[UNEDITED AND SOME THINGS ARE MIXED UP WITH THE BOOK VERSION SO IT'S A BIT CONFUSING. SORRY AND PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.]
Chapter 1: Bridle High School
It was almost 5 in the afternoon when I decided to leave the library. Magsasara iyon nang alas singko at kapag nagtagal pa ako ay hindi ko na mailalabas ang libro na hihiramin ko. I was engrossed in the book that I'm reading to the point that I didn't notice the time.
Kanina pa akong ala una nang hapon dito dahil napagpasyahan kong hindi pumasok sa lahat ng klase ko. Itiniklop ko ang libro at dinala iyon sa nakabusangot ang mukha na librarian. It was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Valley of Fear. Padabog na nagstamp sa record ang librarian bago iyon inabot sa akin. She's not old but like some typical librarians, she's strict. At inis rin siya sa akin dahil madalas ay nakakalimutan ko ang oras at lumalampas ako nang alas singko doon.
I am always the last student to get out of the library. Why? It's simply because I love reading books. Not textbooks to do some homeworks but informational and mystery books. Nagbabasa din naman ako ng textbooks but I do it in the dormitory and not in the library. Yep, Bridle High is a boarding school. Students stay in the dormitory dahil iyon ang rules ng eskwelahan.
I am Amber Sison, a Grade 11 student at Bridle High School. I am bookworm and somewhat a nerd minus the nerdy clothes and thick old-fashioned glasses. Sa unang tingin ay hindi ako mapagkakamalang nerd but Bridle's students see me as one.
Why? Dahil kahit saan ako magpunta, I bring along a book with me at hindi masyadong nakikipag-usap. I'm not snob but people would think that I am. The reason why I don't usually talk with others is because I usually spend more time with books. I have some friends na kinakausap ko nang madalas. They are my roommates, Therese and Andi na katulad ko ay Grade 11 din.
Nang makalabas na ako ng library ay nagtuloy na ako sa dorm ng mga babae. It was in the east wing of the campus samantalang sa west wing naman ang dorm ng mga lalaki. Nang makarating ako sa room ko which is on the third floor, agad kong binuksan ang pinto na may markang 305. Pagpasok ko ay naroon na si Therese at Andi. They were talking about something seriously. Hindi ko sila pinansin at nagtuloy na sa kama ko.
"Amber," tawag ni Therese. Hindi ko sila tiningnan dahil nakahiga ako sa kama at nakatingala sa kisame.
"What?"
"Have you heard about the commotion kanina sa klase ng Section C?," tanong ni Andi. Hindi ko alam dahil nagcut ako ng klase kanina. And even if I didn't cut classes, I would never know dahil malayo ang classroom namin sa Section C.
"Did you know na nagkasagutan daw ang adviser ng Section C na si Mrs. Sera at si Lowie Mondino?" tanong ni Therese.
"No," tipid kong sagot sa kanila. I'm not really interested with the affairs of other people.
"Ang sabi nila ay may hinalo raw na mga chemicals si Lowie mula sa Science lab which were dangerous. Pinaglaruan nila ito ng mga barkada niya and Mrs. Sera was very angry dahil balak daw ni Lowie na pasabugin ang laboratory. Lowie denied the accusations and they ended up threatening each other's life."
Oh, I know Lowie by name. Anak ito ng may-ari ng Mondino Pharmaceuticals Company, a known company for the production and sale of pharmaceutical drugs and medicines. Base na rin sa mga kwento nina Therese, Lowie is a brat. He is a bully at kilala sa katigasan ng ulo.
Ipinagpatuloy ko lang ang pagpikit ng mga mata ko at hindi na nagkomento pa.
"As usual, hindi ka na naman interesado," Therese said. I mumbled something like 'yeah' and they both groaned in frustration. I ignored them at agad na natulog.
Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras akong nakatulog nang may umalog sa akin upang gisingin ako. It was Andi. "Wake up Amber, it's almost eight. Halika na sa cafeteria, it's dinner time," Andi said.
Napabangon ako at nang sulyapan ko ang relo ko, mag-aalas otso na nga. "I'll just fix myself for a minute. Mauna ka na, susunod ako," I told her at pumasok sa CR upang maghilamos. I heard her say okay at narinig ko ang papalayong hakbang niya.
Matapos maghilamos at magbihis ay bumaba na ako upang magpunta sa cafeteria. Walking distance lang iyon mula sa dorm. Walang kitchen service ang dormitory. May kusina and it is intended for those who wants to cook. I was walking towards the cafeteria nang may marinig akong mga studyanteng nag-uusap. They were on their way to the cafeteria also.
"Nagulat talaga ako kanina, it was the first time na makita kong ganoon kagalit si Ma'am Sera," a girl commented.
"Maging si Lowie, pulang-pula siya sa galit! Pagbantaan ba naman na hindi na sisikatan ng araw bukas si Ma'am Sera!" komento naman ng isa.
"Nakakatakot din kaya ang banta ni Ma'am kay Lowie! Susunugin daw niya ang kaluluwa nito! That was very creepy!"
So they were talking about the incident na kinuwento din sa akin nina Therese at Andi. Ganun talaga ang pagbabantaan nila? They missed to tell me that, o sadyang ako lang talaga ang nagpakita ng kawalang interes sa kwento nila?
Nang dumating ako sa cafeteria ay agad kong sinamahan sina Therese at Andi. Habang kumakain ay may napansin akong lalaki sa isang mesa. He was eating his dinner alone and his face seems new.
"Therese, Andi," tawag ko sa kanila. Sinenyasan ko sila na medyo lumapit dahil may ibubulong ako. "Who's that guy on the table na malapit sa counter?" Tiningnan nila ang tinutukoy ko at parehong nanlaki ang mga mata nila.
"What? Hindi mo siya kilala?," tanong ni Andi. I shook my head to them. "Hindi ka na naman pumasok kaninang hapon sa klase mo ano?" I gave them a smile at tumango.
"Gray Ivan Silvan, a transfer student sa Section A. Ibig sabihin, classmates kayo at dahil nagcut ka na naman ng klase kanina, hindi mo siya nakilala dahil ngayong hapon lang siya dumating," Therese said. Uh, they're really a good source of issues and events at school. Mas una pa nilang nalaman na may transferee sa Bridle at nasa section ko pa kahit nasa ibang section sila.
"He's handsome at akala ko libro lang ang makakakuha ng atensyon mo Amber, maging si Gray din pala," bahagyang tumawa si Andi. What?!
"I'm not interested in him, bago lang siya sa paningin ko. That's it!"
I ignored their laughter at patuloy lang na kumain. Muli kong sinulyapan si Gray, he was reading something while eating. If I'm not mistaken he's reading Agatha Christie's Three Little Pigs. Whoah, we had the same interest in mystery books.
Bumukas ang pinto ng cafeteria at pumasok si Lowie Mondino. He really has a dominating presence dahil kilala ito sa pagiging bully. He ordered something in the counter and kicked some guy and claimed the spot that he was sitting. Tsk, typical bully!
Tumingin ako sa nag-abot ng order niya. It was a girl na medyo matagal na sa cafeteria. Her eyes were sad at tila may dinaramdam ito. When she went to get Lowie's order, may lumapit sa kanya at may ibinulong. The girl's face became more worried and it seems like something is bothering her. The guy who whispered to her is not a staff of the cafeteria. Matapos iyon ay may bagay na nakabalot sa papel itong inabot sa babae at dumeretso naman ang babae sa loob ng kitchen at umalis naman ang lalaki. What was that?
Nang hindi pa lumabas ang cafeteria staff ay ipinagpatuloy ko ang naudlot na pagkain. Hindi naman nagtagal ay dumating na ang order ni Lowie. Inilapag naman iyon ng isang crew but it wasn't the girl who took out his order. Lowie sat at hindi pa ginalaw ang kanyang pagkain dahil may ginagawa pa ito sa cellphone. The door opened again at iniluwa niyon ang ilang member ng martial arts club. Kilala ang mga ito bilang mga mayayabang na studyante ng Bridle High.
They were on their way towards the counter nang biglang may dumaan na lalaking estudyante sa harap nila. He was holding a styro cup of water na malamang ay galing sa counter ng cafeteria since naroon ang water dispenser. The guy stepped on one of the member's foot.
"Napakacareless mo talaga!" singhal ng lalaking naapakan. Hinawakan niya ang lalaki sa manggas ng damit nito at itinulak ito kung saan. The guy landed on Lowie's table at natapon ang ilan sa mga pagkain nito! Napasigaw naman ang lahat ng naroon sa cafeteria. I saw that guy, Gray, na tumayo at nakiusyoso na rin but no one dared to interfere dahil malamang madadamay lang.
Lowie was very angry at dahil doon ay sinigawan niya ang lalaki. "What the hell!"
Natakot naman ang lalaking tinulak. He was on the brink of crying nang lumapit ang nagtulak sa kanya at kinausap si Lowie.
"Nakaharang kasi siya Mondino kaya tinulak ko," wika ng lalaki. His face was angry as well as Lowie, samantalang takot na takot naman ang lalaki sa pagitan nila. He slowly walked away, palayo sa dalawa.
"It's you? So ikaw pala ang nagsayang sa pagkain ko?" tanong ni Lowie.
The guy slightly laughed. "Nagsayang? Tsk, akala ko ba walang sayang sa mayamang katulad mo?"
Napasigaw na lamang ang lahat nang bigla itong hablutin ni Lowie. Hindi agad ito nakagalaw dahil sa gulat. Lowie held his head and stuffed the food on his plate to his mouth!
"May concept din naman ako ng sayang pagdating sa pagkain!" he said as he continued to stuff the guy's mouth with food. Everyone was too shocked to move!
Mas lalong nabigla ang lahat nang hindi na nakapalag ang lalaki. His eyes were red as Lowie continued to stuff the food at hindi naglaon ay nangisay ito habang bumubula ang bibig! Nagulat na binitiwan ito ni Lowie kaya't nangingisay ito ngayon sa sahig!
The food stuffed in his mouth was poisoned!
Gray stood from his seat at agad lumapit sa nakahandusay na estudyante. “Call the police immediately!”
Hinawakan niya ang pulso ng lalaki. Sunod niyang tiningnan ang natitirang pagkain sa plato ni Lowie. He smelled it for a while and he shook his head as if he found something. “Call also an ambulance since sarado na ang infirmary ngayon!”
Maya-maya ay may dumating na ang mga pulis at maging ang ambulansya at agad na dinala sa ospital ang lalaki.
The police did their investigation at ginawang off-limits ang cafeteria. Agad na pinauwi ang mga estudyante kaya wala kaming nagawa kundi ang bumalik sa kanya-kanyang dorm matapos ang ilang mga katanungan ng pulis. Habang papauwi kami ay may mga bagay na pumasok sa isip ko. I know the food poisoning part was not an accident. Sinadya iyon at malamang ay si Lowie ang target dahil para sa kanya ang pagkain. I want to fill my curiosity about this case. Maybe I can do it tomorrow.
***
Maaga akong nagising kinabukasan. Alas kwatro pa lang ay agad na akong naghilamos at nagbihis. Tulog pa sina Andi at Therese nang umalis ako. It's a little bit dark and cold yet I continued to walk my way toward the cafeteria upang gawin ang pag-iimbestiga ko.
The cafeteria is still sealed. Marahil ay mag-iimbestiga pa ang mga pulis. Nang buksan ko ang pinto ay hindi iyon naka-lock. How come it wasn't locked? Did the police leave it open?
Dahan-dahan akong pumasok at nang papalapit na ako sa pinangyarihan ay may napansin ako. Something was in the counter, no, someone! Someone is inside the cafeteria, too! Hindi kaya ang salarin iyon at inaalis ang anumang ebidensya na naiwan doon?
Kahit kinakabahan ay nagawa ko pa ring magsalita. “Sino ka? Anong ginagawa mo rito?” Dahan-dahan na lumabas ang taong iyon mula sa pinagtataguan. I was surprised to see who it was.
Gray Ivan Silvan.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he asked. Nakasuot siya ng itim na hoody jacket. “Are you the culprit?”
Tumaas ang isang kilay ko. “No way. Baka ikaw. You're just new here, right?” I examined his features. He is definitely good-looking and his hair was disheveled like he just gone out of bed.
“Then what are you doing here at this hour?” He was holding something inside the pocket of his jacket.
“Maybe I should ask the same question,” sagot ko. Kinakabahan ako. What if he's holding some weapon beneath his jacket?
“I'm here because I'm trying to investigate something. How about you?” tanong niya.
Investigate? Did he notice the queer behavior of the cafeteria staff, too?
“Same as you. I noticed when someone handed her something,” sabi ko sa kanya and his eyes glowed.
“So you did notice that, too? Pero hindi pa ako sigurado kung konektado iyon sa nangyaring food poisoning. Not to mention na ang pagkain lang ni Mondino ang may lason, which means he is really the target.” May isinulat siya sa maliit na notebook niya. “What's your name and from what class?”
“Amber Sison, Grade 11, Section A.”
Bigla siyang napatingin sa akin. “A? We're classmates? Hindi kita nakita kahapon.”
“Yeah, I wasn't around. Nag-cut ako. How about you? What's your name?” I asked him as if I really didn't know.
“Gray Ivan Silvan, a detective.”
I rolled my eyes at him. Detective? Pft, nagbibiro ba siya? Sumimangot ako sa kanya at pumasok sa kusina. Hindi ko namalayan na sumunod na pala siya. Nagtungo ako sa may kalan, nothing is suspicious. I also examined the garbage bin at maging doon ay wala akong nakitang kahina-hinala.
“I found this sa likod ng cafeteria. It's burnt and this is the only part na may mababasa tayo. Do you think this can help?” tanong ni Gray. Inilabas niya mula sa bulsa ang piraso ng papel na kulay green. Its sides were burnt and the only writing left in it was 'pls come. -L.M.'
“Hey, this paper!” Tumango naman siya.
“Yup, the one that the suspicious guy gave the cafeteria staff.”
Muli naman akong sumulyap sa papel. L.M.? Who's L.M.? Lowie Mondino? “L.M.?”
“It could be Lowie Mondino or any other.”
“But if it's Lowie, why didn't he give it himself?” nalilito kong tanong. “Bakit kailangan pa niyang mag-utos ng iba when in fact siya naman ang nagbigay ng order niya sa babae, ‘di ba?”
He nodded. “Yes, maybe this paper has nothing to do with Mondino's case. Isa pa, I was staring at him all the time when he placed his order and I didn't notice anything in between him and the cafeteria staff.”
He's staring at Lowie all the time? Hindi ba nagbabasa siya? “Really? I thought you're reading Agatha Christie's book.”
Bahagya siyang nagulat ngunit agad iyong napalitan ng pilyong ngiti. “You're watching me? Are you interested in me?”
Sa lahat ng ayaw ko ay ang lalaking mahangin at masyadong bilib sa sarili. “Masyado yatang mataas ang tingin mo sa sarili mo. I was just curious who's into books that I'm into too. You're not that handsome.”
“Defensive,” he said in between his laughter.
Hindi ko na siya pinansin at nagpatuloy lang sa paghahanap ng clues. I know that Lowie was really the target of the poison dahil kung random poisoning lang iyon, marahil ay marami na ang nalason. But the fact that only his food was poisoned, it's very clear that it was really for him.
Sino ba ang mga kaaway niya o may galit sa kanya? Oh well, he's a bully so I think it will be a long list. But there is also Mrs. Sera. Hindi ba't nagbantaan sila kahapon? Pero kung siya man, hindi ba masyadong obvious since the threatening between them was known to everyone?
I searched under the table in the kitchen. May mga bote ng softdrinks na nakatambak doon. Sunod kong tiningnan ang mga lalagyan ng spices at isa-isang binuksan at inamoy iyon. Ang sunod kong tiningnan ay ang ilalim ng water dispenser. The cafeteria has three water dispensers the two were placed outside, sa may dining area samantalang nasa loob naman ng kitchen area ang isa.
I opened the cabinet na pinatungan niyon. There were bottles there labeled agricultural fertilizer. Malamang ay gamit iyon sa garden ng cafeteria since some of the vegetables ay galing doon. I examined the bottles. This could be poisonous if mixed with food, right? Tinawag ko si Gray at agad naman siyang lumapit. I told him that it's possible that those were used.
“Yeah, it's possible,” he said while thinking hard. “We'll just wait for the result of the examination of what was in the food. I guess the police had it examined. Marahil ang mas maiging gawin ay imbestigahan ang mga nasangkot sa pangyayari.”
Tumango ako sa kanya. “I haven't done an investigation yet tungkol sa mga involve. Hindi ko kasi sila kilala.”
He raised his brows. “How long have you been in this school?”
“Since elementary, why?”
“How come you don't know those people involved? Hindi naman masyadong marami ang estudyante rito ah? Maliban na lamang kung isasali mo ang junior high department,” he said and I made a face.
“Oh, I'm sorry if I'm not interested with them in my four years here. Don't worry, I'll do a background check,” I said sarcastically.
“No need. I already did.” He opened his notebook and read it. “The target of the poison was Lowie Mondino, an ABM 12-C student, 18 years old, known bully at maraming kaaway. The one who was poisoned is Joey Alva, GAS 12-B, 17 and a member of martial arts club, a bully too but not as much as Lowie. That guy who was pushed was Angelo Costa, 17, STEM-B, a member of science club and unlike the first two; he's known to be a favorite subject for bullying. The cafeteria lady was Sylvia Adan, 22, and serving the cafeteria for 2 years now. Mabait daw ito and she's good in her job but lately she's acting strange.”
“Do you think it has something to do with the poisoning?” tanong ko.
“We couldn't eliminate that possibility.”
Bigla na lamang kaming nakarinig ng mga papalapit na yabag. Sabay kaming nagtago ni Gray sa ilalim ng mesa nang bumukas ang entrance ng cafeteria. Mga pulis iyon na nag-imbestiga kagabi.
“Lumabas na ang resulta ng tests. Ang lason ay mula sa chemical substance ng isang agricultural fertilizer,” one of the police said. “May stock yata ng fertilizer na iyon dito.”
“Talaga? Iyon ba ang ipinunta mo rito?” tanong ng isang pulis.
“Oo, kukunin ko lang itong sample,” he said and we heard a cabinet being opened. Marahil ay iyon yong cabinet na may fertilizer.
“May lead na ba kayo?”
“Wala pa pero ayon sa mga nakakita kagabi, iba raw ang kinikilos ng babaeng kumuha ng order ni Mondino. May nagsabi rin na may nakakita na may inabot ang isang lalaki sa babae.”
Nang makuha na nila ang sample ay umalis na rin ang mga ito. Dahan-dahan naman kaming umalis sa ilalim ng mesa at lumabas sa likurang pinto. Saktong nakalabas na kami nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko! Gosh! It was my alarm at naka-full volume pa! Hinila ako ni Gray papalayo sa pinto. Mga ilang hakbang ay niyakap niya ako!
NIYAKAP NIYA AKO! What the hell?!
Sakto namang bumukas ang pinto. The police officers came out and aimed their guns toward us. “Sino kayo?”
“Just act normal,” Gray whispered in my ear habang nakayakap sa akin. Nilingon namin ang mga pulis but Gray was still hugging me. Ibinaba naman ng mga pulis ang baril nila.
“Anong ginagawa ninyong dalawa rito? Restricted ang bahaging ito dahil sa insidente kagabi,” wika ng isa sa dalawang pulis. I was shaking with fear dahil sa baril na itinutok nila sa amin kanina. I tremble whenever I see a gun.
“We're having our morning walk, Sir. Actually, today is our anniversary at napatigil kami rito upang yakapin ko ang girlfriend ko dahil binati niya ako, with all sweetness. Sorry, Sir, we just got carried away at nakalimutang bawal nga pala rito malapit sa premises ng cafeteria,” Gray explained. Oh, he's good in making a story. Writer ba siya?
“Ganoon ba? Happy anniversary sa inyo. Basta ‘wag na kayong gumala malapit dito.”
“Aye aye, Sir,” masiglang wika ni Gray at hinapit ako sa baiwang papalapit sa kanya.
“So paano, pasensya sa abala, naudlot tuloy yong yakap moment ninyo.” I sighed nang tuluyan na silang umalis and glared at Gray kasabay ng pagtulak ko sa kanya palayo.
“What?” he asked.
“Para-paraan ka,” I told him.
“Tsk. I just saved your ass. It's your fault. You didn't keep your phone silent. And I'm not into hugging you. You're so skinny, not my type.”
He also saved himself using me! And what?! “Hindi ako payat!”
“Let's continue our investigation on Monday,” he said as he walked away toward the opposite direction. “Bye girlfriend, happy anniversary.”
“Shut up!” I shouted and made my way to the girls' dorm. I can hear his laughter and it's making me pissed. Oh, maybe I'll get used to him since I'll be dealing with him more at isa pa, classmates kami. I rolled my eyes with that thought at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad.
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