The Sleuth Project ✓

Chapter 26: Morse-Coded Apology

"Yep." Sera nodded. "You know what you aren't ready for?"

Ann looked up to meet their gazes, confused. 

"What?"

Sera sighed, dropping her arms to her sides.

"To trust him again." She said quietly.

Napakurap ang dalaga, staring at her two friends before looking down at the table once more. Ann's lips then curved into a small, sad smile, knowing that both Queenie and Sera were unfortunately, right.

"Well, we won't be forcing you to make up with him of course." Queenie blurted out loud, sharing a glance with Sera who immediately nodded.

"Kung 'di tuloy ang imbestigasyon, edi hindi." Queenie shrugged, lowering the gas stove's temperature. 

"HOWEVER." The spectacled girl continued, reaching inside her pockets to grab something. "Because our enemies may still be watching our every move and may still be thinking that we might continue the case, here's a little prevention just in case something serious happens."

As she spoke, Queenie then showed the two girls two small, dark devices resting in the palms of her hands — dainty items that looked like sim cards to a normal passerby.

"Is this another spy bug?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Sera as she and Ann picked each of the microchip.

Queenie scoffed in aghast, suddenly reminded of when Enzo figured out their schemes. "Of course not! It's a tracker." She then explained, pinning one of the chips under Ann's collar.

"Teka, para saan?" Ann asked in suspicion as Queenie adjusted the device.

"Just in case we find ourselves in a dangerous or sticky situation, you can tap the tracker and it'll send an alarm to my phone," Pagpapaliwanag muli ni Queenie as she waved her cellphone in the air. "It will signify your call for help, and we can easily come to your rescue since the tracker automatically identifies your location."

Ann let out a chuckle. "Q, this is brilliant and I love the sincerity behind it, but I don't think we'll be chased by the culprits now that we're out of their hair."

"I know but please," Queenie begged, clasping her hands together. "We still never know for sure. In fact, the culprit might be more dangerous than we think. Personally, I think it's better to be safe than sorry."

"Okay, sige, pero pa'no ka?" Concerned na tanong ni Sera. "Do you have a tracker?? How can we know that you're safe too?"

"I, well," Queenie stuttered, finally turning off the gas of the stove. "I haven't thought about that."

"But don't worry, gagawa pa naman ako ng iba pang prototypes. I'll be giving the boys their own trackers as well, so I'll keep in mind to make one for myself."

"You should." Tango ni Ann before glancing towards Sera who seemed to be thinking what she was thinking, something that was beginning to turn into an elephant in the room. There was a pause, and for a moment, the dorm's festivity soon faded.

"I..." Ann started, before heaving a sigh.

"I've seen your locker, Queenie." The petite girl finally said in a soft, cautious manner; causing Queenie to groan and look away.

"My locker's fine." She said, her cheeks flushing as she waved her hands furiously, as if trying to change the topic.

"I've also heard talks around the campus for years now." Sera added quietly. "Queenie, if anyone's outright bullying you—"

"No, no, no," Queenie said quickly, flapping her hands. "No one's physically bullying m—"

"But they've been verbally and emotionally destroying you." Seryosong sambit ni Ann, which was enough to make sensitive Queenie's eyes water.