HIBARA THE BEEPING SOUND of the dropped call rang in my ears, as well as the words of the man on the other line. I am Indigo. I am Indigo. I am Indigo. “Hey, Detective? Detective!” “Hmm?” “You’re spacing out,” the Major informed. “Is there something wrong? What was that call about?” “Uh, it’s nothing. Just a client.” I shook my head and gave a small smile. “You and Toto, take Albert to the Campus Police Station with Chief Velasquez.” “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you want to discuss the case your client gave?” “No, it’s a simple one. And, I’m pretty sure I’m fine. Now, go.” He nodded and smiled. “If you say so, Detective.” They took away the culprit of the mass food poisoning, while I remained on my spot, stuck in deep thoughts. Most importantly, should I tell them about Indigo’s call? SEVERAL HOURS LATER, I was in my usual seat, waiting for the dismissal bell to ring. The Major and Toto, who were both in the back row, strangely did not make any approach to me. Upon knowing
LUKE MATTHEW “You’re leaving right now?” AS THE DETECTIVE answered Toto’s question with a nod and ran off, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. I walked back inside the classroom with the Nerd, but I couldn’t shake this feeling off. I must do something! “Toto,” I called after thinking for a few moments. Without waiting for his response, I continued, “Once we’re dismissed, find and follow her. Don’t let her wander the night alone. She said it was him. She can’t just expect me to settle down while she’s out there, chasing death!” “Hey, hey, sit down!” Janden shook my arm. “What are you talking about, Luke?” I didn’t realize I was standing and had stated all of that in a voice that echoed through the room engulfed in silence. To the relief of my chaotic thoughts, Toto gave me a thumbs-up. I made a quick apology to Miss Summerfield and, with a heavy sigh, I sat back down. “What is going on, Luke?” Janden asked as soon as I settled in my seat. “Nothing that needs to worry you,” I coldl
LUKE MATTHEWThis can’t be happening… This isn’t real… No… No… No!BUT THE CRIMSON liquid that continued to flow said otherwise. They were screaming the truth to my face. Mamá had fallen unconscious and heartbroken upon witnessing the man’s death.Slowly, I stood up and pushed the chair back under the table. With my gaze still stuck watching the blood, I ordered in utmost seriousness, “Security, do not let anyone leave this room and this mansion.”“B-But, Young—”I slammed a punch onto the table and gave the Head of Security a deadly glare. “Do you not understand what I’m saying?”“Yes, Young Master Samael!” He bowed his head and ordered his men to put the Salcedo Mansion on a lockdown.I reached for my phone and called the police.“Good evening. This is the Criminal Investigation Division. What is your emergency report?”“May I request for Det. Ch. Supt. Zekinah White?”“Who are we speaking to?”“Tell her that this is Luke Matthew Vargas, a classmate of her daughter and that I am r
LUKE MATTHEW I WATCHED THE Sergeant and one female officer conduct a full body search on the seven suspects I named. “This is unbelievable!” Aunt Nimue exclaimed as she was being searched. “You believe the words of that Grade 10 kid?” “For all we know, the Chief Superintendent might be an accomplice of his in pinning us as murderers,” said Uncle Teivel, fixing his necktie. “They seem quite acquainted.” “Like I said,” Aunt Charon rolled her eyes; “a Vargas would always be a Vargas.” “He did not even thank us for inviting his now-dead father to this family reunion, to which, he obviously does not belong!” added Aunt Nimue just as the female officer finished searching her. “Samael’s suspecting us because we hate his father,” said Uncle Birsha as he watched his son being searched. “You should refrain from saying things now.” “Samael?” Det. Ch. Supt. White whispered in wonder beside me. “You’re the Young Master Samael Salcedo?” I sighed. “I hate to admit, but, yes, I am that Young
HIBARA ALMOST TWO WEEKS had passed since I heard from Mom. Uncle Noah was a good man. He did not deserve to die this early. Yet, for some reason, the Major was able to solve the case by himself. He’s improving, isn’t he? But I also heard that he almost killed his father’s murderer—which is a BIG FAT NO. That’s just plain stupid. Even the group of detective wannabes will not resort to that action. “Are you not worried about him?” asked Toto as he came out of the Faculty Room. “We haven’t seen him for ten days!” I stood up from the wooden bench in the hallway and answered, “He’s gonna be fine. I don’t need to worry.” “Why don’t we pay him a visit?” I chuckled. “Don’t be preposterous. He’s not a patient.” “What if he’s quitting the team because of that instance…?” “The culprit did not die in his hands and is very much still alive, okay?” I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes. “What’s his problem, anyway?” “Hibara, maybe because of that, he feels he doesn’t deserve the spot in this
TOTO LEI “Toto Lei Chavez, you are in charge of evacuating all living persons. I and the CAT Officers will be in charge of handling the bombs. Do you understand?” “Tsk. Toto, do you understand how important your task is? Do you understand the graveness of this mission?” “You can do this. I believe in you.” HIBARA’S VOICE ECHOED in my ears as I ran downstairs, back to the Faculty Room. “Emergency, emergency! Please gather your students and leave the premises. AMU is under a bomb threat!” “Toto, are you being serious?” asked our Class Adviser and Math teacher. “Yes, Mrs. Bonifacio.” What should I add to make them believe me? I whisper-shouted, “This is serious; it’s Hibara’s case!” It seems like I’ve said the magic word, that Mrs. Bonifacio immediately announced that the threat wasn’t a prank. Whew! That was easy. I WENT NEXT to the HSSC Office in the Senior High Building. “Mr. President?” I called as I knocked. “Yes? Come in,” he replied from behind the door. The Grade 12 st
LUKE MATTHEW “Luke! Luke Matthew! Open this damn door! Luke Matthew Vargas!” TOTO HAS BEEN banging on my bedroom door and shouting my name for a few minutes now, and I still refuse to come out by remaining silent and pretending I wasn’t here. I heard Nomy tell him earlier that I don’t want to talk to anyone as of now, but he insisted on staying until I get tired and finally meet him. A detective team— who am I kidding? That’s a ridiculous proposition! There is only one true Detective among us and that is Hibara. Neither Toto nor I deserve a spot to stand beside her and serve in the name of justice, much less I who almost killed a family member. “Dang it, Luke!” he exclaimed angrily and then kicked the door. “Stop acting like some petty Young Mistress who’s having tantrums! I’m getting tired here! Just come out!” “Who are you calling ‘Young Mistress’?” Wow. He got me there. “My God, you finally spoke!” He exhaled a satisfied sigh. “Do you have any idea what’s going on right now?”
LUKE MATTHEW “By the way,” SIR ACOSTA PLACED a hand on my shoulder, causing me to jerk back to reality; “you were absent for two Saturdays. You aren’t the type of Officer to forget the day of our weekly formation.” I stilled. How am I supposed to explain that my first absence was because of The Mystery of the Five Orange Phones and the second was because I locked myself up in my bedroom? “There were things that a Salcedo has to do that are completely unrelated to his Vargas matters,” Toto chimed in and then winked at me. Am I supposed to thank you? That didn’t sound like a rescue! “Ah, that’s right.” Sir Acosta grinned. “My Adjutant is the Young Master Samael.” Hearing that name was not quite surprising. It’s impossible for the news from that night to not reach everyone. And, based on the situation right now, it’s also impossible for the students of AMU to not recognize me as that person. My peaceful Junior High School as Luke Matthew Vargas might have just ended. But what is th