I'M NOT an average girl nor someone who had tasted an ordinary life. Hence, I'm a living doll. There was an odd wizard who casted a spell on a doll and the outcome was me—just kidding.
My figure resembled exactly like a doll. From my pale skin, slim body, crimson eyes, to my short, pitch black hair. Also, I have an utter soft voice which makes me sound... creepier?
Hindi ko hiniling na maging ganito ang hitsura ko dahil para sa 'kin, isa 'tong sumpa. I'm not a believer of superstitions, curses or any other kind of supernatural stuffs. However, it's just as they said—my mere existence brings bad luck.
I've never had a friend who lasted longer than a week. I've never experienced eating in the school's cafeteria without hearing any gossipmonger's voices. I've never went to a silent library where each pair of eyes were not set upon me.
I am known as a cursed doll. Bad luck is my best friend, whoever gets near my circle recieves unfortunate events. Or so the students said.
Sabi ng katapid ko, pinaglihi daw ako sa manika. Actually, I can't defy that since my mother was genuinely a doll maker. Mayroon pa nga siyang ginawang manika na kamukhang-kamukha ko. But mom ceased making dolls 5 years ago as her breath ceased as well.
Her death was most mysterious and I had no capability to unveil the pieces.
Maybe the Phantom Detective could. But nobody knew his identity. Even the Police Department of this city didn't have a single idea on how to communicate with him.
The Phantom Detective suddenly appears out of nowhere, leaving papers behind to unveil the mysteries behind gruesome murders. Extraordinary paper, ones that I've never laid eyes before.
I had suspicions, though. I've witnessed a guy once dropped a paper within the crime scene. Oh, well. Maybe witnessed wasn't the right term—I stalked him.
As an evidence, I had two pictures then maybe ask him later on if I grasp a chance.
Actually, lahat ng chance ay nasa 'kin na. The actual problem was he doesn't seem to have the nerve to talk to me. He was not an awkward type of guy but he can't afford to look at me straight in the eyes—he never did, not even once.
This guy was Zen Vergara. A highschool stud, classmate of mine, seated next to me... and was obviously one of those students who're afraid of me. He never talked to me since the first day of our senior high school life.
Pero kung titingnan ang behaviour ng lalaking iyon, hindi siya 'yung tipong gusto ng gulo, or mag-imbestiga ng mga bangkay.
He's also not a genius. I don't know, baka tinatago niya lang ang talino niya dahil may dalawang tao ang nangunguna sa klase namin ngayon. In fact, he's just your typical happy-go-lucky guy.
"Inspector Lopez! May update na ang phantom detective!" a police officer shouted at the inspector standing next to the corpse. "Nakita po namin ito sa lamesa kanina, wala namang nag-occupy ng table na 'yon."
"Ibig sabihin, natakasan niya nanaman kayo?" naiiritang tanong ni Inspector.
"P-Pasensya na po..."
Currently, we were within a restaurant in a mall and the victim was poisoned-who coincidentally had her seat next to my table.
Bukod siguro sa bad luck, crime magnet din ako. Ilang beses na akong na-engaged sa mga cases at mga pagkakataon kung saan sumusulpot din ang papel ng phantom detective.
"'Di bale," sabi ni Inspector Lopez at pumayapa na ang mukha. "Anim na buwan niya na siyang nagtatago sa atin. Bakit hindi na lang siya magpakilala, tutal napakarami na ng naitulong niya sa atin?"
I as well wondered why. Bakit hindi nalang siya magpakita? Why did he have to hide?
Ah! Come to think of it, nakita ko si Zen dito kanina kaya customer din siya. Coincidence? Why don't we try to find out?
Let truth be told, I was a former hardcore detective wannabe. I gave up the dream, nonetheless. I ain't be able to grasp the qualifications to be one. Keen intellect, sharp observation skills, experience. I don't have them. Not one bit.
Dahil tapos na ako sa questioning bilang witness, nilibot ko ang restaurant. Lumapit ako sa officer na nagbigay ng papel kay Inspector at nagtanong. "Excuse me, saan n'yo po nakita ang phantom paper?"
Phantom paper is what they decided to call the papers left by this detective. Those papers serve as the light to the dim mystery of a crime scene. Nasa papel na ang lahat kasagutan.
Medyo corny sila sa pagbibigay ng names, 'no?
Sikat na sikat siya sa buong city at kahit na mga paslit na bata ay hinahangaan siya. Kilala rin siya sa iba pang kalapit na city at hinihiling na sana ay hindi lang sa Ranshin City ang workplace niya.
Mukhang hesitant pang sumagot si kuya kaya itinuro nalang ng daliri niya ang isang table sa dulo ng restaurant, katabi ng glass wall. Hindi 'yon ang table ni Zen pero posibleng doon niya ilagay dahil three tables away lang pinagkainan niya.
I was about to arrive at the table but something came to my senses. The officer I question earlier was as tall as Zen and has the same figure as his. Also, his reaction upon seeing me is quite familiar—seemed don't wanna talk due to fear. Familiar din ang relong suot niya—that's what Zen usually wears at school. But the face was different.
There's only one thing to do make it certain. I've watched Detective Conan and Magic Kaito 1412 too much. And maybe it might come in handy.
Bumalik ako sa officer na pinagtanungan ko na naglalakad ngayon patungong comfort room.
"Saan po kayo pupunta?" I asked nonchalantly. Hence, he ceased walking and looked sideways. "Tinatawag po kayo ni Inspector."
Sorry, I lied. He then nodded twice without uttering any word and walked back. When he was about to pass me, I extended my arms to pinch his cheek—with such great reflexes, he immediately grasped my wrist.
"May dumi po ba sa mukha ko, miss?" smiling, he asked. The voice was distinctive from the Zen that I knew-deep and obviously sounded like an old hag. But maybe...
Agad ko namang kinuha ang nakausling papel sa bulsa niya gamit ang isa ko pang kamay at successful naman iyon.
Finally, I had heard Zen's voice that shouted, "Oi!"
There's no one except us in this area, that could only mean... I smirked. "Zen Vergara."
He blinked a couple of times but he took the paper back from me.
Bwisit. Sayang! I didn't get to read what's written in the paper. Kasing liit lang ito ng 1/8 index card, kasing-kapal pero mas magaspang. I've never touched phantom papers before but I'm certain that what I've just snatched is one.
"Miss, pasensya na po, a. Pero kailangan na po ako sa crime scene da—"
He cut himself short because he needed to dodge from my hands, aiming for his face. I'm pretty sure na isa 'tong latex mask at si Zen nga ang nasa harap ko.
Finally, I caught him. I'm not mistaken. It's his voice that shouted what I heard earlier.
"What's wrong with you?!" pagalit niyang tanong sa 'kin. This time, I'm hearing Zen's genuine voice. Is he giving up since the cat's out of the bag?
"Zen Vergara. The phantom detective," I said in a straight face and showed him the pictures on my phone—the ones I took that caught him leaving a phantom paper. "Still want to deny?"
"What the—?!"
To his extreme suprise, hindi na siya nagkaroon pa ng pagkakataong mag-react dahil may mga constable nang papalipit sa 'min. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside the comfort room. Male's comfort room.
Hindi rin malaki ang comfort room at may dalawang cubicle lang.
"Bakit mo 'ko hinila dito? Kung may gagawin kang masama sa 'kin, don't even bother," mahinahon kong sambit nang isinara niya ang pinto at ni-locked iyon. Hinawakan niya ang leeg niya at hinigit pataas ang latex mask.
His messy black hair was revealed. His angelic skin. His deep ocean-tinted eyes. His pointed nose and pinkish lips. I just watch him closely but then—
He pinned me on the wall and our faces drew closer. I could even hear his breathing!
Wait wait wait, this is foul!
"What're you doing—?!"
I tried shoving him off but it only felt like I was pushing an enormous rock. Hindi rin ako makagalaw para lumabas at lumusot sa ilalim ng mga braso niya dahil sa gulat. How dare he—
"You're not gonna spread that thing you discovered today like an interesting gossip. Or else—"
I looked up at him. He's taller than me so I had no other way to see his expression. His eyes were cold as a frozen ocean, his brows are still and his lips are unreadable. The total opposite of my seatmate, Zen Vergara.
"Or else what?—"
I let out an annoying smirk. Is he threatening me? On the other hand, I had the advantageous side.
"Your face tells me that you've got conditions. Don't expect me to lay an ear."
Nagsalubong ang kilay ko dahil wala pa nga kong sinasabi ay may sagot na siya. I know for sure that he wasn't a psychic—there's no such one. Perhaps, it was all written in my face.
But wait. Something's not quite right. "You've finally met my eyes, Vergara."
Bigla niyang iniwas ang tingin niya at lumayo sa akin. I'm finally now capable of breathing properly. I have no idea if the temperature of the ambience was naturally hot to make my face feel burnt. Zen was still wearing a police uniform, therefore...
"Nasaan 'yung taong ginagaya mo?"
Ibinalik niya ang tingin niya sa 'kin at pagkatapos ay itinuro ang pangalawang cubicle. I swung the door open, then an unconscious man greeted my sight-sleeping soundly on a toilet. He was topless and only wears boxers.
Isinara ko ulit ang pintuan ng cubicle at humarap kay Zen na mukhang pinoproseso pa ang nangyayari ngayon.
"Wendy, do I have your word?"
Whoa, he called me on my name. Close kami? But that's fine. I don't really mind. Nakakagulat lang na kinakausap niya ako—well, if it weren't because of my curiosity and suspicions.
"What word? That I'd never tell a single soul about your secret identity?"
"Exactly."
Bahagya akong napangiti. "All right. In one condition, investigate my mother's death five years ago."
"I'm telling you I'm not interested in—"
I cut him off short. "I'm blackmailing you, detective. Want me to send these images to the media?"
I might look like the evil here, but I'm too desperate to think of it. If he chooses to refuse a simple job, an investigation of a death five years ago, he'd be bidding bitter goodbyes to his blissful days as a phantom. He doesn't wanna be discovered, does he? However, I can't help but to wonder why.
"Blackmailing. That's a crime, didn't you know?" seryoso niyang sagot habang nakatitig lang sa mga mata ko.
Hindi ko mabasa ang ekspresyon niya ngayon-kung papayag ba siya o hindi. The highschool Zen is different from this one. I felt like I was standing before someone not supposed to be messed with, yet here I am. Desperation led me here.
"This is just a kid's blackmail. Ngayon kung hindi mo nga ako tutulungan mag-imbestiga, siguro oras na para makilala ka ng mga fans mo," walang gana kong sagot.
There was a deafening silence afterwards. While I'm staring blankly at him and waiting for his verifying response, he stared back at me.
"Please."
If someone was to witness us, they'd probably condemn me. Who are you to do this to the phantom detective?
Well, Wendy Meave Chavez is the name, having sixteen years of existence, who had scared everyone by simply being rumoured as a cursed doll but then luckily discovered the phantom detective's identity.
There's actually nothing special about me. I have no particular goal for myself. I lost my mother when I was twelve years old and the mysteries of her death still veiled until now.
Honestly, my introduction kinda sucks, doesn't it?
And I'm asking for help from the phantom detective—through blackmailing him—because do I ever have another choice?