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Futhark. Send Edward Dace's contact details. Need urgent assistance.
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Edward Dace.
28. August.
Saturday, 3:00 pm.
#23 Tamarisk Street.
Lukas Residences.
SIR ARTHUR LOCKED THE DOOR BEHIND HIM. He led us to their home library, for temporary refuge. I bet he, too, didn't know where to go.
I was confused, shocked, flummoxed, scared, synonyms...
I didn't know what to do, I didn't know what to think. I wanted to hit a reboot button somewhere in my brain and wake up August 13, walk out of the library even before I could meet Futhark, Joyeuse, and Laevateinn.
Dave Casedale Drew, Luciano Lukas called me.
Dave Casedale Drew.
I repeated the name in my head over and over again, trying to make sense out of it. It didn't make any sense, but it did feel... something. I have been Edward Dace ever since I could remember, but I knew I was Dave Casedale Drew. It was like a distant memory.
Futhark made me sit down for a while, beside the shelves. We were both shaking, but Futhark seemed to be shaking for a different reason. I gazed at my shoes, and the sound of my heart pounding in my ears became the soundtrack of this suspense.
If Futhark wasn't there earlier...
I imagined introducing myself. I'm Dave Casedale Drew.
I chuckled hopelessly.
Who is this bastard Dave Casedale Drew even?
I am and forever will be Edward Dace.
Let's forget this Dave Casedale Drew.
Sir Arthur paced the room and checked the corridor outside every few minutes. When he gave up, he sat heavily on the chair across mine and glared at his phone.
I didn't realise that Futhark and I were staring at him until he spoke, without facing us, "I should apologise, Edward Dace."
"Dave," I said quietly, numb to my own actions. I knew I was talking, but somehow it felt surreal, like an out-of-body sensation. "My real name is Dave Casedale Drew."
Sir Arthur glanced at me and nodded weakly. "Of course... You're Dave. Father used to speak fondly of your feats."
"Are you trying to convince me that he's not a monster?" I accidentally raised my voice. I had to, or it'll crack and I'll...
I had to be angry to feel less vulnerable.
"He's the monster I was trying to forget."
Sir Arthur gave me a sympathetic stare. The expression seemed sincere, almost agreeing to me, but he looked hesitant and in doubt. He muttered with a gentle smile, "He might be a monster but he's still my father."
"Bakit gusto mo s'yang kalimutan?" Futhark asked. With the sudden transition from Sir Arthur's cold wispy voice to Futhark's whole, warm, and calming voice, I was brought back to reality.
"Dahil—" My voice cracked.
Sir Arthur sighed and decided to take it from there. "We have had Dave here since he was born until he was six or seven. Father wasn't very fond of kids—it's actually surprising he managed to create three—but he felt responsible for Dave and his mother."
Futhark gasped. "K-Kapatid n'yo po si Edward?"
"Don't be absurd, Futhark. None of Dave's physique resembles a Lukas's."
Mapanglait kayong mga Lukas, oo. Dinaraan n'yo lang sa malamig at monotone n'yong boses, mga hinayupak kayo.
Sir Arthur shook his head. "Father wasn't the most gentle and calm person, you see, and Dave was a pretty... energetic child. Father had a rather strict and violent way of disciplining children."
"Ibig sabihin magkakasama po kayong lumaki, kasama si Lae?"
"No. Laevateinn and I were born and raised in Germany, except when Laevateinn turned one, I was sent here. And that's how I became witness to all the beatings and the violent, hurtful words." Sir Arthur cleared his throat. "The last straw for Melissa was when father decided to kick them out of the house."
I pursed my lips and clenched my fists.
"Melissa begged to stay, but father got angry and you know how awful he can be. Melissa tried to fight back, failed, and... and there you go."
Why would Melissa beg to stay in such an abusive household?
"Kaya ba nakalimutan ni Edward ang nangyari? Because it's too traumatic, so he repressed the memory? Pero sabi n'yo po "fond" ang papa n'yo sa mga nagagawa ni Edward, bakit parang isang araw biglang nagkagano'n?"
Sir Arthur heaved a heavy sigh. "I have no idea."
Futhark furrowed his brows.
Sir Arthur placed his hand on my shoulder. It was warm. I thought like his voice, actions, and personality, his hand would be cold. "For six years, all I did was watch. I'm sorry for my father. He has tormented you and your mother enough."
I willed myself to smile at him. "At least now I know I can trust four Lukases out of five."
He smiled back a little. "Lance and I will protect you. You won't be hurt anymore."
I looked down and tightened my grip on my sleeves. I swallowed the painful lump in my throat before I croaked a dry, "Right, thanks."
Futhark patted my head and grinned.
"Oh, Futhark." I blinked as I recalled something, at the same time to change the subject. I'd honestly do anything to change the subject. "Sino si Henrik Whitdur? Ikaw ba 'yung tinutukoy na anak ni Henrik Whitdur?"
Futhark's face broke into a vacant smile, almost as if the smile was a reflex, but I noticed his eyebrow quirking and his eyes widening for a split-second. He laughed lightly and he replied, "Mm-hmm. Henrik Whitdur. I'm half-Norwegian. Hindi naman n'ya ako kinilala so... I'm Kiel Alf Gomez, not Kiel Alf Whitdur."
Half-Norwegian? Sinasabi na nga ba't tatlong language ang alam ni Madam Rosa.
"Narinig ko na ang pangalang 'yon."
"Ahaha."
Knock, knock, knock.
Three restrained knocks on the door. I swallowed and squeezed further into my seat. Futhark tensed, but Sir Arthur said, "That's Lance. That's how he knocks."
Futhark and I sighed in relief whilst Sir Arthur opened the door. Sir Lance was finally here, we're safe.
I had a sudden and brief glimpse of a flashback. It was Luciano Lukas cursing at Sir Lance, "Heimdall, you!"
Why did Luciano call Sir Lance, Heimdall?
"You two alright?" Sir Lance asked us, after quickly studying Sir Arthur from head to toe. Medyo galit yata si Sir Lance kay Sir Arthur, pero sinisigurado pa rin n'yang ayos lang ito at hindi masyadong nasaktan.
Futhark nodded, but his face was creased with worry.
All my awkwardness and the dwindling fear accumulated into a storm cloud inside my stomach. I blurted out, "B-Bakit po kayo tinawag na Heimdall?"
I caught everyone in the room in surprise. Sir Lance's eyes widened for a second, and then he laughed and patted my head.
"Nakaharap mo kanina si Luciano at 'yan ang inaalala mo ngayon?" he asked whilst chuckling and tousling my hair. "I was actually worried you might crumble and have a nervous breakdown and the first thing you say, after everything you've been through today, bakit ako tinawag na Heimdall. Your curiosity is remarkable."
I pursed my lips and turned red from shame.
Sir Lance placed his hand on my shoulder, like how Sir Arthur did, and said, "You didn't cry one bit. You're stronger than I thought, Edward Dace. I'm proud of you."
I slowly turned to Futhark and smiled sheepishly. Futhark beamed warmly at me in return. He's proud of me too.
Sir Arthur quietly told Sir Lance, "Please tell me you didn't beat my father to death."
Sir Lance, who's still facing Futhark and me, ignored Sir Arthur and said, "So you've heard how Professor Lukas's father called me Heimdall."
He's mad at Sir Arthur.
But was he, really?
"Codename n'yo po ba 'yon kung saan...?" Futhark asked, smiling sympathetically at Sir Arthur. I figured that was him giving the latter his condolences.
"That's my real name," Sir Lance replied. There was a gush of cold wind, and I remembered how terrifying he sounded when he fought Luciano Lukas. "As a baby, I was found at a beach by a person who lives in a world of his own. He called me Heimdall. Lance Ducere is a cover name."
"D-Does Joyeuse know or i-is it top secret?" I stammered.
"It's not, but don't tell him easily. Make him beg for it."
"Okay lang po ba na alam namin ang tunay n'yong pangalan?" Futhark asked.
Sir Lance grinned. "Do names even matter?"
Parang kagaya ng sinabi ni Laevateinn.
Laevateinn.
"Fu!" I called, jumping. "Nandito si Lae!"
"I would be surprised if he wasn't, he lives here," Sir Lance muttered, before walking towards the farthest corner of the room to have a word with Sir Arthur. May mapagagalitan.
Futhark and I faced the other way to avoid eavesdropping as respect, and went on with our own conversation. I said, "Si Lae 'yong sinusundan ko kanina kaya ako napunta rito. May binulong s'yang garden."
Futhark furrowed his brows. "Ibig sabihin nandito lang 'yung kapatid nila sa bahay nila?"
I nodded. We were in a brief moment of pensive silence before Sir Lance called. "Edward, Gomez, let's get you home."
••• GODSFORRENT •••
LAEVATEINN WAS SITTING at their lawn when we got there. He was near a bush of forget-me-nots in full blossom, and he looked rather more at home. Kulang na lang ng mga ligaw na hayop at dagdag na puno ay nasa kanyang natural habitat na si Laevateinn.
"Lae!" tawag ni Futhark. Tumakbo kami palapit sa kanya, habang 'yung dalawang tatay namin sa likod (Sir Lance at Sir Arthur) ay pinanonood kami habang naglalakad.
Laevateinn raised his hand, so we stopped, and he covered his eyes, calling loudly (yet, still, monotonously), "When I cover my eyes, I see black; when I look down, I see green; when I look up, I see blue; when I look beside me, I see..."
A giggle came from the forget-me-not bushes, then this little blonde girl exactly as Sir Arthur described appeared from behind a tree and scurried towards Laevateinn. She's clutching a voodoo do—why was she clutching a voodoo doll?!
She squealed, "Me!" before climbing Laevateinn's back and giggling more.
Laevateinn smiled fondly at her (I didn't think he was physiologically capable of smiling though) and he said, "I see you." He carried the little Goth girl in his arms and introduced her to us. "This is Maria. She is my little sister. Maria, das sind meine Freunde aus Schule: Futhark und kleiner Edward. Say hallo."
Maria hopped from Laevateinn's arms and skipped in front of us. She decided Futhark was the best to greet first, and she also decided the best thing to do when greeting a 5'8" half-Norwegian was to stare at him intently and turn pink.
Futhark knelt in front of her and smiled. "Hello, Maria."
Maria covered her face with her voodoo doll and squeaked, "G-Geil."
NO.
I must've been making quite a face because Laevateinn turned to me and scowled, saying, "She meant awesome."
"I know German," I muttered back, squinting at him.
Futhark patted Maria's head and the innocent little girl giggled before turning to me. I didn't need to crouch down (because I enjoy looking down at people) so I just smiled at her and waved my hand. "Hallo."
She scowled.
Tumaas ang kilay ko. 3 out of 5 na Lukas lang pala ang pwede kong pagkatiwalaan.
She muttered, "Leprechaun. Rich but weak dwarves."
Nagtakip ka pa ng manika, hinayupak ka, akala mo hindi ko maririnig?
"Edward, bata lang 'yan." Hinila ako ni Futhark palayo kay Maria, kahit wala naman akong balak pumatol.
"She called me a leprechaun!"
"Edward Dace," tawag ni Laevateinn. Akala ko ipagtatanggol n'ya ang kapatid n'yang masamang elemento. "Thank you for helping me find Maria. You are a good friend."
I frowned at him. "Don't mention it."
"Paano n'yo nalamang nandito si Maria?" Futhark asked Laevateinn.
Laevateinn pointed at the forget-me-nots. "The blue flowers. We often play here with mutti."
Lumapit si Sir Arthur kay Maria at nagtanong, "Did you miss mother?"
Maria nodded and hid behind Laevateinn. "I miss mutti."
"Same," I murmured unconsciously.
Naglingunan silang lahat sa 'kin, akala ko nasa The Voice ako. Napailing ako't nagpalusot, "M-May gagawin pa po akong narratives, mauuna na po akong umuwi, ciao!"
At nagtatakbo na ako palayo, papunta sa mapunong parte ng garden, paliko sa may arko ng bougainvillea, at palabas ng property... wow. Perkele, kabisado ko pa.
At wow number two, hindi sila nag-renovate sa loob ng sampung taon. Nandito pa rin 'yung lumang gate na inaakyat ko—I mean nope.
Nope, nope.
Just nope.
Nope, non, nein, nej, nopity nope.
Just forget you knew these things, Edward Dace.
••• GODSFORRENT •••
Teashop.
"This is awesome, we're like besties hanging out!" Nicholas James shouted amidst the noise of the arcade game. He was flailing the alien gun controller like crazy and had managed to die three times during the first three-minutes of our game.
"We're not besties and we're not hanging out!" I yelled back, trying to play for two.
"But we're playing an arcade game—"
I succeeded in sneaking a slap on the back of his head. "I'm playing an arcade game. You're being stupid, stupid."
He groaned. "I don't understand the game."
"Just help me and shoot, you idiot!"
Game over.
He chuckled nervously. I sighed and narrowed my eyes at him. "I said shoot. The aliens were right in front of you. How can you be so stupid?"
His frown worsened. "Did you call me here to insult me?"
I sat back at our booth and stirred my tea. "I called you to ask about the coverage of the data in your flashdrive. You just happened to be also stupid."
He plopped on the seat across mine and bounced in excitement. "You're leaving Seven-Minute Semblance?"
"Seven-Minute Semblance is important to me, but I also want to know... if... if that flashdrive has records of my mother... or my uhh, my father?"
His face darkened and he was without any word for a moment. I actually got worried. "Have you met Luciano Lukas?"
Tumawa ako para mawala ang nagbabadyang sakit ng tiyan. "Honestly? Just this morning."
His eyes widened for a split second before he sprang to his feet and said, "Let's hang out next time, bestie, I have to go, ciao!"
He was set to run, but hopped back to add, "Dave Casedale Drew is not an awful name, you know, Dave."
"Don't call me Dave," I hissed.
He grinned and hurried out of the tea shop.
Of course it's not an awful name. That's my name.
29. August.
Sunday, 10:00 am.
372A High Street.
AKALA KO AY NANANAGINIP LANG AKO noong nagising ako't nasa harap ko si Macey. Imagine waking up to a princess staring at you whilst another prince stood by the—
I sat bolt upright and stifled a scream. I spluttered, "Futhark! Macey! Anong ginagawa n'yo rito?!"
Napaatras din si Macey at nagulat. "T-Tanghali na kasi, grabe s'ya. Dinalhan ka namin ni Futhark ng agahan kaso ang tagal mong gumising, katok kami nang katok tapos ang init sa labas, kanina pa kaming 8:30 dito."
Futhark stepped forward and apologised, "Sorry, Ed, naawa kasi ako kay Macey kasi kanina pa kami nakatambay sa labas kaya ginamit ko na 'yung susi na binigay mo."
I rubbed my eyes. "What, why?"
"Ang payat mo kasiii." Tumitinis ang boses ni Macey sa bawat bigkas. "Naisip namin ni Futhark na pakainin ka ng healthy na agahan kasi siguradong sa 7-Eleven ka na naman kakain."
"Bakit nag-abala pa kayo?" I groaned. "I mean thank you, pero dapat hindi na kayo nag-abala."
Nilatag ni Futhark ang aming legendary picnic blanket at isa-isa n'yang nilabas ang mga pang-nanay n'yang tupperware. Galing yata ng piyestahan ang houseboy na 'to.
"May mga natira na lumpiang shanghai sa function namin kahapon," Macey said, taking the seat beside Futhark. "Tapos may natira din na curry, orange chicken, at crème flambé... Hindi ko alam kung bakit namin naisip na pang-agahan ang bitbit namin."
"Gagawa rin kasi tayo ng project sa subject ni Sir Lance?" Futhark asked in uncertainty. "Nagdala kami ni Macey ng sewing kit at mga tela. Saka anong oras na, magtatanghalian na rin."
Naghain na si Macey at naglabas ng pinggan, kutsara't tinidor. Ready na silang kumain. Sila yata ang totoong nagugutom. Tumayo ako at nag-inat. "Pa'no pala kung nakahubad ako tapos bigla kayong pumasok?" biro ko.
Tumawa 'yung dalawa. Umiling si Futhark, "Nagtrabaho na ako dati sa ampunan at sa home for the aged kaya wala na sa 'kin 'yon. Bata, matanda pinapaliguan ko."
Si Macey naman may kasama pang kumpas ng kamay ang pagtawa, "Magkasabay nga tayong maligo noong bata tayo tapos ngayon ka pa mahihiya sa 'kin."
What kind of fucking friendzone is this?
"Maghilamos ka na ng mukha tapos kumain na tayo," Futhark said.
NASA PRESENSYA AKO NG DALAWANG NANAY!?
Naghilamos ako sandali at kaagad na bumalik sa kwarto. Naabutan kong nagkukwentuhan 'yung dalawa, parang magkumare lang. Naupo ako sa tabi ni Macey at nagtanong, "Fu, may sinabi ba sina Sir Lance kahapon?"
Umiling si Futhark at inabutan ako ng pinggang may kanin. "Mm-mm, wala naman silang sinabi maliban sa 'wag sasabihin kahit kanino ang nangyari."
Si Macey naman ang nag-sandok ng ulam. "Yeah, isipin n'yo na lang invisible ako. Kumain ka ng carrots, Ed."
"You don't count as others," I told her and frowned at my plate.
Knock... knock, knock.
Three weak knocks on the door. May iba pa bang imbitado sa party namin? Tumayo si Macey at sinabihan kaming, "Ako na magbubukas, kumain na kayo d'yan."
Tumango kami pero pinanood pa rin namin s'yang buksan ang pinto. I was shocked when I saw Joyeuse leaning on the doorway. I wasn't expecting him, and most of all I wasn't expecting the drama queen to knock on a door, looking entirely defeated.
Macey gasped worriedly. "Uy! Ayos ka lang?"
Futhark stood attentively to assist Joyeuse, but kept a fine distance. Joyeuse gave all of us a tired glare before he collapsed on my bed and started sleeping.
"Oi, may sarili kang kwarto!" I said, poking him with the other end of my spoon. He ignored me and simply faced the other way.
"Hayaan mo na muna s'ya, Ed. Gisingin na lang natin mamaya," Futhark worriedly requested.
"Saan galing 'yan?" Macey asked, walking back to her place. We started eating.
"Pampanga. Family emergency ang sabi ni Sir Lance," Futhark answered. "Hindi namin s'ya ma-contact nung isang araw tapos ganito s'ya uuwi..."
"Hala, ano kayang nangyari..."
We ate for like fifteen minutes of full worried silence before Joyeuse spoke and asked in a hoarse voice, "Has anyone talked to Nicholas James recently?"
I froze and swallowed. I did talk to Nicholas. Twice. Even if Futhark warned me not to.
Futhark answered, "Sa library, pagkatapos mong umalis. Sinabi pa n'ya na mahina kami kapag hindi tayo kumpleto."
"Huh," I added to avoid suspicion, "parang inabangan talaga na umalis ka, Jo."
"Because it's his plan to disband Seven-Minute Semblance. I still don't know the reason behind his certain keenness in doing so, but we will never let him win."
"Disband, huh," I muttered.
"It's another way to separate the four of us, because together, we are a threat to him. Where are you in the Luciano Lukas case? I have a feeling that it's Nicholas's scheme."
"Oh, we met the bastard yesterday," I said. The out-of-body sensation was coming back, but I assured myself that the room was full of people who will never hurt me.
Joyeuse chuckled weakly. "And you're still here making stinging remarks about him. You must be feeling like a fool—for fearing him so much when he's just a... a... what's he like?"
"He's actually really scary," Futhark said. He started clearing up the tupperwares, since we're all done eating. "Kakain ka ba, Joyeuse?"
Joyeuse shook his head.
I added, "Naglaban sila ni Sir Lance, dude. He's not just a "just". He's scary and he can fight." Muntik ko nang maidagdag na tinawag na Heimdall si Sir Lance.
"Did Luciano by any chance call Lance, Heimdall?" Joyeuse asked. Futhark and I glanced at each other and grimaced. Si Macey, napansin kong bigay-todo sa pagpapanggap na invisible s'ya.
"Ah, so his real name is indeed Heimdall," Joyeuse let out a breathy laugh of victory. Okay, fine, Sherlock.
"What do you mean Nicholas's scheme?" Futhark said, changing the subject. "Kami ang nagpunta kahapon sa bahay ng mga Lukas dahil tumulong kami sa paghahanap sa bunso nilang kapatid."
"Did Nicholas kidnap the child?"
"No. Masyado kang paranoid."
"I'm not paranoid or any of the sort. Nicholas could've brought Luciano to the uni, so Edward Dace would hear of him and be anxious. Lance did say Edward Dace should learn how to handle pressure because that's obviously his weakness. And then he'll arrange a meeting for Edward Dace and Luciano Lukas."
"He didn't arrange a meeting," Futhark groaned. "Kusang umalis si Maria dahil nami-miss n'ya ang mama nila."
"Hah, using family members—classic Nicholas move."
Natahimik kami ni Futhark.
Using family members. Kaya umalis si Joyeuse ay dahil tumawag ang mama n'ya. Kaya nawala si Maria ay dahil umalis ang mama n'ya. At ako naman ngayon...
"Ikaw, Joyeuse," Futhark started to say. "Bakit ka umalis? Saan ka galing? Anong nangyari sa 'yo?"
"Why do you care?" Joyeuse directed his attention to Macey instead, and gave her a very superficial smile. "Hello, Macey Velasquez. How's your physical therapy skills?"
"Uy Joyeuse, kaunting hiya!" Futhark gasped.
"Ay papamasahe ka po?" Macey smiled back and stood up. "Okay lang sa 'kin." She sat down on the bed and held Joyeuse's wrist, placing her other hand on his shoulder.
Futhark sighed and shook his head in disappointment. "Hindi ka na nahiya kay Mace—"
Crack.
Joyeuse yelped and screeched on my pillow. Macey must've dislocated his shoulder.
"Oh, okay lang pala."
"Go Mace, balian mo ng buto si drama queen!" I cheered.
Futhark laughed under his breath. "Perfect crime ba kung consensual?"
"Para sa project natin, dude?"
"Oo nga pala," Macey said, massaging (or actually punching?) Joyeuse's back. "Anong plano n'yo ro'n?"
"Macey, you may stop now," Joyeuse coughed. "Please stop, you are stronger than Futhark and Edward Dace combined." Macey chuckled and hopped off the bed.
"Nilinaw ba kung murder ang perfect crime?" I asked. "Kung hindi, my dudes, gawin nating tax evasion ang krimen."
"Really, that's your perfect crime?" Joyeuse sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"So bakit walang pulitikong nakukulong?"
Joyeuse rolled his eyes in disdain.
Futhark stepped between us again, "To be safe, gawin nating murder."
"Where's Laevateinn?" Joyeuse asked. Hinahanap lang talaga n'ya si Lae kapag may kailangan s'ya.
"Sigurado akong mag-aambag lang ang hinayupak na 'yon," I said. "What if bumili na lang tayo ng normal na dollhouse tapos kapag tinanong ni sir sabihin natin na sa sobrang perfect ng crime, walang bakas na natira."
Nagtaas ng isang mapanghusgang kilay si drama queen. "And where is the body?"
"Tinapon sa dagat, sinakay sa isang unregistered na bangka."
"Hm."
"Talagang kinonsider mo, Joyeuse?" tanong ni Futhark.
Naningkit ang mata ni Macey. "Ewan ko ha, pero bakit kapag ini-imagine ko na si Joyeuse ang nagpapaliwanag, tunog legit pero kapag si Edward, tunog kalokohan?"
Joyeuse gave Macey a smirk that overflowed with confidence and charisma. I had to physically pull Macey towards a safe distance away from him. And I even heard Macey murmur, "Macey, may boyfriend ka uy, shet."
I frowned at her and let her face the wall. Almost at the same time, I heard my phone vibrate from my wooden study table and the classic Nokia tune. That was undeniably Futhark's, but Joyeuse checked his phone too.
It seemed like we all received a message from Sir Lance.
"Nag-text ang ating butihing ama," I said, reading the message. It was short and simple: "Always play fair." I winced. "Narinig ba ni Sir Lance 'yung plano nating magpasa ng biniling dollhouse?"
"No, he's sent us a code," Joyeuse got off the bed and crouched beside Futhark. "Show us what you've got."
"B-Bakit 'yung akin, nakakahiya ang phone ko." Futhark folded the picnic blanket neatly and gently hit Joyeuse's head with it. "Boop."
"What the bloody hell is wrong with you?" Joyeuse cringed and reached out his hand. "Lance texted me the acronyms: ASAP and LOL. He probably sent you the important parts of the code so let me see your phone."
Futhark sighed and gave Joyeuse his old, antique phone. Joyeuse surprisingly didn't judge the phone. He was rather focused on Sir Lance's message.
"It's a poem," he said. "Entitled... BIFROST? All caps, not the Bifröst, where the O has an umlaut."
"Basahin mo," Futhark prompted.
"Irish accent," I added.
Joyeuse rolled his eyes before he read:
"Under the golden sky,
Bridge down low and up high.
Quetzalcoatl's star,
Gone no less an hour.
Asgard's glinting hall,
End of a waterfall.
Friesland's thirteenth man,
Zenith of man's land.
Do knock three times,
Leave all trace of crimes."
We were silently processing what we've heard. That's a code right there indeed, but... for what? What kind of code was that even?
"It's a map to a place," Joyeuse said, studying the message. "This leads to a rendezvous. Lance did message me "ASAP" so he wants us to meet in this place."
"Under the golden sky," I read again. "Bridge down low and up high... Isn't that the rainbow bridge, Bifröst? You know, the bridge that connects Asgard and Midgard, Heaven and Middle Earth? The bridge that the Norse god Heimdall guards?"
"Or it could be a normal bridge we could actually cross." Joyeuse walked over to my study table to look for a pen and a paper. Hindi marunong magpaalam ang perkele.
"Quetzalcoatl's star might be the planet Venus," I went on. "Since Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec deity is connected to Venus. He's also the morning and the evening star. If the second line says "Gone no less an hour", baka gusto ni sir na magpunta tayo sa rendezvous ng umaga o hapon? Kung kailan visible ang Venus?"
"Ang galing mo, Edward!" Futhark praised, clapping his hands. He and Macey sat on my bed, spectating us. "Ang dami mong kabisadong mythology!"
"Matalino talaga 'yang si Ed," Macey waved her hands, "sigurado akong alam na n'ya ang kasunod."
Nagsama talaga silang dalawang umaariba ang nanay-vibes. Pero masaya akong natawag akong "matalino" sa presensya ni drama queen. Hah.
Sinipat ko ng tingin si Joyeuse para magmalaki, pero busy ang hinayupak sa sinusulat.
Napagdesisyunan kong magpakitang-gilas kina Macey at Futhark. "Asgard's glinting hall could be Glitnir, the hall of the god Forseti... who's also the "thirteenth man" of Friesland, na, by the way, ang pinagmulan ng storya ng kung papaano tinaga ni Forseti ng axe 'yung bato at biglang nagkaroon ng bukal. Then, the "zenith of man's land"... hmmm... what's above man's land? Is it law? Ang ibig sabihin ng pangalan ni Forseti ay president..."
"So bridge tapos umaga o hapon, tapos Glitnir... president..." Nag-isip na rin nang malalim si Futhark. He thought for a while, actually, before he brightened up and snapped his fingers, exclaiming, "Nagtahan Bridge! Malapit sa Malacañang!"
"Whoa!" I marched in place to contain my excitement. "Ang ibig sabihin din ng "Nagtahan" ay "stop" or "cease" so baka 'yan ang tinutukoy sa "end of a waterfall"! Ang galing mo, Futhark!"
"Ibig sabihin bago mag-umaga o hapon ay pupunta tayo sa Nagtahan Bridge?"
We both turned to Joyeuse, waiting to rub our discovery in his face. Na-solve namin ang clues ni sir nang hindi nagsusulat o gumagamit ng scratch paper!
No but in Math exams if it seems easy you're doing it all wrong.
Tapos 'yong top one ng klase ay hindi pa tapos mag-solve!
I knew that the gut feeling that we're wrong was correct when Joyeuse finished writing and gave Futhark and me a very judgemental stare. He looked so done.
"The bloody hell are we going to do in Manila?" he sneered sternly. "You should use all the clues and the codes Lance sent, idiots."
"Sumakto naman 'yung naisip namin ah?" Futhark frowned.
"You said you're going at morning or afternoon, but Lance texted ASAP. He texted Edward, "Always play fair." And that's the actual cipher he used. Playfair Cipher."
"The fuck is that," I muttered, careful not to be heard.
"The keyword is BIFROST, that's why it's in all caps and there's no umlaut," Joyeuse explained. "And the code lies in the first letter of each line: UB QG AE FZ DL. I used Playfair cipher to decode the actual message."
"Oh yeah, and did that make sense?"
"Yes." Joyeuse exhaled loudly and exasperatedly. "The decoded message is MONKSHOOD, a street in San Lorenzo. That's closer than Manila, innit?"
"Dumadaan ako d'yan," Futhark said. "Saan sa Monkshood street?"
"R'yan," I coughed.
"The last clue must be sent to Laevateinn." Joyeuse hurried to the door, grabbing my plaid jacket that was hanging behind the door. Wala man lang paalam ang hinayupak. "He must've sent different messages to the four of us, and of course Laevateinn must have at least one clue. Let's go boys." Then he went out.
Inabot ni Futhark ang eco-bag ng mga tupperware kay Macey at nagpaalam, "Mauuna na kami, baka magalit sa 'min si Joyeuse. Sorry, Macey!"
"Uhm." Lumapit din ako kay Macey pero hindi ko alam kung magmamano ba ako o yayakap. I patted her head and awkwardly bid my goodbye. "Paki-lock na lang ng pinto, thanks!"
••• GODSFORRENT •••
"I don't have a phone," sagot ni Laevateinn. Naabutan namin s'ya sa playground ng Tamarisk Street, kung saan nawala si Maria kahapon. Nakaupo sila nina Maria at Fenrir sa sandbox, habang si Nancy ay nanonood sa 'di kalayuan.
Joyeuse groaned. "What's the last clue then?"
Laevateinn raised an inquisitive brow, so Futhark provided, "Ano, nag-message si Sir Lance tapos may binigay na street name. Monkshood. Alam mo kung anong meron sa Monkshood Street?"
"Lance must've invited you to his house, it's in Monkshood," Laevateinn said.
"Lance's house!" Joyeuse exclaimed. "He's kept that from me for eleven years!"
"Malay mo bagong bili lang," I said. "O baka alam n'yang nangunguha ka ng jacket ng may jacket. O kaya baka alam n'yang nang-aagaw ka ng kama. I mean seriously, there's a lot of good reasons to keep his address a secret from you and I totally relate to every single one."
"Laevateinn, lead the way!"
"Lae, payag ka inuutus-utusan ka lang? Sapakin mo," I taunted.
Futhark nudged my arm and whispered, "Naglalabas lang ng stress si Joyeuse, pagbigyan mo na muna."
"Pagbigyan?"
"Uh-huh. Tara na." Futhark followed Laevateinn, Fenrir, and Joyeuse before the three went out of sight. I frowned and trudged behind them.
Dahil ba Psychology major si Futhark kaya laging nauuna ang pag-intindi at pagbibigay?
Bakit maglalabas ng stress si Joyeuse, ano bang nangyari sa kanya?
Bakit kailangang pagbigyan ang drama queen na 'yon, eh s'ya nga ang numero unong gago?
Futhark gave me a look, like, anong iniisip mo, magpakabait kang bata ka.
Wala naman akong ginagawang masama, nag-iisip nga lang ako?
"Inaano kita?" Futhark laughed. Perkele, mind reader. "Hindi ako mind reader, okay, natatawa lang ako sa itsura ng mukha mo."
Okay, then, Mr. I-am-not-a-mind-reader.
••• GODSFORRENT •••
"This is Lance's house," Laevateinn said, stopping at a black and white single detached townhouse. The exterior struck as modern, but there's something about the dark, withered trees around the building that screamed "Viking". Especially the canoe propped against the dark fences.
Bakit merong canoe si Sir Lance?
The closer and the longer I stare at his house, the more pecualiar it got. I just saw a pink kiddie bike abandoned under a tree.
"You're all staring at the kiddie bike," Laevateinn pointed out. "That was supposedly their gift for Maria's fourth birthday. Maria hated it."
"So..." I ventured, "Sino na ang gumamit?"
Laevateinn shrugged.
Joyeuse cleared his throat. "Laevateinn, I believe you should be knocking."
"I don't knock," Laevateinn replied. "I just walk in and eat when I'm hungry."
"Wow," Futhark and I chorused. Mine reeked of sarcasm, though.
Joyeuse grimaced. "And I thought I knew more about Lance because I've known him for eleven years."
"Does it hurt knowing you're not the favourite son?" Laevateinn smirked at Joyeuse and started climbing the gates, whilst Fenrir simply leapt and got into the other side.
Joyeuse rolled his eyes. "Why don't you open the gates or call for Lance?"
"The gate has a weird lock. It's easier to climb."
"I-text mo kaya, Joyeuse?" Futhark suggested. "Sabihin mo nandito na tayo."
"Unlockable lock, huh," Joyeuse muttered under his breath and studied the lock Laevateinn referred to as weird.
Lumapit kami ni Futhark dahil curious kami, si Lae naman ay pinanood kami mula sa kabilang panig ng gate. The lock was indeed weird, but not the gory kind of weird. Hindi lang ito kagaya ng mga normal na lock na kailangan lang ng isang susi.
Ito ang uri ng lock na pinapangarap ng mga taong kinamumuhian, mula sa kaibuturan ng kanilang mga puso, ang mga taong nagtatangkang bumisita.
The lock was huge, almost the same size as Joyeuse's palm, and has a lot of gears. Knobs and numbers were jammed on one side, and there was no keyhole. No wonder Laevateinn thought it's easier to climb the gates.
"Bubuksan mo?" Futhark asked.
"I'm not going to climb the gates like a loser." Joyeuse started working on the knobs, twisting and pushing, trying to make sense out of it.
"Solve the lock then, wimpy nerd," Laevateinn said almost in a singsong.
"Literal na may lock 'yung lock ng pinto ni sir," I commented.
We watched Joyeuse work on the puzzle lock for some good minutes. Futhark got distracted with Laevateinn and Fenrir playing and swinging on tree branches. (He kept yelling, "Baka mahulog ka, Lae!" and "Baka makasira ka ng gamit!") And I kept watching Joyeuse, since I myself was curious with the lock. May mga napapanood akong ganitong lock, pero ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganito sa personal.
A tree branch snapped and I looked up when we heard Laevateinn crash. Futhark inhaled sharply, followed by this I-told-you-so look. Joyeuse and I noticed Sir Lance watching by the doorway, drinking from a mug.
I elbowed Joyeuse. "Lagot ka."
Joyeuse scowled at Sir Lance, who grinned and raised his mug and prompted, "No, no, continue. Let's see if you can solve that."
Sir Lance took a sip of whatever hot beverage he's drinking at 11 a.m. and walked closer to the gates, sparing a few seconds to judge Laevateinn, who's pretending to be dead while Fenrir buried him with dead leaves. Sir Lance took a louder sip when he reached the gates and leaned against it. He's drinking coffee, we know it. Iniinggit n'ya si Joyeuse.
"What's this lock for, even?" Joyeuse raised an eyebrow.
Sir Lance shrugged. "I'd say to test your skills, but based on what I've seen it's "How to keep three monkeys busy for fifteen minutes"."
"It hasn't been fifteen minutes, don't be absurd."
"Good luck, son. It took Arthur an hour to solve that."
"I'm not Arthur."
"Yes, it might take you a minimum of two hours. Gomez, Dace, would you like some coffee? The smaller gate is actually unlocked, since I knew you were coming."
"Oh." Futhark let out a shaky laugh and glanced at Joyeuse. "Sasamahan na lang po namin si Joyeuse."
I raised my hand. "Curious po ako sa lock kaya makikinood na lang po muna ako."
"You really trust Jule's skills that much, huh?" Sir Lance smirked. "You'll need more of that trust, Seven-Minute Semblance."
Now, that's ominous.