35 The Mysterious Scholar

Volume 2

Chapter Six

The Mysterious Scholar

"Okay na ba ang laptop mo?" Masuyong tanong ni Twilight kay Matix.

Tumango naman si Matix habang chinecheck ang laptop nito. "Yeah but the progress we made for cracking the seven videos, it just went down to zero," tumingin ito kay Twilight, "we have to start again."

Twilight smiled reassuringly. "It's fine. Though kailangan nating bilisan. We need to unleash X's identity. Now that we know X is a girl."

I interferred. "Kamusta naman ang mga kuya mo?" I asked.

After we found out that X is female, the Agati siblings suspect that X might be their "dead" quintuplet. Iniisip nito na baka hindi talaga patay si Vesper at ito nga si X na nakibagsabwatan kay Mr. Albert.

Twilight blew a loud breath. "Ayun, still digging out old files from the organization. Hindi rin sila tumitigil hanggat wala silang nahahanap na sagot tungkol kay Vesper."

Nanghihinang umupo ako sa sofa. I feel tired. Although wala naman ako mostly ginagawa, still, I feel exhausted. Lalo na't malapit na ang exams. I have to keep up my grades. Hindi ako pwedeng bumagsak since I'm aiming for a scholarship in college.

"Are you okay?"

Napalingon ako sa nagsalita. It was Chaos. Abala ito sa pagbabasa ng isang mystery novel.

"Ahm..O-Oo." I answered.

Patuloy lang ito sa pagbabasa until he spoke, "no you're not." Hindi pa rin niya inaalis ang tingin sa librong binabasa.

"Huh?" I asked.

He closed the book and faced me. "Effie taught me how to detect liars. And you lied just now."

I winced. "Speaking of Effie, you two looked closer than usual." I said.

Si Effie nga pala, wala dahil may emergency sa family niya.

Mukhang natigilan si Chaos. "You don't want to?" He somehow anxiously asked.

I frowned. "What? No, No! I liked that. Gusto kong nakikipagkaibigan ka sa iba."

Chaos stood up. "Exams are next week. Do you want to come to the library with me?"

I stilled. If this were under normal circumstances, I would say yes. But, there's awkwardness between Chaos and I after he confessed.

Pero kung tutuusin, this might be an opportunity to talk to him. Kinakausap na niya ako. Ibig sabihin ba 'non, hindi na siya galit?

I smiled. "Sure!"

Agad naman lumayo ng tingin si Chaos.

Pagkalabas namin para sana tumungo sa library, isang estudyante ang bumungad sa akin. Mukhang kinakabahan ito. He was holding a bouqet of sunflowers, flowers that I love.

"P-Para po sayo, Ms. Cortez. May nagpapabigay po." Aniya.

Tinanggap ko ang bulaklak at agad siyang tumakbo. He looked scared..or nervous?

Nakangiting inamoy ko ang bulaklak. Mabuti naman at tunay na bulaklak ito. Fresh pa. I really love the smell of flowers.

But wait, sino naman ang magbibigay nito sakin? Wala naman akong secret admirer. Maliban nalang kung...

I looked at Chaos who's simply whistling in the air. "Ikaw ba nagbigay sakin nito?" Tanong ko.

Chaos furrowed his eyebrows. "What? No—"

I hugged him. "Thank you." Kumalas ako sa yakap at mahinang natawa nang makitang pulang-pula ang mukha niya.

"You're not the only one who can detect liars, Chaos." I smiled and continued, "you have a habit of not looking into the person's eyes when lying at napapansin kong kapag nagsisinungaling ka, your ears are turning red." Puna ko.

Chaos cleared his throat. "Ahm..I ahm..I just want to cheer you up. Exams are coming and I know how stressed you are. I heard from Wednesday that flowers are your stressed relievers." He explained.

"Thank you." Ulit ko.

Chaos just nodded at mabilis na naglakad. I just laughed while catching up to him.

• • •

Nang makarating sa library, pinaupo agad ako ni Chaos. "What books do you need? I'll get it." Anito.

I chuckled softly while standing up. "Di na. Ako na." I insisted.

Hindi na nanlaban si Chaos at naghanap na rin ng librong kakailanganin.

When we sat down to read, I kept glancing at him. Finding the perfect timing to talk to him. Kailangan ay bumalik sa dati ang relationship namin.

Magkaharap kasi kami habang nagbabasa kaya nagaangat ako ng tingin para tignan siya. "What do you want?" He asked while reading.

I gulped. "Um, I want to talk?" Patanong kong sagot.

Ibinagay naman niya ang buong atensiyon sa akin. "About what?"

Sasagot sana ako nang may lumapit sa amin. Ang isa sa professor ko. Kasama ang isang estudyante na hindi ko kilala.

"Friday. Mabuti naman at nandito ka. Hinahanap kita kanina pa." Ani Ms. Coldron.

"Ano po yun?" I asked.

She pointed the boy next to him. "This is Seven Velaaquez. The new student. He's the same grade as you at isa siyang scholar ng Liberty High. I want you to tour him around the school." Ani Ms. Coldron.

"Sure, Ms. Coldron." I smiled.

Nagpaalam na ito dahil may klase pa siya. Naiwan naman si Seven sa table namin.

"Ah, Seven, si Chaos nga pala," I pointed Chaos whose face is dark.

Seven just smiled at nilahad ang kamay kay Chaos. "Seven Velasquez."

Chaos just nodded. Hindi nito tinanggap nakalahad na kamay ni Seven.

I wonder what's with him?

Umupo ako sa inuupuan ko kanina then I tapped the space beside me. "Sit here." Alok ko.

Seven sat and then winced. He whispered, "are you sure I can sit beside you? Because Chaos is looking at me like he's gonna kill me."

I chuckled. "Don't mind him." Sambit ko.

Though, mad Chaos is really scary.

"So, saan mo ako unang itotour?" Seven asked.

"Magstart tayo sa cafeteria." Suhestyon ko. "Are you in a dorm?"

Seven nodded. "Great! Chaos can tour you there."

"What?"

They both asked at the same time.

Tumawa lang ako. Chaos's dark face remains while Seven looks nervous and scared.

"So, whose flowers are these?" Seven asked while pointing at the flowers on the table.

I raised my hand. "Mine." I answered .

"The flowers are beautiful. Saan mo nabili?"

I pointed at Chaos. "He gave it to me."

Agad naman niya inalis ang pagkakahawak. "Oh, sorry."

Huh? Bakit bigla siyang nagsorry?

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Bakit?"

"I didn't know you were a couple." Makabuluhang sabi nito.

Agad naman akong nagsalita. "Oh, no, we're not a couple. Magkaibigan lang kami."

Tumango-tango ito. "Ah ganun ba?"

I immediately changed the topic. Ayokong pinauusapan kami ni Chaos. "So, taga saan ka, Seven?"

He looked down. "Dito sa Laguna."

Tumango-tango ako. Taga dito lang din pala siya.

"Why wouldnyou transfer here?" Chaos asked

Seven was quick to answer. "My parents forced me to study here."

"Who are your parents?"

"Melinda and Romel Velasquez."

"Siblings?"

Umiling si Seven. "None."

"Full name?" Chaos once again asked.

"Seven Africa J. Velasquez."

Chaos then, stood up. Ang phone naman ni Seven ay patuloy na nagvavibrate. "May nagmemessage sayo. Sagutin mo baka importante."

Ngumiwi lang si Seven at lumabas ng Library para sagutin ang message. Si Chaos naman ay lumabas na rin at tumungo sa storage room.

When we entered, the sight of Matix and Twilight sleeping greeted us.

Chaos didn't say anything. Basta basta nalan niya ginising si Matix. "What!?" Galit na sigaw ni Matix dahilan para magising rin si Twilight.

"I want you to look someone for me." Utos ni Chaos.

Matix yawned before opening his laptop. "What is it?" He asked lazily.

Chaos stood behind Matix who's infront of the laptop. Lumapit namansa akin si Twilight at bumulong. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head and shrugged. "Di ko rin alam."

Chaos spoke, "I want you to look someone up for me." Ulit nito.

"Who?" Matix yawned again.

"Melinda Velsaquez and Romel Velasquez."

Matix quickly typed in. Lumapit naman kami ni Twilight sa dalawa at tinignan ang nangyayari.

Matix typed in the name but ended up as "not found".

"They don't exist." Twilight said.

Matix spoke, "I'll hack the Country Database to see their records." Aniya at nagtipa ulit.

Again, the answer came up to "not found."

"They don't exist, Chaos. Database na ng pilipinas ang hinack ko. They really don't exist."

Natigilan ako. But those were the names of Seven's parents! Does this mean Seven is lying?

"Damn that scholar...he's definitely up to something."

-END OF CHAPTER-