DETECTIVE FILES. File 3 (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 57: SNAKE

Chapter 57: Snake

The Bible inside the safe deposit box is still a mystery to us. We tried looking on every pages to check kung may mga nakasulat ba doon na maaring makatulong but the Bible is new at mukhang hindi pa iyon nabubuklat ng may-ari. No single highlighted text inside.

Jeremy suggested a while ago to read the whole book of Genesis since the organization's name is after it. Abala kaming tatlo nina Gray at Math sa pagbabasa sa Bible app sa cellphone namin while Jeremy read the book.

Ilang beses ko nang nabasa ang Genesis. Mula pa sa Spiritual Class namin sa elementary hanggang sa mga Bible study na sinalihan ko, but I never found anything to fill the puzzle. Ilang oras na rin kaming nagbabasa nang seryosong itiniklop ni Jeremy ang Bibliya at hinarap kami.

"Tapos mo nang basahin, Jeremy?" tanong ni Math at tumango siya. "Did you find anything? Anong masasabi mo?"

"Isa lang ang masasabi ko," he said in a blank expression at isa-isang tiningnan kami.

"What is it?" I asked curiously.

Isang malaking buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan niya. "AMEN!"

Binato namin siya nang masamang tingin at binalewala niya lang iyon. Gray tossed his phone on the couch at minasahe ang ulo niya habang nag-iisip. "I think the best thing we can do is infiltrate the organization and see what that Bible can do."

"What if there is a recognition device there? At kailangang itong Bible na ito mismo ang iharap natin doon? Gaya ng nasa mga palabas! May face recognition program sila tapos ang Genesis naman ay may book recognition software!"

"Puns, masyado ka nang kinakain ng mga pinapanuod mo." Napaupo na lamang si Je matapos ngumiwi kay Gray. Napasulyap ako sa investigation board nila.

"How's this thing going?" I asked pointing at the board.

"No progress. Sa tingin mo, sino sa mga malalapit sa 'yo ang may alam sa lahat ng ginagawa mo? Maybe this girl pretending to be you is someone who is close to you."

Napaisip ako sa tanong ni Gray. "I spent most of my time with you so I guess..." Sinadya kong huwag ituloy ang sasabihin. Saglit na namayani ang katahimikan and it took seconds for Math to react.

"What? It's not me! Bakit ko naman gagawin 'yan?" She asked and looked away.

"No, it's not her," walang pag-aalinlangang wika ni Gray.

"Oo nga Bestie, hindi 'yan si Math."

Hindi ko maiwasang bahagyang malungkot. When it was me, they came to the point of doubting me. Ngayong si Math ay hindi man lamang sila nagduda ng kahit ilang porsiyento man lamang. But I didn't entertain such thought. Ayaw kong magkalamat ulit ang pagkakaibigan namin gayong kakabati lamang namin.

Tumunog ang cellphone ko at rumehistro roon ang numero ni Cooler. He's missing in action these past weeks but whenever life is tough, he is always there willing to lend me a shoulder to cry on. Naalala ko ang mga panahong galit ako kay Daddy. Cooler has been one of those who opened my eyes to see Dad's good side. And now that I am in dilemma, he's now calling.

I excused myself at lumabas ng SC office upang sagutin ang tawag niya. "Cooler."

"Nasa labas ako ng school niyo. Can you be a 'gentlelady' and meet me here?" he said playfully.

Napangiti ako at nilakad ang daan patungo sa gate. Mabuti na lamang at ngayon niya ako naisipang dalawin. I was not in Bridle these past days. Nang matanaw ko na siya ay pinatay ko ang tawag. He was standing beside his car. By simply standing there, he makes people turn their heads to him.