- doing something dangerous.

11

Umaandar na ang kalesa, sumisilip ang kada ilaw ng street light na madadaanan namin sa bintana.

The air feels thick, it's suffocating.

I'm staring at the man sitting in front of me, wearing a white long sleeves shirt and black frock coat, paired with black pants and shoes. Sitting straight, tips of his fingers from both hands are touching each other. His silver eyes shines every times the light from the window passes.

"Good evening, Sherlock," pagbati ko, wala akong ekspresyon. "I'm very surprised to see you."

Kapwa niya ay maayos din akong nakaupo, magkapatong ang dalawang kamay sa hita at deretso ang likod.

"Good evening, Lady Harlotte. I apologize for the late notice," he answered. "Are you doing well?"

"Yes," maikli kong sagot. I'm trying to cut our conversation short. I just stared at him as he stared back.

"Hmm, that's great to hear. How about your memories?" he asked again. Pasimpleng naningkit ang mga mata ko.

"I still don't remember anything."

"That's unfortunate to hear. . ." Napasandal sa upuan si Sherlock, at pinasok ang isang kamay sa loob ng coat niya. "I think you're not resting well."

Tumalim ang tingin ko sa kaniya. "I am, Sherlock. I spent most of my time resting."

"Oh, then I assume that you rested well at the bar earlier."

I maintained my composure on the outside. Even though, inside, I'm starting to panic.

Shit. . . he knew?

I remained expressionless, trying to show a serious face. "I have no idea what you're talking about," pagmamaang-maangan ko.

Hindi sumagot ang kausap ko, bagkus ay nilabas na niya ang kamay niya sa kaniyang coat na meron ng hawak-hawak. Nilahad niya 'to sa 'kin.

"Isn't this yours, Lady Harlotte?" ani Sherlock. "The emerald suits your green dress and hat."

As if there's a glass in front of me that shattered, I can hear the glass breaking. In front of me is none other the choker I left to the bartender as a payment.

My face is still the same, but I'm screaming inside, fire all over my head.

That bartender! He snitched me!

"The bartender didn't say anything," muling sambit ni Sherlock. Para bang nababasa niya ang nasa isip ko. Umangat ang tingin ko sa kaniya, para akong natutusok sa tingin niya sa 'kin.

"I figured it out. It's just that, when I came there, there's a glass of water on the table." I started imagining his words. "Drinking a glass of water in a pub, it's either you're just thirsty, or you went there not for a drink."

"And it's the latter."

Tumaas ang kanan kong kilay. "How can you say that?"

"Because the bartender. . . is cleaning." He has a cold expression, not breaking our eye contact. "He had pruny fingers, he has been wiping for quite a while. If someone went there as a customer, he'll be preparing drinks. But instead, he's not busy doing that, he's cleaning. Let's say he just finished preparing a drink, that's why he's cleaning. But he didn't clean the glass of water right away, it only means that the person it's for is still inside the tub. When I asked him questions, he answered without hearing them completely. It shows that he knows the question already—or, he's already been asked."

Ang haba ng sinabi ni Sherlock, hindi nakasunod ang utak ko. Paulit-ulit akong napaismid sa isipan ko.

I lost my composure. I sighed, irritated. Nagbago na ang tingin ko, napasandal ako sa upuan. "Or just say, you're following me," I just casually answered, pissed.

Sherlock chuckled. "Then, I'm following you, Lady Harlotte."

Napaangat ang dalawa kong kilay at napaayos kaagad ako ng upo. "Y-You what?!"

I'm only joking!! I didn't expect that he's really following me!

"You seriously didn't think that I didn't notice you there? You're the only woman in the pub at that moment, I saw you the moment I entered."

I was dumbfounded. I didn't notice that I'm the only woman there. . . I was busted from the start.

He asked a question, "What are you doing there, Lady Harlotte? Is it connected to your sister's case?"

Dumiin ang pagkakakagat ko sa ngipin. "It has nothing to do with you, Sherlock."

"It has something to do with me." Nagbago ang tono niya ng pananalita. "I told you that you should let the professionals do their jobs. I handle Lady Hilian's case, Lady Harlotte. I am the detective."

"You need to cooperate with me. Don't make things complicated. I'll do my part as the detective, and you'll do yours as a young Lady-"

"Absurd! No man can tell me what to do!" I exclaimed. "I found things in a day that you haven't found in days, detective."

Napalapit ako sa kaniya at mariin siyang tinignan. "I told you that I won't stand on your way—do your own thing, and I will solve my sister's case."

Hindi nagpatinag si Sherlock sa tingin ko, pero hindi siya kaagad nakasagot. "That night at the ball. . ."

Nabigla ko sa pag-iba niya ng usapan. Nagbago ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

"We still haven't found the culprits who tried to poision you, neither the waiter."

"So, you do believe that the poison was for me," I sarcastically said.

"I do." I was taken aback when Sherlock leaned towards me. "The one who wants to harm you, was also in the ball that night."

My eyes widened. "How did-"

"Just like what you've said, Lady Harlotte, what are the chances?" Pagpapaalala niya sa 'kin. "Sa rami ng tao roon, sa 'yo dumaan ang waiter, sa 'yo na walang hawak-hawak na inumin, sa 'yo na mag-isa. Sa rami ng tao roon, sa 'yo naka sentro ang usapan, sa inyo ng kapatid mo."

Bigla kong naalala ang mga salitang binitawan ko no'ng gabing 'yon. Alalang-alala ni Sherlock ang bawat salita.

"Who would thought that you'll show up that night, despite the rumors?" Sherlock leaned closer, his voice is getting deeper and quieter. "That means, the culprit knows you're there. . . they saw you there."

Napalunok ako nang malalim, umiwas ako sa kaniya. Nanatili siyang nakatingin sa 'kin.

"Who would want to harm you, and why?" he asked to himself.

"The same person who took my sister," deretsong sagot ko.

"Then why now? Bakit hindi no'ng magkasama kayong dalawa sa kalesa? Bakit siya lang ang nawala? Bakit hindi ikaw, o kayong dalawa?"

Sunod-sunod ang tanong niya, sunod-sunod din ang tanong sa isipan ko. Hindi ako nakasagot.

"Just what are you up to, Lady Harlotte?" he calmly asked again.

"Do you really want to prove something? Or you're hiding something?" Kita ko ang isang segundong pagningkit ng mga mata niya sa 'kin. "You're the key in this case. With your memories, we will know what really happened. . . so why are you so eager to solve this on your own?"

Hindi ako nakasagot sa sinabi niya. Tila nautahan ako ng ilang segundo. What am I trying to prove?

That I, a woman, can solve this case?

That I'm innocent?

That I'm trying to fit this world as Hilian's sister—Harlotte, who would do the same for her twin?

Or to know myself. . . if I'm really guilty, or not. To prove to them—to me, that I have nothing to do with my sister's case?

I don't know. . . I don't know why. There's just something in me that really wants to solve this and find Hilian—my sister.

Huminto ang kalesa, senyales na nasa manor na kami. Hindi ko na hinintay na pagbuksan ako ng pinto dahil kusa na 'kong tumayo at pumunta rito. Before going down the carriage, I gave Sherlock a side look.

"I know you're suspecting me, detective. But I'm not the person you're looking for. And I'm going to prove it to you by solving this case first."

He look down on me as I go down the carriage, he's still sitting.

"It doesn't mean that you're doing this, I won't suspect you anymore, Lady Harlotte."

The door slowly closes. Unti-unti siyang nawawala sa paningin ko.

"You're playing with fire. . . play too much, and you'll get burned."

𓉞✎🕊