✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure

CAPITULUM 10

Mockingbird Apartment Complex
Eastwood
3:00 pm

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Benet wasn't someone who'd usually give a damn about other people's business. Hindi niya ugaling makialam sa gawain ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya, lalo kung hindi naman siya naaapektuhan.

'Walang pakialam, walang problema.'

Sa katunayan, sa isang dekada na niyang nangungupahan sa gusaling 'to, he had never spoken a word to his neighbors aside from the obligatory "hi and hello's" whenever they found themselves cramped inside the same elevator. At kung hindi siya nagkakamali, madalas ang pamilyang Chua pa ang nakakasabayan niya.

Of course, he still doesn't care.

But in those brief moments of acknowledging each other's presence, hindi maiwasang malaman ni Benet ang maliliit na mga detalye tungkol sa kanila---like how the man wore his expensive wrist watch on his left arm, how the wife looked like the actress he'd seen on the TV once, and how cheerful their kid, Molly, is.

Wala siyang pakialam.

At wala pa rin sana siyang pakialam kung hindi niya lang napansing nakaawang ang pinto ng apartment unit nila. Benet was about to enter his own unit when he noticed this. Hindi na niya namalayang ilang minuto lang siyang nakatayo sa labas ng pinto niya at nagdedebate kung pupuntahan ang mag-anak.

'Baka naman naiwan lang nila? Teka, kumain sila sa labas kanina... Shit. 'Di kaya may magnanakaw?!'

His internal debate lasted for a few seconds more before Benet finally decided to check what was going on. Nang sumilip siya sa pinto, narinig niya ang mahinang...pag-iyak? Agad siyang nataranta kaya walang pagdadalawang-isip na siyang pumasok sa loob.

But when he laid eyes upon the scene inside their apartment, Benet dropped his shopping bags in shock.

"A-Anong nangyari...?"

On the floor, their bodies laid lifelessly. Nakasuot pa sila ng damit pang-alis at naiwan sa mesa ang ilang laruan at plastic na naglalaman ng kanilang take-out mula sa isang kilalang Chinese Resto sa 'di kalayuan. Naaagaw ang atensyon ni Benet nang makita ang naghihingalong bata. Her sobs were cut short by her shallow breaths. The perspiration made her black hair clung to her forehead.

Benet rushed to the girl's side and quickly pulled out his phone to call 911.

"P-Papunta na sila rito. Shh... Magiging maayos rin ang lahat."

Sana.

Just then, Benet remembered the man he walked into the shop earlier. Sa hindi niya malamang dahilan, agad siyang kinutuban nang masama nang makita niya ang hawak nito. At hindi pa nakatulong ang katotohanang balot na balot ito kanina kaya imposibleng mamukhaan niya ito. Earlier, Benet brushed it off. Maybe the guy was just cold?

But now that he thinks about it, nakabukas naman ang heater sa shop na pinanggalingan nito kanina.

With trembling hands, Benet dialed a number he didn't think he'll ever be able to use. After a few rings, somebody picked up the call.

"Hello, this is the Heraldic Eastwood Local Police Department. Kung hinahanap mo si Inspector Placido Ortega, I regret to inform you that the chief is busy at the moment," bungad ng babaeng pulis na para bang kanina pa hinihiling na matapos ang duty niya.

Benet quickly gave her a brief description of the emergency. Maya-maya pa, idinagdag nito...

"I think I ran into the person who did this."

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Note: Yow! I hope you're all doing well, and please stay safe. Dahil marami akong utang sa inyo, hanggang chapter 20 ang "UD" natin ngayon. If there are any technical concerns, feel free to comment. Thanks, stay awesome, and enjoy reading! -Noks