Catch Me Not

Chapter 1 : Same Place

"If you think that the story is losing direction, read until the end, and you'll realize that you're just not paying attention." -BP

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, incidents, and etc. are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to the actuality of the aforementioned, living or animate, dead or inanimate, is purely coincidental.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No part of this story may be published, reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form or by any manner, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written and legal permission of the writer or author, except for purposes permitted by Copyright Law.

***

Serenity

Mabilis kong inubos ang aking kape at lumabas na. Napatawag na naman kasi si chief dahil mayroon na namang isang krimen na naganap.

Isang babae na naman ang natagpuang patay sa gilid ng kalsada. Nagsimula ito noong isang linggo at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin namin matunton kung sino ang may pakana.

Pinaharurot ko agad ang aking motor at ilang minuto lang ay narating ko na ang lokasyon. Marami na rin ang nandito.

"Serenity, mabuti at nandito ka na," pagsalubong sa akin ni Chief Kevin.

"How bad is it this time?" I asked.

"Worse than than the last time. The victim wasn't just murdered. She was raped too. At nawawala ang kanyang kaliwang kamay."

"WHAT?!" hindi ko maiwasang mapasigaw.

Nang makita ko ang bangkay ay hindi ko maiwasang maawa sa sinapit ng babae. Hindi nga nagbibiro si Chief Kevin.

"Who will be in charge of the autopsy?" I asked him. Nangibang-siyudad kasi ang coroner na madalas mag-autopsy.

"There's a newly instated doctor at Bazelio Medicals. He volunteered to be be the coroner."

Napatango na lang ako, at the same time, felt amazed. Simula kasing maganap ang sunod-sunod na krimen dito sa Bazelio ay nagsilipatan na ang mga mamamayan.

Our city is no longer safe.

Currently, there's a secret murderer lurking behind the shadows. Ang malala pa nito ay hindi pa kami nakatatanggap ng assistance mula sa national force. Masyado kasing abala ngayon ang bansa dahil sa nagbabadyang World War III.

I smiled wickedly.

Not just our city, but the whole nation, is no longer safe.

"Vin, ikaw na ang bahala makipag-coordinate sa bagong coroner. Let's just hope that he'll do his job well," utos ko sa aking kasama.

Dahil hindi matugunan ng national force ang kakulangan ng aming manpower, kaming natitirang officers na lang ang humaharap dito. A group of eighteen police and army officers combined.

This is our job, after all. Unlike the others, we are true to our oath.

Ang iba sa amin ay nadestino sa national force na siyang magiging frontliners sa oras ng digmaan. Ang karamihan naman ay nag-resign na at piniling mamuhay ng ligtas.

Ngunit sa estado ngayon ng bansa, saan pa ba ang ligtas?

"Are you done checking the cadaver?" tanong si akin ni chief.

Nakasanayan na kasi nila na ipatingin muna sa akin ang bangkay. I have this incredible skill of inspecting corpses and finding crucial details.

"Yup. Let's head back to our station and discuss this thoroughly. Masyado nang nakapipinsala ang may gawa nito. We have to catch them as soon as possible," sagot ko.

***

Napahilot ako sa aking sentido at itiniklop na ang laptop. Just like before, wala kaming nakuhang lead manlang.

The murderers know how to play this game well. They didn't leave a single trace. No prints, thread of hair, nothing. Kahit ang cctv cameras ay hindi sila mahagip.

Now, I'm starting to think that maybe they're also good at hacking. Maybe they can hack cctv system. If I'm right, this will surely be hard for us.

Ano kaya ang rason ng mga pagpatay? Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa akong nakikitang probable cause of crime. Wala namang bagong isyu na kinakaharap ang siyudad.

Bigla na lang itong nangyari.

Napatingin ako sa pintuan ng aking opisina nang bigla itong bumukas. Magsesermon pa sana ako tungkol sa pagkatok nang makita kong si Chief Kevin pala ang pumasok.

Nginitian niya ako at inilapag ang dala niyang kapi sa aking desk.

"Don't stress yourself too much."

"I need to. Kung hindi natin mahuhuli agad ang kriminal, patuloy itong mangyayari. Ano pa ang silbi natin?"

"That's harsh," natatawa niyang komento kaya napairap ako.

"What if...sa susunod ay tayo na ang maging biktima?" direkta kong tanong kaya naging seryoso siya.

"With the current situation of the nation, and with the fact that national assistance is scarce, criminals like them are on rampage," pahayag ko at inilapag ang iilang dokumento. "Crimes like this are not just happening here, but in several cities and provinces also."

"Are you suggesting that they are all connected?"

Napatango ako.

"Right now, that's the highest probability. Bakit ba dumadagdag pa sila sa suliranin ng bansa? As if hindi pa sapat na maaari na tayong mabomba ng ibang nasyon ano mang segundo."

Napatango siya at agad na lumapit sa akin. Nang walang babala, inabot niya ang mukha ko at hinalikan ang labi ko.

"I missed you," bulong niya nang maputol ang aming paghahalikan.

Yes. I'm in a relationship with our boss, Chief Kevin. In fact, we just celebrated our first anniversary.

"Ang landi mo. Inuuna mo pa talaga ito," natatawa kong sambit at napatayo na.

Napaayos kami nang may biglang kumatok sa pinto.

"Come in," wika ko.

Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Vin na may kasamang lalaki.

I studied the man. He's quite familiar.

"He's the new coroner," pag-iimporma ni Vin.

"ANDRYX SOBERANO?!" Hindi ko naiwasang maisigaw ang pangalan niya nang tuluyan ko na siyang makilala.

Maraming nagbago sa kanyang features, ngunit imposibleng hindi ko siya makilala.

My first best friend.

"Doctor...Andryx Soberano," nakangisi niyang sabi. "Nice meeting you, Officer Serenity Montevilla."

Agad kong narating ang kanilang kinatatayuan. Napasinghap siya nang yakapin ko siya ng sobrang higpit nang wala manlang babala..

"MAN! I MISSED YOU SO DAMN MUCH!" eksaherada kong sumbat.

I think it's almost 10 years that we haven't get in touched with each other. Bigla na lang kasi siyang nawala. As in, he totally disappearead. And now, he suddenly appeared as a big man! He's even a doctor now!

May narinig akong tatlong sunod-sunod na tikhim kaya napakalas na ako ng yakap. Si Chief Kevin lang naman ang tumikhim.

"Guys, this is my childhood best friend, Andryx," pagpapakilala ko ay Andryx sa kanila. "And, Andryx, the guy over there is my...our boss, Chief Kevin Ayala."

Napairap naman si Chief Kevin.

"Dude, I'm his boyfriend," singit nito niya ikinatawa ko.

"Whatever. Pero, Andryx...hindi ko talaga inaasahang magkikita tayo rito. Magkuwento ka naman later."

"Sure. Same place?"

I smiled widely.

"Same place."