Pinaharurot ni manong ng mabilis ang sasakyan papuntang hospital nang mabalitaan ko ang nagyari sa hospital.

"Manong, wala na bang mas ibibilis itong taxi mo?" inis kong tanong.

"Ayoko pong magkaticket, ma'am."

I sighed and gave up. Sumusunod nga pala ang mga drivers sa batas. Bumaba ako kaagad ng taxi nang makarating sa hospital. Pagdating ko sa morgue, naabutan ko pa ang pamilya ng namatay na umiiyak at nagdadalamhati.

Napatingin sa akin ang asawa ng biktima. She approached me and hugged me tightly. Naalala ko pa kung paano siya nagpasalamat sa akin kahapon tapos ito lang pala ang kahihinatnan ng asawa niya ngayon.

"I'm so so sorry, Mrs. Torres," tanging nasabi ko.

Lumabas ako ng morgue at pinahid ang mga luha sa mata ko. I really hate fake crying. I don't feel pity if someone dies in front of me, but I do get mad when it's one of may patients that I tried saving using my expertise. Madudungisan nito ang maganda kong pangalan when it's not even my fault.

I called everyone from my team and told them to investigate every cctv cameras from corner-to-corner. Kailangan kong malaman ang mga pangalan ng mga taong pumasok at lumabas sa oras ng pagpatay. I better find out who's responsible to this!

"Tell everyone in the hospital to keep his death a secret. Ayokong kumalat ito sa media," utos ko kay Joey na kanina pa nasa gilid ko.

"Masusunod po, doc."

I massaged my temple. I feel so frustrated right now. Kapag nalaman ko talaga kung sino ang may gawa nito, ipapapatay ko kay daddy.

"You okay?" tanong ni Coleman matapos kumatok sa pinto ko.

"Lock the door, Cole. I don't want to be seen like this."

Sinunod niya ang utos ko at lumapit sa akin. Iniabot niya ang isang Starbucks coffee sa mesa at naupo sa kaharap kong upuan.

"Things happen, George. Get used to it."

"People live when I treat them. How come he's dead?"

"You didn't kill him. Someone did."

Nahinto ako. "Do you know who did it?"

Umiling siya at itinuro ang kape na nasa harap ko.

"Drink."

"Do you know something?"

"When I went to the scene earlier than everyone else, I saw this..." he took something from his pocket and put it on my table. "A necklace of the culprit."

Kinuha ko iyon at pinagmasdan. Naputol ang chain but the crescent design is visible.

"Thanks, Cole."

"You're welcome," tumayo siya at itinapon ang cup sa basurahan. "Drink your coffee. It's your favorite, macchiato."

Lumabas si Cole ng office ko kaya't mabilis kong ibinulsa ang kwintas. If I found out who you are, Mr. Mysterious Man, you'll be dead in two seconds!

Umuwi ako ng condo nang may inis at pighati sa mukha. I can't believe this happened to me for the first time. This is torture, emotional torture and mental torture!

"Hey, dad. I have something to ask," sambit ko sa monitor ng laptop.

"Yes, daughter?"

"Do you know what this is?" ipinakita ko sa kanya ang kwintas.

I saw how dad's eyes widen. Naitapon niya pa nga ang cellphone niya dahil sa kwintas na ipinakita ko.

"Where did you get that, George?"

"The culprit left this at the scene. In my patient's room."

"That's... that's a Yakuza symbol," he caressed his beard and looked at me. "I'll send someone to get that from you tomorrow, George. Hahanapin ko ang gumawa nito sa pasyente mo."

Napangiti ako. Mabuti naman kung ganun. If it involves my patients, dad will do everything for me. I built myself from the ground up that's why my reputation is so important to me.

Iniwan kong nakabukas ang laptop ko pagkatapos naming mag-usap ni dad. I took off my pants and left my underwear. I changed my shirt to a white satin sando at nagluto ng kakainin. I don't do diet dahil hindi naman ako tumataba.

I heard a loud rang from my door. Hindi ako nag-eexpect ng bisita ngayong gabi. Iniwan ko muna ang niluluto ko at naglakad palapit sa maliit na lense.

Two man in a black leather jacket are waiting for me to open the door. I don't know who that is kaya hindi ko sila pinagbuksan, but the other one rang the door again.

"Nakauwi na yun, sigurado ako. He's butler is gone," sabi ng isa.

"Kailangan natin siyang patayin. Tama ba itong address?" tanong ng kasama niya.

Napaatras ako nang sinimulan nilang sirain ang pinto ko. I want to call for help but I owned the whole floor! My dad bought this on my 20th birthday para raw makafocus ako sa pag-aaral.

"I need to call Pierre..." I hurriedly ran to get my phone when my door broke down.

Once the door get destroyed, my security is gone as well, it destroys everything, my wifi, my electric stove, my lights, everything. Para itong plangka sa buong bahay.

"Oh, shit!"

Tumakbo ako papasok ng kwarto at mabilis na ni-lock ang pinto. I didn't have time to get my phone. What should I do? Should I stay hidden in my closet?

"Hanapin mo sa itaas. Ako rito sa ibaba."

I took a long piece of thread with me as well as my pink shawl. Regalo pa naman ito ni Joey sa akin pero kailangan ko itong gamitin para mabuhay.

I heard footsteps nearing my room. Sinira niya ang pinto ko at hinanap ako sa buong kwarto. I closed my eyes and drained my saliva. My heart's beating so fast na gusto kong umiyak dahil sa kaba. I didn't know that near death experience is worse than I thought.

"Nasaan ka na, Georgia Sicillian?"

Mabilis niyang binuksan ang pinto ng closet kung saan ako nakatago. Ngumisi siya at hinatak ako palabas but I kicked his stomach and punched his cheek bones.

I did it quietly, nawalan siya ng malay sa ginawa ko and I immediately tied him to my bed.

Bumaba ako upang tingnan ang isa niyang kasama pero nagulat ako nang makita itong nakahandusay sa grey kong carpet, duguan. When he's dead and the other one is tied, that means someone else is here.

"Don't move. Hands where I can see them," a deep voice behind me says.

Dahan-dahan kong itinaas ang aking kamay.

"Who are you?"

"Turn around slowly. Questions later," I heard he disabled the gun's safety catch.

Hinarap ko siya ng dahan-dahan and looked at him dead in the eyes. I knew it. His deep voice sounds freaking familiar, his posture, and his dark eyes. Hindi ako nagkamali, he's the guy who pinned me at the hospital.

And the same guy who I treated two years ago.

"Long time no see, Ms. Georgia Sicillian," he devilishly grinned. "Your two years of freedom is over."

"Welcome back, Mr. Assassin," I grinned. "And you're as hot as ever."

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