CASSIEN
"MAISIE IS'NT a liar," I firmly said, intently meeting Ranpo's eyes who just spoke ill of my friend. "Hindi siya gumagawa o nag-iimbento ng kwento."
Seryoso kaming nagkatitigan nang ilang sandali. The frigid air wasn't enough to hinder the tension building around us. I've barely talked to this lad before in our classroom nor anywhere and haven't least make out of his character. If he calls himself a detective by dropping such conclusions as that, especially when it comes to Maisie, his life was a joke.
Siya ang unang kumalas sa staring contest namin. He then adjusted his specs through the bridge and shook his head unbelievably. I can't help but to show my victory smile. Huh! Kung salungatin niya ang sinabi ni Maisie, akala mong nando'n siya sa hospital kanina. Where was he when we interrogated Maisie? Sitting here idly, waiting for the news to arrive and breathing the cold air from the air conditioner?
"Akala ko utak mo lang ang mahina," he said which surprised me. "Pati rin pala pandinig mo."
Eh? Ano'ng sabi niya?
I was about to charge him but Conan halted me. He flashed an awkward smile and said, "Nag-j-joke lang siya."
What? I scoffed. Kung gusto niya kaming patawanin, pag-isipan niya muna ang joke niya kung may mao-offend na ba siyang tao o wala!
Kahit totoo man 'yung sinabi niya, nakaka-offend pa rin!
"I can't recollect a moment wherein I said your friend was a liar," Ranpo continued and put his hands together whilst elbows were over the table. "She was also driven to believe that there was car from the other line."
"A sound recording, huh. Probably a cassette tape." Newt spoke with a monotonous tone and laid his ass on the couch. He was about to take his eye patch off but when he gave me a quick glance, he stopped. Sayang! Gusto ko pa namang makita kung anong nagtatago sa likod ng puting eye patch na 'yon.
Teka, ano raw? Sound recording?
"Ranpo, paki-explain naman, please?" Conan requested. 'Tapos ay bigla siyang napalingon sa 'kin. "Hindi lahat ng nandito ay matalino."
Oo na, tanggap ko na. Huwag niyo nang ipamukha pa sa 'kin.
"Princess," Newt called out kaya napatingin ako — wow, kinakarir ko na talaga ang pagiging prinsesa, a. "You asked us earlier whether it was normal that the angel didn't fly over when she got hit. Now, our answer is no. We're about to give you the explanation why."
"There was actually someone around Ava when she crossed the street."
I thought there was no eye witness? Sabi na nga ba!
"Whilst crossing and talking to her friend, someone behind her suddenly played the recording — which was an engine of a car, racing fast — with a loud speaker that even Maisie Beja from the other line heard. The suspect quickly hit her head with a blunt object and then cut the call. He left her laying on the lane. As simple as that, stupid," Ranpo explained.
"Kaya pala nasa pedestrian lane lang siya . . . kasi hindi siya nabangga!" I exclaimed. Parang akong nasa madilim na daan noon ta's nang in-explain nila, the street lights switched on.
"Have you told the police?" tanong ni Newt.
Ranpo shook his head and smiled softly. Nanahimik naman kami na para bang pinoproseso ang katotohanang binitiwan niya. And by the way, why hasn't he told this to the police?
"Cassien, it'd be best if I take you home," pagbasag ni Conan sa katahimikan. "Kami na ang bahala ro'n. Mula ngayon, don't ever stick your nose to this business."
"The shank is right, Princess."
Who could've done something so horrible to Ava? Why would someone kill her? At this moment, I knew that once I step out of this room, I'll never be able to know the answers to those questions. Sa sobrang curiosity ko, pati sarili ko may hindi ko na rin mapigilan.
Conan held the door for me as the darkness from the other room awaits me. Tumingin ako sa kanilang tatlo bago sabihin ang laman ng puso ko. I wanted adventures — I longed for something to drift my life to wonders.
"I want to join your club."
"No."
Nagulat ako sa agad nilang pagsagot. They all had the same expression of disapproval. I couldn't comprehend why they didn't even think of my application. Isn't it too early to decide? Or baka ayaw lang talaga nila sa 'kin?
"Why?" kunot-noo kong tanong.
"This is a non-maiden detective club. So apparently, you're not allowed in here," sagot naman ni Ranpo habang mariing naniningkit ang mga mata sa likod ng kanyang salamin. Newt from the couch approved of what he said samantalang si Conan ay tahimik, letting his co-members do the talking.
Some questions filled my head. Why aren't girls allowed? Are they looking down upon me? Do they have superiority complex? Did my stupid personage paint something horrible in their mind?
"Wait, wait. So bawal talaga ang babae dito?" pag-uulit ko, umaasang mali lang ako ng nadinig. Newt and Conan gently nodded, as if they're tryna be considerate towards my feelings whilst Ranpo just motioned his hand to the doorway.
"Well, your hearing is now fixed, you heard it right," ani Ranpo.
I started to feel the heavy tonnage on my chest. Para akong unti-unting nilalamon ng bibig ng kawalang pag-asa. I thought this was the day but . . . disappointment does arrive after too much expectations.
No, I won't give up. Mukhang determinado na sila sa desisyon nilang i-reject ako. But sorry, I am also determined to erase giving up in my vocabulary. I'm gonna make them change their mind, and not the other way around.
Lalo na 'yang Ranpo na 'yan na parang kino-corrupt pa ang President nila.
Wala akong katiting na ideya kung bakit ayaw nilang magpasali ng mga babae pero nakaisip ka ako ng paraan. Hehe, mautak kaya 'to!
I gave them all a one last glance before stepping out. I shall return.
Hinatid ako ng isang black na limousine patungo sa bahay 'ko. For the first time in my life, nakasakay din ako sa ganitong klase ng kotse! Conan didn't ride with me pero alam kong driver niya 'to.
Today will be the most outstanding entry on my diary!
Nang makarating kami sa bahay, nagpasalamat agad ako sa driver pero hindi naman siya nagsalita. Dedma lang. I guess, they were trained not to talk unless unnecessary?
When I swung the door open, the lights were off. Ang tanging liwanag lang ay ang nanggagaling sa sala kung saan nakabukas ang TV. I saw my mother, expressionlessly sitting on the couch, watching a lame telenovela.
Para ngang naging color blue ang balat niya dahil sa TV screen. Pinipigilan kong tumawa dahil naaalala ko 'yung movie na Smurfs. Well, maliit naman ang height niya so why not? Pfft—
"Saan ka galing?"
"Sa school po." Ipinatong ko ang bag ko sa isang upuan at aakmang lalakad papunta sa kusina nang muli siyang magsalita.
"Alas-otso na, nasa school ka pa rin? Sabihin mo ang totoo, Cassien Agreste."
Hehe, medyo nakakatakot 'pag tinatawag ka ng mama mo sa buong pangalan, 'no?
"Sa school nga po."
"'Yung totoo?"
"Sa school nga po . . . at sa hospital."
Ipinalo niya ang kamay niya sa kanyang hita at pagkatapos ay tumingin sa 'kin. Somehow, I knew for a fact that she was pissed off — but not like a typical mother.
"Nasaan 'yung ulam?"
Ulam? Splash!
Parang binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig. Binilinan niya ba akong bumili ng ulam? I didn't remember at all! Jusme, katakot-takot nanamang sermon ang aabutin ko ngayon gabi!
"Hindi pa nga nagpapadala ang tatay mo ng pera 'tapos ikaw, tamang gala lang?"
Hindi naman ako naggagala, e. Kung alam niya lang sana kung anong ginawa namin ng detective club na 'yon, baka hindi na siya magalit. But knowing her character, she won't listen to me. She won't let me speak back before, during, and after her speech.
"May pa-private-private school ka pang nalalaman. Kung ipinangkain na lang natin 'yang bwisit na tuition fee na 'yan, e 'di sana hindi tayo nganga ngayon, 'di ba? Kababae mong tao, ginagabi nang uwi—"
Ito kaya ang first time na ginabi ako nang uwi!
"—ang daming gagawin dito sa bahay, naglakas-loob ka pang maglakwatya. O, ano? Ano'ng napala mo sa paglalakwatya? May kinita kang pera? Wala, 'di ba? Kung itinuon mo na lang ang oras mo rito sa bahay, e 'di sana hindi pa nasayang!"
Ang mga sermon ni Mama ang huli kong narinig bago matulog. Fortunately, I didn't dream of her and her speeches. Otherwise, hindi na lang ako matutulog. Ginawa ko na ngang hapunan ang sermon niya kaya busog na busog na ako kahit hindi kumain.
Paggising ko sa umaga, naalala ko ang panaginip ko na nagkaroon daw ng zombie apologize — este apocalypse. However, it pricked my chest that I was running alone from those horrid, ill-favored zombies — I didn't even have a knight-in-shining-armor!
Yet the worse thing was Maisie turned into zombie and tried eating me!
Nakakainggit lang kasi kahit naging zombie siya, ang ganda niya pa rin. Brrr, sana all!
"Tell me, Maisie. Kapag ba naging zombie ka, kakainin mo 'ko?" tanong ko sa kanya habang sabay kaming naglalakad ngayon patungo sa school.