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

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

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?”

JACOB “Your order of today’s Ammunition is outside, President.” ALISZIA TUAZON THREW the school paper accurately on the tablespace in front of me. Her black kinky hair was in a bun secured with a pink beaded hair tie. She had her DSLR in her hand and not hung around her neck. Judging by her aura this morning, the Club Secretary’s brought no good news. “What is it?” I asked while flipping through the pages of the Ammunition from the back. “We've had no clients for the past four days, thus, leaving our social media page inactive. Our followers are waiting for our newest post but we have nothing to give them,” Zia replied frustratingly just as I read the first paragraph of today’s headline. 【TFC Outsold! An Unnamed JHS Trio Grabs the Limelight. The popularity of the new detective group gets a boost in line with the bombing event of Albertus Magnus University three weeks ago. Comprised of three Grade 10-I students: Hibara W.C., Luke Matthew Vargas, and Toto Lei Chavez, this Junior Hig

JACOB “G-Guys… Bright Light… is online.” I GOT UP from Red’s chair in alarm and rushed to Team MM’s space. “WHAT?!” The Club President just said that Bright Light is Luciano’s gamer name! How could he be online when he’s lying dead in our clubroom’s doorway with Chief Velasquez? The gamer with a red forehead band pointed at his monitor with shaking hands. “He’s online!” “That can’t be! He’s dead!” I exclaimed but when my gaze landed on where he was pointing at, I found Bright Light on the list of online players. “He’s online in Mobile Legends, too!” announced Suzy, holding up her smartphone with a controller attached. “He’s online also in Valorant,” said Red, staring at his monitor. “Call of Duty, online!” added another Team BB gamer wearing a green forehead band. “Clash of Clans!” added another one from Team HS who also held up his smartphone. “This is…! Someone hacked his account!” I exclaimed. Then, I turned to the two and spoke in a low voice, “There is no doubt that our