The Case of Adelaide (S1)

xi. playing with fire

- doing something dangerous.

11

Umaandar na ang kalesa, sumisilip ang kada ilaw ng street light na madadaanan namin sa bintana.

The air feels thick, it's suffocating.

I'm staring at the man sitting in front of me, wearing a white long sleeves shirt and black frock coat, paired with black pants and shoes. Sitting straight, tips of his fingers from both hands are touching each other. His silver eyes shines every times the light from the window passes.

"Good evening, Sherlock," pagbati ko, wala akong ekspresyon. "I'm very surprised to see you."

Kapwa niya ay maayos din akong nakaupo, magkapatong ang dalawang kamay sa hita at deretso ang likod.

"Good evening, Lady Harlotte. I apologize for the late notice," he answered. "Are you doing well?"

"Yes," maikli kong sagot. I'm trying to cut our conversation short. I just stared at him as he stared back.

"Hmm, that's great to hear. How about your memories?" he asked again. Pasimpleng naningkit ang mga mata ko.

"I still don't remember anything."

"That's unfortunate to hear. . ." Napasandal sa upuan si Sherlock, at pinasok ang isang kamay sa loob ng coat niya. "I think you're not resting well."

Tumalim ang tingin ko sa kaniya. "I am, Sherlock. I spent most of my time resting."

"Oh, then I assume that you rested well at the bar earlier."

I maintained my composure on the outside. Even though, inside, I'm starting to panic.

Shit. . . he knew?

I remained expressionless, trying to show a serious face. "I have no idea what you're talking about," pagmamaang-maangan ko.

Hindi sumagot ang kausap ko, bagkus ay nilabas na niya ang kamay niya sa kaniyang coat na meron ng hawak-hawak. Nilahad niya 'to sa 'kin.

"Isn't this yours, Lady Harlotte?" ani Sherlock. "The emerald suits your green dress and hat."

As if there's a glass in front of me that shattered, I can hear the glass breaking. In front of me is none other the choker I left to the bartender as a payment.

My face is still the same, but I'm screaming inside, fire all over my head.

That bartender! He snitched me!

"The bartender didn't say anything," muling sambit ni Sherlock. Para bang nababasa niya ang nasa isip ko. Umangat ang tingin ko sa kaniya, para akong natutusok sa tingin niya sa 'kin.

"I figured it out. It's just that, when I came there, there's a glass of water on the table." I started imagining his words. "Drinking a glass of water in a pub, it's either you're just thirsty, or you went there not for a drink."

"And it's the latter."

Tumaas ang kanan kong kilay. "How can you say that?"

"Because the bartender. . . is cleaning." He has a cold expression, not breaking our eye contact. "He had pruny fingers, he has been wiping for quite a while. If someone went there as a customer, he'll be preparing drinks. But instead, he's not busy doing that, he's cleaning. Let's say he just finished preparing a drink, that's why he's cleaning. But he didn't clean the glass of water right away, it only means that the person it's for is still inside the tub. When I asked him questions, he answered without hearing them completely. It shows that he knows the question already—or, he's already been asked."