The Phantom Detective ✓

Chapter 17: The Buried Past

WENDY

"Wendy, do you even remember me?"

NAPATAAS AKO ng isang kilay. What kind of rubbish is this guy spitting about?

"Zen, pinatakas lang tayo ni kuya mula doon sa lalaking may kinalaman sa Quintuple Ruby. Pero hindi tayo nabangga o nabagok. Kaya imposibleng nagka-amnesia ako."

Marami akong tanong na gustong-gusto ko nang masagot tungkol sa Quintuple Ruby na 'yan. I'm just holding them back. By persistently looking for answers, I might discover something that will absolutely tear me apart. Especially about my deceased mother.

He bit his lower lip. "No . . . That's not what I mean."

Hindi na ko nagtanong kung anong ibig niyang sabihin at napailing nalang. "Go to the station by yourself. Uuwi na ako."

"No, wait!" He stopped me by grabbing my forearm. "Come with me. Please?"

"If you wanna be Holmes, pick a competent Watson. And it's not me."

"But I've already chosen you."

Silence.

Ako lang ba? Or sadyang napakacorny ni Zen? Wala naman 'di bang mawawala kung sasamahan ko si Zen sa police station? Why does it always have to be him?

"Hilig mo talaga akong hilahin, ha," I whispered. Binawi ko sa kanya ang braso ko. "We should hurry. Someone's life is on the line."

Halos mag-panic na kami habang papunta doon sa station. Napag-alaman ko rin na sa may hidden pocket pa sa wallet ni Zen na naglalaman ng mga cards at doon niya isinusuksok ang mga phanton papers. The papers were different from before. Hindi na sila kasing kapal ng 1/8 index card kundi sobrang nipis na.

Zen jotted the truth on the paper.

"Tell me," panimula ko ng pag-uusap habang nakasakay kami sa isang taxi. "Hindi ka ba natatakot na baka ma-trace nila 'yang penmanship mo?"

"If you're worried about me, rest assured. I have 10 penmanship."

It's not like I'm worried about him. But my jaw dropped literally. Sampung . . . penmanship? Is he really that competent in everything?! Whoa, I'd be lying if I tell anyone now that Zen is just a good-for-nothing, happy-go-lucky dumb guy. Masyadong opposite sa totoo niyang kulay.

Why are you hiding this awesomeness, Zen?

Nang makarating kami sa station, hindi na kami pumasok sa loob kundi dumaan kami sa bakuran, naghanap ng bintana para maipasok ni Zen ang kanyang phantom papers.

Para kaming mga timang na secret agent na nasa action movies habang nagtatago mula sa mga kalaban.

Tell me, Wendy. Why are you doing this again?

When we found a window, Zen threw the cards inside at saktong tumusok ang nga 'yon sa bulletin board nila. Gano'n ba katibay 'yung cards mo, Zen? Saan mo nakukuha 'yan?

Fast forward. Case closed. Buti nalang naagapan pa si Harry dahil mayroon sanang ipapakain sa kanya pero agad itong nakitaan ng cyanide. Zen saved a life.

I wonder, though, if we weren't able to discover the truth at the right time. Would Zen be blaming himself for Harry's death? Truly, being a detective is not just about solving crimes that has already occurred, because little they they know, a sudden turn of events such as serial murder might possibly happen. It is also their responsibility to prevent the crime—prevent death. People's lives are on their hands.

However, I am certain for one thing. Death is not always inevitable.

We are now walking on a street under the moonlight with an awkward silence between us. Naubusan ka kasi ako ng pera dahil ako 'yung nagbayad ng taxi kanina whilst Zen brought a wallet, but not a single penny. From my peripheral, I saw he looked up to the sky and smiled bitterly. Cliché.