lance kakabitbit ng mga folder sa kamay niya habang si June naman ay nakangisi lang sa amin. I’m not sure if he’s smirking ‘cause he’s happy or ‘cause he’s pissed but either way, they sure need to relax.

“Putangina,” kumalabog ang mga folder sa coffee table nang mailapag sila ni Lance. He collapsed on the couch and stared at the ceiling, “Putangina.”

“What’s up with you guys?” Zen asked and stood up, emotional reset ika nga nila. “What are these?”

“Ha…Hahaha!” tumawa si June saka naupo sa tabi ni Lance. “Putangina.”
Ngumiwi ako, “Word of the day?”
Umiling-iling si Lance, “Hindi, Hindi mo naiintindihan, Hiroki. Putangina"