All Clear, Attorney

WE

"WHY . . . MY FATHER." Cadence's voice crack, and his eyes were glassy, tears swelling in their corners. Mabigat ang hininga nito habang nakatitig sa kanya, and he closed his eyes tightly. 

She felt her heart sank at the bottom of her stomach. Seeing him this . . . vulnerable sent a huge lump to her throat, na kahit anong subok niyang paglunok, hindi niya malunok-lunok. 

The ice around Cadence's eyes melted, giving way to the depths of his soul, making her read his heart . . . his vulnerability. 

Her eyes went to his knees when they trembled, and Cadence sat. Kitang-kita niya ang panghihina nito. His whole body is shaking, and he was staring at the void, his features contorting in both confusion, betrayal, and pain. 

Kinagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi nang maramdaman ang paninikip ng kanyang dibdib, and she couldn't help it anymore. 

Tears pouring down her face, she moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around him. And . . . Cadence broke, his shoulders shaking harshly as he turned her body towards her to bury his face in her neck. 

Cadence broke . . . for the very first time. 

"T-Thea . . ." Umaalog ang balikat nito, and she shut her eyes tight as she caressed his back. 

"We're going to save your mom, Cad, hmm?" She could feel her chest tightening, lalo na no'ng tuluyang humagulhol ang lalaking nasa mga bisig niya. 

She couldn't imagine the pain that Cadence must be feeling right now. The betrayal upon finding out what his father did to his mother sat at the top of her heart, weighing it down that she could feel it pulsing in her stomach. 

"I . . . couldn't believe he can do that, Thea! That's his wife!" Lumayo ito saglit sa kanya. "That's my . . . mom." Cadence gasped. Ang mukha nito ay punong-puno na ng luha, and his cheeks are glistening because of his tears. 

She could see the young Cadence in front of her, breaking after years of maintaining a calm and cold facade. She could see his pent-up emotions caused by his parents' absence and how they burst. His jar of emotions breaking, bursting, and crashing into tiny pieces. 

"He must be put to jail, Cad. Miss Quella . . . Miss Quella needs our help." She promised her. She promised Cadence's mom that she will let her out. 

Ramdam niyang natigilan ito na para bang may naisip. He stared at her . . . for a long time. His eyebrows met in the middle, and his forehead knotted. Mayroon pa ring bakas ng luha ang mukha nito, so she lifted her hand to wipe his tears away. 

"The laboratory . . ." he whispered and stared at her. Mas lalong nagkasalubong ang mga kilay nito na para bang may pilit na inaalala. 

"Fuck. Why did I realize it just now?" Napahilamos ito sa mukha at napasinghap. Her forehead knotted, trying to make sense of what was going on. 

What did Cadence mean?

"Realize what, Cad?" 

"The location . . . The laboratory's location . . ." Finally, he looked at her. Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata nito at nagparte ang mga labi. 

"The location where my mother was held captive . . . is within the area where Enesha was experimented on . . ."

Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata sa narinig. Her eyelids fluttered as she tried to swallow the information that was fed to her. 

Miss Quella . . . Enesha . . . 

And as she mentally connected the facts with a red string, the realization that they are both connected through hypnosis and experiments dawned on her. 

Hypnosis.

She swallowed hard and looked at Cadence. "They must be the same organization."

"FUCK. YOU'RE MARRIED?!" The detective had a look of surprise on his face when she entered Cadence's office, and Cadence introduced her as his wife. Malalaki ang mga mata nito habang titig na titig sa kanya at nakaawang pa ang mga labi. 

So . . . this is Enesha's lover, and her husband's best friend. 

"Yeah."

"Without even inviting me?" 

"Why would I?"

"I'm your best friend!"

"I will make you my best man when we get married again."

Muntik na siyang mabilaukan sa narinig, at nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata na napatingin kay Cadence, but he just fucking smirked at her before looking at the detective once again!

Damn. Baka naman . . . nagloloko lang ito. I mean, they're already married. 

But the name written on the marriage contract is not her real name. 

Kinagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi at inalis iyon sa kanyang ulo. Now is not the right time to think about their . . . marriage. 

"I'll take note of that. But why did you call me here?" Detective Shantrie Qin brushed his hair upwards and looked at Cadence, his chinky blue eyes staring at her husband. 

"There will be a change of plans." Cadence sighed and crossed his legs. He gave her a quick glance before motioning her to sit beside her, and she did. 

Shantrie's forehead knotted, and confusion wrapped around his blue eyes. "Plans on?"

"On helping Enesha."

Napaayos nang upo ang kaharap nila. It seemed like the detective heard a magic word, and tension filled the atmosphere.

Ever since Alex revealed to the detective the truth about Enesha's past, they started to devise a plan on how to help her. At first, Enesha didn't want to put some burden on their shoulders, but they insisted to help her in any way they can until she finally gave in. 

Until she finally accepted their help. 

"What about it, Alex?" Sumeryoso ang boses ni Shantrie. Gone was the Shantrie who carried a playful and light aura a while ago. 

Cadence cocked his head towards her and gave her a quick sideways glance. "Tell him, Thea."

And she started telling them about her experience . . . and Cadence's parents. As she did, nakatitig lang ang detective sa kanya. Paminsan-minsan ay nagtatagis ang bagang nito at kuyom ang kamao, but he didn't say anything. 

He just stared at her, listening to her story. When she's done, tumitig ulit ito kay Cadence, and this time, coldness totally flashed his eyes, and if she didn't know what made him like this, she would feel scared and intimidated. 

But as a man of justice, Shantrie is angry . . . for her, for Cadence's parents, and for Enesha. 

"So, one of Enesha, Thea, and Miss Quella's abusers . . . is your dad . . ."

"I'm afraid that's the case, Shantrie. But he's not my dad anymore. That man is a monster. Wala akong ama na hayop." matigas na saad ng kanyang asawa. She could hear the bitterness scratching in his throat. 

Shantrie let out a deep sigh and shook his head. "Damn. I'm . . . I'm so—"

"Don't mention it. Wala akong ama." Mapakla itong natawa, but she knows that no matter how hard he tried to brush the happenings off, nasasaktan pa rin ito.

"We're going to hit two birds with one stone. Let's change our plans. And Thea," lumingon ito sa kanya, "remember the thing we talked about last night. Are we clear about that?" 

Nakatitig ang dalawang piraso ng mga mata sa kanya. The other pair was blue, while the other was hazel—the one she would always loved to stare at.

Meeting Cadence's gaze, she recalled all the things that they both agreed on. The hypnosis . . . and the lemon.

She needs to help Enesha's family hypnotize the demons.

As the corners of her lips curled upwards slightly, she nodded at her husband.

"All clear, Attorney."

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