CLASS WITH A MISFIT: Along with the Beauties

Session 12

-CHASING CULPRIT-

CHARRE

'What is he doing here in the timeframe of the incident?' I thought pertaining to Celo.

"You invited him here, didn't you?" mahinang tanong ko na kay Kevent na ang pinagkakabalahan naman ay ang mga anggulo ng lugar.

"Yeah," tipid niyang sabi, "Buti nalang pumayag. Dapat lang, kasi pangalan niya 'yong nililinis natin dito."

"Ha, competitive na nga, sigurista pa," I remarked at Kevent.

"Whatever," tanging ganti niya bago bumaling sa bagong pinunterya.

"Now where could they put the hidden camera in here?" patanong sabi pa niya while looking at the angles of the area.

"I found it." That was Celo who now finally stood up and walked toward us. Napatingin na rin si Kevent sa kaniya.

The three of us went closer as Celo showed us a picture on his phone: a picture of the potted bush he was checking earlier.

"I suppose the one who leaked the photo used a nano camera and hid it on one of the bush's stems." Celo deduced and zoomed in on the photo.

"Right," nasabi ko bago lumapit sa bush na sinasabi niya. Sumunod na rin sila sa akin at si Kevent ay tinignan na rin ang bush.

There we saw a small hole on one of the stems. Sa liit nito at pagkatago ng nasabing stem ay hindi talaga ito madaling mahalata.

Natilihan ako nang napansin ang ilan ring mga maliliit na butas sa ibang stems.

Muling nagsalita si Celo bago ako makapagsalita, "The other holes, I suppose, were the results of the attempts that would give the camera the right angle to take photos."

Nagsalita na ako pagtayo, "But nano cameras use wireless fidelities, and must be connected to laptops. Given the low scores that our classes have, sino naman sa atin ang mag-aaksaya ng pera to buy a laptop inside this school?"

"The upper classes," napatingin ako kay Kevent na nagsabi no'n. Tumayo na rin siya at seryoso na ang mukha. "In this school, those who score the best get the best treatment. The larger the score both individuals and a class has, the larger the sum of money will be rewarded."

"Right," I affirmed, napalaro na ako sa buhok ko, "I remember it's what Ms. Mari tried to emphasize. Kaya tayong mga nasa lower classes, expected that we should be thrifty dahil walang kasiguraduhan ang malaking allowance for next sem, while the upper classes can be carefree and confident to be extravagant dahil inaasahan nilang malaki ang magiging allowance nila."

"I'm already near my conclusion, but something's still off," pagtatapat ko sabay tingin kay Celo. Seryoso lang siyang nakatingin sa akin.

"Celo, ano nga pala ang ginagawa mo dito sa mga oras na 'yon?"

Saglit na bumalot ang napaka-awkward na katahimikan sa pagitan naming tatlo.

"You guys doubted me, didn't you?" basag ni Celo sa katahimikan. That was too out of the blue at hindi ko 'yon napaghandaan kaya napatalim ako sa kaniya ng tingin.

"The way you looked at me, your eyes were projecting suspicions, -judgment." He stepped to a certain direction, paharap sa kabilang patutunguhan ng pasilyo, but he did not go further. Sa halip.

"Ano ba ang nabuo mong pigura ng may sala, Charlotte?" tinignan niya ako nang matulis na siguradong makakapagpa-intimidate sa kahit sinong mapukulan.

'T-This is... that face genius' death stare...' Lihim akong napalunok sa naiisip, trying hard to maintain my composure.