ALISTAIR

WHEN LORELEI wrote on her blog that they never ran out of cases in Clark High, I thought there was a slight exaggeration in it. But today, I bore witness to it. Sino ba namang mag-aakala na susubukan kong mag-solve ng isang mystery sa pinakaunang araw ko rito bilang transferee?

Naninibago pa ako sa layout ng school building kaya hinayaan ko si Lorelei ang mag-lead sa akin. The interior design of the rooms and corridors were not too different from our old school, so I sensed some sort of familiarity around me. We made a turn in the hallway, then another turn until we reached the entrance lobby.

"Dapat ba tayong magpatawag ng tricycle?" tanong niya nang makalabas na kami ng building. She halted at the front steps and turned to me. "Ang sabi ni Agatha, malapit lang ang address na 'yan. Pwede tayong sumakay ng trike, pwede rin tayong maglakad. But given the situation, maybe we should ride a tricycle."

"There's no need to call for a trike or anything." I jerked my thumb in the direction of the parking lot. "Dala ko ang kotse ko. Pwedeng 'yon ang sakyan natin para convenient. Tirik pa naman ang araw ngayong tanghali."

We walked a bit farther to reach the parking lot. Marami nang naka-park na sasakyan dito kaya medyo nahirapan akong hanapin ang kotse ko. I clicked a button on my car remote and went to where we heard an audible beeping sound. We found my white sedan a lot easier this time. With the press of a button, I unlocked the car doors before entering the driver's seat. Sumakay naman sa shotgun ride si Lorelei. Sabay naming isinuot ang seatbelt.

"Let's go?" I asked before turning on the car engine. Nag-drive na ako paalis ng parking lot at palabas ng campus.

Lorelei took her phone out and opened her navigation app. "Paglampas natin sa kanto, turn left 'tapos turn right sa unang street na makikita natin."

"Thanks!" I pressed the brake and waited for the traffic light to go green. I appreciated her taking the initiative to be the navigator. Alam kong hindi rin siya gano'n ka-familiar sa area na ito—we were both transferees here after all—but between the two of us, she would have a slight edge because she had been here for two months.

Reaching our destination did not take that long. Nag-park ako sa gilid ng apartment na nag-match sa address na ibinigay ni Agatha. No guard was stationed at the gate so going in was not a problem. Nilagpasan namin ang apat na unit at huminto sa tapat ng panlima.

"Classes are still ongoing so the boyfriend must still be in school," I deduced after noting the absence of men's leather shoes on the rack outside. Sinubukan ko ring sumilip sa bintana, ngunit masyadong madilim kaya wala akong masyadong nakita. I turned the knob, but it would not budge. "It might take a while before he returns to this apartment. Tawagan na natin 'yong landlord at ipaliwanag sa kanya ang sitwasyon para buksan niya ang pinto. Saan ba ang unit niya?"

I was about to walk away, but Lorelei grabbed me by the wrist. Kunot-noong lumingon ako sa kanya. "There's no need to call the landlord. Kaya kong buksan ang pintong 'to. Magtiwala ka sa 'kin."

"Are you planning to pick the lock of the door?" My eyebrows furrowed. "Isn't that illegal? Baka may makahuli sa atin at akusahan tayo ng trespassing?"

"It's the most convenient solution here. Paano kung wala rin ang landlord sa mga oras na 'to? Will we wait for him hanggang sa dumating siya? What if the writer needs urgent medical attention?"

I watched her kneel before the door and take out a lock picking kit from her pocket. Kumuha siya ng dalawang mala-alambreng bagay, ipinasok ang mga iyon sa butas ng doorknob at paulit-ulit na kinalikot. Every other second, I looked behind me to check if anyone was approaching. I was against her method, but she had already started doing it.

Makalipas ang isa o dalawang minuto, may narinig kaming click galing sa pinto. Nabuksan na niya ang lock. That was impressive. Hindi ko alam na kaya pala niyang gawin iyon.

"Where did you learn that technique?" I asked.

"Loki taught me in case something like this happens." She got to her and turned the knob. Humarap muna siya sa akin. "I know that you don't like breaking the law. But this is an emergency. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Just for now, make it an exemption."

I understood the situation and why such method was necessary. But my only fear was the possibility of it becoming a habit. Kapag pinagbigyan ngayon, hindi malabong ulitin sa susunod na pagkakataon dahil sa tinatawag na "exemptions." Paulit-ulit na gagawin hanggang sa makasanayan na. People might view the normal or the right way as a hassle, and they might opt for more convenient methods—regardless whether they were legal or not, whether they were ethical or not.

But knowing Lorelei, she would probably not think of doing it again should she encounter the slightest inconvenience when it came to locked rooms in the future. So I would let it slide.

"Let's go inside?" she asked, and I nodded. Itinulak niya papasok ang pinto. She was about to enter, but I told her that I should get in first. It was unclear if there were any traps or if there were other people inside. Mas mabuti kung ako na ang mauna at masigurong ligtas ngang pumasok.

No one and nothing was waiting for us inside. Maliit lamang ang apartment, may dalawang bedroom at isang comfort room. Nakakalat kahit saan ang mga damit at pinagkainan dito. I saw two empty meal packs on the table. If the tenant was living here alone, then the other meal must be for his captive.

We tiptoed as we walked across the unit. Baka may marinig kaming iyak, ungol o sigaw ng paghingi ng tulong. We checked the bedroom to our right first. Maingat naming binuksan ang pinto. Inside, a girl with waist-length hair was lying on the floor. She got a blackeye. Her blue blazer had been almost ripped apart. Her mouth was plastered with masking tape. Her hands and feet were bounded by a rope.

I rushed to her side and removed the tape gently off her mouth, as well as the rope on her wrists and ankles. I searched for her pulse. May pulso pa naman siya at maayos pa ang kanyang paghinga. But she might need medical attention.

"She needs to be brought to the hospital," I told Lorelei. "Puwede natin siyang isakay sa kotse ko, ngunit mas mabuti kung isasakay siya sa ambulansya."

"I'll call for an ambulance." Lorelei started dialing a number on her phone. Pagkasagot ng tawag, kinausap niya ang nasa kabilang linya at sinabi kung nasaan kami. She called Agatha next and told her that we had confirmed that their missing writer was here. Magpapapunta raw sila ng mga pulis dito.

"They're on their way," she informed me, sliding her phone back in her skirt's pocket. "May malapit na hospital dito kaya hindi magiging matagal ang kanilang response."

"That's good—"

The door creaked open, startling me and Lorelei. Sounds of heavy footsteps grew louder and faster.

"Is that them?"

"No, it can't be—"

Bumukas ang pinto sa kuwarto at pumasok ang isang lalaking nakasuot pa ng blue blazer. Hinihingal pa siya at tumatagaktak ang pawis. Lorelei took a step back. I laid the female captive carefully upright, her body leaning on the wall.

He was supposed to be in school. Why did he rush back here? Did he have a hidden camera in his unit where he watched us come in? No. Even if he had, there was no way he could have run all the way here around almost the same time we arrived. Well, this should be another question for another time.

"A . . . Anong ginagawa n'yo rito?" tanong ng lalaki sabay labas ng Swiss knife. Kay Lorelei nabaling ang tingin niya bago sa akin. Maingat akong tumayo. Bigla niyang itinutok ang kanyang patalim sa akin. "Pa . . . Paano kayo nakapasok?"

"If I were you, I would surrender in peace," I advised him, both of my hands up in the air. "Let's not resort to violence. Paparating na ang mga pulis at alam na nila ang ginawa mo sa babaeng nandito. There's no escaping now."

He took a step forward, outstretching the hand that held the knife. "Heh! Sa tingin n'yo ba'y maniniwala ako sa bluff n'yong 'yan? Dahil nandito na rin kayo, bakit hindi ko kaya kayo isunod sa babae 'yan?"

Without any warning, he thrusted his knife toward Lorelei. I pulled her back quickly and caught the boy's wrist. Hinawakan ko nang mahigpit ang palapulsuhan niya hanggang sa mapaaray siya.

"You should never hurt a girl. You shouldn't even point a knife at anyone." I gripped too tightly on his wrist. His clenched fist began to loosen, dropping the knife to the floor. I did not want us to get physical, but I needed to neutralize the threat. I punched him in the gut, which made him fall to his knees.

He groaned, clutching on his tummy. Sinipa ko ang Swiss knife palayo sa kanya. I grabbed a roll of masking tape on the bedside table and tied him up. He might try to hurt us again or escape.

The ambulance arrived at the apartment, followed by the police ten minutes after Lorelei's call. The weak and unconscious writer was carried on a stretcher and brought to the ambulance. Meanwhile, her boyfriend was arrested by the authorities and brought to the station.

The case was solved and closed.

LATER THAT afternoon, I offered to give Lorelei a ride home. Hindi pa ako nakapupunta sa apartment na tinutuluyan niya kaya magandang opportunity ito. Her place was just three blocks away from campus. Familiar na siya sa daan kaya hindi na niya kinailangang gumamit ng navigation app. My car pulled over the side of the apartment.

"By the way," Lorelei said as she unlocked the gate, "if you've read my blog, then you know who my roommate is."

"Yeah." I scratched my right cheek. She had mentioned Loki in her first post. "Not gonna lie, I found it strange at first. Parang malabong makipag-share ka ng unit sa lalaking gaya niya. But you mentioned that there wasn't any vacant unit in the apartment back then, so I understood why. If you're still roommates with him, then you must have become comfortable with his presence."

"Either that, or I have no choice but to stick with him."

She pushed the gate and invited me in. We went up the stairs going to the third floor. Ikinuwento niya sa akin ang unang linggo niya rito sa apartment at kung gaano niya na-miss ang kanilang bahay. She missed everyone in the Rios household—except her father.

I thought of telling her about our potential marriage. Now might be the perfect chance. We were no longer on campus so no one would overhear us. We were in a relaxed environment which might be conducive for that type of conversation.

But I held back. She seemed happy here. Breaking the news to her might disturb the peace that she had been enjoying the past two months. I would have more chances to tell her in the future since I would be here.

Huminto kami sa tapat ng Room 302 at binuksan niya ang pinto. Pinauna niya akong pumasok.

"Good afternoon," I greeted upon entering their unit. Unang bumungad sa akin ang kanilang sala na may sectional couches at center table. Nakaupo roon ang lalaki na may magulong buhok at nakasuot ng plain shirt. Nagbabasa siya ng Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. My eyes roamed around. Kagaya ito ng pinuntahan namin kanina. May dalawang bedroom sa gilid, may kusina sa isang banda at may comfort room sa likuran. This space was enough for two people.

"Oh, you're here already?" Loki said in monotone. He raised his gaze to Lorelei and me.

"Hi!" I raised my hand briefly. If people were to learn of him and my friend living under one roof, they might get the wrong idea.

He sprang from the couch, the book still in his hands. "You didn't tell me you're bringing home a guest. We've met before, haven't we? What's your name again? Altamont?"

"Alistair," Lorelei corrected him.

"Ah, your childhood friend!" he exclaimed. He snapped the book shut and tossed it on the couch. Lumapit siya sa akin at tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. "So he has decided to transfer to our school and drive you home. What a surprising development."

"How did you know that we arrived here by—" Lorelei almost finished her question, her mouth freezing mid-sentence.

He must have observed the timing of a car approaching the apartment and us going up here. Putting two and two together would not be difficult for him, given his deduction skills.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" I offered my right hand to him. We had already shaken hands before, but this time was under different circumstances. I decided to take advantage of the timing of my visit here, too. "I hope you don't mind if I join your detective club."

Loki was about to shake hands with me, but he froze for a second. Then he did. "Of course, you're welcome to join. But I'm currently suspended from school—and therefore, from my duties and responsibilities as club president—so the decision lies on the acting president which happens to be . . ."

He cast a sidelong glance at my childhood friend who was also his roommate and vice president. Nabaling din sa kanya ang tingin ko at hinintay ang sagot niya.

Lorelei heaved a sigh. In the end, the burden of making the decision fell on her. She shut her eyes and inhaled deeply. Pagkamulat ng mga mata niya, doon na niya ibinaba ang kanyang desisyon. "As acting president, I hereby accept Alistair's application to the club."

"Thank you, Lori." I beamed at her, then at her roommate. "Thank you, Loki. I look forward to working with you two."

"Me too."

And that was how I joined the QED Club. I had no idea what cases we would solve or who we would go up against, but I was thrilled to start a new chapter of my life here and with them.

—QED—

And that's the end of Part Three: Knight of the Club!

Up next is Lorelei for Part Four: Chronicler of the Club!

If you've enjoyed this update and you have some thoughts to share, let me know by posting or tweeting with the hashtag #QEDOrigins!