Chapter 1: Dare Me, Date Me

I have never been as excited as this. Hindi naman pasko. Hindi rin bagong taon o kaya ay kung anong holiday ang meron. Well it's a holiday for me.

Ano ba ang kahulugan ng holiday sa isang highschool student? Holiday means no class. Iyon naman talaga ang gusto naming mga estudyante. Today is Rizal's Day and I have never been excited on such holiday. I'm not a Rizalian. Not that I don't recognize his heroic act for the Philippines.

But today, Rizal day is special. Bakit? Kasi may date kami ni Abo ngayon. I've  never seen the color gray as lively but now I'm starting to like it. Why? Ewan. Baka dahil kay Gray. Oh, I'm not putting any colors on this date. He just asked me to go out on a date with me. He did not specify whether it's a friendly date or a romantic one. So to keep myself on the safe side, I will consider this as a friendly date.

Our last phone call was on December 26. It was during the time na na-decipher ko ang ibinigay niyang code. I didn't call him after that dahil baka isipin nitong atat ako! He didn't call me also kaya maghihintay na lang ako. I don't even know if anong oras ang date namin!

Anong klaseng lalaki ba yan si Gray! He didn't specify anything. He just asked me to go out on a date with him! Arrrggh! I'm not even sure kung seryoso ba ito sa pagyayaya! Sinulyapan ko ang nakabalot na bagay na nakapatong sa study table ko. It's a vintage compass. It's made of brass and it really caught my attention while browsing on an online shop. Hindi iyon masyadong mahal but it's really nice. I just hope Gray would like it too.

Inilagay ko iyon sa bag ko at umalis na ng bahay. I have no destination kaya mas pinili ko na lang magliwaliw. I didn't bother our driver to take me anywhere. Hindi naman sa iniisip kong isasakay ako ni Gray sa porsche o sa convertible BMW niya. I just don't want to bother the driver so I took the cab instead.

Naalala kaya ni Gray na date namin ngayon? Uh, I'm not really sure but I do hope. Ako lang ba ang naeexcite ng ganito? Wala sa sariling pumara ako ng taxi at agad na sumakay. My mind is still occupied with the thoughts of Gray. I was wondering if December 30 is an ideal date. Sana ay basbasan ni Rizal ang araw na ito kahit na si Khael ang kamag-anak nito. He's an Alonzo right?

I don't know how long I have been occupied with the thoughts about today. Bumalik lang ako sa wastong huwisyo nang paulit-ulit na tinawag ng driver ang pansin ko.

"Ma'am, saan po kayo? Maam?" the driver asked and he waived his hands in front of me. Aba't feeling close tong lokong driver na ito ah?

Napatingin ako sa labas and I noticed that we're in a subdivision at nasa harap kami ng isang malaking gate. Where the hell did this driver bring me?

"Kuya nasaan po tayo? Ito po ba ang sinabi kong address?" I asked the driver. The area is unfamiliar kaya nagtaka ako. Nang sulyapan ko ang driver ay nagulat ako. He's too young and too hot to be a taxi driver!!!!

Did I say hot? Uh, Amber! I mean he's too handsome. Moreno ang balat nito but he doesn't look like a driver! Maayos din ang pananamit nito!

"No, this isn't the address that you said, actually you haven't said any address. Kanina pa kita tinatanong but you seemed occupied with something. This is my destination, my friend's residence," he said. Aba! Engliserong taxi driver?

"Uh, bakit mo ako sinama dito? You should have taken me to the mall!"

He frowned at me. Saka ko lang napansin na makapal ang kilay nito na bumagay sa maitim nitong mata. He got luscious —

Arrgh! What am I doing?!

"Una sa lahat Miss, hindi ako driver. Pangalawa, like I said kanina hindi mo sinabi kung saan ka pupunta and pangatlo, HINDI TALAGA AKO DRIVER," wika niya.

Whaaaaaaat?! Eh ano siya?!
"But I called a taxi cab!"

"This is not a taxi. This is my car."

"What? Eh bakit huminto ka nung pinara kita?" I scowled at him.

"I thought you're asking for help. Nagulat nga din ako nang bigla ka na lang sumakay. I keep on asking you where are you going but nakatulala ko lang," wika niya. Uh, I really did such thing?

Muli akong lumingon sa labas at saka ko lang napansin na may dalawang police car sa tapat ng bahay na hinintuan namin.

"Nasaan tayo?" I asked him.

"Andrade Subdivision."

"Take me back immediately!" I hissed. Oh, that was rude. Like he said, he wasn't a taxi driver but since siya ang nagdala sa akin dito, siya rin dapat ang magbalik sa akin kung saan ako galing!

"You're demanding."

"I—I'm in hurry," pagsisinungaling ko. The truth is hindi ko naman talaga alam kong saan ako papunta.

"Well, I'm in hurry too. You see, my friends were murdered kaninang madaling araw, right after I left and I'm considered as a suspect so I came back to clear my name," paliwanag niya. Murdered? That explains the police car here. "What's your name?"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong niya. "At ano namang kinalaman ng pangalan ko rito?"

He sighed na para bang sinasabing sinasayang ko ang oras niya. "Miss, look. Kanina pa tayo nag-uusap but we don't know each other. Don't we deserve some little introduction of each other?"

I rolled my eyes. Ah! What's up with this guy? Paano pala kong ito nga ang killer sa nangyaring murder? Dapat ba akong magpakilala? Napansin siguro nito ang pag-aalangan ko kaya kinuha niya ang wallet at inilabas ang kanyang driver's license at inabot iyon sa akin.

"Red Villan. 19. Philippines", wika niya at tila mas lalo kong gustong ipaikot ang mga mata ko. Is this a pageant? "And you are?"

"I don't have any license so I'll just introduce myself. I'm Amber Sison", sagot ko sa kanya.

"And?"

"18."

"You look younger," komento niya.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It is."

"Urgh. I'm leaving. Kung ayaw mo akong ihatid kung saan man ako, I'll take a cab instead," wika ko sa kanya at akmang lalabas na sana ng kotse ngunit nauna itong magsalita.

"This is an exclusive subdivision, not a highway. Walang dadaan na taxi dito," he said. What? Walang dadaan na taxi dito? Then how do I get out of this place?

"What the hell!" I uttered at tiningnan niya ako ng masama.

"No cussing in my car please," wika niya na ikinaikot ng eyeballs ko. Yes po, Santong Pula.

"Paano ako makakaalis dito?" I asked hopelessly! Kasalanan niya ito! Bakit ba kasi dinala niya ako rito?!

"We have two possible solutions for that," he said and he showed two of his fingers.

"What?"

"First, you will wait for me in this car habang papasok muna ako sa loob at kakausapin ang mga pulis. Second, maghihintay ka rito ng taxi hanggang sa mangugat ka sa kahihintay," he enumerated. I know gaano katagal ang police questioning and there's no way I'll be waiting forever for a cab here.

"None of the choices. I'll tag along with you. Come on," wika ko at naunang lumabas ng kotse.

"Hey wait —"

Hindi ko siya pinansin at tuluyang lumabas. Napasunod naman ito at agad lumapit.

"Hey, you can't tag along, okay? They said my friends are murdered. I'm sure makikita mo pa lang ang crime scene ay baka himatayin ka na," wika niya sa akin and I glared at him.

"Cut out the prejudice," I told him. "I've been to worst."

"Really?"

"Try me," wika ko and he sighed after staring at me for a while.

"Fine, let's go," he said at pumasok na sa loob. Sumunod naman ako sa kanya at gaya ng inaasahan, may mga pulis nga roon.

"Amber?"

Napalingon ako sa nagsalita. It was Inspector Dean at nagtatakang nakatingin ito sa akin. I mean sa amin ni Red.

"Hey, Inspector Dean," bati ko sa kanya and this time si Red naman ang nagtatakang nakatingin sa akin. He must be wondering why I know the inspector.

"Did Ivan summon you?" he asked. Wait, Gray? Gray is here? I was about to ask him kung nandoon din ba si Gray nang may tumawag na naman sa pangalan ko.

"Amber?"

This time, it was Gray at gaya ni Inspector Dean, nagtatakang nakatingin siya sa aming dalawa ni Red. Oh! What are you thinking Gray?!

"Gray?" after I uttered his name ay nagkaroon kami ng staring contest. It only lasted for a few seconds dahil agad akong nagbawi ng tingin.

Bigla na lamang tumikhim si Red. "Ito ba ang ibig sabihin ng sinabi mo kanina na you've been to worst? Hindi kaya secret agent ka ng mga pulis kaya sanay ka sa mga crime scene?" he asked. Urgh. This guy seems like a fan of too much action movies. May nalalaman pa itong secret agent!

"I'm not. I'm just a highschool student," sagot ko sa kanya. He exhaled in relief.

"Ah, I'm relieved to know that. How about the guy? He's a police? I don't recognize him as one of the acquaintances na dinala ng mga kaibigan ko kagabi," Red asked. He didn't doubt about Inspector Dean since he was wearing a police uniform.

"He's a highschool student too," sagot ko sa kanya and again, he exhaled in relief again.

"Don't tell me he's been to the worst too?" he asked in amusement.

"If there's worse than worst, he's been there," wika ko and this time, si Gray naman ang tumikhim. He pulled me towards him. What the fudge?! Closer please! I mean, why is he pulling me away from Red?!

"Who's that guy?" he asked at nagtagpo ang mga kilay niya. Ngayon ko lang napansin na nakaporma siya. He was wearing a black long-sleeved polo na tinupi niya hanggang balikat and a gray jeans. May date ba siya? Uh, I mean, tuloy ba ang date namin?!

"I'm Red Villan, tinawagan ako ng mga pulis dahil sa nangyari rito," sagot ni Red ngunit hindi ito pinansin ni Gray, sa halip ay muli siyang bumaling sa akin.

"Do you know that guy?" he asked me at si Red pa rin ang muling sumagot sa tanong niya.

"She mistook my car for a taxi and she's spaced out when I asked her about her destination so I ended up taking her along with me," wika ni Red. What's with the two of them? Ako ang tinatanong ni Gray pero si Red ang sumagot. Si Red na ang sumagot pero sa akin pa rin nagtatanong si Gray?! I don't get them!

Napansin marahil ni Inspector Dean ang kakaibang ambiance kaya sumingit na ito. "Ah, oo pinatawag ka namin since isa ka sa mga kasama ng biktima kagabi sa party. Halika, follow me."

Sumunod naman si Red sa kanya samantalang naiwan kami ni Gray doon. Namayani sandali ang katahimikan sa aming dalawa but he was the one to broke the silence first.

"Why did you ride on a stranger's car? Hindi mo ba naisip na baka mapahamak ka?" he said and I prevented myself to scowl at him. I must maintain my patience today. Just for today hangga't hindi pa natatapos ang date namin para naman hindi masyadong awkward.

"Gaya ng sinabi ni Red, napagkamalan kong taxi ang kotse and as of the second question, I don't know where I am going," pag-amin ko.

"What?!" he sounded mad.

"Listen, don't be mad okay? Namamasayal lang ako kasi nabo-bored ako sa bahay," sagot ko sa kanya. There's no way that I'll admit to him that I'm tensed and excited for our date today.

"Didn't you agree to have a date with me today?" Oh! Thank God, naalala pala niya!

"Yes, pero hindi ko alam kung anong oras," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Haven't I told you it will be for the whole day? An hour or more is not enough," he said and I shook my head.

Uh! Kung sinabi niya edi sana ay naghintay lang ako sa kanya sa bahay, not like this na hindi ako mapakali sa kaiisip kung anong oras kami magde-date!

"Oh, I must have forgotten to tell you," wika niya. "Pumasok na tayo. May nangyaring murder dito kaninang madaling araw."

Pumasok na kami sa loob at may apat na tao nga na kinakausap ang mga pulis. Well, Red makes them five.

Ayon sa police report, the murder happened around 3 AM. They were having a Despedida party for their friend who was one of the murdered. Dalawa ang pinatay kanina and the police already took the bodies but the crime scene was preserved for further investigation.

One was Andrei Ramos, the owner of house. He was 23 years old and living alone. He was the one who was having the despedida party since his parents acquired green card in Canada kaya susunod na ito roon. He was found lying cold on the yard at may sugat ito sa ulo.

Another was Loren Salve, 24 at kaibigan ni Andrei. Natagpuan ang bangkay nito sa banyo ng bahay. Just like Andrei, her head was hit with something hard at duguan iyon causing her death. The weapon is not yet identified.

 Ayon sa testimonya ng mga natira, they were playing a dare game. Habang ginagawa ng mga biktima ang dare nila ay natagalan ang mga ito kaya nagpasyang umuwi si Red at naiwan ang apat na sina Arvee Teves, Matt Sante, Aila Martin at Rovie Besana.

Isa-isang tinanong ng mga pulis ang mga ito at nakinig naman si Gray habang matamang pinagmamasdan ang mga ito. Maybe he was observing each one's reaction and he's also mindful of their words.

Unang kinausap ng mga pulis ay si Arvee. "Nasaan kayo nang 3-5 AM kanina?"

"Nagpapahinga ako sa silid dahil nalasing na ako. Kapag kasi hindi namin nagagawa ay kailangang uminom as a consequence," sagot nito na halos nagkandautal-utal. I don't know if he's telling the truth.

"Any witness?"

"Wala dahil nagpatuloy pa sila sa paglalaro."

"Oh, so walang witness? Ibig sabihin ay hindi matibay ang alibi mo," the police said at tumango naman ito. Sunod na tinanong ay si Red. Lumapit siya sa akin bago umupo sa harap ng pulis.

"I guess the choice you made is better. Matatagalan pala ako kapag pinaghintay kita sa kotse and they say it's not good to make a woman wait," wika niya. He didn't wait for my answer at agad na naupo doon. Lumapit naman sa tabi ko si Gray but he's not doing anything. Nakakunot lamang ang noo nito habang tinitingnan si Red.

Inulit ng pulis ang tanong niya. "Where were you around 3-5 AM?"

"I went home," sagot ni Red. He was as cool as ever.

"Any witness?"

"Yeah. Our subdivision guard saw me passing the gate around quarter to four," sagot niya and he gave contact details of their subdivision. Marami pang tinanong ang mga pulis hanggang sa natapos iyon ay muli siyang lumapit sa akin.

"Good thing I've got a witness," he said with a big smile matapos makumpirma ang alibi nito. The police called their subdivision to confirm Red's alibi.

"Mabuti naman," komento ko and Red smiled.

"It doesn't mean that you're cleared from suspicion, you can still be the killer," Gray said in a low voice.

"Did you say something?" Red asked him but Gray smirk.

"Did I?"

Uh, ano ba ang problema ni Gray? Why is he acting so bratty for this case? Naramdaman ko ang tension sa pagitan nila kaya nagpasya akong ipakilala na lang sila sa isa't-isa.

"By the way, Gray, his name is Red Villan, and Red, this is Gray Silvan," pagpapakilala ko sa kanila. Red flashed a smile but Gray maintained his pokerface. See? He's being a jerk.

Inilahad ni Red ang kanyang palad. "I see. Our names are both color but I believe red is a better one since red symbolizes love, passion, sensitivity, romance, joy, strength, leadership, courage, vigor and willpower while gray is an emotionless and moody color which is usually dull, dirty and dingy. Oh, that's according to psychology by the way."

Emotionless and moody? Yeah, I agree! But dull, dirty and dingy? Not even close to Gray! Pinagmasdan ni Gray ang nakalahad nitong palad bago iyon tinanggap.

"Really? It's unfair for you to state positive on your side but it's the other way on mine. Since you have cited psychology, you must knew also that red is the symbol of blood and fire and of rage, anger, danger, malice, wrath and stress. Don't you think that makes you the culprit?" direktang wika ni Gray dito na ikinagulat naming dalawa ni Red but he was able to redeem himself.

"Whoah! Hindi naman siguro," he said with a smile. "Well, that's true but that doesn't makes me the culprit. By the way, red also symbolizes happiness and goodluck."

"I see. As of my hue, it may means detached, neutral, impartial and indecisive but it is also the color of intellect, knowledge and wisdom. I consider myself as a gray closer to black because the more mysterious it is," muling wika ni Gray, and he still flashed his pokerface.

"Bravo for such knowledge about psychology. It's all true. Mukhang marami kang nalalaman," Red said.

"So as you."

Red seemed proud of himself. "I'm a psychology student."

Gray flashed a prouder face. "And I'm a high school student with a super photographic memory."

They're both bragging and that's when I decided to interrupt. Uh! Pag-untog ko kaya tong dalawang kulay na ito?!

"Enough with the color okay? Gray it's already Matt's turn," pagbibigay alam ko and that's also the time that Red excused himself.

Muli kaming nakinig sa usapan ni Matt Teves at ng pulis. He said he went to the CR to throw up but he slept on one cubicle since he's too drunk and that was very remarkable since the bathroom was the crime scene. There were two cubicles and since he said that he was dead asleep kapag nakakatulog ng lasing, he didn't observe anything at the bathroom.

Next was Aila Martin. She said she went to take a rest at the girl's room nang hindi pa bumabalik si Andrei at Loren mula sa pinapagawang dare sa mga ito.

Lastly was Rovie Besana na naiwan sa sala at doon nakatulog. She was also the first one to discover the body of the victims at agad na tumawag ng mga pulis. In other words, sa kanilang lima ay si Red lamang ang may alibi mula 3-5 AM.

"Ano ang dare na pinagawa sa inyo?" tanong ni Gray sa kanila.

Rovie was the one who answered first. "The dare for Loren was to find anything in the CR and wear it for the whole time." Uh, anong klaseng dare ba iyon? It's gross!

"And how about for Andrei?"

"I dared him to wear a girl's bikini so he went upstairs to change," sagot naman ni Arvee. I want to pout om their dares! Sabagay! It's a dare so they have to do unimaginable things.

Matapos iyon ay inilibot ni Gray ang kabuoan ng bahay. Pumayag din ang mga pulis na maglibot ako roon as long as I will not touch anything, dahil na rin sa request ni Inspector Dean.

Lumapit si Gray sa lima at nagpatuloy sa pagtatanong. I don't know how he was able to compel them to answer him gayong hindi siya bahagi ng pulis. Well, I guess he have his ways. It's Gray Silvan's way.

I went to the bathroom where Loren's body was found. Nagkalat pa ang mga dugo roon at minarkahan iyon ng mga pulis. Hindi nagtagal ay pumasok din doon si Gray at matamang pinagmasdan ang crime scene.

"You look beautiful today," wika niya at agad akong napatingin sa kanya.

"Don't say such words in the middle of a case!" wika ko upang maitago ang pagkahiya. It's not the right time to praise me!

"Oh, even if this case arrived ahead of me, we will still have our date kahit pa dito sa crime scene mismo," wika niya. "So, let's start our date by solving this case. How far have you got?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. My only observation is that ang sagwa ng mga dare na pinagawa sa kanila."

"It's because it's the trick used by the killer," seryosong wika ni Gray.

"You mean you already knew who's the killer?" I asked and he nodded.

"Yes, I just lack proof."

"Uh. You're amazingly smart," komento ko.

"So as you. You're amazing."

Oh Gray! Please stop! I chose to ignore him at nagpatuloy sa pagtingin doon. He went near the toilet bowl at looked intently at the floor. He went outside the bathroom which is near the window kung saan natagpuan ang bangkay ni Andrei. He looked at me seriously at nagsalita.

"Amber what do people usually does when they date?" he asked me. Gusto ko siyang sagutin ng ewan. I've never been in a formal date before. Uh, kami ni Khael dati but I don't think it's a formal one. Inalala ko na lang ang mga nakikita ko sa mga movie.

"They usually talk. Why?"

"Right. I guess we have to do it since we're dating," he said. Seryoso ba talaga ito ng sinabi nitong magde-date kami in the middle of this case?!

"Are you familiar with a luminol test?" tanong niya. I guess our talk will be about this case. This is a unique date.

"I usually heard that sa mga balita and action movies but I don't really have knowledge about it," sagot ko sa kanya.

"It's a test that forensics used to trace amounts of blood left in the crime scenes," paliwanag niya. It's the basic knowledge that I have with luminol test.

"Paano?" tanong ko sa kanya. This discussion will be all throughout the case.

"They spray luminol in the area as well as hydrogen peroxide, and an amount of activating oxidant makes the luminol emit a blue light. The iron from the blood acts as a catalyst and reacts with it, thus producing that blue glow," paliwanag niya. "It's called chemiluminescence."

There he goes again with all his science explanations. I wonder how does his brain works. He said he got a photographic memory. I bragged to him before that I also have such memory but it's a bluff. I just have a sharp memory and not a photographic one. Nasabi ko lang naman iyon dati upang pantayan ang kayabangan niya.

"Sa tingin mo ay sapat ang dugo para sa test na yan?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Traces of blood is enough since only a little amount of iron is needed for chemiluminescence," sagot niya.

"Why are you telling me all of that?"

"Because I guess we need a luminol test." Lumapit siya sa mga pulis at nagrequest ng luminol test sa mga area na nais niyang ipatest. To my surprised, it wasn't the bloody area but rather the clean one. Ano ba ang naiisip niya?

Not long after, he announced that he already knew the culprit behind the Dare Murder Case. Pinaipon niya ang lahat sa sala para sa kanyang pagsisiwalat.

"I guess I have to pull down the curtains of this little show about the Dare Murder Case," deklara ni Gray.

"You already knew who's the culprit?"  tanong ni Arvee.

"I do."

"What are you?" Red asked. "Some sort of a detective?"

"I am."

"Unbelievable," lumapit si Red sa akin at kinausap ako. "Tell me he's lying."

I rolled my eyes at him. Mukhang hindi nila gusto ang isa't-isa. "He is."

"I see. So, who's the killer?" wika naman ni Matt.

"Let's start with the murder weapon first. You know what the killer used?" he asked ngunit walang sumagot. Clueless ang lahat, maging ang mga pulis kong ano ang ginamit na murder weapon sa ginawang krimen.

"Didn't the culprit hide it immediately after his crime?" tanong ni Rovie.

"The culprit can't do it. It's more obvious that it's the weapon used if it's disposed immediately," sagot ni Gray. He glanced at his watch pagkatapos ay sa akin. "I guess we really have to make this fast. I'm in a hurry because I still have a date."

I frowned. It's not necessary to mention na may date pa siya!

"So, who killed Andrei and Loren?" Matt asked. Tumahimik ang lahat at naghintay sa sagot ni Gray.

"It's Rovie Besana."

Bigla na lamang napatayo ang may-ari ng pangalang tinawag ni Gray. "What? Pinagbibintangan mo ba ako? Ano naman ang naging basehan mo sa pagtuturo sa akin. Nakalimutan mo na bang ako ang tumawag ng pulis?"

"Well I didn't forget about it. It's your ploy to make it looks like you're the concerned citizen here. Tumawag ka ng pulis after you cleared all the evidences of your crime," buo ang boses na wika ni Gray. Kapag ganoon ang boses niya ay siguradong-sigurado siya sa sinasabi.

"Kung gayon ay wala kang ebidensya laban sa akin?"

"We did a luminol test and identified how you execute the plan. Since lasing na ang mga kasamahan mo and the guy with a color as a name already left, naging madali na para sayo ang pagpaslang kina Loren at Andrei. You used the cover of the ceramic toilet tank to kill Loren at iniwan siya doon. After few minutes, Andrei saw you washing the tank cover at naging hudyat iyon upang patayin mo rin siya using the same thing. Paulit-ulit mo silang pinaghahampas niyon hanggang sa bawian sila ng buhay, that explains the ragged lacerations in their heads. Sa pagkataranta mo ay pinunasan mo na lang ng toilet paper ang tank cover that's why naging positive ito sa luminol test. You dragged Andrei outside at hinulog siya sa bintana and that explains why his body is outside. Ginawa mo iyon to mislead the police. You mopped the floor to clean up the dragged stains of blood but you seemed unknowledgable about luminol testing and therefore revealing your crime." paliwanag ni Gray.

"Paano naging si Rovie ang salarin. Everyone can do such trick," Aila asked at sumang-ayon naman ang iba.

"Oo nga. Paano naging salarin si Rovie dahil doon?" tanong ni Red.

"Everyone's too drunk to do such crime and clean up every detail of evidence at base sa pakikipag-usap ko sa inyong lahat kanina, Rovie is the most sane here since hindi siya masyadong uminom and she's also the one who made such dare for Loren," wika ni Gray but I still don't get it. Is it fair to make such assumption dahil lang doon?

"You have an amazing deduction Mr. Detective, papatok iyan kapag gumawa ka ng nobela na ang pamagat ay Murder Tricks. Kung dahil pala sa pinagawa kong dare kaya ako ang naituro mong killer, I dare you to present your evidence," hamon ni Rovie kay Gray.

The latter just smiled, his usual arrogant and victorious smile. "I also dare you to present the slippers that you are wearing for luminol testing. I saw you wiping it with your black shirt," Gray said at halatang nagulat ang mukha ni Rovie. "Luminol tests can identify even with only traces of blood," paghahamon din ni Gray. Nagsukatan sila ng tingin at unang sumuko si Rovie.

Sumuko naman si Rovie. "Mukhang wala na akong kawala. Lahat ng sinabi ng lalaking ito ay totoo. Yes, I killed Loren and Andrei."

"What? Bakit mo ginawa iyon Rovie?" gulat na tanong ni Matt. Lahat sila ay nagulat sa ginawa ng kaibigan. "You and Loren are like sisters!"

"Yun ang akala ninyo! She's nothing but a brat! Ginagawa niya akong alalay at inaagaw niya ang lahat sa akin!" sigaw ni Rovie. "Palagi niya akong ipinapahiya sa mga walang kwentang pinagsasabi niya! Alam niyo bang hindi ako makakagraduate ngayong taon dahil binura niya ang thesis paper ko sa laptop at sa lahat ng ginawa kong backup dahil lang hindi rin siya makakagraduate kaya dinamay niya ako! She messed everything in my life!"

"But why did you kill Andrei?" tanong ni Aila.

"Nakita niya ako kaya natakot ako at nagdilim ang paningin ko!" unti-unti itong umiyak. "Pinagsisisihan ko ang pagpatay ko kay Andrei ngunit hindi  kay Loren," she said as she wiped away her tears.

Lumapit ang mga pulis at pinosasan ito. "Sumama ka sa amin sa presinto."

Maayos naman itong sumama at pinauwi na rin ang ibang naroon. I pity their situation. It was friendship turned into something worst. Naging mapang-abuso marahil si Loren sa kabaitan sa kanya ni Rovie. Loren also possessed a characteristic which is not good. Crab mentality. She pulled down Rovie sa akmang pag-angat nito sa buhay. It's a very bad characteristic lalo na at para naman sa kabutihan ang pag-angat ng isang tao.

Everything has been settled at nagsimula ng umalis ang mga pulis at iba pang naroon. Lumapit naman si Red sa akin.

"So, Amber let's go. Hop in," wika niya at pinagbuksan ako ng kotse.

"Sorry but she's not going with you," wika ni Gray na kadarating lamang sa tabi ko.

"Oh, I see. You've got a car?" tanong nito. Nilingon ko ang paligid. There was no sign of his BMW or his porsche.

"Naiwan ko ang kotse ko," he said with a sigh.

"Sumakay na lang kayo sa kotse ko," pagyaya ni Red ngunit mabilis na tumanggi si Gray.

"We'll take the police car. Good day," he said at agad akong hinila palayo kay Red. Hindi man lamang ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataong magpaalam dito kaya tila nanghihingi ng paumanhin na tiningnan ko na lang ito.

Sumakay kami sa police car na minamaneho ni Inspector Dean. "I'm sorry I let you ride a police car on our first date," wika niya. Iniwasan kong sulyapan ang nakangiting mukha si Inspector Dean mula sa rearview mirror.

"Okay lang."

"Don't worry. My car's in the nearest station," he said. After few minutes ay dumating na kami sa police station at nandoon nga ang sasakyan nito. Bumaba kami matapos nagpasalamat ang mga pulis kay Gray at lumipat sa nakaparada niyang kotse.

"You're driving a black porsche," komento ko.

"A gift from Cronus. I tried returning it pero ibinabalik pa rin niya hanggang sa nagpatulong na siya kay Dad upang tanggapin ko ito. That's when I decided to use it," wika niya.

"You listen to your Dad than Cronus?"

"Of course. I respect Dad more than Cronus. I'm establishing civil relationship with him anyway."

Hindi na ako nagkomento pa tungkol doon. Mukhang matagal na panahon pa bago niya makakasundo ang sariling ama. He opened the door for me at agad akong pumasok doon. He went on the other side at pumasok na rin sa kotse. He immediately drives towards an outdoor shooting range.

Uh, a shooting range? Bakit dito?! "This is where Mom used to play with her friends," wika niya. "It's designed for firing guns and archery. Turuan mo ako ng archery."

Pumasok kami roon and Gray settled everything. Nang magsimula na kami ay agad ko siyang tinuruan.

"Turuan mo muna akong pumana," he said at sumandal sa isang puno doon.

"Akala ko ba ay magpapaturo ka?"

"Yeah, that's why you have to do it first."

I rolled my eyes bago kumuha ng bow and arrow. I released it and hit the target. Pumalakpak siya pagkatapos.

"Your turn," wika ko at inihagis sa kanya ang bow. Agad naman niya iyong nasalao at kumuha siya ng arrow. Inayos niya iyon at tinamaan ang target but it missed.

"Focus on the target, not on the arrow. Use a mechanical sight, so you focus to the bow to aid your aiming. Using a rear sight cam also adjunct for a consistent anchor point," wika ko sa kanya.

"May ibang paraan ba ng pag-aasinta?"

I nodded my head. "I used barebow. I used sight picture, so I usually focus on the target, the bow, the hand, the arrow shaft and the arrow tip. I see them at the same time," wika ko at muli naman siyang pumalakpak.

"Amazing."

"Whatever. Shoot your arrow," wika ko sa kanya but he pouted.

"Aren't you supposed to guide me from my back? Yun bang tipong parang niyayakap mo ako," he asked at namula ako dahil doon. Where did he get such ideas?

"Bakit ko naman gagawin iyon?"

"Dahil tinuturuan mo ako," wika niya at inirapan ko siya.

"You're watching too many chick flick films."

He gave me a hearty laugh. "Happy Rizal Day Amber," bati niya at napangiti naman ako.

Ipinagpatuloy namin ang pagtuturo sa kanya. It took us few hours bago kami nagpasyang umalis doon at kumain sa isang restaurant.

Nang sumapit ang hapon ay namasyal kami sa mall at nanuod ng pelikula sa movie house. It's almost night nang ihatid niya ako sa bahay.

"Thank you for today Amber," wika niya sa akin. I gave him a smile at kinuha ang regalo ko sa kanya mula sa bag ko.

"Here's my christmas gift. I hope you like it," inabot ko sa kanya ang maliit na kahon at binuksan naman niya iyon. He smiled when he saw the compass.

"I like it."

"Walang halong biro?"

He nodded. "I really like it. Thanks and by the way, have you read or watched Paper Towns?" tanong niya sa akin.

"You mean the book of John Green? No, I have neither read nor watched its film. Why?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"By any chance, do you have a copy of such book?" tanong niya sa halip na sagutin ang tanong ko.

"Wala rin."

"Thank God!" he said at binuksan muli ang kotse. He got something and it was wrapped with a brown paper. Ibinigay niya iyon sa akin at agad ko namang binuksan iyon.

It was a book with a girl's face in the cover. May nakasulat rin doon na John Green in bold letters at sa baba naman ay Paper Towns.

"It's the first edition of the book. It's published last 2008," wika niya. "You should read it. It's a good one."

"I will. Thanks," wika ko. I have always heard about this book lalo na at si Cara Delevingne pa ang gumanap na bidang babae sa film but I have never read nor watch the film. Therese and Andi are also crazy over Nat Wolff kaya madalas nilang pinag-uusapan iyon.

"I gave you such book because I think you're like Margo Roth Spiegelman," he said with a smile.

"You mean the female protagonist?" He nodded and I asked why.

"Because I could never stop thinking also that maybe you like mystery so much that you become one, just like Margo,"  he said and he kissed my cheek. "Goodnight Amber and thank you for today."

Oh my! What the fudge! I never saw it coming! This may not be the ideal date since nagsimula ito sa isang crime scene, he doesn't prepare flowers or anything but for me, this date is one of a kind. I also got a bonus kiss on my cheek! Well, it's really a good night.

#

—ShinichiLaaaabs❤