The Sleuth Project ✓

Chapter 23: The Sleuths' Dispute

As the three boys continued raging on and throwing insults at one another, Ann's phone rang for another time that afternoon.

"Sino nanaman 'to?!" Inis na sambit ng dalaga, angrily fiddling her phone using one hand when the device was vibrating nonstop.

As she opened the text message using her one hand, her other free hand still clutched Rein tightly by the arm; trying to prevent the boy from doing anything stupid.

Sakto naman na pagkabukas nito sa mensahe, ay automatic na nag-play ang isang audio recording — loud enough for everyone to hear.

"You've stained the Maccio name!" A familiar voice roared from Ann's phone, at agad na napatigil sa pagsigaw ang tatlong binata.

Ann's face creased, releasing Rein from her grasp as she racked her head, trying to remember why the voice sounded so familiar."Ano nang sasabihin patungkol sa pamilya natin?! Lagi mo nalang dinadagdagan ang mga problema ko! You are a disgra—"

"I only befriended Lobris to know her weaknesses!" A younger voice blurted out, and Ann's narrowed eyes widened in surprise. Agad na lumingon ang dalaga kay Rein na napaatras sa recording na kanilang pinapakinggan.

"Maccio, what the hell is this?!" Ann shouted, angry, betrayed tears starting to form at the corner of her eyes as she stared at Rein cold and hard. Her eyes were begging for answers as the recording continued playing.

"What?" The first voice — who sounded angrier and older, demanded.

"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." Rein's voice said through the recording, and Ann gripped her phone tightly until her knuckles turned white. 

"LOBRIS, IT'S NOT WHAT IT'S LIKE—" Rein shouted, trying to overpower the loud recording.

"In order to bring her down, I must first know her weaknesses — which I can only do by gaining her trust." Rein's voice from the recording murmured, his voice now low and menacing. "You told me to bring her down. And that's what I'm doing."

Ann gritted her teeth, trying not to let the tears fall down. But it did anyway, betraying her, the same way she felt now realizing that Rein had deceived her. 

"Well, well, well." The older voice — which Ann now realized was Rein's father — remarked in satisfaction. "You're not so useless after all."

At that moment, the recording then ended.

Hindi na maipinta ang mukha ni Ann as she closed her eyes, trying to calm down, trying to breathe through her noise.

"Let me expl—"

Hindi pinatapos ng dalaga ang sasabihin ng binata nang bigla itong sumugod at sinapak sapak ito sa dibdib.

"I shouldn't have trusted you!" Ann cried out, her fists shaking and her punches weak as she continuously hit Rein who was trying to explain.

But most of all, Ann felt like a stupid, dewey-eyed schoolgirl who let herself be double-crossed by someone she shouldn't have even trusted in the first place.

"You double-lying jerk!" She gasped in-between tears, hitting his chest as he was much taller than her. Rein grabbed her hands, trying to control and stop her from punching anymore.

"Lobris listen," He said sharply, catching her gaze. "Sinabi ko lang 'yun kas—"

"Tignan mo. 'Di lang pala kami yung may mali." Quinn spat out. "Even the great Rein Maccio is a flawed, manipulative—"