Chapter 50: Demon in Disguise
(Part 2)

The food was good and Mr. Ravino was with us during the whole meal. Truth is wala akong ganang kumain but I don't want to turn down the kindness of the host.

"I hope that you will do all your best to find my daughter", wika ni Sir Ravino. We smiled at him. With these two guys with me, I know we will. Mababakas sa mukha ng paralisadong matanda ang pag-aalala sa kanyang anak.

"Tito?"

Sabay kaming napalingon sa may pintuan ng komedor. There stood a young man, mukhang nasa bentetres anyos ito. He's wearing a school uniform, from a certain college.

"Edward", wika ni Sir Ravino. "Join us, join us."

Edward looked at us as if he is wondering who we might be. I gave him a sly smile when he sat beside me.

"So may I know who these guests are?', taning niya at isa-isang tiningnan kami.

"Ah, this young man is my good friend Robertross Delano. These youngsters here are his friends, the girl beside you is Amber, this is Khael and the other one is Gray", pakilala ni Sir Ravino sa amin. "This is my nephew, Edward Ruelan."

"Hello", he smiled at us at gumanti kami ni Detective Tross ng ngiti sa kanya but Gray and Khael just nod. Oh, they aren't that friendly, are they?

"So Tito, is this a joke? You're asking these kids to find Marilyn? Seriously?", he asked and smirked. Tila nais ko na lamang bawiin ang ngiting iginawad ko sa kanya kanina. Yeah Edward, we're jokes. Now I know why Gray and Khael don't seem so friendly with you.

"Just as I thought", narinig kong wika ni Khael. Ibinaba niya ang kubyertos at ipinatong ang siko sa mesa. He looked at Edward intently at naniningkit ang mga mata nito.

"What?", singhal ni Edward. Mukhang nailang ito sa klase ng tinging iginagawad ni Khael sa kanya. I never see Khael as the intimidating guy by the way he stares unless it's a case related event. And the stare that he's darting Edward is really intimidating.

"You looked familiar", sagot nito. I have always known Khael as the friendly guy at hindi ko naisip na umaandar din pala ang kayabangan nito. I thought it's only applicable to Gray's case.

"Really Alonzo?", Gray smirked. I know it wasn't a good sign at alam ko rin ang kahahantungan ng usapang ito. These two brats are crazy boastful at ganun din si Edward. I cannot imagine how this guy would react to these two.

"Saan nga ba?", Khael puts his finger on his temple as if he's thinking. "Ah! Sa presinto! Aren't you the one who stayed there over the night?"

I saw Edward's face tightened. Maybe he doesn't want someone to bring up such topic.

"Talaga Khael? Bakit kaya?", Gray said. I saw Detective Tross smiled, he seems to be amused with their attitudes.

Bahagyang tumikhim si Sir Ravino. "Yes, it was when he drove under the influence of alcohol. Anak siya ng namayapa kong kapatid. Ako na ang nagpalaki sa kanya since he was fifteen."

Napasimangot na lamang ang mukha ni Edward. Hindi na niya kami kinausap pa. Tahimik na lamang niya kaming sinamahan sa pagkain.

"Excuse me Sir."

Sabay ulit kaming napalingon nang may nagsalita na naman sa may pintuan. Isang lalaking nakasuot ng pormal na asul na polo ang naroon. Bahagya siyang yumuko sa amin bago lumapit kay Sir Ravino.

"Sir, handa na po ang sasakyan", wika nito. Nahihiyang ngumiti ito sa amin and I had this conclusion in mind that he's the driver.

"Kumain na muna tayo Isaias", sagot ni Sir Ravino ngunit tumanggi ito.

"Naku Sir, nakakahiya naman po. Isa pa, kumain na po ako."

"Wag ka nang mahiya. Sige na kumain ka na, saluhan mo kami", pgpupumilit ni Sir Ravino sa kanyang empleyado.

Bigla na lamang ibinagsak ni Edward ang kanyang kubyertos dahilan upang mapatingin kaming lahat sa kanya

"I told you Tito that we cannot eat together with employees. Sinabi ko na rin na wag kayong masyadong mabait. Kahit pa halos dito na tumanda si Mang Isaias, there should be a barrier between the employee and employers", kapagkuway tiningnan niya kaming apat. "Don't invite so many people here. Maybe that is the reason why Lyn disappeared. You're too kind and you know she hates it."

"Ganyan ba ang natututunan mo sa kurso mong business administration Edward?", bahagyang tumaas ang boses ni Sir Ravino. 'Because I don't know that looking down on your employees is taught at school!"

Naramdaman ko ang tensyon sa hapag-kainan and I wish I'm not there to hear it. Hindi na lamang sumagot pa si Sir Ravino. Good thing Detective Tross was able to pull through.

"Tapos na ba kayo? Let's continue our investigation", wika niya at nagpaalam naman kami sa kanila bago bumalik sa silid ni Lyn.

"I hate that Edward, hindi ko tuloy maiwasan na isiping siya ang may pakana ng pagkawala ni Lyn", Khael said ng makabalik kami sa taas.

"Don't point fingers Mik lalo na at ang dahilan lamang ay ayaw mo sa kanya", paalala ni Detective Tross. I sat on the bed habang pinanuod sila.

"I know. Of course I know that. It's just that-" Bigla na lamang siyang napatingin sa akin. He dashed towards me and to my surprise, he leaned closer to me.

"Hey!"

"What the hell are you doing Alonzo?", may bahid ng pagkairita sa boses ni Gray.

He leaned closer causing me to tucked on the side of the bed near the headboard. Then he pulled something from the headboard at ipinakita sa amin ang libro na nakuha niya. Meh! He should have excused! Pwede naman akong umalis doon!

"A book?"

Khael scanned through the pages and he shook his head. "A diary. It's a journal with a list of dates and other schedules. Not really personal thoughts and experiences. Mukhang hindi siya ang tipo ng nagda-diary. I mean this is specially made. Look, the entries were dated just a while before the disappearance."

"Uh, diaries are old fashioned. We can write it down on blogs you know", Gray said at kinuha ang journal mula kay Khael. "Nevertheless, this may be of help. Let's find the latest entries. Surely she wrote something related to these phrases here."

Inabot niya sa akin ang journal and I read the few entries. It tells us about the time when she received a suspicious gift without a name of the sender. Nang buksan daw niya ito ay isang bote ng kulay asul na gatorade ang naroon. She refused to drink it, instead ay tinago niya ito.

Another entry is about someone who keeps on following her. Then she received another gift which was another bottle but this time it was a Blu water. Sa pagkakataong ito ay natakot na siya, she threw away the bottle and became vigilant. She said that a stalker keeps on following her.

I tried to find another but wala ng iba pang nakasulat doon. Tama nga si Khael, it was specially made. Did Lyn leave it on purpose? Para sa kung sino man ang humanap sa kanya?

There was a sticky note there with a series of number and the same phrase na kanina pa namin nakikita.

16119192315184: EAP's TTh 1:30-3PM with my name after.

Gray stared at the. He tried figuring out the numbers by using complicated ciphers but he seemed frustrated. Saglit na tinitigan ni Gray ang sticky note then a mischievous smile escaped from his lips.

"I know what does it mean now. Let us not make things complicated. Try to use alphanumeric cipher and the numbers will stand for Password. 16-1-19-19-23-15-18-4. Ibig sabihin, ang password niya ay 'theravenmarilyn'. Try opening her laptop with it", Gray said. Tumalima naman si Detective Tross. He reached for the laptop na nakita namin kanina and bingo! It is the right password!

"It really is! Amazing, Ae-"
Gray glared at Detective Tross.

"Err, I mean Ivan", he said at ngumisi. We searched the documents and there's a folder with the name THE RAVEN kaya agad naming binuksan iyon. It was a video made by Marilyn herself.

In the video that she left, she's asking for help to locate her. She leaves her tablet's GPS connected to her phone.

"Some people are not who they are in your eyes", Marilyn said in the video. "They are devil in disguise. Do not trust people by how they look. Please, whoever is watching this, I really need your help."

Natahimik kami pagkatapos naming panuorin ang video. Ano kaya ang ibig sabihin ni Lyn sa sinabi niya. Some people are not who they are in our eyes. They are devil in disguise.

Ibig ba niyang sabihin ay maaaring isa sa nagkukunwaring nag-aalala sa kanya ang siyang may pakana ng lahat ng iyon?

"She's a wit for leaving us some hints and she's amazingly calm even they threatened her already", Gray remarked. "But I don't think she's telling the truth."

His statement made us puzzled. "Anong ibig mong sabihin Gray?", I asked.

"You mean she's playing with us as if she's manipulating all these stuff?" sabat ni Khael na tumayo.

"No, he didn't mean that way Mikmik. Try to observe her during the entire video. She seems uncomfortable of what she's doing. She keeps on grasping her hands, and it's the usual mannerism panic. Lastly, if you're in the situation, you think you can still be so tricky by leaving the hints?", wika ni Detective Tross.

"If I am the victim in this situation, I would rather leave a clear statement about my whereabouts especially when I'm in a great danger. Unless-"

"Unless may mga taong nasa paligid niyan na nagmamasid sa kanya", Khael cut me.

"Somehow, that's right! But Amber, if you're in the situation again and there are people who's keeping an eye on you, where do you choose to keep your secret in revealing their identity?", tanong ni Gray.

Kung ako nasa sitwasyon na yun, saan nga ba? Should I put it somewhere na hindi basta-basta malalaman ng kung sinu-sino?

"Sa diary since nobody will read it kasi it's a personal property and reading those is invading privacy", sagot ko sa kanila. Truth is wala akong diary. During grade school ay napagpasyahan kong huwag ng magdiary ng minsang binasa iyon ng isang kaklase ko sa harap ng klase. It was an entry about how much I like my first crush Reo. I was Grade 5 that time and I felt so humiliated nang malaman ni Reo ang tungkol sa pagkakagusto ko sa kanya and that's when I decided not to keep diaries anymore. Some people just don't respect privacy in those little pages.

"How sure are you na hindi nila babasahin iyon? People are curious, you know", paalala ni Gray. Uh, yeah. I super agree.

"Pwede rin namang sa gadget ko. May passcode naman eh", Khael said.

"Gadgets are easy to hack too", wika ni Detective Tross. "With just few clicks, you can say goodbye to your secrets na iniisip mong mapoprotektahan ng gadget password."

Yeah, he's right. Bank transactions are highly secured yet madali lamang itong napasok ni Ryu nang minsang humingi ako ng pabor sa kanya.

"Uh, maybe somewhere na least suspectable", I answered.

"Exactly!" Gray exclaimed. "And to you where will it be?"

My phone rang so I excused myself from them. Lumabas ako ng kwarto at agad na sinagot ang tawag na mula kay Jeremy.

"Hello-"

"Bestie! Ang daya niyo talaga!", he said from the other line. I can only imagine his pouting lips as he talks. I wonder how did the missing phone case at Bridle go with them.

"Sorry Je, four is a crowd. Anyways, why did you call?", I asked. I heard a TSK and maybe that was in response for what I said that four is a crowd. Hindi ko naman minamaliit si Jeremy pero ayaw kong ipasok siya sa mga delikadong bagay na ganto. Minsan na siyang napagkamalang killer because all the evidences are pointing at him and that made me worry so much. Ayaw ko nang maulit pa ito. I cannot bear to see my 'bestfriend' in danger.

"Aren't you going to ask me how's the case?", tanong niya and I mentally rolled my eyes. Can't it wait? Pwede naman niyang ikwento iyon kapag nakabalik na kami.

I sighed. "How's the case?"

"We solved it!"

"Congratulations."

"Could you atleast pretend that you're really congratulating us? Kulang kasi sa sigla Bestie."

"Je-"

"On the second thought, wag na lang pala. That furniture shop owner monopolized the work and she got most of the credits though I was really the one who hinted her!", naiinis niyang wika. That's how he bonds with Math eh?

"That's all?"

"Nope. That's not the reason why I called."

"Spill it Je", wika ko. Uh, I hope it's something important dahil tumawag pa talaga siya.

"I have a knock knock", wika niya. I can sense that he's grinning ear to ear. Arrrgh! He called for a knock knock?! Ano bang hugis ng utak meron si Jeremy Martinez.

"Je, can't it wait?"

"No it can't. Come on Bestie, knock knock!"

Napansin ko ang driver na nakatingin sa akin mula sa baba. What's his name again? Ah, Isaias.

I rolled my eyes nang maalala si Jeremy. "Fine. Who's there?"

"Failure."

"Failure who?"
.

He cleared his throat. "And if you FAILURE sinking I would jump right over into cold cold water for you! HAHAHAHAHA! Failure!"

His laughter lingered on the phone at tila nais kong ipasok ang kamao ko sa celphone upang umabot iyon sa kanya! If that is only possible!

"Jeremy you just called to give me such pun?"

"Pun? Mali. It's PunS." So he finally admits that those are puns. At hindi lang isa! Whatever.

"Yeah, your Puns."

"Bestie, ano ang apelyido ni The Rock?", he asked from the other line.

"Johnson. His real name is Dwayne Johnson", wika ko sa kanya. I only got little knowledge about the hardcore wrestler/movie star.

"Eeenk! Mali Bestie! It's Obama. The Rock Obama! HAHAHAHAHAHA!", he started laughing hard and I prevented myself to hang up on him. I hope he doesn't die choking due to laughing on his own joke.

"Jeremy you are wasting my time. I'm hangi-"

"Wait! Last na lang Bestie. Please?"

Naiimagine ko ang mukha niyang naka-pout at nagpa-puppy eyes. And I really hate him in such state! "Fine! Huli na to ha? Shoot."

"Bakit hindi pwedeng magpulbo ang mga maiitim?"

"Bakit?"

"Kasi mapagkakamalan silang Crinkles! HAHAHAHAHAHA! Sorry Bestie, yan kasi snack namin kanina ni Maya eh." He continued laughing at agad kong pinatay ang tawag. Uh, Jeremy and his puns.

Pabalik na sana ako ng bigla akong makarinig ng kalabog. It was coming from above kaya tiningala ko ang ceiling. There is another noise and it seems like there is really someone in the attic. Agad akong bumalik sa silid kung nasaan sina Gray ngunit nakasalubong ko silang palabas ng kwarto.

"I had this feeling that we're being watched from that room", Khael said. "Hey Special A, let's go and see Sir Ravino."

"I have the same feeling Alonzo. Kanina pa rin ako naba-bother sa mga munting kalabog na naririnig ko", sang-ayon ni Gray.

"You heard the thuds too?", I asked with wide eyes and he nodded.

"Sorry for dragging you to this very dangerous case kids", seryosong saad ni Detective Tross. "Kaninang andun tayo sa kwarto ni Lyn, may namamataan akong mga hidden bugs and cameras. But I kept quiet to conceal my suspicion. Kaya rin tahimik ako kasi ayokong isipin ng kung sino mang nagmamatyag na napansin ko na iyon."

Kinabahan ako dahil sa sinabi ni Detective Tross. Does that mean we're being manipulated in this case? Kung gayon ay sino ang may pakana ng lahat ng ito?

"And you were right about that video."

Sabay kaming napatingin sa kanya.
"You mean, Lyn is being manipulated by doing those clues and leaving all those stuffs?" Khael asked in perplexed face.

"Yes, but no."

"What do you mean?", Gray asked.

"Yes, because she's manipulated. But no, she still left us the real clues."

"Really? What is it then?"

"The thing that Gray is holding, those are the clues", turo nya sa handouts na hawak-hawak ni Gray. The ballad and poem handout. "If you notice, she highlighted some lines there. She's trying to picture out what is the real score between this game."

Detective Tross is really observant to figure those out. Kaya nga ayaw kong maniwala sa sinabi ni Detective Adler tungkol sa pagiging walang kwentang detective niya. He may not be as skilled as Gray and Khael but still his training as a police detective before has done him well.

I reached for the handouts na hawak-hawak ni Gray. Tiningnan ko ang papel at binasa ang bahaging may highlights ng malakas para marinig nila.

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, 'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door- Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;-
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted- Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor.

Those were the highlighted lines from the paper.

"Do you have any idea who did this to her?", I exclaimed after reading those.

Detective Tross smiled. "Gray, I know you already figured it out. Spill it so that we can plan how to hunt that person and save Lyn."

Gray sighed and said lazily. "Base sa mga nakahighlight na bahagi ng tula, nag mention ito nang kasarian. He, which means a guy. Adding the fact that she also mentioned '"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! - ' also clears the idea na kakilala o malapit ito sa kanila pero tina- traydor lang sila."

"Now I get it. That is why the word Prophet was underlined aside from being highlighted. It now makes sense", Khael said with a smirk. Looks like the two of them already know who's behind it. Nakarinig ulit kami ng kalabog. Mahina lamang iyon, maybe it's coming from someone who is spying us.

We heard a vehicle engine at agad na tumkbo sina Khael at Gray. "Let's catch the culprit before it's too late!"

Kung gayon ay ......

Sumunod kami ni Detective Tross sa kanila papunta sa garahe. The van's engine is on at sasakay na sana si Sir Ravino.

"Sir!", tawag ni Gray which made Edward stopped from carrying him towards the car. Napalingon sila sa direksyon namin at napansin ko ang masamang tingin ni Edward sa amin.

"Sandali lang Sir Ravino", wika ni Detective Tross. Bahagya pa siyang humihingal mula sa pagtakbo. "I guess these kids already know who's behind the disappearance of your daughter."

Napatigil silang lahat at humarap sa amin. Maging ang driver ay bumaba upang makinig sa munting deduction nina Gray.

"Really? Who's behind this? And where's my daughter?", tanong ni Sir Ravino.

"We can only answer the first question but don't worry, we'll have the person responsible for this charade answer the second one", Khael said. Basing on their expressions, they really are sure of it.

"Then who did it?"

"Lyn revealed it all. She's being manipulated but nevertheless, she left a clue for us to identify who's behind this", wika ni Gray.

Edward made a face on us. "Can you just go straight to the point?"

"As you please", Gray said. I'm amazed that he was able to resist Edward's attitude this time, unlike kanina. "The poem says it all. And it says something about the prophet."

The prophet? That's the keyword? Kung gayon ay ang may pakana ng lahat ng ito and the one who's been watching us from the room is the prophet?

"Do you mind telling us where did you bring Lyn, Mr. Isaias?", wika ni Gray at nagulat naman ang driver. Even Sir Ravino and Edward. They can't believe that the one who kidnapped Lyn is their most trusted driver for years.

"Hindi ko alam ang pinagsasabi ninyo!", giit ng driver. Bahagya siyang umatras but the car is behind him.

"I-Isaias? Totoo ba?", halos hindi makapaniwalang wika ni Sir Ravino.

"Hindi ko alam ang pinagsasabi nila!"

"You can't deny it! Lyn clearly left the clues about your identity. Hindi namin alam kung totoo ba ang tungkol sa stalker niya or it's just her ploy to ambiguously pass the clues about you. Blue Gatorade and Blue Water, it clearly refers to you. You got a blue polo as your uniform as driver right?", Khael said.

Nagulat na lamang kaming lahat ng bigla niya akong hinila, he put his arms on my neck. "Mukhang wala na akong lusot. Paalisin ninyo ako dito bago ko patayin ang babaeng ito!", he shouted. He let out a knife from his pocket and I felt relieved knowing that it isn't a gun.

"Oh, you really intend to kill her?", kampanteng sagot ni Gray. "I doubt if you could."

He's holding the knife against me and then it occurred to me! I heard a thud from the attic but I saw Mr. Isaias from the other side of the house. Did he got another accomplice?

"Gray! I think Marilyn is in the attic! She's the one who's making the thuds!", wika ko and I winced nang hinigpitan nito ang pagkakahawak sa leeg ko. Nagtangkang tumulong si Detective Tross but Mr. Isaias warned him.

"Wag niyo nang subukan kung gusto niyo pang mabuhay itong kaibigan ninyo. At tama siya, nasa attic lamang si Marilyn. Munting tunog lamang ang nililikha niya dahil binalaan ko siya na kapag lumikha siya ng anumang tunog ay mamamatay ang Daddy niya-"

"Bakit mo ito ginagawa Kuya Isaias! We trusted you!", Edward said. Ang masamang titig na iginagawad nito sa akin kanina ay iginagawad na niya kay Mr. Isaias ngayon. "How dare you!"

"Isaias..."

Bahagyang lumuwang ang pagkakahawak niya sa akin and it's my chance to free myself from his grip. I twisted his arm causing him to put away the knife. Nalaglag iyon sa lupa and I immediately pinned his arm on his back.

"I told you", Gray said with a smirked.

Bahagyang ngumisi si Mr. Isaias. "Hindi niyo ako pinatapos sa sasabihin ko. Sinabi kong inutusan ko si Lyn na huwag lumikha ng ingay pero gumawa pa rin siya. Sa tingin niyo, bakit kaya? Hindi kaya hinang-hina na siya dahil sa ilang linggong pananatili sa attic? Hindi kaya naghihingalo na siya-"

"Detective Tross, help Amber pin that man down!", Khael said and he dashed inside kasama si Gray at Edward. Maybe they're planning to save Marilyn before it's too late.

Akmang lalapit na sa amin si Detective Tross but Mr. Isaias pulled himself. He throw some can on the ground at may mga lumabas na usok doon! I saw Sir Ravino fell from his wheelchair at nawalan ng malay.

Sleeping gas! It was sleeping gas! Naramdaman ko ang unti-unting pagpikit ng systema ko. I fell into the ground and before I lost my sense ay nakita ko ang mukha ni Mr. Isaias, smirking at me.

Naramdaman ko ang unti-unting pagkawala ng ulirat ko and I felt something hard hit my head.

"Para iyan sa pakikialam", I heard a distinct voice from the blurry face I can see bago ako tuluyang lamunin ng kadiliman.

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

"Amber, how do you feel? May masakit ba?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Gray sa akin. I felt something in my head and I realized na nakabenda na ito. Nasa isang ospital din ako.

"What happened?", I asked.

"That Isaias let out a sleeping gas which caused you, Detective Tross and Sir Ravino to lost consciousness. The culprit took that opportunity to escape. Kanina pa nagising sina Detective Tross at Sir Ravino while we rushed you in the hospital dahil sa head injury mo."

"Where are they?", I asked.

"The detective and Khael are still in the mansion with the police. They retrieved the Gatorade sent by Isaias to Lyn at magagamit iyon na mga ebidensya."

"What is Mr. Isaias' motive?", tanong ko.

"From how I see it, I guess it's money."

"Uh, Money. They have trusted him for years and it turned out like that because of money? Geez, it really changes people."

"It doesn't change people. It unmasks them. Anyway, how do you feel?", he asked worriedly.

"I'll live."

"I'm sorry", nakayukong wika niya. "I wasn't able to help you. I'm really sorry."

"Gray, wala ka namang kasalanan-"

"No. I thought hindi ka mapapahamak but I was wrong! It was entirely my fault!"

"Gray", I reached for his hand. "This is just a minor injury. See? Hindi naman ako nagka-amnesia diba so I guess I'm fine. Blaming yourself does no good. Kamusta ang mag-ama?"

"They're safe now. But Lyn is here too. She's sick at kasalukuyang nasa room 73", sagot niya and I smiled at him.

"73 is a lucky number", I told him.

"Really?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Cooper Sheldon considers it as the best number. It's the 21st prime number and its mirror, 37 is the 12th. Then the mirror of 12 which is 21 is a product of 7 and 3. In binary, 73 is written as 1001001 which is a palindrome and when you read it backwards, it's still 1001001."

Pinitik niya ang ilong ko. "Nakuha mo pa talagang magtrivia ah. But I'm glad you're fine now", he said. He put his forehead on mine at hindi ko maiwasang mamula so I pulled myself from him.

"Puntahan natin si Lyn. I wanna talk to her about the poem. Maybe she's sad for choosing such poem as reference."

"Maybe later after you take a rest. Isa pa ay kailangan pa din niyang magpahinga. They haven't feed her properly. Once a day, or never", sagot ni Gray.

"Nevermore", I said as I remember the phone.

"You're not that raven, are you?"

"Of course! You're a prophet or a devil?", nakangiting tanong ko sa kanya.

"I can be both."

"Sounds like 'The Raven'."

"Well, you are my raven", he said. Napakunot naman ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Eh? The raven's black feathers have traditionally been considered a sign of bad omen, ibig sabihin ay bad omen ako sa iyo?", tanong ko sa kanya.

Gray let out a hearty chuckle. "No, don't take it that way. I mean in Norse Mythology. Odin had two ravens named Hugin and Munin, which means 'thought' and 'memory'. It simply means I always have you in my thoughts and forever in my memory."

I blushed with his last words. Tsk, that poem. It simply tells a story. Every word has its meaning. And Gray has his own.

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-Shinichilaaaabs