Project Ghost Hotline

Season 1: Episode 4

Loud noises from the varsity players on the court are the main thing the moment we sat on one of the benches of the gymnasium. Dahil wala kaming office, well—mas maganda yatang sabihin na dahil walang budget ang University para sa offices ng different clubs, dito kami laging nag-mi-meeting. We like it here, tahimik kasi kapag wala ang mga varsity players. Minalas lang talaga kami ngayon.

"So, how are we going to find this Franco Balagtas?" I yawned. Puyat na puyat ako sa ginawa namin kaninang madaling araw. Wala namang kwenta.

"I think, we need to check his student records."

"How?" Codi asked the same question that I am about to mumble.

"I don't know, maybe sa university portal? Nandoon lang naman kasi lahat ng records natin, right?"

I knitted my brows. "Pero, 'di ba from 1994 pa si Franco? The portal was made around 2010 na yata. So, that might be an impossible idea."

But Maru was so quick to disregard my words. "But as per Sir Ong, Franco Balagtas graduated from the course Agricultural Economics. May thesis sila na pwede nating ma-search from the portal."

"And?" Codi seems buffled. One moment, naaawa na ako sa kanya kasi halatang hindi niya talaga naiintindihan ang pinaguusapan namin ni Maru.

"Bawat thesis ay may biography, doon nakalagay lahat ng personal information about the authors. Birthday. Place of birth. Parents. Siblings. House numbers. Nandoon lahat. Malalaman natin kung saan siya nakatira through his thesis from the library."

I smiled.

Fuck this boy. He is so fucking genius.

"Talino ko, 'di ba?" He proudly said.

"Oo, pa-kiss nga!" Ang sambit naman ni Codi kaya't napatingin kami ni Maru sa kanya.

"Oh?" He blinked. "J-Joke lang. Bawal maging clown?"

Our malicious stare never changed any single bit. That was the reason of his sudden poker face. "Alam niyo, kung puro kagaguhan lang naman ang iisipin ninyo, magpunta na lang tayo sa library! Anak ng tsinelas kayo!"

Matapos ay nag-walk out na siya. Saktong pagbaba naman niya sa bench ay biglang may tumamang bola ng bastketball sa mismong noo niya. Halos maalog ang utak niya dahil doon.

Kung ano ang ginawang pag-sorry ng mga varsity players ay gan'on rin naman ang lakas ng paghalakhak namin ni Maru. We are laughing so hard as if there's no tomorrow. Na parang hindi niya kami kaibigan kung makatawa nang wagas.

"Putangina 'tol, kaibigan natin 'yan!" Maluha-luhang tumawa si Maru. "Proud akong may kaibigan akong clown!"

I can't help but to just laugh when Maru and I started to follow Codi towards the library. Almost prepare for the endless scowl that our friend might reward us after what we did.

* * *

It was quiet on the library when we entered. Sa sobrang tahimik, gusto ko nang hubarin ang sapatos ko at magyapak na lang. Maingay kasi ang ginagawang tunog ng leather black shoes ko sa tuwing hahakbang ako.

"Ako nang bahala," Maru told us when we reached the literature section of the library. Dito kasi nakalagay lahat ng computers. Iyon ang gagamitin namin upang i-search ang thesis ni Franco sa library.

"Franco Balagtas," he nonchalantly mumbled as he typed it on the portal.

Matapos ay maraming listahan ang lumabas. Maru started to scroll down. He even had to look at the screen closer as if it will make his job easier.