No Escape Series #2: No Resolve

Chapter 17: The State of Life

THE STATE OF LIFE

Tiningnan ni Rhian ang binata para tuluyan nang magpaalam. “Iʼm going now,” sabi niya, at ayaw na niya sanang hintayin ang sasabihin nito, pero narinig niya ang boses ng lalaki.

“Hey, hihintayin kita sa parking lot mamaya. Ako na ang mag-i-insist na sunduin ka tutal naman, hindi ka rin naman sasama sa mga kaibigan mo pauwi ng boarding house na tinutuluyan ninyo,” sabi ni Vahn, at muli niya itong nilingon. “Is it okay with you to... go to the rest house first?”

“Iʼll just text you later when our class is over.” Rhian turned around again to approach the another woman.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Vahn saka naman siya nilapitan ng kaniyang dalawang kaibigan. “I canʼt believe that he comes from a decent and rich family, but look, napakasimple niya lang kung kumilos at manamit,” sabi ni Lloyd habang nakapamulsa.

“Baka nga talaga priority niya ang pagiging isang simpleng babae, hindi dahil nanggaling siya sa disente at mayamang pamilya,” sabi naman ni Cyruz. “Thatʼs why Director Alvarez should have said; know a person first before judging someone.”

Vahn still couldnʼt take his eyes off Rhian, who had approached the woman, but his expression was still serious, and no matter how much he admired her, he still wouldnʼt lose all the perspectives that his mind was forming, even the theories.

“You know, I really donʼt know if I should be guilty, especially since we are both working together to solve this problem and case, but I am thinking about such things,” sabi ni Vahn. “I donʼt know how long Iʼll be like this.”

“Ano ka ba, normal lang naman sa isang tao ang mag-overthink. Detective agent ka, natural na sa mga katulad natin ang mag-isip-isip lalo na kapag mayroon tayong sitwasyon na nasa ganito.” Tinapik-tapik ng dalawa ang balikat ni Vahn. “Tara sa firing station.”

When Rhian finally got close to the woman, she hadnʼt noticed her yet. “Yanna,” she said, and when the woman realized who had approached her, lumawak ang ngiti niya sa labi.

“Ms. Luther!”

“Why are you here?” pagtataka niyang tanong.

“Uh, wala lang, napadaan lang ako, pero... I have an interest in joining that class, but I have a lot of schedules,” sabi nito, at ibinalik ang atensyon kay Rhian. “Eh ikaw? Are you also here to... inquire for the class session?”

“Hindi. Napadaan lang din ako,” maikling sagot na lamang ni Rhian.

Yanna noticed the three men who were teaching the students in the class session, but they were already leaving and turning around. “That man is familiar to me. Itʼs like Iʼve seen him somewhere.” Rhian frowned when she heard the woman whisper while looking at the officers.

Saka naman napagtanto ni Yanna kung sino ang lalaking iyon. “Geez! Siya si Detective Vahn Fernandez! Hindi ako makapaniwalang... makikita ko siya rito. Gusto ko siyang lapitan at—”

“Sandali!” Natigilan naman agad si Yanna nang hawakan ni Rhian ang kaniyang braso. “Papunta na sila sa firing station. Masyado silang busy kaya... kailangan na rin nating umalis dito.” Hawak ang kamay ng babae, naglakad si Rhian palayo sa lugar na iyon.

Yanna didnʼt just refuse, and she didnʼt shake her head when Rhian asked her to just leave and not approach Vahn. “I know you have a connection with each other, Ms. Luther,” pagpapatuloy ni Yanna.

“Whatever Detective Vahn and I have, thereʼs nothing but cooperation in the case about the serial killer, even in the current situation and what happened to me,” Rhian replied without looking at her.