Seventh Agent (Tantei High)

Eighteen

Akemi.

"Akemi, pinapatawag nanaman tayo nila Sir," lumingon ako sa tumawag sa akin at nakita ko si Akane, she's peeking through the little unclosed space between the door. I nodded and smiled at her as my response.

Ang bigat pa rin ng pakiramdam ko sa sinabi ni Ken kahapon, hindi makakaila na mag-over think ako. He said na pwedeng parts are true at yun yung kinakabahan ako. You don't know what parts can be true, yung masaya or masamang part ba. But, I guess the only way to find out is to keep moving forward and face what life has to offer.

Inayos ko na yung brown kong buhok at lumabas na ng Girl's Dorm kasama sila Akane at Riye.

"Siguro may bagong case nanaman si Sir Hayate para sa atin, after nung kay Alice Montgomery mas lalo akong nag-crave for more solving cases," sabi ni Akane and we all agreed.

Nang ma-pass na namin yung hallway, nandoon na yung boys with Sir Hayate at they're discussing something pero biglang tatahimik at iibahin yung topic. Weird.

"Hi Sir, so what's the catch?" masayang bati ni Akane at umupo sa may couch sa harap ni Sir.

"Oo nga sir," sabi ni Riye at umupo katabi ni Akane at ako naman walang imik-imik na naki-join sa pag-upo nila doon sa couch.

"It's about a case," sabi ni Sir Hayate habang binibigyan kami ng copy ng mga papeles na hawak niya kanina.

Nung nabigyan na ako, tinignan ko yun and it's a profile. Hindi lang isa kung hindi anim, isang babae at limang lalaki. What is the problem with this people? They're too soft para gumawa ng masama. But, don't judge the book by its cover nga eh.

"You know the girl?" tanong ni Sir kay Reiji.

Bigla naman itong nag-stiffened at nag-nod, there is something about this girl na may effect kay Reiji. Hindi naman imposible na pwede silang lovers kasi they're both good looking people, o kaya magkapatid sila? No, imposible. Wala silang magkamukhang features.

Well, it's for Reiji to tell me the answer to the questions that's been clouding my mind.

"Yes, she's my friend. Best. Bestfriend," yumuko siya after that at biglang tumahimik yung paligid.

Lahat sila parang may mina-mumble at iniisip. Parang they have a clue kung sino yung babae at kung ano yung ginawa niya para maging ganito yung mood ni Reiji. Tinignan ko yung profile, siya si Josie Santos. A daughter of a multi-million company na madaming branch all over the world. I looked at her birthday kasi nacu-curious ako and yung birthday niya is next week.

"Oh, so that's her," since katabi ko si Riye narinig ko yung minumble niya. So, ako lang ang walang idea about what they're talking about. Tatanungin ko nalang sila mamaya sa Girl's Dorm, if I ask now mas lalong magiging awkward yung situtation.

Tsaka, kahit hindi sabihin, sensitive yung topic.

"Si Josie, siya yung babantayan niyo. There's a news spreading that someone is been killing their family. It started with her Grandfather's death," Sir Hayate said breaking the silence lingering around the room.

"Namatay na si Lolo?!" sigaw ni Reiji na ikinagulat namin, "Sorry," he said at naging calm na siya pero kitang-kita na his thoughts are clouding up his mind.

"You'll start investigating on her birthday party next week. Be ready," sabi ni Sir Hayate at binigyan kami ng mga tig-iisang sobre. Nung binuksan namin yun may lamang tigfi-fifteen thousand. Para saan ito?!

"Sir.." sabi ni Riye na parang speechless. Kaming lahat nanlalaki yung mata at hindi makapaniwala na binibigyan kami ng pera ni Sir. For what, exactly? Ang laking halaga neto.

"Go to the O-Tantei Store, then find Carrie. Alam niya na yung gagawin sa inyo," sabi ni Sir at ngumiti sa amin ng tipid. But, hindi niya pa sinasagot kung para saan yung fifteen thousand!

"Para saan ito? Gagastusin ba namin sa O-Tantei?" tanong ni Ken habang kinakalkal pa din yung sobre. It's been years since ng makahawak ako ng pera.

"No, that's your allowance. Magspa-spy kayo, si Mr. Santos ang nagpapabigay niyan kasi he said na kailangan niyo daw na mag-stay doon until the suspect is not yet found," he said at tumingin kay Reiji, "You need to disguise, kaya pumunta na kayo sa O-Tantei store,"

May 15 minutes muna kami para makapag-freshen up. Kagagaling lang kasi namin mag-practice para sa Intramurals kanina. Ang nakakapagtaka, hindi namin nakita si Lux buong hapon. Tapos kapag nagpra-practice kami ang tahi-tahimik niya. Nagsimula yun ng pinatawag siya nila Ma'am Reina.

"So, mind telling me kung sino si Josie?" I asked at napatingin silang dalawa sa akin. They're hesitant na sabihin but tumango sila sa isa't-sa at umupo sa may couch.

"Josie is Reiji's bestfriend, nung pumasok nga si Reiji dito ang lungkot lungkot niya tapos tinanong namin kung bakit. At first, sabi niya he doesn't trust us pero after a few weeks sinabi niya na din yung dahilan. It's heartbreaking,"

"He left her bestfriend for his duty dito sa Tantei," she finally said after a long pause at napa-aw ako. Hindi ko maisip yun, he left for his duty.

Kung ako yung iniwan, I'll understand. Ang hirap naman ng sa sitwasyon niya, kaya nga ako diba? Hindi ako masyadong nakikipag-kaibigan. I want to be succesful bago ako magkaroon ng kaibigan, kasi sometimes friends may interfere your opportunities for your dreams.

Lumabas na kami ng walang imik-imik dahil iniisip ko pa din yung kay Josie. It hurts most for her part kasi siya yung iiwan, tsaka ang masaklap wala silang technology na pwedeng gamitin dahil hindi ka pwedeng makipag-usap sa outside world while your in Tantei High.

Nang naglalakad na kami sa may plaza, nakita ko sila Ms. Reina na may kausap na lalaki. Unti-unting lumaki yung mata ko ng malaman ko kung sino yun. Kahit side view alam na alam mo na si Darwin iyon.

Hindi na ako nakapag-paalam kila Akane at tumakbo na ako sa direction nila. Nang 2 meters away nalang ako humarap sa akin si Darwin at kumabog yung dibdib ko. Posible ba? Nagulat siya, actually kaming dalawa.

"Iiwan muna namin kayo," ani ni Ma'am Reina at Sir Hiroshi at umalis na.

Nakatingin lang ako kay Darwin while breathing heavily. Bigla niya akong hinug at mahigpit yung hawak niya sa braso ko. Pinipigilan niyang umiiyak, nararamdaman ko yun. Pero, yung mukha niya may-

"Akemi, wala na si Mama" sabi niya habang nagpipigil pa din. Doon umalis lahat ng doubts ko at yinakap ko na din siya. "The Shinigamis, they're back. May new leader sila, I don't know who he is basta lahat ng mga kasama namin trinaydor kami. Wala na, Akemi. The fight is over, they've won again," mas lalo namang humigpit yung yakap ko sa kanya.

Kaya pala siya nandito to report na may bagong leader yung Shinigamis. But, who is that leader? Paano niya nalang napa-baliktad yung mga good Shinigamis? Ang galing naman niya.

"No, no Darwin. You promised me na pagbabatiin mo yung Senshin and Shinigamis, you promised," pagpapa-kalma ko.

Hingal na hingal na pumunta sila Akane kasama na sila Hiro. Kinalas ko na yung yakap ni Darwin sa akin at tumingin din sa kanila. "Sorry for ruining your cheesy moment," Hiro said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Anyway, Darwin, pinapahinga ka muna nila Ma'am Reina. Kara will lead you to your room," sabi naman ni Ken at may babae na parang 13-15 yung age niya at may malaking glasses"She's from Me family," ani nanaman ni Ken and I bid goodbye.

While I'm looking at Darwin's retreating back, napabalik nanaman yung doubt ko.

He has a scar below his eyes, just like the guy in my dream.

--

RaDar? RaDar. Haha. :)