Chapter 8: The Calm Before the Storm

LORELEI

WE thought the next round of the Whose Deduction
Show would still be in a studio, but the showrunners thought of a plot twist to spice up the game.

***

ALISTAIR and Jamie arrived at our apartment around three in the afternoon. Loki did not want to meet somewhere else kaya rito ang napili niyang meeting place. He hasn’t taken a bath yet when our two friends arrived in our unit. Ilang beses ko na siyang sinabihan na mag-prepare na pero inuna pa niya ang pagka-crack ng codes na ipinadala via email.

Loki already called his family chauffeur to pick us up from the apartment and drive us to the television station. Yup, the Mendez family has a personal driver in their employ. Ilang beses na rin siyang tinawagan ni Loki noon kapag tinatamad siyang sumakay ng public transport.

In a text message sent by Sir Michael B., he asked us to bring clothes good for a two-day stay. He did not disclose where exactly we were going. Kapag nasa network na lang daw nila kami ibi-brief. Jamie thought that we’re going out of town, like a resort or beach, kaya nagdala siya ng emergency swimsuit.

I don’t get her logic sometimes. Our goal there was to win the game, not bathe under the sun.

Huminto ang driver ng pamilya Mendez sa tapat ng apartment at tinulungan kaming ipasok ang aming mga gamit sa trunk. Loki sat on the passenger seat while the rest of us took the back seat. Jamie was not that happy dahil nalayo sa kanya si Loki. If only allowed, she would have shared the passenger seat with him.

We arrived at the network station around five in the afternoon. Our fiercest rivals—as Loki put it—were already in the lobby, dala-dala ang kani-kanilang luggage. I greeted them with a smile, which they reciprocated, while Al asked them how they were doing. Naki-kumusta na rin si Jamie sa kanila with matching fake smile.

Yeah, I’d like to think I know when she’s being genuine and not. Loki? He did not care about them. The only thing he cares about is beating them.

“Thank you for being so punctual. Pasensya na rin kung kailangan n’yong i-sacrifice ang inyong weekend para dito,” Sir Michael B. said as he shook hands with everyone. Nakasuot siya ng jacket na may logo ng station sa bandang kaliwa. “By the way, I want you to meet the head writer of this show, Arturo Cruz.”

Kumaway ito sa amin. Nakasalamin siya, nakasuot din ng kanilang station jacket, at may bitbit na tablet PC.

He gave me the impression that he’s some sort of nerd. As the head writer of this game show, he should be well read sa mga mystery story. Well, at least, that’s what I expect of him.

“Glad to meet the finalists of this game!” bati niya sabay hawak sa bridge ng kanyang salamin. “Let’s make the pilot episode of Whose Deduction Show a hit, okay? Don’t worry, may pakulo kaming nag-aabang para sa inyo sa next round.” We nodded.

Sana nga’y maging successful ang unang episode ng game show na ‘to. It would be a shame kung magpa-flop agad ‘tapos kami pa ang unang batch ng players.

“You might be wondering kung bakit namin kayo pinagdala ng mga damit,” sabi ni Sir Michael B. na napatingin sa mga dala naming luggage. “We’re not going to the beach. Hindi rin tayo magbabakasyon out of town. We’ve decided to set your ultimate showdown sa isang mansyon.”

I could hear Jamie clicking her tongue at the mention na hindi kami matutuloy sa beach. Sayang naman ang inihanda niyang swimsuit.

“Bakit nga ba sa isang mansyon? Siyempre, para may vibes ng ‘And Then There Were None’ ni Agatha Christie ang venue—kung nabasa n’yo ang story,” excited na dagdag ni Sir Arturo. “It’s one of the classics, and every detective surely loves it!”

“Every mystery enthusiast must have already read that novel,” Loki commented. I recall him having a copy of that book in our living room. ‘Yon yata ang unang librong nakita kong binabasa niya sa unit. “I have already read that thirteen times already.”

“I’ve also read that book!” the girl with dimples who I recall as ‘Math’ shared. The other girl behind her must be ‘Amber.’ “It’s a good mystery, but I still prefer Doyle’s stories. Sherlock Holmes forever!”

“Pagpasensyahan n’yo na ‘tong si Maya,” the boy with brownish hair said. “Adik na adik ang babaeng ‘to sa Sherlock Holmes, eh. Mabuti nga’t hindi pa siya natotokhang.”

Kung tama ang pagkakatanda ko, ‘Jeremy’ ang pangalan niya. At ang katabi niyang lalaki na walang imik ay si ‘Gray.’ How could I forget the name of a man who managed to stand his ground against Loki during their face-to-face meeting at the eliminations?

“If Sherlock Holmes was a subject, baka top one na ako sa klase,” pagmamayabang ni Maya—este ni Math. Why did Jeremy call her by that name?

“May inihanda kaming van para sa inyo,” Sir Michael B. pointed at the vehicle parked outside the building. “Bukas pa talaga ang shooting natin, pero nagsisimula na kaming mag-set up ngayon. Gusto rin naming maging familiar kayo sa lugar at makapag-bonding kasama ang mga kapwa contestant n’yo para hindi lang kayo pumunta roon upang makipag-compete.”

Loki flinched upon hearing the word ‘bonding.’ And that didn’t escape the notice of the members of the other team.

As soon as we were ready, we were ushered inside the white van. Sa unang seats kami naupo nina Loki at Jamie habang nasa kasunod na seat sina Alistair, Jeremy, at Math. The remaining two, Amber and Gray, were left at the rearmost seat.

The sky was cloudy when we left the station. By the time we were on the road, nagsimula nang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan at dumilim ang paligid. Nagkaroon ng matinding traffic sa main road kaya natagalan bago kami nakaalis doon. We lost sight of the buildings as we drove into the vast, green landscape. Parang papunta na kami sa mas liblib na lugar.

By six in the evening, we caught glimpse of a lonely mansion that stood at the center of a vacant field. Ilang zigzag road din ang aming dinaanan at ilang bangin din ang aming nilagpasan. For a moment, I was worried that the van would lose control and fall off the ravine or that a landslide would block our path. Thankfully, walang gano’ng nangyari.

We arrived at the mansion’s front lawn. The rain had already stopped, but the sky was already dark. Thanks to the lamp lights, nakikita namin ang paligid ng mansyon.
Isa-isa kaming lumabas ng van bitbit ang mga gamit namin. Al helped me and Jamie with our baggages while Loki, being Loki, went straight to the front door.

The Detective Triumvirate Plus One—napakahaba ng pangalan—also got off the van. They roamed their eyes around the area, curious as to where we were brought.

“Kuya, tama ba ang napuntahan natin?” tanong ni Math sa driver. “Are we supposed to do the deduction showdown here? Parang maggo-ghost hunting tayo rito, ah? Baka naligaw kayo ng daan?”

She had a point. The mansion has that Western style charm on it, but it looked already old and not properly maintained. The head writer wanted to give off an Agatha Christie story vibe, so I guess that’s the reason why they chose this eerie place.

“Tingnan mo ‘tong babaeng ‘to,” bulong ni Jamie sa akin. Naghahanap na naman siya ng kakampi. “Nagbibida-bida kaagad. Hindi naman gano’n katanga si Manong driver para dalhin tayo sa maling location. And hello, he was using Waze earlier. Imposibleng naligaw siya.”

“Jamie!” I hissed. She was glaring at the girl in ponytails. Nahawa na talaga siya sa pagiging competitive ni Loki. And mind you, the round hasn’t started yet!

“I thought the crew has already setup here,” Gray said as he slid his hands inside his pockets. “Why aren’t there any production trucks around? Kung bukas na ang shooting at kailangan ng technical rehearsal ngayon, dapat nandito na sila.”

“Thank you for stating the obvious.” Thus the first shot was fired by Loki. “We also have eyes that can see there’s nothing in here except for our own van.”

“Baka papunta pa lang sila rito?” Amber asked, ignoring my teammate’s snide remarks. Thank God na hindi na nila pinatulan. “But still, there should be an advance party here para i-check ang kondisyon ng venue. Tama ba ako, Manong?”

Bumaba mula sa sasakyan ang driver na busy sa kanyang phone. I thought he was busy playing games, but it looked like he was texting someone. “Tama ka, Miss. May mga nauna na nga rito para i-check ang bahay. Heto nga, sinabihan ko nang nandito na tayo.”

Bumukas ang barn door ng mansyon. We all turned to that direction as we were greeted by the contagious smile of the host Damian Domingo. He donned a gray sweatshirt with the game show’s name in front and a faded blue pants. Behind him were two men carrying handheld camcorders. Parang baril nilang itinutok sa amin ang kanilang mga lente. 

“Welcome to the Deduction Mansion!” Damian greeted. The cameramen carefully walked behind the host, meticulously including him in their frame. He shook our hands one by one. “Kumusta ang biyahe n’yo? Umulan daw habang papunta kayo rito. I’m happy to see all of you well.”

“Friends na kami nitong si Alistair ng QED Club!” Umakbay si Jeremy kay Al na parang close na silang dalawa. “Bago matapos ang araw na ‘to, magiging friends ko na rin ang tatlo pang member nila.”

Amber turned to us. “Pagpasensyahan n’yo na kung minsan, feeling close ‘tong si Jeremy. When you hear him making puns, you are free to punch him in the face.”

“Grabe ka naman, Bestie!” Jeremy reacted. “Me making puns is my way of breaking the ice. Masyado kasi tayong seryoso kanina sa van. Ramdam ko ‘yong tensyon. Baka we can order halo-halo and just chill. Puwede naman tayong maging friends, ‘di ba? Ano’ng masasabi mo, Al?”

If Al allowed this happy-go-lucky guy to call him by his nickname, I guess they made some progress in making friends.

“We can hope na hindi lang tayo nandito para makipag-compete sa isa’t isa,” Al nodded, glancing at Loki whose attention seemed elsewhere. “This is a game and we ought to enjoy it, right? What better way to make friends with our fellow contestants.”

“Alistair, how many times must I tell you that we are not here to make friends?” Loki probably sensed that Al was throwing shade at him, so he decided to respond. “The purpose of this game show is to see who’s better in deductions. That is and has always been the intent of the showrunners. But I must admit, making friends is good in front of the cameras. Friendship and all that jazz sells to the viewers.”

Napa-face-palm ako sa mga sinabi niya. Loki, the camera is rolling. . . .

His twisted view of the game might not sit well with the audience. Kung merong botohan kung sino’ng contestant ang gustong i-evict sa mansyon na ito, he would have been the first to go.

“I see that we have a very competitive fellow here.” Chuckling, Gray folded his arms over his chest. “The way he glares at us yesterday and that aura of arrogance made it too obvious. He may be shaking our hands with his right, but he’s holding a rock in the other. But he has a point. Hindi tayo naparito para makipagkaibigan. We can do that elsewhere. This is a competition. Sa bandang huli, may mananalo at may matatalo.”

“But we can still be friends as a bonus,” Amber said. To that, I strongly agree. May ilang reality shows nga kung saan naging magkaibigan ang mga contestant. At hindi lang dahil nakatutok sa kanila ang camera o dahil may nanonood sa ikinikilos nila. “Walang masama kung magkakakilala at magkaka-bonding tayo. Won’t it be better if, at the end of this show, we would be friends instead of being complete strangers or bitter rivals?”

“We can assure the other team that we are not going to be bitter rivals,” Loki said with an air of superiority. “Why? Because we’re going to win this game and prove to anyone who cares that the QED Club is far superior than this Detective Quadrumvirate.”

“It’s Detective Triumvirate Plus One,” pagtatama ni Jeremy. I was about to tell him that correcting my teammate was futile.

“Do I look like I care what you call your team?” Loki dismissed. Gusto ko nang takpan ang bibig niya kung hindi lang nagro-roll ang mga camera. “You can call yourself anything you want, but you’re still gonna lose in the end.”

Gray would not let that insult pass. He turned to my teammate and asked, “Have you heard of the phrase, ‘Pride comes before the fall?’ Because it seems that you haven’t. Hindi nakabababa ng pagkatao ang pagiging ‘humble.’ Oh, do you even know what that word means?”

The tension was heating up kahit hindi pa opisyal na nagsisimula ang second round. I wanna pull Loki’s ears for acting too arrogant in front of our rivals. He’s making himself look like the villain. Jamie should be scolding him for not looking good on the camera. But she’s mum on this word war.

“Teka lang, huwag muna kayong masyadong mag-init dito.” Damian stood between the two men and tried to defuse the tension. “Remember, the game hasn’t started yet. Mas maganda kung papatunayan n’yo ‘yang mga sinasabi n’yo kapag nagsimula na ang next round. Baka kainin n’yo ang mga sinabi n’yo ngayon. Pero magandang gawing teaser ang brief na sagutan nila. People love tension and they’re going to love this scene!”

As expected, the host and his cohorts were after the ratings. At para magkaroon ng ratings, dapat may mamuong tensyon sa mga contestant. They did not have to give us a script. Loki was already doing the job for them.

“Let’s have a ceasefire muna, okay?” Damian asked. “May inihanda na kaming pagkain sa loob. It’s almost dinner time at alam kong napagod kayo sa biyahe. Eat and relax, will y’all? Come in!”

Pumasok na kami sa mansyon na sinusundan pa rin ng mga camera. Nakaka-conscious na ang pagsunod nila sa amin. Tig-isa kami ng cameraman ng Detective Triumvirate Plus One—tama si Loki, mas madaling sabihin ang Detective Quadrumvirate—at isa-isa nila kaming kinukunan ng shots. I remember what Jamie told me. Pretend that the cameras weren’t there.

Damian led us to the west wing of the mansion. Kailangan daw muna naming iwanan ang aming mga gamit para komportable kaming kumain mamaya.

“We have separate rooms for boys and girls,” he said as he stood at the center of the hallway. “Yes, hindi kayo magkakasama ng mga ka-team n’yo sa kwarto. Saktong tig-apat na lalaki’t babae kayo kaya balance ang bedspace sa loob.”

“That’s nice!” Jeremy exclaimed. Tila nagningning pa ang kanyang mga mata. “Makaka-close ko na itong si Noki. We’re gonna be best buddies bago tayo mag-dinner.”

“Loki.” Al corrected him. “Like the Norse god of mischief.”

“Alam ko kung ano’ng sasabihin ng mga kamag-anak na matagal mo nang ‘di nakikita kapag nag-reunion kayo!” Jeremy sounded ecstatic. I could see Amber in my peripherals sighing and rolling her eyes. “‘Matagal na tayong ‘di nagkita, ah? Ang ‘Loki-Loki’ mo na!’”

And then there was silence. Puwedeng mag-play ng cricket sound para lalong maging awkward ang sitwasyon. Amber must have been expecting this kaya napairap na siya kanina.

Ayaw kong maliitin ang kanyang deduction prowess, pero paano nakalusot ang Jeremy na ‘to sa pagiging detective?

“I’d rather sleep in the couch in the living room than listen to the puns of this man.” Loki was visibly Loki was visibly annoyed. If there’s one thing he hates more than anything else, it’s bad jokes.

“On behalf of the Detective Triumvirate, we are giving you permission to suffocate him in his sleep later,” Amber jested. Or maybe she’s not joking because she said it in a straight face.

“On behalf of the Plus One, I concur to the decision of the Triumvirate,” Math nodded, smiling.

“Not cool, dudes!” Jeremy complained. “Ipinagkakanulo n’yo ang apex at ang mismong founder ng grupo natin? At nakikigatong ka pa talaga, Maya, ha? Gusto n’yo bang sa kabilang team na lang ako kumampi?”

“On behalf of the QED Club, we respectfully decline your offer of conspiring with our team,” Jamie quipped. “My Loki dear doesn’t like lame jokes. Or jokes in general. Pasensya na.”

“Okay!” Damian clapped his hands once to get our attention. “Puwede na kayong pumasok sa mga kwarto n’yo at itabi ang inyong mga gamit. See you in the dining hall in about . . . twenty minutes? Ipahahanda ko na ang pagkain.”

Magkatapat lang ang kwarto para sa mga lalaki at mga babae. Damian inserted the key into the lock and pushed the door inward. Pagkatapos, iniabot na niya sa akin ang susi.

May apat na kamang nakahilera sa kwarto, tigdalawa sa magkabilang sides. While exterior of this mansion may be old, but the interior looked renovated. Ayaw siguro ng mga showrunner na magmukhang pangit sa camera ang loob ng bahay, lalo na’t dito magaganap ang halos lahat ng shooting.

Magkatabi ang kama naming dalawa ni Jamie habang magkatabi naman sina Amber at Math. We laid our bags on the bedside.

The air-conditioner was still turned off, but the rain outside made the room already cold. Jamie searched for the remote and turned it on at 20 degrees.

“We haven’t formally introduced ourselves, have we?” tanong ni Math na katatapos lang mag-ayos ng kanyang gamit. Smiling broadly, she went to my bedside and extended her right hand to me. Nakipagkamay ako sa kanya at naramdaman ang lamig ng kanyang mga daliri.

“My name is Mathilde Corazon. You can call me Math, just like the subject! I’m an MTAP finalist since elementary, two-time YES-O Regional President, GSP Regional President, Photojournalist of the Year awardee, and—sorry, I forgot to make a list of my achievements. Sa sobrang dami kasi, baka ma-bore kayong makinig sa akin. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is my favorite mystery novelist. My favorite Sherlock quote is . . .”

Kumurap ang mga mata ko habang nakikinig sa kanya. Math was like enumerating all the member states of the United Nations. I don’t know if that’s how she normally introduces herself to everyone. Pero nakita kong napailing na lang ng ulo si Amber at napatakip pa ng mukha.

“Jeremy likes to call her ‘Maya,’” Amber butt in when Math took a pause to breathe. “May pagkamayabang daw kasi.”

“Hey, that’s not true!” Math retorted, turning to her teammate. “Ako na yata ang pinaka-humble sa aming apat. Hindi ko na nga pinilit na isali n’yo ako sa Triumvirate, eh. If I were too arrogant or proud of myself, I would have forced the issue.”

“Now, I remember why I hate Math. Not you, but the subject.” Jamie smiled mockingly. “My turn? My name’s Jamie Santiago, the one and only future girlfriend of Loki Mendez. I’m a spelling bee champion for three straight years when I was in elementary. I can recall every word in the English dictionary, thanks to my retentive memory. I was the lead actress for three plays in Clark High and I received commendation from two lifestyle writers for my performances. Not everyone knows this, but I’m also a chess wizard and to date, no one has ever beaten me, not even Loki dear. I used to play . . .”

Hindi talaga nagpakabog si Jamie pagdating sa pahabaan ng resume. Loki’s not here for her to impress, so I guess ayaw lang niyang magpatalo sa isang kakompetensya namin. That’s Jamie for you.

“Amber Sison here.” She introduced herself as she raised her hand. “I’m a mystery enthusiast kaya napunta ako sa landas na ‘to.”

We stared at her for three seconds, waiting for anything else that she would like to add in her introduction.

“That’s all,” Amber said. Mukhang ayaw niyang sumali sa pahabaan ng resume.

And it’s my turn. “I’m Lorelei Rios. Wala namang espesyal sa akin. Hindi rin ako isang mystery enthusiast gaya ni Amber. I was living a normal yet complicated life until I got dragged into a series of cases. Since then, I have started to learn the way of detectives.”

“Marami pang puwede i-share si Lorie tungkol sa sarili niya, but look at how humble she is,” Jamie interrupted, motioning her hand to me.

Hey, I don’t want to be involved in her humble bragging campaign against the other two girls.

“So, how many cases have you solved already?” Jamie asked curiously.

Oh, dear. Mukhang alam ko na kung ano ang balak niyang ipamukha sa dalawang kasama namin.

Amber started counting on her fingers, but Math instantly gave a figure. “Eighteen cases.”

Biglang natawa si Jamie kaya napatingin kaming lahat sa kanya. She tried to suppress her laughter. “Eighteen lang? What’s your clearance rate? Four solved cases out of ten? The QED Club has already solved thirty-seven cases inside and outside the campus.”

“Oh, you’re referring pala sa combined number of solved cases?” Math arched her left eyebrow. “Those eighteen were mine—the Plus One—alone. If we add the efforts of the Detective Triumvirate . . . baka umabot ng forty-eight. That’s eleven cases more than your current record.”
Jamie gritted her teeth. Instantly nag-fade ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. Pero hindi pa rin siya nagpatalo.

“Those thirty-seven were only high profile cases. Hindi pa kasama ang mga petty case—na baka sa level n’yo ay mahirap na—na na-solve namin.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” sabay naming sabi ni Amber. Walang mangyayari sa patalbugan ng dalawang ito dahil walang gustong magpatalo. Jamie probably made up that thirty-seven cases. I only wrote fifteen on my blog. About Math? Maybe she’s also exaggerating the figures.

“Ang mabuti pa, kumain na tayo,” Amber suggested as she got to her feet. “Dala na rin siguro ng gutom kaya kung ano-ano nang numbers ang lumalabas sa bibig n’yo. The host is waiting for us in the dining hall. And it’s already twenty minutes.”

We agreed and left the room promptly. Siniguro kong naka-lock ang pinto. Wala namang ginto sa mga bag namin, but it’s better be safe than sorry.

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