One day in Seoul 🇰🇷

🇰🇷: 46

JOHN'S POV

Pagdating ko pa lang sa police station, kitang-kita ko na agad si Troy, ang asawa ng namatay na si Anna. Nakaupo siya sa waiting area, basag na basag, umiiyak at halos di na makatingin nang diretso. His hands were trembling as he sobbed, his agony radiating throughout the room. The sound of his cries echoed in my head, but my thoughts were still stuck on what Francis had said earlier-the husband is the killer.

I stood there for a moment, observing Troy. Nasa isip ko, Paano magiging siya ang pumatay kung ganito siya ka-wasak? I scanned him, looking for any signs-anything at all-that would confirm what Francis believed. Ngunit napansin ko agad ang singsing sa kanyang daliri. It was there not like what Francis had said. Why would a man keep his wedding ring if he had killed his wife? My gut was telling me that Francis might be wrong this time, but then again, what if he's right?

I shook my head, trying to push away my own doubts. Francis had strong instincts, but even the best instincts can falter. As I approached my desk, I spotted my senior officer, Detective Ramirez, reviewing the case files.

"Sir, may progress na ba?" I asked, eager to hear any updates.

Ramirez looked up from the papers, frustration etched on his face. "Wala pa, John. We're still running into dead ends. Wala pang solid lead, kahit anong gawin natin. It's like the killer vanished without a trace."

That wasn't what I wanted to hear. Walang lead? Impossible. Someone had to know something.

I looked back at Troy, still sitting there, his head buried in his hands. I was about to turn away when, suddenly, he lunged towards me. I instinctively stepped back, but he grabbed my arm with a surprising amount of force. His eyes, filled with desperation, bore into mine.

"Officer, please... baka si-Yung ex ni Anna ang pumatay sa kanya," he stammered, his voice shaky but firm.

Ex? I wasn't expecting that. Francis never mentioned an ex. I hesitated for a second, remembering what Francis had said earlier. Troy's the killer, he had told me, convinced of it. But now, looking into Troy's tortured eyes, I wasn't so sure.

"Kalma lang, Troy," I said, trying to steady him. "Tell me, ano'ng alam mo tungkol sa ex ni Anna? Bakit mo naisip na siya ang pumatay?"

Troy took a deep breath, obviously struggling to hold back tears. "Before kami kinasal, Anna was with him for years. Akala niya noon, mahal siya ng ex niya, pero... abusado pala. Physically, emotionally... lahat. Lagi siyang may pasa sa katawan. At nung nagdesisyon siya na makipaghiwalay, hindi 'yun tanggap ng ex niya. He got furious. He threatened her."

My mind started racing, connecting pieces of information. "What happened after that? Did he do anything when you and Anna got together?"

Troy wiped his tears, his voice trembling. "Nung nalaman niyang kami na, sobrang galit niya. Sinabi pa niya sa akin na hindi siya basta-basta bibitaw kay Anna. Sinundan niya kami for months. Lagi siyang nasa paligid, watching us. That's when we decided to get married as soon as possible. Para matapos na 'yung panggugulo niya. After the wedding, he disappeared... or so we thought."

I could hear the fear and regret in Troy's voice, and while I wanted to trust him, Francis' words still lingered in my mind. But what if it's him? I asked myself again.

"May incidents pa ba after your wedding? Did he try to contact Anna after that?" I pressed, trying to get a clearer picture.

Troy shook his head. "Wala... Wala kaming narinig mula sa kanya after ng kasal namin. Pero... pero hindi ako mapakali. I feel like he never really let go. He could be out there, waiting for his chance... baka nga siya ang pumatay kay Anna."