No Escape Series #2: No Resolve

Chapter 08: A Writer and The Detective Agent

A WRITER AND THE DETECTIVE AGENT

Ibinalik na ni Rhian ang phone kay Vahn. “If you need help, just say it; para matulungan kita rito tutal naman nakikituloy lang ako,” sabi ni Rhian sa lalaki, pero napailing na lamang si Vahn at ngumisi.

“Why are you saying that?” He put his phone on the table, took the tray that was on it, and moved it to the sink. “Baka mabinat ka lang. Mas mabuti pang umakyat ka na lang doon sa taas at magpahinga.”

Imbes na sundin na lang ang sinabi ni Vahn, hinila niya ang isang upuan sa may mesa at doon umupo. “I canʼt just lay around doing nothing. Often when Iʼm bored at home, I dedicate my free time to writing rather than sitting around and doing nothing.”
 
Vahn was able to look back at the woman sitting on the chair, her hand resting on the table, and notice that she was wearing the t-shirt he had lent her. In Vahnʼs mind, this girl may still be innocent because of her angelic appearance, but if the girl can think, she is very mature, and she doesnʼt need to be taught things.

“Mabuti naman at hindi mo sinabi sa mga kaibigan mo na narito ka ngayon sa puder ko; ng isang detective officer.” Napabaling naman agad si Rhian sa lalaki. “May mga natanggap akong balita kanina sa TV, mayroong isang fourth year college student ang nawawala sa Hyder University, at napag-alaman kong ikaw ang tinutukoy sa balita, Ms. Rhian Desirae Garcia Luther... y Gorbachev.”

Rhian looked away from the manʼs serious gaze. She only mentioned her name to introduce herself, but she didnʼt include her middle initial and surname to complete her name to introduce herself, but now... it was her full name that this man said.
 
“Почему это попало в новости?” (Pochemu eto popalo v novosti?” means, “Why has it reached the news?”) she asked in surprise, because he wasnʼt an important person para i-broadcast sa news at i-deklara na nawawala siya nang dahil sa riding-in-tandem na iyon.
 
“Pinaghahanap ka na rin ng mga awtoridad, but they are unaware that you are here with me.” Vahn immediately approached Rhianʼs place. “Alam mo, hindi lang naman ikaw ang nabiktima ng serial killer na iyon; o ang serial killer nga ba? Pero basta, hayaan mong protektahan kita.” Rhian looked up again, and their eyes met.

Napailing naman agad si Rhian at nag-iwas ng tingin. “Tss, ang weird mo. Para kang... ʼyong ginoo na character sa novel na ginagawa ko,” sabi na lamang niya.

“Anong klaseng ginoo? Alam mo, ikumpara mo na ako sa lahat ng characters sa nobela mo, huwag lang sa romantiko kasi... wala naman sa style ko iyon, Ms. Luther,” sabi ni Vahn. “Ako ʼyong tipong... maaaring pagnasaan at pagpantasyahan ng mga kababaihan, pero ni isa sa kanila, wala akong papatulan.”

“So, pareho lang din pala tayo.”

“Maaaring tama ka. We both have similarities, and we have... differences,” sabi ni Vahn, at muli na namang nagtama ang kanilang mga mata. Nag-cross ng arms si Vahn at umupo sa ibabaw ng mesa, kaysa sa upuan. “Binanggit mo na sa akin na isa kang underrated writer. You have the ability to write in any genre about things that are meaningful and current, and maybe that has something to do with your own life.”

Rhian focused her attention on the man as he spoke seriously. In his whole life, he had never talked to someone so mysterious; even when he first saw the man, he immediately felt that when he pointed a gun at him, his request for help was still more dominant than his shouting because he almost ran over.
 
“Ako, bilang isang detective agent; my duty in my life is just a sacrifice, and nothing else but to help people... na mayroon pang maraming patutunguhan sa buhay.” He was silent for a moment, and he looked at the girl. "And I saw that opportunity when I met you, Ms. Luther."

“Sir, na-realize mo ba ang bagay na iyon nang dahil nakilala mo ako kasi nakahanap ka ng motibasyon para ipagpatuloy ang serbisyo mo bilang isang detective agent?” tanong ni Rhian, at hindi naman nag-alinlangang tumango-tango si Vahn.