Chapter 45: Gray Vs Khael: Grand Deduction Battle

It's December 5 at anim na araw na lang ay debut ko na. I already received the invitations from Mom at ang kailangan ko na lang gawin ay ipamigay iyon sa mga nais kong imbitahin sa debut ko. I gave my invitations to Therese and Andi. Sa mga kaklase ko na lang na nais kong imbitahin but I'm not planning to invite all of them, only a few.

It's Friday and I have already apologized to Gray for vomiting into him the last time we went to help Mr. Albert Wort. As of that case, nabawi na ni Mr. Worth ang kanyang singsing and Underworld was closed due to its illegal activities. Hindi rin umano rehistrado ang bar na iyon kaya agad iyong napasara. Bruno and the other drug lords were already in jail. May ibang nakatakas but the big fishes were already caught.

Back to the vomiting scene, my God, that was very embarrassing! I don't know what Gray thought about it. Pumasok ako kinabukasan with a hangover and I spent most of the time slouching in my seat. Binigyan ko lang siya ng strawberry flavored smoothie na may nakadikit na sticky note with a Sorry on it. Gasgas na ang pagtext na paraan ko kaya I thought of another way and that's the best way I came up with. Well, it's not really the best way dahil hindi ko man lang naisip na hindi pala mahilig sa strawberry si Gray. He ended up accepting my apology but giving away the smoothie.

PE time at panay na naman ang laro namin. Kailan ba ako makaka-graduate ng PE? Buti sana kung gusto ko lahat ng ginagawa namin but there were things that I really hate lalo na kapag nagkakaroon ng tournament sa basketball o kaya ay sa volleyball. Laro ng lahi ang nilalaro namin and I was resting on one side of the gym. There were red rope marks on my palms dahil sa kakahila ko sa lubid sa tug-of-war.

I hate this! Ginawa naman namin ang lahat. We gave all our best yet natalo pa rin kami and in the end nasaktan pa kami. Natumba lang naman kami at nagkapantal-pantal sa kamay. Parang pag-ibig lang. Ginawa mo na ang lahat, pero naagaw pa rin ng iba at sa huli ay masasaktan ka lang. Okay, humuhugot ako but that wasn't my line. It was Jeremy's. I don't know where he got such thoughts at impossible ring galing iyon sa binabasa niyang libro ni Sherlock Holmes. I wonder kung anu-ano ang tumatakbo sa isip ng nerd na iyon!

I took a break when the second game started which was agawan-base. Nagkunwari akong masakit ang ulo at bibisita muna sa infirmary upang humingi ng gamot. White lies like this work at times. Pumayag si Ma'am Saderna at agad akong lumabas ng gym dala-dala ang bag ko.

I was walking with my eyes fixed on my shoes nang bigla na lang akong nabundol sa isang tao. I wasn't paying attention kaya napaupo ako sa lupa sanhi ng pagbangga namin. When I looked up, I saw a devil. Yeah. Ryu, the devil. Matagal-tagal ko rin siyang hindi nakita. Malamang ay nagtatago siya sa lungga niya na kung tawagin ay impyerno.

He was holding a box at inalalayan akong tumayo. I pushed away his hands at pinagpagan ang sarili ko. Pinulot niya ang bag ko at agad kong inagaw iyon sa kanya.

"Ang sungit mo naman. You didn't miss me?" nakangiting tanong niya. Bakit ba niya ako kinakausap? Close ba kami? Duh.

"Why would I miss you? The past weeks without you is my most peaceful week. Ay hindi pala dahil nakasama ko ang pinsan mong kaskasero," wika ko sa kanya. He chuckled. Pansin ko lang, bakit ang fresh niya ngayon?

"So you spend some time with Cooler? Hmmm, I see. Good for him," wika niya and he looked at me with amazement.

Tinaasan ko siya ng isang kilay. "What? Don't tell me may masama ka na namang binabalak? And how did you get here? Alam mo bang bawal ka rito?"

"I befriended the guard," wika niya.

"You mean you threatened them," pag-iwas tingin ko sa kanya.

Tumawa siya ng mahina. Uh, good mood yata siya at hindi pinapalabas ang million-dollar smirk niya. "Befriended would be the right term."

"Ah, basta! Wala akong pakialam. Kung hinahanap mo si Marion ay dumeretso ka lang. Nasa gym sila dahil PE namin. Mauna na ako sayo," wika ko at nagtangkang lampasan siya ngunit hinawakan niya ako sa braso. Nagtatakang tiningnan ko naman siya.

"I didn't drop by to see her. I came to see you," wika niya. Tama ba ang narinig ko? Ako ang ipinunta nita dito? He's not letting out his horns and tails even though he is a devil. Ngumiti siya sa akin sa halip na isang katakot-takot na smirk ang iginawad niya. Ako ang ipinunta niya dito sa Bridle sa halip na si Marion?

Oh no! Is it doom's day? Ito na ba ang sinasabi ko kay Jeremy na may babagsak na meteorite sa Earth?! Uh, maybe he has something up on his sleeves. Inalis ko ang kamay niya sa braso ko.

"What's up devil? I know you have something on your sleeves."

Kumunot ang noo niya at tiningnan ang nakatuping sleeves ng asul na polo niya kasabay ng smirk. Uh, Lord!

"I don't have any," pilosopong wika niya.

I rolled my eyes at him. Damn this hacker. Kalahi marahil nito si Jeremy. "Ano'ng kailangan mo?" tanong ko sa kanya. Inabot niya sa akin ang kahon na hawak. If it would be a bit thinner ay iisipin kong pizza ang laman niyon. But it's thicker at mas malapad ang box na iyon at may mga japanese characters sa ibabaw ng kahon.

"What's that?" nakataas-kilay kong wika sa kanya.

"Open it."

"Ayoko nga. Baka mamaya, bomba pa lamang ang laman niyan," inirapan ko siya at tumangging buksan ang box.

He chuckled. "Believe me Amber, if I would be giving you a bomb, it wouldn't be in a box like this. I don't like surprises when it comes to death."

Muli niyang inabot sa akin ang box at kahit nag-aalangan ay kinuha ko iyon. Dahan-dahan kong tinanggal ang tali niyon. There are million crazy things I have in mind about what must be inside. I just hope it's not a snake. Nang matanggal ko ang tali ay dahan-dahan kong iniangat ang takip. I was surprised nang tuluyan kong mabuksan ang laman niyon!

Chibi figures of the characters of Detective Conan! Lahat ng main characters at kahit ang Black Organization pa!

"Where the hell did you buy this? Alam mo bang matagal akong naghanap ng ganito?" amazed kong wika. Uh, I have a collection of chibi figures ngunit sa characters lamang iyon ng Kuroko's Basketball.

"I stayed in Japan for a week at nakita ko 'yan. Then I remembered a note from your facebook account. It's about your agony in finding such figures," nakapamulsang sagot nito.

Wait, paano niya nabasa ang note na iyon? That was in private!

"You hacked my account? How dare you!" I scowled at him. Arrrrgh! Wala na! Nabasa na niya marahil lahat ng isinave ko doon!

"I didn't do it intentionally!" paliwanag niya. Palusot! Kahit na! Sinadya pa rin niyang basahin ang mga notes doon. Unintentionally, my ass!

"Wala naman sigurong hindi sinasadyang magbasa," I told him and he raised both his arms in surrender. Ibinalik ko sa kanya ang box.

"Kung nagpunta ka lang dito upang magpainggit diyan sa chibi figures mo, umuwi ka na," wika ko sa kanya. He refused to accept the box kaya nagtatakang tiningnan ko siya.

"That's for you, silly. I bought that one for you."

"Para sa akin?" nanlalaki ang mga mata kong tanong. "But why? Hindi ko pa naman birthday ah. We're not even friends para bigyan mo ako ng regalo."

"Let's call it a donation. I want to spend money that's why I bought that," wika niya. Ang yabang talaga! Sinasabi ko na nga bang salong-salo niya lahat ng kayabangan sa mundo!

"Ano naman ang hihingin mong kapalit?"

"Didn't I say it's a donation? It's a free contribution then. Why don't you consult Merriam-Webster about its definition?" wika niya at pinigilan ko ang sariling ihampas sa kanya ang bag ko. Oh, Japan's air must really be good for him. Bumait siya kahit saglit ngunit sa huli ay lumalabas pa rin ang tunay na kulay. As a return gift ay iimbitahin ko na lang ito sa birthday ko. Pinahawakan ko sa kanya ang box at kumuha ng dalawang invitation cards mula sa bag ko at inabot iyon sa kanya.

"What are these?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes at him. "It's an invitation card, you know. Oh, I guess you should consult Merriam-Webster for its definition," I told him. Serves him right! Those are his lines.

"What am I going to do with these?" tanong niya.

"Kainin mo," I said and he smirked. Sa wakas, ayan na ulit ang kanyang dakilang smirk. I'm used to seeing his smirks than his smiles.

"Really? Well I'm still full, should I stuff this in your mouth instead?" he asked. He's a jerk, I knew it. "Now, let's drop the stupidity, are you inviting me to your birthday?"

"I don't really want you in my birthday pero sobra ang invitation ko kaya sayo na lang 'yan. If you will attend, fine with me but it's finest if you don't. And please, out with the guns. I don't want any harm on my debut," pagbibigay-alam ko sa kanya. "And give the other to your dear cousin."

"It's best if I won't attend? Bakit?" tanong niya.

"Dahil masisira ang gabi ko kapag nakikita kayo," I scowled at him. Tumawa siya ng mahina.

"Expect us to be there then. Are we part of your 18 roses?" he asked. "I'd like to be part of the 18 guns."

"There's no such thing, devil! At kailan mo ba titigilan ang buhay ko? Give me a break!" I hissed at him. He only chuckled to my answer.

"I should get going," wika niya at iwinagayway sa harap ko ang hawak na invitations. "Thanks by the way, expect us on your special night," he said at humakbang palayo. Pinanuod ko lang siya habang papalayo sa akin. Nang hindi ko na siya natanaw ay dumiretso ako sa dorm sa halip na pumunta sa infirmary upang ihatid ang ibinigay niya sa akin.

Matapos kong iwan iyon sa kama ay agad akong bumalik sa gym. They were outside the gym at nagjo-jogging sa gilid ng gym. We can't jog inside the gym dahil ginagamit ng varsity ang court. Nang makita ko si Marion at Gray at agad akong sumabay sa kanila.

"What are we doing next?" I asked them habang panay takbo.

"Ewan, pina-jog kami eh. Ayos ka na ba?" Marion asked and I nodded at her.

At the back of the gym were Bridle's high walls. Nagulat na lang kami at biglang napahinto nang bigla na lamang may tumalon mula roon. It was Khael and he was wearing Athena's uniform. Uh, bakit ba ang hilig nitong umakyat sa mga matataas na puno o kaya ay pader? He could just befriend the guards just like Ryu did sa halip na basta-basta na lamang ito umakyat! It's safer that way!

"You scared me! Unggoy ka ba?" Marion exclaimed. Ngumiti lamang si Khael sa kanya.

Tumayo siya at pinagpag ang suot. "Uh, I'm too handsome to be a monkey. What a perfect timing! I don't have to find you. You found me!"

Ano naman ang ginagawa niya rito? Malamang may pasok siya and he just ditched classes upang pumunta rito.

"What are you doing here Alonzo?" tanong ni Gray sa kanya at nilingon ang paligid. Lots of students stood by at nakatingin sa amin. "And you're still wearing Athena's uniform. You're drawing too much attention."

Inilibot din ni Khael ang paningin sa paligid. "I can't help it. I'm thrown out of class Mr. Estillo, remember that old man who used to hate us? Pinalabas ba naman ako ng klase?!"

"And? You must have done something."

Napakamot ito sa ulo. "Well, yeah. I exclaimed a big 'Whoah!' in the class."

"And why is that?" Marion asked. She shoved away some students by giving them deadly glares.

"I was stalking Amber's facebook and I saw on her profile that her birthday is in six days," wika niya and he smiled at me. Uh, what's up with my facebook account? Doon din nalaman ni Ryu na naghahanap ako ng mga chibi figures. Magde-deactivate na ako mamaya!

"Just because of that?! And why are you stalking my facebook account anyway?" I scowled at him.

He gave me a naughty smile. "Ano namang masama kung i-stalk mo ang crush mo?" he said without hesitation. Oh Khael! Why so vocal? Hindi ka man lang ba nahihiya sa akin? Why is it too easy for you to say straight to my face that you had a crush on me? Minsan nga ay naiisip ko na hindi naman talaga niya ako gusto. Maybe he just likes to tease me.

"And you let Kuya Rex drive for 2 hours just to confirm that? Hindi mo ba naisip na tapos na ang period ni Mr. Estillo and you already missed your next class?" Gray asked him. Nagtagpo ang dalawang kilay nito.

"I drove myself and it only took an hour and a half. And who cares? Naiinis ako kanina! 7 am class, first period na first period and I'm thrown out of class already?! That's when I decided to ditch the whole day's class and drove here," sagot nito. Bumaling siya sa akin. "Are you throwing a party? I volunteer myself as your escort!"

My escort? Oo nga pala. When I had a call with my parents, they told me that they haven't fixed my 18 everything so they haven't included them on the invitations. Ayon sa kanila, I can have them on the spot. I refused to hire an organizer but Mom did kahit na ayaw ko.

Napalingon ako kay Gray ng bigla na lamang itong tumikhim. "I'm sorry to disappoint you Alonzo but I also volunteer myself to be her escort," wika nito at namilog ang mga mata ko. Did he?

"Nauna ka na?" Khael asked and Gray shook his head.

"I was planning to ask her but you arrived kaya ngayon ko pa nasabi," Gray answered.

Khael smiled evilly. "Ibig sahihin nauna ako? You should pick me Special A, I asked you first."

"This is not a first ask, first serve lane bastard," Gray said. "Ako dapat ang piliin mo Amber dahil magkaklase tayo."

"This isn't a priority lane for classmates too! I should be the one escorting her! I'm older than you!"

"You're just older by a day. That's too insignificant," sagot naman ni Gray. Ibig sabihin isang araw lamang ang pagitan ng birthday nila? I wonder when it is.

"Kahit na. Amber will choose me dahil mas pogi ako sayo."

"Dream on Alonzo!"

"Bakit? Hindi ba?"

"Not even an inch!"

"Teka, teka! What are you arguing about? Sigurado ba kayo na iimbitahin kayo ni Amber sa birthday niya?," Marion asked at tila nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig ang dalawa.

"You're going to invite us, right?" Gray asked me. Nakatingin silang tatlo sa akin at hinihintay ang sagot ko.

"Well, yeah. I have the invitations here," kinuha ko ang mga invitations sa bag ko at binigyan silang tatlo. Nagpasalamat silang tatlo sa akin dahil doon.

"So, Amber. Who among these two gents here are you going to choose to be your escort?" Marion asked. Naghintay silang tatlo sa sagot ko but I can't decide yet.

"Uh, I-I h-haven't decided yet―"

Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko nang may dumating na isang kaklase namin. He was sweating all over na tila ba galing ito sa pagtakbo. He looks so scared too.

"Gray, Amber! Si Ma'am Sera!" humihingal pa ito.

"Why? What happened?" I asked him. Hindi agad ito nakasagot dahil panay pa rin ang paghingal nito.

"S-si Mrs. Sera! Natagpuang patay sa laboratory!" he exclaimed at gulat na gulat kaming lahat. We were about to head towards the direction of the laboratory nang magsalita si Marion.

"Well, little detectives, why don't we use this opportunity to identify who will be Amber's escort?" she said at naguguluhang tumingin kami sa kanya.

"Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?"

"Since both of you wants to be Amber's escort and I know both of you are dying to solve this case kahit pa hindi na saklaw ni Khael ang Bridle, let's make this a deduction battle. The one who will solve the case first will be her escort. Deal?" she asked them. Inilahad niya ang dalawang palad sa kanila.

Parehas namang napangiti ang dalawa. "Deal!," magkapanabay nilang wika and tapped Marion's palm as sign of approval. Oh, do they really have to bother that much?

We all went to the Main Laboratory ng Bridle kung saan matatagpuan ang bangkay ni Maam Sera. I can't believe that she's already dead at sa mismong laboratory pa in which she was the in charge. Mabait si Ma'am Sera at kasundo nito ang mga estudyante. Well, there was one student she hated the most, it was Lowie Mondino whom he used to argue ever since. Minsan pa nga ay nagbabantaan sila.

Well I can't blame Mrs. Sera. Lowie was one of the blacklisted students of Bridle. Sa katunayan ay subject for expulsion na ito. There was a yellow police ribbon labelled with Police Line Do Not Cross outside the Main Laboratory ngunit pinayagan pa rin kami na makapasok lalo na at isa sa nga pulis na naroon si Inspector Dean. Hindi na kailangang makiusap nina Gray dahil agad nila kaming pinapasok.

Kalunos-lunos ang naroong bangkay ni Maam Sera. Nakalbo ito at walang ni isa mang buhok ang naiwan sa ulo nito. Bumubula din ang bibig nito at may beaker na nakakalagay sa kamay nito. She was holding it tightly, bago pa man ito nawalan ng buhay. There was also a razor in the table in front of her. She doesn't have any stab wounds on her body at walang ni ano mang pasa ito sa katawan. Maayos na nakaupo ito sa isang upuan at nakasandal doon. There were also no signs of struggle in the laboratory. Gray and Khael were busy looking on every angle of the case. Nakatayo naman kami ni Marion sa gilid at nakatingin sa kanila habang abala ang mga ito gaya ng mga pulis.

"Goodness! I can't believe na wala na si Ma'am Sera! Parang kailan lang noong huling lab activity natin," natatakot na wika ni Marion. Why would I forget it? I almost lost my life because of X who tampered my chemicals and instructions in this same laboratory with Ma'am Sera, thus producing the dangerous gas out from the reaction of water from Barium Cyanide.

The police stated their initial report. Based on rigor mortis, Ma'am Sera died twelve hours ago. Marahil ay kagabi pa ito binawian ng buhay. Whatever happened inside this laboratory bago pa man ito mamatay ay inaalam pa ng mga pulis.

When I observed the main laboratory, there was something peculiar about it, I just can't figure out what was it. Ano nga ba iyon? Muli kong iginala ang paningin ko sa kabuoan ng laboratory. I saw Gray and Khael standing at one side staring at the white board. Saka ko lang napansin ang nakasulat doon. That's what makes the lab peculiar! May nakasulat na mga numero at letra doon.

Gray was still staring at it while Khael went to the computer and searched something. He also went to see the big periodic table of elements. Mukhang mas nauna ito sa pag-iisip kaysa kay Gray. I stared at the numbers too. It was 1310-58-3. Ano kaya ang meron sa numerong iyon? Beside it was P280 P305+351+338 P310.

On the lower part of the board, there was something similar to the familiar sequence of number.

1 1 2 3 5 8 13 12

At first, I thought it was Fibonacci Sequence but when I stared at the last number, it wasn't part of the sequence. Fibonacci numbers was supposed to be 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 and so on. Is it possible na nagka-transposition error lamang sa paglagay ng huling number?

Gray stopped staring at the board and went to the Lab A. The main laboratory has two extensions in which we call Chem Lab A and Chem Lab B. Pumasok siya doon and I didn't bother to follow him to know what is he doing there. Patuloy lang ang mga pulis sa pag-iimbestiga. There was neither witness nor suspect to the case.

Dumating si Khael at lumapit sa amin. "Where's Silvan? Should I celebrate my overwhelming victory for solving this case?" seryosong tanong nito. I wonder how he could joke around but still possess a serious face.

"You solved the case?" Marion asked and he nodded. Lumapit sa amin sina Inspector Dean.

"Mikmik? You already figured it out?" he asked and Khael smiled. "Who's the killer then? Pangalan ba ng killer ang mga numero at letra na nakascrabble sa whiteboard?"

"I'm afraid there isn't a killer because this is a suicide case," wika niya at nagulat kaming lahat. Suicide case? Ma'am Sera committed suicide?

"Suicide? Paano mo nasabi?" tanong ng isang pulis na kasama ni Inspector Dean. Napatigil ang mga ito sa ginagawa upang makinig kay Khael.

"Look around. There aren't any marks of struggle on the crime scene. If someone attacked her, mayroon sanang nakakalat na mga basag na equipments since this area is a bit full of glass equipment," paliwanag niya. When I looked around at tama nga siya. Wala ni kahit anong nakakalat na basag na bagay. Sa halip ay napakalinis ng laboratory.

"What if the killer fixed everything bago siya umalis?" I asked.

"You're from Bridle so you should know if may nagkulang at pinalitan bang mga equipment dito. The laboratory doesn't seem contrive but you can also judge by yourself," wika niya.

Mayroon nga bang kakaiba sa loob ng laboratory? Well, I don't observe any maliban na lamang sa mukhang Fibonacci Sequence at iba pang mga nakasulat sa whiteboard. I shook my head at him.

"So how does it prove na nagsuicide nga si Ma'am Sera?" tanong ni Marion. Maging ito ay tila hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ni Khael.

"No other fingerprints were found around the lab since bagong linis ito. Based on the facts that the police gathered, she shaved her own hair dahil tanging sa kanya ang naroong fingerprints sa razor. The number 1310-58-3 on the board represents the chemical compound that she used. It is the CAS Registry Number of the compound Potassium Hydroxide. Such compound is used in the chemical cremation process to decompose animal and human body and it is also used as hair removing agent. All you have to do is soak your hair for few hours. Pre-shave products and shave creams contain that compound. It opens the hair cuticle and act as hygroscopic agent to let water into the hair shaft, and totally damaging it. The hair will be weakened and is more easily cut by a razor like what the victim did," paliwanag niya. So iyon pala ang tiningnan niya sa computer kanina. I was amazed by how easily Khael thinks. Nakalap niya ang nga impormasyong iyon even before the police did.

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita. "Also, written in the board was P280 P305+351+338 P310. It is simply the GHS precautionary statements of the chemical compound Potassium Hydroxide. Those are the statements that will replace the S-phrases that we used in dealing with chemicals. She also drank the chemical compound to end her own life. The reason why she did it, we'll let the police handle the investigation kung may problema ba ito sa pamilya o kung saan," Khael said. Siguradong-sigurado ito sa mga sinasabi.

"So, it's suicide then. Ganoon din ang initial findings ng pulisya," Inspector Dean said. "By the way, where's Gray? I thought he is investigating with us?" Inilibot nila ang paningin sa loob ng main lab ngunit hindi namin makita si Gray.

"I don't know kung nasaan siya," Khael said as he looked around.

"But Khael, there is something bothering me," wika ko at napabaling ang atensyon nilang lahat sa akin.

"What?"

"How about the numbers below the board? It looks like a Fibonacci Sequence na nagkaroon ng transposition error sa huling bahagi. It should be 21, not 12," I said and all their eyes fixed on the board.

"I don't think it's significant. Bakit naman magkakaroon ng isang sequence na mula sa isang mathematician ang isang science lab?" komento ni Khael.

"Yeah, it's ironic," sang-ayon ni Marion.

"Yeah, and that's what makes it suspicious. Hindi ba nakapagtataka na mayroon ngang ganoong mga numero rito? And there was a deliberate error on the last number."

Napalingon kami sa nagsalita. It was Gray. He was holding a laboratory pictogram. "Inspector, everything that Alonzo said is a fact but there is something lacking to it," buo ang boses nitong wika.

"What do you mean?" Khael asked.

"Yes, you stated all the facts but it's only half of it. Ma'am Sera did everything as you said but it wasn't through her free will. Someone was telling her to do so. Maybe that someone threatened her to follow his orders to make this case looks like a suicide. Hindi ba nakapagtataka na kailangan pa niyang kalbuhin ang sarili niya bago magpakamatay? She could just kill herself immediately," Gray said at napaisip naman kaming lahat. Yes, he has a point. Kung magpapakamatay lang din naman ako, I would do it immediately and I won't do any intermission number just like Ma'am Sera did.

"Also the numbers on the lower part of the board, it's not insignificant. In fact, it's the most significant writings on the board. 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 12 is not Fibonacci Sequence though it looks like one. If we replace it with the letters from the alphabet, we can have A A B C E H M L. Arrange those letters, and we can form CHEM LAB A. And when I went to the Chem Lab A, this is what I found," itinaas ni Gray ang hawak na pictogram na nakadikit sa illustration board. It was the familiar orange pictogram with a big black X on it. May mga nakasulat doon na symbols gaya ng KHS, LiOH at NaOH.

"It's the chemical hazard symbol XN which represents harmful substances or preparations. In other words, X is the one who manipulated and forced her to commit suicide," wika ni Gray. "Ma'am Sera probably knew his identity nang dahil sa nangyari kay Amber noong laboratory namin. We talked last week and she told me that she had some idea as to X's identity but she has to confirm it first ngunit mukhang naunahan siya ni X. She left this clues in a code style upang hindi ito mapansin ni X."

Si X na naman? He's been killing people na sa tingin niya ay magiging balakid sa pagkitil niya sa buhay ko. But why? Namatay ba si Ma'am Sera dahil sa akin?

"How about the symbols found in that pictogram?" Inspector Dean asked at tinuro ang mga symbols na nakasulat sa hawak-hawak ni Gray.

"They're probably written by some students beforehand," Gray said. "X is responsible for everything. I guess we should divert our investigation on identifying who is that X."

The case was now closed and the police already marked X as part of their investigation task. It took us few hours there. Nasa cafeteria kaming apat at kumakain ng pananghalian. Gosh, it's almost 2 in the afternoon and we have skipped our classes after PE. Panay ang tingin ng mga estudyante sa amin. They might be wondering why there is someone in Athena's uniform sitting and eating with us.

"I now concede my defeat Silvan," mabigat ang loob na wika ni Khael. "We both got the case but you have gone deeper and eventually solved the missing puzzle."

Isang tikhim ang sinagot ni Gray sa kanya. He smiled victoriously na para bang sinasabing maliit na bagay lang iyon. When I looked at Gray, he was flashing a smile on his lips bago siya sumubo ng pagkain. Uh, looks like he's going to be my escort then. Well, I'm looking forward to it.