Chapter 58: Surprise! Surprise!

This is killing me softly.

The thought that I could be probably sitting here with a traitor, eating on the same table, talking like I wasn't incriminated is really killing me. This is way worse that having direct haters. Mas pipiliin ko pang magkaroon ng kaaway na malayang sinasabi sa akin na kaaway ko siya kaysa sa isang kaaway na nagbabalat-kayong kaibigan.

Treachery has always been a bad thing for me. I hate liars but I loathe traitors. And what difference that the two make? All traitors are liars but not all liars are traitor. And if I were to choose which of the two I prefer, I'd pick a liar.

May mga tao kasing nagsisinungaling upang protektahan ka. They tend to lie just to keep you safe but traitors? It's purely for their own interest. No logical explanation for people who betray you for your own benefit.

Pinaglalaruan ko ang cheesecake na nasa platito ko nang magsalita si Jeremy.

"Ito, may quiz ako! Ilang nurse meron sa Jollibee?" Jeremy said as he stuffed a spoonful of cake in his mouth.

"Tanga ka ba? Paano magkaka-nurse sa fastfood?" Bara ni Math sa kanya.

"Ang dami mo pang sinasabi eh! Ayaw na lang aminin na 'di niya alam! Ikaw, Gray?"

"Ewan," Gray answered with a bored face.

"Nah, you're no fun. Ikaw, Bestie?"

My mind was still bothered with all the thoughts kaya hindi ko agad siya nasagot. Then he tapped my elbow kaya agad akong napatingin sa kanya. "Yes?"

"Sabi ko ilang nurse meron sa Jollibee."

Eh? May nurse doon? Knowing his so-called quiz, this might be a mind game. "Depende sa nurse na nandoon?"

"No."

"Ilan pala?" Math asked.

"Edi 39 NURSE! Gets niyo? 39 Nurse? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Gray looked at me worriedly. "Okay ka lang ba? You're pale at tila ang lalim ng iniisip mo." I faked a smile at bahagyang tumango. I know he can see me through my lie. Kung may tao mang may alam kung nagsisinungaling ako o hindi, it's Gray.

"Are you sure? Baka gusto mo munang pumunta sa infirmary," segunda ni Math but I still decline.

"I'm really fine." I tried to make my voice sound alive but I failed. Tumayo ako at nagpaalam sa kanila. "Pupunta muna ako sa dorm. My roommates were worried about me kaya pupuntahan ko muna sila."

Pumayag sila at nagyayang ihahatid ako patungo sa dorm ngunit tumanggi ako. Nang makarating ako sa dorm ay hindi ako nagtaka kung walang tao roon. It's class hours kaya marahil ay nasa kanya-kanyang klase sina Andi at Therese. Nahiga ako sa kama at tumitig sa kisame.

No matter how I tried to find logical way to explain how things are going, it only gives me one conclusion-a snake is on the loose and just around me.

Mathilde Corazon. Perfect pawn of Genesis. Smart and has connections. Ngunit ayaw kong ipagdiinan sa utak ko ang bagay na iyon hangga't hindi ako sigurado. I know better how does it feel to be doubted and it doesn't feel good. A single suspicion is poisonous that it can destroy all the good memories between the two of us. Muli akong napabuntong hininga at tumayo sa kama. Andi and Therese would be here sooner dahil malapit na ang uwian. I took a glance on the other beds nang mahagip ng mata ko ang isang kakaibang bagay na nasa lampshade. Dahan-dahan akong lumapit doon at sinipat ang bagay na iyon.

My hands trembled again when I saw the same device I found at the SC office-a listening device! Pati ba naman ang mga roommates ko?! Now this is too much! Ibig sabihin ay ano mang oras ay maaari silang madamay! We must do our plan and must not fail!

Bitbit ang listening device ay nakakuyom ang kamao na tinungo ko ang pinto at inabot ang doorknob ngunit nauna iyong bumukas at bumulaga sa akin sina Andi at Therese.

"Ambeeeer!" Sabay silang napasigaw at sinalubong ako ng mahigpit na yakap. Geez, these hugs are even tighter than the one I received from the others at the SC office.

"Na-miss ka namin, Amber," umiiyak na wika ni Andi. "Hindi ka man lamang nagpaalam sa amin at isang beses ka lang din tumawag."

I gave her an apologetic look. I know very well na mag-aalala talaga sila sa akin. We're living in the same room for few years at halos kapatid na ang turing ko sa kanila. If there are persons who know me well, it's Andi and Therese. Sila ang nakakaalam ng mga bagay na hindi nakikita ng iba. They saw the best and worse in me as I see those in them.

"Babalik ka na ba for good?" tanong ni Therese. She was smiling like she's very excited to hear my answer and from how I see it, she's expecting I will say yes.

"Sorry Rese, pero hindi muna sa ngayon." Unti-unting napalis ang ngiti sa mga labi nila. I know I'm breaking their hearts right now. Nag-aalala sila sa akin at ang pakiramdam ng nag-aalala ay hindi maganda. You'll feel restless as you worry much. "But..." Inakbayan ko silang dalawa at tuluyang pinapasok sa loob. "I'll be home soon."

"Amber, ano na naman ba 'tong kalokohan na pinasok mo para i-sakripisyo mo ang pag-aaral mo? Let me remind you, the Amber that I knew used to cut classes just to read or solve a case; and not because they had a misunderstanding with her so-called friends." Andi pulled herself from me at nakapamaywang na hinarap ako. She tapped her foot on the floor na tila ba hinihintay ang sagot ko. Rese did the same at pakiramdam ko ay isa akong kriminal na ginigisa ng prosecutor.

"This is not just a simple misunderstanding with them. It's something bigger than that."

"At ano naman iyon?" tanong ni Therese.

"No, hindi niyo na kailangang malaman. It's best if you don't know about it. Just trust me with this, alright?" Nagkatinginan silang dalawa na para bang iniisip kung pagkakatiwaalan ba nila ako o hindi.

"Alright."

"Good then," wika ko sa kanila. I remembered the bug in my hand kaya naisipan kong magtanong sa kanila indirectly. "By the way, may naghahanap ba sa akin dito habang wala ako?"

"You mean other than the houseparent or your teachers? Isali mo pa ang mga kaklase mo. They are always looking for you at wala kaming maisagot," sabi ni Andi.

"How about someone very persistent to know my whereabouts? May pinapasok ba kayo dito?" I asked.

Saglit silang nag-isip. "Ang mga kaibigan mo, especially Math. Halos araw-araw kung magtanong eh. Kung may pinapasok ba kami rito?" Nag-iisip si Andi ng sagot nang magsalita si Rese.

"There's one time! Pumasok si Math dito at nilibot ang kwarto natin. And then she deduced that you've been here."

"Oo nga pala! Si Math! At tama nga siya, you've been here. Some of your things are not here anymore and that's also the time that you called us," dagdag ni Andi.

"Paano naman niya nasabi na nagawi nga ako rito?" tanong ko.

"She deduced it, according to her. Bahagyang nalukot ang bedsheet mo, which means someone must have laid there. She even said that she based it on the smell. Tila bago raw ang amoy na dumikit sa bedsheet. Napansin din niya na bahagyang nabukas ang locker mo kaya binuksan niya iyon at sabi niya, doon ka raw nagtago."

Everything Math said was true. Ngunit iyon kaya ang pagkakataon na iniwan niya ang bug sa loob ng silid namin, knowing that I might come here anytime?

"Amber?" pukaw ni Andi sa akin. I didn't know that I was drowned in thoughts at nakalimutan kong nasa harap ko pala silang dalawa. I faked a smile at iwinaksi sa isip ko ang bumabagabag sa akin at nakipagkwentuhan na lamang sa kanila.

***

Everything was set. Nag-aabang ang van namin hindi kalayuan sa pagdarausan ng pagtitipon. Nasa loob kami ng van at kasalukuyang naghihintay ng update mula kay Cooler sa loob ng function hall kasama si Ryu.

Despite the short period of time ay nakuha pa rin naming ituloy ang balak namin. We were able to relay the things clearly to Khael. Gaya nila Gray, Khael thought that this is suicide mission yet he agreed to our request kaya nandito kami at naghihintay ng tamang pagkakataon.

This is one of those do or die situations wherein even if you do it, there's still a big possibility of dying. Nakakatakot ang pagkakataong ito ngunit kapag hindi namin ito tinuloy ay mas magiging nakakatakot ang kahihinatnan.

Sinulyapan ko ang mga kasamahan ko sa loob ng van. Gray was sitting in front of the steering wheel habang nakakunot ang noo na nakatitig sa harapan. I know that look. He's in deep thoughts at gaya ko, alam kong natatakot din siya sa posibleng kahihinatnan nito.

On the other hand, Math was staring at her laptop, looking at the red dot which was moving. It was the transmitter that Cooler has. The transmitter that was meant for Tross. Math wired Cooler kaya naririnig namin ito. Jeremy was also staring at nowhere with a blank expression. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganoon ang ekspresyon niya gayong kahapon ay siya ang nais na sumama sa akin kapag papasukin namin ang Genesis.

Hinawakan ko siya sa kamay kaya napatingin siya sa akin. "Alam kong kinakabahan ka, Je, and if you don't want to do it, kaya ko-"

"No, hindi naman sa ganoon, Bestie. It's just that... I felt weird tonight." Mas lalong nabahala ang ekspresyon ni Jeremy. He wasn't the guy who used to laugh like there's no tomorrow anymore. Sa ngayon ay isang mature na Jeremy ang nakikita ko.

"Weird?"

He slowly nodded his head and looked straight at me. "Mixed emotions kaya medyo weird sa pakiramdam." He pressed my hands at hinawakan ako ng matagal like I am some sort of life support. "We'll do this right, Amber."

Hearing him call my name makes me strong somehow. Tama nga ako. He takes this seriously. I nodded and gave him a smile that says 'we will'.

"Nasa loob na si Cooler. He spotted Tross there," anunsyo ni Math at bahagyang inayos ang suot na earphone. She was still focused on her laptop at hindi na nagdagdag pa ng anumang impormasyon.

I know our plan is not that strong. It's actually a house of cards that if we fail this one, eventually all other plans will fall. But we are taking the risk despite all the odds at kahit pa marahil isa sa amin ang kasabwat ng Genesis.

Tila mas lalong naging tahimik sa loob ng van. Gray was nervously tapping his fingers at the steering wheel. Ang tunog ng pagtipa ni Math sa keyboard ng kanyang laptop ay sumabay sa malakas na kabog ng dibdib ko. In this mission, it's hard to succeed but it's even harder if we will not even try.

"Nahihirapan si Cooler na makalapit sa kanya," anunsyo ni Math. Since she's the only one who can hear Cooler, she keeps on relaying to us what's happening inside. "Kailangan niyang maghintay na magsimula ang pagtitipon. He said the lights will be off later."

Now this is really breathtaking. Habang naghihintay ako ng balita tungkol sa mission ni Cooler ay tila kontrolado ang paghinga ko. It only took us almost an hour waiting but for me it feels like years.

"Cooler successfully bugged him!" Nae-excite na wika ni Math. "But he's already leaving!"

"Sino?" Gray asked.

"Tross. He's heading out of the building!"

Napatingin ako sa ekspresyon ng mukha ni Gray. He glanced at me from the mirror bago kinuha ang cellphone niya at nag-dial ng numero. Probably it was Khael who was waiting on the next alley with Zywon.

"Alonzo, they're about to leave."

Hindi nagtagal ay natanaw na namin ang itim na sedan ni Tross. Agad na binuhay ni Gray ang makina at nang medyo makalayo-layo na ito ay saka niya ito sinundan.

Tumunog ang cellphone ko at nang rumehistro ang pangalan ni Cooler ay agad ko iyong sinagot.

"Ryu's preparing to cooperate once you give him the go signal," wika niya. "I'm sorry I cannot join you at this juncture."

"It's fine, Cooler. Thank you." My words was full of sincerity. Who knows if this is the last time I'll be able to say this?

"Don't talk in such way, Amber," wika niya. "We'll do this right. Poseidon and Mnemosyne are there to help. You can trust those reapers. I have to do my duty as a Vander first."

Hindi lamang ang balak namin para sa Genesis ang ipinunta ni Cooler doon. He has duty as a Vander. "Thank you Cooler."

"And Amber?"

"Yes?"

"Be careful," paalala niya. I cannot help but smile. Alam kong kailangang mag-ingat but having someone to remind you for such thing is fulfilling. Matapos kong magpasalamat sa kanya ay agad kong pinatay ang tawag.

We were still tailing the black sedan ahead us. Mula sa transmitter na nakabit ni Cooler sa kanya ay nakikita ni Math kung saang direksyon ang takbo ng sasakyan niya. Math was giving directions to Gray dahil nakadistansya rin ang pagitan ng mga sasakyan namin. Napatingin ako kay Jeremy na tahimik lamang. His fist was clenched and he was staring nowhere.

Ilang minuto naming binuntutan ang sasakyan niya nang magsalita si Math. "He stopped. Sa tingin ko ay nakarating na siya." She stated the place at napatigil si Gray sa pagmamaneho.

"That's their home address," wika niya. Kahit ako ay napaisip din dahil sa address na iyon. It seems familiar.

Nagpatuloy si Gray sa pagmamaneho hanggang sa marating namin ang kinapaparadahan ng sasakyan nina Khael. Hindi iyon kalayuan sa malaking bahay na may dalawang gwardiya.

"Silvan, I can't believe that we've been to this hell before without any idea," wika ni Khael nang sinalubong niya kami. His jaw was clenched as he stared at the huge house.

"Kahit ako, Alonzo," wika ni Gray. It must have been hard for them. Dati ay isang matalik na kaibigan ang turing nila kay Detective Tross but now, he's nothing but a cunning enemy.

Napatitig ako sa malaking bahay. I thought it sounded familiar ngunit ngayong nakita ko na iyon ay napagtanto kong hindi pala. I'm sure I've never been to this place before.

"Special A," wika ni Khael. Kung ibang pagkakataon ay malamang isang pilyong ngiti ang iginawad niya sa akin ngayon. But tonight's different. Napakaseryoso ng mukha nito. "I don't know how you were able to plan this, ng ganito ka bilis, but since Silvan said it's Cooler's idea, I think I can trust you with this."

Lumapit siya sa akin at hinawakan ako sa kamay. Then he gave me an assuring smile bago siya bumaling kay Gray. "Let's go."

Naglakad sila patungo sa harap ng malaking bahay. There goes our second B. The Bond. Hindi ko alam kung eepekto ba iyon. Gray told me before na kilala niya si Tross mula pa pagkabata. Their plan is to lure out Tross. Ayon sa napagkasunduan, they will try to convince him to stop his organization. Nang nasa harap na sila ng malaking gate at nakikipag-usap sa mga guard ay tumunog ang cellphone ko. It was Red.

"The guard at the back are unconscious. Medyo mataas ang pader but it will be easy for you to climb. Mukhang hindi nila inaasahan ang pagsalakay na ito. The guards are of less number than I expected. We're heading to the surveillance area now."

"Thanks, Red."

Mabuti na lamang at nariyan sila na handang tumulong. Yep, this mission would be impossible without them. Sila ang in-charge para sa mga bantay na handang promotekta sa Genesis. The same goes to them. The reapers are the one who were there and ready to risk their lives for the mafia.

"Pinapasok na sila!" wika ni Math and tinuro ang gate na nasa 'di kalayuan. The guards opened the gate at gaya ng sinabi ni Math ay pinapasok na nga sina Gray at Khael. Napatingin ako kay Jeremy. He was tightly holding his bag with the Bible inside.

"Je, tayo na?" wika ko sa kanya. Mababakas ang matinding kaba at pagkabahala sa mukha niya. He looked at me in the eye bago tumango ngunit hindi pa man kami nakaisang hakbang ay nagsalita si Zywon.

"Just Amber."

Napahinto ako sa akmang pag-alis at nilingon siya. Nakaupo siya sa kotse ni Khael na nakabukas ang pinto. Inalis niya ang laptop mula sa kanyang kandungan at tumayo upang lumapit sa akin.

"You've gotten this far so maybe you can do it. Just be careful."

Those words were simple but those were words of encouragement which somehow strengthened me. Tama si Zywon. Maybe the reason that we've got this far is to succeed. "T-thank you, Zywon."

"Ryu and I will hack their system as much as we could. We will do it to keep them busy at nang hindi nila kayo mapansin. Just as I thought, the supercomputer that they have is somewhere. Alam kong alam mo na nagpalipat-lipat ang Genesis. They've been to Athena and other places but this is where everything is."

"We'll do our best."

"Pero kailangan mong mag-ingat. I know how they work. They always have a contingency plan for everything. Huwag kang basta-bastang magpapakasiguro," wika niya. I forced a smile to hide my fear. "We will wait for you."

Muli akong ngumiti sa kanya at sinulyapan si Math. She also gave me a smile kaya gumanti ako. Inayos ko ang suot kong communication device na gawa ni Math bago kami nagpaalam ni Jeremy sa kanila. Plan A of knowing where their base is was successful. Now it's time to execute the rest of the plan.

Tahimik at mabilis ang lakad na nagtungo kami sa likod. Gaya ng sabi ni Red, the walls were high but we can still pass through.

Inakyat namin ni Jeremy ang mataas na pader at tumalon. The mansion was silent at hindi na kami nagtaka roon. Mnemosyne and Poseidon already took care with the guards kaya tuloy-tuloy ang pasok namin. Pakiramdam ko anumang oras ay masusuka ako dahil sa labis na kabang nararamdaman ko. But I'm not going to throw up because what we are going to do is do whatever we came here for.

Napahawak ako sa noo ko. "This is really scary. Mukhang magkakasakit ako sa kaba."

Lumapit si Jeremy sa akin at sinalat ang noo. "Dapat uminom ka ng mukhang gamot, Bestie, at nang mukha kang gumaling," he said with a grin. Sinamaan ko siya nang tingin at ngumiti siya sa akin. "Kaya natin 'to."

Tumango ako at nagsimulang humakbang. "Je, you shouldn't have come with me."

"And what do you want me to do then?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe you should have stayed in the car and sit there. That way hindi ka mapapahamak."

"Ayoko nga! Hind naman lahat ng nakaupo lang ay hindi napapahamak. Kilala mo si Humpty Dumpty?" tanong niya na ikinakunot ng noo ko.

"Humpty Dumpty?"

"Yung itlog sa nursery rhymes? Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall but he had a great fall. See? That's a proof that not all who sit will be safe. Pumulot nga ng pepper si Peter Piper, 'di ba? Si Mary dinala ang lamb niya sa school. Si Insy Winsy Spider, went up the water spout. Pero may nangyari bang masama sa kanila? Wala, 'di ba? Kay Humpty Dumpty lang na nakaupo ang meron. Therefore, mas mapapahamak ako kung wala akong gagawin," nakangising wika niya. Alam kong matindi ang kabang nararamdaman niya sa likod ng ngising iyon.

"Amber, Tross is going somewhere inside the house, probably meeting Gray and Khael," narinig kong wika ni Math. She also put a transmitter on me so she can monitor where I am heading. Mula sa laptop niya ay nakikita niya ang pulang tuldok, which was the transmitter in Tross while the green one is mine. Wala kaming digital blueprint ng bahay kaya mahirap ang ginagawa namin.

"Hali ka na Jeremy," wika ko kay Je matapos marinig ang sabi ni Math.

I keep my phone silent to avoid being caught. Napakatahimik ng paligid at dahil nakapatay ang ilaw sa likod ng kabahayan ay madilim ang paligid. If I didn't know that the reapers already took care of the guards here, malamang ay pinagduduhan ko na ang katahimikang ito. This deafening silence is just too scary to handle. Mas nakakatakot yata ang katahimikang ito kaysa sa ano pa mang nakakatakot na palabas.

We went to the second floor and opened every room but we didn't find anything. Patuloy lang kami sa ginagawa nang may narinig kaming mga hakbang. We immediately hide under the bed.

"Tawagin mo ang technician! Sabibin mong kailangan siya sa loob."

"Hindi ko alam. Ang sabi ni Silver ay nagkaproblema yata ang system."

Narinig namin ang papalayo nilang mga yabag at medyo gumaan ang paghinga ko. Narinig ko rin ang pagbuntong-hininga ni Jeremy. Gaya ko ay malamang takot na takot din siya.

"Mukhang ginawa na ni Ryu ang trabaho niya, Bestie," bulong ni Jeremy at inalalayan akong lumabas mula sa ilalim ng kama. Napasulyap siya sa suot niyang wristwatch. "We're running out of time. Kailangan nating maghiwalay-"

"No! What if something might happen to you?" natatarantang wika ko. Kung sakaling magkahiwalay kami at malagay siya sa panganib, hinding-hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko. I cannot let anyone hurt Jeremy. My Jeremy.

Kinuha niya ang backpack at inilabas doon ang Bibliya. "Take this with you. I found out how it will help us."

"Paano?"

"Naka-hardbound 'to at makapal. Kapag nakaharap mo na ang sino mang bahagi ng Genesis, ihampas mo 'to sa mukha nila," he said jokingly but his face doesn't seem like he is joking.

"Jeremy, 'wag ka ngang magbiro," wika ko sa kanya. It doesn't help me feel better. Sa totoo lang ay wala pa rin akong idea kung paano gagamitin ang Bibliya para sa misyon na ito.

"Or maybe they're too evil to that point na kapag babasahan mo sila ng verse ay masusunog sila."

"Je!"

"I'm just trying to cheer you up, Bestie. We need to split up. Zywon said that we don't have all night to execute our plan. Anytime, their system will eventually restart kaya kailangan nating magmadali. I will call you once I will find something." Inilagay niya sa kamay ko ang Bibliya at tinapik ako sa balikat. Iginiya niya ako palabas ng silid na iyon. When we reached the hallway which leads to two ways ay pinisil niya ang palad ko bago tinahak ang daan sa kaliwa. I bit my lower lip to prevent myself to call him and forbid him to go alone.

Kinakabahan na tinahak ko ang daan sa kaliwa. Binuksan ko ang mga pintong nadaanan ko ngunit gaya ng mga naunang pinto ay wala iyong laman. And this mansion is damn big! Ilang beses kong pinaalala sa sarili ko na kapag nagawa namin ito ng tama, there will be no more further deaths caused by the Genesis. Ilan ba ang naging biktima nila nang nasa experimental stage pa lamang ang STX2? Ilan ang pinatay nila after using them as human carrier? And then there's Marcus, our classmate. He died without even defending himself that he is not part of the Genesis. And Dad.

"Amber you're near the area where Tross came from," narinig kong wika ni Math mula sa suot kong earpiece. Napahinto ako sa paglalakad at nilingon ang mahabang hallway na dinaanan ko. Napakatahimik ng lugar and there's no sign of danger here. And this is suspicious. Sabi nga, if it's too good to be true, it probably is.

And I think I know exactly why it is too quiet. Tinanggal ko ang suot kong communication device sa katawan ko. "You can't fool me Math."

"Amber-"

Hindi ko na pinakinggan ang iba pa niyang sinabi at agad na tinapon ang bagay na iyon sahig. I stepped so hard on it hanggang sa madurog ito. Napakatanga namin upang magtiwala sa kanya. This place is silent not because the reapers already took care of the situation but because Math alerted the Genesis about our plan. At nakisakay lamang sila.

If the reapers handled the guard, malamang ay narito pa ang mga walang malay nitong katawan o 'di kaya ay ipinasok nila sa mga silid upang hindi makita ng iba. But there's no single body here.

Nagmamadaling tumakbo ako upang i-check ang mga natitirang silid only to find nothing. Is this a trap? Wala nga ba rito ang hinahanap namin? Math and the Genesis must be laughing now seeing how we are caught inside their trap! Daig pa namin ang isang gamu-gamo na lumapit sa apoy- only to put ourselves to danger. We're like an insect trapped in a spider's web and there's no way out for us. But no!

Jeremy and I will go out this area safe and alive. Hindi ko man maipapangako sa sarili ko at kay Jeremy that we will leave this place unscathed, but I can promise to do all my best just to let us get out of here.

Naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng cellphone ko sa bulsa. Agad ko iyong sinagot nang makita ang pangalan ni Jeremy.

"Bestie, I found a room which was locked. At ito lamang ang silid na naka-lock so I find it suspicious. Ask Math if this is the same room that Tross entered kanina," wika niya.

"No, we're not asking Math. We will find out on our own. Do not trust her. I know it's hard to believe but she's a traitor," wika ko sa kanya. Not all who stay in your side is a friend. Not all who call you friend is really a friend. And not because Math is helping us solve so many cases, doesn't mean she's in the good side. Maybe she put up all those acts for us to establish our trust to her.

"What?" tila hindi makapaniwalang sagot nito. "Look Bestie-" Hindi ko na siya pinatapos sa kanyang sasabihin.

"Where are you? Pupuntahan kita!"

"Just go straight to the hallway where we separated."

Agad kong pinatay ang tawag. Lakad-takbo ang ginawa ko at nagmasid sa ano mang panganib na maaring sumalubong sa akin ngunit gaya ng inaasahan ko, the area was clear like all people there evacuated somewhere. The place was totally empty.

Nang marating ko ang dulo ng hallway ay nakatayo si Jeremy doon at nakatingin sa sahig. Nag-angat siya ng tingin nang marinig ang mga yabag ko. I stopped right in front of the door.

"It's locked pero sa tingin ko ay kaya kong buksan ang pintong ito." Napaatras siya at tumatakbong sinipa ang pinto but it didn't budge. Muli siyang napaatras at binangga ang katawan sa pinto and I heard something cracked.

"Awwww!" wika ni Jeremy at napahawak sa balikat niya. Just as I thought! It wasn't the door that cracked but his bone.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"I tried what the police usually do in TV. Sinisipa nila ang pinto at agad iyong nasisira. Why the hell this door doesn't?!" Nakalabing wika niya habang hinihimas pa rin ang balikat.

I rolled my eyes at pinitik ang tenga niya. "You said it yourself, it's on TV!" Sinubukan kong buksan ang doorknob at naka-lock nga iyon. "How do we open this?"

Hinawakan ako ni Jeremy sa balikat at hinarap sa kanya. A victorious smile flashed on his face as he looked at me.

"What?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"I figured a way how to open this," wika niya habang nakatingin sa buhok ko. He pulled one of the four bobby pin in my hair that I used to hold my bangs. "Lock pick."

"You know how to do it?"

He scoffed and looked away. "Huh! Do not underestimate a member of Detective Triumvirate Plus One!" He kneeled at sinimulang kulikutin ang naka-lock na pinto gamit ang nakuha niyang dalawang bobby pin mula sa buhok ko. "One as a torsion wrench and one as lock pick."

"Detective Triumvirate only," wika ko sa kanya. There's no plus one because Math is a traitor.

"Plus one." wika niya at pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa. We heard a clicking sound at parehong nanlaki ang mga mata namin. Napatingin ako lock at agad na napasimangot nang malaglag sa sahig ang bahagi ng bobby pin. It was the pin that was destroyed, not the lock.

"That's just a trial," wika niya at muling kumuha ng isa pang bobby pin mula sa buhok ko. "Magaling ako rito, Bestie. Tinuruan kaya ako ni Gray nito at kahit si Maya ay tinuruan din ako."

I rolled my eyes. Yup, Gray thought us some lock picking methods but my mind didn't digest that lesson. I tried it when I lost my locker key but I sucked so I ended asking Gray to do it instead.

"Do not trust Math," panimula ko. I know that Math really made a good impression to them. With her amazing skills and knowledge, it's easy to win their trust.

"What do you mean?" tanong niya habang abala pa rin sa kanyang ginagawa.

"Listen, Jeremy, I know it's hard to believe but Math is part of the Genesis. She bugged you and my roommates. Hindi ka nagtataka kung bakit tila napakatahimik ng paligid? That's because they knew the plan all along!"

Napatigil siya sa kanyang ginagawa at napatingin sa akin. Then he covered his mouth as he tried to suppress his laughter. What the hell? He doesn't believe me?!

"Anong nakakatawa?"

"Si Maya? Yes, mayabang siya. Mataas ang bilib sa sarili. She's so full of herself but she's not a traitor," wika ni Jeremy at sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay may narinig ulit kaming tunog. Napalaglag ang balikat niya nang masira ulit ang pangalawang bobby pin na ginamit niya. "Ano ba naman 'tong bobby pin mo, Bestie, substandard!"

He asked for the last pin at agad kong inabot iyon sa kanya. "Sigurado ka bang marunong ka niyan? That's the last pin Jeremy."

"Yeah. I just need not to put too much pressure. Naalala mo ba nung nasa kama kayo ni Gray? Remember how did I enter the room?" he said with a smirk at naalala ko nang pinosasan kami ni Victoria. He doesn't need to remind me of that moment! And the way he said it sound so worse. Nasa kama?!

"Oo na!"

"Pero Bestie, hindi niyo pa rin sinasabi sa akin kung sino ang dominant at submissive sa inyo," he said with a naughty smile. "So ano Bestie, masakit ba?" Patuloy pa rin siya sa kanyang ginagawa.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at hinampas siya nang malakas. "Jeremy Martinez! Linisin mo nga yang utak mo!" My God! How can he say such things at this situation?

"Aray! Ikaw nga maglinis ng utak mo! Tinatanong ko lang naman kung masakit bang maposasan ah!" he said while pouting and I blushed. Damn!

"Ipagpatuloy mo na nga lang yang ginagawa mo!" wika ko sa kanya at nag-iwas ng tingin upang itago ang pamumula ko na sanhi ng pagkapahiya.

"Pero seryoso na Bestie, about Math, you should trust her. She's one of those most trustworthy person. Sa simula pa lamang ay pinakita na niya kung ano siya. She never wear a mask. Mayabang siya? So be it. That's the real Math. She tells us what's on her mind. If she thinks that our idea is lousy, sasabihin niya iyon. She doesn't talk bad about us behind our back because that's the real her," sagot ni Jeremy.

"But I saw her bug in the investigation board. She bugged my roommates! Ano sa tingin mo ang rason niya para gawin iyon?"

"Sigurado ka bang siya ang gumawa niyon?" tanong niya.

"Who else would? Siya lang ang may alam kung paano gumawa ng mga bagay na iyon! She did it to spy on us!"

"You forget one thing about Genesis, Bestie. They're good in doing things and let others take the blame. The same goes to Math. What if it's all a set up just like how he did to me? To Marcus? And even to you? You should know that."

Bahagya akong natigilan dahil sa sinabi niya. Tama si Jeremy. The Genesis is good in doing things to incriminate others. Nagalit ako nang pinagdudahan nila ako and now I have doubted Math?

My thoughts were destructed by another clicking sound. "Did you break the last one?"

"No. I did it!" wika niya at tumayo upang pihitin ang pinto. Bumukas iyon ngunit laking gulat namin nang may nakatayo sa loob at may hawak na baril.

"Surprise! Surprise!", wika ng taong iyon at ngumisi. No it can't be! Siya?! No way!

Bigla na lamang inagaw ni Jeremy mula sa akin ang Bibliya at gaya nang sinabi niya sa akin kanina, the Bible comes in handy. Inihampas niya ang Bibliya sa kamay ng taong iyon kaya tumilapon ang hawak nitong baril. Sunod niyang hinampas ay ang mukha ng taong iyon at pagkatapos ay tinulak ako palabas.

"Save yourself, Amber! Run and ask for help!" sigaw ni Jeremy. Nagulat pa rin ako kaya hindi agad ako nakagalaw. He called me by my first name again so it means that he is really serious.

"But..."

"Just run!" sigaw niya sa mukha ko at muli akong tinulak. My knees wobbled but I did my best to run upang humingi ng tuloy.

Yup, tama ang taong iyon. It's really a surprise.

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs