ERALD

THINKING THAT the dust has already settled, I decided to go back to the clubroom. Mahigit tatlong oras na rin ang lumipas kaya palagay ko, nakapag-calm down na si Charlotte.

Dapat ba akong humingi ng paumanhin sa kanya? I did nothing wrong earlier except tell a joke. Hindi ko inakalang seseryosohin nila. At saka kundi dahil sa 'kin — kahit na peke ang bomba — posibleng nasa kabilang buhay na kami.

Teka, teka. Bakit ba ine-entertain ng isip ko ang gano'ng posibilidad? Dapat nga, wala akong pakialam sa kung ano ang sasabihin o mararamdaman nila sa 'kin. I wasn't born to get their approval.

As usual, walang masyadong dumaraan sa hallway ng third floor, lalo na sa bandang dulo. Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago kumatok at pihitin ang doorknob.

Pagpasok ko sa aming opisina, bumungad sa 'kin ang nakangiting club president. She was writing down something in her notebook while occasionally glancing at her digital camera.

Aba, parang walang nangyari kanina, ah. Back to normal na ba ang lahat?

"He-Hello," nauutal kong bati na sinamahan ko pa ng tinatamad na kaway.

"Hi, Erald! Where have you been?" May tono ng pag-aalala sa tanong niya. Ni hindi ko maramdaman na sarcastic ang kanyang pagkakasabi, parang natural talaga. "Kanina pa kita hinihintay. I thought you got involved in an accident."

Umupo ako sa monobloc chair na nakapuwesto sa tapat niya. I expected that she would greet me by swinging her camera at my face. Nagpapanggap ba siyang okay na ang lahat?

"By the way, hiniram mo ba ang camera ko? You have photos here habang may pinaglalaruan kang kahon."

Ipinakita niya sa akin ang isang litrato kung saan sinusuri ko ang bomba kanina. Hindi niya ba matandaan na hindi isang ordinaryong kahon ang kinakalikot ko? How long would she pretend that nothing happened?

"And I have search history about Morse code in my phone." Sunod niyang ipinakita sa 'kin ang Google page ng Morse code alphabet. "Did you also borrow my phone? Oh, what happened to your face? Bakit namumula? Are you okay? Did someone hit you or something?"

Napatulala ako sa inosenteng mukha ni Charlotte na may halong pagkabahala. At first, I thought she was faking her concern on me and she would pull a prank. Instead, her hand gently caressed my cheek. I flinched the moment she touched me.

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa nakita at narinig ko. Anong nangyayari? Bakit parang wala siyang natatandaan tungkol sa insidente? Teka, baka niloloko na naman niya ako at nagpapanggap lang siyang walang naaalala?

But that would be too much. Kung galit siya sa 'kin, imposibleng magawa niyang magbiro ng ganito.

"Ma-Madam President, talaga bang hindi mo alam kung sino ang kumuha ng picture na 'yan o kaya 'yung nag-search sa Google gamit ang phone mo? Pati ang taong naglagay ng pulang markang ito sa mukha ko?"

Tumingin siya sa kisame at idinampi ang hintuturo sa kanyang labi, tila napaisip sa sinabi ko. She looked cuter on that pose. "All I can remember is that I gave you canned tomato juice for our trick. Nakatulog yata ako rito sa office kaya na-miss ko ang club fair. I was looking for you earlier para itanong kung anong nangyari. May na-recruit ba tayong new members?"

Nakita ko sa kanyang mga mata na walang halong pagsisinungaling o pagkukunwari ang mga sinabi niya. Kung gano'n, talaga ngang nakalimutan niya ang nangyari kanina. Either that or she knew how to act well.

What's wrong with her?

TOK! TOK! TOK!

We were in the middle of a serious scenario when someone interrupted. Muntikan na akong napatalon sa gulat nang marinig ang pagkatok sa pinto.

"Come in!" sigaw ni Charlotte para marinig siya ng kung sinumang nasa labas.

Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang isang lalaking magulo ang ayos ng buhok at nakasuot ng salamin. Nakapamulsa pa siyang naglakad palapit sa kinauupuan ko.

What on earth was he doing here?

"Good afternoon," bati ni Clyde sa amin. Sa lahat ng pwedeng bumisita sa clubroom namin, bakit siya pa? Can I make a house rule that everyone is welcome inside except the guy named Clyde Cielo? "Are you discussing something? Should I just return later or tomorrow?"

Umiling si Charlotte sabay turo sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ko. "Wala naman kaming pinag-uusapang importante. Please take a seat."

Tsk! Bakit sa tabi ko pa? Hindi ba alam ni Charlotte na sa liit ng clubroom namin, hindi pwedeng magtabi ang evil wizard at ang white knight? Hindi ba niya nararamdaman ang tensyon sa pagitan naming dalawa?

At anong ginagawa ng lalaking 'to rito? Naligaw ba siya ng room na pinasukan? He knew how to read so there's no way he could have mistaken this place for another.

Ako na sana ang maglalakas-loob na tanungin kung ano ang pakay niya rito ngunit naunahan niya ako.

"I wanna join the QED Club," he declared with his chin up.

Halos mahulog ako sa upuan. Tama ba ang narinig ko? Gusto niyang maging member namin? Isa ba 'yang joke? Pinagti-trip-an niya ba kami? I thought he wasn't interested in detective work? Tapos ngayon, punta-punta pa siya rito?

"I heard that you are still in need of members para ma-qualify kayo bilang club kaya napagdesisyon kong magpa-member," he added.

"Teka, teka, kung sasali ka sa club namin dahil naaawa kang baka ma-dissolve kami, puwede ka nang lumabas." My hand motioned to the door, showing him the way out. Ayaw ko ang kinakaawaan kaya nainsulto ako sakaling 'yon ang rason ng pagsali niya. "At saka sinabi mo sa 'kin kanina na hindi ka interesado sa mga ganitong bagay, 'di ba?"

Oo, desperado ako kanina na ma-recruit ang lalaking 'to. But after he answered "no" to my offer earlier, I already crossed him off the list of potential members. Wala nang bawian.

Muli niyang ipinagmayabang ang mapuputi niyang ngipin na kumikislap tuwing nasisikatan ng araw. "Hindi ako sasali dahil sa awa. I could have applied in any other club, but I have already made up my mind and decided to join this one. I hope you would consider my application."

"Approved!" sagot ni Charlotte, naka-thumbs up pa! Sana hindi niya ganyan kabilis ibigay ang kanyang "yes!" kapag may nanligaw o nag-propose sa kanya. "Kailangan mo lang fill-up-an ang application form and we can formally welcome you as a club member."

"Te-Teka! Hindi tayo pwedeng basta-basta tumanggap ng mga applicant!" I protested. "Dapat dumaan muna sila sa screening, 'di ba? That's our process! Kaya bakit kaagad approved ang lalaking 'to? Crush mo ba siya, ha?"

"As the club president, I am the only one who can approve or reject applications," she spoke in defense of her decision while jerking a thumb at herself. "At kung hindi pa natin tatanggapin itong si... what's your name? Clyde? Baka mabuwag na ang club natin next week. We don't want that scenario to happen, do we?"

The moment she played the "I-am-the-president" card, I knew that no words could change her mind. I just rolled my eyes. Wala akong nagawa kundi sumang-ayon. Ano bang "say" ko sa club na 'to? She's the president while I was just a member.

"Thank you!" Nagkamayan ang dalawang mahilig ngumiti at nagpalitan ng pagbati. Kung titingnan, bagay silang dalawa. Isang inosenteng prinsesa at isang nerdy na kabalyero.

Sunod na humarap sa 'kin si Clyde at inalok ang kanyang kanang kamay. Once again, I saw that annoying smile plastered on his face. "Let us work together and make this club great again."

Kahit labag sa aking kalooban, nakipagkamay ako sa kanya bilang senyales ng pagkakaibigan kuno. Kinuhanan pa kami ng litrato ni Charlotte para ma-record ang historic event na ito. Kapag nakita kong pakalat-kalat ang camera niya, I would delete that photo.

Mukhang kailangan kong bumili ng disinfectant mamaya. Baka mahawa ako sa pagiging "good guy" ng apat na matang 'to.

* * *

Clyde is now officially a member of the QED Club, as much as I hated to accept it. Nataon pang magkaklase kami kaya kapag magpapatawag ng meeting si Madam President, baka sabay kaming magpunta sa clubroom.

Unfortunately, gano'n ang nangyari ngayong umaga. I tried to maintain my distance from him while walking along the hallway.

"I wonder why no one else signed up on your club," he spoke out of the blue. "After all the efforts you put on that case, parang nabalewala ang lahat."

"Are you talking to me?" Obvious naman na ako ang kausap niya dahil wala kaming kasabay na ibang estudyante.

My pace was faster than his, but he was trying to catch up with me. By "efforts," was he referring to me solving the case or me plotting the whole thing? May kutob akong pinaghihinalaan niyang ako ang may pakana no'n.

"We are now clubmates," he continued. "We should get along, shouldn't we?"

"Hey, hey." Huminto ako sa paglalakad at hinarap ang apat na matang 'to. Napatigil din siya. I shuddered at the thought of us working together. "Huwag mong isiping open na ako sa pakikipag-friends sa 'yo dahil magkasama tayo sa iisang club. That doesn't change anything."

I cringed after uttering the word "friends." Wala akong intensyong makipagkaibigan sa tulad niya o kung sinuman. But as long as they would benefit me in one way or another, I wouldn't mind keeping them as acquaintances. Sige, I would thank him for joining the club because we were in dire need of members, but I would never like him for it.

"You don't really like me, do you?" he asked the moment I turned around and strode ahead to the other wing of the building.

"You are a walking cliche," I answered. Hindi ko naman talaga kailangang sagutin ang tanong niya. The answer was fairly obvious, wasn't it? "And I hate cliches."

"And you are a walking irony," he responded. "Hanggang ngayon, nagtataka ako kung bakit ka sumali sa detective club. You resort to dirty tactics. You prefer creating ruckus than solving them. If you apply in the K-OS Club, they might welcome you with open arms."

I would if I could, but I had issues with how they do things. Baka isipin din nila na isa akong spy na in-infiltrate ang kanilang grupo para pabagsakin 'to. Well, that was a plan I could consider.

"Pwede bang tahimik na lang tayong maglakad papunta sa clubroom?" Lumingon ako sa kanya. "We don't need to engage in a nonsense chit-chat."

The idea of him and me having some idle talks while on the way to our destination sent shivers down my spine. Mas gugustuhin kong maglakad nang mag-isa kaysa makasabay siya.

Nadatnan namin si Charlotte na kausap ang isang lalaking nakaupo sa isang monobloc chair at nakatalikod sa amin. Gumawa ng kaluskos ang pagbukas ko ng pinto kaya napalingon ang dalawa sa amin.

His bangs were swayed on the left, almost covering one of his eyes. Sa kanyang kuwelyo, naka-pin ang isang badge na may logo ng school namin.

"Executive committee," bulong ni Clyde kahit hindi ko siya tinatanong. Could he also recognize someone based on what the latter was wearing? I bet that badge was a dead giveaway.

"Good morning, guys!" Iwinagayway ni Charlotte ang kanyang kamay na may hawak na papel. "May good news ako sa inyo! Before that, I want you to meet the execom member who delivered the good news."

Tumayo ang lalaking kanina'y nakatalikod at inialok ang kanyang kamay sa akin. "My name's Reign Imperial, chairman of the student executive committee. You must be..."

"Erald," I introduced myself, shaking his hand.

"Such a great pleasure to meet you," Reign smiled at me before turning to my four-eyed companion. "And you are?"

"Clyde," pagpapakilala ng kasama ko.

"Can you tell them the good news?" utos ni Charlotte sa execom chairman. Sana good news talaga 'yan.

Umupo kaming dalawa ni Clyde sa monobloc chairs sa tabi ng aming bisita at inilagay ang mga sling bag namin sa ilalim ng mesa. Kinuha ko ang sulat na hawak ni Madam President at binasa ang nilalaman nito.

"As you can read, we have strict rules when it comes to clubrooms," Reign started. "Student organizations with less than five members are obliged to vacate their workplace. Ibibigay namin ang lugar na 'to sa mas malalaking club."

"At dahil may tatlong members pa lang kami, hindi na kami entitled na mag-stay sa clubroom na 'to?" Nahinto ako sa pagbabasa ng sulat para tingnan ang club president namin. "How is that a good news? Nag-iba na ba ang definition at usage ng term na 'yon?"

"Patapusin mo muna kasi!" sabi ni Charlotte.

My eyes returned to reading the letter and let the messenger go on with the so-called good news.

"However, due to the remarkable contribution of one of your club members in resolving last week's club fair incident, the student council has decided to make an exemption on you," Reign finished. "Pwede pa rin kayong mag-stay sa clubroom na 'to kahit na hindi n'yo na-reach ang quota. After all, this is the QED Club, a widely recognized detective group back in the day."

"And who among the benevolent student council officers made the recommendation?" Iniangat ko ang aking tingin sabay tupi sa hawak kong papel.

"Madeleine Castell, the secretary of the High School Supreme Student Council," Reign answered, glancing at me. May kakaiba sa kung paano niya ako tingnan. "I'm not supposed to tell you this, but it won't hurt if you know. The secretary managed to convince the council to not evict you from this room."

"I don't know what incident she meant in the letter, but I'm thankful that the secretary allowed us to stay here," sabi ni Charlotte, halos maiyak sa saya. "Please send her our heartfelt thanks."

Reign nodded. "I will let her know. I hope you don't mind if I go ahead. May ibang clubs pa akong kailangang puntahan."

He bid us farewell before exiting the clubroom. Meron naman sigurong ibang member ang execom na pwede niyang utusan, pero bakit siya ang umaastang messenger ng student council? If I were in his position, I would order my colleagues to do the legwork.

Well, whatever the reason, it was none of my business.

Pagsara ng pinto, kaagad na nagbato ng tanong si Clyde sa aming club president. "Talaga bang hindi mo alam kung anong nangyari last week? You were there when Erald was defusing the bomb, weren't you?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Charlotte at ibinaling ang tingin sa 'kin. Parang hindi siya makapaniwala. "Really? You managed to defuse a bomb? As expected from a member of our club! Ikaw pala ang tinutukoy ng secretary sa kanyang letter!"

Napakunot ang noo ni apat na mata, tila hindi naiintindihan ang nangyayari. That was also my reaction when I learned that our club president seemed to have forgotten about the incident.

"Hindi mo rin natatandaan na sinampal—"

"PAL-itan ng pabor!" Mabilis akong sumingit bago matapos ni Clyde ang gusto niyang sabihin. "Ganyan naman talaga ang kalakaran sa mundong 'to, 'di ba? Gagawan mo ng pabor ang isang tao dahil umaasa kang kapag ikaw ang mangangailangan, ibabalik niya ang pabor sa 'yo. At gustong samantalahin ng secretary ang katotohanang 'yan."

Napasulyap sa 'kin si Clyde, bakas sa kanyang mukha ang pagtataka kung bakit iniiwasan kong pag-usapan ang nakaraan. Could he just shut his mouth and let me divert the topic?

"Speaking of secretary," He wouldn't stop, would he? "Her name's Madeleine Castell, right? Why is her sur—"

I intentionally dragged my chair as I stood, creating an irritating noise. Ayaw kong marinig ang susunod niyang tanong. "Bibili lang ako ng maiinom sa vendo. May gusto ka bang ipabili, Madam President?"

"Wala naman pero may pabor sana ako sa 'yo... if you don't mind," she spoke softly.

Pabor?

"Can you call me Charlotte? Masyado kasing formal ang Madam President. Gusto ko sana, magkakaibigan ang turingan natin sa club na 'to. Nevermind the titles."

Napangiti ako sa kanyang hinihinging pabor. Akala ko kung ano na. Gano'n lang pala kasimple.

"Kung 'yan ang gusto mo, Charlotte."

q.e.d.