Andrew knew something was wrong, even when the grown ups didn't tell him anything.
Noong hindi agad nakabalik ang papa niya kagabi galing sa store at noong may tumawag sa mama niya, alam na niya agad na hindi magiging normal ang pagkain nila ng almusal.
'Ano na naman kayang problema?'
After they finished their unusually silent breakfast, sinubukan niyang alamin sa Kuya Franco niya ang nangyari. But even so, he was in a bad mood since yesterday because of some stupid love problem. Kaya siguro hindi na rin nagulat ang bata nang sininghalan lang siya nito.
"Basta 'wag ka na lang makialam. Bata ka pa."
In the end, Andrew was left alone all morning inside his bedroom. Nakatanaw lang siya sa labas ng bintana, naiinip at nagtataka kung bakit ang daming nakatakip ang mga mukha. Bakit ba nila kailangan ng face mask?
"Andrew?"
His mother appeared at the doorway, looking paler than usual.
Hindi na lang niya ito pinansin.
"Po?"
"Nak, magbihis ka na... May appointment pa tayo ngayon sa pedia mo."
On normal days, Andrew would be all grumpy about this. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin siya kumportable sa presensiya ng mga doktor at naiilang pa rin siya tuwing may check up. Pero dahil na rin siguro sa nangyayari ngayon, hindi niya magawang magreklamo.
*
At the same time, Nova couldn't believe what was happening.
"Keep an eye out for the killer, Nova. Papunta na kami diyan."
She can barely register what Nico said. Nakatulala lang ang detective sa batang kanina pa sumusuka ng dugo. Hunched back and shaking, the boy's white attire became a gory canvas.
Time stopped.
The lights flickered.
The choir's angelic voice morphed into desperate screams.
"Anong nangyayari?"
"F-Father, sinubukan po namin siyang pigilan kasi ilang araw na rin siyang may sakit..."
"---this is an emergency!"
"H-Hindi ba ganito rin ang nangyari sa---"
"Diyos ko po, tulungan Niyo po sana kami..."
Nagkakagulo na ang lahat nagkukumahog para tulungan ang batang sakristan, pero sa pagkakataong ito, alam ni Nova na huli na ang lahat. She stood up and quickly maneuvered her way through the bodies.
"LUMAYO KAYO! WALANG LALAPIT SA KANYA!"
They all turned their heads to her.
Sa kabila ng suot niyang disguise, Nova managed to flash her detective's badge on time before any more questions could be raised. Pagkatapos niyang ipaliwanag na may parating nang emergency team, mahigpit niyang ibinilin at ipinaliwanag ang sitwasyon.
No direct contact to any body fluid, including blood.
They can't risk anymore exposures to this virus.
'Now, where the fuck is that bastard?'
She scanned the sea of scared and confused faces. Malamang hindi pa nakakalayo si UD, lalo't mag-iiwan pa ito ng bato para maging clue sa susunod na lokasyon.
Whatever screwed up game he's playing, it's going to end now.
Kaya nang marinig ni Nova ang pagsasara ng isang pinto, she ran after the noise without hesitations. She pushed a couple of people aside and jumped over several pews, taking a mental note to apologize later. She turned to a narrow hallway, leading to the emergency exit.
The pink-haired detective cursed under her breath.
Sa pagkakataong ito, wala na siyang ibang iniisip kundi huliin ang demonyong nagdala ng sakit na 'to sa Eastwood.
Nova ran outside, barging through the doors.
"HOY! BUMALIK KA RITO!"
Hingal siyang nagpalinga-linga sa bakuran ng simbahan, pilit hinahanap ang Unknown Disease. When she spotted something on the grass, para bang lalong nagdilim ang paningin ng detective.
But before Nova could even pick up the rock, natigilan siya nang may nauna nang gumawa nito.
'Shit.'
Her eyes darted to the black skinned hand and travelled upwards. Nang makita niya ang mukha ng lalaki, agad siyang naalarma.
'Siya 'yong ilang araw nang sumusunod sa'kin!'
Out of instinct, Nova attacked. Wala siyang inaksayang oras at mabilis na kinuha ang "suklay" sa kanyang bulsa at kinalas ang hawakan nito. In its place, a sharp double-edged knife was pointed at the foreigner's neck. Nova's eyes darkened.
No fucking mercy.
"Ngayon pa lang, ipagdasal mo nang hindi 'aksidenteng' dumulas ang kamay ko, UD."
His confused expression mocked her. Lalong idiniin ni Nova ang patalim sa leeg nito. And before she could even do something she'll regret later, someone spoke from behind her.
"That would be unnecessary, Detective Carlos."
Nang lingunin ni Nova ang boses, nabitiwan niya ang patalim nang makita ang huling taong aakalain niyang susulpot ngayon.
"Mr. Y?"
---
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...
