II- First Love Never Dies (Part 1)

(Timeline: Prior to discovery of Copper and Brain's identity)

Maaga akong nagising ngayong araw. It's weekend and I don't have plans to go home. Nag-out of town na business trip si Daddy at kasama niya si Mommy. Naglakad-lakad ako sa oval ng Bridle at kasama ko ngayon si Filter.

"Bestie!"

Napalingon ako sa likuran ko at naroon si Jeremy. He was holding a dog leash na nakakabit sa aso niyang bulldog na si Porsche. He was wearing a running outfit at may nakatali pang panyo sa noo niya. Geez.

Lumapit sila sa amin at sumabay sa paglalakad. May mga nagdya-jogging din sa oval at ang iba ay dala rin ang mga aso nila gaya namin. "Kung hinahanap mo si Gray, tulog pa 'yon."

I made a face. Huh, what makes him think na hinahanap ko si Gray? Hindi 'no! "I'm not looking for him!"

I looked away at nagmadaling maglakad pero sumunod pa rin si Jeremy sa akin habang dala-dala ang aso niya. May nakasalubong kaming matabang lalaki na may dalang aso. He smiled at Jeremy so I guess they know each other.

"Ang cute naman ng baboy mo!" nakangiting wika ni Je. Eh? Baboy? Bulag ba siya? Aso kaya ang dala ng lalaki at hindi baboy!

The guy laughed. "Ano ka ba Jeremy, aso 'to si Cagatinmo, hindi baboy!"

"Hindi ikaw ang kausap ko Johnny, si Cagatinmo! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" He started laughing at natatawang hinampas lang siya ng lalaki. The dog barked at inilabas ang pangil habang nakatingin kay Je. See? Hindi nagustuhan ng aso ang joke niya.

"Cagatinmo!" Aba! Inuutusan ba niya ang aso niyang kagatin si Jeremy? Hinila ko palayo sa kanila si Filter samantalang inilayo naman ng lalaki ang aso niya. "Halika na, Cagatinmo!"

Eh? Cagatinmo ang pangalan ng aso niya? Weird.

"Si Johnny 'yon Bestie, roommate ko," he said habang tinitingnan ang lalaking palayo.

"Jeremy! Amber!"

Sabay kaming napalingon nang marinig namin ang boses ni Gray na tumatawag sa amin. When we turned around, I saw Gray walking towards our direction. Nakabihis na siya at kakaligo lamang. I thought he's still asleep?

"Ang aga mo yatang nagbihis, Gray. May lakad ka?" tanong ni Jeremy nang makalapit si Gray sa amin. Tahimik na sinipat ko siya. He must be heading somewhere dahil nakabihis siya.

"I received an early call from Detective Tross," nakangiting sagot niya at bumaling sa akin. "We have a case, maghanda ka na, Amber."

"Maghanda? Bakit?"

"You'll go with me," wika niya. Napatingin siya kay Jeremy nang lumapit ito sa kanya at iwinasiwas ang kamay sa harapan niya.

"Hello? Paano naman ako?"

Gray scowled at him. "Go rest, Puns."

"Ang daya mo talaga, Gray!" Jeremy said and pouted. Whenever Detective Tross ask favor from Gray ay ako lamang ang sinasama niya. Hindi naman sa ayaw niya itong isama, ayon sa kanya, it's police works and three is a crowd. Meh! Police works tapos nandoon siya at kasama pa ako!

I rolled my eyes and scooted away. "No. Hindi ako sasama sa 'yo. I'm tired and weekends are the perfect days for me to rest. Goodbye, Gray."

After a lot of things that happened in the past, some people branded me as bad luck and I guess that became a last name of mine. Hindi lang pala bad luck ang last name ko. Inconsistent din pala. Do you know how I bid goodbye to Gray and told him that I won't go pero ngayon ay lulan ako ng kotse niya.

I'm feeling bratty and I hate myself for being inconsistent. Hey, I was convinced that I'll rest yet I found myself breaking my plans, and took a bath at ngayon ay nandito ako sa kotse niya at papunta sa kung saan man kami pupunta. Heck, he didn't even forced me! I crossed my arms and looked outside.

"What are you sulking there, Amber? Hindi naman kita pinilit ah?" Gray asked while his gaze is still fixed on the road.

That is exactly my point! Why am I so- argh! I should have rested! I straighten the wrinkle in my forehead at bahagyang sumulyap sa kanya. "Saan ba kasi tayo pupunta?"

"Detective Tross sent me an address. Sabi niya, it was an old friend of us who needs our service," sagot niya.

"Old friend n'yo pala, bakit n'yo ako sinama?" Oh, have I told anyone that we even brought clothes? Malamang ay hindi kami makakauwi mamayang gabi.

"Amber, three heads are better than one. Who knows you're the one who can solve the case. Magaling kang mag-analisa ng mga bagay. You think deeper and outside the box which is crucial in making deductions," sagot niya na ikinasimangot ko. Gray knows how to get you at times like this. He was always the talker who always sugarcoat everything he said.

"Too much sugarcoating," I said and he chuckled.

"I mean it!" sagot niya. He pulled the car at huminto sa tapat ng isang fast food chain. "Let's have breakfast first, hindi raw dapat ginugutom ang mahal na prinsesa."

I rolled my eyes at tinanggal ang seatbelt na suot ko. Bago pa man ako makababa ay nauna na palang bumaba si Gray at binuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan para sa akin. He even bowed like I'm some sort of royal person.

"Stop it."

"What?" he asked, biting his lower lip to prevent himself from smiling.

"Stop playing fool, Gray. Matagal ko nang sinasabi sa 'yo na 'wag mo akong tawaging mahal na prinsesa."

He closed the door and faced me. "Ano ang gusto mong itawag ko sayo, Kamahalan?"

I throw him a glare that he just ignored at pumasok na lamang kami sa loob. He ordered food for the two of us at habang kumakain kami ay tinanong ko kung ano ang nangyari sa 'old friend' nila.

"Detective Tross said that we're attending a costume party."

I dropped my utensils on the table at lumikha iyon ng tunog. "Your old friend needs your service by making you attend a costume party? Wow."

Nagpatuloy lang siya sa maganang pagkain niya. "I had the same reaction when I heard about it. Pero nang sinabi niyang baka mamatay ang kakilala namin sa party, that's when I thought that this is really something serious. Nakakatanggap umano siya ng mga death threats."

I slowly nodded my head at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. "So, who's this old friend?"

Ikinibit niya ang kanyang balikat. "Hindi niya sinabi. He just said I'll be surprise to see them."

Hindi na lamang ako nagkomento pa at nagpatuloy na lamang sa pagkain. Nang matapos kami ay muli kaming lumulan sa kotse at tinungo ang address na sinabi ni Detective Tross. After almost two hours, Gray pulled his car on a huge two-storey house. Nakatayo sa labas si Detective Tross at nakangiting sinalubong kami.

"Hey, you brought along your girl with you, Ivan," nakangising wika ni Detective Tross. Nang tiningnan ko siya ng masama ay umakto siyang z-in-ipper ang bibig at inakbayan si Gray. "Dahil kasama mo si Amber, I think this will be a challenging case for you, Ivan." Tinapik pa niya ang balikat ni Gray at makahulugang tiningnan ako. Eh? What was that supposed to mean?

"Kaninong bahay 'to?" tanong ni Gray. "Who's this old friend that you're talking about?"

Muli ay isang nakakalokong ngiti ang pinakawalan ni Detective Tross. "Remember our old neighbor Pierre?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Gray na tila ba na-amaze. Actually, it's not just amazement, I think there's something more in his eyes. Is he this passionate over a case?

"You mean, Kuya Pierre? Yung dati nating kapitbahay na parehas pala kayo ng girlfriend?"

Detective Tross frowned at him. "Yup, that Pierre. Iyon pa talaga ang inalala mo ah."

"Who couldn't forget that? Halos gabi-gabi kang umiiyak sa harap namin ni Alonzo dahil nalaman mong pinagsabay pala kayo ng babae no'ng kolehiyo kayo," natatawang wika ni Gray. Okay guys, nice reminiscence but I'm still here in case you forgot at hindi ako makarelate sa topic n'yo. Duh.

"Who's crying? Hindi ako umiyak!"

Gray teased him even more. "Umiyak ka!"

"No!"

"Umiyak ka sabi!"

"Hindi nga!" tanggi ni Detective Tross. Then he glanced at my way. Hindi ba nila napapansin na bagot na bagot na akong nakikinig sa kanila? He turned his eyes back to Gray. "Ikaw kaya ang umiyak noong lumipat na sila kasi sabi mo hindi mo na makikita si @$&@)%&#(@."

Hindi ko narinig pa ang sinabi ni Detective Tross dahil napabaling ang atensyon ko sa pinagmulan ng boses na tumawag kay Gray.

"IVVVVAAAAAAAAAAAN!"

It was a girl- no I mean, a beautiful girl. If there is a greater adjective than beautiful, that's the right term for this girl. Tumakbo siya palapit sa direksyon namin at kapagkuwa'y niyakap siya nang mahigpit.

Wait, what? NIYAKAP NIYA NANG MAHIGPIT SI GRAY?! The girl buried her face on Gray's chest at pinulupot ang kamay niya sa leeg nito. Gray was too shock to move but eventually his arm swirled into the girl's waist.

What the?! Natagpuan ko na lamang ang sarili kong napasandal sa hood ng kotse. My knees was too weak to move. I don't know but I have this feeling that I want to grab the girl away from him but half of me doesn't want to. The girl's too beautiful sa punto na habang nakatingin ka sa kanya ay maiisip mo talagang napaka-unfair ng mundo. Why does she seems to have the fairest skin in the world? Wala yatang panama si Snow White sa kanya! Her legs were long, right size of boobs and butt! She doesn't even wearing eye-catching clothes! Simpleng T-shirt at jeans lang naman ang suot niya!

Her hair is black and shiny to the point na nanliit ako sa buhok ko. Hell, since when did I become this insecure? Maganda ang buhok ko ngunit hindi iyon maikukumpara sa buhok ng babaeng nasa harap ko ngayon! As an overall assessment, she was a natural beauty! Mukha siyang anghel na bumaba sa lupa! She's very beautiful at the same level as Marion! Yup, when it comes to beauty, Marion is always my meter stick. I just hope hindi tulad ni Marion ang utak ng babaeng ito.

Detective Tross glanced at me at kapagkuwa'y tumikhim siya, dahilan upang bumitiw ang babae sa pagkakayakap kay Gray. Naalis nga sa leeg ni Gray ang braso niya but her hands find its way down to Gray's hands and she clasped their fingers. Iniiwas ko na lang ang tingin ko sa kamay nila bago ko pa man maisipang maghanap ng grass cutter upang paghiwalayin ang mga kamay nila. Why am I thinking about it in the first place?!

"Ivan! Ang tagal na nating hindi nagkita, it's been 5 years," wika ng babae.

"Six years, Princess," sagot ni Gray. Aba! Alam na alam! Did he take record of how long they didn't see each other? And Princess? Hindi ba ako ang tinatawag niyang Princess o kaya naman ay Mahal na Prinsesa? Why is he- oh nevermind.

Wait, ano nga ba ang ginagawa ko rito?

The girl looked at me and smiled. Hell, her smile is even way too beautiful than mine! Ano ba, kailan pa ako tinubuan ng kung anu-anong insecurities sa katawan? "Oh, may kasama pala kayo."

Saka lamang naalala ni Gray na nandito pala ako. Finally! I rolled my eyes mentally. "Ah, Princess this is Amber. Amber, si Princess nga pala."

"Hello, Amber!" She smiled genuinely and kissed my cheek. What the! She even smell way too good. Ano ba ang sabon, shampoo at pabango niya?!

Okay, so apparently Princess is her name and not an endearment given by Gray himself. Uh, okay. "H-hi."

"So you really pursued being a detective, Ivan!" baling niya kay Gray. I want to hate her but I can't. May mga tao talagang hindi natin magawang kamuhian dahil napaka-adorable nila. And this girl is purely nice. "Pumasok na muna tayo sa loob." Paanyaya niya sa amin at nakahawak sa braso ni Gray habang naglalakad papasok sa malaking bahay.

Detective Tross walked with me behind Gray and Princess. "That's Princess, kababata nina Ivan at Khael. When they were 12, lumipat sina Princess at hindi na sila nagkita pa."

"Ah. Okay." I tried to sound like I didn't care.

"And she's Ivan's first crush at puppy love."

Pinigilan kong paikutin ang mga eyeballs ko. First crush? Puppy love? Nah, wala akong pake. Kahit kaanu-ano pa niya si Princess, wala akong pake. Kahit konti. Wala. "Ah, okay."

"You look tired."

"Ah. Okay- I mean, napagod yata ako sa byahe," wika ko. God, how could I be so stupid?

Pumasok na kami sa loob ng bahay. It was surprisingly huge than how it looks like outside. May malawak na tila dancing hall pa roon. Abala sa paglilinis ang mga katulong samantalang nagse-set up naman sa paligid ang ibang mga naroon.

A handsome guy met us at may kasama itong babaeng buntis. The guy and Detective Tross made a fist bump samantalang ginulo naman nito ang buhok ni Gray.

"Ang laki mo na Ae-Ae ah! Si Pring-pring din namin, malaki na," the guy said at lumawak ang ngiti nito. Meh, binabawi ko na pala ang sinabi kong gwapo siya. I just want to take it back for no apparent reason.

Mahinang hinampas ni Princess ang lalaki. "Kuya!" saway niya at tila nahihiyang tumingin kay Gray... at sa akin. Eh?

"Ano, nahihiya ka? Hindi ba first love mo si Ae-ae dati? Sinulat mo pa nga sa diary mo na hanggang ngayon ay nasa kwarto mo pa. Wait, is it Ae-ae or Mikmik?" nakangising tudyo ng lalaki kay Princess. Aba! Pati pala si Khael?

"Pierre, may kasama nga pala kami." Pinakilala ako ni Detective Tross sa lalaki at sa asawa nito. "This is Amber, Ivan's gir- ahh." He groaned a little when my elbow met his gut. Kung anu-ano ang pinagsasabi niya!

Lumapit sa akin si Kuya Pierre at iniabot ang kamay. "Hello, Amber, ako nga pala si Pierre. You can call me Kuya Pierre and this is my wife Katrina."

Nakangiting tinanggap ko ang palad niya at binati rin ako nang asawa niya. After the introduction, Detective Tross inquired about why their services is needed here. Biglang sumeryoso ang mukha ni Kuya Pierre.

"Designer si Katrina and she's known in that aspect kaya hindi maiwasang makatanggap talaga siya ng mga death threats mula sa mga kalabang designers at ibang tao," wika niya.

Nababahalang napatango naman si Ate Katrina. "Tama si Pierre. At first, I thought it was just to scare me pero nitong mga nakaraan ay hindi na maganda ang mga nangyayari."

Gray's face became more serious. "Bakit, ano po ba ang nangyari?"

"Whoever is sending me threats, seryoso na ang mga pananakot niya sa akin. Last week, may nagpadala sa akin ng patay na pusa. Then the other day, my favorite chocolates na may uod-"

"Sandali," putol ni Gray. "Favorite chocolate? Your sender knows your favorite chocolate? Malamang ay nasa malapit lamang ang nagpapadala sa inyo. Someone near you and knows your likes."

Mas lalong nabahala si Ate Katrina. "Oo, sa tingin ko ay ganoon nga. I was even sent with my favorite flowers tapos may lamang loob ng manok ang bouquet at marami pang iba."

My mind started to theorize some possibilities. Tama si Gray, it could be someone lurking around her, pretending to be someone who can be trusted.

"And the last threat was a bloody doll along with a notice that he or she will be with me tonight in my costume party," dagdag ni Ate Katrina. "Whoever it was, alam niya ang schedule ko. Those pranks always arrive when I'm alone."

I saw Gray looked around the area kung saan may mga nagse-set up sa paligid. "Is this a huge party?"

Si Kuya Pierre ang sumagot. "Not really. We organized this party for the recent success of Katrina Designs. Ang mga imbitado ay mga staff ng KD at ilang mga model."

"Kung gayon ay maaring isa sa mga staff mo ang nananakot sa 'yo," wika ni Detective Tross.

"But Ate Katrina is so kind to her staffs," sabat ni Princess. "She doesn't deserve such treatment from them!"

Gray was lost in deep thought for a while bago siya bumaling kina Ate Katrina. "Can we have the master list of the guests?"

"Sure, for now ay ilagay n'yo muna ang gamit ninyo sa guestrooms," wika ni Kuya Pierre sa amin at inutusan ang kapatid na si Princess na giyahan kami sa aming silid.

Gray and Detective Tross shared rooms samantalang nasa kabilang silid naman ako. I lied on the bed and sulked for a while, regretting coming here. Nasa baba sina Gray at Detective Tross at sinimulan ang pag-iimbestiga sa pamamagitan ng pagmamasid sa staffs ng KD sa baba. They invited me to go with them but I don't know why I acted a little bratty at pinili na lamang na manatili rito.

Ilang saglit lang ay may kumatok sa pinto at nang buksan ko iyon ay iniluwa noon si Princess. She was smiling widely at me. May nakasampay na tape measure sa balikat niya at may hawak din siyang tila sketchpad at lapis.

Bahagya akong naasiwa na kasama siya sa silid but she only smiled at me. "Pasensya na sa istorbo, Amber, pero kailangan kitang sukatan para may masuot ka mamaya."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Mamaya?" Anong meron mamaya?

"Yup, hindi ba mamaya na ang costume party? For sure you don't want to be the center of attraction because you're not dressed accordingly." Her voice even sound so sweet!

Hindi na ako nakapalag pa nang sinimulan niya akong sukatan. "You're a designer, too?" tanong ko habang pinapanuod siya sa ginagawa.

"An aspiring one. Idol ko si Ate Kat and she's my mentor," sagot niya. "Why did you stay here in your room? Sabi ni Ivan, detective ka raw tulad niya- even greater than him- dahil napakagaling mong mag-isip-" I cut her off.

"Uh, you're friend has a bad habit of sugarcoating everything," sabi ko. My hand made a gesture about sugarcoating.

Princess laughed heartily habang patuloy sa pagsusukat sa katawan ko. "Na-ah, Ivan's not like that. He's honest and he highly recognize one's potential. Done!" She showed me the design that she drew. Wow, she really has a talent for it.

"Hindi ba matatagalan ang paggawa nito?" tanong ko habang sinisipat ang ginawa niya.

"Don't worry, I have already designed this before. Kailangan ko na lamang i-adjust sa size mo." She checked it again bago siya nagpaalam sa akin.

Nang maiwan akong mag-isa sa loob ng silid ay muli akong nakaramdam ng pagkabagot. It's past 11 in the morning at mamaya pang alas syete ng gabi magsisimula ang party.

Lumabas ako ng silid at nakasalubong ko ang isang lalaki. He walked around the area at bahagya pa siyang nagulat nang makita ako. Maybe he doesn't expect someone to be here.

He ignored me at nilampasan niya lang ako. Bumaba ako mula sa second floor at hinanap sina Gray at Detective Tross. Abala sila sa pakikipag-usap sa mga staff na naroon. Pagpihit ko patalikod ay bigla na lamang akong bumangga sa isang pigura.

"Pasensya na..."

Isa iyong babaeng nakasuot ng salamin. May dala siyang planner at kung anu-ano pa na nalaglag nang magbangga kami. Tinulungan ko siyang pulutin ang nga iyon but I froze when I saw the planner. If someone knew Ate Katrina's schedules, it would be this woman.

"Pasensya na rin," sagot niya at tuluyang tumayo at umalis. Tinanaw ko siya habang papalayo at bigla na lamang may nagsalita sa likuran ko.

"She's the secretary at alam niya ang schedule ni Ate Kat so we keep our eyes on her." It was Gray, dala-dala niya ang maliit na notebook na may kung anu-anong isinulat doon.

"Really, may mga suspects na kayo kahit na my halos dalawampung staff na nandito? Not to mention that the models that aren't here might also be responsible."

"We looked at every angle and through the process of elimination, we narrowed down to at least four suspects for now," wika ni Gray. "First is the secretary, Maila Mejos. She's the secretary at alam niya ang schedule ni Ate Kat and that's a good opportunity when you send the pranks and threats. Pangalawa ay ang isa sa mananahi which also happens to be Ate Kat's childhood friend, Cherry Rojas. Kung pagbabasehan ang iba pang pananakot na ginawa niya, Ate Kat said that the sender knew her fears na kahit si Kuya Pierre ay hindi alam."

So they really dug deeper into this case. Napaisip din ako sa mga sinabi nila at tama nga sila.

"The next one is another staff, Leo Cruz- ex ni Ate Kat. Ayon sa ibang mga staff ay hindi pa tuluyang nakaka-move on si Leo sa kanya." When he saw the guy that I saw upstairs ay pasimpleng tinuro niya iyon gamit ang kanyang lapis. "That's Leo."

"I saw him suspiciously walking upstairs. He seemed like he's spying," wika ko.

"Talaga? That's remarkable," wika niya at may isinulat sa kanyang maliit na notebook. "And lastly is Emerson Tupaz, a model whose latest obsession is Ate Kat. May history siya ng pagpa-prank at pagpapadala ng threats sa mga nililigawan niya kapag binabasted siya so we have him on the list."

Dumating si Detective Tross at may dala siyang papel. "Ivan, I got the schedule when the pranks and threats were sent. Suriin natin ang mga alibi nila if it matches this schedule, then we're on the right track."

Sumama ako sa kanila sa pagtatanung-tanong nang sumapit ang hapon, nasa guest room na kami at iniisa-isa ang mga nakalap. Based on the schedule, ang apat na pinaghihinalaan nila ang siyang may faulty alibi. No one can confirm their alibis at hindi rin ito nagma-match sa sinasabi ng iba.

"This is harder than I thought," wika ni Gray sumandal sa kanyang upuan. "I'm afraid hindi pa natin mapapangalanan ang salarin pagsapit ng costume party mamayang gabi. I just hope nothing bad will happen tonight."

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