Almeida's Residence
5:45 am
---
"I'm sorry for coming here on such a short notice," Nova said as soon as the front door opened.
Bigla niyang naalala ang oras nang makitang naka-pajamas pa ang virologist. Nonetheless, she was glad that she agreed for an early consultation.
"Okay lang, detective. It was just about to get out of bed, anyway. Nag-kape---I mean, nag-tsaa ka na ba?"
Napangiti si Nova.
"Unfortunately, hindi uso ang instant tea sa mga vending machines."
"We'll just have to fix that, then."
Classical music filled the small house with a sense of peace.
Nang makapasok si Nova sa loob, una niyang napansin ang mga bookshelves na nakapalibot sa sala. She spotted hard bound copies of advanced biology and virology books, and leather bounds of algebra, calculus, and physics. Manghang binasa ni Nova ang titulo ng mga ito nang bumalik si Dr. Clover dala-dala ang dalawang cup ng tsaa.
Nang mapansin niya ang tinitingnan ni Nova, napailing na lang ito.
"Alam mo, hindi ko pa rin alam kung paano ako naka-survive ng college habang inaaral ang mga 'yan."
Natawa ang detective, remembering those hardships and hell weeks herself.
Nang maupo na sila at nakahigop na siya ng tsaa, walang inaksayang oras si Nova at sinimulan ang kailangan nilang pag-usapan.
"Hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin kaming balita kay Detective Yukishito, that's why I'm taking the initiative to continue our investigation," she started. Nabanggit na rin naman niya kanina sa telepono ang mga nangyari. Right now, she's more concerned about the nature of the virus they're up against. "Nabalitaan mo na rin ba ang nangyari sa mall kagabi?"
Dr. Clover sipped her tea and nodded. "It was all over the news. Katulad ng mga naunang biktima, mukhang lumala na nga ang internal bleeding sa mag-ama."
"Posible kayang na-inject ang virus sa kanila?"
Sandaling napaisip ang virologist. "Actually, that is a possibility. Basta makahanap ng paraan ang virus na pumasok sa katawan ng host."
"Do you..." Nova already regretted asking this before the question could even leave her lips. "Do you think the virus can be stolen from ECDCP?"
"I think that's unlikely. Secured ang storage room namin para mga specimens. Not to mention the well-guarded facility with CCTV's working 24/7."
Napabuntong-hininga na lang ang dalaga at inubos nang isang inuman ang kanyang tsaa.
'Kung ganoon, saan naman kaya nanggaling ang Marburg virus na ginamit ni UD?'
At this point, she feels like she was getting closer yet also farther from the truth. Halos hindi pa siya nakatulog kagabi sa kakaisip sa mga clues na iniwan ng killer. She already marked the places on a map and tried checking if there's anything similar to those locations.
"Mukhang ikaw ang may kailangan ng tulog," Dr. Clover commented, probably noticing the dark circles under Nova's eyes. Nakalimutan na rin niyang takpan ng concealer kanina.
"I look like shit, don't I?"
"Maybe."
Nova laughed dryly. "Sadly, sleep deprivation is in the job description."
Sa katunayan, hindi rin siya nakauwi sa kanila. It was a good thing that she kept spare clothes inside her locker back at SHADOW. Alam niyang nagtatampo na sigurado sina Nirvana sa kanya, pero wala naman na siyang magagawa pa.
Maya-maya pa, nabanggit ni Dr. Clover ang nabalitaan niya sa meeting sa ECDCP kahapon.
"Hindi ko alam kung bakit pumayag si Dr. Fabella sa gusto ng mayor... I've heard that they won't even impose a travel ban. I'll try talking to him again."
Natigilan si Nova sa kanyang narining. What the fuck was wrong them?
At bakit naman kinakampihan pa ng director ng ECDCP ang mayor?
'Gosh. End of the world na ba talaga?'
"Mukhang naaapektuhan rin ng virus ang utak ng mga pulitiko," Nova noted, already tired of their mayor's incompetence. "You should do a research about that sometime."
Bago pa man makabalik si Nova sa kanyang sasakyan, napansin niya ang bulto ng lalaking nakaupo sa labas ng kalapit na convenience store. Her eyes widened when recognized the man who kept following her around.
"Shit!"
Without hesitations, she quickly jumped into the driver's seat and sped away from the neighborhood.
---
BINABASA MO ANG
✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure
Mystery / Thriller"Kailangan natin siyang pigilan bago pa ubusin ng virus ang populasyon ng Eastwood!" This time around, Detective Nico Yukishito and Detective Briannova Carlos are forced to face two enemies... One unseen. One vengeful. Both deadly. What happens when...
