Eastwood Forensic Crime Laboratory
(EFC Lab)
12:20 p.m.
---
"You're getting good at this. Konti na lang at matatalo mo na rin si Nicodemus."
Scorpio smiled at the kid. Hindi niya alam kung bakit hindi pa rin siya nito tinatanong tungkol sa mga ngiping gamit nila sa paglalaro. Nonetheless, Andrew looked like he was genuinely enjoying the game.
"Lolo, pwede ko po ba 'to hiramin? Dalhin ko sa bahay," he innocently asked. Walang kahirap-hirap nitong nasalo ang rubber ball na may marka ng scorpion.
That made the old man smile hesitantly. "Eh, baka mamaya magalit naman ang mga magulang mo. Not everyone can see past these human teeth, you know?"
'Baka himatayin pa sila kapag nakita nila 'yan.'
While Andrew was busy playing jack stone on top of the steel examining table, sinimulan nang ayusin ni Scorpio ang mangilan-ngilang kahong hindi pa naisasara. Ayon na rin sa napagkasundaan nila ng admins, ito na ang huling araw niya rito sa laboratoryo.
Scorpio couldn't help but reminisce the times he had assisted the authorities with their cases.
Sa katunayan, malinaw pa sa alaala niya ang unang beses na nagpunta si Detective Nicodemus sa kanyang munting lungga.
"You're Scorpio, right?"
Lumingon si Scorpio, na noo'y abala sa paga-asikaso ng DNA test, sa binatang nakasandal malapit sa pintuan. Nico was no more than 17 years old at that time, a sulky and stereotypical teen. Doon lang niya napansin ang presensiya nito. Despite the sudden intrusion, Scorpio smiled and welcomed him.
"I didn't know I'd be popular with the youngsters, too."
Inalis niya ang kanyang gloves at akmang makikipagkamay na rito nang umiling si Nico.
"Biyudo ka na. Walang anak. Nakapag-aral abroad. You're already round your late 50's. Hindi na nakauwi kagabi dahil sa dami ng trabahong kailangang gawin, particularly with the murder case the police are investigating. The admin just fired your assistant last week because of his suspected involvement in a scandal, and you've been against ths idea of a replacement ever since. Isa kang introvert, animal lover, at---"
"At paano mo nalaman ang mga 'to?"
The younger Nico shrugged and handed him an envelope. "Pinapabigay nga pala ni Uncle. They did a background check on whoever's body you're about to cut open."
Sumulyap ito sa examining table kung saan nakataklob ng puting tela ang katawan. Murder case, as usual.
'Siya ang pamangkin ni Xavier?'
"Alam ba ng uncle mo na binasa mo ang laman nito, hijo?"
The boy smirked mischievously, revealing a set of dimples.
"Hindi. But what he doesn't know, won't hurt him."
And in that moment, Scorpio knew Nicodemus would grow up to be the man he is right now.
"Sino po sila?"
Pabalik na lang sa kasalukuyan si Scorpio nang magtanong si Andrew. Hawak-hawak na pala nito ang isang picture frame na mula sa isa sa mga kahon. He adjusted his new eyeglasses and took the picture from him. In faded colors, the three of them stood out. Hanggang ngayon, naaalala niya pa rin ang lugar na 'to.
Ilang taon ba ang lumipas? Baka abandonado na 'yon ngayon.
"Madalas din silang lumalapit at humihingi ng mga pabor sa'kin noon.. They were the best agents in the field, until something happened..."
"Agents? Ano pong nangyari sa kanila?"
Napangiti na lang si Scorpio at ibinalik na lang sa kahon ang larawan.
"Hanggang ngayon, walang nakakaalam."
With a final glance at the picture, he sealed the box along with the many memories he had kept over the years.
'Ano nga ba ang nangyari noon, Xavier, Yuan, at Olympia?'
---
ŞİMDİ OKUDUĞUN
✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure
Gizem / Gerilim"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...
