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Hunters and Foxes

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IT WAS a rather grim atmosphere that Thursday morning as Rein walked across the campus, overhearing snippets of conversation between Castillians everywhere he went.

"Sino kaya yung pumasok sa girls' dormitory noh?"

"Oo nga eh. Nakakatakot tuloy, baka kung sino palang sumisilip sa'tin nang hindi namalalayan."

"I heard the school admins were contemplating on hiring guards stationed at all dormitories."

"Talaga?? Nako, mas mainam nga siguro."

"Oo, lalo na ngayon na 'di pa rin nahuhuli yung salarin sa likod ng Writers' Schism Case."

Rein quietly cleared his throat as he passed by, trying to ignore the rumors and making it seemed as if he didn't care.

After all, for all he knew, the culprit was amongst these gossipers, trying to fuel as much fake news as possible to distract the student body. Kaya sa ngayon, mas mainam talaga na huwag muna silang gumalaw na magkakaibigan, not until they would have a foolproof plan in catching the culprit.

In the meantime while they waited for the perfect opportunity to pounce, Rein had taken the whole time yesterday to focus on their novel, just as he and Ann had agreed upon.

Turning to the hallway, the young man went to the rows of lockers lined by the walls, opening his own locker.

To his surprise, there was a small package waiting inside the small metal box, sitting on top of his textbooks.

Agad na naging seryoso ang mukha ng binata.

"Is this another threat?" He told himself, curiously picking up the brown parcel box.

The serious crease on his forehead soon disappeared when he noticed the card atop the box had a little note written on it.

Never thought I'd give a Maccio a present but here I am. Enjoy.

- A

A look of surprise spread across Rein's face as he reread the note a second time. Hindi ineexpect ng binata na ito ang bubungad sa kaniyang umaga.

Nevertheless, he placed the card back on the locker before opening the box.

Inside was a hard external drive and an Agatha Christie book entitled, "And Then There Were None".

A cocky grin soon tugged the corner of his lips, but he immediately coughed, shaking his head and closing the box before anyone could see why he was smiling at something that seemed like a gift.

"Oh great, here comes señorita perfecta Ann Lobris." A girl a few lockers away from where Rein was, snorted to her two friends. "So perfect, but always alone. I'm betting that one has a lot of secrets."

Dahil dito ay napalingon ang binata sa dalaga na naglalakad papunta sa kanilang classroom.

Ann had noticed him looking, raising an eyebrow at him before rolling his eyes.

Rein couldn't help but smirk.

He took a mental note to thank his rival later with an annoying remark.

---

As much as the others were slightly enjoying putting up an act of ignorance to the others to throw off anyone who was watching them, Queenie on the other hand, was having a more uncomfortable time.

Though she felt more confident than she was a few days ago, and despite the fact that no girl now dared to harass or or talk behind her back, Queenie seemed to be restless.

Hindi mapakali ang dalaga habang nasa loob ng iisang klase kasama ang kaniyang mga kaibigan. She wasn't much of an actress like Ann or Sera after all, and was more genuine and direct with her emotions.

But what bothered her the most was the fact that they were doing nothing. Pakiramdam ng dalaga ay nagsasayang sila ng oras, anxiously feeling like the culprit was now planning its next move against them.

And so, on that Thursday afternoon, the curly-haired girl had placed it upon herself to move — at least in a subtle manner — just so she can convince herself that she was contributing more to the investigation.

"Aish, bahala na." Queenie mumbled to herself as she was walking by the sidewalk, her body bag hanging by her shoulder as she craned her heck, trying to see if there were any tricycles passing by.

"QUEENIE!" The girl froze in her spot before turning to the road to see Jarrell and her twin Quinn in Jarrell's vehicle.

"Where do you think you're going young lady?!" Quinn demanded, sticking his head out of the car's window as Jarrell slowed down.

"Sa mall?" She snapped without thinking, causing Jarrell to laugh, and Quinn to raise an eyebrow at his sister.

"Huwag mo nga akong pinaglololoko, yung StarMall nandun sa kaliwa, eh ikaw papuntang kanan! Sa'n ang punta mo aber?!"

"Ah eh basta!" Sambit ni Queenie, quickening her pace.

"Hay nako Q. Halika na, pasok ka na dito sa kotse." Quinn sighed, pushing his head back inside the car as Jarrell parked the vehicle next to the curb.

"Ha, eh may pupuntahan nga ako!" Reklamo ni Queenie at akmang tutuloy pa sa paglalakad nang lumabas sa kotse ang kaniyang kambal at pinigilan siya.

"Queenie, you're my twin sister, I can read you like an open book." Quinn whispered, grabbing her by the arm. "I know you're going to the sea to investigate the cephalopods. Sasamahan ka namin."

"Wait what?" Queenie blinked. "Diba-a, akala ko ba wala munang gagalaw—"

"Ay oo, mas magandang bumili ng materyales pang-project doon!" Quinn said out loud, just as a few passersby walked past them.

He then wriggled his eyebrows at Queenie, and the young girl rolled her eyes, getting the signal and finally getting in the car with them.

"Okay naguguluhan ako. Akala ko ba bawal muna tayong mag-usap-usap kasi nga delikado pa?" Queenie demanded as soon as the three were alone in the car, and Jarrell was driving towards Atramento Sea, which was only a few miles away.

"The culprit's still on the move with hacking files, as reported by today's issue of the Castillian Gazette. Nauubusan na ata siya ng idea." Jarrell remarked with a crooked smile that Queenie could see from the rearview mirror.

"Which is why Rein told us to try to get a move on with our leading clues. I figured we'd start with your lead first, pero nung pinuntahan namin ni Jarrell si Ann, wala pa daw kayo ni Sera sa dorm niyo. Of course I should've known by then that you'd want to investigate the cephalopods as soon as possible." Quinn told Queenie dryly, with the young girl giving him a playful side eye.

"WE'RE HERE!" Jarrell said cheerfully, parking the car just a few metres away as the busy, bustling Atramento Bay came into view.

Right behind the bay was none other than the sea itself — crystal-clear blue and shining under the late afternoon sun. Trees surrounded the edges of the sea, and there were rows of boats and groups of fishermen by the bay, wrapping up their nets for the day.

Queenie didn't waste anymore time as she stepped down from the car, her shoes creaking atop the bay's wooden, rickety platform as she walked towards a group of fishermen who seemed to have solemn expressions.

Jarrell and Quinn walked right just behind her.

"Excuse me, kuya?" Queenie asked, catching the attention of the men.

"Ano 'yon iha?" Tanong ng isang mangingisda na naka-sombrero at hinihila papunta sa buhangin ang kanilang barko.

"Uh, tatanungin ko lang po sana kung sa'n niyo po madalas na binebenta ang mga pusit na nanggagaling sa Atramento?" Tanong ng dalaga, pushing her curly hair behind her hair that was being blown by the ocean's breeze.

"Ay, may iba't-iba kaming suppliers na pinagbebentahan iha, pero halos lahat sa palengke lang rin naman napupunta. 'Yung ibang natitira, pinapadala sa kabilang siyudad." Sambit ng matanda at pinagpag ang dumi sa kaniyang damit.

"Pero hindi kami madalas na nagbebenta ng mga pugita at pusit. Pinagbabawal ni mayor ang overfishing." Dagdag nito bago bumuntong-hininga, dahilan para mapatingin ang kambal kay Jarrell na napaisip kung may ganong batas bang pinatupad ang kanitang ama.

"Kaya nga 'di namin alam kung bakit tila wala na kaming makitang mga pugita at pusit sa dagat."

Agad na napakunot ang noo ng dalaga at napatingin sa dalawang lalaki na mukhang naguluhan rin.

"Ano pong ibig niyong sabihin?" Tanong ni Quinn na tumabi na sa kaniyang kapatid.

"Wala na, pa-extinct na ang mga pugita at pusit." The other fisherman, who was wrapping his net, interjected before letting out a heavy exhale.

"Isang linggo na kaming hindi nakakakuwha ng sapat na ipangbebenta, halos sasampung pugita lang kada araw." He said in a somber, grieving tone. "Sa palagay namin ay may ilegal na nangingisda kaya ganyan. Sana nalang ay mahuli."

"Nako sana nga po," malungkot na sambit ni Queenie.

"Salamat po kuya, manong. Para lang po kasi sa project namin." Singit ni Jarrell na yumuko ng unti bilang pagbibigay-respeto.

"Dibale po," ngiti ng binata at patagong kumindat sa kambal. "Susulat po kami sa mayor patungkol rito."

---

"So, may nalaman ba tayong bago?" Jarrell asked as soon as the three were on their way back to Castillo High in his car.

"We did, and it's troubling me." Queenie muttered, fidgeting in the backseat as she pondered over the words of the fishermen.

"Pakiramdam ko 'di lang coincidence na may cephalopod ink dun sa pigment." Sambit ng dalaga, glancing out the car's window. "Someone might be illegally making ink using cephalopods without legal permission or something — I don't know."

"Mukhang nagiging mapolitika 'tong mga nadidiskubre nating leads." Komento naman ni Quinn na nasa passenger seat.

"I'm afraid when the time comes that we've discovered the truth, we won't be politically strong enough to unmask the culprits." He said gravely, prompting silence inside the vehicle by the time Jarrell had parked the car inside Castillo High.

Nang bumaba na ang tatlo mula sa sasakyan ay wala pa rin sa kanila ang nagsasalita. They knew that deep inside, Quinn was right.

If in the most unfortunate event that the Writers' Schism case is heavily rooted into the darkest politics of Ylando City and that the culprit has strong connections from different outlets, then the six of them would be no match as mere students.

With a heavy atmosphere, the three walked side by side in deep thought, wondering how they were going to tell this to the others especially since the six had agreed the other night to meet tonight in the school's roof top to further plan their next move.

"Woah! Sorry. I didn't see you guys there."

Because the trio was so engrossed with their thoughts, late na na-process ng tatlo na may nakabunggo pala sa kanila.

"Enzo!" Queenie exclaimed, her voice more high-pitched then intended as she realized that they had bumped into the person that they were supposed to be steering away from.

At that very moment, they felt like deers or foxes under the headlights of hunters.

"I've noticed you guys had come from... somewhere?" The deputy president of the student council asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Pumunta kasi kami sa StarMall, bumili ng group materials." Quinn quickly explained, with Jarrell vigorously nodding beside them.

Enzo shrugged. "Well then, I'll see you guys around." He said in a calm, relaxed manner as he left the three, raising a hand as a gesture of goodbye without turning around.

At dahil nakatalikod na ang binata, ay hindi nakikita ng tatlo ang expression nito sa kaniyang mukha. It was a grim look of suspicion, because Enzo had just come from StarMall to replenish his stock of school supplies, and he had not seen any of the three there.

---

PLAY: "The Tradition" by Halsey

https://youtu.be/6E5s-KEKO3Q

"Oo gurl, ang pogi-pogi kaya ni Jarrell! Kita mo ba kahapon, nung naglalaro siya ng basketball? Shet! Pogi points!" A ninth grader squealed to her friend as Sera walked inside the girls' comfort room.

Agad na napatigil sa pagfa-fangirl ang dalawang dalaga nung nakita nila ang tenth grader. In embarrassment, the two girls quickly left the comfort room, much to Sera's amusement.

"Aba't may fangirls pala ang loko." Sera muttered amusingly as she reapplied her lip gloss, pouting her lips with a satisfying smack.

Nang lumabas rin ito sa comfort room at akmang uuwi na sa dorm ay napatigil ito nang narinig niya ang kaniyang pangalan.

"Hey Richard, have you seen Sera?"

The young girl froze, and quickly glanced behind her back to see Jayson Lopez asking her classmate, Richard.

Composing herself, Sera then started walking fast, determined to avoid Jayson. She knew that he was hurt, and maybe possibly furious that she stood him up for their supposed "coffee date", which was all the more reason for her to run for her life.

"SERA!"

"Shit." Sera uttered under her breath, quickening her pace more until she was almost running, like a doe escaping a hunter.

But of course, the beautiful girl was no match to the school athlete, and Jayson sprinted his way towards her.

WARNING: This section onwards is an inappropriate read for younger readers. It contains sexual harassment and violence. If you are under the age of 13 or is uncomfortable with such scenes, you are warned to skip this part. Reader discretion and parental guidance is advised.

Before she could even react or flirt her way through, Jayson grabbed her by the wrist.

"Why are you running little angel?" He murmured, Sera panicking as she scanned the hallway. Except for the two of them, the hallway was empty, as the sun was beginning to set behind the campus and most students were already back and safe in their respective dormitories.

"Hinahabol ko kasi yung curfew eh." Sera said coldly, glaring at him before snatching her arm out of his hold. "So if you'll excuse me, I really should be back at my dorm."

"Oh no you're not going anywhere Seraphim." Jayson said in a harsh, threatening tone as he once again gripped her arm, causing Sera to cry in pain.

"Ano ba Jayson?! Bitawan mo 'ko!" Sera yelled, trying to force her arm away.

"You little vixen, you think you can flirt with me, know secrets about the Writers' Schism, stood me up on our date, and then get away with it?!" He said through angry, gritted teeth.

"Oh no no no, you're not getting away this time."

With a horrific cry, Jayson then dragged the young girl, covering her mouth and forcefully pulling her into the nearby girls' locker room that girls would use after playing or training in the open court.

"J-Jace you're hurting m—" Sera begged, gasping when the young man slammed her back into one of the lockers, making her groan in pain.

Before Sera could further speak, Jayson had pinned her by the locker, trailing her neck with messy, slopping kisses and roughly covering her body with his hands.

"HELP!" Sera screamed, trying to fight back; but Jayson was stronger, bigger.

"TULON—HMPPHHH!!"

Sera's screams were of no use as her perpetrator immediately covered her mouth with one hand, whilst his other hand started opening the buttons of Sera's blouse.

---

"What took you guys so long?" Rein demanded as soon as Queenie, Quinn and Jarrell had entered the restricted rooftop of Castillo High's main building. "Nakasulat na kami ng apat na draft chapters wala pa rin kayo."

"You told us to get a move on with the investigation so we decided to visit Atramento Sea to follow my clue." Queenie replied as the three drew closer to Ann and Rein who seemed to have been waiting a while in the rooftop.

"And what did you discover?" Rein asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Something odd actually." Quinn shook his head as he placed his hands inside his pockets. "Sabi ng mga mangingisda do'n, nagkakaubusan na daw ang mga squids at octopi... Almost to the point of extinction."

"Extinct??" Ann repeated in disbelief. "Eh ang laki-laki ng Atramento. Paano nangyari y'on?" 

"We only have one possible theory." Queenie replied, her forehead creased as if she was calculating something. "Someone is illegally fishing or harvesting cephalopods."

"Sino naman?"

"'Yan ang aalamin natin para i-confirm kung ang taong nag-iillegal fishing ng cephalopods at ang culprit na nag-sulat ng threats sa mga dorm natin, ay iisa." Quinn pointed out, adjusting his glasses.

"Ahm, oo nga pala." Jarrell cut in, glancing at the twins before returning his gaze to the rivals whose full attention was on him.

Napalunok ng laway ang binata. "Uh, nakasalubong rin namin si Enzo nung pauwi na kami." Jarrell said sheepishly. "Thought we'd inform you."

Rein clicked his tongue. "That's not good." He muttered. "Enzo has been tailing us like a fox."

"Did he seem suspicious?" Nag-aalalang tanong naman ni Ann.

"No, we don't think so." Quinn responded, shaking his head. "He seemed more curious than suspicious."

"Good." Rein nodded, checking his watch to see that it was already six in the evening. "Si Sera nalang pala ang kulang. Have you heard from her, Jarrell?"

"Ha?" Biglang napakunot ng noo ang binata.

"I thought she was with you two." Dahan-dahang sambit ni Jarrell, staring at Ann and Rein who frowned and exchanged confused glances.

"No. We thought she'd be with you." Ann emphasized, starting to feel a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"I don't like this." Queenie mumbled, starting to fidget with her hands once again. "I don't like this at all."

"Teka, tatawagan ko siya." Seryosong sabi ni Jarrell at agad na nag-dial sa kaniyang phone. A heavy aura seemed to have fallen upon them as the young boy dialed Sera's number furiously.

"But she knows about tonight's meeting right?"

"Yes, si Sera pa. Hindi 'yon nale-late."

"Baka nama—"

"She's not answering." Jarrell said in frustration, calling Sera's number once again.

"For all we know may dinaanan lang siya." Quinn offered, but Ann shook her head. Sera was never one to be distracted.

"Damn it!" Gulat na napatingin ang apat kay Jarrell nang muling nag-fail ang kaniyang pag-dial.

Rein, who had fallen quiet, spoke up. "If she's unreachable through the phone, we need to start searching for her. God knows she might've been the culprit's new target after Ann."

"Where do we start though? She could be anywhe—"

"Wait!" Ann exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. She then sharply turned to Queenie, firmly placing her hands on both her shoulders.

"Queenie," Seryosong sambit ng dalaga. "The tracker."

"W-what?"

"You gave us TRACKERS right??" Ann pursed her lips. "TRACK HER."

"O-OH!" Queenie squeaked in realization, fumbling for her phone with shaky fingers and tracking Sera's location.

"Tracker??" Rein frowned, but Ann merely hushed him in silence.

"Found her!" Queenie exclaimed before slowly frowning. "That's weird," kunot-noong sambit nito bago ipinakita ang kaniyang device sa iba. "She's in the girls' locker room of the open court."

"What the hell is she doing in the locker room??" Jarrell demanded, and Queenie shook her head.

"I don't know, but i-it's odd... She isn't moving from that spot—"

Without another word, Jarrell immediately slammed open the rooftop's door, running down the stairs with the others following just behind him.

---

"HMMGGHHN!" Sera cried out in muffled screams as Jayson tugged her tie forcibly and threw it to the floor.

Agad na bumilog ang mga mata ng dalaga nang na-realize niyang tinatanggal ng binata ang sinturon na nakapalibot sa kaniyang pantalon.

No. Sera thought in horror as she twisted and turned, desperately trying to escape his clutches.

"I've been waiting for this moment, my angel." Jayson whispered in her ear as his hands crept from her waist and down to her skirt, slowly lifting the cloth up to feel her soft, porcelain legs.

"This is your punishment for playing with a Lopez like me." Bulong nito, licking a path towards her cleavage.

Tears were soon rolling down Sera's cheeks, ruining her mascara as she felt his lips linger over her skin, tasting her. The fear and anxiety were welling up inside her. But just as Sera was about to cave to the fear, the door to the girls' locker room busted open.

"SERA!" A familiar voice yelled. And before Sera could even fathom what was happening, someone roughly grabbed Jayson by the collar, pulling him away from her.

The young Madrigal girl blinked rapidly through the tears as Ann and Queenie immediately ran to her side, aiding her shaking body.

Despite her two friends cooing and calming her down, Sera's eyes were fixated upon Jarrell who was fuming with anger, almost choking Jayson by his neck.

"Tarantado kang bastos ka." Nanggigigil na sabi ng binata, the veins in Jarrell's neck and hands popping as he stared down at Jayson who seemed fear-stricken at the Marquez boy.

"Jarrell..." Rein warned as both him and Quinn were extending their hands towards their friend. Alam ng dalawang binata kung paano magalit si Jarrell. They knew that the Marquez boy was not one to be crossed.

But it was too late.

Jarrell had smacked punched the boy right across the face, breaking his nose.

---

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