Game Of Life: Volume 2

32. Case solved

Eivel

Lahat ng tingin namin at atensyon ay nasa bagay na hawak-hawak ni Kid. 

"This is the murder weapon." Walang ekspresyon kong sambit.

Walang buhay ang mga mata kong nakatingin dito bago malipat ang tingin ko kay Sherlock. Sinisigurado kong nagtatama ang mga tingin namin. Tinaasan niya 'ko ng kanang kilay habang hinihintay ang sasabihin ko.

"It was hard to find, if you don't have a clue of what kind of weapon it is." I said. Not to mention, we didn't also had a clue to where we can find it.

"The only clue we have, is that thing."

I have all of their attentions. I'm sure that not even Sage know what I'm talking about. Paano namang hindi?

Wala siyang equipment na dala-dala maliban sa magnifying glass. Kung walang gloves, hindi niya magagawang igalaw ang katawan ng patriarch.

At dahil doon... hindi niya nagawang makita ang bagay na nakita ko.

That thing... the patriarch's stab wounds.

It didn't look like he was stab, rather, he looks like he got shot.

Because rather than stab wounds, he had holes in his body.

"The murder weapon... we didn't need to find it... after all,"

"You already gave it to us."

Kumikislap ang hawak-hawak ni Kid dahil sa liwanag ng buwan. The weapon that Sherlock used to kill the patriarch.

Was a fountain pen.

The fountain pen that he gave to us. Ngayon alam ko na ang purpose n'on. Kung sa memo pad nakasulat ang mga clues na binigay sa amin ni Sherlock at ang magnifying glass ang paraan para mabasa ang mga nakasulat doon, para saan ang fountain pen?

"Am I right, Sherlock Holmes?"

The Game General— Sherlock Holmes, has a serious look on his face while looking at me. After a couple of seconds, slowly, he plastered a grin.

He clapped his hands once.

"Case solved."

Humampas ang malamig na hangin kasabay ng pagkarinig ko ng pagsinghap ni Kid. 

"E-Eyo-"

Mabilis akong napalingon sa kaniya at doon ko nakita ang unti-unting pagbabago ng hawak-hawak niyang fountain pen.

It's slowly turning into a chess piece— the Queen.

"Congratulations, players. You've solved the case and won my challenge."

Humithit si Sherlock mula sa tobacco pipe at muling sinuot ang sumbrelo niya.

"You did a splendid job, I commend you all." He held the tip of his hat and slightly raised it. "May you win this Game Of Life."

In just a second, I saw him looked at me, making our eyes meet.

"Very well, I wish you all the best."

Sa muling paghampas ng hangin, sa ilalim ng ilaw ng bilog na buwan... humalo sa dilim si Sherlock at tuluyang nawala sa harapan namin na parang kinain ng sarili niyang anino.

He disappeared completely, leaving us three.

"E-Eyo, 'yon na 'yon?" Nakawaang ang bibig ni Kid at napakurap-kurap sa nangyari.

Walang nagsalita sa aming dalawa ni Sage. Nakatingin ako sa kaniya habang ilang talampakan ang pagitan namin at nakatalikod siya sa akin.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko nang walang kibo siyang naglakad paalis. Napaismid ako at iritadong sumunod sa kaniya.

"E-Eyo, sandali Eivel! Kunin mo muna 'tong chess piece-"

Hindi ko pinansin si Kid at inis akong sumunod kay Sage. 

"Hey, Jerk!" I called him.

"Ano bang problema mo?! Wala ka pa ring kibo riyan!" Sigaw ko sa kaniya habang naglalakad kami sa madilim na daanan.

The street is dark and quiet. Maliban sa ilaw ng buwan, ang ilaw na lang sa mga poste na patay sindi pa ang nagsisilbing liwanag namin. Nag-eecho ang boses ko sa daan.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Nagawa ko siyang mahabol at mariin ko siyang tinapik sa balikat.

Sage gave me a cold glare, slightly making my heart ache. "What's your problem, woman? You're getting annoying." He said in a monotone voice as he look at me, then he continued walking.

Humigpit ang pagkakasara ng kamao ko at pasimple akong napakagat sa ibabang labi nang matigilan ako.

W-What the fuck?

"What's with the attitude, Sir Prodigy?!" Malakas na sambit ko. 

"Shut up."

"Shut up your face! Naubusan ka ba ng lollipop at nagkakaganiyan ka?! For pete's sake, you almost made us lose!"

Kunot noo at nakasimangot akong nilingon ni Sage habang naglalakad.

"Almost made us lose?! WE freaking won because of me!" Giit niya.

"Because of you?! WE could've still won without your help! You're being selfish!"

"I told you that I can finish the challenge on my own! Nangengealam kayo masyado!"

Napasinghap ako sa narinig. Mas lalo akong nainis sa mga pinagsasabi ni Sage. Sa pagtatalo namin habang naglalakad, hindi ko napansin na malapit na pala kami sa terminal.

I can't believe that I'm lowering my pride just to ask him what his problem is, tapos ito ang isasagot niya sa 'kin?!

"Jerk! Ano bang problema mo?! Tell me!" I shouted. "Tell me what happened at the checkpoint!-"

Nahinto ako sa pagsigaw nang huminto si Sage nang makapasok siya sa loob ng terminal. Dahilan para magawa ko siyang mahabol. Naririnig ko rin ang pagtakbo ni Kid kasunod ko.

I was expecting him to explain, because he suddenly stopped. But instead of an explanation, I was greeted by something else.

I was startled to see unfamiliar faces, waiting at the terminal. Sila ang dahilan kung bakit nahinto si Sage sa paglalakad.

Pasimple siyang puwmesto sa harapan ko. Kahit nakatalikod, alam kong seryoso at walang buhay ang mga mata ni Sage habang nakatingin sa kanila.

There are a total of three people in front of us.

W-Who are they?

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