The Culprit (UNDER REVISION)

Case 034: Cybercrime 👮

                                   "Locate"

•••
Rain Daphne Eustaqiuo or Daph to her close friend is a 1st year college student in Sta. Clara University. She is a typical nerd—well if that's what you call a person wearing a thick glasses and always reading books, you can call her one—in their school. She's aloof, anti-social at bilang lang sa daliri ang kaibigan.

Unlike any other student who always go for a group, Daph wants to be alone—alone with her books.

Just like today, she's spending her vacant time in library reading her favorite novel 'Romeo and Juliet'. She already read this novel for how many times she don't even count but still she's never get tired re-reading this book. She want to have a love story like Romeo and Juliet minus the sad ending of course.

Her peace was interrupted by her friend, Thea, who's just came and sit in front of her.

"Daph bilis try this new app!" very excited na anito. Lumabas sandali ang librarian kaya walang sumuway sa ingay nito.

"Ano ba! 'Wag ka maingay, marinig ka ni Ma'am," suway niya sa kaibigan.

"Eh s'ya nga rin nakikichismis d'on sa labas kay sir Leo eh!" Thea cringed her nose and laughed. "So, eto na nga Daph... I want you to try this new app!" Thea showed her phone to Daphne but her attention was still on the book on her hand.

Isinara ni Thea ang librong hawak n'ya and made her look at her. "Pwede ba Daph, sa'kin ka muna tumingin?"

"Ano ba kasi 'yan!" inis na sagot niya. What she hate most is when someone interrupting her while reading books.

Thea and Daph have two different personality; If Daph is a nerd, Thea is her irony, a party goer and socialite. But nevertheless nagkasundo naman sila at naging magkaibigan.

"Daph, this is locate."

"Locate?"

"Yes Locate, dating app 'to Daph but unlike any other dating app mas maganda 'to kasi ang app mismo ang pipili ng magkaka-pair mo."

"I see," Daph commented but seems uninterested. Muli niyang kinuha ang libro na tiniklop ni Thea at binasa.

"Ano ba Daph napaka-kj mo! Basta gagawan kita ng account bahala ka!"

"Ano?!" this time Thea caught her attention. Binitiwan n'ya ang libro at tumingin kay Thea.

"Thea ha..please lang, hindi ko kailangan ng ka-date!" she widened her eyes as she gives Thea a warning.

"Nasa sa'yo naman 'yon kung makikipag-meet ka 'di ba? Just try it para naman makasabay ka sa uso at ma-entertain ka," nakalabi pang turan nito. "Tsaka kunwari ka pa, I know deep inside you're looking for your own Romeo, malay mo dito mo siya mahanap sa Locate."

Tama si Thea, yes she's a nerd at walang pakialam sa paligid, lalo na sa mga lalaki. But deep within her, she just waiting for someone. Someone who has the courage to court her. Kahit naman may makapal na sunglasses at baduy na pananamit, maganda si Daph at meron ding ilang mga nagpapalipad-hangin. Pero wala sa mga ito ang tipo niya at wala ni isa man sa mga ito ang seryosong humingi ng permiso na manligaw sa kanya.

"Ano natigilan ka? I know you're looking for your soulmate Daph. Pero dahil advance na ang technology, pwede mo na siyang mahanap. Ikaw na ang gumawa ng way para maghanap siya! bilis gagawan kita ha? gagamitin mo ha?"

"Ano ba kasi 'yan?" na-curious na rin na tanong dalaga.

"Eto lang Daph, magsa-sign up ka lang dito. Gagawa ka ng account, parang FB, ilalagay mo lang ang mga personal info mo, hobbies, etc. then ang locate ang maghahanap ng ka-match mo," paliwanag ni Thea, akala niya ay tapos na ito pero hindi pa pala. "Halimbawa nilagay mo dito, 18 years old, ka-same age mo din ang magiging partner mo or matanda lang sa'yo ng isa or dalawang taon. Nilagay mo interested in reading book, hahanap ang locate ng kapareho mo ng interest, ganoon lang. Sigurado naman na magugustuhan mo 'yong ka-pair mo kasi pareho kayo ng interest sa buhay."