HARRIET

LIFE IN the university doesn't revolve between Houses Holmes and Moriarty only. May dalawa pang Houses na kasali sa structure ng school: ang Houses Watson at Adler.

Students wearing yellow vests are the Watsonians, named after Sherlock Holmes's loyal friend and biographer Dr. John Watson. Sa lahat ng mga estudyante dito sa Class 2-A, sila ang mahilig sa analysis, partikular sa codes. Ginagawa yata nilang breakfast at dinner ang pag-aaral sa mga cipher kaya sa isang tingin lang, kaya na nilang malaman kung paano ika-crack ito.

"Maybe they used the Bacon cipher? That would explain the structure," sabi ng babaeng may highlights ang mahabang buhok at nakasuot ng salamin. "Look, compared sa ibang codes na ginamit, 'yan lang ang nag-match."

"I don't think so. Posibleng pinagmumukha nila 'yang Bacon cipher para malito tayo," sagot ng lalaking nakatayo at mukhang malalim ang iniisip. "They used that tactic before, they might have used it again. What do you think, Mina?"

Nag-type sa iPad ang kasama nilang babae na nakasalamin din, may mahabang buhok at natatakpan ng bangs ang noo. She then showed them a series of dots and dashes. Nang mabasa 'yon ng dalawa niyang kasama, napatango sila't nagpatuloy sa kung anuman ang pinag-uusapan nila.

Wilhelmina Williams a.k.a. "Mina" stands out in our class. Her way of communicating with her peers and classmates was unique in its own way. Hindi mo siya maririnig na magsalita. Kung kakausapin mo siya, she would reply through her iPad na lagi niyang dala-dala. At kapag sumagot siya sa sa 'yo, you have to crack it because she only communicates via Morse code.

Yeah, she's unique but equally brilliant.

Meanwhile, students wearing green sweatshirts are the Adlerians, named after the woman who beat Sherlock Holmes—Irene Adler. They are known for their superb acting and disguise skills. Sa sobrang galing umarte, hindi mo na alam kung nagpapakatotoo pa ba sila o hindi.

Perhaps their best representative in our class is Aiden Alterra—the self-proclaimed handsome guy with messy, blonde hair. He's also annoying, if I may add. He's beauty, brains and brawn, according to some.

Siya raw ang crush ng bayan. Well, ang sarap kasing i-crush ng mukha niya.

Nagawi ang tingin ko sa direksyon niya at ng kasama niyang lalaki't babae. He was laughing with them, showing his sparkling white teeth. No matter how hard I look at Aiden, I couldn't imagine why girls fell for him.

Nataon naman na lumingon siya sa akin. He winked at me and flashed a smile.

Ugh! I averted my gaze as I felt goosebumps all over my body. Nagawa niyang patayuin ang mga balahibo ko sa isang kindat lang. How dare him! Did he think na madadaan niya ako sa pagpapa-cute niya?

"Congratulations, you have piqued the attention of our class' hearthrob," Locke said lazily. He was turning the pages of his notes on cryptography. "Your name has been probably written in the list of school girls he wanna date."

I rolled my eyes, disgusted at the idea of me dining with that man. "Never in a hundred years. Those school girls must have their eyes and brains checked. There's nothing spectacular about him in the first place."

"He looked at your direction again," Sherry whispered, nudging me on the arm. "I'm not yet an expert on reading beyond people's gestures, but Locke might be right. Interesado ang lalaking 'yon sa 'yo. You got yourself an admirer!"

My body shivered at the thought. "Please, enough with that Adlerian!"

Napangalumbaba ako at hinintay na mag-ring ang school bell pagpatak ng alas-siyete. I averted my gaze to the opposite row where Morrie was just silently staring at the window while his fellow Moriartards kept on blabbering stuff I had no care about.

I wonder what's going on his mind sometimes.

The classroom door swang open followed by echoing footsteps. Kahit hindi ako nakatingin kung sinong pumasok, I knew that the person who just entered was wearing heels around three inches.

"Good morning, class!" A female voice greeted as we stood. "Welcome to Cryptography 101. For today, we will discuss one of the most common codes used."

Our first subject for today is Cryptography. Compared to other schools, ibang curriculum ang ginagamit dito sa university, lahat ay para turuan kami kung paano maging effective na detective. I always look forward to this subject dahil interesado akong matutong gumawa at mag-crack ng mga code.

Among the four Houses, the Watsonians have advanced lessons on cryptography. Kaya siguro kahit tulugan nila ang lecture ngayong araw, they wouldn't miss anything.

Our Cryptography instructor is Theresa Cabrera, but we call her Professor "Terry." Naging habit ko na ang pagbasa sa character ng isang tao, and she's one of the teachers who caught my interest. Sometimes she's easy to read, sometimes her thoughts were hard to decode. Maihahalintulad siya sa mga code na itinuturo niya.

"Who among you here have heard of the Morse Code?" She tucked some strands of her hair behind her ear before pacing the platform of our small classroom.

Nagtaas kaming lahat ng kamay at itinuro niya ang lalaking nasa katabing row. "Yes, Morrie?"

"Developed by Samuel Morse, the code is being used as a means of communication among radio operators in the maritime and aviation industry. It consists of two signals—long and short—which are translated into dots and dashes."

Dahil hindi ako interesadong marinig ang sagot niya, isinulat ko ang pangalan ko sa Morse code. Nagbasa na ako in advance tungkol dito kaya hindi ko na talaga kailangang makinig sa introductory part ng lesson.

"You probably think that familiarizing this code may not benefit you at all," Professor Terry said, glancing at everyone in the room. "But what if a murder victim leaves a dying message in Morse code and that clue is crucial to the case?"

Nagpatuloy sa pagdi-discuss ang Cryptography instructor namin habang ako'y nagsulat gamit ang Morse code. Kahit patayuin niya ako at tanungin tungkol sa aming lesson, I would still be able to answer her, thanks to advance reading.

•- -• --• •--• •- -• --• •• - -- --- -- --- •-• •-• •• •

"You can also use Morse code if you want to relay some sensitive information to your colleague while the two of you pretend to have a casual conversation," Professor Terry went on explaining. "The tapping of your fingers, the stomping of your feet, the blinking of your eyes—you can use these common gestures to transmit information."

In writing, Morse code is only a set of dots and dashes. But its main concept lies on the short and long signals, not just on those written symbols. A long tap can be interpreted as a dash while a short tap can be considered a dot.

"Now let's see if you can apply the concept of Morse code in a secret conversation while having a casual one." Professor Terry craned her neck as her eyes roamed around the classroom, naghahanap ng magiging guinea pig sa class activity.

"Miss Harriet?"

"Eh?"

Wait, me? Iginala ko ang aking tingin sa classroom, baka may iba pa kasing may pangalan na Harriet sa amin. Kaso mukhang ako lang talaga. There are only twelve students here, three from each House, and I'm the only one named Harriet.

Feeling a bit awkward, tumayo ako't itinulak ni Sherry para mapunta ako sa harapan. Hinila ni Professor Terry ang isang upuan at inilapit sa teacher's table.

Pinaupo muna niya ako bago siya muling naghanap ng susunod na guinea pig. "Ah! Mister Morrie! Come here!"

Teka, bakit sa dinami-dami ng mga classmate kong nandito, siya pa ang napili ni ma'am? Pwedeng si Sherry o Locke na lang?

Tumalon mula sa kanyang upuan si Morrie at naglakad patungong harapan. Nag-cheer pa sa kanya ang dalawang alipores niya na parang maghaharap kami sa isang boxing match.

Hinila ni Morrie ang isang monobloc chair sa kabilang side ng mesa at sinigurong magkatapat kami.

"This exercise is about how you can communicate via Morse code while you are casually conversing with each other," paalala ni Professor Terry. She walked away from the table and sat in a vacant chair.

Sabay kaming tumango ng Moriartard na kaharap ko bago kami nagkatitigan. I could easily push the table to his direction para ma-out of balance siya sa kanyang upuan.

He crossed his arms across his chest and his fingers began tapping on his elbow. That must be how he wanted to communicate through the code.

-•-- --- ••- •-• •••• --- ••- ••• • ••• ••- -•-• -•- •••

"You look so gorgeous today," he said dryly, not letting go of his stare on me. "And blooming as well. Are you seeing someone from your House? Or is he from another House?"

Ipinatong ko ang aking kaliwang siko sa mesa at pumosturang nakapangalumbaba. I then rested my right hand on the table and began tapping my fingers.

•--• •- •-• -•• --- -•

"Oh? Are you jealous?" nakangiti kong pang-aasar sa kanya. "Kaya ba natanong mo sa 'kin?"

•••• --- •-•• -- • ••• •• •- -• ••• ••• ••- -•-• -•-

"Why would I be jealous?" he said coldly. "You are far from my ideal woman."

- •- -•- • - •••• •- - -••• •- -•-• -•-

"Akala mo kung sino kang guwapo. Kahit ikaw ang huling tao sa mundo, hindi kita papatulan."

•• •-- •• •-•• •-•• -• --- -

"Touche."

Annoyed, I slammed my fists on the table and stood, startling our classmates. Hindi man nagulat sa ginawa ko ang nakangisi pang si Morrie. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa siya sa reaksyon ko. These Moriartards... they enjoy seeing desperation on their target's faces.

Tinatawagan ko ang patron ng mahabang pasensya, saniban n'yo ako bago ko pa masuntok ang lalaking 'to!

"Okay! That's enough!" Namagitan na sa amin si Professor Terry bago ko pa maihampas ang upuan ko kay Morrie. "If you were following their conversation, you would understand why Miss Harriet reacted that way. But please, let's avoid those kinds of exchanges. Okay?"

I may look physically weak but that's only a cover. I could take down a man like Morrie with only a single move. Kung sanang walang pumipigil sa akin, on the way na sa clinic ang lalaking 'yan. One of these days, makakaisa rin ako sa kanya.

"Thank you." Morrie winked at me before returning to his seat. Lalo pang kumuyom ang mga kamao ko sa ginawa niyang pagkindat. Nagawa niyang pataasin ang blood pressure ko for the second time this morning!

Maghintay ka lang, Morrie, lalampasuhin namin kayong mga Moriartard. Laugh now while you can. Soon you would burst into tears, wondering how the Holmesians "that suck" kicked your ass.

Natapos na ang klase namin para sa araw na 'to pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang pagkainis ko kay Morrie. Every time na naririnig ko ang boses niya o nakikita ang anino niya, kumukulo na ang dugo ko. Kinimkim ko ito nang ilang oras at pinilit ang sarili kong magtimpi hangga't kaya.

To de-stress myself, I went to the Gladstone Gymnasium a few meters away from the Baker Building. Dito namin isinasagawa ang klase namin sa self-defense and physical education. Sa labas naman ang archery range kung saan pwede kaming mag-practice sa pagpana. If I were only skilled enough on archery, gagamitin ko 'to para ilabas ang galit ko kay Morrie.

Our gymnasium was too spacious and could accommodate the seven hundred students of QED University. Lumikha ng kaluskos ang suot kong heels habang nilalakad ang maple floor. Pwede ka ngang manalamin dito dahil sa sobrang kintab.

Pwede kong ibuhos ang galit ko sa punching bag ngunit mas pinili kong magtungo sa singlestick section. May nadatnan akong training dummy sa gitna. Weird, para kasing lumaki ito compared noong nakaraang gamit ko.

Inalis ko muna ang suot kong inverness cape bago ako kumuha ng singlestick mula sa rack. I placed my left hand on my back and stretched my right hand holding the wooden weapon. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata at huminga nang malalim. Nang makapag-relax na ako, sinimulan ko nang hatawin ang training dummy ng sunod-sunod na palo.

I imagined Morrie's face on the dummy's head as I repeatedly hit that part with the wooden stick. Dahil sa sobrang lakas ng mga palo ko, halos matumba na 'yon.

"HIYAAAAH!" I screamed, delivering the final blow on the dummy. Tumagaktak ang pawis ko at kinailangan ko pang habulin ang aking hininga sa sobrang pagod.

"Aray naman!"

Eh? Lumingon-lingon ako sa paligid para hanapin kung saan galing ang boses na 'yon. There was no one in the gymnasium except me kaya sino ang napadaing?

Teka, may mga narinig na akong tsismis noon na may multo raw dito sa gym. Minsan nakaririnig ng mga kaluskos ang mga estudyanteng nagpa-practice hanggang gabi rito. Wala raw silang ibang kasama sa loob kaya nahiwagaan din sila kung paano nakalikha ng gano'ng tunog. Since then, it became one of the seven mysteries in QED University.

Posible kayang ako naman ang naisipang pag-trip-an ng multo?

To my surprise, gumalaw ang training dummy at humakbang ng ilang step mula sa akin. Kaagad akong pumostura at itinutok ang singlestick ko roon.

"Masamang espiritu lumayas ka rito..." paulit-ulit kong bulong habang pinagmamasdan ang tila paggalaw nito. I do not believe in ghosts because they are just fabrications of our minds. Pero sa nakikita ko, parang gusto ko nang maniwalang may multo.

"Masamang espiritu lumayas ka rito!"

"Ugh!" Muling nagsalita ang training dummy at gumalaw-galaw pa. Effective na yata ang exorcism na ginawa ko. I wasn't sure if my weapon would protect me from the otherworldly creature, but I hope it could.

For a moment, I thought an evil spirit would come out of the supposedly inanimate object. Nagulat ako nang lumabas ang isang lalaking pawis na pawis at napahiga sa sahig.

"Wait, a human?" I lowered my singlestick as I cautiously approached him. My almost fear of ghosts vanished instantly.

"Aray, aray, aray!" daing niya habang nakahawak sa kanyang ulo at mga braso. Namumula na parang kamatis ang mukha niya dahil sa paulit-ulit na pagpalo ko sa dummy.

Tutulungan ko na sana siyang tumayo. Ngunit nang makita ko ang suot niyang sweatshirt at green necktie, umurong ako at itinutok sa leeg niya ang aking singlestick. He's an Adlerian!

"Anong ginagawa mo rito, Aiden?" tanong ko matapos makilala ang kanyang blonde messy hair. "Nandito ka ba para mag-spy sa akin? O para magpanggap na multo rito sa gymnasium?"

If the Moriartians were infamous for being manipulative, the Adlerians were known for their disguise, acting and stalking skills. Ang mga Adlerian na sanay na sa art of disguise, kayang magpanggap na cactus nang hindi namamalayan o napapansin.

Ngayon naintindihan ko na kung bakit parang lumaki ang training dummy. It was only a costume worn by this guy! Mabuti nga sa kanya't nasaktan siya sa mga palo ko kanina. He deserved the beating.

"Oy, sumagot ka." I poked his ribcage which he immediately covered from me. "Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

"Nagpa-practice lang ako ng disguise skills." Napansin kong pilit siyang nakangiti sa akin. That's the same fake smile he flashed at me this morning. Lumakas ang hinala kong may tinatago siya.

"Talaga lang, ha?" Tumaas ang kaliwang kilay ko habang pinagmamasdan ang reaksyon niya. He couldn't look at me directly in the eye for more than three seconds. He must be lying about his motive. "Coincidence ba na nandito ka sa gymnasium habang naglalabas ako ng sama ng loob?"

"Oo, purely coincidental—"

WHACK!

Mabilis ko siyang pinalo sa braso, dahilan para muli siyang mapa-Aray! "Don't lie to me! Alam kong may hidden agenda ka kaya nandito ka rin!"

"Maniwala ka sa akin, wala akong—"

WHACK!

Sa kabilang braso ko siya sunod na pinalo. Hindi ko na masyadong nilakasan dahil baka puno na siya ng pasa sa katawan. Pero hangga't hindi niya sinasabi ang totoo, hindi ko siya titigilan.

Itinaas niya ang kanyang mga kamay na parang isang kriminal na sumusuko sa mga pulis. Gusto pa niya talagang masaktan muna bago magsabi ng totoo.

"Ano, aamin ka na?"

"Oo na! Oo na! Basta huwag mo na akong paluin!"

Ibinaba ko ang aking singlestick at hinayaan siyang makatayo sa sarili niyang paa. Kitang-kita ko sa mukha ang naramdaman niyang sakit sa katawan. Kung nandito ang mga fangirl niya, for sure na mate-turn off sila sa kanya. It would be embarrassing for a man to be beaten by a woman.

"Spill," utos ko. I began tapping my fingers on the hilt of the singlestick para i-remind siya na kaya ko siyang paluin anytime.

"Hindi coincidence na nandito rin ako sa gym," paliwanag niya, nakahawak pa rin sa parteng pinalo ko kanina. "Napag-utusan lang ako."

"At sinong nag-utos sa 'yo?"

May kaunting bakas ng pag-aalinlangan sa kanyang mukha. Nang muli kong tinapik ang singlestick, nagsalita na ulit siya.

"S-Si Morrie! Pupunta ka raw ng gym ngayong hapon kaya inutusan niya akong takutin ka at kunan ng video ang reaksyon mo."

Oh, that Moriartard! Talagang gumamit pa siya ng ibang tao upang gawin ang dirty work para sa kanya. Bagay na bagay nga talaga siya sa kinabibilangan niyang House. That manipulative bastard!

"Binlackmail ka ba niya para gawin 'to?" tanong ko.

Napakamot ng ulo si Aiden. "Hindi ako sigurado kung matatawag mong blackmail. Kapag kasi ginawa ko 'to, bibigyan niya ako ng litrato ng crush ko sa kanilang House."

"Teka, alam mo na bang pupunta ako rito after class?" pagtataka ko. "Kasi nakapag-disguise ka na kaagad bilang training dummy pagpasok ko rito."

"Sinabi ni Morrie sa akin na malamang pumunta ka rito para ilabas ang mga frustration mo. Mukhang tama ang deduction niya."

So that man tried to read my moves. After he mocked me and my House earlier, he anticipated that I would go to the gym, as I usually do whenever I wanna hit someone. Dapat ba akong matakot o mabahala sa foresight niya?

Anyway, the fact that he asked Aiden to scare me meant that he was concerned about my presence. Hindi siya magbibigay ng gano'ng utos kung hindi siya nai-intimidate sa akin. Naghahanap siguro siya ng material na pam-blackmail sa akin para magamit kapag dumating na ang tamang panahon.

Nice try, Morrie, on pulling the strings behind this act. But unfortunately, your plan failed.

Hindi ko na tinanong pa ang kawawang Adlerian dahil mukhang wala na akong mapipiga sa kanya. Magdidilim na nang lumabas kami ni Aiden sa gym. Tahimik na ang buong campus at tanging kuliglig na lang ang naririnig namin.

I faced the spy and gave him my parting words. "Sabihin mo kay Morrie, galingan niya sa susunod ang pagpili ng mananakot sa tulad ko, ha? Para hindi masayang ang effort niya."

Biglang may liwanag na nagmula kung saan. My eyes roamed around the area para hanapin ang pinagmulan nito. Hindi naman makulimlim at umuulan kaya imposibleng liwanag 'yon mula sa kidlat. Wala naman akong nakikitang ibang tao sa paligid.

Baka guni-guni ko lang 'to o dahil napagod ako ngayong araw. They said that people see strange things when they are too tired.

Nagpatuloy kaming dalawa ni Aiden sa paglalakad sa pavement. Iniinda pa rin niya ang sakit ng kanyang katawan. Kahit wala na ang singlestick ko, ramdam kong natatakot pa rin siya sa akin. I do not need any weapon to intimidate him. Sapat na ang mga kamao ko at knowledge sa hand-to-hand combat upang matakot siya.

Tumingala ako sa kalangitan para panoorin ang pagkislap ng mga bituin. Maaliwalas ang langit ngayon kaya kitang-kita ko ang kanilang pagkutitap. I was about to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" ngunit hindi ko na itinuloy dahil may kasama ako. Ayaw kong marinig niya ang maganda kong boses kapag kumakanta.

Once again, I noticed three short flashes of light from the abandoned clock tower meters away from our position. Inakala ko pa nga noong una na galing 'yon sa mga bituin.

"Did you see that?" Napahinto ako sa paglalakad sabay tanong sa kasama ko.

"Ang alin?" nakakunot-noong tanong ni Aiden na inilibot ang mga mata sa paligid.

"There!" I pointed at the abandoned clock tower. Our seniors said that area was closed years ago after a fire almost destroyed it. No one was supposed to be there.

Another three long flashes of light came from the tower. Hindi ako namalik-mata kanina. Someone was there kahit ipinagbabawal na ng school admin!

"Ano ang ilaw doon?" tanong ni Aiden.

It was again followed by three short flashes. Teka, those blinking lights! Could it be...

Kumaripas ako nang takbo papunta sa abandonadong clock tower at iniwan si Aiden sa daan. I have a gut feeling that whoever's up there was trying to send a message to anyone who could see those lights!

And I needed to reach that person before something untoward happens!

-30-