Moments

Worlds Apart I

8.27.16 AMACon3 Drabble Challenge Prompt 10

Worlds Apart I

Blood...on the floor...up the ceiling...the place is covered in red and stinks. Alden observed the whole place with a grim face. This is a bloody murder.

"Get the forensic team here. I want the whole place checked, walang gagalaw sa crime scene! Understood!"

"Yes, sir!" His men shouted.

After giving instruction to his men, he went out of that old building in Binondo. Madaling araw na, around four in the morning, they've followed the lead for the entire night. But still failed to be one step ahead of the murderer that's been hunting the city. I have to find that bastard before he makes another move.

Just then, his phone vibrated, he picked it up and answered, "Hello"

"RJ, anong oras ka uuwi? Nakalimutan mo na ba na ngayon mo susunduin ang anak ng bestfriend ng tita mo from the states? "

Napapikit siya. Nakalimutan niya. "Yes, I remember, Dad"

"No, nakalimutan mo. Kaya nga tumawag na ako. Umuwi ka na para makapagpahinga. Six in the morning ang dating ng plane ni Nicomaine ayon sa tita mo, it's almost three o'clock"

Napabuntunghininga siya. He look at his watch, three na nga. Sinuklay niya ang isang kamay sa buhok at umikot ang mata sa paligid.

Tahimik ang Binondo. Halos walang nakakaalam na may operation sila. A failed one. Again. Sa totoo lang nanggigil na siya. Gustong-gusto na niya mahuli ang kriminal pero sa estado ng isip niya ngayon, it would not be good. Lalo na sa ganitong kaso.

Lumabas ang ilang mga kasama niya sa building na may dala ng itim na bag...inside is another victim...a lady in her mid-twenties, still at the prime of her life..her body cold and abused.

Napahawak siya sa kanyang sentido. A headache is coming in full force.

"RJ! RJ! Nandyan ka pa ba?"

"Sorry, Dad. Medyo may iniisip lang"

He heard his father sigh. "Kung gusto mo si RD na lang ang pasunduin ko, gisingin ko na lang siya"

"Huwag na, Dad. Tita, ask this one favor from me. Di ko siya bibiguin, it's the least I can do. After all the help she has given us when mom died." 

"Tisoy" tawag ng ama niya sa kanya, gamit ng nickname na bigay ng ina niya. Whenever his dad uses it, he knows his father worry for him. Alden can't help but smile. His worried father ease the raging headache a little. "Alam mo naman na walang hinihinging kapalit ang Tita mo sa mga naitulong niya sa atin. She love your mom as much as we loved her. Kung pagod ka, ako na bahala"

Umiling siya kahit di nakikita ng ama. "No, Dad. Ako na susundo kay Nicomaine. Magpapalit na lang ako ng damit sa kotse. Then, didiretso na sa airport. Pa-ready na lang po ng room niya. She's a hotel heiress and a business woman, baka may masabi siya na kung ano pa. Kaya, we'll make her stay at our house, the best, if that's possible."

"Anak, wag mo muna siyang i-judge. There must be a reason why she wants to stay at us instead in one of her hotels here"

"Okay, Dad. Sorry, I just can't help it. The lady is rich but she chooses to stay at our house. I'm just glad that Tita has already given us the budget for her stay."

"Don't worry about money, son. My job and yours is giving us enough to get by. Plus RD is already helping us. Riza has a scholarship, all because of your job. Don't think about it too much"

"Sorry, Dad. Pagod lang siguro talaga ako and the case we're handling is getting into me"

"I understand. Baka naman nakalimutan mo na on leave ka na starting today, di ba nagpasa ka?"

Napabuntong-hininga siya. Nakalimutan niya...uli. His job is truly getting into him...but he can't help it..he vowed many years ago, when his dear friend died in his arm due to a robbery that he'll make sure the people responsible will pay for it...and here he was, three years later, a detective. Here I am, so good on this job that I can't even unlocked this bloody new case!

"Okay, basta, ikaw na bahala. Call me kung on the way na kayo ni Nicomaine. Ingat ka, anak" Binaba na nga ng ama niya ang linya. Batid siguro nito na ayaw na niyang pag-usapan pa ang tungkol sa force leave na binigay sa kanya ng superior nila.

"Bye, Dad" he said, kahit wala na ito sa kabilang linya.

Nicomaine is excited. Finally, after many years, nakabalik na rin siya sa Pilipinas. Wala siyang sinabihan sa mga magulang niya at kapatid na uuwi siya. This is a surprise trip. A vacation for herself. Beside, she's still not sure kung napatawad na siya ng mga parents niya sa pag-pursue na sa New York na mag-stay for good at dun tuparin ang career na napili niya.

She got so hooked on proving herself all those years. Promising herself, na pagbalik niya, may napatunayan na siya. She learned to master her course and make the best of it. She's thrifty, kahit noong nag-aaral pa, kaya naman, she used all of her savings para itayo ang unang Maine

Hotel, mula doon, as they say, the rest is history. Now, she owns a few more, and one in Makati and Cebu. But despite having that, she chooses to stay at her aunt's bestfriend relatives in Laguna. Close kasi siya rito at ang dami na nitong nakwento tungkol sa pamilya ng kapatid nito. Na-curious tuloy siya at para na rin may uuwian siya pansamantala, habang di pa niya nasasabihan ang mga magulang at kapatid na nasa Pilipinas na siya uli.

At the airport...she saw a man in black jacket, jeans and shoes. Looking nowhere but her. Matangkad, medyo magulo ang buhok, maputi at matangos ang ilong. Humarap ito sa kinatatayuan niya. His eyes looks so tired.

Napabuntong-hininga siya. This must be Detective Richard Faulkerson Jr...and despite being this tired looking he still look so hot. How is that possible? 

_ _ _ 

(c) posted picture is from EB *imagine-in nyo na lang yan si Heiress Maine at si Detective Alden (Bagay, di ba? heh!)  

A/N:  Kwento ko lang *grin*... did this from one vehicle to another from Manila to Cavite, para lang makahabol (AMACon drabble has deadline kasi *peace*) ... It's a bit of an adventure actually, haha!  Nag-iiba tuloy ang mood ng mundo ko, hehe! 

P.S. when I made this di ko inisip na may kasunod, hehe ^_^