✔ 02 | Flames Of Madness [Soon To Be Published Under PSICOM]

CAPITULUM 26

"Oh, bakit parang nakakita ka ng multo?"

'Hindi pa ba multo ang tawag kung bigla na lang susulpot ang ex mo?' Detective Briannova Carlos thought and immediately frowned at him. Huminga siya nang malalim at humigop muna ng earl grey tea (yes, this is her favorite) bago binalingan ang abogado.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

Lelouch smiled and took a seat across from hers. "Wala man lang 'thank you'? How many times do you plan to hurt me, Nova?"

Nova shrugged. "Depends. How many times do you plan to not give up on me?"

"Good point. That's until infinity."

Napapailing na lang si Nova. She wouldn't be surprised if Lelouch was awarded "most persistent man in Eastwood". Hindi na nakapagtataka. Noon pa mang high school sila, hindi talaga madaling sumuko ang isang Lelouch San Andres. He's always the competitive type and up until now, he had won every case he presented inside a courtroom.

Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan nilang dalawa. Ilang sandali pa, ang abogado na mismo ang bumasag sa katahimikang ito.

"Olympia let me in. Nagkasalubong kami kanina.. dahil sa'yo rin naman ang punta ko, pinahatid na lang niya sa'kin ang tsaa mo." Lelouch ran a hand through his brown locks and sighed, "As much as I want to devote my time in winning you back, I'm here to consult a case."

'Gosh! He's gotta be kidding me.'

"Kung hindi mo pa napapansin, attorney, may inaasikaso pa kaming malaking kaso ngayon. A serial arsonist slash serial killer is on the loose and we're trying to track him down. Kung gusto mo, ipapa-transfer na lang natin ang problema mo sa ibang detective."

Ngunit hindi natinag ang abogado at may kinuhang envelope sa kanyang gilid. Marahan niya itong ipinatong sa mesa ni Nova at sinimulan nang ipaliwanag ang sitwasyon, "Someone has been stalking me these past few days. Noong una, may anonymous account na nagsesend lang sa'kin ng mga pictures sa email. Isinawalang-bahala ko na lang ang mga iyon hanggang sa may nagpadala na nito sa address namin kahapon."

"A stalker, huh? Hindi na nakakapagtaka. Baka may nabihag ka na namang puso o baka naman galing ito sa mga kaaway mo. Being an attorney earned you quite a reputation."

Out of curiosity, Detective Nova opened the envelope and took out its contents. Katulad ng inaasahan niya, si Lelouch ang subject sa mga larawan. Kuha ito habang namimili siya sa isang shop. Magkakaibang anggulo at malabo ang ibang litrato.

'Looks like someone was following him around.'

Ibinalik ni Nova ang mga litrato sa envelope. Walang-gana niyang itinuon ang atensyon sa dating kasintahan.

"May natanggap ka na bang death threats?"

"None that I'm aware of."

"Then there's nothing to worry about," she dismissed, "Malamang may fangirl na umaaligid sa'yo at nagkataon na nakita ka niya sa shop na 'yon. Baka nagpapapansin lang sa'yo. But just in case you receive any suspicious packages or threats, I'll assign your case to our tracking specialists. Deal?"

Atty. Lelouch hesitantly nodded. Kinuha na ulit nito ang envelope at huminga nang malalim. Sumandal siya sa kanyang upuan, "Got it. By the way, how are you feeling?"

Nova froze. She knew exactly what that question meant. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin at binuksan ang kanyang laptop para maituon sa iba ang kanyang atensyon.

"I'm feeling well. Nothing to worry about---"

Mabilis na isinara ni Atty. Lelouch ang laptop ng detective. Nova was forced to look at him.