DETECTIVE FILES. File 2 (COMPLETED)

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

"Math, hindi bagay sayo maging tour guide, mag-extend ka na lang ng furniture shop mo", bara ni Je sa kanya. I saw Gray smiled bago kami sumunod kay Math na pumara ng isang pulang jeepney.

We immediately settled inside at marami-rami rin ang sakay niyon. Jeremy got his wallet at naglabas ng isang 500 peso bill. "I'll take care of your fare guys", he said at akmang ibibigay na sa driver ang kanyang pera.

"Hep hep", pigil ni Math. "Barya lang sa umaga."

"Bakit, magkano ba ang pamasahe?"

"Seven pesos at dahil studyante tayo, we'll have a 5.50 fare."

"Bakit ang mura?", nanlalaki ang mga matang tanong ni Je. "Malapit lang ba yung sinasabi mong heart of the city?"

Math giggled. "Ganyan po dito kaya magbigay ka ng mas maliit pa na pera kesa dyan sa 500 mo."

Je frowned at her but he followed Math's instruction. He got a 50 peso bill at ibinigay iyon sa driver. "Mama, bayad po."

"Asa ni gikan?", the driver asked and Je looked at us with a puzzled expression.

"Anong sabi?", bulong niya sa amin.

"Sabi niya, saan daw yan galing."

"Ahh, okay", Je replied at muling bumaling sa driver. "Sa pitaka ko po."

"Ha?", the driver asked. Uh, mukhang hindi yata kami nagkakaintindihan dito. Math just laughed at us, mukhang siya lamang ang may ideya kung ano ang nangyayari.

Muling nagsalita ang driver. "Pagtarung ba, asa ni gikan?"

"Ano ulit ang sabi niya Math?", he whispered again to us.

"Seryoso na daw, saan daw yun galing", Math said and giggled.

"Fine. Galing po yan sa piggy bank ko. Binasag ko po kasi yun kagabi para sa extra allowance", sagot niya sa driver and this time Math laughed so hard.

"Wala raba ko gabinuang dong, asa ni gikan ba?", the driver asked and we still have no idea what he's talking about.

"Mayaaaaa! Interpreter ulit!"

"Hindi daw siya nagjojoke kaya umayos ka. Saan daw yun galing", Math translated.

"Sa piggy bank ko po talaga yan galing, Kuya, hindi ko po yan kinupit", Je said and it made Math laugh harder. Uh, what's really going on here? Kahit ang ilang mga pasahero na nandon ay natawa na rin. What's with them?

Si Math na ang sumagot sa driver. "Sa syudad na Kuya, gikan terminal."

"You will pay for this Maya! Ginagawa mo akong laughing stock", bulong ni Jeremy kay Math. I laughed when I realized what just happened. Je gave the wrong answer to the driver. Hindi nagtagal ay pinara na ni Math ang sasakyan at bumaba na kami.

"Welcome to the Lone District of Iligan City with the total area of 813.37 kilometer squared and a total population of 342,618", panimula ni Math.

"You memorized that figures?", Gray asked.

Umiling si Math sa kanya. "I have a review during the trip. And as your tour guide, let me give you some informations about this City. The city got its name from the Higaunon word ILIG which means to go downstream."

"What's Higaunon?", tanong ko kay Math.

"They are the natives of the city. The city is known as the Industrial center of the south because its economy is largely based on heavy industries. It produces hydroelectric power throughout the Mindanao region through the NaPoCor-"