DFxPL Christmas Special: The Case of the Secret Santa (Part 2: Detour)

"Are you okay Miss?"

I glanced at the guy and his companions. The girl with a long hair which dangles on her shoulder gave me an apologetic smile. Nilagpasan ko siya ng tingin at tiningnan ang dalawa pa nilang kasama. There was this guy who looks like he doesn't care at all. Nakababa ang buhok nito, covering most of his forehead. I cannot see any reaction on his face, maybe I was right. He really doesn't care at all. Nakakapit sa braso niya ang isang magandang babae- one which most girls would envy. Her skin is so white and lively to the point na kahit maputi din ako ay nais kong manliit sa balat ko. She had a pretty face with pinkish lips at bumagay dito ang kanyang brownish na buhok na nakabraid. Sa paraan ng pagkakapit nito sa lalaki, I wonder if these two are couple. I guess hindi nagkakalayo ang mga edad namin.

Uh, what am I doing?! Their ages and those two being a couple is none of my concerns. I just made a scene and assessing this people who I bumped with is the last thing that I should do.

I quickly excused myself and went straight to the main door where those four just entered. Eksaktong paglabas ko ay naabutan na ako ni Gray. He was determined to talk to me at mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa braso ko at hinila ako papunta sa east wing ng hotel.

He led me towards the corner kung saan walang tao at deretsong tiningnan ako. "Alam mo ba kung ano ang ginawa mo?!"

"Wag mo akong pagalitan Gray. Hindi kita tatay." Well yeah, he sounded like a concern father right now.

"That was an important man Amber", paalala niya sa akin. Yes Gray, I still did not forget that it was an ambassador and I just made a scene. Thanks for reminding something that is still fresh on my mind.

"His fault. He wore the same color of suit like the one that bastard wore!"

"Watch your tongue Amber", he warned me but I just let it pass my other ear. He stared at me with his hands on his temple, gently massaging it as if he's saying na pinapasakit ko ang ulo niya. "Amber, I need you to pay attention to our client's request today."

"Correction Gray, YOUR client. Let me remind you that I did not agree to accept the invitation of this so called client. You just forced me to attend today."

"That's because I want you to be with me", he said and I felt my knees wobble. But then Gray is all sweet talk and that's enough for me to gain strength and stand properly. He put both his arms on my shoulders and gently pushed me back towards the hall. "The press conference is about to start. Hali ka na sa loob."

Hindi na ako promotesta pa at nagpatangay na lamang sa loob. The scene that I just made is enough at ayaw ko ng dagdagan pa iyon. Bumalik na kami sa loob at hinintay na lamang na magsimula ang press conference. I noticed the four people that I just bumped earlier. Ang lalaking nakababa ang buhok ay nakatitig sa kung saan for quite some time. Nang bahagya itong tinapik ng babae sa balikat ay bahagya itong nagulat at biglang napatayo. Weird.

Hindi naman gaanong nagtagal bago dumating si Secret Santa. Naupo siya sa harapan and people began asking questions. They were all asking nonsense questions gaya na lamang ng kung may hinihintay ba na kapalit si Secret Santa sa ginagawa niyang pagtulong sa kapwa. O kung sobrang yaman ba nito kung kaya't naging libangan na lamang nito ang pagwawaldas ng pera sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong sa kapwa. Geez. Really? Kailangan pa ba talaga nilang itanong iyon?

Itinaas ng lalaking nakababa ang buhok ang kanyang kamay to ask a question and he was recognized. A staff handed him a microphone.

"Yes, mister?"

"Why did you reveal yourself before the media?" he asked while without even standing from his seat. "You call yourself a Secret Santa but now, your secret identity is no longer a secret."

"Good point," Math said uponn hearing the guy's question.

Nicholas Santos, who introduced himself as the Secret Santa cleared his throat. He maintained his calm posture na tila ba wala lamang sa kanya ang tanong ng lalaki. "At first, talagang gusto kong maging anonymous ang lahat ng ginagawa ko para sa mga kababayan natin. Pero na-realize ko isang araw ang potential ng ginagawa ko. What if meron ding iba na gustong tumulong sa mga kapwa nating Pilipino pero hindi nila alam kung paano? Gusto kong maging inspirasyon sa kanila at maging tulay para maging Santa sila sa bawat Pasko."

Why does it sounds like a scripted answer?

Someone raised a hand and was recognized. "Maybe you are just claiming credit for the things that you didn't actually do?"

The Secret Santa smiled. "Bakit ko gagawin 'yon? At kung totoo ngang credit grabber ako, e 'di sana meron nang nagpakilalang siya ang Secret Santa at pinasinungalingan ako?"

Gasps filled the hall at nagsimulang nagbulungan ang mga tao. This time, si Gray naman ang nagpataas ng kamay upang magtanong. He reached for the microphone na nasa di kalayuan and raised a question.

"Why the sudden decision to build a foundation gayong sa mga nagdaang taon ay mas pinili mong tumulong sa tahimik na paraan all by yourself? Could it be that you have a hidden agenda in this publicization like personal interest or to commit fraud? "

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Jeremy sa tanong ni Gray and Math tapped his shoulders to refrain him from asking more. Lumala pa ang bulongan sa loob at hindi nagtagal ay may lumapit na lalaki na nakaformal suit sa tabi namin, asking Gray to leave the hall. I think he's from the security personnel of today's event.

"Why?", Math asked. "Hindi ba pwedeng magtanong?"

"Kung kasamahan po niya kayo, you may come with us as well at huwag na lamag gumawa pa ng eksena dito", wika ng lalaki. When I glanced at the opposite direction, may lumapit din na security personnel sa lalaking nagtanong kanina. Base sa pagkakakunot ng noo ng mga kasamahan, I think he is also asked to leave the hall just like Gray.

Hindi na promotesta pa si Gray at agad na tumayo. He walked slowly towards the exit, not minding the gazes of the people na nandoon. Sumunod sa kanya si Math and Jeremy stood too but pulling me along with him. Inihatid kami ng guard palabas at agad na isinara ang pinto. I saw the same group with the guy who first asked the question. Looks like we both have the same fate, being thrown out of the press conference dahil sa mga kasamahan naming walang gatol ang bibig sa pagtatanong.

Napatingin sa gawi namin si Mister Nice Guy and he let out a friendly smile when he recognized me.

"You're the girl earlier, aren't you?"

Jeremy pointed at the other guy. " Hey! It's you who asked the first offensive question! You're so cool Bro! Nagkalakas tuloy ng loob si Gray na magtanong din ng ganoong tanong. Tskk."

"It may be offensive but it is the truth. Why should we miss the opportunity to expose a lie?", sagot ng lalaki.

Bahagyang lumapit si Gray sa lalaking nagtanong kanina. "I hope you don't mind me asking why you come up with such question."

"I don't know if we should share this info with you, pero may nagsabi sa amin na isang impostor ang nagpakilalang Secret Santa. We are here upon someone's request to unveil the truth," the girl other than the one with a braided hair answered.

Math joined the the conversation. "Really?! You think that he is fake? That's what we're up too! Something's fishy with him."

Was it just me o sadyang naging flirty yata talaga ang tono ng boses ni Math? Oh, what can I do? She's a natural attention-seeker. Naramdaman ko ang paghawak ni Jeremy sa braso ko.

"Bestie! That's them", he whispered. It wasn't really a whisper dahil naririnig siya ng iba. He flashed very excited expression as he pointed at them using his lips.

"Them?" Who's them?

We all looked at Jeremy who was a bit ecstatic upon meeting the four people in front of us. He looks surprised and starstruck as he looked at them. Teka, mga artista ba ang apat na ito?

"The QED Club. The four man high school detective club that I told you before!"

The QED club? I tried to recall the time when Jeremy told us about such club. Ah, the Detective Club of Clark High School. Ilang beses ng binanggit sa amin ni Jeremy ang tungkol sa kanila. They were his inspiration that is why he keeps on insisting that we should also form the Detective Triumvirate and formally apply for club application at nang tuluyan ng magka-official detective club ng Bridle but we disagree every time he opens such topic.

"Oh! You're the QED club? Really?", Math said and smiled sweetly. Binitawan ako ni Jeremy at isa-isa niyang nilapitan ang apat. Je reached for he nice guy's hand and shake it.

"Finally got a chance to meet you all!", tila hindi pa rin ito makapaniwala. "My name is Jeremy Martinez and these are my co-detectives. That guy is Gray Ivan Silvan", Je said and pointed at Gray. "In our triumvirate, he's the one on the apex. This one is Amber Sison." Bahagya niyang hinawakan ang buhok ko. I shove his hands away and glared at him but he was still under the spell of these four people in front of us. "She's the one on the middle. And lastly, I'm Jeremy Martinez, the one on the base. And oh, don't get me wrong. I am the base but that doesn't mean that I have the least task. Remember, in a triangle, the base is the one with the largest part. I am the base because I have the biggest and toughest task ever. And that is to stimulate my group's thinking as preparation for the mind racking cases ahead. And oh, I am an avid reader of Miss Lorelei's blog."

Base sa reaksyon nila, the might probably be thinking why we are called Triumvirate gayong apat kami. Ilang beses ng pinagalitan ni Math na palitan iyon ng Detective Quadrumvirate but Jeremy always ignore her idea that's why she came up with the name Detective Triumvirate Plus one.

He smiled widely at agad napasimangot nang tumikhim si Math at sinamaan siya ng tingin. I thought they would again be teasing each other na para bang sila lamang dalawa ng naroon but they didn't.

"And that's Math", Je said at bahagya namang ngumiti si Math sa kanila. "Math. Just Math."

Math stepped forward and shook hands one by one from the QED club. "My name is Math Corazon, a detective just like the four of you. Wow, you formed a detective club at your school. I planned to form one too on my previous school but wasn't able to do it. I was drafting the club's CBL that time para ma-recognize na kami but then I became busy in our Debating Union since we're joining a national competition that time. Sumabay pa ang other commitments ko from other organizations at school at maging sa student publication kaya napabayaan ko ang plano kong pagtatayo ng detective club. Oh well, that was fine dahil nagtransfer na ako by the next school year. So Hi!"

"To sum it up, she's Math, the furniture shop owner", banat ni Jeremy but the four just ignored what he said.

"I'm Lorelei Rios, the club vice president," the girl with dangling hair on her shoulders introduced herself before gesturing to her other companions. "Meet our club president who rarely smiles, Loki Mendez, and the girl with braided hair beside him is Jamie Santiago."

"And I'm Alistair Ravena, the newest member who just transfered to Clark High a few months ago." So that's the name of Mister Nice Guy. "We have the same goal, same target but different clients. Hindi kaya mas mabuti kung magtutulungan tayo para sa kasong 'to?"

"That's definitely a brilliant idea! That way we can-", Math was cutoff by Loki's disagreement about Alistair's idea.

"There's no need for some kind of alliance between Jeremiah's group and ours," Loki sounded condescending. "Gaya ng sinabi mo, Alistair, magkaiba ang kliyente natin. We need to solve this case on our own, without any help from outside parties."

Jeremiah? Sino si Jeremiah?

"Loki dear is right!" Jamie seconded. "Nandito naman siya sa team natin kaya hindi na natin kailangan ang tulong ng iba. No offense to you, guys."

"But Al has a point," Lorelei countered, turning to both of her companions. "Wala namang mali kung makikipagtulungan tayo sa kanila. Remember, we have nothing concrete against the guy claiming to be the Secret Santa. If we have more manpower and resources, baka mas madali nating maso-solve ang case na 'to."

"Maybe we should ask the other party first?" Alistair asked as he turned to our team. "What do you think? Are you open to the idea of working with us?"

"Fine with me", wika ni Gray. "Eight minds are better than four. Isa pa ay mas mapapadali ang gawain natin if we will team up. Even if we have different clients, we have the same motive."

Loki then let out a sigh. "I've already made my decision. We won't be working with them. If you ask me, I wanna compete with them. Gusto kong malaman kung ang team ba natin o ni Graille ang unang makakapag-expose sa pekeng Secret Santa."

Graille? Sino nga si Graille? Does he mean Gray? Err, looks like Loki is not good with names.

He then walked away, waking his right hand at us. The braided girl quickly followed him while Lorelei and Al looked confused. Wala rin silang nagawa kundi sumunod sa kanilang club president.

Why do I feel that this guy Loki is a bit cocky? Ah, not a bit but I think he really is.

***

I sat on the bed of the hotel room na ginagamit namin. After being thrown out of the press conference hall, we decided to checked-in sa isang silid upang malaya kaming makapag-isip ng plano kung paano namin maisasagawa ang ipinunta namin dito. I know that Gray is now heated after hearing Loki's statement. He decline Alistair's idea of working together and at sa halip ay mas pinili pa nitong makipagcompete.

I know Gray was challenged to Loki's words. Looking at him now, drown on the thought about this case, it only means one thing. He accepts Loki's challenge. Marahil ay hindi siya sanay sa kayabangang ipinamalas ni Loki. Gray seriously thinks that he is good at things. He's always cool with the idea of Khael who sees himself better than Gray. Nagre-react si Gray sa mga panahong iyon but his stiffness a while ago was different compared to his reaction to Khael's cheekiness. He must have taken Loki's word seriously and now he's building up his ego by taking the case seriously and move one step ahead Loki.

"Bestie, napansin mo bang Jeremiah ang sinabi ni Loki kanina? How dare him torture my name!", Jeremy ranted naupo sa tabi ko. Parehas kaming walang ginagawa habang abala sina Gray at Math. Math's adjusting something on her laptop while Gray scribbled something on his small notebook.

"I just hope we don't cross our paths again", I said and browse at my phone. I just received a text message from Reo asking how I am. Pagkatapos kasi ng nangyari sa bagong bukas na toy factory. Agad naman akong nagreply sa kanya, telling him that every thing is fine.

"Pero Bestie, look at those two", wika ni Je at inginuso ang labi kina Math at Gray na parehong may pinagkakaabalahan. "They're working too hard. Sa tingin mo ba ay masyado nilang sineryoso ang sinabi ni Loki?"

I looked intently at those two. Naiintindihan ko kung bakit masyadong sineseryoso ni Gray ang kasong ito. Well, he is really drawn into solving cases but Math? Ah baka puma-papel. She loves to work hard for this case kasi siya si Math. The attention-seeker at napakapampam na si Math Corazon. What does Je loves to call her? Furniture shop owner. Right. That's it.

She worked hard for this case for credits. Kumbaga padagdag sa i-enumerate niya sa tuwing magpakilala. She's likely to say "Hi everyone, my name is Math Corazon the overachiever furniture shop and paper factory owner." I grimaced when I realized that I am saying bad things about Math. Oh how rude of me!

Uh.

Teka, paano naman ako makakasiguro na maganda ang iniisip ni Math tungkol sa akin? Hello?! She even bluntly shows how she hated me at times. Duh.

"Or maybe they just really want to discover the truth", dagdag ni Jeremy. "Even Math. Kahit na may pagka-Maya 'yan, I'm sure she really wants to help."

Did Math just get Jeremy's sympathy? Hindi ba si Jeremy ang unang tao na mag-iisip na puro pagyayabang lamang ang alam ni Math? But now- aaargh! See how Math got everyone?

"Or maybe just to show-off."

He looked at me na tila ba pino-proseso sa kanyang isip ang sinabi ko. His facial expression shifted from amusement to awe.

"Why do I hear anger and jealousy in your voice?"

I rolled my eyes at him. Even if Je calls me 'Bestie' hindi ko pa alam kung nasaan nga ba ang loyalty niya. In case everyone forgot, it's not that long ago when he turned his back and chose Math over me by saying I should apologize to her. I opened my mouth to reply but Math excitedly shrieks.

"Gray! Gray! Come over! Dali!"

Mula sa pagkakalunod sa kakaisip habang nakatingin sa maliit na kwaderno, Gray shifted his eyes from his notes towards Math. Agad din siyang tumayo at lumapit kay Math, sitting close to her and looked at her laptop.

"Santa's in his room and I guess he's making a call!", excited na wika ni Math.

"Paano mo naman nalaman?"

She winked at Jeremy's question and smile widely. "I bugged his hotel room. I put my little friend somewhere he won't notice and that little friend is a listening device made by the genius me!"

Yeah, ang yabang. Ihampas kita diyan sa laptop mo eh!

"Math! You're so brilliant!", amazed na wika ni Gray. Oh no! He's falling in Math's quicksand!

"Of course. Being a tech geek comes so handy!", she said and giggled.

Yeah, palunok ko kaya sayo yung wireless tap mo?! How do you like that ha?

Tumayo si Jeremy at hinila ako papunta sa direksyon nina Gray and Math. He let me sat beside Gray na nag-aabang na may sumagot sa tawag ni Santa. All I can see are waves na nasa laptop ni Math as the call was connecting.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

"Inaasahan kong tatawagan mo ako, fake Santa", we heard a baritone voice said.

"Porke't tinawagan kita, hindi nangangahulugan 'yon na-Bzzz-totoo ang mga paratang mo. You're not the first one to accuse me of being a impostor."

Tahimik kaming apat habang nakikinig sa usapan. I must admit that Math's idea is of bugging Santa is a good one.

"Alam nating dalawa ang katotohanan kaya-Bzzz-huwag kang magpanggap na ikaw talaga ang tunay na Santa."

Parang may naririnig akong static noise. Weird.

"Let's say totoo ang sinabi mo, for the sake of discussion lang, meron ka bang ebidensya? Dahil baka-Bzzz-ginagawa mo lang ito para siraan ako?"

"Hindi ko kailangan ng ebidensya. Ang kailangan ko-Bzzz-ay iyong konsensya."

"Konsensya? Wala naman akong ginagawang masama. Gusto kong makatulong sa mga taong nangangailangan. Anong masama roon?"

"Pero inaangkin mo ang hindi sa 'yo-Bzzz-kaya lahat ng mabuting hangarin mo ay katulad mo. Peke."

"Kung sinuman ka man-Bzzz-siguruhin mong meron kang ebidensya bago ka mag-akusa. Otherwise, this is nothing but-Bzzz-an empty threat."

"Huwag kang mag-alala, makakahanap ako ng ebidensya para patunayang hindi talaga ikaw ang Secret Santa, impostor."

"Do your worst. Teka, you went into-Bzzz-my room, right? May mga naririnig akong static noise habang nag-uusap tayo. And it's really annoying. Did you bug my room?"

"Sa tingin mo ba ganon ako katanga para lagyan ng listening bug ang kuwarto mo at mag-iwan ng note para tawagan ako?"

"Anyway, it's nice talking to you. Better luck next time. Hahanapin ko ba ang listening bug ng nakatago sa hotel room ko."

The line was cut at nagkatinginan kami ni Jeremy. "Oh no Math! He will find your little friend."

"Don't worry Jeremy. Kahit makita niya iyon, he won't suspect it that it's from me. I made sure my fingerprints are not there. We're close in finding the truth", Math said. "I'm wondering who is that guy that Nicholas Santos just called."

"I have a strong hunch that it's the other detective group. Posibleng trap nila iyon, like they would bluff him and make him confess that he's fake. Tsk", wika ni Gray. His brows furrowed when he remembered the other high school detectives. "Posibleng si Loki ang kausap ni Nicholas, even if he changed his voice, I know that it's him."

"It would have been good if he just agree to work with us", Jeremy said.

"No. I think we can do this in our own. Well, since our initial effort has failed let's think of a new one", Gray said firmly at muling hinarap ang maliit niyang kwaderno.

We decided to take our lunch on the hotel's restaurant. Santa got some popularity basing on the number of people who decided to stay over in this hotel just to be there tonight for another press conference. Just as our client requested, we also stay over until we find the truth.

Santa's formal event was really the talk of the town. Most people on this restaurant are the same people that I saw in the press conference just this morning. May buffet sa restaurant na iyon at doon namin napiling kumain.

The fast food chains outside the hotel ay puno rin halos kaya wala kaming ibang nagawa kundi maghintay. I'm not really that hungry but it was Jeremy who wanted to eat.

"I don't really think there's some space for us so we'd better have our dinner later-", napatigil ako sa pagsasalita ng hinawakan ni Jeremy and ulo ko. He twisted my neck a little and made me face a group of people. And oh, it was the high school detectives of QED club.

"Nope. I just found the perfect seat for us. Come on", yaya ni Jeremy at tinahak ang pasilyo patungo sa mesa nina Lorelei. Their table was enough to accommodate the eight of us and we just hope that they don't mind sharing the table with us. Hinila kami ni Jeremy at iginiya patungo sa upuan nila. Sa aming apat ay siya lang yata ang hindi ramdam na ayaw nung isang lalaki sa amin, the one named after the Norse god of mischief.

"Hi!", malakas ang boses na bati ni Jeremy. "Do you mind if we share table with you? As you see, wala na kasing bakanteng mesa sa paligid." He still maintained his starstruck expression. I cannot blame him, after all he said that he's an avid reader of Lorelei's blog.

"NO," Loki answered.

Even before he answered, I know he would decline at hindi nga ako ngkakamali. Pfft.

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs