Chapter 35: Deduction Gone Wrong

It's not only my body that is numb and tired but as well as my brain. After Ryu went out the room ay hinila din ako palabas ni Gray. He was still shaking with anger habang pababa kami ng hagdan hanggang sa makarating kami sa kanyang kotse. He opened the door for me and I silently went inside and sat.

Rovan Allejo III. Bernard Sison. Billion accounts. Those are the things that run in my mind as of the moment. The annual income that I thought Dad is earning is actually with few extra zeroes.

I flinched a little when Gray shut the door violently as he sat on the driver's seat at hinawakan ang manibela. His right hand is swollen. It must hurt a lot. I reached for his hand at dahan-dahang tiningnan iyon.

"Sorry...."

"Why do you sound so lifeless?", tanong ni Gray sa akin.

Nakahawak lamang ako sa kamay niya at nakayukong sinipat iyon.

"I just died...." Yes, that's how I felt when I confirmed Zywon's accusations about Dad.

"Ha?", he asked. Malungkot ako at galit siya. We shouldn't be talking with each other dahil mukhang walang patutunguhan ang usapang ganito lalo na at magkaiba ang emosyong nararamdaman namin.

"I was pierced with a poisoned sword right in my heart."

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip niya. I'm still holding his swollen hand like I have no intention of letting it go. I carefully touched the swollen part na para bang maghihilom iyon sa paraan ng paghawak ko.

"Is that a figure of speech? If it is, please explain."

I shook my head at him. I don't want talk about it now.

"Amber..."

"I think I'm the unluckiest person in the world. All my life I thought I got a perfect family that eventhough we're not living in a castle, I always thought we're perfect." I felt my tears forming at the side of my eyes.

He tried lifting my chin ngunit iniwas ko ang mukha ko.
"Sabihin mo sa akin ang nangyari."

"I don't want to." Nagsimula ng maglaglagan ang mga luha sa mata ko. So this is it. This is what Ryu and Zywon felt kapag usapang pamilya. Yes, I still had my Dad while they lost their Mom's but having an evil Dad is the worst. All my life, I'm living a life full of lies. Ibig sabihin nito ay kumakain ako at nagkakaroon ng mga bagay na gusto ko ng mula sa masamang paraan.

"Hindi kita pipilitin. Just tell me if you're ready", wika niya sa akin. "Sorry for what I did. I - I just don't like the idea of Ryu hugging you. It angers me so I apologized. Please be back to your lively old self."

"I just died.... from drowning. Drowning in confusions...."
Yan ang nadarama ko ngayon. I feel so lifeless. Napakawalang-gana mabuhay.

Binawi ni Gray ang kamay niya mula sa akin. He held my shoulders then lifted my chin. Tinangka ko ulit na umiwas but he put both his hands on my cheeks at hinarap ako sa kanya.

"No you didn't. Maybe just close to it but I can still do something to keep you alive from drowning ........... by resuscitating you."

He pulled me towards him and his lips touched mine. It was short and what he did really made me somehow alive. His lips against mine makes my blood flow right in my veins in a fast way. I felt a tear fell from my eye as I decided to close my eyes to feel this moment but then he withdraw from resuscitating me. He pulled me against his chest and gave me an assuring hug. I felt his chin on my head as he carressed my back, as if he's trying to comfort me.

"I can't let you die... In any aspect... I will always do my best to revive you. If I have to trade my life for you I would... So whatever it is, I know you can make it through." Then he kissed my hair and that made it more assuring.

***************************

"Good Morning Bes- umiyak ka ba magdamag?", bati ni Jeremy at sinipat ang mata ko. I put some concealer on my face but it's not enough to hide the dark circles under my eyes. Or maybe there are things that we cannot really conceal.

Just like these dark spots under my eyes due to crying hard last night. Like Dad being Rovan Allejo III. Same as Jeremy cannot conceal the worried expression on his face. Like my classmates cannot conceal their curious looks on us. Like how Math tried to hide a single pimple with a bangs. Lalabas at lalabas din ang mga bagay na tinatago natin. Like an old saying goes, when there's smoke, there's fire.

"Yes or no lang naman yun Bestie. Hindi naman kailangang maiyak ka ulit", Jeremy said at inilapag ang panyo sa harap ko. "Panyo lang ang mai-o-offer ko. You cannot cry on my shoulders, bagong laba tong uniform ko, kakakuha ko lang sa laundry shop. Hindi rin pwedeng tissue ang ibigay ko. Wala ako nun pero sa CR madami, pwede kitang kunan. Gusto mo?"

Napangiti ako sa kanya at kinuha ang panyo. "Thanks."

Jeremy just made me smile kahit na malungkot ako. I'm happy that I have him. Less drama and somehow comforting.

"Ano kasi problema mo Amber?", tanong ni Math sa akin and I shook my head. There's no way I will tell them that I just found out my father being a bad organization's big fish. Though I haven't confirmed about it from him ay malakas ang kutob ko tungkol doon. Sa ngayon ay nag-iipon pa ako ng lakas ng loob upang makompronta siya tungkol doon.

"Maybe we should not bother her now", wika ng bagong dating na si Gray. His face is so serious as he looks at me bago dumako ang paningin niya sa dalawa.

"Okay, sabi mo eh", wika ni Jeremy. "Anong nangyari sa kamay mo?"

"I tripped and hurt my arm", pagsisinungaling ni Gray. I looked at his casted fist. Liar. It was because of last night. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya sinira ang pinto but maybe that's how he acquired it at napuruhan pa ng suntukin nito sa mukha si Ryu.

Math advised proper taking care of his arm at naupo na lamang kami hanggang sa magsimula na ang klase. It went smooth ngunit pakiramdam ko ay wala akong naintindihan sa mga lessons ngayon. The morning classes ended and they decided to have lunch at the cafeteria. Hindi ako sumama sa kanila kanina ng magbreak kaya medyo nagugutom na ako ngayon.

Jeremy tapped my back at sumenyas sa akin na pumunta kami sa cafeteria. I nodded at him bago nagligpit ng mga gamit at tumayo. Panay ang kwentuhan nila tungkol sa weekend nila while I'm walking behind them. Tahimik lang din na naglakad si Gray while his hands are in his pocket. It seems that they're not bothering me anymore with questions about me, being gloomy.

We sat on our usual spot at the cafeteria. Habang naghihintay sa pagkain ay ipinagpaalam ko muna ang sarili ko. I have to get something from my locker. Pumayag naman sila and I
silently walked towards the lockers. Dahil nakayuko ako habang naglalakad ay hindi ko napansin ang pagbundol ko sa isang lalaki.

"Pasensya na Miss", wika niya sa akin at bahagyang yumuko. His necktie tells me that he's a Grade 11 student.

"Joseph!"

Napalingon ako sa babaeng tumawag sa pangalan nito. She was sweating like she just had a long walk.

"Joseph, mag-usap muna tayo. Pakinggan mo ako", wika ng babae. Same as the guy, she's also a Grade 11 student. Oh? Lovers?

"Tricia, I told you ayaw ko", sagot ng lalaki. Muli siyang tumingin sa akin. "Sorry ulit Miss."

He walked away again and the girl followed him. Nagpatuloy naman ako sa paglalakad papunta sa locker at bigla na lamang tumunog ang cellphone ko. It was Mommy, calling.

"Mom?", I asked when I answered the call.

"Sweetie, can I see you this afternoon? Pupunta ako diyan", wika niya. Her voice is calm but I guess it's a serious matter. This isn't the first time that she visited me in Bridle. During my first two years here ay halos tatlong beses sa isang linggo kung bisitahin niya ako but as I grew older ay naging madalang na. She said she don't want me to seem 'uncool' to my schoolmates dahil doon eventhough I said that it's fine.

"Sure Mom, but why the sudden visit?"

"Hindi mo ako na-miss anak?", may himig ng pagtatampo ang boses nito.

"Mom, of course I do. I'm just asking lang po naman."

She chuckled a little. "Truth is my soothsaying house akong pupuntahan and it's not that far from Bridle so I want to see you, my Angel."

"Soothsaying, you say? Kailan pa kayo naniniwala sa ganoon?", I asked. I did my best to make my voice lively dahil kapag malungkot ako ay kukulitin nito ako sa rason ng pagiging malungkot ko and I just can't tell her that 'hey Mom, your husband is not Bernard but Rovan who got a fat bank account and a member of an organization who's into producing nootropics and whatever.'

"I just want to try. I heard about the Fortune Cookie, they said that the gypsie-like woman there is reliable", wika ni Mommy. Fortune Cookie, eh? The soothsaying house near the cathedral. I also heard that one from Cooler who told him that there's a traitor. Some reapers merit that she's reliable but some also don't believe in soothsaying and so am I.

"Ano naman po ang ipapahula niyo? Business booming? Future stock market prices? Future inflation rates? Mom, I think you should rely to our economist."

"Nice try sweetheart but that's not it. It's about my visions and dreams", wika nito.

"What? You're a psychic now?" I rolled my eyes. A mafia financer and a psychic eh? What else?

"Nice try again but no sweetheart. You know about my amnesia, right? Some things are coming into me but it's blurry. At minsan ay may napapanaginipan ako. Madalas ay isang batang lalaki which I also saw in my visions."

"Mom, you want me to have a a baby brother?", I asked. Truth is Mom's labor is so dangerous so she undergone an operation which involves a uterus removal.

"You know I'm not capable of it. Basta yun nga, I'm having visions so I will try consulting it to that medium. I've heard she's good in it."

Napalabi ako sa sinabi ni Mommy. "Maybe you should see a doctor, not a soothsayer."

"Of course I did and I told your Dad about it so he recommended Dr. Kristle Mondino and she said those are just visions which may not be connected with my past."

Mondino. I read that last name in Dad's list. It's also the last name of Lowie Mondino, an ex-student in Bridle which I found out that he got blue drugs too so there's a big possibility
that they're part of the Genesis. Pero hindi lang naman sila ang Mondino sa mundo. I wanted to tell her to consult another doctor dahil baka nagsisinungaling lang ang doktor sa kanya. Maybe Dad told the doctor to fabricate some lies for Mom's condition. But I can't. Magdududa ito sa gagawin ko kaya hindi ko muna sasabihin sa kanya. Naisip ko kasi na baka ang totoong rason ng pagkawala ng alaala ni Mommy ay dahil sa
aksidente na kinasasangkutan ni Dad at ng organisasyon. Mom must have objected in this so Dad, who was delighted with her amnesia and grabbed the opportunity. He doesn't want anyone to remind Mom about her past. Naalala ko rin dati, there were doctors in Dad's office. Dati kasi ay iniwan ako ni Mommy sa opisina ni Dad pag may lakad ito so I stayed in his office and watched all the people that come and go inside. I was six that time and my young mind can't understand everything. There were doctors in their labgowns who keep on visiting Dad. Ngayon lamang pumasok sa gunita ko ang mga bagay na ipinagtaka ko noong bata pa ako.

"Okay Mom. Let's visit that fortuneteller later", wika ko.

"Thank you pumpkin! I'll see you later. I love you and oh, don't tell your Dad about it, okay?"

"Okay Mom. Bye, I love you more."

I keep the phone in my pocket at nagtuloy sa locker. I got the thing that I needed and went back to the cafeteria immediately. When I arrived there ay nakahanda na ang order namin kaya nagsimula na kaming kumain.

"Wala ba kayong napapansin na kulang?", Jeremy asked and I looked at the food. It's exactly what we have ordered kaya sa tingin ko ay walang kulang.

"Gravy! Walang gravy! Kuya walang gravy!", Math shouted at napangiwi si Je.

"Gray, ano sa tingin mo ang kulang?", he asked.

"The drinks but don't worry, they're on the way", sagot ni Gray which made Jeremy frown.

Bumaling siya sa akin. "Bestie? Ano ang kulang?"

I shook my head. Wala namang kulang ah but Jeremy frowned even more. He got a spoonful of rice at isinubo iyon.

"Kainis naman kayo eh! Ang kulang ay ang quiz ko!"

"Ah...."

"Okay."

"Walang may paki."

"Tusukin ko kayo ng tinidor dyan eh! What's with those faces?", he asked nang mapansin na napangiwi kaming tatlo. "Fine! Let's start. May tatlong bata na naghahanap ng gagamba. Hinabol sila ng manananggal kaya pumasok sila sa loob ng kweba. Ang tanong, ilan silang pumasok sa kweba?"

"Apat!", Math answered. "Hinabol sila diba kaya sumunod din ang manananggal sa kanila."

"Eeeeenk! Mali. Gray?"

"Tatlo. Hindi sila naabutan", Gray answered.

"Eeeeenk! Mali pa rin. Bestie?"

"Dalawa. Nadapa yung isa kaya naiwan", wika ko and they glared at me. Uh, whatever. Malay ko ba sa mga batang iyon!

"Eeeeeenk! Mali! Ang tamang sagot ay tatlo at kalahati! Kasi kalahati lang yung manananggal diba? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

We all made a face. Ganoon pala iyon? Malala na talaga si Jeremy.

"Eto pa. Ano ang tawag sa bubuyog na nakatira sa America?"

"Bubuyog pa rin. Imposible namang maging butterfly diba?", Math said and Jeremy faked a laughed bago nagpokerface.

"Ha-ha-ha. Funny Math. Gray?"

"I don't know Puns."

"Bestie?", he asked me but I shrugged my shoulders.

"Edi USB!"

"USB?", we asked in unison.

"Yup, as in US Bee! Edi USB!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!", Jeremy laughed at ipinagpatuloy na lamang namin ang pagkain. Tsk.

"Isa pa."

"Enough Puns", awat ni Gray ngunit hindi ito nagpapigil. Jeremy is always hyper with his so-called Quizzes everyday.

"What did the judge say to the dentist?", he asked, ignoring Gray.

"Ah! Stubborn", Gray mumbled.

"Eeenk! Mali", wika niya.

"I'm referring to you puns", Gray said at nagpatuloy na lamang sa pagkain.

"Shoot."

Jeremy cleared his throat before talking. "Do you swear to pull the tooth, the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth?", he said in a loud voice and cracked into laughters again. Tila tuwang-tuwa ito sa sinabi niya samantalang napangiwi na lamang kaming tatlo.

"Je kain na, lumalamig na ang pagkain mo", wika ko sa kanya. Mukha kasing wala itong planong tumigil sa kakatawa.

"Sorry! I just find it so funny! HAHAHAHAHA! Pero ito, last na talaga. How can you say that a carrot is good for the eyesight?"

"Carrot contains lutein and zeaxanthin carotenoids which are good for eye health", Math answered.

"Eeeeenk! Andami mong satsat. Simple lang naman. May nakita ka bang rabbit na naka-eyeglass?"

"Wala."

"Edi carrots are good for the eyes! HAHAHAHAHAHA!", Jeremy laughed like there's no tomorrow.

"My God, he's really a hopeless case", wika ni Math at hinarap ang pagkain, completely ignoring Jeremy who almost choked in laughter. Ipinagpatuloy na lamang namin ang pagkain at bigla na lamang may estudyanteng dumating at humihingal na lumapit sa amin.

"G-gray.... Amber...", he paused as he tried to catch for his breath.

"What happened? Is it a case? The Detective Triumvirate is here to help you", Jeremy said. He's serious this time na tila ba hindi ito galing sa pagtawa. Math cleared her throat kaya binago ni Jeremy ang sinabi niya. "Ang ibig kong sabihin ay Detective Triumvirate and a freeloader. She's Math, our new trainee and I'm Jeremy, the one on the base and-"

Pinutol ni Gray ang sasabihin nito. "What happened?", he asked the guy.

"May nahulog mula sa 5th floor!", he said at napatayo kaming lahat.

"A suicide?", I asked.

"Hindi namin alam pero mukhang itunulak. That's why we need your help", sagot ng lalaki and we all set to see the place where it happened.

Pagdating namin ay marami na ang mga estudyanteng nakapalibot doon at nakiusyoso. It was on the rooftop of a 5-storey building. The victim lied on the ground with blood all over his body. I was surprised to see that it was the guy that I bumped into a while back. Si
Joseph.

He had blood all over his uniform ngunit may napansin akong kulay pula mula sa collar ng inner polo nitong kulay puti. It's a red mark but I'm sure that it wasn't blood.

Gray touched his pulse at buhay pa ito. We waited for the ambulance at hindi ito ginalaw dahil baka may mga injury ito but we started to investigate the area. We took photos of him bago pa ito ilagay sa stretcher. He was unconscious at mukhang matindi ang pinsala nito sa katawan sanhi ng pagbagsak. We headed to the building's rooftop at nag-imbestiga doon.

"Why don't we make this a deduction battle between me and Amber?", wika ni Math at napalingon kaming lahat sa kanya. Maging ang mga estudyanteng naroon ay narinig ang sinabi ni Math and they became excited about it.

"A deduction battle! Yes! I go for Amber!", wika ng isang estudyante.

"Go Math!"

"Amber! Amber! Amber!"

"Math! Math! Math!"

Nagsimulang mag-ingay ang mga estudyante as they cheer for me and Math. Hindi pa man ako pumapayag ay nagsimula ng pumili ng kanya-kanyang manok ang mga naroon.

"Math, this isn't a game okay?"

"Oh, c'mon Gray. Trust this to us. Wag ka munang makialam sa kasong ito. Leave it to us and the police", she said and winked. The people still kept on cheering.

"Go Bestie!", pagtsi-cheer na din ni Jeremy sa akin. Laglag ang balikat na napatingin sa akin si Gray.

"Is it fine with you?"

I nodded. "This isn't a contest but I think we can handle this."

I think I already have some lead
about this. Pumunta na kami sa rooftop kung nasaan ang mga pulis at nagsimulang mag-imbestiga. Tinulak ito mula sa parteng sira ang railings at nilagyan na lamang ng mga paso off limits sign upang makaiwas sa disgrasya.

"Joseph!", I heard a girl cried habang inaalo ito ng mga tao. "No, no! Joseph."

She wasn't the girl na tinawag ni Joseph na Tricia kanina. The police asked her and she said that she's the victim's girlfriend.

"Ito ang mga huling tao na nakasama ng biktima", the police said at tinuro ang tatlong estudyante sa gilid.

The first one is a fat guy. His name is Ian Medina. According to the police's questioning, he talked to Joseph dahil nagalit ito sa ginawa ng biktima sa kanya. He said Joseph was responsible for the cheating na nangyari sa
section nila but Joseph said that he was the one who cheated. He confronted him about it at mas lalong nagkainitan so basically, he has a motive to kill Joseph and push him from the rooftop.

The next one's a girl who is a part of the cheering squad. Her name is April Sullano. She was Joseph's ex who hated him for cheating on their relationship. She was one of the subject for questioning kahit matagal na ang galit niyang iyon para sa lalaki dahil nakita siya sa building na iyon, lurking around suspiciously but she denied it at sinabing nagtatago siya sa kanyang stalker.

The last one is a nerd-looking guy with his big glasses. His name is Dwight Lucero. He was also spotted with Joseph in that building. Ayon sa kanya ay may hiniram lamang siyang magazines kay Joseph which were actually pornographic magazines.

"So, one of these three could be the culprit", wika ni Math at masinsinang tiningnan ang tatlo.

"Please identify who did this to Joseph", wika ng kasintahan nito. Her face was covered with her tears.

"And you are?", I asked.

"I'm Mitchell Estrada, his girlfriend. I was at the art room making my painting when I heard the news kaya nagmamadali akong pumunta rito", sagot nito. I nodded and looked around.

"What were you painting?", Math asked.

"Why? Is it important? But anyway, it's a sunset", sagot nito.

Marami-rami din ang mga estudyanteng naroon and my eyes scanned the crowd looking for a certain person. Nakita ko ito at agad itong nagtago but I was able to seize her. She was shaking in nervousness but she tried to hide it.

"Hindi ba ikaw ang kausap ni Joseph kanina? Hindi ba sinusundan mo siya?", tanong ko sa kanya.

"Hindi ko alam ang pinagsasabi mo", pagtanggi niya and she was asked by the police to join the three.

"Tricia?", gulat na tanong ni Mitchell. "You're with Joseph? Ano ang ibig sabihin nito?"

"Nag-usap lamang kami ni Joseph! I told him that you don't love him anymore upang magising na siya sa pagkahibang sa iyo!"

"And what? Para maging kayo? You're so pathetic Tricia!"

"Wala kang pakialam! I will do everything upang magising sa kahibangan niya si Joseph at nang makita niyang wala kang kwentang babae!"

We found out that they're ex-bestfriends who fell apart due to liking one guy. Sumingit na ang mga pulis. "Teka, nagiging away na ito. Mamaya na yan, unahin muna natin ang kaso", wika ng isang pulis.

Napansin kong mas matangkad si Mitchell kaysa kay Tricia. I looked intently at the two of them at maging sa tatlo pang suspect nang maalala ko ang nakita ko sa biktima kanina. I got my phone at tiningnan ang larawan ng kulay pulang marka na nasa uniform ng biktima. Then I stared at that person. No doubt that she did it!

"I know who did it", wika ko at napatingin silang lahat sa akin.

"Yes! Amber solved it first!", wika ng isang estudyante na kanina pa nagtsi-cheer para sa akin. Geez, I'm not into competing.

"Amber! Amber! Amber!"

"Ano sa tingin mo ang nangyari?", tanong ng pulis.

I immediately go straight to the point. "The one who pushed him was Tricia", wika ko at nagulat naman ito.

"Ano ba ang pinagsasabi mo?! Ano ang ebidensya mo?"

I fished my phone from my pocket at pinakita ang close up na larawan ng pulang marka na nakita ko sa uniform ng biktima. "I found this red mark on his uniform at sigurado akong isa
itong ebidensya sa kung sino ang nagtulak sa kanya. This red mark isn't blood but a lipstick mark. Basing on its shade and the place where it's found, only you Tricia, who's a bit shorter
than anyone of the five of you could have left that mark. Kapantay ng labi mo ang naiwang marka if you stand next to the victim. Mitchell couldn't leave that mark dahil matangkad ito and April isn't wearing a lipstick, just a lipshiner. The guys aren't wearing lipstick too so we have to eliminate them at kayo na lamang ni Mitchell ang maiiwan. Basing on the shade of the lipstick which is dark red, you're
the one who could have left that mark before you pushed him. Isa pa ay wala ang markang ito ng mabundol ko si Joseph kanina then it must have been when you pushed him."

Gulat na napatingin ito sa akin at hindi agad nakapagsalita. The people keep on cheering my name kahit pa sinaway na ito ng mga pulis. She sighed I thought that she's going to confess her crime when Math butt in.

"I don't think she did it."

Umingay ang paligid and they scream for Math's rebuttal. Some cheered for me and others are for Math.

"Mitchell did it", wika niya. "You pushed him, right?"

Nagulat naman si Mitchell sa sinabi ni Math. "What? I told you na nasa art room ako at ginagawa ang painting ko! I only went here when I heard the news!"

"No. You've been here and you pushed him. Bumalik ka ulit sa art room and pretended that you just heard the news", Math said.

We have different culprit and different deduction.

"Ano naman ang ebidensya mo?"
Gaya ng ginawa ko kanina ay ipinakita ni Math ang isang close up na larawan na kinuha niya sa biktima mula sa cellphone niya. It was his knuckles and it also have red marks but it wasn't blood either.

"Diba sinabi mong nagpi-paint ka ng sunset? You must have used the red and yellow paint as medium. Then unbeknownst to you, you stepped on the spilled red paint on the floor at dumikit iyon sa sole ng sapatos mo. Tinulak mo ang biktima but then he was able to cling on the floor at upang tuluyang mahulog siya, inapakan mo ang kamay niyang nakakapit at dumikit doon ang fresh pang pintura mula sa sole ng sapatos mo. That's what you did, am I right?"

Gulat na gulat si Mitchell sa sinabi ni Math. She sat on the floor at umiiyak na inamin ang kasalanan. Ayon sa kanya ay nakikipaghiwalay na siya kay Joseph but everytime she tells him about it ay tinatakot siya nito na magpapakamatay ito so she made it easier for him. Dinampot ito ng mga pulis at nagpasalamat sa amin.

And this means that I just had a wrong deduction ......

"Akala ko magaling si Amber! Hindi pala!", I heard one student said.

"My God! Nangtuturo ng inosente! Pft! I'm sure si Gray lamang talaga ang nagso-solve ng mga kaso dati!"

"Amber is a loser!"

"Math, Idol! Amber loser!"

"Booooo! Booooo!"

They started talking about me and my wrong deduction. I felt tears started to fall from my eyes. Gray and Jeremy looked at me with worried looks.

"Booooooo! Amber loser!"

"Good-for-nothing-detective!"

"Booooooooo!"

Bago pa man makalapit sa akin sina Gray at Jeremy ay nauna na akong tumakbo pababa ng building, ignoring the students' boo's. I went straight towards the gate upang pumara ng taxi. Hindi ko pinansin ang pagtawag ng gwardya sa akin and the cab just favored me, agad na may huminto sa harapan ko.

Binuhos ko lahat ng nadarama ko sa loob ng taxi. How idiot of me. I accepted the deduction challenge yet I lost. Yes, I'm a loser. A total loser. Dinagdagan ko lamang ang mga alalahanin ko sa buhay. My whole life is wrecked.

I remembered the time when I'm just Amber, the nerd. The nobody. No deduction shows, no shameful moments, just books. I should have remained being that Amber. Not this one. Not this one who sticks her nose into troubles and worries. Maybe trouble hated me that much so he gave me this lesson. Now I'm really in trouble. A double trouble. I should have learned my lesson by now. I shouldn't have showed off. I thought my grounds and basis for that case was right but it wasn't.

"Ma'am, nasa mall na po tayo", pukaw ng driver sa akin. I was so preoccupied with thoughts at hindi ko na napansin na nasa harap na nga kami ng mall. I wiped away my tears and paid the driver.

When I'm depressed, I used to eat a lot so I immediately headed towards the foodcourt. I bought a gallon of ice cream at nilantakan iyon. Pakiramdam ko ay wala na akong mukhang ihaharap sa Bridle. I'm such a loser.

Eventhough my intention is clearly to identify the culprit, it seemed to everyone that I want to compete with Math and lose the show.

No, it's not really like that. It's not a contest, I know. Pero kahit siguro mag-public speech pa ako ay nakaukit na sa utak ng mga estudyante na Amber is a loser. Maybe Math is right. I'm not really capable of being a detective. I scoped a spoonful of the ice cream at nilamon iyon. I know after I eat, my worries are still there but I don't care. I need this to somehow sooth my mind.

"Your ice cream will be salty if you continue pouring tears on it."

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa nagsalita. It was Ryu. He said I was crying.

Was I?

Agad akong napahawak sa pisngi ko and I'm really crying. Naupo siya sa katapat kong upuan at tiningnan ako.
"Are you really bothered that much? Bernard must be your father but who's Rovan?"

"My father too."

"What? You got two fathers?", he said at napasandal. "That's good. If you lost one, then you still have a spare one."

Napabuntong-hininga ako sa kanya. Yeah, it's good if it's like that but it wasn't. "One person, two identity."

"Oh."

"What are you doing here? Devils shopped too?", I asked nang mapansin ang ilang paperbags na dala niya.

He smirked at me. After last night ay mukhang back to our usual treatment kaming dalawa. "Tsk. I'm forced to bring these things. I'm with Mnemosyne."

"Ah, asan siya?"

"I don't know. Iniwan ko." He said with a pokerface. "I was told to go with her. I thought it's a transaction. I never thought it's just shopping."

"Lagot, baka hinahanap ka na nun", wika ko. How rude of him! Mang-iiwan ng kasama! Even if he's forced to come, hindi makatarungang mang-iwan.

"Don't mind her. She's a pathfinder and she got strong sense of direction. She will always find a way to see her target. She's not a reaper for nothing but let's not talk about her. Anong sabi mo tungkol sa Daddy mo?", he asked.

Nagtatalo ang kalooban ko kung sasabihin ko ba sa Vander Mafia ang tungkol sa Genesis where my father belongs. But should I trust the Vander Mafia? I'm not sure if they're a friend. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pwedeng kumampi. Or maybe I'll do it myself.

"Wala. Forget about it Ryu. I also don't want to dig deeper about it. I just want things to remain as it is", wika ko. I hope it was just easy as that.

"Amber, don't hold the gun if you can't pull the trigger. You decided to start those things so you have to finish it. There's no point in holding that gun if your purpose is just to hold. Learn to fire a shot and then you can decide after that shot", he said in a serious tone and he just used a methapor.

"I don't have the courage to pull it."

"Then you're a loser", wika niya.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Don't you used that term jerk dahil kotang-kota na ako diyan! You know what, I just showed the whole Bridle High how much of a loser I am!", wika ko sa kanya. Nagsimula na namang maglandas ang mga luha sa mata ko at pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga tao. I immediately wiped away my tears. I can't let those people see that I'm really a loser so I have to fix myself.

"Amber, wala ka bang sasabihin sa akin? Something that could be helpful to the mafia?", tanong niya at nagtatakang napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"After you left last night, I continued hacking information about that Rovan Allejo III, and you know what?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "What?"

"They're a mafia organization who's obsessed with creating smartdrugs. And their name is Genesis", wika niya in his low voice. Napatutop ako sa bibig ko. I've been in grave danger just to obtain information about that organization but Ryu did it by simply sitting and clicking buttons and icons? How good really is Apollo the hacker?!

"Why do you seem surprise Amber? I know you know this already", wika niya. Of course I do. I'm just surprised by how he was able to obtain those information in a short span of time.

"How did you do it?", I asked, dodging his first question.

"I hacked their site."

"What the hell?!"

"But I didn't get much. I was almost caught. Mabuti na lamang at napigilan ko ang pag-trace ng hacking location. I guess Genesis got the legendary hacker which is Trojan. He's popular for being the best and legendary hacker of all time but I didn't expect that he really exists."

"At hindi ka nahuli?", kinakabahang tanong ko.

"Fortunately, yes. As of now I cannot hack them anymore. I can't even trace them kahit konti", wika ni Ryu.

"Ano pa ang nakalap mong impormasyon tungkol sa kanila?"

He darted a dangerous stare at me. "I thought you don't want to pull the trigger?"

"But I can take the shot. I just decided to take the shot Ryu. I can't take to live like this anymore", wika ko sa kanya. Who cares if my ice cream is melting?

"Information like they got the two people I'm hunting down. They used to be Pan and Ganymede of Vander Mafia before but now they're known as Bismuth and Xenon. They coded higher position with the name of an element while their subordinates are coded with symbols. Pretty lame, huh?"

Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya na ang greek gods and goddesses na codenames din nila ay lame din ngunit napansin ko ang kakaibang galit sa mata nito.

"What's with those two?", tanong ko sa kanya.

"They killed my Mom right in front of me kaya hindi ko makakalimutan ang mukha nilang dalawa. Oh, by the way, Rovan Allejo got the codename Copper."

Copper! That's how Tito Benjamin calls him! Dati ko pang naririnig iyon sa kanila. Tito Benjamin is Dad's brother. Hindi ako malapit sa kanila. Kami ni Mommy, maybe because Mom got amnesia kaya ilap sila kay Mommy. Hindi kasi maganda ang relasyon ni Mommy sa mga kapatid ni Daddy. I'm not really sure if they don't like her for Dad or what, hindi kasi nila masyadong pinapansin si Mommy. Pero hindi rin naman nila tahasang pinapakita iyon. And that's how I used to be not so close with my relatives. Well some relatives are closed to Mom but not Tito Benjamin's family at dahil doon ay hindi rin kami naging close ng pinsan kong si Rocel. She's older by three years at madalas ko siyang ina-ate dati but she doesn't like me at madalas akong inaaway dati.

"Copper...", I sighed. "You told the mafia about it?"

He shook his head. "I only keep it to myself by now."

"Why? They aim to destroy Vander mafia!", I hissed.

"I know. I'll tell the mafia but not now. Kapag sinabi ko sa kanila, they will order the best reapers and assassins to kill those traitors and I can't let that happen. I want to kill them. They must be my first blood...."

Napatitig ako sa kanya. He is full of anger and hatred. Bakit madalas yata akong makatagpo ng tao na malaki ang galit? Now they've influenced me. I want to hate my father too. Ngayon ay alam ko na ang pakiramdam ni Gray when he found out that he's a son of a mafia boss.

My phone rang kaya agad kong sinagot iyon ng makita na si Mommy ang tumawag.

"Mom."

"Sweetheart I'm at the mall, the one nearest to Bridle. If your class is over, puntahan mo lang ako dito ha?", she said through the line.

"I don't have class Mom", pagsisinungaling ko. "Nasa foodcourt po ako."

"Okay sweetie. I'll fetch you there", wika ni Mommy at pinatay ang tawag.

"Sorry about it", baling ko kay Ryu. "It's my mom who called. May usapan kasi na magkikita kami."

"Your Mom", he asked and a hint of yearning glowed in his eyes. "I think I have to go but I have to thank her first for the cookies. Silly me. Alam mo bang naiisip ko ang mama ko sa mama mo? They also have the same taste of
baked cookie. Even if I'm only four years old when I last tasted it, hinding-hindi ko malilimutan iyon. Maybe they just had the same recipe. If I don't remember my Mom's face, I would have thought that she's my Mom but of course it's impossible. I saw with my own eyes the explosion of the car at buntis pa siya nung mga panahong iyon. My sister should have been the same age as you."

"Sister?", I asked.

"Yeah. An unborn sibling. Though we haven't really had an ultrasound, I know Mom is carrying a baby girl. Tsk. Why am I telling you this?", he asked with a smirk.

"Finally! Hi Amber!"

Napatingin kami ni Ryu sa nagsalita. It was Mnemosyne. She was holding paperbags too at agad niyang inabot iyon kay Ryu. I gave her a fake smile dahil wala akong ganang ngumiti ngayon. Not after all that happened to me.

"You ungrateful and handsome creature! Why did you just leave me?!", wika niya kay Ryu who chose to ignore him. I thought she's going to say 'ungrateful jerk' but she didn't. Uh, what do I expect? He's the boss and she's just a reaper. And she's after him too.

"Because I can", walang ganang sagot ni Ryu.

"Oh, let's just ignore him Amber", Mnemosyne said and smiled at me. "You're alone?

I shook my head. "I'm seeing my Mom."

"Yeah and that's me. Hi!", bati ng bagong dating na si Mommy. She kissed my hair at ngumiti kay Ryu. "Hi there Ryu!", bumaling naman siya kay Mnemosyne at ngumiti dito. "And this pretty lady is?"

"Oh, hi Maam! I'm Mnemosyne, Amber's friend", wika nito. Tsk, we're not really friends but I didn't object.

Saglit na natigilan si Mommy at tinitigan si Mnemosyne. "Stefanie...."

Nagulat si Mnemosyne at maging si Ryu ay gulat na napatayo at napatingin kay Mommy.

"Did you just say Stefanie Ma'am? That's my name, how do you know it? Hindi kita kilala", wika ni Mnemosyne. I knew her reaper instinct is active, trying to assess whether Mom is a
threat or not.

Yes, I have read in the files I found in Athena that Mnemosyne's real name is Stefanie. But why did Mom mumble it?

"Sorry about that. I just had this little girl in my dreams na madalas kong sinusuklayan. I call her Stefanie and I thought that was you but I guess not. Maybe it's Amber's cousin Stephanie. Sorry. I'm Amethyst Sison, you can call me Tita Amy", she said and hugged Mnemosyne just like what she did with Ryu at mas lalo namang nagulat si Mnemosyne sa pagyakap nito. I really have a cousin named Stephanie and maybe that's the Stefanie that Mom saw in her dreams.

"I'm really sorry dear, I just thought that you're that little girl with a big ribbon", Mom said at bumaling sa akin. "Sweetie, you got pretty friends."

I smiled at her ngunit hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang kakaibang tingin nina Ryu at Mnemosyne like they just found out something interesting.

"Ryu, Mnemosyne mauna na kami sa inyo", paalam ko sa kanila at hinila si Mommy palayo doon. Mom bid them goodbye at lumayo na kami. Kakaiba kasi ang tingin nila and I sensed something.

I hope they are not thinking of something that will harm my Mom in any way. But if that happens, I will protect her by any means if ever.

#

-Shinichilaaaabs