The Stray Kids of Edogawa Rampo

King

King

J U N E Cortez
December 29, 4:00 am.
**** Hospital

When I opened my eyes, I honestly thought that I'm already in front of heaven's door. Everything was white, the nausea I'm feeling and what we just did. It sure does make sense if I died just then and there. I was shot in the arm, a bullet or two also scraped me on my leg and torso and I just jumped off the sea. But when I heard familiar voices around me calling my name, I was too amused to know that I still managed to survive somehow. Yes, the first thing that came to my mind was amusement.

"June? June! Naririnig mo ba kami?"

At 'yung sumunod ay sapakin si Twelve.

"Where's Twelve?" I said with hoarse voice, my throat feels dry and I feel feverish. Cryssa sighed and shook her head.

"Never mind that Australopithecus, he can go and die for all I care. " I recognized Tello walking over with his stethoscope. His ashy purple hair was so messed up like it never once felt the comforts of a comb. "You, you stay. You're vital for the human ecosystem."

"Oh, please." I covered my eyes with the back of my palm. Tello lifted my shirt and inspected a nasty wound covered with gauze. Right, I can't feel a damn thing all over me so I didn't notice my injuries.

"Mabuti at nakaligtas kayo," Cryssa said while biting off the tip of her nails. "Lalo na ikaw, ikaw ang may pinakamaraming tama na natamo."

"I was lucky to have just these. We were literally showered by bullets."

"Alam ko. Andoon ngayon si Von at patuloy na nag-iimbestiga kasama ang SWAT. Jusko, June. 'Di namin alam ang gagawin dahil sa inyo." Cryssa looked distressed.

"Any longer and you dumb bitch will be good as a shark feed," Tello narrowed his dark eyes towards me and turned to check my dextrose bag. "A nutritious shark feed."

Wala ako sa sariling ngumisi, "What happened, already happened. Well, at least we managed to return alive."

"Totoo. Naniniwala pa rin ako na dapat nga 'yong ipagpasalamat," umirap si Cryssa at tumayo mula sa kinauupuan niya. "Mabuti at sa braso ka lang natamaan ng bala. You can't do strenuous activities for a while so you should stay here until you are physically well."

Napakunot ang noo ko at tumingin kay Tello. Nagkibit-balikat lang siya, "You heard the human."

I shook my head and just let out a groan as an affirmation. Cryssa eyed me before going out of my room. I closed my eyes and heard Tello step closer to my bed. When I opened my eyes he's already sitting on the chair beside my bed.

"Ikaw ba ang doktor ko?" I asked, sarcasm excluded. Tello was our personal medical practitioner ever since aside from being our mad rocket scientist. He didn't have a license though nor a formal practice, but he's been working side by side with professional doctors for his whole life. "Are you my doctor?" inulit ko ang tanong ko dahil 'di nga pala nakakaintindi ng Filipino ang gago.

"You are admitted in a hospital," he said while looking at me as if I'm supposed to know that. "If you woke up in the HQ, I would've understood your questioning."

"Yeah, right. Where is he? I need to talk with him."

"He's in the next room checking the three other idiots who thought jumping in the sea was a good idea 'cause you guys can grow gills."

"Are they okay?"

"They are, you got the worst case."

Bumuntong-hininga ako at tumulala sa kisame. "What did the doctor say?"