Chapter 10: Wicked Nursery Rhymes (Part 2)

The scream was loud and frightening kaya napatayo kaming lahat upang pumunta sa kabilang silid. Maging ang taya ay napatigil at tinanggal ang piring niya sa mata. We all hurried to the other room to check the situation there. Madilim ang paligid at tanging ang ilaw lamang sa lampshade na nasa tabi ng mga bata ang nakabukas.

Agad na kinapa ni Reo ang dingding at binuksan ang ilaw. Tumambad sa amin ang pitong bata na mahimbing na natutulog. Nasa tabi naman ang isang babae na nakatingin sa kama. I bet she's the one who screamed loudly.

Bumukas ang extension door at iniluwa niyon ang iba pang mga bantay ng bata. Lumapit kami sa babae at tinanong ito kung ano ba ang nangyari.

"Bakit ho kayo sumigaw?", Margaret asked the woman at tinulungan itong tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa sahig.

"N-nawawala a-ang pamangkin ko....", she said an pointed out on the bed where the seven kids are sleeping. Sa tingin ko ay nasa lima hanggang pitong taon ang mga batang naroon. No wonder there were guardians with them since masyado pang mga bata ang mga ito.

"Ang kambal! Nawawala din!", a nanny said from behind at inisa-isa ng tingin ang mga batang mahimbing na natutulog sa napakalaking bata.

Naalarma ang lahat dahil sa sinabi ng dalawa. We began searching the room for the kids to find ngunit wala ang mga ito.

What situation is this? Nawawala ang mga bata gayong nasa extension room lamang ang mga bantay nila? At sino naman ang may pakana ng mga ito? Nagulat na lamang kami ng sinalakay ng babae si Reo.

"Kasalanan niyo ito! Kayo ang may pakana kaya nawawala ngayon ang pamangkin ko! Kayo ba ang kumuha sa kanya? What do you want from us?", she said at patuloy na pinaghahampas si Reo. The other guardians pulled her from him at pinigilan ito. Gayundin ang ginawa ng mga kasamahan namin. We pulled Reo who did nothing but to protect himself against the attacked of the woman.

"Hindi ko po alam-"

The woman attacked him again at lalong nagkagulo. "The Loyola's are threatened with us right? Magiging successful ang business merger namin and you're threatened. Kung sa tingin niyo ay maloloko ninyo kami sa pagpapanggap niyo, pwes hindi!"

Pilit naming nilalayo ang babae at si Reo dahil naaawa na kami kay Reo. He didn't fight back at dumepensa lamang. He tried explaining ngunit hindi ito pinapakinggan ng babae.

"Huminahon ka Charisma!", sigaw ng isang babae. The room was so noisy that it made some kids woke up and cried. Inalo naman ang mga ito ng kanilang mga yaya.

"Hindi ako maaring huminahon dito Rose! Alam kong alam mo rin ang kasamaan ng Loyola!"

I felt the chills in me when I realized the nursery rhymes that was played.

There were ten in the bed and the little one said, Roll over, roll over
So they all roll over and one fell out

Nagkataon lang ba iyon o sinadya iyon ng kung sino mang dumukot sa mga bata?! Naging alerto ako sa paligid at pinakiramdaman ang bawat isa.

Naging malalim na ang sagutan sa silid. It looks like these ladies here have something against Reo's family at sa negosyo ng mga ito.

"Mamaya na ho kayo mag-away, why don't we find the kids first?", Kirby suggested na nagpatigil sa kanila.

"Tama ho siya. Let's find the kids sa kabuoan ng playhouse", pagsang-ayon naman Joyce sa kanila. Tila nabuhusan naman ng malamig na tubig ang babaeng tinawag na Charisma.

Nagkasundo ang lahat na hanapin sa playhouse ang mga bata. Kung hindi man totoong may kinalaman ang mga Loyola sa nangyari, then the kids must still be within the area since secured ang kabuoan ng lugar. Nagsimula kaming maghanap sa labas ng silid kung nasaan nakakalat ang iba't ibang laruan at uri ng pang-aliw sa mga bata.

I still cannot think of possible motive for abducting the kids. Kung ang mga Loyola ang may gawa nito, wouldn't it be too obvious? Kaya imposibleng mangyari na sina Reo nga ang may pakana nito. Why would they abduct three kids sa isang event pa na sila mismo ang paghihinalaan?! It doesn't makes sense at all.

"I found one!", Marky shouted habang tinitingnan ang loob ng palaruan na inflatables. When they checked, it was one of the twins. Tuwang-tuwa naman ang yaya ng kambal nang makita ito. Mahimbing pa rin itong natutulog na ipinagtataka ko.

"May bata rin dito", sigaw naman ng isa pang yaya na tumulong sa paghahanap. When we ran towards them the kids were really there, sleeping tightly as if it is their bed where they are tucked. Kinabahan ako ng makita ang mga ito, what if they are dead?! No! I grabbed the kid's wrist and check her pulse and I sighed in relief when I figure out that they are still fine at natutulog lamang ngunit ang duda ko ay may in-inject sa mga ito.

"Kayo talaga ang may kasalanan ng lahat ng ito!", sigaw ulit ng babae. It seems that she's not yet done with her rants to Reo. Galit na galit ito at mukhang ayaw papipigil. The others continued to search for the third kid at hindi naman nagtagal ay natagpuan namin ito. Malawak ang palapag na iyon na siyang ginawang playhouse. Nang matagpuan na ang lahat ng bata ay nagtaka ako kung bakit. Why would they abduct the kids but simply hide them here? Napakapointless naman yata!

"Tss! Anong pakulo ba ito? Keeping the other kids and making us worried?!", reklamo ng tinawag na Rose kanina. That's exactly what I am asking in my mind too.

"Hindi ko alam ang tungkol dito kaya imposibleng bahagi iyon ng pakulo. I checked the plans at imposibleng bahagi iyon ng plano. We cannot check the footage too since under installation pa ang CCTV", Reo replied.

"There must be an intruder who wants us out of the rooms", wika ni Zywon at nagtatakang napatingin ang lahat sa kanya. Right! That must be the real intention of the intruder!

"Kung gayon ay....."

Reo stopped and ran back to our room. Sumunod naman kaming lahat sa kanya. We found him in front of his laptop looking very worried. That must be the what the intruder want. He wants us out of the room to execute his plan of stealing something from Reo's computer.

"I don't know if something was stolen but I have a weird feeling", frustrated na wika ni Reo at napabuntong-hininga na napatitig sa kanyang laptop.

"Then let me check."

Sabay kaming napatingin kay Zywon na nagsalita. He volunteered to check it?! Ngunit anong alam niya doon? Reo shoved the laptop towards his direction at agad naman niyang kinulikot iyon. He opened some portals and click things that I cannot understand. Matapos ang ilang segundo lamang ay may nakuha siyang email address. He tried to configure it and we waited for a few seconds. His fingers on the keyboard rested there comfortably na para bang eksperto ito sa kanyang ginagawa. Tahimik lang kaming lahat na napatingin sa kanya until someone spoke.

"You're pretty good with computer Zywon", Margaret said. Ganoon na din ang komento ng iba while I froze on my track. Hindi kaya.....

He continued what he's doing until he figured out what was being taken from Reo's computer.

"Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nakuha ng kung sino mang nangialam sa laptop mo but I got an email. I think I can trace him with it", Zywon said. "After all this is just a simple thing."

Nagsimula ulit siyang tumipa sa laptop at may kung anu-anong nilagay sa papel na hiningi niya kanina. Numbers, symbols and others. Hindi na ako nag-abalang magtanong kung ano ang mga iyo dahil baka makakaabala lamang iyon sa ginagawa niya.

I sat on the bed at pinanuod na lamang sila. The kids are now safely tucked back in bed at naging maingat na ang mga nagbabantay dito. They must really cause the ruckus to get us out of this room and intrude Reo's laptop!

"I got it!", wika ni Zywon at tila naexcite naman ang lahat. "I sent the address a mail and they fell for it. The postal address is......" He stated an address na ikinagulat ng iba.

Hindi makapaniwala si Ryu dahil sa nangyari. He stared at Marky Aquino with disbelief in his eyes. Maging ito ay hindi rin halos makapinawala sa sinabing address ni Zywon.

"Hindi ba't iyan ang address ng main office ng Aquino Toy Company? Could it be that you have stolen our latest plans and designs?", Reo asked. Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Marky. He looks like he doesn't know about it too o sadyang magaling lamang siyang mag-acting.

"Hindi... Hindi ko alam ang..."

Reo got his phone at tumawag. He called someone at bahagyang dumistansya sa amin. When he returned he throws a deadly glare to Marky na hindi pa rin nahimasmasan sa nangyari.

"Listen Reo, hindi ko talaga alam ang..."

"You can explain when the cops get here."

"Ngunit kasama natin siya kanina habang tumutulong sa paghahanap sa mga bata diba?", Andrew asked. He's right. Lahat kami ay nasa kabilang silid at tumutulong sa paghahanap.

"But what if they already planned about it at may nakaabang na upang magnakaw ng files habang nasa kabilang silid tayo?". Kirby suggested. It could be right too. But looking at Marky now, he doesn't look like he knew about it.

Looking back at what really happened, lahat kami ay nagulat ng malamang nawawala ang mga bata. Ibig sabihin niyon ay sinadya nga ang paglilipat sa mga bata upang mapaalis kami sa silid na ito. But how did the lady named Charisma discovered about the disappearance of the kids? Hindi kaya sinadya niya iyon to draw us all out of the room?

"Reo, bakit galit na galit sa inyo ang babae kanina?", I asked at lahat sila ay napatingin sa akin. it's my first time to speak mula kanina so they must have been surprised to discover that I can actually talk. Yeah.~

"They're mad because we terminated the partnership with them before."

Nagsalita naman si Marky. "Sa ngayon ay kasosyo namin sila sa negosyo", he said.

"Then it must be them. Marahil ay gumagawa lamang siya ng eksena kanina upang mas mapatagal pa ang pananatili natin doon sa kabilang kwarto. Isa pa ay napansin ko rin na nandoon pa rin siya kahit may kasama namang yaya ang kanyang pamangkin. Could it be that the nanny is the one who steal the files on Reo's laptop? Come to think of it, hindi ba mukhang napakababaw naman agad ng naisip niyang rason kung bakit nawawala ang mga bata?

Bigla na lamang may kumatok sa pinto at nang buksan iyon ni Margaret ay napasimangot ako ng makita kung sino iyon.

"Mr. Loyola, we heard about what happened kaya agad kaming pinatawag ni Chancellor Judas in this wee hour", wika ng lalaking pumasok. He roamed his gaze around the roon at ngumisi ng makita ako sa kama.

Detective Adler with one of his stupid Minion, Inspector Boom.

Sinalubong sila ni Reo at agad na pinaliwanag ang nangyari. They went to the other room at nag-obserba doon. Ang iba naman ay nagsimula ng abalahin ang kanilang mga sarili sa kung anu-anong bagay while Zywon sat beside me.

"Zywon wala ka bang ipagtatapat sa akin?"

He sat comfortably on the bed at hindi man lamang nag-abalang tumingin sa akin. "Don't be so full of yourself Just Amber. You're not my type."

Umakyat ang lahat ng dugo ko sa ulo. What makes him think that it us what I want him to confess love for me?

"Hindi iyan ang ibig kong sabihin."

"Ano?"

"Magtapat ka nga kase". Sinadya kong hinaan ang boses ko. I know he wouldn't like it if the others would know about his secret.

"Just Amber, ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa iyo na hindi kita type. At isa pa -ugh", he let out a groan and when I punch him in his gut. Hello?! What made him think na iniisip ko na type niya ako?!

"Do you wanna die?"

When he let out an annoying smirk, it reminded me again of his evil brother Argh! Bakit ko ba iniisip ang devil na iyon?!

"I mean about your identity. Ikaw si Trojan?" Kapag naiisip ko ang organisasyon ay sumasakit ang dibdib ko. Sariwa pa rin ang sugat ng pagkawala ni Daddy.

Saglit siyang napatigil at napakunot ang noo. He slapped his forehead as if he had realized something. "N-no."

"Liar."

"Just-"

"You don't have to deny it Zywon. At huwag kang mag-alala, I am fine kahit kating-kati na akong paslangin lahat ng kasamahan mo doon if only your brother would help me so."

"Ryu? What are you saying?"

Oh, it slipped out of my mouth. None of them knows that Ryu will be helping me (hopefully!)

"Wala. Forget it like how I will forget that you are Trojan, the organization's resident hacker and the legendary one."

He made a face and stared at me na para bang may malalim siya na iniisip. Then he let out a big sigh. "Yes, I am the organization's Trojan but I am not the legendary hacker."

This time ay ako naman ang natigilan at napatingin sa kanya "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Use your brain Just Amber, I'm too young to be Trojan the legendary hacker."

Meh! Sorry if I am NOT using my brain! Pfft!

"Sorry, my brain's offline", I replied sarcastically. Can I wring his neck?! Ugh, it really run in their blood!

"My mom- I mean Emerald Deltran is the legendary Trojan. Kilala sa mundo ng mga hacker and become a cult figure among programmers and hackers. Some even had her as subject for thesis but none of them was able to track her down and her identity or gender is still unknown until now."

"Good for me that I know now who is that Trojan. Oh, I should feel great." Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin at nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita.

"She's a great woman. She introduced me to her world, world of algorithms, software and computers through her written things. That's why I assumed her identity even if I am not really like her."

"Wow. So hindi ka nag-aral?"

"I did but it's self-study kaya iba ang legendary na Trojan sa Trojan ngayon."

Napatango ako at naalala si Ryu. See? They are both hackers now and- at bakit ko na naman ba inaalala si Ryu? Argh! What the hell is wrong with me?!

The door jerked open at pumasok si Reo kasama si Detective Adler. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong pumulot ng kung anu-anong matigas na bagay upang ibato sa nakangisi niyang mukha. Geez! He is really annoying. The mere sight of him annoys me!

"Mabuti pa pumunta muna tayong lahat sa pantry. Let's have some coffee while the police will question each of us", anunsyo ni Reo at sumunod naman kami sa kanya. Lumapit siya sa akin at humingi ng paumanhin.

"Amber, I'm sorry for leaving you behind", he said and he let out a very sorry look. Uh, yeah. He's damn handsome in such look.

"No, it's fine", sagot ko sa kanya as I darted a glare at Detective Adler and his minion. We were walking towards the pantry pero madalas niya akong sinusulyapan. I hope he's not thinking that I am the badluck here that is why he was summoned here sa ganitong oras ng gabi.

Joyce and Kirby began serving the coffee to everyone. Tsk, I guess hot coffee is better than the other. I had a bad experience though. Uh.

"Coffee? Tsk, How about some hard drinks?", suhestiyon ni Charisma. She's a bit relaxed now kumpara kanina. I don't know if she's already informed about Zywon's discovery of her little drama back then.

"I will serve some drinks then", pagboluntaryo ni Miss Rose. Nang akma siyang tumayo ay pinigilan siya ni Miss Charisma.

"No. Let me do it kaysa masira lamang ang gabi ko na makita ang binatang Loyola. Tss" Nagtawag ka pa ng pulis! Sige at nang mabulok kayo sa bilangguan!", she hissed before going to the bar. Err, mukhang hindi pa rin talaga siya lubusang nahimasmasan sa drama niya.

Naramdaman kong may umupo sa tabi ko and I frowned to see Derctuve Adler.

"Hello Vander."

Mas lalo akong napasimangot. He's still calling me Vander. Doesn't he discover that I wasn't? Hello, I thought he's not a detective for nothing!

"Huli ka na sa balita."

"I heard about your loss", he said. Bakit ba niya ako kinakausap as if we're close? "I know it feels bad kahit hindi mo totoong ama-"

"Cut it out Detective. You've got a wrong information kaya mas maiging tumahimik ka na lang", wika ko sa kanya. I controlled myself not to spill the coffee in him.

"Wrong info? You're not a Vander?" Nanatili akong tahimik at piniling wag na lang siya pansinin.

"I guess I miss that one out but I have something that would really interest you."

Hindi siya nagkamali sa ginamit na salita. It really interest me kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

"It's about your friend Tross. He's not what you think-"

Suminangot ako ulit. Uh, he's delayed with all his info eh?

"Your expression tells me that you already know about it. See? Be careful of who you trust. Kaya dati pa man noong nag-aaral pa kami, I really don't like him. He has something in his sleeves." Yes Detective that's why I don't trust you!

Dumating na na Miss Charisma na dala-dala ang mga inumin na nasa baso. She also brought the bottle of wine at nagsimulang magsalin.

"So Detective, anong ginagawa mo dito?", she asked Detective Adler.

"Hindi ba pa halata Mrs. Ruando? It's because you needed me here", sagot nito.

Miss Rose started serving the drinks to the adults at tahimik lamang kami. Inspector Boom said na mananatili muna kami dito habang iniimbestigahan niya ang mga kwarto.

"Huh! You should capture the Loyola's. Klarong-klaro naman na sila ang may pakana ng lahat ng ito", she said as she drank from her glass. Bigla na lamang nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito. Her eyes bulged as she held her stomach at nagsimulang magsuka.

"Charisma!"

"Miss Ruando!"

Everyone headed towards her direction and check her. Walang tigil ang ginawa nitong pagsusuka. When I looked at my side, wala na doon si Detecive Adler, sa halip ay nasa mesa ito at kasalukuyang inaamoy ang baso na siyang hinamit ni Miss Charisma.

"Ang lakas ng loob ng kung sino mang may gawa nito na manlason sa harapan ko. People, I am not a detective for nothing", he said boastfully at nag-utos na may tumawag ng ambulansya. "Boom", tawag niya sa kasamang pulis. "Call the HQ upang masuri ng eksperto ang laman nitong baso. And no one will leave this building!"

He roamed around the pantry at sinuri ang bawat sulok. Miss Charisma was already brought to the hospital at nanatili naman kami doon for further questioning. I wanna frown on such situation. Bakit ganito ang nangyayari? Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang isipin na baka ako nga ang may dala ng kamalasan sa buhay ni Reo.

"Nababahala na sina Tito. Sorry Amber at kailangan mo pang madamay dito", Reo said as he sat on my side. Parehas naming tinitingnan ang mga pulis na nag-iimbestiga sa nangyari.

"I'm used to scenes like this. Believe me I've been to worse." He smiled at me like he assures me that everything will be fine.

Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang makialam sa ginagawa ni Detecive Adler. He's got a wrinkled forehead kanina pa. From how I see it, maybe this case is still lacking a piece upang tuluyang mabuo.

"Kamusta na kaya si Charisma ngayon?", I heard Miss Rose asked the nanny. She flashed a very worried expression at gayundin ang bawat isa na nasa loob ng building. For sure, if Miss Charisma will be fine, sisisihin na naman nito ang mga Loyola.

"Magiging ayos din po siya Ma'am", sagot ng isang katulong.

"But she's sick. I saw how many bottles of medicines she has in her car tapos ngayon malalason pa siya."

I tried to recall what really happened. She served the drinks while Miss Rose distribute them. Bakit ang baso lamang niya ang may laman na lason? That's what makes this case questionable. At base sa napansin ko, no one touched her glass except her. Posible bang....

We heard a phone rang and it was Detective Adler's phone. He answered the call and when he hang up, his grin was a victorious one.

"If we can't find the end of this case, maybe I can make the real culprit confess", he said. "Does anyone here knows what an emetic tartar is?"

"Ano iyan?", Marky asked.

"Antimony potasium tartrate."

"Oh, screw Chemistry", komento ni Zywon.

"Oh, medical student here. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, it's used to treat schistosomiasis", Kirby replied.

"I guess that's it."

"Why?"

Isa-isa kaming tiningnan ni Detective Adler. "Because Mrs. Ruando is currently experiencing an emetic tartar poisoning base sa pagsusuka noya. She also experienced chest pains and dizziness."

"Ibig sabihin ay ang naglason sa kanya ay ang kung sino mang may alam sa bagay na sinasabi mo Detective?", Joyce asked.

"What?! I did not do it!", Kirby appealed.

"Hindi naman sinasabing ikaw ang may kasalanan. Basing on what happened, well I am Detective Maverick Adler and nothing will escape my observant eyes. Mrs. Ruando was the only one who poured the drinks at ibig sabihin niyon ay siya ang may pagkakataon na maglagay ng lason sa baso."

Naguguluhan ang bawat isa sa sinabi nito. "Ibig mo bang sabihin ay isa itong suicide?"

"She purposely put a poison on her glass upang magpakamatay?!", Andrew asked.

"No. Mrs. Ruando is not the suicidal type of woman", he replied. "Isn't she Amber?"

I don't know why he asked me but I just nodded. Sa pannaw ko rin ay walang ni katiting na pagnanais si Mrs. Charisma na magsuicide.

"Kung gayon ay paano mo ipapaliwanag ang nangyari?"

"Mrs. Ruando intentionally put the poison. Maybe she wants to poison someone", I blurted out and Detective Adler applauded.

"Right. And that someone knows about her plan and give her a dose of her own medicine. And the person who's more likely to do it by exchanging their glass is Miss Rose. Hindi ba't ikaw ang nagsilbi sa amin? Kaya malaki ang posibilidad na ikaw ang may gawa niyon."

Hindi man lamang makitaan ng kung ano mang pagkabahala ang mukha ni Miss Rose. She just drank from her glass at pasimpleng naupo.

"Tama ka Detective. I overheard her conversation with someone at plano niya talagang lasunin ako. Not to kill me but just to teach me a lesson since she discovered my affair with her husband. At wag kayong mag-alala. The amount of poison is not lethal kaya hindi pa niya ikakamatay ang nilagay niya, that's what I have heard", she answered. "And I'm willing to come with you Detective."

Sumama siya kay Inspector Boom sa pagbaba ng building at gayundin si Detective Adler samantalang pinabalik na kami sa aming silid. Before leaving, I heard Detective Adler whispered to me.

"I'm waiting for you to spill it dahil alam kong parehas nating napansin ang pagpalit ni Miss Rose sa baso nila but you didn't. Well maybe on our next case."

What made him think na magkikita pa kaming muli sa isang kaso? I just shook my head at tinanaw sila habang papalayo.

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-ShinichiLaaaabs