DETECTIVE FILES. File 2 (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 53: THE CULPRIT IS A GHOUL (Part 1)

Chapter 53: The Culprit is a Ghoul
(Part 1 Introduction Chapter)

Travelling has always been a hassle to me, especially land trips. Fortunately, we'll ride an airplane para sa pupuntahan naming kasal ng kaibigan ni Math. I'm not really into attending weddings lalo na at hindi ko personal na kakilala ang ikakasal. I hope that Math's friend won't mind us accompanying Math kahit pa sinigurado naman ni Math sa amin na aprubado na iyon ng kaibigan niya.

"Ahhh! My back aches", reklamo ni Jeremy nang makababa kami ng eroplano. There's a huge sign that says Laguindingan Airport. Pagbaba pa lamang ay naramdaman ko na ang preskong hangin sa dakong iyon ng Pilipinas, it is very different from the surroundings I'm used to.

"Ang arte nito, ang dali lang naman ng byahe", Math said as she guide us to the airport's base. May mga shuttle van doon at sinalubong kami ng mga lalaki, speaking in a language that the three of us failed to comprehend, maliban kay Math na nakikipag-usap sa mga ito.

"Wait, you don't have your own vehicle to pick us?", Je asked nang niyaya na kami ni Math patungo sa isang shuttle van.

"We're not VIP's here kaya learn to commute. Later, you will be riding public utility vehicles and deal with people of Mindanao. You'll be surprised to see how friendly we are."

"Maliban sayo", Je murmured.

"May sinasabi ka ba Jeremy?"

"Wala, sabi ko parang nahihilo si Bestie. Okay ka lang ba Bestie?", he asked me. I slowly nod my head kahit medyo masama ang pakiramdam ko. I woke up at the wrong side of the bed and the few minutes flight didn't help in making me feel better.

Naramdaman kong may humawak sa siko ko at iginiya ako papasok sa shuttle van. Nang lingunin ko kung sino iyon ay nakita ko si Gray. He's carrying his backpack at may suot itong baseball cap, making him so manly in my eyes.

Uh, what did I say?

"May land trip pa? Malayo pa ba yung sa inyo Math?", I asked nang maayos na ang pwesto namin sa van. There are also other passengers with us at panay pa rin ang pagtatawag ng pasahero ng dispatcher ng van.

"Just an hour and a half", Math answered. "We're already in Region 10, Laguindingan to be exact. We have to pass through few municipalities of Misamis Oriental bago tayo makarating sa Iligan."

"Malayo pa nga. My God, I miss Porsche", wika ni Jeremy. None of us brought our pets with us dahil mas lalo lamang magiging hassle ang aming byahe kapag nagkataon.

May isa pang sumakay sa van kaya mas lalo akong napasiksik sa tabi ni Gray. I'm sitting beside him samantalang nasa likurang bahagi ng van naman si Jeremy at katabi si Math.

"Don't worry, I will be your tour guide later", Math said, natahimik lamang ito ng nagsimulang kolektahin ng dispatcher ang mga pamasahe namin at isinara ang pinto ng van bago iyon umalis ng airport. I chose to spend the few hours of travelling with my earphones tucked in my ears at ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata.

******

I felt someone tapped my cheeks kaya agad kong binuksan ang mga mata ko and I realized I was leaning on... Gray's shoulder! God, that was embarrassing! I hope he didn't mind.

"I don't want to wake you up but I guess we're already here", Gray said. Inayos ko ang magulong buhok ko at umupo ng tuwid. Kakababa lamang din nina Math at Jeremy. I hope hindi mangantyaw si Jeremy sa pagtulog ko sa balikat ni Gray. Knowing him, malamang kung anu-ano na naman ang isipin nito. He's our number one shipper after all.

"Welcome to the City of Majestic Waterfalls!", masiglang bati ni Math sa amin. "I'm Math Corazon and I will be your tour guide for the next 42 hours here in this City. First, let's ride a public jeepney going to the heart of the city."