LORELEI

"MISS KF, you're saying that destiny crushed your friend's heart?"

"Love makes anyone heartbroken. As for cupid, well, he makes that fate of love. And it hurts, he deserves an explainable reason from the one he loves. She was cheating on him!"

"How sad."

Napabuntong hininga ako sa komento ni Loki. Simula pa naman nang nagkaroon ng special love radio program dito sa Clark High, nagsusuggest na siya na kung pwede siyang bumili ng earmuffs para sa aming lima - kasama na rin si Freya. Kahit na todo lock ang pinutan namin sa club room ay rinig na rinig pa rin ang kadramahan.

Palagi nalang may tumatawag sa radio dahil 'maraming nakakarelate'. But I agree with Loki, why can't they deal with their own problems?

"Hi Loki~"

The door suddenly opened as the faces of Jamie and Alistair popped-up. They were the ones who brought lunch for us.

Freya, sitting on Loki's lap, jumped towards Jamie and hissed. Jamie backed away with our club cat almost scratching her. I immediately picked up the white ball of fur and sat down while caressing her.

"Food?"

Al handed me the boxed meal as I muttered "Thanks." As usual, Loki played Criminal Case on his phone and left the three of us ate our lunch. The radio didn't stop until the next period, so the program kept on distracting him.

"...palagi nalang ang kaibigan ko ang nasasaktan. Kasalanan ito ng tadhana!"

From an emotionless face, Loki's expression turned impatiently irritated. It was longer than he thought it would last.

The day ended without a single case showing up on our noses, thus, ending the school week.

I woke up the next day with the sudden feeling of boredom. 'Di ko naman marinig na umimik si Loki dahil busy ulit siya sa pagbabasa ng libro. Pagkatapos kong kumain ng breakfast ay tumambay ulit sa kwarto ko at napag-isipang mag-Facebook. Nabigla nalang ako sa saktong pagka-online ko ay may isang lumabas na message.

Rosetta

Loooori!!! May kaklase daw akong pupuntahan kayo, may case daw siya!

Case? Well...

To Rosetta

Anong case? Ano daw 'yung pangalan niya?

Rosetta

Ewan ko, kaninang madaling araw ko lang siya nakachat, sabi daw kailangan niya daw nung address ng isa sa mga qed club members. Tinanong ko kung bakit eh sabi lang niya may nangyari daw tapos kailang niya ng tulong nyo!!

Rosetta

Kyleen ata yung pangalan.....

Nagising ang isip ko at biglang lumabas sa aking kwarto. Napalingon sa akin si Loki nang biglaan akong magsalita.

"May pupunta daw sa atin, needs help with something."

"What something is that? And we don't take cases on Saturdays except if it is -"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Agad kong binuksan ang pintuan. There stood a pretty-faced girl that I could say is as pretty as Jamie, yet lacked the fun and bubbly attitude. She had messed up hair and pale skin with a face looking like she'd seen a ghost.

"You're Kyleen, aren't you?"

"How d-did you know? I didn't tell any of you that I was coming."

"Rosetta told me you'd be coming."

Pinapasok ko siya at pinaupo. Binaba ni Loki ang kanyang libro at tiningnan siyang mabuti. I have a gut feeling that her voice sounded familiar...

"Why are you here?" panimula ni Loki.

"A-ako 'yung narinig ninyo sa radyo kahapon. Ako si Kyleen. Ako 'yung Miss KF."

Aha!

"Ah, you're Miss Drama-Rama." Tiningnan ko ng masama ang kasama ko pero wala sa kanilang dalawa ang pumansin.  "If you're only here to ask help with your friend's love life, we have no business with any of that issue."

"What? No, no! It's because he's..." Her voice cracked up a little. "He's dead. H-he's poisoned."

Loki's face started to become interested with what our client was saying. "So, do you have any idea on how he was poisoned?"

"I-I think someone delivered something to him. Like packs of sweets. H-he asked me if I want to eat it with him, but I only chose one pack and he... well, he was starving, so he ate the whole thing and... I just saw him... He was dead."

"We would help you find the mastermind of this case," Loki said, breaking free from boredom. "Would you lead us to the crime scene?"

"R-right... yes..." But before Kyleen could walk, she immediately fell to the floor.

"What the?"

The both of us stood shock. It was only a few seconds after when my brain started to process the whole thing. She said she ate one pack of the - oh no.

"LOKI, CALL AN AMBULANCE!"

Poisoned! My feet automatically rushed towards the hall, up and down the stairs like a crazy person would do. I was gasping for breath but I didn't care. She could be the one grasping for breath. She could be dead!

"TITA MARTHA! TITA MARTHA!"

~*~

It's like déjà vu, but in a lighter atmosphere. Poison. Break-out. Panicking. I still remember how it was Loki... But how could it be light? She was almost poisoned to death!

"She'll live." Loki was sitting next to me, doing is usual hand gestures. "If the one whole planned this needed a lot of packs to kill the target, one would only mean little damage to the one eating it." I felt a sense of relief for it was him who reassured that the girl will live, as if I have more trust in Loki than with the doctors. "So, who do you think victimized Kaycee and her friend?"

Kyleen, Loki, not - oh, when will I get used to this?

And yet for a brief moment there, I began to think deeply. Who did it? Well, there is only one person I know who is involved with them... the cheating girlfriend on Kyleen's friend.

"'Yung jowa ng kaibigan niya. Kyleen said that his girlfriend was a cheater, that she didn't want him anymore. So, if he doesn't want him to be involved in her life anymore, what better way to do it than to finish him off?"

He nodded. "Thinking of the same thing, but I have other suspicions, judging on the dramatic lines Kaycee said yesterday. I won't say until we have enough clues."

Dahil iniwan ng babae ang kanyang bag sa pagkahimatay niya, kinuha namin ang kanyang wallet at nakita ang address niya pagkasugod namin siya dito sa ospital. Kaagad naming tinawagan si Inspector Estrada para ipa-detect ang poison na ginamit para sa mga pagkain.

Biglaan nalang lumapit si Tita Marta na alalang-alala ang mukha. "Ano namang ngayari, Diyos ko po! Sino ba siya?"

"Someone who needs help from us. She was actually poisoned, but don't worry, dear landlady, she'll be able to recover after the doctor's inspection, I am sure."

"Ha? P-paano mo naman nasigurado? Nag-aaral ka bang maging doktor o ano?"

"Kailangan nga po talaga -"

Bago pa nagkumento si Loki ay lumabas ang nars mula sa pinutan. Napatayo ako, "Ano pong nangyari sa kanya?"

"Mabuti naman po siya, maswerte nga't nadala agad dito," she said with bright and beautiful eyes. "Food poisoned. She's been infected with the staph bacteria."

"Staphylococcus aureus?" patanong ni Loki at tumango ang babae.

"The bacteria did not cause fatal effects. We'll just run some tests then she'll be able to get back home. You can talk to her if you want."

Nagpasalmat ako sa kanya at saka na itong umalis.

"Tita, kami na po ang bahala," ani ko. Sabay kaming pumunta sa loob at nakitang nakahiga si Kyleen sa kanyang kama. "How are you -"

"You should've known that it contained poison, too." Loki naman, nahimatay na nga ang tao, eh. "Now who do you think is able to do -"

"Loki? Lori?"

"Al!"

"Why is it that today, people keep on interrupting while I am talking?" He sighed. "Anyway, Alistair, you would be needing to take care of Katie, here -"

"I'm not Katie, my name's Kyleen and -"

"While me and Lorelei are going to investigate the crime scene. She said that her boy best friend has been poisoned by somebody, to give you a background, she's that drama queen from the radio booth, yesterday. Ask questions, will you?"

Al just nodded. Kaagad niyang tinawagan si Mr. Vasquez para sunduin kami papunta kina inspector.

"Okay, let's go."

And so we set off towards probably the most exciting case we've been waiting for all week.

The doors were automatically opened as we stepped foot on the entrance mat of 'Hangleton Blvd.' Immediately, the smirk on Inspector Estrada face greeted us.

For a little moment, I felt actually good noticing that Hel isn't here.

"Naandito na pala kayo."

"News, Inspector? The girl's still in the hospital," pambungad ng kasama ko.

"They've said that etter look at it yourselves."

Lumakad kami papunta sa elevator habang napabuntong hininga ako. Pinress ni Inspector ang level nine at nag-isip ako ng mabuti.

It does make sense that cheating girlfriend would do it to him... now this starts to bore me. The only thing to do now is to go and find out what's inside the room of theirs.

The road to Room 249 wasn't easy, it was the very last room on the hall and we had to turn for about three times. As we reached our destination, a messy scene filled my eyes.

The body laid dead on the spot with a marker on hand. The wall was filled with the words: 'FATE IS A HEARTBREAKER'. Crumbs and pieces of biscuits and candies were on the floor. He was that hungry?

"We also found these." Inabot sa amin ni Sir Estrada ang dalawang pirasong papel. The first one read:

Dear Jake,

EaAeeiannldlteniilolMnndrlaeaiJadMwe

The other paper contained clues split into two. The handwriting was messier so it was obvious that another one wrote it.

1) Fate Kills.

2)AgsKfbpaiprKpqdukpoqsDplePpslarlOshelamucfsLSacpwltpOajopqJarIpaliplAJuPLkasPilA (firsts of fifths)

Everything that was written there shook my mind. My brain tried to work everything out but it wouldn't budge.

"That last clue is obvious; he gave out a hint."

"Huh?"

"The first letter of every five letters. Try it out."

Dahil wala akong dalang kahit anong papel o panulat ay kinuha ko agad ang phone ko. Nang lumipas ang ilang minuto ay nabuo ko ma rin siya sa wakas.

AgsKfbpaiprKpqdukpoqsDplePpslarlOshelamucfsLSacpwltpOajopqJarIpaliplAJuPLkasPilA

Abrus Precatorius

"Abrus Precarious?"

Napatingin sa akin si Loki at napabuntong hininga. "A poisonous seed. Also called by many names. Eating one can fatally kill a person, but only after a couple of days. Now I find two things that are suspicious. Insights, Lori?"

"Ah - um..." Think, Lorelei, think! "K-kung kanina lang kinain ng lalaki 'yung mga pagkain, tapos sabi mong mamamatay lang 'yung tao pagkatapos ng ilang araw, bakit namatay na siya kaagad?"

Tumango si Loki at doon na nasimulang gabalain ang isip ko sa ideyang iyon. Pwede ba ring nilagay ang poison sa iba nilang pagkain?

"Hello?" May napatawag kay inspector. "May balita na ba - napaospital si Dela Cruz?"

Napalingon kaming dalawa.

"Ano? Isend ninyo nalang sa akin 'yung litrato." Pagkatapos ng tawag ay napakamot ng ulo si inspector. "Napasuka raw ang isa sa mga nag-asikaso ng mga paketa ng mga dadakutin, pero alam na nila ang mga nakalason sa dalawa."

Ipinakita sa amin ni Inspector ang isang litrato. Resulta siya ng nakita nila sa mga food packets.

10/11 packets were found with crushed seeds of Abrus Precatorius, poisonous enough to kill. The remaining one is found with the staphylococcus bacteria. A food poisoning substance but not enough to make a serious effect.

Then, it hit me. Bakit iisa lang 'yung may staph bacteria? Is it a coincidence, or maybe it has something to do with his friend, Kyleen? Is the killer a friend of hers, jealous? Or maybe that ex-girlfriend is just a friend of hers, too?

Pagkatapos basahin ni Loki ay hinatak niya ako sa kusina ng apartment. "Inspector, do you have plastic bags and gloves?" Kaagad binuksan ni Loki ang refrigerator. "Just don't breathe in the air, okay?"

Kinuha niya ang isang platong isda sa loob at nilagay sa plastic bag. Inalis niya ang kanyang gloves at naghugas ng kamay.

For a minute, I saw small red berries inside the bag. Are those the seeds?

"They're with them. Inspector, may iba pa bang taong pumupunta sa room na 'to?"

"Tinanong na rin namin iyan, pero noong pinakita nila ang log book wala naman. Pinatingnan din namin 'yung CCTV pero wala talagang tao kundi 'yung dalawa lamang."

Hindi na kami nagsalitaan at nagpatuloy ng imbestigahan.

Binuksan ko ang isa sa mga pintuan at sinalubong ako ng magulong bedroom. Kalat-kalat ang mga gamit, karamihan ay mga papel, pencil at mga paperclip. Pero ang bagay na tumatak sa isipan ko ay ang drawer na may mga salita.

LOCKED, DO NOT OPEN, KYLEEN'S PROPERTY

It led me to curiosity. This was her bedroom and maybe she had something paperclips it. Maybe...

I got two paperclips and breathed heavily. Twist. Turn. Twist...

Click!

The first thing I saw was a notebook. Immediately, I flipped the pages and started to read. My jaw dropped as I saw it.

PLANS I GOT FROM BIOLOGY CLASS

ABRUS PRECATORIUS

--deadly plants that could kill (poison to death)

STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

--not too fatal

AT NIGHT, SNEAK INTO SCHOOL TO BIOLOGY CLASSROOM TO EXTRACT STAPH BACTERIA. SNEAK INTO GREENHOUSE (RESTRICTED SIDE) AND GRAB ABRUS PLANT. PUT ABRUS INTO FOOD. AFTER 3 DAYS, BUY PACKETS AND BISCUITS AND FILL WITH ABRUS (ONE WITH STAPH TO BE INGESTED BY MYSELF). PERFECT REVENGE TO KENNETH.

Napalingon ako kay Loki na biglang pumasok. "I found out the code: Eat or Janella Ann Madeline Medina will die. Alistair asked it for me, says it's the girlfriend of the guy."

He showed a curious look on his face and asked what I was holding. I handed over the notebook as I scanned the drawer for more clues.

I caught hold of something, as I pulled it out, Loki gave a rare smile.

"Case closed, then," he said as he looked at the pack of red berry-like seeds I was holding. "And one more thing."

"What?"

"Her second name is actually Fate. We should've known, though."

~*~

As the suspect was discharged out of the hospital and after asking some questions, she admitted her crime, admitting being jealous.

Loki went straight ahead to the apartment while I went to a nearby café. The guy at the counter held out my order and I muttered "Thanks." He just glared at me and with that, I sighed.

"Sorry," said another guy with the same uniform also wearing a smile. "He is like that to everyone."

I gave one awkward smile to the guys and sat down at one of the seats.

I held up my phone and opened our blog. I started typing today's case.

Fate likes playing and we can never know what she has in store, and today we confronted fate. Literally.

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