Destined To Be

Destination 4

Seven

"Isang kaso na naman ng sunod-sunod na pagpatay sa bayan ng Ibugos ang naresolba ni Detective Seven Villacastro. Ang hinihinala noong kagagawan ng kulto, ay kagagawan pala ng isang sindikato. Lahat ng sangkot sa krimen ay nahatulan na ng hukuman sa panghabambuhay na pagkakakulong. Kung bibilangin, ito na ang pangatlong kasong naresolba ni Detective Villacastro sa loob lamang ng dalawang buwan niyang paglilingkod sa National Criminal Taskforce Organization o NCTO.- -"

Pinatay ko na ang radyo at lumabas na sa aking kotse.

Muli, abala na naman ang media sa paghahatid balita tungkol sa kasong naresolba ko. Sa mga nagdaang buwan, daig ko pa ang isang sikat na artista dahil palagi akong laman ng balita.

Maging ang pag-resign ko noon sa Prosecutors Office ay naging maingay na isyu. Maraming haka-haka ang lumitaw tungkol sa dahilan ng aking pag-alis lalo pa't sangkot ang pangalan ko sa malalaking kaso ng bansa, ngunit ipinaliwang ito ng maayos ng aming Prosecutor General.

Wala kasi akong pinaunlakan na PresCon o kahit interview manlang.

"Detective Seven." Halos mapalundag ako sa gulat nang may biglang tumawag sa akin.

Isang buwan na kasi akong tumutuloy sa kinalakhan kong mansion, at wala pa akong naging bisita rito.

And to think, how can this person get inside considering that this mansion has a high wall fence?

Agad ko itong nilingon at napasinghap ako nang tumambad sa akin ang isang pamilyar na mukha.

"What...are you...doing here?" agad kong tanong sa lalaking nakatayo ngayon sa aking harapan.

Siya lang naman ang lalaking nakita ko sa bundok halos tatlong buwan na ang nakalilipas. Ang lalaking nagdala sa akin sa hospital nang mahimatay ako.

Speaking of which, he really did bring me to a hospital. But the moment I woke up, I can no longer find him, so I wasn't able to extend my thanks.

"Is this your house? Pretty big, huh?"

"Pardon?" nakapamewang kong tanong kaya napangisi siya.

"Let's just say...can I...stay here for a while?"

"WHAT?!" gulat kong tanong dahil sa kanyang pinagsasasabi.

"Can I stay here? Just for several months."

"I heard you, freak. What I mean is, why would I let you stay here? And who are you by the way? And how did you get in here? When did you get in here?" Napaatras siya sa sunod-sunod kong tanong.

"Whoah. Chill- - -"

"How am I supposed to chill when there is a stranger who suddenly appeared in my abode out of nowhere!!? And this stranger can do many heinous crimes that will violate my dignity as a woman and my life as a living being. Crimes such as rape, murder, theft, and the list goes on!!!" mahaba kong litanya.

Naningkit ang aking mga mata nang mapatawa lang siya. Seriously? Hindi niya ba ramdam ang pag-aalburoto ko?

"I'm going to call the police," pag-iimporma ko sa kanya.

Nang hahablutin na niya sana ang inilabas kong gadget ay agad ko itong iningudngod ng malakas sa kanyang mukha na ikinadaing niya. It wasn't a phone, but a powerbank.

A solid rectangular powerbank...just landed on his face.

"Ugh! What's with you woman?!" reklamo niya kaya napahalukipkip ako sa harap niya.

"So my conclusion is right. You're intention of being here is to commit a crime on me, since you're afraid that I'll call the police."

And why would he think that I'll really call the police? Much come to worst, bangkay ko na lang ang aabutan nila rito. Why made an effort though?

Nang mukhang nakabawi na siya ay inayos na niya ang kanyang sarili at tinignan ako ng masama.

"Uh-oh. There's a probable cause of murder in your stares," I stated, grinning.

"I'm Axon Night. And for your info, I'm not going to rape you because you're definitely not my type." Hindi ko alam kung magpapasalamat ba ako o maiinsulto sa sinabi niya.

"Murder? If I want to kill you, I must've done it earlier when you still didn't notice me. Theft? Ginawa ko sana iyon nang makarating ako kanina rito na wala ka pa. If you want to know, dalawang oras na akong nakaupo sa bakuran mo," dugtong niya pa.

I analyze all the things he just said. He has a point. I can tell when people are lying or not, and he didn't seem lying.

But, it doesn't change the fact that he's a stranger. And just like most politicians, strangers can't be trusted easily.

"And how did you get in here?" again, I raised my point.

"I have my talents."

"Yes. Talent of trespassing. A talent punishable by law," nakangisi kong pahayag.

"Fine. Fine," pagsuko niya at tumalikod na.

"And where are you going?" Muli niya akong hinarap.

"Going out...before I get punished by your laws."

"The law is not mine. It didn't belong to anyone."

"How about those people who put the laws on their palms?"

"I prosecuted those kind of people."

"Yeah right."

"Let's go."

"Pardon?" he asked. I smirk.

"I'm going to escort you outside in case you do something bad...to my precious plants." Napaarko ang kilay niya ngunit nagpatiuna rin palabas ng gate.

"Paano mo pala nalamang dito na ako nakatira?"

"In case you forgot, you are famous, Prosecutor slash Detective Seven Villacastro." I silently laughed.

"So...maybe this is called...stalking?"

"You can think what you want, but it's not. I just really need a place to stay at."

Muli kong naalala ang aming unang tagpo. He told me that he had stayed in that mountain for a month. Is he really serious?

"Wala ka bang bahay? O matutuluyan? Like apartment? Or whatever?"

"Wala."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a lone person."

"And so am I. And I have a mansion, one vacation house, and three condo units."

"You...can't understand my situation."

Napatango na lang ako dahil tuluyan na siyang nakalabas sa gate. Lumabas din ako at napasandal sa pader, facing him.

Napatingin ako sa aking relos at nalaman kong alas siete na pala ng gabi.

"Give me one good reason why would I let you stay here?" I asked him, seriously.

He smirks.

"Just almost three months ago, I delivered someone to a hospital, and as I can remember, I didn't receive a thank you." Napairap ako sa kanya.

"This is the very reason why I don't like utang na loob," pahayag ko at muling binuksan ang gate. "For a month, you can stay here."

His face brightens up.

"Thanks."

"I'm just getting even."

Pumasok na ako at sumunod naman siya.

"Anyway, are you not afraid that I might really do those crimes you mentioned earlier?"

I grinned.

"Mr. Axon Night, as I told you before, I'm not afraid of death."

Because I had already experienced it.