Tantei High [Erityian Tribes, # 1] Chapter 2

TH – CHAPTER 02

“Expel!? Expel me? W-wait! Why? How many times have I been late? Won’t it be possible t-”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Ms. Lazaro, don’t panic. Just take a sit for now.”

I was even told not to panic?! Like, is there even a student, that was said that they are expelled, who doesn’t panic?! The only thing missing now is for me to cry due to excessive fright! Huhuhu! Mama’s gonna kill me because of this. Expulsion? Oh, no! Why am I always being tardy?

I heard the door as it opens and closes, which made look at the room where Sir Salas came from. I then saw him holding some documents. Are those the evidence that will prove that I’m always late? Are those my records? Waaah!

“Ma’am Castro, please give that to her.”

Ma’am Castro then hands me the envelope, she was holding since we were in the classroom a while ago.

“What is this?”

“Expulsion slip. Hihihi.” She then smiles and laughs at me. Can I just faint? With no other choice, I grab the envelope. I opened it due to feeling too helpless. Then I will just push it to the limit, eh. Feel depressed if you are depressed. When I opened it…

Eh?

What is this? Is this how explosion slips look like now? Wait, why are the words written in here seems weird?

“Tantei High?”

That’s correct. Ms. Lazaro, you are expelled in this school because you’ll be transferred to that school.” Sir Salas said.

“Excuse me? Wait… why? Won’t it be possible for me to just stay here? I don’t want to be transferred to another school!” this school might be for the dropouts! Or maybe for the addicts and delinquents! I don’t want this!

“now, now Ms. Lazaro, don’t say that. You’re lucky because you receive that!” Ma’am Castro told me.

“Lucky? How? Eh, I even got expelled! And besides, I also don’t have any recollection of a school named ‘Tantei High’!”

Sir Salas and Ma’am Castro suddenly looked at each other. As if they’re communication through their eyes. Ha, this is crazy! I got expelled and transferred to another school?! What the Heck!

“Ms. Lazaro, did you already hear anything about Tantei High?” With her hands on my shoulders, Ma’am Castro asked me.

“N-nope. I don’t even know what that school is, eh!”

“Well, that’s obvious. Only a few know that school.”

“Huh? Why?” Is there even such thing?

“Cause it’s a secret institution. Only those chosen people have the right to know its existence.”

“W-wait. Wait. Chosen? You mean… me?”

“Yes, Ms. Lazaro.  And I’m happy that I discovered you.” She then smiled at me. Then something… felt wrong in her eyes. I am unsure if I was mistaken or something, but I felt that her eyes turned green for a split second.

“Is there something wrong, Ms. Lazaro?”

“Uh, nothing’s wrong” I then looked at the floor.

The scene of Ma’am Castro and Ma’am Ramos’ interaction suddenly flashes into my mind.

“So… you are the one who found it.”

“Hmm. Accidentally. But I didn’t realize that… you have been mistaken.”

What if… that conversation has something to with this? Which meant, that Ma’am Ramos also knew about this. Wait. So, in the whole school, three of them knew. It is also possible that other faculty members are aware of this too.

“How many of us are aware?”

I was shocked at what Ma’am Castro said. She’s staring at me with a smile. How did she knew what I am thinking about? Did she read my mind?

“Whoa… I’m not a mind reader. I just see it on your face.”

“Ma’am, w-who are you?”

I couldn’t understand this. I just know that she is amazing because she just read my thoughts on my face, but that is still a bit creepy. As if, it is not normal. Besides, she knows about that Tantei High. I also feel like I wasn’t really hallucinating, and that her eyes did turn green. Gosh. I suddenly got goosebumps! They are all weird!

“Haha. You’re a sharp one.” Ma’am Castro then suddenly looked at Sir Salas, and then after that he just left the room, leaving only the two of us.

Because I felt a bit fearful, I changed my location. I sat on the other couch, directly opposite hers. So now we are directly in front of each other. I think this is much better.

“Well, Ms. Lazaro? I have something to ask you. Can you remember Ms. Querino?”

“Eh? The second-year student, who suddenly quit school?”

I then remembered the rumor that was spreading before. They said that there was once a second-year student, who supposedly be a third-year now, but she suddenly stopped coming to school starting in the last week of August last year. Others say that she transferred since she’s always been bullied. While others say that, she got too pressured from being the top 1 at the first term then dropping to the 3rd place in the second term. There are also those who say that maybe she got into an accident. I don’t know which one the truth is, but there’s one thing that is clear.  That is starting the last week of August they aren’t studying in this school anymore.

Last week of August?

Last week. August.

Wait.

Today is August 31, ah?

W-wait… don’t tell me…

“So… did you get it?” Ma’am asked me.

“I… I don’t know. But… if my assumption is right… in the last week of August last year, she transferred to that Tantei High?”

“Bingo!” then Ma’am made a gun gesture and directed it towards me.

“Mr. Principal just covered it up by saying that Ms. Querino, but the truth is that she transferred to Tantei High. And right now, Mr. Principal will do the same thing with your case. Since there were a lot of issues last year, when Ms. Querino quits without any solid reasons, this time we are going today that you’ll be expelled because of your extreme amount of tardiness.”

“Ah… haha..” I really don’t know if I should feel glad or ashamed of Ma’am words.

“But… why? I mean, what is this ‘Tantei High’? Why did Ms. Querino transfer there? And why do I need to transfer there too? How many did transfer there? I don’t get it. I am not as smart as her. I mean, we don’t have a single similarity. W-why me? What really happened?”

“Of course, you don’t get it. No one knows about it here except Mr. Principal, Ms. Ramos, me and you.”

“Ma’am Ramos also knows about this?” I knew it. There really was a connection between that encounter to this one.

“Yeah. But she isn’t from Tantei High. Well. It is hard to explain.”

“Wait. She’s from Tantei High? So you mean… you… you are from that school?”

“Yea! I graduated there last year!” She then laughed out loud.

“Last year? You mean… you are still young?”

“How rude. Really! I still 21!”

Oh! That’s why she is like a teenager when teaching us. Also, she does have a lot of admirers. She still young, eh! I thought she is already in her 26 and just a bit childish!

“Okay, back to our topic. You are asking why you need to transfer, and the same with Ms. Querino? Well actually, you two are the only recruits we got from this school. I thought this school is just full of humdrums.”

“Humdrums?” what is that?

“Ah. That’s nothing. So, that’s why. This just means that the committee is interested in you and you have the abilities that they are searching for. Although Tantei High is unknown to most people, a lot of its graduates are now respected and famed businessmen, artists, or scientist and doctors.”

I didn’t react. Because I don’t know if she is speaking the truth. What if she is a fraud? But if she is really deceiving me, what will she get from it? Or is she and Mr. Salas have a loose screw in their heads?

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot to tell you that Tantei High’s classes start tomorrow. Maybe you want to know.”

“Huh?!”

“And you won’t be able to attend this school anymore since Mr. Principal is already announcing to all the staffs that you’re gonna be expelled. Hohoho. Here is the list of requirements you’ll need for tomorrow. And here are the documents that you’ll need to present to the committee tomorrow. The map is also included in there.” She then hands me a pile of thick and disorderly documents which nearly feel.

The door then suddenly opened.

“Oh. Here is your stuff. Go. Start moving.”

Ma’am Castro even pushed me to the door. When I look at the door, Darwin is holding my backpack,

“Thank you.” I then grab my back from him.

“No prob. Where are you going?”

“Uhmmm—”

“Ah, Mr. Ariedo, Ms. Lazaro is already expelled. C’mon. We still have a class.” She then gripped Darwin’s shoulder while directing him in the other way.

“Good luck!” then she winked at me, after that she proceeded to push Darwin towards the stairs.

While I was left alone, just standing there. Well, all I could do now is to leave. Before I exit the gate, I took a peek at the school. The St. Joseph Academy. I wasn’t able to realize it sooner that this would be my last day in here. I wasn’t even able to say my goodbyes. Haaay (sigh). That’s actually is better. I wasn’t close to anyone in here after all. Darwin is the only person I could consider as my closest friend… err… even if it looks like we are friends.

After passing through the gate, I dash towards my home. First, to let Mama know about this, and second, to ask for some money to buy my requirements. Even if I am still oblivious to what is happening, I do know that I need to buy things for the start of classes tomorrow. Or else, I won’t be able to enter any schools!

Chapter end