ERALD

CHARLOTTE DID not attend her classes the day after we visited her. But she's already in good condition so there was nothing to be worried about. Mas mabuti nang magpahinga muna siya dahil baka makahawa ang sipon niya.

Normally, I would spend my time at the clubroom taking a nap. But circumstances have changed. I have a work to do, even if I abhor doing any work.

Sa mga nakalipas na araw, wala pang client na bumibisita sa club namin para magpakonsulta. Wala pang nanggugulo sa tahimik na buhay ng mga estudyante sa Clark High. Thus, Clyde and I had free time to focus on a case that involved our club president: the hunt for the K-OS Club's accomplice in the leadership seminar.

Salamat sa listahang ibinigay ni Reign ng executive committee, mas mapapadali ang paghahanap namin. Initially, I wanted four-eyes to do the process of elimination. But there were around fifty names on the list. It might take him some time to finish the job. Labag man sa loob ko, pumayag akong makipaghatian sa kanya.

Am I taking my job as a QED Club member seriously? For now, yes. This isn't just a petty case. This is a war between our detective club and the K-OS Club. Me versus Torry.

"Noong gabing hinahanap natin ang student council president, nasaan kayo?" tanong ko sa dalawang estudyanteng ipinatawag ko sa mismong clubroom namin.

While Clyde was personally visiting the classrooms of our persons of interest and interviewing them wherever was convenient for them, I took the privilege of inviting the students on my list to our headquarters. Nagmukhang interrogation room tuloy ang aming clubroom.

"Tumulong kami sa paghahanap kay Agnes noon," sagot ng lalaki sa aking kanan, sabay tingin sa katabi niya. "'Di ba pumunta pa tayo noon sa villa ng mga organizer dahil doon daw idinala ang student council president?"

Tumango ang katabi niya. "Nagtakbuhan pa nga tayo noon, eh. Concerned na concerned ang vice president kaya siya ang nanguna sa atin."

"May iba pa bang attendee na makakapagpatunay na kasama nga kayo sa mga nakitakbo hanggang sa makita ang dinukot na student council president?" sunod kong tanong.

"Magkakasama kaming taga-iisang club," tugon ng unang lalaki. "Nakita rin kami ng mga kaibigan namin sa kabilang club. Pwede n'yo silang tanungin para malaman kung talagang nandoon kami o wala."

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "Familiar ba ang pangalang Torrence sa inyo?"

Nagkatinginan ang dalawang ini-interview ko sabay iling ng mga ulo. "Hindi, eh. Sino ba siya?"

I cut my interrogation short and let the two leave the clubroom. May isinulat akong note sa tabi ng kanilang pangalan sa listahan: To be verified with the Arts Club. Hindi ko pa pwedeng i-cross out ang mga pangalan nila hangga't hindi nako-corroborate ng iba pang seminar attendees na hindi sila umalis sa grupo namin noon.

Those two were the seventh and eighth names on my list. Sa mga naunang in-interrogate ko, walang lumabas na kahina-hinala sa kanila. Torry must have already briefed his accomplice about this interrogation. Indeed, this was like finding a needle in a haystack.

I wonder how Clyde's doing. We haven't discussed on how we should approach these persons of interest. Kanya-kanyang istilo.

Knock! Knock!

Napaangat ang tingin ko sa pintuan kung saan nakatayo ang lalaking may pamilyar na mukha. Reign of the execom greeted me with a smile before asking, "Are you busy?"

Itinupi ko ang papel at napasandal sa aking upuan. "I'm currently on break. How can we help the executive committee?"

Pumasok siya sa clubroom at lumapit sa parihabang mesa. His eyes glanced at the folded paper in my hand. "I understand that you might be preoccupied with a case, but I have an urgent and serious matter to discuss."

"Was the student council president abducted again?" I joked. Mukhang may bagong request na naman ang execom mula sa amin. Considering the circumstances, I might be inclined to decline a new case because I wanted to focus on the case at hand. May halos dalawampung pangalan pa sa listahan ko. I can't afford to be distracted.

Reign shook his head. "The K-OS Club has declared that they will strike again."

By just hearing the name, he already got my undivided attention. I leaned forward, placed my elbows on the table and put my hands together. "Again? Ano na namang kalokohan ang iniluluto nila?"

"Do you mind coming with me to the student council office?" Reign asked.

Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip pa na sumama sa kanya. I texted Clyde that the execom has asked for our club's help and that he needed to be there. How did I get his number? I checked his application form. Gano'n din naman ang ginawa niya para malaman ang address ni Charlotte, pati na ang address ko.

Going to the student council office also meant that I would be meeting my dearly beloved sister there. Back at home, we never had a decent conversation, lalo na nang malaman kong inilihim nila sa akin na buhay pa pala ang batang babaeng iniligtas ko noon. That further strained what little was left of our sibling relationship.

Bumaba kami sa ground floor at dumiretso sa west wing. We stopped in front of a room that has a "STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICE" sign outside. Reign knocked twice before opening the door.

The interior layout of the student council office was different from the QED clubroom. Its size was twice our headquarters. Instead of monobloc chairs, couches rested at the center of the room. Photos of the previous student council presidents also hung on the walls. At the rear part were two rooms: the conference room and the president's office.

Reign and I walked across the carpeted floor to reach the conference room. As the execom chairman opened the door, the face of my sister Madelaine welcomed me. Kung dati'y laging may pagmamayabang sa kurba ng kanyang mga labi, ngayo'y tila namomroblema siya. Stressed, ika nga. This was such a rare sight to behold. Should I send a 'thank you' card to the K-OS Club for stressing my sis? Because I would.

"I brought Erald of the QED Club," Reign gestured to me before pulling a chair and sitting on it. "Another member of their club will follow here."

There was no need for introductions because Maddie and I know each other very well. Reign must also be aware of the fact that Maddie's my sister.

Humila rin ako ng isang upuan sa tapat ng ate ko at umupo roon. "When I heard that my sister and the council she's a part of need our club's help, I did not have any second thoughts of coming here to hear your request. Because that's what siblings do, right? The little brother helps the elder sister and vice versa."

"Oh, don't look so pleased," Maddie responded, lifting her gaze at me from the paper she was reading. "The student council and the execom can handle the situation without any assistance from you. But Reign insisted that we also get you involved in this problem."

"After all, we are dealing with the same enemy who interrupted our leadership seminar," the execom chair explained. "You are already on the trail of the K-OS Club. Adding this case to your to-solve list might shed more light in your pursuit."

This pending request would definitely diverge our attention from vetting the list of potential K-OS Club accomplice. Ngunit kung may mapapala nga kami sa imbestigasyong ito, it might be worth giving our attention.

"So how can we help the student council?"

"Let's wait for the president and the vice president," sagot ni Maddie sabay tingin sa kanyang phone. "Bumili lang sila ng snacks."

Speaking of the two, kumusta na kaya ang relasyon nila? Noong leadership seminar, nagkaaminan na ang dalawang nagpapakipot pa sa isa't isa. Because the mission was a success, Maddie now owes me a favor. A card that might come in handy someday.

Narinig naming bumukas ang pinto at inakalang ang hinihintay na dalawang student council officer na ang pumasok. When the conference room door slid open, bumungad sa amin ang mukha ni Clyde.

"Sorry if I'm late," he greeted us.

"Don't worry. The meeting hasn't started yet," Reign replied. "Please take a seat."

Umupo sa tabi ko si Clyde at ipinatong sa mesa ang nakatuping papel. Mukhang kakatapos lang niyang mag-interrogate ng mga nasa suspect list.

"How's the witch hunt?" pabulong kong tanong sa kanya.

"Nothing suspicious so far," he whispered back. "I already crossed out thirteen names."

"Thirteen names?" I repeated. That's already double the number of my interrogated students! Paano niya nagawang makarami ng pangalan? Was he thoroughly interviewing them? We only started this initiative four hours ago. "Baka tinanong mo lang ang mga 'yan ng 'Ikaw ba ang kasabwat ng K-OS Club? Yes or no?' Tapos nag-move on ka na sa susunod na pangalan?"

"I assure you that my method is thorough," Clyde answered. "How about you? How many names have you crossed out already?"

"That doesn't matter right now!" I retorted. "The student council has a case for us to solve. Ayaw kong ako lang mag-isa ang magdesisyon kung tatanggapin natin o hindi ang request nila. You have to have some responsibility too."

Naputol ang usapan namin nang muling bumukas ang puminto. This time, the president and the vice president appeared at the doorway. They slid the door open and let themselves inside the conference room.

Compared to my sister, the two top officers looked less stressed. Nagtatawanan pa nga sila noong pumasok. Inilapag nila sa mesa ang pinamiling snacks bago umupo sa tabi ng ate ko.

"Sorry kung natagalan kami," paumanhin ni Agnes, ang student council president. Kumpara noong una ko siyang na-meet, mas blooming na siya ngayon. It must be the power of love... or something. I don't care whatever that was.

"Now that we are complete, we can discuss the pressing matter at hand," Reign started the meeting. "Today, we are joined by Erald and Clyde of the QED Club. They are also the same people who helped us find the president when she was abducted."

Sandaling nagawi sa akin ang tingin ni Reign. He knew that I masterminded the fake abduction of the student council president. But he let me off the hook since the target wasn't harmed in any way.

"Enough beating around the bush, just state your case," I said impatiently. "Let's see if it's worth our time."

"This morning, we found a sealed envelope at the doorstep of our office," my sister Maddie narrated, pushing an envelope to my side. Kinuha ko ito at inilabas ang nakalakip na papel. "This Friday, we will hold an acquaintance party for all senior high students. We have already invited performers to the event. And someone wants to join in: the K-OS Club."

I smoothened the folded piece of paper and read what was printed on it. Mahirap matukoy base sa printed letters kung ano ang gender ng sumulat nito. If it were hand-written, we might have an idea or two.

Friday night is a night of fright
Will you take cover or take flight?

"Based on these two lines, you assumed na manggugulo ang pasaway na club na 'yon sa event n'yo?" tanong ko sabay angat ng aking tingin sa student council president.

Agnes nodded. "Considering the record of the K-OS Club, hindi nila palalampasin ang pagkakataong ito."

"The K-OS Club has already involved themselves in the two events organized by the student council," Reign recalled. "The bomb threat at the club fair and the attempted drowning at the leadership seminar. We see no reason why they wouldn't make good to their threats."

"What exactly do you want us to do?" Clyde asked, adjusting his rectangular spectacles. "Do you want us to find who sent this type-written threatening letter?"

Reign shook his head slowly. "That might be impossible. But we suggest that you help us think of security measures to ensure that they can't cause any inconvenience to the party-goers. And if it won't be too much trouble for you, help us catch them in the act."

"Why don't you just cancel the event?" I asked bluntly, reclining on my chair. "If there's no event, the K-OS Club won't have an avenue to execute their dirty scheme."

"For the safety of everyone, we recommended the same suggestion to the council," Reign answered. "However-"

"This acquaintance party is the pet project of our council," Agnes cut him short, speaking firmly. "I don't want the very first event of this kind to be ruined by students who have nothing better to do than create trouble."

Come to think of it, wala pang acquaintance party para sa mga senior high school student dito sa Clark High. Personally, I believe this event would be nothing but an unnecessary extravagance, the cost of which should be shouldered by the student activity funds. But hey, my opinion doesn't matter because I'm not a part of the council.

"What are your plans for the party?" Clyde asked. "If you want us to help you out, we also need to be on the loop."

Napatingin si Maddie sa student council vice president. "Bruce will walk you through the plan."

"We already submitted a request form to the events office yesterday," the vice president replied. "Ang gymnasium ang napili naming venue para sa acquaintance party. Titingnan ko mamaya kung approved na ba o hindi."

"But the processing time will take at least three days," Maddie pointed out, looking skeptic. "Bukas na ang event natin. If the events office will not grant our request to hold the party at the gymnasium, what is our alternative?"

Napakamot ang ulo ni Bruce. "Kung wala tayong choice, pwedeng sa quadrangle na lang. Ang poproblemahin lang natin ay baka lamukin ang mga attendee o kapag umulan."

"Huwag kang mag-alala, Madelaine. Maa-approve ang request natin!" Agnes was optimistic compared to my gloomy sister. "We are the student council after all. They won't dare reject our request, will they?"

I understand the urgency of their request but the president sounded like no one in this high school could say "no" to them. Alam kong sila ang kapita-pitagang student council, but they have to follow the proper procedure. They should have submitted the request form on Monday or last week. Natulog ba sila sa pansitan?

"The event will start at six and will end at nine in the evening," Bruce continued, checking the notes on his phone. "Magpe-perform ang mga taga-dance troupe pati na ang mga taga-choral."

"Aside from the student council and the executive committee, does anyone else know about the K-OS Club threat?" Clyde shot another follow-up question. "Should the student body be informed about what might happen?"

"As much as possible, ayaw naming maalarma ang mga estudyante," sagot ni Maddie. "We have no plans of making the threat public, lalo na't unverified pa 'to. Mas mabuti na kung-"

But my sister's words were cut off when we heard the door outside open. A rushing of footsteps echoed in the office. We saw three students bearing the execom badge on their collars. They knocked on the conference room door before sliding it open.

"We have bad news!" nababahalang bati ng nasa harapang execom member. "May copy ring na-receive ang Clark Clarion mula sa K-OS Club!"

Maddie rolled her eyes while the student council couple let out a sigh.

"That's not good." Napatayo sa kanyang upuan si Reign, kunot ang noo. "Kung nasa kamay na ng Clarion ang tungkol sa threat letter, hindi malayong sumulat sila ng article at i-post ngayong hapon sa website at sa bulletin board nila."

"We asked them to not publish the information," sagot ng execom member. "But they lectured us about editorial independence. Wala raw tayong karapatang sabihan sila kung ano ang pwede at hindi pwedeng i-publish."

Napakrus ang mga braso ni Reign. "We already asked them to not publish the incident during the leadership seminar. Mukhang hindi na natin sila mapapakiusapan."

Kaya pala wala akong nabasang article sa Clarion tungkol sa panggugulo ng K-OS Club at sa pagligtas namin kay Charlotte. These men tried to control the flow of information.

"We can't fault them for doing their duty," depensa ni Maddie. "Kailangan nilang i-inform ang student body tungkol sa threat letter na ipinadala sa kanila. I am worried they might write that we tried to keep the information from being disseminated. That's going to be a huge blow on our council's integrity."

"It's all about the angle and putting things in the right context," Reign nodded. "We can't do anything about it. Ang mabuting gawin natin ay paghandaan ang banta nila."

"This might affect the turn-out tomorrow," Agnes commented, biting her nails. "I want our event to be a success. Pero kung may manggugulo na naman, I doubt that we can achieve that goal."

"With the help of the QEB Club, we might be able to avert any crisis tomorrow," Reign shot a sideward glance at Clyde and me. "We will work hand-in-hand with them. Right?"

"Teka, teka!" I leaned forward. "Baka masyado kayong mag-expect sa amin? Hindi pa nga namin sinasabi kung tatanggapin namin ang request n'yo. Hindi porke't ang student council ang humihingi ng tulong sa amin, automatic na payag na kami."

"We will try our best to stop the madness of the K-OS Club and to catch them," Clyde raised his voice to drown mine.

I glared at him. Why was he committing our assistance to this request? Dapat pareho kaming mag-agree, hindi pwedeng siya lang ang magdedesisyon.

"This might be another way to take down that rogue club," he told me after he noticed my deadly stare. "Kung may mahuhuli tayo sa akto, posibleng siya ang maging link natin sa mastermind na sinasabi mo. This can be a shortcut."

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. He has a point. It might take us days to clear our list, but if we catch a fish in the murky pond tomorrow, we would be a step away from closing this case and putting an end to that club. Expedient, no doubt.

"Fine! The QED Club will take your case."