WILHELMINA

HUMANS ARE not that different from codes. Kahit gaano pa sila kahirap basahin, kung pag-aaralan ang kanilang ginagawa, malalaman kung anong iniisip o binabalak nilang gawin.

The form of attitudes. The pattern of motivations. The frequency of gestures. Lahat ng ito'y basehan para basahin ang ilang estudyante. My classmates were no exemption, of course.

Holmesians? Reactive. Kung ano ang galaw ng isa, doon nila ibabase ang ikikilos nila.

Adlerians? Passive. Dumedepende lamang sila sa paligid at mag-a-adapt kung biglang may magbabago sa mga external factor.

Moriartians? Stimulus. Laging sila ang nakakahanap ng paraan upang umayon ang kilos ng mga biktima sa kanilang plano.

How about us, Watsonians? We merely observe how everyone reacts, how one thing leads to another and how we can take advantage of the outcome.

And that's how we managed to outwit our classmates in our Special Arts activity. Let the Moriartians trigger a chain of events. Let the Holmesians and Adlerians go along with the chaos.

Kadalasang nasa background kami, nagmamasid at hindi unang kumikilos. We prepare for all eventualities. We adjust strategies based on the current situation.

Our team's strategist, Joanna, suggested to split our forces and utilize all available resources in our arsenal. I was assigned as the "mission control." Joanna and Sean would be doing the chasing and pacifying. We coordinated via wireless communication.

Professor Dred took responsibility for the chaos that ensued in the cafe. Moriartians had to thank him for that. Despite being outmatched, the Holmesians were still in good mood. The Adlerians? A bit disappointed that they exerted effort for their disguise skills.

As a reward, we would be exempted from taking the first quiz. Hindi naman namin kailangang ma-exempt sa klase. Ngunit dahil 'yon ang kapalit ng pagkahuli kay Professor Dred, wala kaming choice kundi tanggapin ang reward.

At the end of today's class, I was summoned to the office of our House leader. The messenger told me that it was about the update on my brief abduction case.

Until now, the whole affair was a mystery to me. Ilang araw ko nang pinag-iisipan kung bakit ako ang tinarget ng kung sinumang dumukot sa akin. I have made no enemies in the university.

"Please take a seat!" the Watsonian leader's broad frame greeted me as I entered the room. He stood, revealing his bulky build, and his large hand motioned to the cushioned chair in front of him. The pin on his collar shone as the lamp above our heads shed its light.

The office of the House leader was cluttered with paper, probably pending proposals of the council, and thick books. The portraits of the past leaders were hanging on the wall. Parang nakamasid ang kanilang mga mata sa kung sinuman ang nandito sa loob.

I held tightly on my iPad as I took my seat. Even in the presence of our House leader, I would not abandon my way of communication.

"How's your day?" he asked as he turned his swivel chair.

"••-• •• -• •," I wrote in Morse code on my iPad.

"Good, good," Keano nodded. His smiling face then turned serious. "About your case, nakipag-coordinate na kami sa ibang Houses upang malaman kung may iba pa bang insidente na katulad sa 'yo. Apparently, meron nga. Some of their Housemates were briefly abducted until they were found."

His eyes blinked at me, waiting for any reaction from me. When he got none, he went on explaining.

"Fortunately, none of the previous victims were hurt intentionally by their abductors. Basta-basta sila dinudukot at dinadala sa mga lugar kung saan hindi sila basta-basta makikita. Unfortunately, malinis ang pagkakatrabaho sa mga naunang insidente. Manipulated ang mga security camera. Perfect ang timing ng abductions kaya walang mahagilap na witness."

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

"Just this afternoon, may idineliver sa aming package," Keano answered. "At ang laman? Ang gadget ni Sean! Whoever stole it was kind enough to return it to the owner. Sinubukan naming i-trace kung saan nawala o nanakaw ang phone niya. Among the locations na pinuntahan ni Sean, the cafeteria was the perfect spot."

That place would be crowded especially during lunch time, providing cover for the thief.

"Meron na kaming pinaghihinalaan," Keano went on. "But we can't just throw around accusations, right? Kung meron sana tayong lead, magkakaroon tayo ng justification para magtanong-tanong sa House na pinaghihinalaan namin."

The timing. The execution. I do not want to entertain an idea, but among the four Houses, only one was adept at that. Tama ang House leader namin. Hindi pwedeng basta-basta kami mag-aakusa kung wala kaming lead.

"I raised this concern to the student regent," Keano said. "We have arrived at a conclusion that your abduction and the others were only pranks. But we won't let the culprits get off the hook. Kapag nalaman namin kung sino ang may kagagawan nito, sisiguruhin naming mapapatawan sila ng parusa. For now, what we can do is inform the students about these incidents and stay vigilant."

A waiting game, he meant. Until the culprit strikes again, we have nothing to work with.

Having no more concerns, I left the office of the House leader and went straight to the Watsonian library. Ang amoy ng mga libro, nakakahumaling. Ang katahimikan, nakakabingi pero nakakalma. Ligtas ito mula sa mga walang katuturang tsismisan na naririnig ko araw-araw.

I brought with me the police reports on the murder-disguised-as-suicide case. Ipina-assignment sa amin ni SPO1 Cosmiano na pag-aralan ang mga detalye ng kaso. Nakakakiliti ng isip. Nakakapiga ng utak.

Inilapag ko ang mga litrato sa mesa. Isa-isa kong sinuri ang mga eksenang nakunan sa mga 'yon.

"Sabi ko na nga ba, dito kita madadatnan."

Someone's shadow was walking to my table. Mahaba ang buhok. Balingkinitan ang pangangatawan. May suot na salamin. Si Joanna.

"Sakto! Pumunta rin ako dito para basahin ang mga report. Do you mind kung tumabi ako sa 'yo?"

I shook my head. Sa totoo niyan, gusto kong masolo ang puwesto ko. I have an issue about my personal space. Ngunit dahil si Joanna ang nagtanong, hinayaan ko na lamang siyang umupo.

I could count on my fingers those who would try to approach me. Nahihirapan kasi silang basahin ang mga code na isinusulat ko sa iPad. I do not like small talk, kaya sa iPad ako laging nakikipag-usap sa kanila. Dito ko rin kasi malalaman kung sinong magtitiyagang makipag-usap sa akin kahit puro code ang ginagamit kong way of communication.

And Joanna is one of them. Kahit na gaano kaiksi ang ibinibigay kong code sa kanya, naiintindihan niya ang gusto kong sabihin. My classmates would oftentimes mistake her as my official translator.

"Earlier we managed to beat the two Houses contending to be at the top," she commented as soon as she settled down. Hindi ko inasahang bubuksan niya ang gano'ng topic. "Kung gugustuhin, kaya nating talunin ang Houses Holmes at Moriarty, at maging numero uno sa House War. Oh, the Adlerians? They are no threats to us."

Sinulyapan ko siya ng tingin at itinype sa aking iPad:

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

Hindi naman sa minamaliit ko ang sarili naming House. Para sa akin, hindi porke't nanalo kami ng isang beses ay nangangahulugang kaya na naming umakyat sa tutok. We must remain humble.

"Being triumphant in war begins in small victories," she whispered. "We have been on the sidelines since day one! Why are we following the footsteps of the babbling fool Dr. John Watson? Kaya nating umangat sa lahat. At napatunayan na natin 'yan ngayon."

"-• --- -•-• --- -- •--• • - •• - •• --- -•," I wrote on my gadget and showed it to her. Ayaw kong i-entertain ang thought na gusto niyang itanim sa utak ko. Pumasok ako sa QED University dahil gusto kong matutunan ang mga kakayahan ng pagiging forensic analyst. Hindi ako pumasok dito upang makipagkompetensya.

Umiling si Joanna. Mukhang nadismaya siya sa sagot ko. "Hindi mo ba napapansin, Mina? The whole system is encouraging us to compete! To beat the other three Houses! The Watsonians have a lot of untapped potential, but we choose to be side characters instead of taking on the main role. Sa klase pa lang natin, you, Sean and I — with our combined wits — can outmatch the Holmesians and Moriartians."

"Narinig ko yata ang pangalan ko?"

Sean appeared behind us, peeking at the police reports that I was reading.

"Bakit mo ba masyadong pinu-push ang idea ng competition kay Mina? Alam mong ayaw niya sa mga ganyang walang kakwenta-kwentang bagay," tanong ni Sean. Umupo siya sa harapan namin ni Joanna. "Mina, I heard the news from our House leader. Kung sanang iningatan ko ang aking phone, hindi ka mabibiktima ng kung sinong prankster."

I only nodded in response. He had nothing to be sorry about.

"Walang kakwenta-kwenta?" kumunot ang noo ni Joanna. "The student life in this university is all about competition! Kaya nga tayo pinaghiwa-hiwalay sa apat ng Houses, 'di ba? The wretched system promotes the spirit of competition, whether healthy or unhealthy."

Napahawak sa kanyang baba si Sean. Hindi ko inasahang mapupunta sa kompetisyon ang topic namin. All I wanted was to review the case assigned to us and draw some conclusions.

"Gusto mo bang mag-stay habambuhay na third ang House natin?" tanong ni Joanna. "Do you wanna let the proud Holmesians and the arrogant Moriartians take the spotlight every now and then?"

"I get your point, Joanna, at sang-ayon din ako sa opinyon mo," patango-tangong tugon ni Sean. "It is about time for us to step up. Hindi lang ako sang-ayon sa paraan mo ng pangungumbinse kay Mina. You are shoving the idea down her throat. And she might repel it."

"She's not the type of person who like beating around the bush kaya diniretso ko na siya." Napatingin sa akin si Joanna. She's right about that. I prefer direct and frank conversations. "Alam mo naman kung gaano ako kaprangka, 'di ba?"

"I understand that it's in your nature to be direct," Sean nodded. "But you have to be indirect sometimes and try not to force the thought in someone's head. Hindi ko siya matatawag na beating around the bush. But I'd like to think of it as planting an idea and letting it grow naturally in someone's mind."

"So, the strategist Sean speaks," Joanna said mockingly. "How would you, what's the term again, plant the idea?"

"Your approach is too brazen: 'We beat them earlier so why don't we beat them again and again until we rise to the top?' I wouldn't recommend that," Sean tried to mimic Joanna's voice. "Now why don't you subtly plant the idea. You can start with: 'We beat them earlier. Our House has a lot of potential, don't you agree?' Gamit ang isang simpleng tanong, you can condition the receiver's mind to think that way. 'Sean is right. We have a lot of potential and they should never underestimate us. We could be a threat to them, if we wanted to.' Which one's better?"

Kung ako ang tatanungin, mas magiging effective ang sinuggest ni Sean dahil hindi nito pinupuwersa ang ideya sa utak ng makatatanggap nito. The receiver would contemplate on the thought until they finally embrace it. Ang kailangan lamang para tuluyan itong ma-develop ay constant reinforcement. Otherwise, the receiver might drop the idea after a few hours or days.

"Kanya-kanya tayong style, Sean," sagot ni Joanna. "You prefer subtle hinting, I prefer aggressive approach."

"So what are you thinking right now, Mina?" nabaling sa akin ang tingin ni Sean, pinagmamasdan ng mga mata niya ang reaksyon ko.

"- •••• • -•-• •- ••• •," I wrote on my iPad. Sunod kong itinuro ang mga case report na kanina ko pa dapat babasahin. Our topic about competition may be interesting. But the assignment was my priority at the moment.

"Oh, right! That's the reason kung bakit pala ako nandito." Kinuha ni Joanna ang isang police report. She quietly reviewed the file. "I think tama ang theory natin na isa itong murder. At gaya ng sinabi ni Morrie—and I began to hate agreeing with them—baka konektado ito sa mga reported serial suicide."

Serial murders. Revolver. Mark on hand. Small letter t. 'Yan ang mga element sa kasong nakikita kong may koneksyon sa iba pa. They nodded when I showed them my comments in Morse code. 

"That letter has been bothering me." Ipinakita ni Joanna ang litrato ng palad ng isa sa mga biktima kung isang alphabet letter ang nakaukit. "If this is a serial killing, then this would be the murderer's trademark. Pero anong meron sa letrang 't'? Bakit 'yon ang napili ng killer?"

Marahan akong umiling. Still no idea. Maybe that letter meant "target"?

"That's one puzzle piece that I can't figure out," Joanna said. "It must mean something to the killer or the killings, aside from establishing that these deaths were related."

"At kung isang serial killer nga ang nasa likod nito at pinagmumukha niyang suicide ang mga pagpatay, paano niya pinipili ang mga biktima niya?" tanong ni Sean. "Was it through lottery? Does he put names in a bowl, randomly pick a folded piece of paper, and decide 'ah, you will die today'?"

Possible random targets. Maybe unseen link.

Muli kong binasa ang mga criminal record ng mga biktima. Murder. Rape. Drugs. Arson. Mga krimeng naganap sa magkakahiwalay na lugar sa Angeles City. Lahat ay napawalang-sala dahil mahina ang ebidensya.

Inihilera ko ang mga file nila sa mesa at binasa isa-isa ang bawat field. Name. Age. Birthday. Place of birth. Address. Wala akong makita na posibleng link sa kanilang personal information.

The victims? No relation or whatsover with one another.

Their victims? Not related in any way. Possibility of avenging kin? Low.

What's the common denominator of the ex-convicts now victims? Sinampahan lahat sila ng mga kaso. Ikinulong nang ilang taon hanggang mapalaya—

Sumagi sa isip ko ang isa pang factor sa kasong ito na hindi ko kaagad napansin. That might be the thread that would connect every element of the case.

"Bakit? Nakita mo na ba ang link sa mga biktima?" nagtatakang tanong ni Joanna. Kinuha niya ang mga litrato ng biktima at itinutok ang mga mata niya rito.

I fixed my eyeglasses and read the criminal records again. Lahat sila'y napawalang-sala. Lahat ng mga krimeng ginawa nila ay sa loob ng Angeles City. Nasa iisang korte ang jurisdiction ng kanilang mga kaso.

And the judge who rendered the verdict that the evidences against them were not strong? Isang Angeles City Regional Trial Court judge na pamilyar ang apelyido.

"Judge Harold Harrison," I mouthed, underlining the name on the document with my finger.

"Harrison?" Sean's eyebrows furrowed as he read the name. "'Di ba ganyan din ang surname ng classmate nating Holmesian?"

"Harriet Harrison..." Joanna recalled. "Wala akong masyadong alam sa personal na buhay ng babaeng 'yon, but this might be just a coincidence. Pwede ring hindi. There are a number of people who share the surname Harrison. But in Angeles City? Not that many."

Harriet and I were not that close. Nagkakausap kami tuwing may klase, ngunit sa labas no'n, wala kaming communication.

"Whether she's related to the judge or not is no longer relevant," Sean said. "At least, we know who set these suspects free. Nakalaya man sila sa kulungan, may nakaabang naman palang kamatayan."

"Someone is hunting them down," tumango si Joanna. "Someone who has a strong yet twisted sense of justice. If the law failed to punish them, that certain someone would do the job instead."

"At hangga't hindi siya nahuhuli, may susunod pang biktima," sabi ni Sean. "The serial killing does not end here. Expect another chapter featuring a dead body with a 't' mark on it."

Ican't help but agree. This whole case was far from over.

-30-