Natigilan ako sa narinig kong sagot mula kay Ray. So he was really the mastermind behind this scandal in Dormisteryo. And why was he doing something like that?

Hirap na hirap siyang hulihin nina Kurt dahil wala silang makuhang ideya kung paano umaatake ang magnanakaw ng brief nila. Tapos heto akong kararating lang sa Dormisteryo, e biglang malalaman ang sikreto ng taong nasa likod nito na walang kahirap-hirap.

It's totally absurd to deny the fact that I found him already.

"I-ikaw nga talaga," I was even thinking if he was even wearing one of the boxer briefs that he had stolen.

Ray looked at Cris before laughing so hard. Tawang-tawa siyang makita ang gulat na ekspresyon sa mukha ko. Kahit sino naman ay magugulantang din sa confession na ginawa niya.

"It was a perfect plan, sabi sa iyo Cris, maganda yung plano kong iyon e," mas lalong lumakas ang tawa nito.

Cris, on the other hand, didn't seem to be impressed by him. "I can agree to some extent. But the delivery of that plan was rather unimpressive than admirable."

Ray slowly regained his composure upon hearing what Cris said. "What do you mean by that?"

Cris had a sip of tea. "You almost risk yourself several times. Tingin mo ba hindi sila makakahanap ng paraan para mahuli ka?"

Ray smiled. "That's the fun of it, wala nga silang ginagawang paraan. They even thought one time na may poltergeist sa unit 16," Ray looked at me. "Di ba nga, Kent?"

I slowly nodded my head. "Tama siya."

Cris shook his head. "I can't believe them."

"Hey, hey, hey, don't blame them. Pumasok ako run mga bandang alas tres na, tinapat ko talaga sa well-known term na devil's hour simply to add dramatic effect and make sure na walang gising sa kanila nang mga oras na iyon," dagdag ni Ray.

"How long have you been doing this?" Cris asked him.

"Almost a month?"

"Almost a month. Our goal here is to gather information from them, not to make fun of them, ano namang napala mo sa pagnanakaw ng brief sa kanila?" Seryosong tanong ni Cris kay Ray.

"You told me to do something—"

"I know. But stealing their undergarments is out of the picture. Hindi ko alam na ikaw pala ang may gawa no'n, I've been hearing rumors lately sa school page natin na may brief thief nga raw sa Dormisteryo," dismayadong turan ni Cris.

Ray felt disappointed of what Cris told him. "Fine, I'll stop stealing their briefs. Wala na rin namang thrill dahil alam na ng isa sa kanila kung sino ako," Ray shot me a piercing dagger look.

Bakit parang kasalanan ko pa?

"Pero paano mo naman nagagawa yun? A-anong sense ng pagpasok mo sa unit 16?" I didn't wait for Cris to cut off the conversation. I need to know, I'm craving to know the answers.

Ray heaved a sigh of exasperation. "I'm setting up spying equipment sa unit 16. May orasan sa salas at doon ko lagi inilalagay yung wiretapping equipment ko na kailangan kong palitan ilang araw matapos kong ilagay yun dun."

I remember that there's indeed a clock sa salas ng Dormisteryo but I never paid any attention to that clock at all. It's like a common fixture in one's home.

"Hindi ka ba natatakot na mahuli nila?"

Ray smiled. "That may be the worst case scenario, but I'm always prepared. Naalala mo yung flashlight na hawak ko nung pumasok ako sa loob nang gabing iyon? That's also partnered with a stun pen that I always have in my pocket. Oras na mahuli nila ako, I can just stun them and escape."

That makes sense in some way. Mabuti na lang talaga hindi ko siya agad na kinumpronta noong makita ko siya. Baka na-stun niya pa ako gamit ang stun pen na nakatago lang pala sa bulsa niya.

Cris grinned with his eyes closed. "You did all of that, I can't believe Kyle would help you do it. Because clearly without her you won't have access in unit 16, right?" he looked at Ryu.

Ray nodded. "We've been working together."

"Tell me, how did the two of you planned all this? Wala naman akong nasabing ganito ang gagawin ninyong dalawa kaya kayo nandito," ang sabi pa ni Cris kay Ray.

"Well, naisip ko kasi na kung kailangan natin ng taong magiging source natin mula sa loob ng Unit 16, then clearly Kyle and I should think of a different method right? So I had asked Kyle that if ever someone, a prospective tenant, would show up and ask for a room, she must give that person an illusion of choice," Ray looked at me.

"What's this illusion that you two concocted?" asked Cris.

"Simply give that person an option to choose between two units and not give him any other alternatives. Kumbaga, isa sa dalawang pagpipilian lang ang pipiliin mo. And in order for us to make sure na unit 16 ang pipiliin ng taong iyon, I had asked Kyle to choose a unit that was statistically worse than most of the other units," Ray explained.

"And what's the unit that Kyle had chosen?"

Ray called my name. "Tell him, Kent. What's the room Kyle has first given you," ang tanong nito sa akin.

Which I immediately answered, "Unit 12."

"Gotcha!" Ray snapped. "The unit that is full of outcasts."

"Tell me, who are these outcasts specifically?" ang sunod na tanong ni Cris.

"Is that even important? Mga typical outcast lang sila as I must say," Ray interjected.

"I want to know, maybe they could help us," ang sabi pa ni Cris.

"Okay, okay, those outcasts were the members of the school band who has defeated our course's band last year," halatang may halong timpi si Ray sa sinabi. "They ruined our chance of winning. Sayang yung credit."

So those guys are member of a band. Is that a rock band?

"Naalala ko na, sila ba yung indie band na tumugtog din sa welcoming party last time?" Cris asked again.

"Yeah, wala nang iba."

"They didn't do anything wrong for you to call them an outcast," sabi pa ni Cris kay Ray.

"Mukha silang outcasts, that's all. And Kent, tell me they acted like one too?" Ray asked.

Hinding hindi ko malilimutan yung araw na iyon kung saan ko nakadaupang-palad ang mga tenants sa unit 12. Yung mga balbas-saradong lalaki, yung isang kalbo, at yung may kapayatan, they were all giving me an unwelcoming vibe.

"I hate to admit this, but Ray was right. Kaya pinili ko sa unit 16 dahil hindi ko nagustuhan yung vibes ng unit 12, I was not comfortable with them," I wholeheartedly told Cris.

"See?" Ray's eyes widened as he looked at Cris. "Our plan worked because they looked and acted like an outcast. Kaya nandito ngayon si Kent sa harapan natin ay dahil mismo sa plano naming dalawa ni Kyle. You should give us a credit, hindi yung sinisermonan mo lang ako."

Cris shook his head. "I only want to point out that if someone didn't do anything wrong, wag mo silang bibigyan ng gano'ng klase ng titulo. If I were to put a name on someone's head, mas deserve pa ng mga tiga-unit 16 na mabigyan ng ganiyang klase ng pangalan. Except with you of course, Kent. You're with us now," said Cris.

Hindi ko na siya sinagot pa. I did agree already that I will help them. Wala naman akong choice at hawak nila ako sa leeg.

"Point taken. Nakadagdag lang siguro ng inis yung matalo yung course namin ng banda nila. I was rooting for the credit that we could've gotten that time, kaso nang dahil sa kanila, hindi kami nakatikim ng kahit isang extra credit," Ray finished up his tea.

"Anyway, I'm glad they're here to lign up with your plan," Cris smiled. "Napag-isip isip ko rin na maayos mo ngang naisagawa yung plano ninyo ni Kyle. The two of you has given Kent an illusion of choice that certainly worked really well dahil pinili niya ang unit 16." Cris tapped Ray a couple of times before finishing his own tea as well.

Ngumiti si Ray dahil sa wakas ay kinomendahan na rin siya ni Cris. He was certainly waiting for him to give him credit for what they have done.

"Pero may isang tanong lang akong gusto pang itanong sa iyo, Ray," Cris added.

"Ano 'yon?"

"Those undergarments, yung mga brief. Saan mo naman dinadala iyon?"

Ray snapped. "Ginupit-gupit ko yung mga luma tapos ginawa kong beddings ni Ralphy. Then yung mga bago, ginagamit ko. Di naman nila malalaman na suot ko yung mga bagong brief na binili nila eh," he even looked down on the boxer shorts that he was wearing.

"That's obviously unhygienic, but I don't want to imagine the worst if ever. Kamusta naman si Ralphy?"

"He's in my room, chilling. Alam mo naman kung paano umasta yung mga special breed na pusa."

"May pusa ka rito sa unit mo? Pero no pets allowed dito ah?" ang tanong ko sa kaniya.

"No pet allowed, but nobody knows if I had one. Kaya nga nasa kuwarto ko lang lagi si Ralphy. It can never go out para makita ninuman," depensa ni Ray sa alaga niya.

"You clearly violated a lot of rules here. You manipulated the rules, you illegally sneaked in in unit 16, nagnanakaw ka rin ng mga bagay na hindi sa iyo, and now you also had a pet? Here in Dormisteryo? A-ano pa bang rules dito ang hindi mo nalalabag?" I asked once again.

"I can violate the rule of violence," he shot me a serious look. "Did I do everything that I said with just my own volition? We had purpose on why we did that. Hindi to basta trip trip lang."

Cris nodded. "Tama si Ryu, Kent. He's doing that for good reason. Ikaw nga, nakapatay ka ng kapwa mo estudyante, did we even judge you?"

My blood run cold. "Hindi ko siya pinatay."

"Then why were you convicted of murder?"

"Because I was framed! Gusto ni'yo bang tulungan ko kayo sa mga plano ninyo o hindi, I can just tell everything I know to those people in unit 16, wala na akong pakialam kung malaman nila ang sikreto ko," sambit ko sa kanila.

"Are you daring me, Kent?" asked Cris.

Tinitigan ko siya sa mata. "Yes, I am daring you."

Hindi ako nagpatinag sa pakikipagtitigan sa kaniya. Total at nasa teritoryo naman nila ako, I must not show fear. Because fear control people from what they are capable of doing.

Fear will stop them from believing that they can do whatever they wanted to do.

Hanggang sa bigla na lang tumingin sa malayo si Cris at saka napakagat nang mariin sa kaniyang labi. Nagdabog pa nga siya sa mesa gamit ang kaniyang kanang palad.

The empty teacups on top of the table almost toppled in. May kaunting tsaa rin mula sa tasa na nasa harapan ko ang siyang natapon sa mesa.

I can feel his anger. He must had felt defeated.

"Hindi mo rin kasi ramdam ang mawalan ng taong pinakamamahal mo," bulong ni Cris. "Kaya hindi ako titigil na alamin ang buong pangyayari. Hindi ako susuko na malaman ang katotohan sa pagkawala ni Casey."

Ray was there, silently watching us.

"Kung gusto mong manatiling nakatago ang sikreto mo, susunod ka sa lahat ng utos ko sa ayaw at sa gusto mo. Pero sige, mangangako akong walang sinuman ang makakaalam hangga't sumusunod ka sa plano, pero heto ang tatandaan mo Kent. Once you break your deal with me, I can ruin your life. I can ruin your future," Cris told me.

Halata sa kaniya ang pagtitimpi dahil bumabakas pa ang ugat sa kaniyang leeg habang sinasabi iyon. He must be so triggered when I tested him. Hindi niya yata inakala na kaya ko siyang sagutin nang gano'n.

Again, we looked on each other's eyes.

We tested each other's patience. We felt the blood pumping over our  bodies. Alam kong dito na magkakatalo kung magpapasailalim ako sa ilalim ng kapangyarihan niya.

I started having flashbacks. I remember my parents before they let me go and free me. Yung huling yakap nina mama sa akin bago ko lisanin ang hometown kung saan ako lumaki.

I know I still have the dream of coming back. I don't want to lose that chance. I can still fix whatever was broken. I can still save my old self.

I can still save Lucas Reinhart...

Kaya sa tagpong iyon, minabuti kong ilihis ang tingin ko at tumingin sa aking mga nakakuyom na kamao na nakapatong sa aking mga binti.

"Handa akong tulungan kayo, pero oras na makuha ni'yo ang kasagutan sa mga tanong ninyo. Mangangako kayong tatantanan ni'yo ako at kalilimutan ninyo ang lahat ng tungkol sa nakaraan ko," I looked into their eyes one by one.

I want to know that I can trust them. That I can trust the words that will come out of their mouth. Gusto kong makita sa mga mata nila ang katotohanan na hinihingi ko.

Then Cris lend me a hand to accept. "Deal."

He was waiting for me to close the deal with the handshake.

I gave myself one more reason why I will do this. Bumuntong-hininga ako at dahan-dahan na itinaas ang kanang kamay ko.

And a few seconds later, my hands touches his, and it finally sealed the deal.

"Deal," bulong ko.

~~~

When I reached unit 16 later that night, I was greeted by tired human beings. Si Kurt e naabutan kong nakasalampak sa couch habang nakahubad sa pang-itaas. Samantala, si Reinald naman ay nasa kuwarto at maagang nagpahinga.

Clyde wasn't even here yet, pero si Martin naman ay tahimik lang na nanunuod ng TV sa salas. He's the only one who greeted me when I opened the door.

"Ginabi ka na," aniya.

"Napasarap lang sa gala," ang sabi ko pa.

"Saan ka naman nakapunta niyan?"

I shrugged. "Diyan lang sa malapit. Tamang lakad paikot-ikot."

Umiling si Martin. "Nakabili ka ba ng padlock?"

Medyo natigilan ako sa tanong niya. Dahil hindi naman ako bumili lalo na at desidido na akong tulungan si Cris sa plano nila.

"Hindi eh," napakamot ako ng ulo.

"Mabuti na lang. Si Clyde kasi tinawagan ako kanina, siya na raw ang bibili," sabi pa ni Martin. "Anyway, kumain ka na? Nagluto ako ng ginataang tulingan."

"Talaga?" I went to the kitchen, nakaramdam agad ako ng gutom matapos kong malanghap ang amoy ng luto ni Martin. "Oo nga no, mukhang masarap."

"Nauna na kaming kumain, wala ka kasi eh, sa iyo na lang yung natira diyan, initin mo na lang kung gusto mo," dagdag ni Martin.

Tumango ako. "Sige, sige. Salamat."

I did heat it up before eating for dinner. Tahimik lang akong kumain nang mag-isa sa dining area. I was there, clearly observing the people around me.

I was secretly looking over Martin, he was busy watching a show right now. Mukhang wala siyang ideya na nakabantay ako sa kaniya ngayon.

According to the timeline that Kesha had shared with me, Martin was the tenant who stayed the longest here in Dormisteryo. Siya ang mas nauna sa lahat ng mga kasama niya ngayon.

He looked so innocent from afar, with his jet-black hair and white complexion, hindi mo siya iisipan na may gagawin siyang anumang masamang balakin. He's the typical white guy who could capture people's attention in a matter of second.

What could be that personality makes with Casey.

Ano kayang naging chemistry nilang dalawa noong nagtatrabaho pa silang magkasama sa iisang diner? What are the secrets that they both shared? Is there any chance na may nabuong pag-iibigan sa kanilang dalawa?

What if there's indeed a chance of romantic affiliation between them? Does that mean Casey was cheating from Cris?

But knowing Cris, he totally love Casey. Hindi ko alam kung magagawa ba ni Casey na lokohin siya sapagkat kitang-kita ko na desididong makasama ni Cris si Casey nang pangmatagalan.

Hay, if only I can cook my own food for thoughts. I could've done it myself. Baka nagawa ko pang busugin ang sarili ko tungkol sa mga nangyari sa nakaraan.

Then we both heard someone's knocking at the door.

"Sup guys," Clyde comes in, holding a paper bag on his left hand. "O Kent, nakauwi ka na pala. How's your first day?"

I nodded. "Survived," ngumiti ako.

"Nice, so kamusta naman yung paghahanap mo sa computer science laboratory?" Clyde sat beside Martin as he continued undressing his school uniform.

"Nakita ko naman, thanks pala sa pagturo kanina," aniko.

"Sino namang pinuntahan mo run?" dagdag na tanong ni Clyde.

"W-wala, na-curious lang ako kung nasaan yung laboratory nila."

Clyde looked at my eyes for a moment before looking away. "I see," he then pulled out something from the paper bag that he was holding before. "I bought the padlocks by the way," he gave Martin one. "Ito sayo."

"Thanks," Martin accepted it and looked over it for a few moments.

"Ito naman kina Reinald at Kurt," ipinatong ni Clyde ang mga padlock para kina Kurt sa may mesa.

Then finally, he looked into my direction again. "And ito naman ang para sa iyo, Kent."

Tumayo si Clyde at lumapit siya sa direksiyon ko. He put the padlock in front of me, it was still on its package, and he whispered something under his breath. "Gamitin mo to ah," he smiled.

I don't know why did he say that but I just nodded. "Oo naman."

Then he went back to sit down with Martin, and I was left alone eating the rest of my dinner.

When I finished eating, I picked up the padlock and clearly checked the design of it. It's colored red. Something that I can feel that meant  something.

Knowing Clyde, things have its own symbolism. But what does this mean?

I looked over Clyde and he was no longer there with Martin. But I heard him laugh, and a click of a lock inside the room. "Sa wakas, naka-lock na rin ang drawer ko. Ewan ko lang kung mautakan pa tayo ng magnanakaw na 'yon."

Ray's image flashes before me. Kung alam niyo lang, kilala ko na kung sino ang may pakana ng lahat.

It's just sad to say that they're one step ahead of all of you. You bought padlocks way too late, as a double agent like me is now here to become the eyes of Cris's small organization.

There would be a ceasefire on stealing briefs once and for all.

I smiled and pocketed the padlock, and I doubt if I will ever use this at all. Who knows? Who should I protect my things from? Lalo na kung ako na mismo ang magiging espiya sa unit 16, hindi ba?