The Cold Case

Chapter 9

2017

2 DAYS, 9 HOURS, 22 MINUTES

Mackenzie wanted to know, when Sage left, where he was going. But not only Mackenzie, other Extraordinary also wanted to know; and sometimes Sage thinks they all know. Alam nilang mayroong soft spot siya kay Teagan. Alam nilang kahit makulong si Teagan ay gagawa at gagawa ito ng paraan para makalabas ito sa madaling panahon. Minsan pa nga ay napagkakamalan na siyang bakla. But he knows what's the truth. He knows that he only treats Teagan as a younger brother because he dreams of having one when he was a child. And in fact, he knows kung sino talaga ang gusto niya and that is Mackenzie. He likes Mackenzie for the long time but he didn't have the courage to tell her what he feels.

Whenever he thinks of Mackenzie, his heart started to race in a snap. Just like now, he started to reminisce their good old memories, katulad nalang noong may buhat-buhat na isang malaking box na puno ng Christmas decors si Mackenzie at sabay nilang dinisenyuhan ang malaking Christmas tree sa department nila; at noong tuwing bago sila pumasok sa department ay sasamahan muna niyang bumili si Mackenzie ng paborito niyang Caramel Macchiato at croissant bun sa isang coffee shop malapit sa department office nila.

He wishes he didn't feel like this. That he didn't think of Mackenzie so much, that he doen't keep on worrying about her so fucking much, and that he'll not be anxious whenever his heart starts acting crazy whenever Mackenzie is around.

Sage snaps out his thoughts as he sees the usual cafe where Teagan meets him in. Ito ang nakasulat sa isang pirasong papel gamit ang invisible ink pen. Binigay sa kanya ito ni Teagan at nakasulat dito ang lugar oras at isang note na "be there" sa baba ng papel. Nanatili lang si Sage sa loob ng kotse niya at doon naghintay. Lumipas na ang ilang oras ngunit di pa rin niya nakikita si Teagan kaya't nagsimula na rin itong mag-aalala. He starts wishing that Teagan would show up into the window of his car, but that never happens. The evening dissolves entirely into night and there's no sign of Teagan.

Nakauwi na si sage ngunit patuloy pa rin ang pag-aalala niya para kay Teagan. Palaging sumusulpot si Teagan sa mga meeting nila kaya't nakakapanibago 'to para sa kanya. Sanay na si Sage sa mga gulong pinapasukan ni Teagan pero hind isa ganito. Teagan is always Punctual. He'd not like this, Sage thinks. It's not like him at all.

Please come, bulong ni Sage sa sarili niya.

Sage has always had a gut for this. He knows when the cards are collapsing, when the ground gives in, when it's all going to come crashing down.

Please, Teagan. Kausapin mo ako.

The midnight came and Sage doesn't sleep that night, still wishing that Teagan would show up on his door.

***

PRESENT

"...Yun na yon? Hindi lang siya sumulpot?"

Binalik ni Yohan ang tingin siya sa kalsada at patuloy na nag-drive. Napansin ni Sage na kinuha rin ni Yohan ang baril niya and for a moment, he stiffens. Does Yohan see him as a danger? His actions don't make any sense.

A lot of things about Yohan makes no sense.

Minsan ay may sinabi si Mackenzie sa kanya, that she found something interesting about Yohan, pero hindi niya sinabi kung ano. "Not on the phone," yun lang ang sabi niya at simula noon ay hindi niya na nakausap pa si Mackenzie.

Tumingin muli sa kanya si Yohan at kumunot ang noo nito ng makita si Sage. "Sir Sage."

Doon lang narealize ni Sage na nakatitig pa pala ito kay Yohan. "Yes. Sorry. Oo, he never showed."