The Cold Case

Chapter 1

Sage is on his fifth coffee when the phone began to ring.

He ignores in order to kill his enemy in the game he's playing.

"So close" he murmurs

"Hindi mo ba sasagutin yan Sage?"

"It's right there," Sage says, ignoring what just Mackenzie said. "You get it."

"Nagsusulat ako ng report for today morning's drug bust," Mackenzie counters. "It's a very exhaustive report. wala kang ginawa in the last two days, so you pick this up."

"Binigay ko sayo ang report about the murder case on Snow Caldera two hours ago. So technically, I did contribute something."

Mackenzie raises an eyebrow. "That is not a contribution, Sage."

"Fine, pero Snow Caldera murder's case is a dead end anyway. There's no progress about it. Why are you even working on it?"

"Because it is a dead end" Sage thought but doesn't utter any single word. He continues to play the game on his phone instead.

Mackenzie exhales sharply and throws up her hands. "You're a terrible co-worker."

The phone keeps ringing so Mackenzie stands up and pick it up. Sage starts tapping his phone and mumbling inaudible words.

"Sage!" Mackenzie shout while still holding up the phone.

"Ano?!" Sage grunts angrily. After hearing the word 'defeat' on his phone.

"Yohan daw pangalan, gusto ka kausapin. Galling daw sa Extraordinary squad" sambit ni Mackenzie

"Sinong Yohan?" Sage asks. His curiosity began to stirs up after hearing na name of his old squad.

Mackenzie rolls her eyes. "Rookie daw nila. Here."

Sage leans forward on the table to try and grab the phone without having to actually moving out of the chair. Mackenzie sighs and hands it to him. Then she makes a face obviously telling him to don't traumatize the kid. Sage rolls his eyes. Mukha mang wala siyang pake sa kanyang dating squad but he knows, just hearing about his former squad's name gets his attention.

"Sage Jimenez," he starts "Cold Case squad. Anong kailangan mo?"

"Uh. H-hi-um," says on the other line. "Uh, Sage Jimenez?"

"Yes. Yohan?"

Nagsimulang makarinig si Sage ng mga tawanan sa kabilang linya. "Y-yes. Yohan Mendoza. Sorry to trouble you-"

Mas lumakas pa ang mga tawanan. Napakunot ng noo si Sage at nagsimula ng ma-inis, he throws the phone receiver a disgusted look and took a deep breath to throw up his building anger "Look, Yohan," he says, and hears the boy take a sharp breath on the other line. "If your team's making you do this, just tell them to stop prank calling just because they threatened you. Offer to buy them some chicken wings instead."

Silence on the other end, then more laughter. Sage is about to slam the phone down, but then hears Yohan's panicked voice yell, "Wait!"

Sage sighs. "magsimula ka ng maglakad at bumili ng chicken wings or anything that will satisfy your co-woker's stomach. Have a good day, Yohan."

"No, Sir Jimenez, it is about the Cold Case 104."

Sage freezes. Para siyang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig at na-pipi bigla, he just presses the end button after hearing what Yohan said.

Nagulat si Mackenzie sa malakas na pagbaba ng telepono ni Sage. Sa loob ng isang minuto ay nakatayo lang si Sage at nakatulala sa cork board habang mahigpit pa rin ang hawak sa telepono. Bumibilis ang tibok ng puso niya sa 'di maintindihang galit at alam niyang walang mapupuntahan ang galit na iyon. Pumikit siya sandali at dahan-dahang huminga.