ANITIKOS SIMONS
All the lights were on in my office long after sunset. At 9:00 pm, Atty. Garcia gave me the needed files for Zeena’s case. He was at my desk, primarily because he wanted to avoid his apartment, and not really working. Parang may gusto siyang sabihin pero nakatikom pa rin ang bibig niya. Hanggang sa ‘di na siya makatiis at nagtanong.
“Are you really crazy?”
“You could say that.”
“Last week lang, muntikan na kayong mamatay dahil sa sunog, ngayon gusto mong isangkalan ang sarili mo?”
Yes. We almost died from a fire that happened in St. Vitus University. Mabuti na lang dahil nasagot agad namin ni Moe ang hinahanap na code. The letter is SOS, and it's crazy because I played that game at my phone before I went there. It's the time I realized that my phone was tampered. Kaya pinalitan ko rin ang ginagamit kong gadgets dahil siguradong hindi na ito safe.
Mabilis kaming nakalabas bago pa man sumabog ang silid kung saan kami nagkumpul-kumpol. Walang nakaalam sa nangyari dahil malayo ang school sa mga kabahayan. And it's only a portion of the room that was destroyed because it's just a bomb that will suffocate us.
Unfortunately, wala kaming nakitang salarin nang hinanap namin kung may tao sa loob ng campus. Of course, sinong kriminal ang magpapakita matapos makagawa ng krimen? I bet, only the smart ones.
“Why don’t you have co-counsel for this trial? Puwede ba ‘yun?” Atty. Garcia interrupted my thoughts.
“I often do want you to be with me, but not this case. I prefer to do it myself. You will soon have dark suits swarming around your table kapag dinamay kita. I like the contrast, just myself.”
“Wala kang balak makipagtulungan sa mga dati mong kaibigan maliban kay Atty. Moe Calica?”
“Something like that.”
Hindi kasi ako sigurado kung pagkakatiwalaan ko sila Somerset. Well, I trust her, but not the people around us. Green Felo, that guy is weird for me. And Draco, he seems off.
“How late will you work?”
“I don’t know. I won’t sleep much tonight, or this week for that matter. Comes with the territory.”
“Look, I know it’s late and you have better things to worry about, but I have to ask you something. You’ve offered Atty. Calica a part-time job as a research assistant, a paid position, so she would become an employee of your firm, right?”
I didn't actually want Moe to work inside my firm but she has nowhere to go. She wanted to stay at her place, pero may nanggulo sa apartment niya. She's not safe there. So, she contacted me and asked if I need a companion. I offered the apartment near my firm and also offered a part-time job even if she has a high-paying job on her hands. Agaran niyang tinanggap dahil gusto niya talagang tulungan si Zeena. And she wanted to collaborate with me, hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip.
“Right. Where is this going?” I answered.
“Hang on. I’m not sure I want that girl to work for you, for us.”
I shrugged. Whatever. I need someone who can help me with Zeena's case. “I’m not gonna beg for your approval.”
Umiling-iling siya. Akmang magsasalita na naman sana nang pumasok na ang babaeng pinag-uusapan namin. She's in her usual self. Nakasuot ng white- fitted jeans at light-blue long-sleeved blouse.
“Need help?” I asked. “Gabi na, why are you here?”
Umalis si Atty. Garcia sa kaniyang kinauupuan at ngumiti sa bagong dating. Ngumiti rin pabalik si Moe. I don't know, pakiramdam ko ay nagpa-plastikan lang silang dalawa.
BINABASA MO ANG
PRISONER'S BASE: RAVEN CONSPIRACY
Mystery / ThrillerBook II Six years has passed after Zeena and her friends ended the killings and villainy in St. Vitus University. Six years has passed after they break-off the pernicious game called Prisoner's Base. They turned into different people. But the scars...
