The Stray Kids of Edogawa Rampo

Parcel

Parcel

M I A Ortega
December 29, 8:54 pm.
Oedipus HQ.

'Di ko na mabilang kung ilang oras na ba ako nakatayo sa harap ng HQ, 'di ko rin alam kung bakit hindi ako makapasok sa loob. Ash and I decided to give Twelve his alone time in the office to rest. He looks tired, in a whole spiritual level. Kaya naisipan namin ni Ash na umuwi muna sa bahay namin para makapagpahinga si Twelve ng mag-isa. Ash stayed in his friend's house, while I returned in my apartment. Pagkauwi ko ng bahay imbis na magpahinga, 'di ako mapakali lalo. Pakiramdam ko 'pag iniwan ko mag-isa si Twelve baka maisipan niya na naman na iwan kami. I sighed and shook my head, I need to get myself together. Sumulyap ako sa relo ko at nakitang magaalas-nueve na ng gabi. If Twelve managed to sleep, he must be awake by now.

I nibbled my lower lip and lightly slapped my face, after that I turned the knob and pushed the door open. Madilim pa rin ang buong office at tanging tunog lang ng AC ang naririnig ko. I closed the door and waited for my eyes to adjust in the darkness. Nang may naaaninag na ako, naglakad ako ng tahimik papunta sa desk ni June at binuksan ang desk lamp. With its small illumination, I saw Twelve lying in his usual couch just beside the wall. His right arm covered his eyes while the other falls freely on the floor.

I smiled to myself and pulled a chair. I seated just beside him and watched him sleep, it kind of brings nostalgia to me. In the whole agency, ang Eye naming dalawa ang pinaka-onti ang ginagawa. The agency always reserves us for the worse cases since we're known to be a chaotic duo. We have our own ways on fixing the problem and sometimes, it's more problematic than useful. So not unless they're left with no choice, they make us stay put in here. At 'pag ganon ang nangyayari, tinutulungan ko lang si Ash bilang secretary ng buong agency. Samantalang ang gagong 'to, binabayaran lang para magsiesta at manahimik, and whenever he does, this will be his usual spot, his usual pose making him the usual Twelve.

Pero ngayon, alam kong hindi na siya 'yung Twelve na kilala namin dati.

His throat started to move as he swallowed, he groaned silently and pushed himself up, his hands still covering his eyes. He's still dazed from sleep when he lifted his eyes on me, he pushed his hair up and scratched his eyes.

"Anong oras na?"

"Alas-nueve ng gabi."

"December 29 pa 'din ba?"

Tahimik akong tumango, mukhang nabunutan naman siya ng tinik dahil sa sinabi ko. Humiga siya ulit sa pwesto niya, "I slept like dead."

I smiled faintly, "People will say they slept like a log, not like dead."

"I wish I was."

Hinawi ko ang buhok ko at sinipit 'yon sa likod ng tenga ko. Nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa mga daliri ko, there's no way I can look at him when he's staring at me. I continued playing with my fingernails as I asked him a question.

"Nakita mo ba ang hinahanap mo?" I asked, finally turning my head towards him, his intense gaze met mine. "Kamusta ka?"

He shrugged a bit and smiled, "Pwede na, buhay pa naman," sagot niya sa akin. "At 'yung hinahanap ko? 'Di ko pa nakikita, pero malamang malapit na."

Marahan akong tumango, "Dahil makikita mo na si Edogawa?" tanong ko at tahimik lang din siyang tumango. "Sa tingin mo, nasa kanya talaga 'yung bagay na gusto mong makuha?"

"Kung wala sa kanya, Mia. 'Di ko na alam kung saan maghahanap," sagot niya ulit saka tumingin sa malayo. "Naniniwala ako na may dahilan kung bakit ako ang pinili niya, kung bakit niya ako pinalaki at kung bakit niya ako inampon. Kung sweswertehin ako, baka siya lang ang nag-iisang kamag-anak ko na nakakakilala sa akin. Kung mamalasin, ewan. Sa sobrang daming masamang pwedeng mangyari sa akin, 'di ko nalang iniisip kung anong pwedeng mangyari."