High School Detectives

Chapter 2: Destroy His Name

Xaianah Rue's POV

"Wait, did Calvin just ask her on a date?"

"Oh no, really? So wala na talaga akong pag-asa kay Calvin nito. But I won't give up."

"Hay! Ang swerte niya, kung ganiyan lang ako kaganda sana noon pa, niligawan ko na si Calvin!"

"There must be something about her kaya naging interesado si Calvin sa kaniya."

I sighed. Calvin, the heartthrob, just ask me on a date- which I gladly decline. I'm not into heartthrobs, and I will never be into boys again.

Umaga pa lang, ito na ang bukambibig ng mga estudyante sa Emsterdom High. Heartthrob nga naman, palaging laman ng usapan. First period will start any minute now, kaya naghintay na lang kami kung kailan papasok si ma'am.

"Guys, hindi makakapasok si ma'am Cortes at si ma'am Amy! Free tayo sa first period at second period!" Sigaw ng kaklase namin kaya nagsigawan ang aking mga kaklase.

"Yehey!" Halos sabay nilang sigaw.

Dahil walang klase sa first and second period, tumayo ako at pumunta sa library.

Akala ko ako lang mag-isa roon ngunit nagulat ako dahil naroon rin pala si Casper. Tama, isa nga pala siyang geek. At paboritong tambayan ng mga geek ang library. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at naghanap na lang ng libro na babasahin.

Napakatahimik sa library. Kulang na lang ang tunog ng mga kuliglig. Dalawa lang kasi kami ni Cas sa library.

Maya-maya, nakarinig kami ng sigaw. Nagkatinginan kami ni Cas at dali daling lumabas para puntahan ang pinanggalingan ng sigaw.

Nasa HE classroom ang crime scene. Isang lalaking nakahiga sa sahig at punong puno ng dugo ang damit ang bumungad sa amin pagpasok doon. May saksak siya as dibdib. He's holding a handkerchief with his right hand.

This is certainly murder but there's no signs of struggle. Malinis kasi ang paligid, ni hindi nga natumba ang mga upuan. Maayos ang pagkakapuwesto ng mga gamit at walang bahid ng karahasan sa paligid. Sa pagmamasid sa paligid, hindi ko namalayan na nasa tabi ko na pala si Calvin.

"I can't believe you turned down my offer. Tsk!" Rinig Kong sabi nito. Hindi ko na lamang siya pinansin at nagpatuloy sa pagmamasid sa paligid

Dumating naman si Inspector Cruz at pinakilala ang dalawang suspect at biktima.

"The victim is Kenneth Larusso, 18, Grade 11 HE student. This is Rio Orsino, 18, Grade 11 ABM student. He's a suspect because may mga estudyanteng nakakita sa kanilang nagsusuntukan kanina. And Smith Loyola, 17, Grade 10 student. He is also a suspect because he was here a while ago."

"Bakit kayo nag-away ng biktima?" Tanong ni Inspector kay Rio.

"Wala akong alam sa pagkamatay niya. Nag-away kami dahil binastos niya ang gf ko!" Pasigaw na sagot ni Rio.

"Nasaan ka kaninang 8:00-9:00?" Tanong ulit ni Inspector.

"Nasa classroom ako, nagkataong malapit lang dito ang classroom namin kaya siguro isa ako sa suspect," kalmado na'ng sabi ni Rio.

"Ikaw Smith? Anong ginagawa mo rito kanina?" Tanong ni Inspector habang sinusulat pa ang sagot ni Rio.

"Nandito ako dahil gusto ko lang. Wala namang makapagpigil sa akin kung dito ko gustong magtambay, diba?" Sarkastikong sagot ni Smith habang paulit-ulit na umirap. "At ako din ang nakakita sa biktima."

They made an investigation habang nanood lamang ako sa isang tabi. Parang murder ang kasong ito, but on second thought, parang hindi.

Malinis ang classroom na iyon indicating that there are no signs of struggle. Lalabas na suicide and nangyari kung ang classroom ang babasehan.

But, the position of the victim indicates that it is murder. The knife is in his chest at nakadilat ang kaniyang mga mata.

Cas requested to test the knife and see if there are fingerprints left by the killer. Dumating and results pero tanging finger prints lang ng biktima ang nandoon.

Matapos ang isang oras na imbestigasyon, they finally arrive to the conclusion.

"So, tell us, is it murder or suicide?" Tanong ni Inspector Cruz.

"If you'll look at the victim's position, you'd really think this is murder. But this isn't." Calvin started. Nakinig kaming lahat sa kaniya. All eyes were on Calvin.

"This is suicide. The victim stabbed himself. If I didn't ask for a test to find if there are fingerprints, I would think Rio is the culprit. This is your handkerchief, right?" Casper continued.

Tumango naman si Rio.

"Thus, this is suicide disguised as murder to frame up Rio." Sabi naman ni Calvin. Napatango kaming lahat habang nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Alright, this case is closed. You may now go back to your classrooms." Sabi ni Inspector sa amin.

"Okay Inspector." Sabi ni Calvin sa kanya.

"Good bye Xia. I'll make you fall for me. Not now but soon." He said and winked at me before leaving.

Lumapit naman si Cas sa akin. He looked at Calvin first before looking at me. Nangunot ang kaniyang noo habang pinasadahan ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa.

"So, you really don't have plans to help us investigate a while ago. You just came here to see Calvin." Sabi niya sa akin.

Nasaktan ako sa sinabi niya. I'm not a flirt, at lalong ayaw na ayaw ko Kay Calvin. I managed to change the topic para hindi lalong masakit sa kalooban ko.

"Cas, I think, something is wrong."

Totoo, kanina pa, I feel something's not right. No one would kill themselves for no reason. And framing up someone is a lame motive. There's something behind this.

"I think, we should continue the investigation." Sabi ko sa kanya.

"Why? Aren't you satisfied with our deduction?" Tanong niya sa akin.

Of course, I'm satisfied. It's just...may kulang. I tried searching something that can be useful. Why would the victim killd himself and frame Rio up? Why Rio? Why not anybody else?

I looked around and there it is, Kenneth's bag. Kinuha ko iyon at binuksan. Notebooks, paper, pen, and everything necessary for school. Yun lang ang nakita ko sa kanyang bag.

What if he's hiding something? I looked at his bag again and I saw his phone. Agad ko itong kinuha at ini-on. There was a message there, from an unregistered number.

"Do something! You must destroy Rio Orsino's name! He's a traitor to the organization! A scumbag!"

Wait, so there really is an organization here. And Kenneth, being loyal to that group, sacrificed his life to do the task even if he failed.