Detective Rivalry

Chapter 20: Friday the 13th (Closed)

Felicine

"Oh shoot!" Napahawak ako sa nanlalamig na kamay ni Eudayme. Tumingin naman siya sa akin at lumapit sa amin si Cali.

What I saw was white, and it was moving! The only conclusion to that was a ghost! I saw a ghost at this very house passed by the railings of the stairs in the second floor.

"B-bakit Felicine?" Nangiginig na tanong sa akin ni Eudayme. Naramdaman kong mas lalo pang nanlamig ang kamay niya.

"I-I saw a g-"

"A ghost? Haha!" Cali butt in. "There is no such thing as ghost Felicine. They only exist in your playful imagination."

"But I saw it with my own two eyes, Cali. If you don't want to believe, then don't."

"I truly won't believe."

"G-g-ghost? S-saw?" Napatingin kaming dalawa ni Cali sa lalaking nakakapit sa akin.

Bahagyang lumaki ang aking mga mata ng makita kong unti-unting nawawala ang kulay sa kanyang mukha. Mas lalo pang nanlamig ang kanyang mga kamay at humigpit ang kanyang kapit. Nanginginig na rin ang kanyang tuhod at malapit ng bumigay.

"Hoy! Eudayme, okay ka lang? Hala! Ang lamig mo na. Baka gusto mong umalis na?" I asked Eudayme and looked at our other companion. "Hoy! Ikaw naman Cali, why don't you help him? Hindi na siya humihinga oh!"

Cali laughed for a minute. "Why would I? He's my rival. A rival does not help each other." He said then crossed his arms. "And, he was the one who dragged us in here. He should've not entertained the idea in the first place if he's so scared."

Unbelievable! He really is taking the meaning of being a "rival" seriously.

"Cali! Eudayme might collapse any minute now!"

"Let him be. If he were to collapse, you aren't the one who'll lay down on that dusty floor, are you?"

"Cali!"

"Nope"

"Isa!"

"I know how to count."

"Dalawa!"

"Still no."

"Luca Linsly Valencia!"

"Fine! But don't ever call me by my whole name. You aren't my mother to call me that." Lumapit naman siya sa lalaking nakakapit sa akin.

Para siyang estatwa dahil sa putla ng kanyang kulay at dahil hindi siya gumagalaw sa kanyang puwesto.

"Hey Eudayme, do you want to taste this?" Cali folded his hand into a fist and showed it to Eudayme. Nakita kong lumaki ang mata ni Eudayme at napatayo ng tuwid. Bumalik na rin ang kulay sa kanyang mukha.

"Hehe~ no thanks. I love my handsome face just the way it is." He smiled and lifted his arms in the air.

"Good! Now let's go to the second floor to find the ghost that Felicine saw." Cali lead the way again.

I'm glad that Eudayme's okay now. I appreciate Cali's help though I didn't expected the way he helped him.

Paakyat na kami sa hagdan. Katabi ko si Eudayme pero hindi na siya nakakapit sa akin. Si Cali naman ay pinupunas ang kanyang daliri sa hawakan ng hagdan.

"Where did you saw the ghost?" Cali asked not turning to me.

"Sa kanan, papunta sa kaliwa." Sabi ko at tumingin sa kanan, pakaliwa.

"Let's head to the left side." He said then turned left as soon as he touched the second floor. "Maybe we'll meet the ghost that you saw."

I gulped as I heard his last line. Is it possible that we will have to face the ghost? I mean, its a ghost! It can past through walls, it's invisible and floats! So what is Cali talking about?