Rewind (Erityian Tribes Novella, #2)

02 - Serene

Nandito kami ngayon sa agency dahil kailangan naming i-solve ang case na dumating. Of course, Mitsuo and Akemi looked lost. I am actually observing their movements since we don't know their backgrounds. Even though they seemed nice, their alertness and defensive instincts aren't normal. Either they are not familiar with this kind of environment and situation, or they are hiding something from us.

Nang makarating na kami sa bangko kung saan nangyari ang krimen, napatingin kaming lahat sa expressions nilang dalawa.

"Oww. Akala pa naman namin magffreak out kayong dalawa kasi first time niyo sa isang case," sabi ni Akira sa kanila.

"Sanay na ako," sagot ni Mitsuo.

"Ako rin," sabi naman ni Akemi.

Nagkatinginan agad kami ni Hideo. They looked relaxed while looking at the dead body. Maybe this is a normal thing for them? But what kind of job or environment would make them like this?

Nagsimula naman kaming mag-analyze ng nangyari sa bangkay at maghanap ng clues. Mukhang namangha rin silang dalawa sa sixth sense nina Akira at Michiko pero napakunot ang noo ko nung nakita kong hahawakan na ni Mitsuo ang bangkay.

"Wait," sabay hawak ko sa balikat niya. "Don't touch her." Tumingin ako kay Michiko at nag-summon kaagad siya ng gloves.

"O ito, gamitin mo," sabi ni Michiko habang inaabot sa kanya ang gloves. "Wag na 'wag kang hahawak ng bangkay with bare hands. Baka makuha nila ang fingerprints natin. You know, kakaiba ang katawan natin kaya siguradong magsususpect ang humdrum community."

After that, nagpatuloy kami sa pag-iinvestigate at napatigil kami nung may sinabi si Mitsuo.

"Gusto kong makita 'yung bullet wound," sabi niya.

"Huh? Baliw ka ba? Kailangan mong baligtarin 'tong katawan para makita mo 'yun! Makikita tayo ng mga humdrum police! Baka bigla na lang tayong paalisin dito dahil ginalaw natin 'to," pabulong na sabi ni Michiko sa kanya.

"But I want to see it."

"Ugh! Ang kulit!"

Why does he want to see the wound so badly? Hahampasin ko na sana siya at pagsasabihan pero nagulat ako nung nagbuntong-hininga si Hideo sabay tingin sa relo niya.

"I want to see it, too," sabi niya sabay tingin sa akin. "Naomi."

Well, I can't say no to him. Tumingin muna ako sa paligid kung may nakatingin sa amin. When I confirmed that there are no bystanders near us, I warned them.

"You only have three seconds. Kaya gawin niyo na lahat within three seconds," I said and breathed deeply.

I calmed my mind and visualized the surroundings. The humdrums, the police officers, the things around us, my comrades, and the body. With a snap of my mind, all people and things, except the seven of us, within my radius lost their ability to move. Instantly, the time of this dimension froze.

One.

Two.

Three.

"Whoa! Akala ko 'di tayo aabot!" sabi ni Michiko.

"Muntik na akong mamatay sa sobrang kaba!" dagdag ni Akira.

The people started moving again. Naglakad naman sina Hideo papunta kay Mayu para i-analyze ang nakita nila sa bullet wound. Susunod na sana ako pero biglang umikot ang paningin ko. Damn. Freezing the time and movement of at least thirty people...isn't...easy...

I'm...I'm falling...

Hideo, help me...

"Careful," biglang bulong sa akin ni Mitsuo at doon ko lang narealize na nakaalalay na siya sa akin. Tinulungan niya akong tumayo at kinalma ko ang sarili ko.