Chapter 26: Bridle Vs Athena

Maaga akong naligo kinabukasan upang mawala ang mga sakit sa katawan ko. Agad akong nakatulog kagabi dahil sa hapo.

Last night.

Andaming nangyari kagabi. I stripped in front of my classmates. I met again with Zeus and Apollo. I rolled down from an elevated area. I held a gun. I witnessed a man dying from gunshots. I met Artemis.

Those things creep me out ngunit ngayon ay parang alaala na lamang iyon. Hindi kaya nasasanay na ako sa mga bagay na katulad niyon? But still, natatakot pa rin ako. I could end up dead anytime just like that man last night. I threw away all the thoughts of last night at nagpatuloy sa pagligo at nagbihis. Matapos magbihis ay lumabas ako ng tent. Alas kwatro pa lamang ng umaga kaya naisipan kong maglakadlakad muna.

"Good morning!", masiglang bati ni Khael. Nakatayo ito sa labas ng tent ko, katulad ko ay nakaligo na ito at may hawak na dalawang styrocup. He handed me one cup.

Nagtatakang tiningnan ko naman siya. "What's that?"

His face wrinkled and he pouted. "This is a cup with a coffee inside it. Hindi ba yan naturo sa iyo noong bata ka pa?", he said at kinuha ko na ang cup. Uh, this guy! Kaibigan talaga ito ni Gray! Pareho silang pilosopo!

I drank the coffee at napangiti ako. It was delicious. "Hey you didn't put some spell in this coffee, right?"

Napangiti naman ito. "Of course not! Those are instant coffee na bigay ng tita ko mula sa Europe."

Someone grabbed my coffee at nang lingunin ko kung sino iyon ay napangiwi ako, it was Gray.

"I want coffee from Europe too!", nakasimangot nitong wika and he drank from my cup! Uh! That's my cup! Khael gave me that coffee!

"Hey Silvan! That's not for you! Kung gusto mo, kumuha ka doon sa maleta ko sa tent, marami doon! Sige na, shooo, shooo alis!", Khael said at tinulak si Gray.

"Ayoko nga! Dito lang ako, at saka gusto ko yung kape na nasa cup ni Amber. Share na lang kami, diba Amber?", he said smiling.

Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita. I've been bothered by Gray's disappearance last night and then Zeus came out, but they're not the same person, I hope. They may be of the same built and height but that does not proves everything.

"Diba Amber?", muling tanong nito at wala sariling napatango lang ako sa kanya. "See?", wika ni Gray kay Khael at muling uminom sa tasa ko.

"Sabi nang kumuha ka doon eh! Magtimpla kang saiyo, that's for Special A", naiinis na wika ni Khael. He was really upset with the coffee huh?

"Ayoko nga. Okay lang naman kay Amber na share lang kami", pang-aasar ni Gray dito. "And why are you so upset about it? Siguro ay nilagyan mo ng gayuma ang kape niya ano, that's why you don't want me to drink from it?"

"For someone who claims he's a better detective than me, that's a lame deduction!", sagot ni Khael. "It's because I made it especially for her and not for you."

Gray pouted. "I'm the best between the two of us." Ayan na naman sila sa usapang detective nila. Ano bang problema nila sa isa't-isa? Why don't they treat themselves as equally known detective? No need to excel over the other. Or better magsuntukan na lang sila.

I stood up at nagpaalam na sa kanila. "I'm going back to my tent at ayaw ko ng asungot. Thanks for the coffee Khael and you can have that coffee Gray." I made emphasis on the word asungot bago sila iniwan at nagpunta sa tent ko.

Hindi nagtagal ay gumising na rin ang iba at naghanda na para sa mga activities namin ngayon. After the morning exercise ay nag-agahan na kami. Matapos kumain ay ilang minuto kaming pinagpahinga bago sinimulan ang unang activity ngayong araw. When we were gathered for the announcement, tumabi ako kina Andi and Therese. We're not asked to gather by section kaya sa kanila ako tumabi. I don't know what's up for today's activity.

"Hey, I have a bad feeling for today's activity. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi by section", wika ko sa kanila.

Napatingin naman sila sa akin. "I think so too. Is it by individual? Wag naman sana", Andi said.

"Good morning everyone! You might be wondering why you were not gathered by section, it's because you will not do the activity by section but as a whole", wika nito and everyone started whispering. As a whole huh? Ibig sabihin ay wala kaming kalaban?

Someone from the crowd raised his hands at nagtanong. "Does that mean na wala kaming kalaban sa activity na ito? Is this to measure our teamwork?"

Ma'am Mendez smiled at us. "Yes, this will measure your teamwork. This activity also measures your sense of responsibility, camaraderie, intellect and strength. But it doesn't mean that you have no opponent at all."

Nag-ingay ang bawat isa. Nagtataka ang lahat sa ibig sabihin nito. This isn't just a teamwork activity and we have an opponent? Don't tell me our opponent for the activity is the-

We heard cheers and chants na papalapit sa amin kaya napalingon kaming lahat sa pinanggalingan niyon.

"FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST! ATHENA IS THE BEST! FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH, TOGETHER WE WILL SHOUT! ATHEEEEEENA HIGH!"

Uh, them huh? Just as I thought! Lumapit ang mga ito sa amin at nagtipon din doon but they made sure that we didn't mix up. They take this seriously, eh? They booed at us ngunit hindi naman nagpatalo ang mga taga Bridle, gumanti ang mga ito.

"Okay, that's enough", wika ni Ma'am Mendez. "Just as you see, the activity is between the Athena High and Bridle. This activity is called the Olympian Obstacle. Since the campsite itself is named after the residence of the major gods and goddesses, we will assume that name in every activity. There's an obstacle course that you will be dealing with, and there are also series of questions or codes along the way na kailangan ninyong sagutan upang makalampas sa isang obstacle as a whole. There are envelopes na ibibigay sa inyo and after you passed all the obstacles, you have to arrange those letters inside the envelope to locate your banner and the first one to get their banner will be the winner, but there's a twist. Each one will have a scarf at kailangang nasa katawan ninyo iyon. Don't let your opponent get that scarf dahil paramihan ito ng nakuhang scarf ng kalaban. Once you lost your scarf, you are not allowed to continue the obstacle. Ang mga may pinakamaraming nakuhang scarf ay may reward. You will feast for dinner!"

Na-excite ang lahat. Sino ba'ng ayaw manalo? Nauumay na din kaming lahat sa mga ulam namin, we need a good dinner later lalo na at mahirap ang activity ngayon. We also don't want to lose against Athena! No way! Nagsimula na kaming bigyan ng mga scarf. We were given a blue scarves samantalang pula naman ang sa Athena.

"Athena will surely win the obstacle course because we got Khael!", the Athena students shouted. They cheered for their school and booed us.

Hindi rin naman nagpatalo ang mga taga-Bridle. "Nasa amin si Gray at Amber kaya kami ang mananalo! Kami rin ang may masarap na hapunan mamaya!", a Bridle student shouted at nag-ingay na rin ang mga taga-Bridle. They really think we're a big help huh?

"Okay, you may now start your planning within your team", Ma'am Mendez said at nagpulong na kami as well as the Athena students.

Gray stood up in front. "This is what we're going to do. As instructed, put your scarf in your body na madaling makita ng kalaban. Don't let anyone get that scarf at kunin niyo rin ang scarf nila. Wag kayong lalayo sa amin and listen to our instructions along the obstacle. Got it?"

Sabay na sumagot ang mga taga Bridle. "Roger!"

"Silvan, I guess this is a challenge for us. Good luck to your school, though you've got an advantage dahil nasa inyo si Special A, I wouldn't let Athena lose!", Khael shouted to us. Mukhang tapos na rin itong makipagpulong sa mga taga-Athena. Oh, what's with him calling me Special A in the public? It's embarrassing, lalo na't matiim na naman ang mga tingin ng mga taga Athena sa akin dahil sa tawag na iyon ni Khael.

Nakatingin lang ang ibang mga estudyante sa amin. Hinihintay marahil nila ang sagot ni Gray.

"I wouldn't let my school lose too!", Gray said and he smiled. A smile of assurance.

Lumapit si Khael sa amin. He passed through the imaginary boundary na ginawa ng mga taga-Bridle at Athena. Naglakad siya palapit sa akin at tumigil nang nasa harap ko na siya.

"This is not fair. Dalawa kayo ni Gray sa Bridle samantalang nag-iisa lang ako sa Athena. Let's make a deal. Kapag nanalo kami, we'll have a date", he said and I was dumbfounded. Tama ba ang narinig ko? He's asking me for a date kapag nanalo sila? Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita dahil sa sinabi nito.

"I'm not into the prize of this activity. I want another prize para pagbutihan ko 'to kahit pa dalawa kayo. So deal?", wika niya at naghintay silang lahat sa sagot ko! Teka! Ano ba kasing isasagot ko? He's really serious when he said he had a crush on me?

"Pumayag ka na!", someone from Bridle said.

"He's so gorgeous! Go for him nerd!"

"Aaaah! Khael! Ako na lang kung ayaw ni Amber!"

"Date me too Khael!"

Ngumiti lang si Khael sa mga sumigaw at naghintay pa rin sa sagot ko. When I looked around, lahat sila ay nakatingin sa akin! I hate attention! Ilang beses ko bang uulit-ulitin iyan?

"Fine", tipid kong sagot. I heard Gray uttered something like "tsssk" samantalang tuwang-tuwa naman si Khael.

"It's a deal then. Shall we seal it with a kiss?", he said playfully at inilapit niya ang mukha sa akin. I motioned my fist to punch his face ngunit nahawakan niya ang kamay ko bago pa iyon dumapo sa mukha niya.

"Just kidding", he said and he chuckled.

Naramdaman ko na lang na may humila sa akin palayo kay Khael. It was Gray. "You're on our boundary Alonzo", he said and he pulled me close to him.

"Thanks Special A!" Bumalik na ito sa kanilang team at isinuot na ang mga scarf.

Gray tied his scarf on his forehead. "As if, I'd let them win."

Itinali ko na rin sa wrist ko ang scarf at pumunta na kami sa first obstacle namin. It was a long pile of tires. Nakalatag ang mga malalaking gulong doon at kailangang dumaan ang bawat isa to get to the first question and as well as kunin ang unang item. The Athena students were on their first obstacle too na gaya ng sa amin.

We started hoping on those tires! Seriously, this is so tiring! Mabuti na lang talaga at hindi na masyadong masakit ang paa ko dahil sa nangyari kahapon. Bigla na lang may sumigaw nang kunin ng isang taga-Athena ang scarf niya na nakatali sa buhok niya! Damn! We already lose one scarf!

Gray and I were the first two pass the obstacle upang masagutan na namin ang mga tanong habang papunta pa lamang doon ang iba. May mga nakarating na sa kabila at hinihintay na lang na makarating doon ang lahat. We were four sections of 30 class size so there were 120 of us!

Nang makarating na kami ay kinuha ni Gray ang unang sasagutan. It was a list of countries and we're required to give its capital! There were 25 countries there! Kaya pala pinaiwan nila sa amin ang mga cellphone at gadget namin dahil baka may mag surf sa internet sa mga sagot.

Tiningnan ko ang list na naroon. I know some of them ngunit may mga bansa roon na hindi ko alam. Sinimulan na namin iyong sagutan ni Gray and we came up with the answers.

Brunei - Bandar Seri Begawan
Costa Rica - San Jose
Croatia -
Cyprus - Nicosia
Fiji - Suva
Estonia - Tallinn
Iceland - Reykjavík
Jamaica - Kingston
Libya - Tripoli
Nepal - Kathmandu
The Netherlands - Amsterdam
Micronesia -
Morocco - Rabat
Eritrea - Asmara
Mauritania -
Papua New Guinea - Port Moresby
Slovakia - Bratislava
Sweden - Stockholm
Sudan -
Sri Lanka - Colombo
Uganda - Kampala
Turkey - Ankara
Uzbekistan -
Vanuatu - Port-Vila
Vietnam - Hanoi

Nang makarating na ang lahat doon ay nagsalita si Gray. "These are countries that we're required to list each capital. Please help us remember their capitals at wag kayong magdalawang isip na sabihin sa amin ang mga tamang sagot kapag alam ninyo", Gray said. We're 120 heads in total kaya malaki ang posibilidad na masagutan namin ang lahat ng ito.

Tiningnan nila ang mga bakanteng sagot. Jeremy raised his hands at lumapit sa amin. "Nouakchott. It's the capital of Mauritania", wika niya at isinulat ang sagot doon. "Uzbekistan's capital is Tashkent and Sudan is Khartoum."

Oh he knows the capital of those countries huh? Wide reader talaga si Jeremy. I don't even know that the names of those cities really exist.

Lumapit din ang isa pang estudyante. "Micronesia's capital is Palikir. I know it dahil nandoon ang kuya ko." We wrote it down at may isa na namang nagsabi ng sagot.

"Croatia's capital is Zagreb."

Naisulat na namin ang iba pang mga sagot dahil sa tulong nang iba. We immediately presented it to the facilitator na mula sa Athena. It was to avoid coaching kaya facilitator ng Athena ang nagbabantay sa amin at sina Ma'am Mendez at Ma'am Saderna naman ang nagfa-facilitate sa Athena. Nakakuha na rin ng mga pulang scarf and iba. They went to the area where Athena's students are.

We were given the first envelope at tinago ko iyon since we were forbidden to open it unless matapos na naming lagpasan ang lahat ng obstacle. We went to the second obstacle and it was a five meter high artificial wall. Kailangan naming makapunta sa kabilang side sa pamamagitan ng pag-akyat doon. Madali lang itong akyatin ng mga lalaki but the girls would really find it hard. Apat na kahoy lamang ang nakalagay roon na maaring apakan paakyat.

"Listen, we need four strong guys na maaaring taga-tanggap sa mga aakyat. Amber and I will go there first at magtulungan kayo sa pag-akyat. Unahin ninyo ang mga babae. You can make them stand on your shoulders upang mas mabilis at tatanggapin naman sila nang mga nasa taas", he instructed at umayon naman ang lahat.

Hindi ako mahihirapang umakyat doon but I need someone to pull me up kaya tinulungan ako ng mga estudyanteng nauna na sa taas. When I was able to reach the top, madali na ang pagbaba bahil mayroon ng hagdan sa likod niyon. The only difficult side was the other. Nang makababa kami ni Gray ay nagtulungan na silang makaakyat doon. Gray got the second question from the facilitator. It was mystery person identification.

Clue 1: I was almost blind when I was 5 and such experience makes me want to help people with disabilities.
Clue 2: I am the teacher of Hellen Keller who was deaf and blind. I taught her how to read, write and speak using the Braille System. Who am I ?

"It's Annie Sulivan", wika ko ay isinulat iyon. Kinuha niya ang isa pang tanong at binasa iyon.

Clue 1: I am an American Revolution Hero.
Clue 2: I am a school teacher in Connecticut when I joined the Continental Army.
Clue 3: Before I was hanged by the British, I said "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

"It's Nathan Hale", Gray said and he wrote it down.

"I don't know you're into US History", komento ko sa kanya. He's familiar with the American Revolution.

"No, I'm not. It's his famous line that I'm familiar with", wika niya. Hinintay na lamang namin ang iba at dumiretso na sa susunod na obstacle. We were on our way their nang hinarang kami ng mga taga-Athena.

"Sorry pero kailangan naming kunin ang inyong mga scarf", wika ng lalaki at nilusob nila kami. They grabbed our scarves at nagkagulo na kami. May mga natumba at dinaganan. They were punching at each other at nagkasakitan na ang bawat isa.

"Don't let them get your scarf!", someone shouted. "Gray, Amber! Mauna na kayo, susunod lang kami after we get their scarves."

Tumakbo na kami ni Gray papunta sa sunod na obstacle. Mga nakabitin na gulong iyon at kailangan naming tumuwid papunta sa kabila gamit ang mga nakabitin na gulong bilang tulay. It was very shaky at nakakatakot dahil baka mahulog kami but we walked pass it. May mga nakasunod na ngunit ang iba naman ay naiwan dahil nakunan ng mga scarf.

We got the envelope at ang sunod na question. It was a long list of words and we were required to identify their commonality.

BULLPEN DEAD HEAT
TRIPLE-DOUBLE GOOFY
DEUCE HAIL MARY
HAT TRICK MULLIGAN

Oh, ano naman ang commonality doon? Are these murder tricks? Kinds of drinks? I'm not familiar with these! Are these pet names? Pseudonym ng mga writer?

"What are these words? Saan ba nila nakuha ang mga ito? I don't know them", wika ko. These words are giving me headache!

"I think these are sports lingo. Bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm up before coming into a baseball game. Dead heat is in horse racing but I'm not really sure what it means. Goofy is a stance in a surfboard or wakeboard in which you put your right foot in front if the board. Deuce is in tennis when both scored 40-40. Hail Mary is in football, a long forward pass usually done at end of the game out of desperation. Hat trick is in soccer, it's when individual player scores three goals at ang Mulligan naman ay sa golf, it's when you retake a shot. I don't know what's triple double though", wika niya.

"It's in basketball, when a player records 10 or more in three of any in points, rebounds, assists, steals or blocked shots."

Bigla na lang kaming napalingon sa nagsalita. It was Khael. He was holding a blue scarf samantalang nakatali pa rin sa noo ang pulang scarf nito.

"You're not really into basketball Silvan", he said dahan-dahang lumapit sa amin. Tumatawid pa sa mga gulong ang iba naming kasama. We didn't notice na nandito pala si Khael.

"It just don't interests me at all", sagot nito. "Anong ginagawa mo dito? You're supposed to be answering the questions too, right?"

"Yeah, but I was thinking. Two heads against one, kawawa naman ako kaya I'm here to steal Special A's scarf to keep her out the game", he said. Natawa si Gray sa sinabi nito. "Anong nakakatawa?"

"You will get her scarf? Kung kaya mo", wika ni Gray at nagtatakang tiningnan ako ni Khael.

"Why? She's fierce but I can use some martial arts to to steal away her scarf. I know she punch hard enough but I can avoid those", wika nito.

Gray just smiled. "Go ahead. Make sure you won't hit her hard with your martial arts. And a little advice, be careful."

Khael smirked ay dahan-dahang lumapit sa akin. He grabbed my hand kung saan nakatali ang scarf ko. "I'm sorry Special A but I have to do this. Isipin mo na lang na labanan namin to ni Silvan."

"I won't let you", wika ko. I hit his tummy and was able to free from his grip. Sinipa ko ang tuhod niya at agad siyang napaupo sa lupa.

"Damn, you know martial arts too?", he asked. Tumayo siya at pinagpagan ang sarili.

"She's excellent in that and in nunchucks and she's also a sharpshooter when it comes to bow and arrow. That's why I told you to be careful", natatawang wika ni Gray.

"Ah! You're a witch Special A.", wika niya sa akin. I smiled at him at lumayo.

"I can get your scarf from you but I want to give you a fair play", wika ko sa kanya but he smirked.

"This is not a fair play from the very start, dalawa kayo and I'm alone. I have to prove that I'm better than the two of you- no I'm the best. I have to win this para na rin sa date natin. Well, I'll leave the two of you as of now. Good luck", he said at lumayo sa amin.

"So, saan na tayo?", tanong ko kay Gray. He was still smiling at mukha itong timang. "Hoy, anong nginingiti-ngiti mo diyan?"

He pouted at me. "I'm just amazed. Halika na sa susunod na obstacle. Ibigay na natin 'yan sa facilitator para makuha na rin natin ang next envelope", wika nito at naunang lumakad. We headed to the facilitator at hiningi ang question. Nakasunod na rin sa amin ang iba. There were less than 50 of us left ngunit marami rin silang nakuhang mga scarf. Looks like lots of us lose our scarves. We were down to our last obstacle and it was another list of words.

How are these words connected with each other?

Guerdon
Serrefine
Ursprache
Appoggiatura
Autochthonous
Pococurante
Prospicience
Succedaneum
Démarche

Tinitigan ko ang mga iyon. They're not familiar to me but I feel like I already met these list of words before.

"Pakiramdam ko ay alam ko ang mga ito but I can't remember", wika ni Gray. He's also trying to recall where did he met those words.

Lumapit si Jeremy sa amin at kinuha ang papel. Looks like he survived with the scarf riot ngunit katulad ng iba ay napakarumi na nito dahil sa alikabok at mga tuyong dahon na nasa buhok at damit nito.

"These words are the winning words of Scripps National Spelling Bee from year 2000 to 2008", wika nito at nagkatinginan kami ni Gray! That's it! Scripps National Spelling Bee!

"You're a saviour Jeremy!", I exclaimed. Agad namin iyong isinulat at nagpunta sa facilitator where she handed us the last envelope. We were about to open it nang may marinig kaming sigaw. Gray immediately ran towards the direction where the shout came from. Sumunod ako sa kanya at hindi ko namalayan na dala-dala ko pala ang mga envelope na naglalaman ng mga letters kung saan makikita ang mga banner namin. I was in the middle of my running when I decided to stop at bumalik doon. Bridle is looking forward into winning this obstacle course kaya hindi ko sila maaring biguin. All I have to do is to give them the envelopes at sila na ang bahalang maghanap kung saan man ang lugar na tinukoy niyon.

Here's the letters, locate the banner, susunod din kami sa inyo", wika ko sa kanila at tumango sila. I immediately headed back to wear the scream was.

Wala na akong naririnig but I feel that something's not right. I walked deeper in the forest at nakita ko si Gray. He was almost falling down on the cliff at hawak-hawak nito si Kristine. It seems like he was saving him but it turns out that the two of them are in danger.

"Hindi kita bibitawan Kris!", sigaw nito as he tried to pull her up. Nahihirapan na ito. They were on the edge of the cliff at tanging ang isang ugat ng kahoy ang hinahawakan nito.

"Hold on Gray! I will pull off Kristine first", wika ko. I tried to pull up Kristine. "Hawakan mo ang kamay ko!", I shouted but she refused. She was just crying. "Hey! Grab my hand, hurry!"

She still didn't move and I figured out she wanted to fall down kaya pinagsabihan ko ito. I don't know what's the story behind but this Kristine needs a good scolding.

"Now what? Gusto mong magpakamatay? Go ahead! Why would I bother to save myself from a bitch who thinks of nothing but herself? Whatever you're worrying at, sana inisip mo na hindi lang ikaw ang may mabigat na problema sa mundo! You're a loser, not because you are in a losing situation but because you give up", wika ko. "Bitawan mo na siya Gray!"

He was shocked too on my words but it was only for a while and then he smiled. "I think you're right Amber. Hahayaan ko na lamang siya sa gusto niya. It's her life anyway."

I was about to pull Gray up when Kristine spoke. "I'm sorry. Please help me", she said at mas marami pang luha ang dumaloy mula sa mga mata nito.

I gave her a reassuring smile at muling inabot ang kamay ko sa kanya. She held it tightly as I pulled her up. Nang maayos na siyang naiangat roon ay si Gray naman ang tinulungan ko.

"Thank you for that realization", nakayukong wika ni Kristine. "I was blinded by my anger. I'm sorry Gray. It was for my own sake after all."

Gray tapped her shoulders. "I hope you don't have grudges anymore", he said.

Kristine wiped away her tears. "Oo, pinapatawad ko na siya. He's a good father to me after all and I also forgive myself for not thinking right. I do hope pinapatawad mo na rin ako."

"I'm sorry for keeping the truth from you", wika ni Gray and she smiled bago tumango.

"I have to go", wika niya. "I think I need to cool myself first", bumaling siya sa akin. "Thank you for making me realize how valuable life is. No wonder why they like you. You're not just smart and strong but also, you are a woman of principles."

That was her last words bago ito humakbang palayo. Gray stared at her as she walked away. Nang hindi na niya maabot ng tanaw si Kristine ay humarap siya sa akin.

"Thank you", wika nito at inakbayan ako. "I don't know you have your words of wisdom", wika niya and he chuckled.

"You almost fall down the cliff kanina tapos ngayon ay tatawa-tawa ka? Are you nuts?" Inalis ko ang kamay niyang nakaakbay.

"Hmm, yeah that was close but thanks to you", he said. "Hey how's the activity?

"I entrusted them the search for the banner since nasa kanila na ang mga letters. What happened?", tanong ko. We were walking towards our base dahil wala na sa last obstacle ang mga kaklase namin.

"Ah, the scream that we heard kanina ay si Kristine na nagpapakawala sa dinaramdam niya. When she saw me, she told me she's planning to commit suicide. Today is the first death anniversary so I told her the truth about her father's death", wika nito at nagsimulang magkwento.

Nagkagulo na ang mga estudyante ng Athena nang makita sina Khael at Gray na parehong Grade 10 students.

"Kyaaaaaaah! Khael! Deduce what's in my heart too."

"Graaaaay! If you're Sherlock Holmes, then I'll be Irene Adler!"

"Khael!!!"

"Gray!!!"

Both of them are equally known and people think that they should be rivals but the two of them are the opposite. They are good buddies instead.

"Gray! Khael! Nagpakamatay si Sir Villanueva sa kanyang office! He's hanging on the ceiling!", a student said. Humahangos pa ito, marahil ay dahil sa malayong pagtakbo.

Napatakbo na rin sila papunta sa sinabing lugar ng lalaki. There were some people there who were so shock with the sight of the hanging man.

"Tumawag na ba kayo ng police?", Gray asked them at may sumagot naman na tumawag na sila. They started roaming around the room but they made sure they didn't touch anything that may destroy the evidences in the crime scene.

"Alonzo, do you see anything?", tanong ni Gray kay Khael. Nakatayo ito habang iginala ang paningin sa palagid.

Khael shrugged his shoulders. "No, but this room seems so contrived. It seems that this is a murder based on three points. First point ay ang bagay na pinatungan niya before he hang himself. There isn't anything below his feet na maaring ginamit niya like a chair or anything. Second point is the room, we can't find his wallet. Maybe some took it away and the last point is broken window."

"That's what I thought too but something isn't right here", he said at napalingon sa pinto nang may dumating. It was Kristine, Sir Villanueva's daughter.

Umiiyak ito habang nakatingin sa nakabitin niyang ama. "Nooooooo! Noooooo! Daddy! Gray, Khael! Please do anything to find the culprit!", she said crying.

"I promise that I will", he said to Kristine. Dumating ang mga pulis at nagsimula na ang imbestigasyon. The office was sealed but Khael and Gray were still inside at tumutulong sa imbestigasyon. They were able to remain inside dahil nakiusap sila kay Inspector Dean na magpaiwan doon upang makatulong sa pag-iimbestiga.

"The victim is Nolito Villanueva, Athena teacher and a businessman. He was pressured for the last few weeks dahil sa nangyaring suicide ng isang studyante na ibinagsak niya sa isang grading period. People blamed him and he's been questioned by the police. That student is Lea Ranario, A grade 10 student", Insp. Dean read information.

"Hindi kaya suicide talaga ito? He's pressured, right?", one of the police said.

"But there isn't something na ginamit niya na patungan. I think this is really murder", Khael said.

"No. This is suicide", Gray said at may pinulot sa sahig. It was a small string. He looked around closely and he noticed something. May mga tied marks sa swivel chair and it corresponds to the strings that Gray found. "This is suicide that he wants us to think that it is murder."

They checked the rope na pinagbigtian and there were remnants of the string there.

"Kaya pala nakapaa lang siya", Khael said. Gray let out his victorious smile.

"Yeah, it's because pumatong siya sa swivel chair na naka-attach sa isang string. If some weights were applied to the rope, the string will be pulled up kaya nakalagay ang upuan doon sa corner and not below the suicide victim. Maybe if we will check the ceiling, we can find there the pulley", Gray said.

Tiningnan iyon ng mga pulis and they found a dent in the ceiling at gaya ng sabi ni Gray may pulley nga roon.

"This is really suicide", Khael said. "I want to investigate the reason behind this suicide case."

"Hey the two of you, pumasok na kayo sa klase ninyo. Mapapagalitan na naman ako kapag nalaman ng mga matataas na pinapasok ko kayo sa crime scene", Inspector Dean said at nagpaalam na sila dito.

They were on their way nang sinalubong sila ni Kristine. "Alam niyo na ba kung sino ang pumatay kay Daddy?", namamaga pa rin ang mga mata nito sa kaiiyak.

"It's suicide Kris, your dad committed suicide", Khael said at nanlaki ang mata ni Kristine.

"That's not true! Hindi magsusuicide si daddy! Gray! You said that you will find the culprit right? Bakit hinahayaan mo lang si Khael na sabihing suicide ito?"

"I'm sorry Kris but this is really suicide. We found some dents on the ceiling and a pull-"

Bigla na lamang sumigaw si Kristine! "That's not true! His wallet is missing as well as his important ring na palagi niyang suot. He used it as a pendant but it wasn't there!"

"Kris, please calm down and listen carefully -"

"No! There's no way that he will commit suicide! No! Hindi ba't kinausap mo siya kahapon tungkol sa pagkamatay ni Lea? Hindi kaya ikaw ang nagpressure sa kanya?! You talked to him right after Lea's mother talked to him diba?", bumuhos na ang maraming luha nito bago tumakbo.

"She's angry", komento ni Khael.

Ilang araw ang lumipas at kinausap na lamang ni Gray si Khael. They were on the plaza that time.

"Silvan let's continue our investigation. I heard nandoon na naman sa Athena sina Inspector Dean and this time, he was with Detective Tross", Khael said at kinuha ang skateboard nito.

"Alonzo."

"What?"

"Let's stop the investigation. Let the police handle it", Gray said at nagtatakang tiningnan ito ni Khael.

"But -"

"Swear to me na hindi ka na mag-iimbestiga tungkol dito. It's for Kristine. This is the first time that I will be saying this word to you, but 'Please'. Please don't go further with this case", Gray said.

Khael look disappointed ngunit tumango ito. "Fine but I will be doing this." Bigla na lamang niyang sinuntok sa sikmura si Gray ngunit hindi pumalag ang huli. "That's for my limited information about this case. Let's go back to Athena."

They headed back to the school at hindi na nakialam sa kaso. Kristine was very angry. Ang dating magiliw at humahanga kay Gray na si Kristine ay wala na. Lingid sa kaalaman ni Khael ay pinuntahan ni Gray si Detective Tross at sinabi ang mga nalalaman.

"Silvan", Detective Tross said.

"I will tell you the truth behind this suicide but please make this a classified information. This is suicide dahil nalaman ni Sir Villanueva na anak niya si Lea."

"What? Hindi ba't iyong Kristine ang anak niya?", the detective asked in confusion.

Umiling si Gray. "No, she's a foster child. I saw the adoption papers na sinunog niya noong araw bago siya nagpakamatay. I heard from his colleague na may girlfriend si Sir Villanueva noon na nabuntis niya at lumayo. He was very angry dahil pinaako ng babae sa iba ang bata since Sir Villanueva was financially incapable that time. I figured out that it's Lea's mother and I confirmed it because I talked to her. Sir Villanueva made it look like it is murder upang si Mrs. Colegado ang maging suspect but we found his trick at abswelto na si Mrs. Colegado", wika ni Gray.

"You mean he regretted the death of her daughter that's why he committed suicide and it was also to frame up Mrs. Colegado as a revenge?", Detective Tross asked at napatango si Gray.

"Don't let Kristine know about it. We don't want any suicide case to happen kapag nalaman niyang ampon lamang siya. Itago mo rin ito kay Khael, you know him. He's hot-blooded and he can't keep a secret lalo na kapag tungkol sa isang kaso", he said.

"Yeah, this will be hidden from Mikmik. Maraming salamat Silvan.", the police detective said bago umalis.

We were almost on the base nang matapos magkwento si Gray. I saw our banner raised up ngunit nakabusangot ang lahat ng mga taga-Bridle.

"Hey, what happened?", tanong ni Gray nang makalapit kami. "You've raised the banner, bakit kayo malungkot?"

"It's because Athena got here first", wika ni Khael. He was still wearing his scarf ngunit wala ng ibang taga Athena roon.

"How come? Your team aren't here", wika ko. Yes, their banner was raised just like ours.

"It's because I'm the only one who survived", he said and smirked.

"What do you mean?", tanong ko and one of my classmate replied.

"We got all their scarves except his. At nang makarating kami dito ay nauna na niyang itinaas ang banner nila."

Amazing! Khael did that alone?! I frowned when I remember our date deal.

"Athena's students are on the brook. They're cleaning their body as preparation to our victory party tonight. And prepare for our date Special A", he said at kumindat bago umalis.

Hinarap ni Gray ang mga kaklase namin. "Don't worry about it. Losing in this activity doesn't mean that we're weak.", he said at tila nabuhayan ng loob ang mga taga Bridle.

"At least we have so many good memories along the obstacle. At dahil nag-iisa na lang si Khael sa Athena, it means one thing -"

Sabay-sabay na sumigaw ang lahat.

"WE'LL BE FEASTING TONIGHT!"

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs.