DETECTIVE FILES. File 1 (Published under PSICOM)

CHAPTER 8: MR. ARMAN BRIDLE

Pumunta agad kami ni Gray sa conference room. I wonder who wants to talk to us. The librarian? Miss Mendez? Oh, whoever! Nang makarating kami sa conference room, there was a man sitting on a swivel chair. He looks more than 50 years old ngunit masasabing magandang lalaki ito noong kabataan niya. Some of his hairs are grey, at abuhin naman ang kulay ng mga mata nito. He's wearing a corporate suit. He looks so familiar. I think I saw him somewhere ngunit hindi ko na maalala kung saan.

"So, now I meet the two detectives of Bridle High," wika nito. Lumapit siya sa amin and shake our hands. "I am Mr. Arman Bridle."

I froze on my track. Mr. Arman Bridle is the owner of the school! Hindi siya masyadong nagpapakita dito sa school, not even to the officials. He lives in London and Bridle High is just one of his institutions. He's a very rich man ngunit wala itong asawa at anak because he devotes his life in making charities and foundations.

Nalaman ko lahat ng iyon mula sa history of Bridle. Hindi masyadong nagpapakita sa mga tao si Mr. Arman that's why there's only one photo of him at black and white pa iyon na makikita sa Bridle High Handbook. I can't believe he showed himself to us! Kaya pala he looks so familiar, I saw him from the handbook!

"It's nice to meet you sir," si Gray ang unang nakabawi sa pagkabigla namin. "I'm Gray Ivan Silvan."

"A-ako rin po sir," wika ko naman. "Amber Sison."

"So shall we have a seat?" He guided us towards the chairs. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi parin talaga ako makapaniwala na nandito siya at nagpakita sa amin. Hello? We're just ordinary students! Minsan nga lamang siya magpakita kahit sa mga board of directors ng Bridle eh.

"The truth is I am the one who schemed the lost of the first edition of The Iliad," nakangiting wika niya.

"Kayo po? And you're also the one who made that riddle?"

"Ah, yes. I'm a fan of mystery and detective stories. I love Sherlock Holmes so much that's why I made a riddle and whoever finds that book shall receive a reward from me. Ang totoo niyan ay palagi akong gumagawa ng mga ganitong scheme kapag umuuwi ako dito sa Pilipinas. And it's been 6 years nang huli akong makauwi," wika niya. 6 years? Wala pa ako dito nung huli niyang dalaw.

"I also made a scheme like this before, too bad, no one was able to crack that code back then kaya natutuwa ako na may nakagawa na ngayon," nakangiti nitong wika. "That's why I am giving you a reward." Oh, just by seeing him is a reward already ngunit nacurious pa rin ako sa sinasabi nitong reward. "What do you want?"

"Naku, wag na sir. Meeting you is already considered a great privilege," wika ni Gray.

"No, no, no. I have to give you a reward, sige ako na lang ang mag-iisip," he paused for a while at nag-isip. "You want to go to London?" Nanlaki ang mata namin ni Gray.

Who doesn't want to go to London? It's in my bucketlist! I want to visit Sherlock Holmes' museum. Nais ko ring magpunta sa Hyde Park where Holmes and Watson used to stroll. Who doesn't want to visit Buckingham Palace? Oh, definitely not me! Gustong-gusto kong makapunta ng London but I don't think now is the perfect time.

"We'd love to, Sir ngunit may klase po. We cannot just leave behind our studies," wika ko. Sayang ang opportunity ngunit a day or two isn't enough.

"I see. Ah, not only smart students but responsible as well. I admire the two of you. Parang nakikita ko ang sarili ko sa inyo. Maybe I'll arrange your trip to London soon but not now. At isa pa, hindi kayo mag-eenjoy kung sa weekend lang kaya we'll think of another."

"Really sir, you don't have to bother," wika ko. Nakakahiya naman dito.

"Ah! I know it! This weekend, you will stay in my resthouse at my private island! The view is great there. Mag-eenjoy talaga kayo. Don't worry. May tourist island na katabi ang islang nabili ko kaya hindi kayo mabo-bore. You can enjoy everything there at my expense. Even for souvenirs, ako na ang bahala. And I won't take no for an answer," nakangiting wika nito. Is he really serious?