WHOSE DEDUCTION SHOW?

6: DEDUCTION SHOWDOWN (SECOND MATCH)

“Some of them look genuine,” Al commented, ignoring Loki’s instruction by still smiling at the other candidates as we took our seats. “Let’s try to make friends instead of enemies by the end of this show.”

“But we shouldn’t be too attached, ha?” Jamie reminded as she chose the seat beside Loki. “Baka dahil sa pagiging friendly natin, makalimutan na nating kalaban sila at maging careless tayo sa performance natin.”

“I doubt these people went here to make friends,” Loki scoffed. “They are out here for blood. They want the national recognition and that sweet prize money.”

To my surprise—and Jamie’s—pumasok ang isang lalaking artistahin ang mukha at nakasuot ng light blue na blazer. I can’t be mistaken! That’s Damian Domingo, one of the popular young hosts of our time!

“Good day, detectives! I’m Damian, the game master for this season of Whose Deduction Show!” he greeted as he stood at the center of the room. May dala-dala siyang fish bowl na may lamang mga papel. “Alam kong excited na kayong simulan ang tagisan ng talino kaya simulan na natin sa pagpili ng mga makakaharap n’yo. One volunteer per team, please?”

Para sa QED Club, si Jamie na ang nag-volunteer at pumunta sa gitna. Medyo na-starstruck yata siya nang makita sa malapitan ang host. Nang makompleto na ang apat na representative bawat team, isa-isa silang bumunot ng mga nakatuping papel. Jamie showed us a piece of paper with ‘number 2’ written on it.

“Makakalaban natin ang Detec-team sa second match,” anunsyo ni Jamie pagbalik niya sa kanyang upuan. “Not to brag, but I think we can beat them. Mabuti nga’t hindi ‘yong Triumvirate ang nakabunot ng isa pang number 2.”

“Triumvirate?” Loki echoed. “What, are we gonna face off with Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus?”

“Akala ko ba dapat apat ang member ng bawat team?” nagtatakang tanong ko naman. ‘Yon kasi ang nakasulat sa rules na naka-attach sa email ng executive producer. That’s also the same mechanics followed in the American version. “They call themselves Triumvirate which states that they are only three. Unless the word has changed its definition?”

“They call themselves Detective Triumvirate Plus One,” Jamie recalled. “I don’t know why they didn’t choose a more appropriate term for their team. But what’s more important is the threat that they pose sa atin.”

“How can you say that they are a threat?” Al asked, squinting his eyes. Either our teammate was exaggerating or she saw something in them.

“Let’s just say na I can sense something whenever I look at people.” Jamie smiled. “Iba ang aura na ine-emit nila kumpara doon sa ibang contestants.”

“If they are as good as you think they are, we will surely meet them in the next round,” sabi ni Loki. “If they get eliminated in the first one, then you are wrong.”

“Huwag muna nating isipin kung sino ang makakaharap natin sa next round,” I reminded them. Haven’t they heard the phrase that we shouldn’t count our chickens before they hatch? “We have to win this elimination match first. Para saan pa ang pagpaplano natin kung matatalo rin tayo?”

“Don’t worry, Lorie.” Jamie sounded confident. “I’m eighty percent sure na matatalo natin ang Detec-team na ‘yan. Pangalan pa lang, pantalunan na. We’re gonna wipe the floor with them.”

“You’re only eighty percent sure?” Al repeated. “How about the twenty percent? That’s still a huge percentage that might spell doom for us.”

“Don’t think too much about the odds!” Jamie retorted. “There’s four out of five chances that we will win this round. Let’s focus on that, shall we?”