AMBER

MATAPOS MAGPASALAMAT ang mga pulis sa tulong ni Gray ay agad kaming nagpaalam. On our way out the KTV bar, nakatayo sa pinto ang lalaking kanina ay kinaiinsan ko, the executive producer Michael B.

Huh, nag-abang pa talaga siya! He's really into Gray!

"That was a great show," sabi niya kasabay ng mahinang palakpak. "I'm impressed. Also, the shirt is catchy and I anticipated you can live that word printed there."

Inilahad niya ang palad sa harap namin. "We met at unfavorable circumstances so let me introduce myself again. My name is Michael Batongbacal or you can call me Michael B, I am an executive producer at BNC-12."

Gray looked at him intently as if he's wondering what the man wants from us. Napansin naman iyon ni Michael B kaya agad niyang kinuha ang kanyang wallet at naglabas ng calling card at ibinigay iyin sa amin isa-isa. "I'm not a bad person, pinahanga n'yo lang talaga ako sa pinakita ninyo kanina. I didn't expect that high school students like you can handle that case. I know it's late pero pwede ko ba kayong imbitahan sa isang coffee shop? I have some matters to discuss."

All of us looked at him with so much caution. Naramdaman kong bahagya akong hinila ni Je at bumulong. "This is it Bestie, our road to stardom!"

Bago pa man kami makatanggi, nauna nang pumayag si Math. "OMG, I've heard about you! May kakilala akong nagtatrabaho rin sa BNC-12 at ngayon ko lang naalala kung bakit pamilyar ka sa akin. I've seen you in pictures! Sure, we're glad to have a word with you."

Wala na kaming nagawa nang tanggapin ni Math ang paanyaya nito. He brought us to the nearest coffee shop na bukas pa. At least it's safe to talk her kaysa kung saan lang. Nang maka-order siya ng maiinom namin ay hindi na siya nagpaligoy-ligoy pa sa kanyang pakay.

"We're having a Filipino Adaptation of Whose Deduction Show which features young detectives like you," wika niya. Wait, is that why he can't take his eyes off Gray? And here I am, thinking of mean thoughts about him. "Kung hindi kayo busy, join the show," wika niya at isa-isang inabutan kami ng calling card.

"I'll be frank with my words Sir," sagot ni Math. "Back then, I was offered with some jobs on screen like modelling and acting but I declined because I know how showbusiness works. We don't want scripted stories and predetermined winners dahil iyon naman ang nangyayari sa mga reality shows at mga competition na ipinapalabas sa national TV hindi ba?"

I was surprise with Math's bluntness, pero kailangan ba talagang imention ang tungkol sa mga offers sa kanya?

Tat surprised Mr. Michael B ngunit ngumiti siya sa amin. "Well, hindi ko maikakailang nangyayari nga 'yan minsan but, ibahin n'yo ito, we want something new and fresh on the screen and this is it."

Kanina ko pa napapansin na tahimik si Gray at tila nag-iisip nang malalim. He's tapping his fingers on the table he spoke. "Let's say totoong iyon nga ang intensyon ninyo, what can we benefit from it?"

He looked at our shirt. "First is promotion. I see you wore shirts to promote, by joining this hindi lamang iilan ang makakakilala sa inyo kundi ang buong Pilipinas na."

Iyon na nga ba ang sinasabi ko kaya ayaw ko talagang isuot ang damit na 'to eh! Nang bumaling ako kay Je, he's eyes were sparkling in excitement.

"Aside from that, you'll have to meet people like you, young detectives plus the grand prize of half million pesos!" dagdag ni Michael B. "Isn't it exciting to match wits with other detectives like you?"

"According to my favorite fictional character, 'there is only one truth', why do we have to match wits with others?" tanong ko. I hope I didn't sound mean. Hindi lang talaga ako interesado sa ganoon plus I'm awkward with cameras.

"But Bestie, look on the brighter side! Malalaman ng lahat ng tao na may mga katulad natin na tumutulong sa mga kaso. Maybe if we appear on that show, hindi na nila tayo tatawanan kapag nasa crime scene tayo. Hindi ba't madalas nlang iniisip na panggulo lamang tayo? This is our chance to prove ourselves! We have to show them what we've got!"

He has a point pero ayaw ko pa rin! Hindi ako interesado! No need for promotion, nationwide recognition and all. Okay na ako sa ganito!

"Plus think of the grand prize," pangungumbinsi ni Michael B.

Hindi ko maiwasang taasan siya ng kilay. Is he saying mukha kaming pera? Before I could say what's on my mind, nauna na siyang sagutin ni Math.

"Sorry sir but we're not interested with the price. That amount is just my quarter allowance for shopping," Math said.

"Exactly, wala 'yan sa kita ng furniture shop ni Maya!" Jeremy said. Kahit kailan talaga ay hindi niya maiwasang barahin si Math!

"Oh, you owned a furniture shop?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Michael B.

"Ha? No, anong sinasabi mo Je－"

He cuts her off. "At factory ng papel." Kita mo naman, sobrang mapapel, he said under his breath.

"You must be incredibly rich for being an entrepreneur at a young age!" manghang sabi ni Michael B. poor old man, naniwala sa sinasabi ni Jeremy. When he says Math has a furniture shop, it means magaling itong mabuhat ng sariling bangko. When he says she owned a paper factory, ibig sabihin ay sobrang mapapel ito. Minsan ay tinatawag rin niya itong may-ari ng Jollibee, kasi raw sobrang pabida. He's lucky Math just takes it as a joke!

"I see, so how about for the experience? Ang dapat sa mga katulad ninyo ay nagte-trending at kilala ng lahat. Like you should get known through other means like vlogs and likes. Kayo ang dapat na maging influencer ng mga kabataan ngayon, hindi 'yong mga walang kwentang content lang."

Nambola pa siya, still my answer is no. I sipped on my coffee and waited for this discussion to end. Bakit pa patatagalin. Eh no lang din naman ang magiging sagot? I'm sure maging si Gray ay hindi rin sang-ayon dito.

Bu to my surprise, Gray stood up and agreed to it! What the hell? Nang mapatingin ako kay Sir Michael B, nakangiti na siya at tinanggap ang nakalahad na palad ni Gray. Tumayo rin sa pagkakaupo si Math at nakipagkamay rin. Even Jeremy! Did they already agree?!

Napakurap ako nang makita ang palad ng producer sa harap ko. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kanya at sa mga kasama ko. I don't want to be disrespectful kaya tinanggap ko na lamang ang alad nito at nakipagkamay. He told us the detail of the show at sinabing contact-in na lamang siya gamit ang binigay na calling card. When he left ay saka lamang ako nagreklamo sa mga kasama ko.

"You all agreed?" hindi makapaniwalang bulalas ko. "Hindi n'yo ba naisip na may pasok tayo?"

"Bestie, the show is for high school detectives kaya alam nila na may pasok so in-adjust nila na sa weekends iyon."

"Pero－"

"Okay, that was a rough night," Jeremy said and rubbed his palms. "It's about time."

I think I know where this is heading, kailangan kong ihanda ang sarili ko.

"About time for what Jeremy?" tanong ni Math.

"About time for my quiz!"

Sabay kaming napa-face palm ni Gray. When he says quiz, he means pun. Kailan ba siya nagpaquiz ng may sense? Never. Ewan ko ba kung saan niya nakuha ang mga puns niya tapos siya pa ang natatawa. Is that even normal?

He cleared his throat before he proudly looked at us, "Ano ang suot ng mga bahay?"

"Hmmm, kurtina?" sagot ni Math. Right, siya lang din ang sumusuporta kay Jeremy at sumasagot sa mga walang kwentang tanong nito. Hindi pa rin siya nadadala kahit ilang beses na kaming na-scam ng mga sinasabi niyang quiz gayong puro 'puns' naman pala iyon.

"Eeeenk!" he made a sound like a buzzer.

"Table cloth?" si Math ulit.

"Eeeenk! Mali pa rin. Bestie? Gray?"

Gray frowned and shook his head. "I'd rather not say it."

"Bestie?"

"Pass."

"Edi address! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" He burst out laughing like a retard. Nakakatawa ba 'yon? "Ito pa, anong ginawa ni 30 nang nagutom siya?"

Tinakpan ko na ang tenga ko. Here we go again.

"Ano?" tanong ni Math.

"Edi 38! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" What? Ano raw?

"Enough Puns," awat sa kanya ni Gray ngunit daig pa yata niya ang Pabebe girls dahil walang makakapigil sa kanya.

"Do you know why you shouldn't spell the word part backwards?"

Hindi talaga siya titigil ah!

"Why?" tanong ni Math.

"Because it's a trap! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Seriously, I'm not going to that TV Station," pagbibigay alam ko sa kanila. Lahat sila ay napatingin sa akin while I'm seriously making my stand on this.

"Let's just say it's for experience," sabi ni Gray sa akin. "Who knows they will have codes and other deduction techniques na pwede nating matutunan. Also, other detectives may stimulate us."

Padabog na ibinagsak ni Jeremy ang dalawang palad sa mesa. "Okay that was like crossing the line. Why do you need those other detectives to stimulate you when that is my role kaya ko kayo pinapa-quiz. Am I a joke to you?"

I rolled my eyes and surrendered upang hindi na mapahaba pa ang usapan. Fine, I'll go. Maybe I'll meet some nice and humble people.

Maybe.

∆+1