Heartstrings and Detective Rings

First Encounter

The eight of us hop in the van. There are four rows, including the driver and passenger seats. And guess who my seatmate is?

"Hey, Parker. Starve?" Ice asked me. Yes, this cold white paled person ang katabi ko. I just nodded because I don't have the mood to talk. C'mon, kahit kayo mawawalan ng gana pag gutom.

"Hold that for a while. This is an urgent call. Work first before ourselves."

Umismid ako at tumingin nalang sa bintana. Bakit ba sya ang nakatabi ko? Hindi ko naman sya close. Btw, si Clinton pala ang nag da-drive. We have the right to drive a vehicle because the organization granted us permission and intended for us to obtain our student license. Pupunta kami sa nasabing lugar ngayon and I think another case ito.

"Damn. Sinong may dala ng snacks sainyo? Kanina pa ako nagugutom." Tanong ni Sera na katabi ngayon ni Rowan. Napabuntong hininga ang iba including Clinton na nagmamaneho.

"Don't worry, Sera. After this, kakain na tayo." Sera nodded and di na umimik pa.

Nakarating na kami sa binigay na location saamin. May mga students and teachers na nasa labas. Narealize ko nalang na nasa public school pala kami. Good thing, we're not wearing our uniform, only our school t-shirt. Wearing the school uniform outside the campus kase is prohibited. We are only allowed to wear the school t-shirt kahit hindi kita ang pangalan ng school at logo. The color of our school t-shirt is Mystery Plum.

"Excuse me po. Ano po ang nangyari rito?" Si Clinton na ang nagtanong sa teacher na stress ang itsura ngayon.

"Attempted Murder. And thank you for coming." Napakunot ako ng noo sa narinig ko. Sumilip ako ng tingin dahil sa dami ng tao na nagkukumpulan. Napansin ko na wala paring mga pulis na dumarating and I think the teachers were expecting us to come here. Wait, do they know us? I don't know.

I saw two students and they are boys, yung isa kunot na kunot yung uniform at may kunting blood habang yung isa naman ay nakagapos sa sahig. Pinapaalis na nila Sera yung mga students at pinapabalik sa mga respective rooms nila. We planned to take them to the police. Ang sabi ay magkaaway daw ang dalawang students kaya nangyari yun. That's sick.

May vehicles yung school so hindi na kami nahirapan sa transportation. Aalis na sana kami ng biglang nagsalita yung muntik na manakit sa lalake.

"Pony? Is that you? Where have you been, my Pony?" Nagtinginan kami nila Rowan kung sino yung tinutukoy nyang Pony. Sinong Pony? Ang jeje naman ng name.

"Pony? Why are you not facing me? C'mon, let's go on a date." I furrowed my eyebrows when I saw him walking towards Phoenix. Hinarangan bigla ni Logan ang lalake.

"Don't come near us." Logan said and I can sense that he is mad. I saw Phoenix na dumeretso na sa sasakyan namin at sinirado ang pintuan. Magkakilala ba sila? And that's weird, hindi manlang pinansin ni Phoenix yung lalake. Well, kahit ako di ko papansinin yung tao kung may ginawa ba namang krimen. But, I think matagal na sila magkakilala, especially na may sya na tawag ng lalake kanina.

"Chill, man. I'm just greeting my old friend because it's been a decade since she suddenly disappeared.." The guy smirked and pinapasok na sa sasakyan nila. Logan gritted his teeth and sumakay na rin sa van namin.

"Ooh, tea.." Clinton said and chuckled.

"What tea? May tea? Where?" Sera asked at tumingin sa paligid kung meron. I facepalmed myself at sumunod na sa sasakyan. Sa sobrang gutom nya ay di na nya ma-differentiate ang tea sa tea.

"Hey, Ice told me na wag na tayo sumama sa Police Station. Balik nalang daw tayo sa Campus and have our lunches." Humabol sakin si Rowan sa paglalakad and I faced her.

"Really? Pano yung iba?"

"I think hindi na rin sasama sina Phoenix and Logan, especially Sera." Rowan chuckled. I saw Sera coming towards us. I understand kung hindi rin sasama yung dalawa. May feeling lang ako na yung encounter kanina medyo may kinalaman dito. It's okay for us na kunti lang mag aasikaso nito. It was approved by the Organization. Sina Clinton and Ice lang ang pupunta room while kami hindi na.

Nakasakay na kami sa van and si Logan ang magmamaneho and guess what, Phoenix is my seatmate. Nasa likod yung dalawa, Sera is leaning on Rowan's shoulder, pouting. Lol. Having her by my side feels strange; this is the first time I have sat beside her. She's quite. The encounter between her and that guy still lingers in my mind.

Are they friends, or is he a relative?

Why did Phoenix act like she didn't know him?

What is the relationship between Logan and her?

Why did he call Phoenix 'Pony' earlier?

Isn't 'Pony' a cringe-worthy name?

Why do I feel nervous when I'm near her?

"Parker..Parker..Parker!"

"H-huh?" Nabalik ako sa realidad dahil sa pagtawag saakin ni Sera. Natulala ata ako. Napansin kong nandito na kami sa Campus at ako nalang pala ang hinihintay nilang bumaba. Damn, nawala ata ako sa sarili kanina at hindi ko na napansin na nakarating na pala kami sa Campus.

Pumunta kami sa Dining Hall at nasa tabi lang nila ako, sinusundan sila.

"It's none of your business to know information about me..us."

Nanindig bigla ang balahibo ko nang may narinig akong bumulong sa right ear ko. What the heck?

I saw her walking past me and Logan touched her waist to come along with him.

Can I be part of your business, Pony?