Davidson Academy: School of Chambers

EPISODE 7

Chapter 7- Undercover Detective

Samantha's POV*

Punnett Square.

I crossed mom and dad's blood type using a monohybrid cross. Kumunot naman ang noo ko nang makita ko ang resulta. I listed down the genotypes of the possible offsprings para makita ang phenotype. The possible offsprings are Type A, AB, and B.

As expected, no blood type O. Two people with blood types AB can't produce an offspring with blood type O. Pero bakit ganun? Stephanie's blood type is O. So hindi siya anak ni mom at dad?

I shook my head. This is only a possibility. All I need is a confirmation.

______________

"I'm the real daughter of Gianna and Brent Go, and you are the orphan."

Pinakialaman ko ang papeles nina mom and dad at nakita ang birth certificate ko. Instead of a birth certificate, I found a proof na galing si Stephanie sa isang orphanage, enough to say that she's lying.

Napatigil siya. The smug look on her face disappeared. Pero nanatili siyang kalmado as if expecting that words to come out from my mouth. 

"So you finally figured out, huh?" she said. Amusement is written on her face. That's the confirmation I'm waiting for.

"Are you amused to know that we aren't sisters after all?" tanong ko. I know she holds grudges at alam kong mas lalala ang galit niya sa akin if I act like this. But who cares? The important is she will wake up from a bed of anger.

"No, alam ko na 'yan noon pa man. I'm just amused that you really believed me. How stupid can you get? It's obvious na ako ang sampid dito, hindi ikaw," she said and laughed bitterly. "Obviously ikaw ang bida sa pamamahay na 'to! And everyone fails to notice me! That's why I hate you! All of you!"

"You can hate us but not to the point that you would ruin everyone's life. Can't you see? I suffered because of you! I did everything for you pero anong ginawa mo? Wala kang ibang ginawa kundi magpalamon sa galit!" I shouted.

"Because I have no one on my side! Nasa side mo si mom at dad!" she said. I laughed unbelievably.

"Seriously? You are too childish! No one is taking sides! Ikaw lang ang nag-iisip niyan!" inis na sabi ko.

"I want you to feel kung anong nararamdaman ko! But you still have their attention!"

"But why would you lie to me? You can just tell me straight na orphan ka lang! There's nothing wrong about it! Tanggap kita!" I shouted. She smiled bitterly.

"Kung tanggap niyo ako mom and dad would have told me in the first place na ampon lang ako! Hindi yung sa iba ko pa malalaman!" she shouted. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko.

"W-What?" I said. Bakit hindi naman sasabihin ni mom at dad sa kanya? May tinatago na naman ba silang dalawa?

"Hindi mo alam? Because you did not care about me in the first place!" sigaw niya. "Wala kayong pakialam sa akin! Hindi niyo ako itinuring na pamilya niyo! I hate yo—"

Nagulantang ako nang bigla siyang napahawak sa dibdib niya. Nahirapan siyang huminga at napaupo sa sahig.

"Yaya! Help me!" I shouted habang niyuyugyog si Stephanie hoping she would come back to her senses.

"Steph! Wake up!"

_______________

Yaya called Dr. Kyle at pinapunta ito sa bahay naman to check if Stephanie's alright. He said Stephanie will be alright soon at nagpaalam na. I looked at Stephanie lying in my bed. Nasa kwarto ko kasi kami ngayon.

"Mom, dad, gaano karami ang sekreto niyo? Ha?" I asked. Hindi naman ako galit sa kanila but I'm a little bit upset.

"Sam, we told Stephanie about her identity but after niyang malaman na ampon siya she collapsed. When she woke up, hindi niya naalala ang nalaman niya. That's why we're afraid to tell her about it, takot kaming atakihin na naman siya ng sakit niya," mom explained. Kumunot naman ang noo ko.

"Sakit?"

"Your sister has Takotsubo cardiomyopathy."

"Takot--what?"

"It is a temporary condition where your heart muscle becomes suddenly weakened or stunned."

"It's not proven yet, but the cause of that condition is either a significant emotional experience or physical stress. That's why ayaw naming masaktan o magalit man lang si Steph, pero hindi namin alam na matagal na pala niyang alam."

I was shocked to know that. I realized it was my fault and I'm too childish. Hindi dapat ako nakipag-away sa kanya. If only I knew na may sakit siya.

"Don't blame yourself, baby," sabi ni mom. Nanatiling tahimik si dad at mukhang malalim ang iniisip. Hindi na lang ako nag-overthink and sighed.

"Can you please hand me my bag, dad? My water bottle is there," sabi ko. Nasa tabi kasi ni dad ang backpack ko and I badly want to drink water. Ayoko namang abalahin si yaya at utusang dalhan ako ng tubig.

Iniabot naman sa akin ni dad ang bag at agad kong kinuha ang tubig at ininom ko. Suddenly the bottle slipped from my hands and unfortunately dumiretso ito kay mom. Nabasa ang shirt na suot-suot niya.

"I'm sorry mom! I'm really sorr--"

Kumunot ang noo ko nang makitang parang may scar sa tiyan ni mom. Hinubad kasi ni mom ang suot niyang sweater kaya nakasuot siya ngayon ng isang manipis na shirt.

It's not clear to me pero parang may mali sa peklat ni mom. Maybe I'm just paranoid pero parang isa siyang malalim na sugat. Could it be a stab wound?

"Samantha, you okay?" alalang tanong ni mom. I nodded and forced a smile.

"Y-Yeah, kukuha nalang ako ng tubig sa kusina," I said at dali-daling lumabas ng kwarto. I unconsciously thought about the mystery of mom's scar.

"I discovered something from my mom."

"What is it?"

"I saw a scar on her leg,"

"It's not an ordinary scar, it seems like human teeth."

The last thing I knew is I dialed Math's phone number. Nag-ring pa ito ng ilang beses bago siya sumagot.

"Let's meet, Math. I'll send you the place."

____________

I roamed my eyes around the cafeteria and I saw Math na nasa pinakadulo na table na malapit sa counter. Kinakalikot niya ang phone niya and had that bored expression. Nilapitan ko siya at umupo sa harap niya. Mukhang naramdaman niya naman ang presence ko.

"What do you want to talk about?" he asked. I breathe heavily and looked at him.

"You said you saw a scar on your mom's leg," I said directly. Wala ng patumpik-tumpik pa. Boom kara-karaka. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay as if saying I should continue.

"I saw a scar on mom's stomach. It was like a stab wound," I said. Maybe that piqued his interest dahil nawala ang bored look sa mukha niya.

"Something terrible must have happened in their so-called squad back then," he said and nodded. Posible rin yun dahil magka-kaibigan naman sila.

Sasagot na sana ako nang makarinig ako ng ingay na parang nagkakagulo. The next thing I knew is hinila na ako ni Math at nagtago kami sa ilalim ng table.

"Pasasabugin ko ang bungo ng babaeng 'to!" sigaw ng lalaking may hawak na baril at nakatutok sa kaawa-awang babae.

"A-Anong kailangan mo sa akin?" natatakot na tanong ng babae. Namumutla ang maputi nitong mukha, at pinagpapawisan na rin. Akalain mong may Maria Clara pa sa panahong ito. Nakasuot kasi ito ng bughaw na bestida na halos umabot hanggang sahig. Naka-bun ang buhok nito at kumikinang ang malapad na noo nito.

"Akin na ang mga pera niyo!" sigaw ng holdaper. As expected, pinuntirya niya ang babaeng yun dahil mukha siyang mayaman. Nakasuot kasi ito ng mga kumikinang na jewelries at mukhang mamahalin.

"W-Wala naman akong pera," natatakot na sabi ni Maria Clara--este ng babaeng hinoldap. Mas lalong diniin ng holdaper ang baril sa sintido niya.

But then I find it really weird that she is dressed up like that tapos sa isang cafeteria siya pupunta. It could be na galing siya sa isang party but why would she eat a cake here? Mas marami namang pagkain sa isang party.

Then there's a thing that caught my eye. Parang may nakalagay na maliit na bagay sa likod ng tenga nito. I smiled secretly. Alam ko na kung ano siya at kung bakit ganyan ang suot niya.

"I assumed you already figured out," bulong ni Math. So he's also observing the woman in a weird dress.

"Yeah," I answered, still thinking of a plan with the help of the woman held as a hostage. I'm sure she would be a great help.

"Take this," sabi ni Math saka inihagis sa akin ang isang baril. I gasped when I saw the sight of the dangerous little thing on my hands.

"B-Bakit ka may dalang ganito?" kinakabahang tanong ko. Alam kaya ni Tita Blanche at Tito Renzo na may ganito ang anak nila?

"That's not real. It's a water gun. Nakuha ko 'to kanina sa dalawang batang naglalaro. Maglalakas-loob na magpapakilala ang babae kapag may maglalakas-loob na labanan ang holdaper," he explained. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag.

"I'll count. Point the gun at the holdaper," he said. Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa water gun. "In three, two, one..."

"Go!"

Lumabas ako mula sa pinagtataguan ko at itinutok ang baril sa holdaper. Halatang nagulat siya and the Maria-Clara girl. I flashed a mischievous smile. Time to cause trouble, Sam.

"Ibaba mo ang baril mo," mahinahong sabi ko. Water gun is much easier to handle than a real gun dahil magaan-gaan ito. I tried to calm my shaky hands para di maging kampante ang holdaper.

"Tutuluyan ko ang babaeng 'to!" pananakot niya. I was worrying about the girl dahil baka totohanin niya talaga but I remained quiet.

"Shoot the girl. That's if you have the guts to be in jail after that," panghahamon ni Math. Halata namang mas lalong kinabahan ang babae. Tsk, what a great actress.

"W-Wala akong pake! Hindi niyo naman kayang iputok yan eh!" sabi ng holdaper. Tinignan ko ang babae at nakatingin siya sa akin. I flashed another smile.

"Oh, really? I guess you just got the wrong hostage," I said. Kumunot naman ang noo ng holdaper.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin ha?! Mga tarantadong bata kayo!" galit na sigaw ng holdaper.

"Hi Miss Officer!" I said and waved my hands at the woman. Iyon ang naging hudyat para hubarin niya ang suot na maskara niya.

Pinunit niya ang kanyang dress at sinipa ang kamay ng holdaper. Nabitawan naman niya ang baril na hawak-hawak niya at natumba dahil sinipa siya ulit ng babae. Natumba siya sa sahig.

Sinubukan pa ng holdaper na abutin ang baril kaya sinipa ko ang baril palayo. I took the chance para magamit ang hawak kong watergun.

"Fire!" I shouted at pinaulanan siya ng tubig. Nag-enjoy pa akong basain siya kaya inagaw ko ang water gun ni Math.

Pinusasan ni Miss Officer ang lalaki na basang-basa na. I chuckled at itinapon ang water gun sa sahig. Tinignan naman ako ni Miss Officer and smiled.

"The police will arrive soon," she said. Tumango naman ako.

"Aren't you a part of them?" sabat ni Math. Sumilay naman ang ngiti sa labi ni Maria-Clara girl.

"Clever kids, I am indeed part of them," she said. Kinuha niya ang ID na nakatago sa ilalim na parte ng bestidang suot niya.

"I am Detective Joanna Vestil, I am being an undercover agent right now," pagpapakilala niya. Kitang-kita ang malalim na dimples nito kapag ngumingiti siya.

"What are you investigating?" I asked.

"I don't know if I should trust you but I'll tell you honestly. I am investigating an unknown group who sells drugs," she answered. Kumunot naman ang noo ko.

"But why do you need to dressed up like that?" di-makapaniwalang tanong ko. Sa suot niyang iyan mas lalo siyang paghihinalaan.

"To make them believe I am rich enough to buy the drugs. We are having a transaction and we are supposed to meet in the parking lot but that damn holdaper messed everything," she said. Halata sa tinig nito ang inis.

"What kind of drugs are they selling?" tanong ni Math.

"I still don't know," she answered. "I am working alone dahil hindi ako pinayagan ng nakakataas na mag-imbestiga. So please forget everything I told you."

Kinuha niya ang purse niya na nasa table at kumuha ng card sa loob nito.

"Call me when you need me," sabi niya and rushed towards the exit.

"Let's go," I said at lumabas na rin. Nakita ko namang sumunod si Math.

As I was walking may nakabangga akong lalaki. Naka-suit siya and he's holding a briefcase na bahagyang nakabukas dahil sa malakas na impact ng pagtama nito sa sahig.

"Sorry po," I apologized at kinuha ang briefcase niya para isara. But one thing caught my attention.

There was a violet liquid in the briefcase. I was about to open the briefcase but the man grabbed it harshly from me.

"I did not give you the permission to stain my briefcase with your filthy hands," he said. Napalunok ako dahil sobrang napakalamig ng boses niya.

"I-I applied a hand sanitizer," I answered. That was the most stupid answer ever.

"That doesn't mean you have the right to touch my briefcase," iritang sabi niya. I was about to answer when Math butted in.

"Why is it a big deal to you that a girl touched that briefcase? That's even a cheap one," he said. I saw the man clenched his teeth. "Or perhaps you are hiding something in there? I am getting curious."

"Curiosity kills," the man answered. He's trying to control his temper.

"So I'm right, you are not the ordinary man in a suit," Math replied. Bago pa lumala, hinila ko na siya.

"Creating a scene won't change anything," I said. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"You are such a killjoy, I enjoyed arguing with him," sabi niya. Napailing nalang ako. Childish.

"By the way Math, nakita kong may viole--"

I was about to tell him kanina na may nakita akong parang violet na liquid sa briefcase ng lalaki pero biglang umurong ang dila ko when I saw a person wearing a hood and all I can see is his eyes. He was glaring at me at natakot ako dahil doon.

Biglang nag-beep ang phone ko. Agad ko itong kinuha at nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mabasa ang text.

From: Unknown Number

Telling him means killing him. Remember that.

"Violet what?"

"V-Violet na saging! I'm kinda craving for it, hehehe."

"Tsk. I thought you would say something that makes sense," sabi niya. I watched him walk away.

Once again I glanced at the place kung saan ko nakita ang lalaking naka-maskara but he disappeared. Nanatili ang kaba at takot sa dibdib ko.

Is this a sign telling me that I should mind my own business?

(end of chapter)