Eastwood Pediatric Clinic
11:00 a.m.
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This was one of those rare occasions when the pediatrician would be in her office for lunch. Kaya't napapailing na lang si Dr. Clover Almeida nang makita ang kaibigang natutulog pa sa kanyang desk. Beside her, several charts laid neatly stacked. Kung natanggap nito ang text message niyang bibisita siya ngayon o hindi, wala siyang paraan para malaman ito.
"Wala ba talaga siyang pahinga?"
Matapos ang meeting nila ng detectives kanina, she decided to return to ECDCP to gather the files the director instructed her to give him. Kung hindi siya nagkakamali, nagpatawag na ng staff meeting si Dr. Fabella. Since she wasn't needed yet, they granted her the luxury to spend the rest of the day in peace.
At dahil katabi lang ng gusali ang clinic ng kanyang matalik na kaibigan, Clover decided to catch up on things, hoping Tiffany wouldn't be too busy. She really needed someone to talk to with the stress of this case following her around 24/7.
Nang sumara ang pinto, agad na napabalikwas nang bangon si Tiffany at natatarantang napalinga-linga sa kanyang maliit na opisina. Mabilis nitong kinuha ang stapler sa kanyang drawer.
"MAGNANAKAW! Security! May magna---Oh! It's you, Clover. Hahaha! Akala ko naman kung sino," Tiffany sheepishly said before placing the 'weapon' down. "Is it lunch time already? Akala ko mamaya ka pa darating."
"My boss had mercy."
"Lucky you. How I wish my landlady had some, too."
Naupo si Clover sa katapat nitong upuan. Napasimangot na lang siya sa kalat at samu't saring laruan ng bata sa paligid. "Grabe, Tiff. Mukhang pagod na pagod ka, ah. Is it 'that' season again?"
Tiffany released her chestnut-colored hair from it's bun and nodded. "Kapag ganitong panahon talaga, dumarami ang mga batang nagkakasakit. It's nothing too serious, though. The normal coughs and colds." Sandaling natigilan ang pediatrician nang may maalala. But instead of voicing it out, she hesitantly smiled. "May sasabihin ka pala?"
The virologist nodded. Sa totoo lang, ayaw na niyang dumagdag sa mga problema ni Tiffany pero kailangan nitong malaman. She doesn't want her friend getting infected, especially with how high the risks are.
"Tiff, 'yong virus..."
"The one they announced on TV? Updated pa rin naman sa mga balita. Ano bang meron?"
Clover gulped, briefly hesitating before she finally managed to voice it out...
"It's Marburg."
Nang marinig ni Tiffany ang pangalan nito, agad siyang tumahimik. Noong mga sandaling 'yon, Clover felt guilty bringing this topic from out of the blue. Lalo't alam niyang busy ito sa pag-aasikaso ng kanyang clinic.
Makalipas ang ilang sandali, pagak na natawa ang pediatrician. She laughed it off like it was some kind of sick joke.
"Kung ganoon, mukhang kailangan nga nating lahat mag-ingat... Der Gesunde weiß nicht, wie reich er ist."
Clover nodded, knowing all too well how fleeting one's life can be once exposed to something unknown. Kaya hindi niya masisi si Tiffany kung nagiging emosyonal ito. She didn't say anything when the pediatrician excused herself to use the restroom shortly after she told her about the virus.
Nang dumako naman ang kanyang mga mata sa mga papeles sa mesa nito, Clover's eyes furrowed when she noticed something. Inusog niya ang fruit bowl na nakapatong sa papel para mabasa nang maigi ang pangalan.
"What the hell is this?"
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BINABASA MO ANG
✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure
Mystery / Thriller"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...
