———

It was a nice room. White walls, clean, neatly arranged things and well ventilated space. Windows were opened, giving the outdoor breeze access to enter the vicinity. It's fun to watch the satin curtains swaying and dancing along the air. She closed her eyes when it hit her face softly.

"Sandra sit down properly," the voice was still and calm.

Lyca opened her eyes.

Agad niyang nakita si Sandra na nakakapit sa binti ng binata. Sandra's trembling knees and terrified eyes says only one thing she's scared... of her. She must've recognised her, that explains the reaction.

"I won't buy you ice cream later. If you'll continue to be this hard-headed." Pagbabanta ng binata kay Sandra. "Seryuso ako Sandra."

Sandra pouted, refusing to undo her hold on Doc Gab's knees. Ilang sandali lang din ay tuluyan na rin itong umupo nang may ibinulong ang binata. Pagkatapos noon ay naglakad palapit ang binatang doktor sa kaniya.

"Sorry about that." Doc Gab smiled apologetically. "Let's me see," he kneeled in front of her. Holding her swollen ankle, Gab pressed it gently.

She flinched.

"You sprained your ankle." He put a splint and then covered it with bandage. Lyca was amazed as she watch him effortlessly doing the work. When he's done, he then sealed it with a safety pin.

Pagkatapos noon, dahan-dahang inangat ni Doc Gab ang tingin sa kaniya.

It supposedly a quick glance but Gab's eyes settled on her. His eyes was mysterious, disturbed and chaotic. It felt like he's filled with thoughts and he couldn't seem to voice it out. Just like their first encounter an hour ago.

Bumalik ang mga mata niya kay Sandra na ngayon ay nakayakap sa binti ng lalaki, animo'y nagtatago. White dress shirt, sleeves neatly rolled halfway his arms and paper bags on both sides.

Their eyes met.

Lyca's brows furrowed. Did she just see him froze?

Isang himas ang ginawa ni Lyca bago pinakawalan ang aso. Agad namang lumapit si Sandra at binuhat ito.

She had already taken quite a step before she stopped.

"Wait!" That voice stopped her.

Pumihit siya paharap. It was the guy beside Sandra. Napaatras siya nang hindi niya inaasahan ang mabilis ng paghakbang ng lalaki sa kaniya.

The guy looked tensed while looking at her with his deep eyes. He opened his mouth but ended up closing it again. He frustratingly closed his eyes as well.

"Bakit?" Siya na lamang ang nagsalita.

Mabilis na umiling ang lalaki. "Nothing. I thought you're someone I know."

Lyca nodded mindlessly. She even bow a bit before turning her back.

"Teka lang," the guy grabbed her arm, stopping her from turning back completely.

"Shit!" The guy cussed.

Nabigla si Lyca nang mabitawan ng lalaki ang paper na dala. Agad siyang lumuhod para tulungan ito sa pagdampot sa mga nagkalat nitong gamit sa lupa. Lyca stood up after handing him a cup of instant noodles. It was the last one, she suppose.

Tumikhin ang lalaki, after he muttered thanks to her. Pagkatapos ay bumaba ang tingin nito sa paa niyang namamaga.

"Your foot..."

Napakagat siya ng labi at alin-langang ngumiti. "It's fine."

"Let me see it... I mean I'm a physician. I work there," turo nito sa ospital na pinaggalingan niya.

He extended his hand. "I'm Doctor Gabriel Sy, family doctor."

Lyca tried to convince Gab that she's fine and it's not a big deal. But Gab's just determined to treat her. That's why she ended up back there in the hospital.

"It's done."

Gab took his eyes off her and looked away. He cleared his throat before he stood up. Tumayo na rin si Lyca, sinusubukang maglakad ngunit paika-ika pa rin.

"Thank you Doc," she smiled.

"Can I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"What's your name?"

Napaisip pa si Lyca kung ano ang sasabihin niya ngunit sa huli ay napabuntong hininga siya.

"Lyca."

Gab nodded, thinking deeply.

"Aalis na ako," paalam niya rito.

"Where? I could drop you off." Gab insisted, standing up already holding his car keys.

Napakagat siya ng labi.

--

Doc Gab opened the steel gate for her. The house was a mixture of Spanish touch and some minimal modernize features. Nang makapasok siya sa loob ng bahay ay namangha siya. Hindi gaano kalaki pero hindi rin masiyadong maliit. Sakto lang kung baga. She felt that she just did some time travelling with all the antiques and stuff inside the house.

Right, Lyca's in Doc Gab's space. Nang ayain siya nitong ihatid kanina, hindi siya nakasagot. Doc Gab's must've been quick-witted, he figured out she have nowhere to go.

"Upo ka muna."

Hinay-hinay siyang umupo sa sofa habang na sa kabilang dereksiyon si Sandra na nakaupo rin.

She smiled at her.

Sandra's twisted lips and rolled eyes was clearly telling she doesn't like Lyca in any way. Alinlangang binaba ni Lyca ang pag-angat ng labi at napatikhim na lamang.

"Aling Dhalia!" Tumalon si Sandra mula sa sofa at sinalubong ang isang may katandaang babae. May hawak-hawak itong dalawang basket na punong-puno ng mga supot.

"Sandra nandito ka pala," tugon pabalik ng matanda habang humagikhik si Sandra nang hamasin nito ang buhok.

"Ma!" Lumabas galing sa isang kwarto si Doc Gab na ngayon ay nakaputing t-shirt at sweat pants. Agad na tinulungan nito ang ina. Binuhat nito ang dala-dalang basket at ipinatong sa kalapit nitong lamesa.

"Sabi ko naman sa'yong magpahinga ka muna 'di ba? Huwag ka ng magtratrabaho. Lalala ang arthritis mo niyan." Pangsesermon ni Doc Gab sa ina.

Pero parang wala itong narinig, sa halip ay bumaba ang tingin nito sa kaniya. Mabilis namang tumayo si Lyca at bahagya pang yumuko.

"Gabriel, may bisita ka pala?" The old lady asked while fixing her spectacles a bit.

"Ma, si Lyca."

Lola Dhalia was accommodating. She was kind and nice just like Doc Gab. She even offered her to stay in their house for a meantime. Since, dalawa lang sila ni Doc Gab sa bahay. At hindi na rin bago sa kanila na magpatuloy ng isang estranghero sa kanilang bahay. While Sandra was their neighbor, she lives just across their house with her mom.

"And with Sunny!" Masungit na sabi ni Sandra.

Tumikhim si Doc Gab, "it's her dog."

Sandra rolled her eyes again, probably ten times already. They had dinner and it was fun. There weren't any awkward moments and dull seconds, they were just so engrosed with the conversation they had, all thanks to Lola Dhalia. Napakadaldal pala nito. Napapatikhim na lang si Doc Gab dahil sa pinagsasabi ng ina.

After that, Doc Gab walked her to her room. It was just a simple one. Neat and clean, single bed and tiny table beside.

"Sorry kay mama, I hope she didn't creep you out." Paumanhin ni Gab sa kaniya.

Agad na napailing si Lyca dahil sa totoo lang natutuwa siya kay Lola Dhalia. Hindi kasi ito nauubusan ng kwento!

"Here, It's just clothes, ang iba diyan kay mama. Pamalit mo lang." Inabot ni Gab ang nakatuping mga damit.

Lyca extended his hands to get the clothes. "Thank you!"

Nang mailapag niya iyon ay papasara na siya ng pinto.

"Hey, Lyca. You dropped this."

Napatingin siya sa dalawang nakatuping papel na hawak ni Doc Gab. It was the thing Judge dropped last time. Agad namang kinuha iyon mula sa kamay ni Gab.

"That's a flyer." Gab said as she was trying to unfold it. Hindi niya ito nabuksan kanina dahil sa pagmamadaling maabutan si Judge. When she unfolded it, it was indeed a flyer and a poster. Maliit lamang ang flyer, nakalagay lang doon ang pangalan ng Pub at mga contact details para sa deliveries. Sa kabilang banda, ang poster— well... it says making of new boy band.

"That's a pub. I used to go there."

That caught her attention. Lyca saw Judge doing the delivery last time, maybe he works there. Baka sakaling makita niya si Judge roon. Lyca badly needs to see him.

"Saan iyon?" She asked.

"You want to go there?"

Lyca was up early. She washed up and she was already in a yellow floral dress with his black fedora when she got out.

"Tignan mo nga naman saktong-sakto sa'yo ang damit ko noon," boses iyon ni Lola Dhalia galing kusina. Maya-maya ay lumabas ito na todo ngiti.

"Ikot ka nga."

She smiled and spun.

"Ang gandang bata. Ganyan din ako kaganda noong kabataan ko."

Lumabas si Doc Gab at humalik sa pisnge ng ina. Nag-almusal sila at todo kwento parin si Lola Dhalia.

"Ma alis na kami!"

Sumakay na rin si Lyca sa kotse. Doc Gab insisted to drive her to the pub.

"Salamat Doc!" She waved at him. He even offered to pick her up after but she refused immediately. Kaya naman niyang umuwing mag-isa. Judge had given her money last time, pambili raw ng Snickers. Makakauwi naman siguro siya gamit iyon.

It was the pub showed in the flyer. It stood there aesthetically pleasing in her eyes. Hindi na siya nagdalawang isip pa na pumasok. Hinila niya ang handle. It clicked, so she went in.

Ngunit bago pa man tuluyang makapasok ay may naunang bumukas ng pinto mula sa loob. Marahas ang pagkabukas nito at tumama sa kaniyang mukha ang pinto sanhi ng pagkabagsak niya.

"Bilis pre!"

Maya-maya dalawang lalaki ang magkasunod na lumabas mula roon.

Lyca stood up slowly, not minding her swollen forhead. It hurts bad. Nakuntento lang siya sa paghimas sa noo at pumasok lang din sa loob ng pub.

Walang tao roon.

Naglakad pa siya palapit.

At ang gulo. Ang gulo-gulo. The tables, chairs were disarranged. Sa counter naman ay may mga basag na bote. What happened here? There were even bills scattered at floor.

Lyca bent down to pick it up.

"The hell?"

Napatuwid si Lyca at napatayo dahil sa bigla.

It was Judge.

"You!" And he recognised her.

Lyca smiled awkwardly. "Yes... me."

Bumungad kay Lyca ang nakakunot na noo nito at matang deretsong nakatingin sa kaniya at... nanghuhusga.

Nang rumihistro sa kaniya, agad niyang binitawan ang hawak na pera at na napailing.

"No... it's not what you're thinking!" She desparately shook her head.

Judge didn't stir. As if his mind was fix.

"Why are you holding the bills then?"

"I am not!" She said at tuluyan ng bitawan ang natitirang bills na hawak. May isang pang dumikit dahil nagpapawis ng todo ang kamay niya.

"See? Wala na!" She showed her empty hands. "I didn't steal anything!

Mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay nito. "I didn't say you stole something... You're clearly guilty dahil may ginawa ka talaga."

Agad siyang umiling. "I didn't! Swear!"

Judge grabbed her arms.

"Saan tayo pupunta?!" She panicked.

"Police station."

No-- wait!

###