✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure

EPILOGUS

T U E S D A Y

December 24, 2019
Night Raven's Park
8:01 p.m.

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The Christmas tree seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

Hindi matandaan ni Nova kung kailan nila 'to sinimulang i-assemble sa parke o kung kailan nila naisabit ang mga parol sa mga puno, but she isn't one to complain. Not when people need to be reminded that there's still hope despite the events that transpired a couple of weeks ago.

Huminga nang malalim ang detective, snuggling into her knitted scarf as she skimmed the newspaper in her hand.

Tulad ng kanyang inaasahan, mainit pa ring balita ang Marburg virus at ang iniwang pinsala ni Dr. Jane Almeida, a.k.a. Unknown Disease.

'Well, at least it's not in the front pages' headlines anymore,' Nova tried to convince herself.

Sinubukan niyang basahin ang mga artikulo tungkol sa nangyayari sa kaso, pero wala na siyang maintindihan. No, in fact she's distracted right now.

Sino ba naman ang hindi kung kanina pa humihigop ng mainit na kape ang katabi mo?

"Nico, pang-ilang kape mo na 'yan?"

Pero hindi siya pinansin nito hanggang sa naubos ng detective ang kanyang iniinom. Detective Nicodemus Yukishito threw the paper cup at a nearby trashcan before acknowledging her presence.

"Coffee tastes better when it's Christmas' Eve, Miss Carlos. You should try it sometimes."

"No thanks," she replied, adjusting her face mask.

Hanggang ngayon, hindi niya maalala kung paano sila nagkita rito sa Night Raven's Park. Eventually, fate decided to cross their paths again at a nearby gift shop and they ended up sitting at their bench. Pagkatapos ng UD case, ngayon na lang ulit sila nagkita. It seems weird, but it feels like they have everything and nothing to talk about tonight.

Kumportable lang silang nakaupo rito sa tapat ng higanteng Christmas tree habang pinagmamasdan ang mga parol at pinapakinggan ang Christmas songs na pinapatugtog sa 'di kalayuan.

The lantern's light bathed them in a warm glow.

'Our bench,' Nova couldn't help but feel the heat crawling up her cheeks. Damn it.

"Those places were significant to her," Nico finally started. "Dati siyang naghanap ng part-time job sa mall para may pangkain sila, nagsisimba siya noon kasama ang anak niya, and she would also take him to this very park, nangupahan sila noon sa Mockingbird Apartment, nakiusap siya dati sa mayor sa city hall, at sa lupang kinatitirikan ng bahay ng mga Taves dati nakatayo ang foster home kung saan niya iniwan si David---now named 'Andrew'---bago nagkagulo ang lahat dahil sa pulitika."

"How do you know all this?"

"I've caught a glimpse of some documents," Nico vaguely answered. Nakatuon lang ang mga mata nito sa Christmas tree, pero alam ni Nova na nasa ibang dimensyon na naman ang isip ni Nico.

Nova doesn't know what it feels like, to have an overwhelming amount of information inside her head, but she knows it must be a burden to him sometimes.