Chapter 23: Vacation [Zero, One, Zero, Beach!]

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WENDY

"GRABE 'YUNG takbo ko, guys. Pakiramdam ko mamamatay na ako," kwento ni Kentonni habang nakasimangot. "Ang bilis kasi tumakbo ni Skye, akala mong siya 'yung nakakaalam ng daan."

Kinagat ni Skye ang ibabang bahagi ng kanyang labi. "I'm so sorry, Ken. I just can't calm myself whenever I think about that the girls are left in that mansion—"

"Don't you trust me?" naiinis na tanong ni Zen.

"No, I don't," sagot naman ni Skye at nginitian siya. I hope Skye didn't actually mean that.

Because if you externalize trust from friendship, it will never develop a strong bond. Hence, it will only be devastated sooner or later.

Nang dumating ang mga pulis kahapon, tumila na ang ulan at payapa na muli ang langit. Pagkatapos ng questioning namin ay nagpatuloy kami sa "paglalakbay" namin.

We currently are sitting around as for our lunch just finished. The wrist watches they wore told us the accurate time — 12:47 PM. The sky still a half cloudy and a half sunny.

"Hindi ko lang din maintindihan kung bakit," singit ni Sophie habang nakahawak sa baba niya at nakatingin sa paanan. "Bakit sinabi ni Mang Timmy na 7 years old lang si Francis? Hindi niya ba alam na 13th birthday niya kahapon?"

We all looked at Zen and the latter started to feel uncomfortable. Siya kasi ang naka-solved ng kaso kaya umaasa kaming makakapagbigay siya ng paliwanag.

"Why are guys looking at me like that? Si cursed doll kaya ang nagbigay sa 'kin ng mga ideas, pinagsama-sama ko lang. So kasalanan talaga niya kung ba't na-closed 'yung kaso."

"What?" I gave him a disbelieved look and scoffed. Kasalanan? Kasalanan ko?! Wala nga akong naiambag na impormasyon tungkol sa kaso 'tapos ibibigay niya sa 'kin ang credits? Is he tryna trip my guilt?

"Probably Mrs. Ragasa lied to him about Francis's age?"

"Yeah, probably. But it's not our business anymore. As far as I know, he isn't innocent but he wasn't a suspect either."

"He's more like a witness?"

"Nope." Zen shook his head and his gaze lingered at the ground.

"You're not making any sense," sabi ko.

"It doesn't matter. Dismiss the case from your mind. The case's closed."

"Not entirely," Skye argued. He was keeping an eye to his best friend's movements.

"But do you still think it's our business?" Kentonni asked. He seemed to side with Zen. "Pumunta tayo dito para makita ang benefactor natin. Hindi para pakialamanan ang buhay ng iba."

"Speaking of which," singit ko. "Is our benefactor aware of our dangerous plan?"

"Plan? 'Yung ruby hunt? Oo, aware siya," sagot naman ni Sophie. "Sa una, ayaw niyang pumayag pero I managed to convince her."

Gusto ko sanang itanong kung gaano kalaking halaga ang ibinayad ni Sophie sa kanya para pumayag siyang tumulong sa kabaliwan ng mga teenagers.

"Just who the hell is this person?" tanong ko.

Kentonni looked at me with a confident smile. "Mas mainam kung siya mismo ang magpapakilala sa inyo."

After a long exhausting travel and expedition, we arrived at our benefactor's lair. It's also a usual mansion that can be seen in mountains and the primary color of the walls is caramel. It's pleasant to our eyes.

"OMG, I can't wait to see her," Sophie said dreamily, way too obvious excitement to see a friend whom I think she hadn't been in touch for a while.

From the entrance, sumalubong sa 'min ang isang babaeng kulay pink ang buhok at mayroong eye catching blue eyes.

The Phantom Detective ✓Tahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon