CHAPTER 9: Mysterious Student
633 Words
Seryoso ka ba talaga dito, Yllana? Gabi na, baka mapagkamalan tayong ligaw na kaluluwa rito."
Bulong ni Rylan habang dahan-dahan kaming naglalakad sa madilim na hallway ng dati naming school. The smell of old floor wax and chalk hit me instantly. It felt like stepping into a time capsule, pero imbes na masayang memories, puro kaba ang dala nito.
“Rylan. Focus," sabi ko, holding my phone's flashlight. "Sabi mo diba, the Principal’s office scandal involved the server my Dad donated. Kung may records pa rito, kailangan nating makita."
"Opo, Boss. Pero sana nag-dala ka ng snacks. Nakakagutom palang maging detective," he joked, though I could tell he was also scanning the corners. Even with his jolly vibe, Rylan was alert.
Nakarating kami sa Records Room. Locked, of course. Pero bago ko pa mailabas ang kahit anong gamit, Rylan was already kneeling by the door, poking a wire into the lock. "Wait, where did you learn that?" I hissed.
"Youtube University, Yllana. At marami kaming spare time sa fast food chain kapag walang customer," he grinned, and with a soft click, the door swung open. "After you, Your Highness."
The room was filled with dusty filing cabinets and old CPUs. I went straight for the digital logs. Habang nagta-type ako, Rylan was busy looking at the old yearbooks and class records sa kabilang shelf. "Yllana, look at this," tawag niya.
I walked over. He was pointing at the list of students from our batch who were "investigated" during the server scandal. Most of them were scholarship students, yung mga madaling pagbintangan. Pero sa likod ng page, may nakasingit na listahan ng mga "exempted" students.
"The kids with the biggest donations," I muttered. My name was there.
"Check the names under the 'Transfer' list for that year," Rylan said, his voice unusually serious. "May isang student na nawala sa records right after the scandal. Hindi siya na-kick out, pero biglang nag-transfer. Sabi rito, 'Family Emergency.'" I looked at the name. My heart skipped a beat. The name wasn't familiar, but the last name was, a prominent family name that I’ve been hearing a lot lately in my Dad’s business circles.
"
Wait, kabatch pala natin siya?" I whispered. "Bakit hindi ko siya naaalala?" "Kasi elite student 'yan, Yllana. Hindi nakikihalubilo sa mga 'pasang-awa' na tulad ko. And you? You were too busy being the 'Ice Queen' back then," pang-aasar ni Rylan, pero ramdam ko ang tensyon sa kanya. Bago ko pa mabasa nang maigi ang profile, nag-flicker ang mga ilaw sa hallway.
Ping.
My phone vibrated. In the dark room, the screen was blinding.
Unknown: Nostalgia is a dangerous drug, Yllana. Stop looking at the past, or you might trip over the present.
"He knows we're here," I gasped, grabbing Rylan’s arm.
"Sibat na tayo!" Rylan didn't wait. He grabbed the folder he was holding and we sprinted toward the back exit just as we heard heavy footsteps echoing from the main lobby.
Nakarating kami sa kotse, parehong hinihingal. Rylan was clutching the stolen folder like it was gold. "Safe?" he asked, trying to catch his breath.
"For now," I replied, staring at the darkened school building. I looked at the folder again. Hindi ko pa ma-connect ang lahat, pero isang bagay ang sigurado: ang Unknown ay hindi lang basta stranger. He was there. He saw everything that happened in Grade 10.
And somehow, he’s been waiting for the right time to make me pay for a secret I didn't even know I was keeping. "Rylan," I said, looking at him. "The gala is tomorrow. Keep this folder. Don't let anyone see it."
"Copy that. Pero Yllana, mag-ingat ka bukas. Kung sino man 'tong nasa listahan na 'to, he’s closer than we think."
I nodded, my mind already drifting to the gala.
- Writer
