ERALD

WE MAY have foiled the K-OS Club's plan, but their bomb threat caused the cancellation of the club fair at the open area. Many were disappointed by the student council's decision, but the safety of students was their primordial concern. As an alternative, sa kani-kaniyang clubroom itutuloy ang recruitment.

What happened after I defused the bomb? Dumating ang security personnel ng Clark High para siguruhing ligtas ang mga estudyante. The bomb squad was called immediately. They detonated the ominous package. Doon namin nalamang pulbos at hindi pulburang pampasabog ang laman nito.

We were tricked by that rogue club. Halos himatayin na ang ilang estudyante sa takot. It turned out that they had nothing to fear in the first place.

The next targets were the landmines. Kagaya ng bomba, peke rin pala ang mga 'to. Sa oras na matapakan ay maglalabas lang ng puting usok. Contrary to the threat, there was no actual explosion.

We've been had. Twice! Kahit pala nagkamali ako ng pinutol na wire o kung may nagmatapang na tumakas, no harm would come to us. They managed to deceive us with the use of theatrics.

Remember the broadcast earlier? The student executive committee who acted swiftly found no one in the broadcasting room. Sa kanilang pag-iinspect, tanging isang CD ang nakalagay sa player. It was perfectly timed to play at exactly eight o'clock.

Kamangha-mangha. Pinag-isipang mabuti, pulido ang trabaho, at walang iniwang ebidensya ang mga tauhan ng K-OS Club. They almost committed the perfect crime, if only their bomb "exploded."

I couldn't help but let out an inaudible giggle. My decision was right all along. Hindi ako nagkamaling lumapit sa kanila para mai-set-up ang palabas kanina.

Hindi ko alam kung coincidence na nakita ko a few days ago ang advertisement ng kanilang club sa bulletin board noong magdidikit kami ng poster ni Charlotte. After seeing their "work of art," an idea popped in my head. Tinandaan ko ang contact number na nakalagay sa papel at tinawagan sila pagkatapos para malaman kung kaya nilang gawin ang request ko.

Almost everything was scripted. Sila ang naghanda ng pekeng bomba at landmines habang ako naman ang nagplano kung saan dapat ilagay, kung saang booth ipadadala ang kahon, kung anong oras magsisimula ang palabas at kung paano mare-resolve ang kaso.

The only part of the plan that I didn't think of was the code. Ang sabi kasi nila sa akin, magbibigay sila ng instruction. Hindi ko alam na gagamit sila ng Morse code para itago ang hint kung paano i-defuse ang bomba.

I also considered in our script on how those students would react. Alam kong kapag narinig nilang may bomba, magtatakbuhan sila palayo. Kaya sinabihan ko ang mga tauhan ng K-OS Club na itago ang mga landmine sa lupang pwedeng tapakan.

Could I apply as a director of a theater play or movie? Everything went smoothly, but with some minor glitches along the way. Dalawang araw ko ring pinag-isipan kung paano dapat gumulong ang mga eksena. Basta ang bottomline: I should be the one to defuse the bomb.

Looking back, tama rin na hindi ni-reveal sa akin kung ano ang arrangement ng wires na dapat putulin. Totoong nahirapan ako sa pag-solve ng clue. No one would suspect that everything was staged. But that may not be true. I could feel that someone got suspicious of the circumstances and saw the truth in my little play.

Unfortunately, all my efforts were in vain.

Matapos ang insidente, wala ni isa sa mga estudyante ang nagpa-member sa club namin. Their minds were still preoccupied by the hoax bomb threat. They did not pay attention to the man who saved them.

Dagdag pa rito ang pagsampal sa 'kin ni Charlotte. Namamaga pa rin at pulang-pula ang kaliwang pisngi ko. Nagkagusot tuloy ang "relasyon" naming dalawa. I couldn't find a more appropriate term. Hindi ko rin masabing "friendship" dahil una sa lahat, hindi kami magkaibigan. Nataon na pareho kami ng club na kinabilangan.

I was supposed to return to our clubroom, but I went on a detour to the rooftop. Baka masama pa ang loob ni Charlotte sa 'kin kaya mabuti kung pahuhupain ko muna. Mahirap na, baka batuhin niya ako ng dala-dalang camera o ihampas sa akin ang upuan.

But there was another reason why I went there. May natanggap akong message mula sa isang unrecognized number at sinabing magkita kami sa rooftop. Hindi ko man memorized ang kanilang phone number, natatandaan ko naman ang last three digits nito.

Tinanggal ko ang nakaharang na "DO NOT ENTER" sign sa huling flight ng hagdan at itinulak ang pinto. The light outside was blinding, I had to cover my eyes. There was a person standing near the railings, looking down on the students below.

No need for deductions. That guy must be from the K-OS Club.

"You took your time." The mysterious man turned around to face me. His straight hair reached his jawline and his bangs were parted in the center. Naalala ko tuloy si Clyde sa kanya dahil sa suot niyang salamin.

In-expect kong nakasuot siya ng maskara o ibang bagay na pan-disguise para itago ang itsura niya. But he did not. I could fully see his face.

How bold. Pwede kong tawagin ang mga security guard para kuyugin ang lalaking 'to. I may be the brains behind the incident, but he and his colleagues executed the plan.

"Hey," I greeted lazily, watching him walk toward me. He flashed a dazzling smile, showing his pearl white teeth. Medyo creepy.

"I am Torry, the supreme leader of the K-OS Club," he introduced himself, offering his hand to me. "Torrence is my full name, but I prefer Torry. Ikaw si Erald Castell, 'di ba?"

Nakipagkamay ako sa kanya kasabay ng paniningkit ng mga mata ko. His ID card was hanging around his neck and his name, year and section were visible.

"Something wrong?" His eyes squinted slightly, his glass lenses gleaming. "Na-starstruck ka bang ma-meet ako rito?"

I slid my hands into my pockets. "Sorry, but I find it weird na magpapakilala ka sa akin sa ganitong paraan."

"What were you expecting?"

I started walking around him. His eyes followed me intently. "Thanks to the show earlier, nasira ang araw ng mga club officer. They would want to put your head on a spike. And here you are, showing me your face and telling me your name. Isn't that a little suspcious?"

"Ine-expect mo bang nakamaskara akong pupunta rito?" He then let out a giggle. "Man, that's so baduy! I have nothing to be ashamed of my face kaya bakit ko tatakpan? Only fools would do that! And about the name, in-expect mo bang gagamit ako ng isang fancy codename?"

"In order to hide your true identity," I finished, standing over the edge of the rooftop. "Kung ako ang nasa posisyon mo, hindi ko basta-basta ipamimigay ang pangalan ko. At hindi ko alam kung sinadya mo, pero kitang-kita sa ID ang year at section mo."

I should probably write a manual on what evil masterminds should do when they commit any act of villainy. Malinis nga ang pagkakagawa nila sa hoax bomb incident kanina, pero mukhang palpak sila sa pagtatago ng identity, lalo na ng leader nila. That's either overconfidence or mere stupidity.

"Your concern is much appreciated but there's nothing to be worried about! Huwag mo akong itulad sa mga kontrabidang gumagamit ng pangalan ng ibang character. Why would I introduce myself as 'Moriarty' or some fancy names if I can use my own name? Gusto kong makilala nila ako sa sarili kong pangalan. And my name sounds cool, isn't it?"

Nakatakip ako ng bibig at pinigilan ang aking pagtawa. The purpose of this face-to-face meeting was not only to greet each other "hi" and "hello." Nandito ako para ipahuli ang isang member ng kanilang club. If he was the leader, then I hit the jackpot prize.

Earlier, I saved the students from the bomb, no matter how fake it was. Right now, I was moments away from taking down a rogue club leader.

"How about the incident earlier? What do you want in return?" Papahabain ko pa nang kaunti ang pag-uusap namin.

He looked up at the clear, blue skies, thinking. "Nothing. Sapat na ang exposure namin kanina bilang kabayaran. Besides, we don't need money. As long as we are having fun, we are good."

"Really?"

"Sa tingin mo ba, ginagawa namin 'to dahil sa pera?" tanong niya. "Please, do not liken us to those by the book villains. All we want is chaos. Nothing else."

"Nothing?" I echoed. "Do you expect me to believe na ginagawa n'yo 'to para sa wala? Na wala kayong motibo sa likod ng mga panggugulo n'yo?"

Napangisi si Torry sabay lapit sa akin. "Do you read detective stories, Erald?"

"I don't," sagot ko. "Noong bata ako, nanonood ako ng Detective Conan. Napanood ko na rin ang mga Sherlock Holmes movie pati na ang TV series noong may film viewing kami sa klase. Hindi ako kagaya ng iba riyan na gustong maging detective. Bakit mo naitanong?"

His eyes blinked, looking down. "Usually, in a detective story, criminals always have a motive on killing someone. Kaya kapag sinimulan na ang imbestigasyon, unang-una hinahanap ng mga detective ang mga taong may motibo para gumawa ng krimen."

"And your point is?" Was he trying to indoctrinate me to start reading detective stories? May iba pa akong bagay na gustong gawin kaysa mag-binge reading ng mga 'yan.

"The lack of motive, or the absence of it, makes someone far more unpredictable than those who have," he whispered to my ear. "The detective would keep on guessing and chasing the wrong suspect because some pieces of the puzzle don't fit. A wild goose chase, you know."

"At dahil wala kayong motibo, sa tingin mo, hindi na kayo maa-identify ng mga aso na hahabol sa inyo?" tanong ko. "E bakit ka nagpakita ng mukha sa akin? Are you not afraid of the consequences of your sloppy action?"

"Ah, yes..." Tumalikod siya sa akin at naglakad-lakad sa harapan ko. "That's also one of the detective story cliches. The big bad is only revealed somewhere in the middle or the end. Sinabi ko na sa 'yo, hindi kami kagaya ng mga typical antagonist. If this was a detective story, you don't have to read three volumes to find out who the mastermind is. I'm here, standing in front of you, breathing the same air."

"Alam mong pwede kitang isumbong, 'di ba?" My voice had a hint of threat. He was making it too easy for me! "Alam ko ang pangalan mo, alam ko kung saan ang klase mo."

"But you wouldn't do that, would you?" he smirked. "If you push me off the cliff, I would grab your leg and drag you with me."

"Kailangan mo ng proof para patunayan kung anuman ang sasabihin mo sa school admin," kontra ko. "There's no way you could trace the phone number I used to send message and call you."

"But we have a recording of our phone call." The triumphant smile across his lips widened. "That alone would be enough. Kung hindi pa sapat 'yon, we will create a fake phone conversation where your voice can be heard. May member kaming marunong mag-edit ng photos at boses. That's just a piece of cake for him!"

As expected, they also took precautionary measures during our transaction. Kahit ako, gano'n ang gagawin ko. Remember when I carried out the request to have the classes postponed? Isinave ko ang message thread namin ng client ko.

"Pwede kong sabihin na sinadya ko kayong kontakin para i-set-up kayo," sagot ko. "Member ako ng QED Club kaya hindi nakakapagtaka kung magkukunwari akong client n'yo para magkaharap tayo. My main objective would be to take you and your organization down. I would emerge as the hero, and you the villains."

Oddly, he didn't seem to be threatened. Nakangiti lang siya sa akin.

"Go ahead, talk to the school authorities and tell them my name," he challenged me. "You can take me down but not the K-OS Club. Paniguradong gaganti ang mga kasama ko kapag may nangyari sa akin."

"Do you think that I fear your group's wrath?" Hindi ako nagpatalo sa pagiging cool niya sa pagbabanta. "Come on, be my guest!"

"I see." His eyes squinted. "Hindi ka natatakot sa magiging consequences ng gagawin mo. You have little care about yourself. How brave. But what if someone you know gets involved?"

"Huh?" Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko.

"We don't murder people kaya wala kang dapat ikabahala. That's too bloody, too gross for my taste," he said. "But we can hurt anyone to a certain degree. I'm not talking about getting physical. After all, pain can come in the most creative of ways. How about that club president?"

"Oh, si Charlotte?" Tumaas ang kaliwang kilay ko. "I don't really care that much about her. Gawin n'yo kung ano ang gusto n'yong gawin sa kanya. Labas ako riyan."

"Is that true?" Nagkatapatan kaming dalawa ni Torry. If someone saw us, they might think that we were moving for a kiss. "But you do care about her, don't you? Ayaw mo mang aminin, pero nababasa ko sa 'yo na ayaw mo siyang mapahamak."

Wow ah. Sino ba siya para pangunahan kung anong iniisip ko? Yes, I may have a teensy bit of concern on Charlotte, but for the sake of taking down their club, I would be willing to make sacrifices.

At saka bakit ba niya idinadamay ang walang kamalay-malay na club president? This should be between him and me.

"Don't worry, we won't touch her as long as you don't talk," he assured me. "But consider her as a collateral damage in case you choose to collide with us."

Ewan kung bakit bigla akong nagdalawang-isip. Go na go na akong isuplong ang lalaking 'to. But something was trying to change my mind. Natatakot nga ba akong madamay si Charlotte? Pero bakit?

Nakakainis kapag biglang umiral ang boses ng konsensya.

"Kung sanang 'di ka lang member ng QED Club, I might have already recruited you to my team," Torry added. "You have the makings of an evil mastermind. Shame that your talents are going to be wasted in that detective group."

I would have also joined their team if only I agreed to their way of doing things. Sa ginagawa nila, hindi rin magtatagal ay mahuhuli sila at mapapabagsak ang organisasyon nila. If I were their leader, I would have done things differently.

What's with their names anyway? Q-E-D. K-OS. Bakit ang hilig nila sa acronyms? 'Yon na ba ang trend ngayon?

"I enjoyed this little chit-chat, pero may iba pa akong business na dapat puntahan," he glanced at his wristwatch. "Nice meeting you, Erald. I hope to see more of you in the near future."

Waving his hand, he bid farewell to me before descending the staircase. The whole encounter was strange. That man was equally strange.

I would let him off the hook. For now.

q.e.d.

Character sketch by WanningMoon.