Loud noises from the varsity players on the court are the main thing the moment we sat on one of the benches of the gymnasium. Dahil wala kaming office, well—mas maganda yatang sabihin na dahil walang budget ang University para sa offices ng different clubs, dito kami laging nag-mi-meeting. We like it here, tahimik kasi kapag wala ang mga varsity players. Minalas lang talaga kami ngayon.
"So, how are we going to find this Franco Balagtas?" I yawned. Puyat na puyat ako sa ginawa namin kaninang madaling araw. Wala namang kwenta.
"I think, we need to check his student records."
"How?" Codi asked the same question that I am about to mumble.
"I don't know, maybe sa university portal? Nandoon lang naman kasi lahat ng records natin, right?"
I knitted my brows. "Pero, 'di ba from 1994 pa si Franco? The portal was made around 2010 na yata. So, that might be an impossible idea."
But Maru was so quick to disregard my words. "But as per Sir Ong, Franco Balagtas graduated from the course Agricultural Economics. May thesis sila na pwede nating ma-search from the portal."
"And?" Codi seems buffled. One moment, naaawa na ako sa kanya kasi halatang hindi niya talaga naiintindihan ang pinaguusapan namin ni Maru.
"Bawat thesis ay may biography, doon nakalagay lahat ng personal information about the authors. Birthday. Place of birth. Parents. Siblings. House numbers. Nandoon lahat. Malalaman natin kung saan siya nakatira through his thesis from the library."
I smiled.
Fuck this boy. He is so fucking genius.
"Talino ko, 'di ba?" He proudly said.
"Oo, pa-kiss nga!" Ang sambit naman ni Codi kaya't napatingin kami ni Maru sa kanya.
"Oh?" He blinked. "J-Joke lang. Bawal maging clown?"
Our malicious stare never changed any single bit. That was the reason of his sudden poker face. "Alam niyo, kung puro kagaguhan lang naman ang iisipin ninyo, magpunta na lang tayo sa library! Anak ng tsinelas kayo!"
Matapos ay nag-walk out na siya. Saktong pagbaba naman niya sa bench ay biglang may tumamang bola ng bastketball sa mismong noo niya. Halos maalog ang utak niya dahil doon.
Kung ano ang ginawang pag-sorry ng mga varsity players ay gan'on rin naman ang lakas ng paghalakhak namin ni Maru. We are laughing so hard as if there's no tomorrow. Na parang hindi niya kami kaibigan kung makatawa nang wagas.
"Putangina 'tol, kaibigan natin 'yan!" Maluha-luhang tumawa si Maru. "Proud akong may kaibigan akong clown!"
I can't help but to just laugh when Maru and I started to follow Codi towards the library. Almost prepare for the endless scowl that our friend might reward us after what we did.
* * *
It was quiet on the library when we entered. Sa sobrang tahimik, gusto ko nang hubarin ang sapatos ko at magyapak na lang. Maingay kasi ang ginagawang tunog ng leather black shoes ko sa tuwing hahakbang ako.
"Ako nang bahala," Maru told us when we reached the literature section of the library. Dito kasi nakalagay lahat ng computers. Iyon ang gagamitin namin upang i-search ang thesis ni Franco sa library.
"Franco Balagtas," he nonchalantly mumbled as he typed it on the portal.
Matapos ay maraming listahan ang lumabas. Maru started to scroll down. He even had to look at the screen closer as if it will make his job easier.
But for no reasons, it actually worked.
"There it is! I told you guys, I fucking told you—"
"Ssh!" The ugly librarian scowled at us.
"Oops, sorry." Maru winced before his focus went back to the portal. Ngayon ay pabulong na siyang nagsasalita, "heto na talaga, guys. I found it. I found him."
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FOR THE AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS OF THE CENTRAL LUZON - Balagtas, F. & Cuenco, K. (1994)
"Are you really sure that's him?" I asked. Just being realistic. Pwede kasing maging Faye Balagtas 'yan or whatsoever.
"It's for us to find out, bro." Maru said as he copied the library number of the thesis on a piece of paper.
Right after that, we directed our way towards the third floor. Doon makikita lahat ng thesis ng previous students. It's more of a grave for the product of the seniors' sleepless nights rather than just a building floor.
Dahil ideya niya naman ito, hinayaan naming si Maru ang humiram ng thesis. Naupo na kami ni Codi doon sa bakanteng upuan, sa bandang dulo. Baka kasi maunahan pa kami. Puno kasi ng mga seniors ang floor na ito lagi, swerte nga kami at may bakanteng upuan pa. Lagi kasi talagang sold out ang seats dito.
One moment after, Maru sat with us. Ngiting-ngiti ang gago habang hawak-hawak ang thesis na may puting cover.
"Look," he showed us the front of the thesis and I blinked.
AUTHORS:
FRANCO D. BALAGTAS
KARINA B. CUENCO
Oh, that's really him . . .
Wala na kaming hinintay pa. I pushed Maru to just open the book, find the fucking biography, and solve this paranormal case as soon as possible.
Dahil sa kalumaan ay brown na ang papel ng thesis. May parte na rin ito na punit na. May mga sandali nga na gusto kong sabihan si Maru na mag-ingat sa pagbuklat. Ramdam ko kasing ano mang oras, mapupunit ito.
"Heto na guys," Maru pointed his forefinger towards that part where the biographical data of the authors can be seen.
The author, Franco D. Balagtas was born of the 28th of July 1974. He is currently residing at Barangay Buenavista, General Trias, Cavite. He is the youngest child of Pepito K. Balagtas and Virgilia D. Balagtas and his older brother is Florencio Balagtas.
"Fuck . . ." I mumbled.
"Barangay Buenavista . . ." Codi started, "sa inyo 'to, 'di ba?"
I only nod slowly.
"You know what? Let's go." Sinarado ni Maru ang thesis. Matapos ay tumayo na siya.
"Saan?" Sabay naman naming sagot ni Codi. Pareho kaming nagtaka. Hindi pa naman uwian. At saka may klase pa ako after an hour.
Niyayaya niya ba kaming mag-cutting?
Oh, I love that.
"Sa Barangay Buenavista," Maru smiled at me, "I am fucking curious. We have to go now."
It seems to me that he is excited just like me. This case is getting intriguing for me. Pakiramdaman ko, may lalim ang kasong ito. May dahilan kung bakit nagpaparamdam si Franco.
Kung ano iyon?
Mukhang malapit na naming malaman.
"Pero may klase pa ako—" Codi protested.
"Fuck that class, let's just go." Maru cut him off.
He has this leader aura on him. Kaya niya kaming mapasunod sa hindi malamang dahilan. Kaya wala nang nagawa pa si Codi nang tumayo na rin ako. He is still prostesting up until we went outside of the library. Pero wala na talaga siyang nagawa nang makapasok na kami sa sasakyan ni Maru.
Right now, we are about to direct our way towards the place that could lead us to solving the paranormal case of Franco Balagtas. Our hopes are paramount. We are only eyeing for the success of this intriguing case. We can do it. We will do it because we can never be called The Paranormal Trio just for fucking nothing . . .