"Ano ba kasi 'yung very odd na sinasabi ni Ranpo?" tanong ko kay Conan habang tumatawid kami sa kabilang side ng street.
"I also have no idea yet. Ang ibig niya kasing sabihin, we'll see very extraordinary."
"Yeah, oo. Iniba mo lang 'yung word pero— ba't 'di niya na lang sabihin sa atin para hindi tayo mahirapan?"
"We trust Ranpo with all our hearts. If he's not telling anything, either may makatuwiran siyang dahilan o wala pa talaga siyang alam. This time, alam niyang may makikita tayong kakaiba sa CCTV footage pero wala rin siyang ideya kung ano 'yon."
"How could he know there was something extraordinary in the footages when he doesn't even know what it is?"
"That? Wala akong alam. But we could be certain that he wasn't just using his gut feelings. Sa sobrang talino kasi niya, imposibleng maintindihan ng mga taong kagaya natin ang pag-iisip niya."
Wala na akong ibang magawa kundi mamangha na lang.
Conan did the same method — that thing that he used to Lola Mering — when we arrived at the next store. Remarkably, he did befriend most of the establishments' managers in this street. It gave us the advantage and saved us from too much struggles.
Unfortunately, wala pa rin kaming nakitang kakaiba sa katapat na store nila Lola. Two down, two to go.
Naglakad pa kami at nilampasan ang pedestrian lane kung saan na-hit-and-run si Ava. We went to the third store and at that moment, medyo matigas ang puso ng manager kaya kinailangan pang bonggahan ni Conan ang pag-arte niya.
Watching him beg in the verge of crying just for his lost dog made me cover my mouth and suppressed my laughter. E kasi, totoo namang nakakatawa siya! 'Yung feeling ma pinapanood mo 'yung tropa mo na may ginagawang kahihiyan nang hindi niya nalalaman. Not to mention that I filmed him.
"Nasayang lang ang pag-arte ko," nakanguso niyang bungisngis nang makalabas kami sa store pero wala naman nakitang kakaiba sa CCTV footage nila.
"What if we missed it?" tanong ko. "Paano kung nakila Lola Mering pala 'yung hinahanap natin, o baka nando'n talaga sa pangalawa? O kaya rito?"
"Genuinely, looking for something we don't know — that's one of the most difficult job for a detective. Pero Cassien, alam kong wala sa tatlong 'yon ang hinahanap natin" — he looked at the store across, the last store we are about to check — "because it's there. I'm certain."
Natulala ako sa Sally's Toy Store sa kabilang street dahil sa sinabi niya. Ano ba kasi 'yung kakaibang makikita namin na sinasabi ni Ranpo? What if he's just making this up and we're wasting time and efforts? I don't want an adventure in vain!
"We should call it a day."
Huh? I drifted my eyes to his and gave him my signs of bewilderment. Isa na lang ang ic-check naming store, ngayon pa kami titigil? The sky was still orange and the sunset was spectacularly making the world a better place, giving me the mood to seize the time. I was about to protest when Conan spoke again.
"Mamayang gabi na lang tayo mag-usap. Can I have your phone number?"
"Luh?" natatawa kong reaksyon. Nagkakilala pa lang kami kahapon, ang bilis agad niya duma-moves, a!
"Hoy, hindi ako naghahanap ng ka-textmate. Ite-text kita mamaya tungkol sa magiging plano natin."
Whoops, sorry. Napaka-ashumera ko lang pala. I gave him a piece of paper with my number imprinted on it. Sinamahan ko na rin ng signature ko para masaya.
"Bakit may pirma?"
"Autograph ko. Ayaw mo?" I heartily laughed. Well, galing siya sa mayamang pamilya at isa sa mga heartthrob sa school kaya why not reverse the tradition?
"Ang kapal ng mukha, a."
Nagtatawanan kaming nagpaalam sa isa't-isa. Medyo na-weird-uhan lang din ako sa mga huli niyang tanong gaya ng kung may bintana raw ba ang kwarto ko na kasya isang tao. Maybe he was just concerned na baka ma-abduct ako o baka may serial killer na mag-raid sa bahay namin.
Lady Fate, please 'wag naman gano'n klaseng bisita!
Ah, basta. I'm a hundred percent sure I won't meet a thief tonight dahil— hello? Wala siyang mananakaw sa bahay namin! Unless na trip niya ang mga second-handed appliances. My phone was always within my clothes whenever I sleep, so safe siya.
Nang makauwi ako sa bahay, naabutan kong nagluluto si Mama ng hapunan namin. Well, she also have good qualities as well that I sometimes dismiss whenever she released the inner monsters inside her. She seemed in a good mood — probably nagpadala na ng pera ang papa ko — and this was a perfect time to hug her from behind.
Heh, no. I'm not that type of child.
*
TOK TOK!
Naglalakad kami ni Maisie sa daan nang kutusan niya 'ko. Wait, what?! What did she do?! She was saying something I couldn't understand dahil na rin siguro sa impact ng kutos at umalog ang utak ko.
TOK TOK!
Maisie kept on knocking my head! She was just warmly smiling down at me, probably making fun of me!
TOK TOK!
Awe! Kinutusan niya ulit ako! Gusto ko sanang magalit kaso once in a blue moon lang 'to mangyari kaya dapat sulitin ko na! Maisie isn't a gal prompted to do such deed, like teasing me or having fun of — I mean, with me.
"CASSIEN! CASSIEN!"
I opened my eyes and the dark ceiling had crossed my sight. The ambient was so silent that I could even hear my own breathing. Teka, nasaan ako?
Oh, shuck it. I'm in my room, supposedly sleeping. That dream about Maisie earlier was so damn hilarious. Biruin mo, I dream of something so stupid especially when it comes to Maisie! If anyone was to intrude my dreams, I'd die in shame.
I was about to close my eyes back when I saw a silhouette from my window. Hold on, was it— a human?
Wha! Ito na ba 'yung bisitang sinasabi ko kanina? Kahapon? What time is it, by the way?
Agad akong bumangon sa kama at kinuha ang walis tambo sa kwarto ko. As an alternative for a baseball bat, I'll use the broom as a self-defense weapon.
"Cassien!"
His voice was muffled, hindering me from recognition, because the windowpane was still closed.
Kung si Rapunzel ay may frying pan, ako naman ay may enchanted broom.
"Cassien!"
His voice was muffled, hindering me from recognition, because the windowpane was still closed. I can tell that the standing man outside was chubby, covered in a jacket and its hood.
"Huwag kang lalapit!" sigaw ko.
"Buksan mo 'tong bintana!"
Wow! Ang kapal naman ng trespasser na 'to, inutusan pa 'kong buksan ang binatana! I gripped my phone from my pocket. Should I call the police now? Nakita ko rin sa screen na ala-una pa lang nang madaling araw! Naka-received din pala ako ng message mula sa unknown number.
"It's me, Conan. Open up!"
Conan? I squinted my eyes to have a clear sight of that fat man from the window. I know I just met that guy the other day but I know for certain that he wasn't as fat as this!
"I'm in a diguise, Cassien Agreste," sabi ni Taba.
Eh? Nagdalawang-isip ako kung bubuksan ko ba 'yung bintana. Is he really Conan in disguise? Paano kung isa pala siyang kidnapper? Wait, that's impossible.
"Kuya, may balak kang kidnap-in ako, wala magbibigay sa 'yo ng ransom dahil mahirap lang kami. Hindi mo rin mabebenta ang mga laman-loob ko dahil marami na silang damage—"
"Haha, Cassien. Very funny. Bilisan mo na, baka magalit si Ranpo kung 'di tayo susunod sa sinabi niyang oras. We need to get to that toy store at 1:30 AM!"
Natauhan ako sa sinabi niya. This fat man must be Conan. I slid my phone to my pocket again and slowly walked towards the window whilst still holding my broom. Welp, kung hindi man si Conan 'to, bahala na — basta naka-ready na ang walis tambo ko.
I slided the windowpane and the fat man removed the hood from his head. It's Conan's face! My gaze descended on his tummy, big fat tummy.
"Ano'ng kinain mo? Ba't tumaba ka yata?"
*
DUMAAN KAMI sa gilid ng pavement kung saan hindi kami natatanaw ng CCTV. Conan told me that we've got no other choice but to sneak in to view the footages. Masungit raw kasi ang may-ari nito at hindi kami papayagan sa hiling namin, unlike Lola Mering and the two others.
"How do get in?" I whispered whilst staring at the front entrance.
He pointed his forefinger to that narrow alley where I saw a door. Maglalakad na sana ako papalapit doon pero pinigilan ako ni Conan. He looked at the top of the doorway and we saw another CCTV na nakatapat mismo sa doorway.
"Meow~"
Napatingin kaming dalawa sa pusang dumaan sa likod namin. Wow, akala ko mga tao lang din ang nagpupuyat, pati rin pala mga pusa.
Conan smirked. "I'm sorry, pussy cat."
Nagulat nalang ako nang binuhat niya ang pusa and threw the poor creature across the doorway.
"What have you done?!" I hissed. Pero natigilan ako nang makita kong gumalaw ang CCTV at dumapo ito sa direksyon no'ng hinagis na pusa. It drifted its attention away from the doorway.
Now's our chance!
Hinila ako ni Conan papunta roon. I twisted the doorknob but of course, it was locked. My companion gripped something from his own pocket — isang hairpin. Wait, lock-picking?! Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na illegal ang ginagawa namin. This is trespassing!
"Conan, 'yung CCTV, baka tumapat na sa atin—"
Seconds later, I heard a click from within. Bago pa bumalik ang CCTV sa 'min ay nakapasok na kami. Hinabol ko pa ang hininga ko dahil sa sobrang kaba. Nang dumapo ang paningin ko kay Conan, he seemed very relaxed!
"Grabe, parang tatalon na palabas ang puso ko," bulong ko.
"Actually, we could just pick the lock kahit na nakikita pa tayo ng CCTV. Wala namang tao sa loob ng store ngayon kaya kapag pinanood natin ang footage, we could hack the computer to remove our presence."
"What?!"
"Gusto ko lang na makita kang nagpa-panic." He playfully smiled. "You look cute."
I felt my cheeks burning. I drifted my gaze away and clicked my tongue. Gusto niya yatang nanti-trip ng mga tao! "Kahit na! Hinagis mo 'yung pusa!"
"Sssshhh."
We headed to the security room where computers and screens, other gadgets and two swivel chairs were presented.
"Take a seat."
Kinuha ko ang isang swivel chair at umupo doon. Hinintay ko lang na si Conan ang kumilos at mag-operate dahil baka makasira pa ako. I was utterly surprised when he took something underneath his jacket — his jacket as filled with snacks! Kaya pala ang laki, akala ko tumaba talaga siya!
We started watching — na para bang nasa sinehan pa kami dahil sa snacks — the footages. Medyo nabo-bore ako kaya lumabas pa rin ang antok ko. Not to mention I'm still in my pajamas.
"Cassien."
I opened my eyes and fixed my composure when I heard Conan called me. Baka tuluyan na talaga akong makatulog. Bakit kasi ako pa ang kailangan niyang kasama? I'm a sleep lover! I don't my sacrifice sleep! I guess today's a different story.
"May nakita ka na ba?"
"Wala pa nga, e." His voice seemed discouraged. Or baka antok lang din siya? "It must be here."
"Oo, dapat lang talaga. Sinakripisyo ko ang tulog ko para dito. May pasok pa tayo mamaya."
"I know. Kaya kailangan talaga may mai-report tayo kay Ranpo."
"Natatakot ka ba kay Ranpo? Mukhang may sayad 'yon, e. Hehe," natatawa kong wika kaya napatawa rin siya.
"If he heard that, you'd be saying goodbye to our clubroom."
"Wait!" sigaw ko nang may mapansin akong kakaiba sa footage na pinapanood namin. I pointed that peculiar guy. "Look, ito na ba 'yung hinahanap natin?"
"What's he doing?" tanong niya at inilapit ang mukha sa computer screen.
"Kumakain ng spaghetti ng Jollibee habang naglalakad sa daan."
"Eh?" His face looked as confused as I am.
"Wait, wait! May isa pa!" sigaw ko ulit nang may mapansin akong kakaibang naglalakad sa pavement, seconds after that guy eating spaghetti.
Nagpokus din si Conan sa screen, watching closely. Our eyes grew wide as we realize who it was.
A clown was walking on that pavement and stopped at the front of the toy store. He looked up and waved at the camera.