CASSIEN
THE PEDESTRIAN lane at the Crocus street was something utterly ordinary. These yellow lines on the ground serving as the path towards the other side of the road were nothing but lines. There was no illustration through a chalk on how the victim was laying. Wala ring mga yellow-and-black cordon na DO NOT CROSS sa paligid. They couldn't just close the road for the mere accident.
I was standing next to the blond guy who has been observing every passing car on the street. His fingers were rubbing his chin and his face were keeping a fierce look. Nasa kabilang side naman ng kalsada ang president ng detective club. Mysteriously, ang tahimik nilang dalawa. Parang sobrang lalim ng kanilang iniisip. Is that how detectives really are?
Wait, siguro naman hindi magagalit si Blonde kung mag-initiate ako ng pag-uusap, 'di ba?
"Hi, ako nga pala si Cassien Agreste from class 11-B," pagpapakilala ko at iniabot ang kamay ko sa kanya. Mukhang natauhan siya nang magsalita ako — na para bang na-realized niyang hindi lang pala siya ang tao sa mundo. I forced a smile and refrained myself from thinking how cruel this world could be to me.
"I'm Conan Lavio," sabi naman niya habang nakikipag-handshake sa 'kin at nakangiti. "From 11-A."
Medyo nanliit ako sa narinig ko. He was from a higher section. Hindi maiwasang maikumpara kami sa kanila, lalo na ng mga teachers. They were they epitome of good conduct. Not to mention that Maisie was part of that class. I'm so proud, hehe.
At saka, Lavio was one of richest family in this town.
"Ah, Lavio..." saad ko. What more could I say? Pwede bang manghingi ng pera sa kanila?
"Ah Lavio, too," nakangiti niyang sagot.
Huh? He just echoed what I said. Oh, wait. Is it just my imagination . . . or his smile meant something different?
"Hindi mo ma-gets?" hindi niya makapaniwalang tanong. "Damn, I thought that will work on you."
I chuckled nervously. "Sorry, na-mesmerized lang ako kasi nakakilala ako ng isang Lavio."
"It's okay. Some were even mesmerized of my green eyes. I don't like being treated as a prominent. Just call me Conan."
"Okay, sure, Conan."
Wait, what? Conan?
Nang bitiwan namin ang kamay ng isa't-isa, I covered my mouth up to suppress my laughter and drifted my gaze away. He was named after that anime character who shrunk, 'yung detective rin?
"Huwag mo nga akong tawanan," nakanguso niyang sabi nang mapansin akong pinipigilan ang tawa ko. My peripheral vision caught him squinting his eyes.
"Hindi kita tinatawanan, 'no," pagd-deny ko kahit alam kong halata na ang sobra kong ngiti.
"I was named after an author, hindi sa anime character. Hindi kami pamilya ng mga weebs."
I help up my hand. Sorry, medyo may pagka-judgemental yata ako. "Pasensya na, hehe. Sino nga palang author ang sinasabi mo?"
"Arthur Conan Ignatius Doyle. Ang gumawa kay Sherlock Holmes."
Napa-ahhhh nalang ko dahil wala na akong maisip na sasabihin. If only I were a fan of that author, malamang niyuyugyog ko na 'tong lalaki sa harap ko. I do remember who Sherlock Holmes is. Some say that he was the greatest fictional detective that has ever lived. Unfortunately, hindi ako mahilig magbasa ng classical mystery books.
Baka bago pa ako makarating sa madugong eksena, ilong ko na ang dinudugo.
The silence devoured the ambience again. I also looked that way and my eyes caught the president of the detective club, observing the lane. Conan also returned his gaze to the road.
"Uhm." We were standing next to each other. Kung mayroon mang nakakakita sa 'min, they'd plausibly assume that we're some kind of couple trying to cross the street, waiting for the green light on the other side. I continued, "Say, Conan. Paano kayo naging detectives?"
"Our Student Council President couldn't handle all the troubles that the students were causing. Kaya minsan, lumalapit siya sa 'min para humingi ng tulong. We've solved petty thefts and cases of missing students. Twice, we've helped the police force solved a murder. But that was months ago. Hindi naman kasi araw-araw may mga mystery murders."
Whoa, awesome! Wala na akong masabi dahil puno-puno na ako ng paghanga. Biruin mo, mga highschool studs lang sila pero may silbi sila buhay! 'Di tulad ng iba d'yan — ouch. Natamaan yata ako. Tagos 'yon, a.
"Pero bakit nasa secret room ang club niyo?"
Without taking his eyes off the road, he continued whilst smiling. "The rest of the Student Council didn't approve of our club. Buti nalang malakas kami sa President kaya nakagawa pa rin ng paraan kahit palihim na lang."
"Paano kung malaman nila ang secret lair niyo?"
"They won't," sagot niya at tiningnan ako. "Unless you tell them."
I gulped unobtrusively. Bakit pakiramdam ko isa 'yong malaking threat? Parang biglang nanghina ang nga tuhod ko! Ganito ba epekto ng kakanood ng nga thriller movies? 'Yung parang tumataas mga balahibo mo.
"You two seemed to be getting along."
The president was walking at the pedestrian lane towards our direction and looking at us with a malevolent grin. The orange sunlight was beaming on his face giving color to his white eye patch, being a beatiful sight to us.
Kulang nalang ay kunin ko ang aking smartphone at kunan siya ng litrato. 'Tapos is-suggest ko na gawin niya 'yong Facebook profile picture. Hehe.
"We were just having an idle talk," sagot ni Conan. "Where shall we go next?"
Go next? Ano kami, namamasyal? Sight-seeing? Nako, hindi na ako papayag na isama pa nila ako. I already ghosted Maisie for this! We were supposed to be walking home together.
"Let's pay a visit to the angel's den. Plausibly, the ear witness friend will also be there, checking the victim."
Angel's den? Hospital ba ang tinutukoy niya? Ando'n kasi 'yung victim, e.
I was about to walk away from them nang magsalita si Conan.
"Tara na, Cassien."
Bakit ba ako kailangang sumama?
"Sabi ni Ranpo kakailanganin ka raw namin para makausap ang kaibigan ng biktima," sagot ni Conan nang mapansing naguguluhan ako.
Eh?
They started walking together to the pavement as I watch they slowly become smaller in my vision. Ranpo Kuroba didn't come with us to check the scene of the accident.
"I hate legwork," naaalala kong sabi niya nang yayain ko siya. Geez, I'm with two strangers! Siya na nga lang ang kilala ko, 'di pa ako sasamahan. Basta kapag na-kidnap ako, alam ni Maisie kung sino ang huli kong kasama. Nag-text ako sa kanya na kasama ko si Conan Lavio at may pinuntahan kami.
As usual, inaasahan kong hindi siya magre-reply at baka nga matutuwa siya kasi hindi niya ako kasabay pauwi. Well, it's not like I'm speaking ill of her — but I couldn't help over thinking.
Itatago ko na sana sa bulsa ang smartphone ko at susunod kina Conan pero naramdaman kong nag-vibrate ito.
Wait. Himala. Isang malaking himala! Maisie texted back!
"Y?"
Ang tipid, a. Ano, tinamad na rin mag-type? She must be asking why I was with Conan. Sino bang hindi magtataka? I'm a nobody na si Maisie lang ang best friend sa mundo ta's biglang nakasama ang isang mayamang lalaki? God, pwede na 'tong headline sa gazette ng school namin!
"Cassien!"
The two boys called out to me. Nagmamadali yata sila. Sa bagay, malapit na ring tuluyang lumubog ang araw. I guess detectives also waste no time.
Sumabay ako sa paglalakad sa kanila. We got most people's attention dahil sa kakaibang fashion ng president na 'to.
"Siya si Newt Connors Potenzo," pagbasag ni Conan sa katahimikan. I shot him a stare of bewilderment dahil wala akong maalalang nagtanong ako — though medyo curious ako. "Kanina ka pa kasi tingin nang tingin sa kanya."
I let out a nervous chuckle. Gano'n ba talaga ako kadali basahin?
"I'm the Prince of Devils."
Prince of what? Napatingin ulit ako kay Newt sa gulat. He was tilting his head and having that malevolent grin on his face, nakatingin lang siya sa dinadaanan namin.
I'm starting to think that they're just a bunch of crazy, self-proclaimed detectives. Pero sabi ni Conan ay sila ang nilalapitan ng SC President, but can I really trust that?