MYSTERIUM CLAVA (VOLUME 1) - PUBLISHED UNDER TBC PRINTERY

PROLOGUE

MY name is Dave Velasco, a 5'8, 18-year-old half Filipino and a half Italian. Ang dad ko ay isang Filipino at ang mom ko naman ay isang Italian. But unfortunately, my mom died due to multiple organ malfunction 5 years ago. Masakit isipin na wala na siya pero kailangan naming tanggapin. I am a bookworm type of person at ang favorite kong mga mystery types na libro. At ang mga favorite authors ko naman ay sina Mr. Arthur Conan Doyle at J. K. Rowling. I am also a huge fan of Detective Conan, and Conan is so adorable!

Well, 3 months ago nang dumating kami ng dad ko dito sa Pilipinas and mygosh! It's so hot in here! Naisipan ni Dad na umuwi na lang kami dito dahil my mom passed away. Kaya lagi na lang malungkot si Daddy dahil nasa Italy ang lahat ng memories nila.

One-time, biglang pumunta si Dad sa room ko habang nagbabasa ako nang ABC Murders by Agatha Christie.

"Dave? It's already April. Saan mo ba balak mag-aral?" he asked. And I was like, I don't have any idea about the schools here in thePhilippines.

"Dad?Give me a couple of days to think about it," sagot ko sa kaniyasaka ako bumalik sa pagbabasa.

Iforgot! Wala akong idea kung saan ako mage-enroll because, I don'thave any bloody idea about the schools and universities dito saPilipinas. So, tinabi ko na ang aking book, kinuha ang aking laptopatsaka binuksan ito then, I browsed for the schools and universitiesnearby Manila.

Ateneo,Adamson, La Salle, San Beda... They are all good. Maganda ang schoolsbut it is not my type. Gusto ko sana 'yung may thrill at 'yungmay mga organization na parang detective club or mystery club. Ganoonsana ang gusto ko kaso, mukhang walang ganoon dito sa Pilipinas.

Wait?Ano itong school na 'to? Holmes Academy? What? An academy that wasnamed from the legendary fictional detective Sherlock Holmes? I am sointerested with this kaya binuksan ko ang link about sa HolmesAcademy.

Accordingto the link, Holmes Academy is one of the top schools in Asia and itexcels not only in Academics but it also excels in Mystery? Is thisfor real? Ang akala ko ay there is no school like this exist but, Iam wrong. Mayroon palang ganitong klaseng school and I am all firedup and now I have decided to enroll myself to Holmes Academy!

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UNANGaraw ko ngayon sa Holmes Academy. It wasaround six in the morning nang mag-alarm ang aking alarm clock paragisingin ako for my first day in school at the Holmes Academy. I amso excited lalo na at may mga mystery stuff sa Holmes Academy!

Aroundeight na nang dumating ako sa classroom namin na naka-locate sa J.Watson Building. Pagpasok ko sa room namin sa room 406 ay pumwestoagad ako sa pinaka-likod, sa 5th chair to the left from the aisle.Mula sa pwesto kong iyon I observed the students inside the room.Mayroong mga nerdy types, mayroon ding mga parang mga sosyalin naakala mo ay bawal madikitan ng mga 'di nila ka-uri at mayroon dingmga tahimik at mga tila mga walang pakialam sa paligid. This isreally the part na kinaiinisan ko, ang makita na nasa iisa nga kamingclassroom pero ang mga kasama ko ay parang may kaniya kaniyang mgamundo. Crazy people!

Mayamaya, may lumapit sa akin na isang babae na nasa 5'4 ang height,singkit, at ang texture niya ay medyo dark. I can observe from herappearance kung tama ako ay isa siyang black american or possiblyisang Fil-Am citizen, if I am correct.

"Hello!My name is Trisha Harris, I am a Fil-Am citizen and currently you'renew classmate! If you don't mind. May I seat right beside you?"she said as she introduced herself. I don't know pero parang ang gaansa pakiramdam ng vibes at energy niya lalo na't kakakilala kopalang sa kaniya.

"Sure.Well, since you already introduced yourself, allow me to do mine. Myname is Dave Velasco, I am a half Filipino and a half Italian."I answered with a smile. Then after our little intoduction ay 'diko alam ay parang naging close agad kami sa isa't-isa in a veryunexpected way.

Biglangbumukas ang pinto nang classroom namin at may pumasok na isang lalakina naka-polo barong na I think ay isang teacher, naka-salamin siyaand I think nasa 5'9 or 5'10 ang height niya, neat ang kanyang buhok,may hitsura, but his presence. Mio Dio! His presence really gives methe chills! Kinikilabutan ako sa mga matatalas na tingin mula sa mgachinitong mga mata ng teacher na ito. Then, inayos niya muna ang mgagamit niya sa desk at saka siya umupo at humarap sa klase.

"Alrighteveryone! My name is Sir Jameson Barcelon and from now on I will beyour adviser. I will expect that everyone will behave in my classbecause first of all, you are not kids anymore! You are now incollege, so show more discipline, show more attitude! We are inHolmes Academy and here we think before we act! Do I make myselfclear?" Mr. Barcelon said in a very intimidating tone. We justall nod in response.

Ilangminuto ang nakalipas ay naglabas si Mr. Barcelon ng mga papel or morelikely ay masasabi ko na poster. Then he distributed the postersamong the class at binasa ko ang header and it says:

HOLMESACADEMY FRESHMEN AND TRANSFEREES DAY!

Wow!So isang event sa university pala ito para sa aming mga freshmen atpara rin sa mga transferees. Then pagtingin ko sa baba ng header aymayroong bunch of lists of I suppose ay mga clubs and organization ngschool.

Biglangtumayo si Mr. Barcelon hawak ang kanyang kopya ng poster. "Alrighteveryone! This coming friday ay gaganapin ang yearly event dito saschool na 'freshmenand transferees' day.'Nakalagay dyan sa posters na hawak niyo ang mga list ng mga clubs andorganizations na pwede niyo salihan dito sa Holmes Academy. Choosewisely," our adviser explained.

AsMr. Barcelon was done explaining I looked at the paper and checked onthe list of the clubs and organizations. It seems that there isnothing that caught my interest among the club. Wait a minute?

"MysteriumClava?" bulong ko sa aking sarili nang makita ang pangalan ng club.Sounds mystery to me.