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The Sleuths' Dispute

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SERA'S HANDS shook fervently until she couldn't properly hold her phone anymore. Outside, the sky had turned dimmer as she slowly raised her head — only to see that Queenie was now frowning at her as well.

Just at that moment, the school bell suddenly rang to signify that their classes were done and that they were officially dismissed. Maingay at masaya ang lahat as their classmates eagerly stood up from their seats — already preparing to leave the class in a rumble of chatter.

"Anyare sa'yo??" Concerned na tanong ni Queenie na napatayo na rin at inaayos ang kaniyang mga kagamitan. Sera opened her mouth, trying to speak, but then eventually shut it close.

Dahil dito ay mas lalo lang kumunot ang noo ni Queenie. Her thick eyebrows were now also furrowed together, and her lips curved upside down. "Ano bang nangyayari sa inyo, para kayong mga—"

Queenie's sentence abruptly ended when she realized that her phone too, like Sera, seemed to have vibrated; coming from the front pocket of her old, worn-down backpack. Raising an eyebrow, she unzipped the front pocket and pulled out her phone.

"That's strange. Usually wala namang nagte-text sa akin ah." Queenie remarked jokingly.

"Queenie I don't think you shou—"

Before Sera could finish her warning and before Queenie could open her phone, a loud gust of wind blew through their classroom's long line of wide windows. Thunder crashed into the sky, and bright lightning almost blinded their eyes.

A few screams came from some of their startled classmates as they all whirled around, turning their heads to the windows.

Nang nahimasmasan na yung iba ay tumakbo ang mga ito para isara ang mga bintana ng kanilang classroom, including Rein, Ann and Jarrell who felt compelled to help as they were the officers of the class.

Sera on the other hand, stayed put in her seat, as if the message she had received bothered her more than the storm.

Meanwhile, Queenie squinted her eyes as tried to fix her frazzled hair. This was impossible though as the strong breeze was blowing every piece of paper in the room — even making the books on their desk bust open as the pages flitted by. As the wind raged on, professor Airyn's pen holder on the teacher's desk rattled; and the posters on the bulletin board flapped rapidly.

Despite the chaos, Queenie, who now gave up on her wild curly strands that were flying everywhere, turned once more to her cellular device.

"NDRRMC kaya yung nag-text? Mukhang may bagyo eh." Queenie frowned as she opened her phone. But before she can finally view the text message that she had received, Sera snatched her phone from her.

"Hey!" Queenie exclaimed in surprise as Sera viewed the text. "Seriously Sera, ano ba nangyayari sa'yo? Para kang sinapian." Reklamo muli ng dalaga, before peeking from behind Sera's shoulder.

Nang naisara na ang mga bintana at medyo kumalma na ang kanilang classroom, ay hindi na maipinta ang mukha ni Queenie. "H-Hindi ba kayo 'yan??"

"It is." Sera said breathlessly, before taking a deep breath and giving back her phone.

"Listen, Queenie, both of us received the same text." Sera said grimly, before glancing towards the others. "If this pattern goes on, then we can deduce that the others would receive it too. Worst case scenario? The whole class receives it."

Queenie's lips trembled at the thought.

"Snap out of it Queenie!" Sera snapped. "Kailangan nating mag-isip ng palusot just in case na mangyari 'yon."

At that moment, more phones buzzed out loud amidst the cracking thunder — with Sera and Queenie turning pale as they watched their classmates in anticipation.

But none of their classmates using their phones seemed to have reacted differently. Dahil unti-unti na ring nagbabadya na bumuhos ang malakas na ulan ay agad na lumabas sa classroom ang karamihan sa kanilang mga kaklase.

"Tara na bago pa umulan!" They could hear their classmates say to their friends, wanting to reach their dormitories while they were warm and dry.

"Mukhang... safe naman tayo?" Queenie mumbled as they watched their classmates leave by groups.

By the time everyone but the six had left the classroom, Sera immediately smacked her phone on the teacher's table, catching the attention of the other four who were packing their things and ready to go home to their dorms.

"I don't know what's gotten to the four of you, but you better snap out of it and check your phones." Sera demanded as the others listened quietly. "The culprit has a little message for us." She said with a vigorous amount of fiery that made the whole room quiet.

Rein and Ann turned to each other sharply at the sound of Sera's news.

"Is it another threat?" Quinn frowned as they pulled out their phones, viewing the recent message sent to them.

Queenie and Sera watched their reactions unfold. It was a plethora of different notions — Rein's eyes darkening, Ann turning stiff, Jarrell's face crumpling, and Quinn looking up in confusion.

"That can't be." Jarrell murmured in disbelief as he saw his own text message.

Before any of them could acknowledge it as a group, their phones vibrated once more, and another message was sent to them. Kunot-noong napatingin muli ang mga ito sa kanilang mga cellphone. This time, it wasn't a photo. It was just a plain text that read:

One more unsure move to uncover this case, and this photo will be sent to everyone in the city. Be careful.

It wasn't just a threat. It was a reminder for them to stay in their place; a reminder that they were playing the culprit's game — not the other way around.

"Jarrell." Rein's tone was dangerously hard and cold, something that they had never heard from before. Kahit na presidente ito ng kanilang klase ay hindi umabot sa ganitong tono ang kaniyang boses. "Sinong nakakaalam?" He breathed sharply.

Quinn and Jarrell, who knew Rein best, had grimaced at the sound of his voice. The only time ever Rein conversed in that tone was with his father — to which these conversation never really turned out well.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Jarrell, feeling offended that Rein, his best friend, was talking to him in that manner.

"Who else knows about the secret room you led us to?" Rein demanded once more, not looking at anyone, and gripping his phone tightly that the others thought it would break.

Napaawang ang labi ni Jarrell. "Sino pa ba?" He asked with a scoff. "My family of course. I'm not the only Marquez in the world."

Ann rolled her eyes. "I think the right question is, kung may sinabihan ka ba patungkol sa..." She then cleared her throat before lowering her voice. "Sa sikreto natin."

"Ano bang akala niyo sa'kin?" 'Di makapaniwalang tanong ng binata. "A dumbass?? Pa-joke joke lang ako palagi pero hindi naman ako bobo."

"That's funny. Kasi wala kaming sinabi na bobo ka." Rein interjected, finally looking up to meet Jarrell's gaze with blazing eyes. "Ikaw lang ang nag-isip niyan. In fact, ang gusto lang naman namin malaman ay kung may sinabihan ka ba—"

"Wala!" Jarrell shot back. "Hindi ako stupido! I won't go around the mansion announcing to the whole clan that I'm going to show you one of our secret—"

"Again, we never said you were stupid. For crying out loud!" Rein exclaimed, throwing his hands.

"Well you don't have to say it out loud." Quinn, who couldn't resist speaking, suddenly spat out.

"Diyan naman kayo magaling eh. Making others feel inferior even without saying so." Agad na napatigil ang dalawang lalaki at lumingon sa kanilang kaibigan.

"What are you talking about?" Rein asked scornfully. "Eh ikaw nga 'tong nang-iwan ng walang pasabi. You KNEW that we were going to record the interviews on Thursday! Tinawagan ka namin agad ni Jarrell pagkatapos ng socialite party nung gabi ng Miyerkules. But you still chose to abandon us. You selfishly chose yourself. If it weren't for your siste—"

"I wanted to choose myself for once!" Quinn yelled back, clenching his fists as the rain soon fell harsh and hard until their arguing were disguised under the sound of the heavy rain.

"Sa apat na taon nating pagkakaibigan lagi nalang akong sunod-sunuran sa inyo. Our friendship was all about you two! Your birthdays, your events — kayo, kayo, kayo — para akong tuta na sumusunod sa kaniyang amo. Both of you didn't give me a chance!"

"Anong pinagsasasabi mo?!" Sigaw ni Jarrell. "Never ka naming pinilit sa kahit na ano. We invited you to join us in everything we do because you're our friend. Besides, ikaw mismo ang sumasama sa amin! Hindi kami ang kaaway mo dito Quinston."

"Never na pinilit??" Quinn scoffed. "You guys begged me to go to your birthday parties, to your... your speeches when I wanted to join the Technokids Cup—"

"So that's the competition you joined." Rein nodded grimly in realization; the pieces of the puzzle slowly being put together.

"Eh 'di mo naman sinabi na gusto mong sumali doon!" Jarrell pointed out accusingly. "Sana sinuportahan ka namin diba? Ikaw tol, sarili mo lang iniisip mo eh."

"Look who's talking!" Quinn guffawed loudly as thunder crashed above them. "Ako pa talaga ang ganid? After being your loyal dog, I'm the selfish one now?!" The spectacled boy scoffed once more.

"Well if I'm selfish, then at least I'm not the stupid one being exposed in that photo!" He then laughed bitterly.

"ANONG SABI MO?!" Sigaw ni Jarrell bago sumugod papunta kay Quinn, susuntukin na sana ito nang bigla siyang hinila pabalik ni Sera.

"WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!" Sera yelled fiercely as Quinn continued taunting Jarrell.

"Sasapakin mo 'ko? O sige sapakin mo 'ko! Jarrell sa'ting dalawa ako ang lumaki sa kanto. Sanay ako sa suntukan!" Quinn shot back.

"Quinston, tumigil ka na." Queenie said rather harshly, grabbing her brother's shoulder. 

"You're only upset because you need me!" Quinn spat out once more shaking his sister's hand on his shoulder.

"Quinn sabing tama na!" Queenie cried once more, trying to pull away her brother who was now inching forward, ready to punch either Rein or Jarrell.

"We don't need you." Maccio interjected, pointing a finger at Quinn. "If you want to be out of this, then you should've said so from the very start. Leave for all we care!"

"Maccio, stop it." Ann intervened, grabbing Rein's arm tightly, preventing him from doing anything stupid. Sera too was still trying to block Jarrell from the two other boys.

Despite this, the boys did not at all stop, still shouting and trying to overpower one another's voices as they tried to outrun from the girls' grasps, like lions fiercely battling their way out of their cages.

As the three boys continued raging on and throwing insults at one another, Ann's phone rang for another time that afternoon.

"Sino nanaman 'to?!" Inis na sambit ng dalaga, angrily fiddling her phone using one hand when the device was vibrating nonstop.

As she opened the text message using her one hand, her other free hand still clutched Rein tightly by the arm; trying to prevent the boy from doing anything stupid.

Sakto naman na pagkabukas nito sa mensahe, ay automatic na nag-play ang isang audio recording — loud enough for everyone to hear.

"You've stained the Maccio name!" A familiar voice roared from Ann's phone, at agad na napatigil sa pagsigaw ang tatlong binata.

Ann's face creased, releasing Rein from her grasp as she racked her head, trying to remember why the voice sounded so familiar."Ano nang sasabihin patungkol sa pamilya natin?! Lagi mo nalang dinadagdagan ang mga problema ko! You are a disgra—"

"I only befriended Lobris to know her weaknesses!" A younger voice blurted out, and Ann's narrowed eyes widened in surprise. Agad na lumingon ang dalaga kay Rein na napaatras sa recording na kanilang pinapakinggan.

"Maccio, what the hell is this?!" Ann shouted, angry, betrayed tears starting to form at the corner of her eyes as she stared at Rein cold and hard. Her eyes were begging for answers as the recording continued playing.

"What?" The first voice — who sounded angrier and older, demanded.

"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." Rein's voice said through the recording, and Ann gripped her phone tightly until her knuckles turned white. 

"LOBRIS, IT'S NOT WHAT IT'S LIKE—" Rein shouted, trying to overpower the loud recording.

"In order to bring her down, I must first know her weaknesses — which I can only do by gaining her trust." Rein's voice from the recording murmured, his voice now low and menacing. "You told me to bring her down. And that's what I'm doing."

Ann gritted her teeth, trying not to let the tears fall down. But it did anyway, betraying her, the same way she felt now realizing that Rein had deceived her. 

"Well, well, well." The older voice — which Ann now realized was Rein's father — remarked in satisfaction. "You're not so useless after all."

At that moment, the recording then ended.

Hindi na maipinta ang mukha ni Ann as she closed her eyes, trying to calm down, trying to breathe through her noise.

"Let me expl—"

Hindi pinatapos ng dalaga ang sasabihin ng binata nang bigla itong sumugod at sinapak sapak ito sa dibdib.

"I shouldn't have trusted you!" Ann cried out, her fists shaking and her punches weak as she continuously hit Rein who was trying to explain.

But most of all, Ann felt like a stupid, dewey-eyed schoolgirl who let herself be double-crossed by someone she shouldn't have even trusted in the first place.

"You double-lying jerk!" She gasped in-between tears, hitting his chest as he was much taller than her. Rein grabbed her hands, trying to control and stop her from punching anymore.

"Lobris listen," He said sharply, catching her gaze. "Sinabi ko lang 'yun kas—"

"Tignan mo. 'Di lang pala kami yung may mali." Quinn spat out. "Even the great Rein Maccio is a flawed, manipulative—"

"YOU SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH." Jarrell shot back, pointing a finger at him. "WALA KANG KARAPATAN NA MAGSALITA PAGKATAPOS MO KAMING IWAN."

"For fuck's sake, magsitigil na kayo!" Queenie howled, bridging in between the group. But Quinn pulled his sister away at agad na bumalik ang kanilang mga sigawan.

"OH ITO, ISAKSAK MO SA BAGA MO!" Sigaw ni Ann, angrily rushing to get something from her backpack. Nang muling lumingon ito ay hinambalos ng dalaga ang flashdrive na ibinigay ni Rein sa kaniya — throwing it at her rival in a fit of anger.

"SHUT UP. SHUT UP. SHUT UP." Sera cried out in sheer frustration, trying to pull Ann away from the others.

"SHUT UP ALL OF YOU! BAKA MAY MAKARINIG PA SA'TIN!" Sigaw ni Sera muli, shouting at Jarrell to zip his mouth. But all six of their voices only became louder until their noise echoed throughout the classroom's walls.

Hindi napansin ng grupo na nakapasok pala sa kanilang classroom si Ronan, meowing sadly as she watched the six students stubbornly dispute amongst their selves.

"WHY YOU LITTLE PIECE OF—"

"Ehem."

Agad na napatigil sa pagsigaw ang anim at dahan-dahang lumingon sa pintuan ng kanilang classroom. To the relief of the five, it was only just a student — dark-haired Enzo Marasigan who who was looking at them with a frown, and a slightly raised eyebrow. 

Sera on the other hand, cursed under her breath. "Shit." She muttered, and they soon realized why.

"Queenie Gintuan, I would like to speak to you at my office please." He said, looking directly at Queenie who blinked rapidly at him in disbelief.

"O-Office?" Queenie stammered.

"Yes." Enzo said impatiently. "My office."

And that was when they remembered.

Saka lang nila naalala na si Enzo ang kasalukuyang deputy president ng student council ng Castillo High. That makes him one of the most powerful students in theory.

"Right now, please." He emphasized, snapping them out of their silence as Queenie hastily grabbed her bag. Enzo then eyed the remaining five.

"Actually," Sambit ng binata, blocking Queenie with his one hand and making her halt. "On second thought, I'd like to speak with all of you."

"Excuse me??" Rein asked, further furrowing his already furrowed eyebrows.

But Enzo didn't say another word of explanation as he had already left the dysfunctional group, expecting the six to follow him in his office.

---

Tick. Tock. 

The wall clock behind Enzo's table ticked fervently with the windy storm outside as its background. Everything in the student council deputy president's office was plainly furnished, with the deputy president himself staring at each of them with utmost distinction — noting their every move.

He then sighed and brought forward a tiny mechanism that made Queenie instantly pale, and triggered Quinn to take a sharp intake of breath. It was a shiny, black piece of plastic with a round circle in the middle that stared at them like the black hole.

It was the spy bug.

"Queenie, I'm giving you a chance to explain yourself." Enzo said, crossing his arms as he stared at the curly-haired girl who looked like she was about to cry.

The others shot her a sharp look, and Quinn, who had identified his own project, clenched his jaw.

"I'm not going to tell the admin—"

"Oo na oo na, ako 'yon!" Queenie wailed miserably, and the others couldn't help but groan and facepalm their selves. Sure, Queenie was impeccably smart and brilliant, an honor student, a science geek, and a distinct scholar; but she shared her own weakness of being incredibly anxious — especially with regards to academics. 

"Just please don't expel me!" She cried, jerking forward to plead with Enzo who raised a hand as a signal to stop her crying.

"Queenie," Enzo said slowly. "Like I said, I'm not going to tell the admin. In fact, I'm not going to tell anyone about your group's little investigation."

Agad na nagkatinginan ang anim bago napatitig kay Enzo na mukhang inexpect ang kanilang reaksyon.

"We don't know what you're talking about." Ann said dryly, not faltering her gaze.

"Oh, I'm sure you know all about it Annaliese." Enzo said, his lips now curving into a grin. "Especially after that diversion you created by bumping into Elysia."

"Okay, the front is up." Rein interjected, raising a hand to stop Enzo from speaking anymore. "How did you know?"

"To be honest, I didn't." The deputy president confessed. "I just had a hunch, but it was your reactions that proved it."

"In fact, I only formed the theory after I saw this." He said, pertaining once more to the bug which he played using his fingers. "I recognized it as Quinn's project that was chosen to be displayed for the 2016 Science Fair. Tama ba?"

"Yes." Quinn said stiffly.

"After finding it, I immediately knew that someone was using it for its very purpose: to spy on someone." Sambit nito, circling the group who stood stiffly, not uttering a word. "Nahanap ko siya sa meeting room ng board of the Writers' Schism noong kinausap ako roon ni professor Perlita. So, naturally, I immediately thought that someone was trying to record the interviews being held regarding the case of the missing novel entries."

Napatigil na sa paglalakad ang binata bago hinarap muli ang grupo. "And who else would have interest in solving the case than someone who is part of the Schism itself?" Tanong nito as he leaned on his table, crossing his arms.

"I then did my own little research — checked the CCTVs, where I saw Queenie enter the meeting room; as well as asked professor Perlita for a copy of all the writers participating in the Schism. The rest is history. And now..." He paused, looking at each one of them.

"...we're all here in this room, discussing it."

There was silence. Not one from the group moved even an inch as they stared back at Enzo who was waiting for them to speak.

"Ikaw ba ang culprit?" Jarrell asked with a frown, breaking the tension.

Agad na napairap si Sera, as the others curiously turned to Enzo, waiting for his response.

The deputy president chuckled. "I guess that would seem so, but no. Ano namang makukuwha ko sa pagnakaw ng mga novel entries? A kick-out from my position as student council deputy president?" He asked them, slightly bemused.

"Besides," Sera said dryly, catching everyone's attention. "Student council officers aren't allowed to join intra-school competitions. 'Inter' — or contests outside the school — yes, makakasali kami. But within Castillo High? It's against the rules."

She then exhaled impatiently. "So if Enzo isn't part of the Writers' Schism, he can't be the culprit." Sera finished in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Very well said Sera." Enzo grinned, gesturing to her.

"So kung ganun, bakit mo kami kinakausap? As a group?" Ann huffed, raising an eyebrow.

"I was about to get there." Enzo shrugged before sitting on the leather armchair behind his desk.

"Are you going to tell professor Perlita? The principal? Are you going to blackmail us?" Dire-diretsong tanong ni Quinn.

"No, no, and well, no." Enzo responded. "Ang gusto ko, ay itigil niyo ang imbestigasyon."

"What?!" The six immediately cried in chorus.

"Why?? We're doing everyone a favor by solving it ourselves!" Ann demanded, slamming her hands on Enzo's desk.

"Because," Seryosong sambit ng presidente. "I don't want anyone getting hurt."

Nagkatinginan naman ang anim dahil dito. This statement of Enzo only confirmed that the deputy president really wasn't the culprit, as he did not know that Ann had been abducted.

"What the six of you are doing may cause unnecessary complications in the future as well — for the Writers' Schism, the O.C.P., for your reputations, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but for Castillo High as well." He sighed in exasperation before leaning forward.

"I'm betting on all your riches combined that none of your parents know about this?" Tanong nito, challening them.

The six did not reply, and Enzo took their silence as a "yes".

"Well," he leaned back on his chair with a raised eyebrow. "Lobris, Maccio. I'm surprised. Pag nalaman ng mga magulang niyo ang lahat ng ito, it would be the end of Castillo High." Abruptly, the young man stood up, causing his chair to scratch along the floor.

"This just solidifies my point. I forbid it. This is my final word." Matigas na sambit nito. "As promised, hindi ko sasabihin sa admin ang sikreto niyo — as long as you make sure that this little detective game of yours immediately stops right now." He then leans forward.

"I have my eyes on the six of you so don't think that you can continue this investigation behind my back." Enzo said in an authoritative tone before clearing his throat. "Now, let us all be on our way at medyo tumila na ang ulan. Be sure to close the door when you leave."

And with that, he stood up from his chair and walked towards the door of his office.

"So ganun nalang?" Ann asked in disbelief, chasing him. "Tuloy pa rin yung competition kahit na may maduming naglalaro? We'll just let injustice rule??"

Enzo Marasigan stopped in his tracks. His hand barely touched the doorknob as he turned his head ever so slightly.

"This school has been letting injustice rule ever since then." The young man said coldly, a glint of bitterness in his eyes. "Hindi niyo ba napapansin?"

He then smiled sourly, as if he too, had his own deep, dark issues with the school's system — all hidden under his presidential facade.

"This little case of yours with the Writers' Schism?" Enzo let out a scoff. "It's no exception."

Without another word, the deputy president finally opened the wooden door and left — leaving the six in his office who watched him go in utter disbelief.

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