Chapter 3

ADRIENNE

A week had passed. I was very confident that I would be able to capture the criminal but it seems that this one is one of a kind. Nagkukumpulan ang mga estudyante. May nagtatakbo pababa ng hagdan takip takip ang mga bibig na para bang nais nang lumabas ang kanilang mga bituka. Takot ang nakarehistro sa kanilang mga mata.

  Hinuli ko ang siko ng isang estudyante na nanginginig pababa ng hagdan. Fear wrapping her being.

  "Anong nangyayari?" I asked her and she looked up at me. Fear is all over her face. Tinuro niya ang upper floor. Ang 10'th floor kung saan ang hawak kong palapag. She was even trembling. I gritted my teeth as the idea of what was happening lingered in my head. A horror scene start forming in my head. I bald my fist in anger.

  Tinakbo ko ang huling palapag. Hindi ininda ang taas ng hagdan. Fuck. Someone died again under my care. This shouldn't be happening. Their safety is under my care and yet this happened. I coudn't believe I am becoming reckless.

  Nagkukumpulan ang mga estudyante. May apat na babaeng nakaluhod at pilit ginigising ang duguang babaeng estudyante na wala nang buhay sa makintab na sahig. Lumapit ako at dinama ang pulso ng kawawang estudyante but to my surprise she still have pulse. Too weak and so I didn't waste any single seconds. May saksak siya sa leeg. Kinuha ko ang panyo sa bulsa ko at tinakip sa maliit na butas na walang tigil sa paglabas ng pulang likido. Pressing it,giving enough pressure to stop the bleeding.

  "sumama ka sa akin and hold this still. Put some pressure to stop the bleeding" I instruct one of the ladies which immediately obliged.

  I carried her with all my might. She's kinda heavy but I didn't give a damn.

  "Buhay pa siya kaya kailangan na natin siyang dalhin sa hospital" I announced. Nagsitabian ang mga estudyante giving us a way out to the elevator. Carrying this dying lady in my arms gives so much anger with in me. A student pressed the elevator for us. It didn't take long until we heard the ding sound signaling us that the door is approaching. Then the door invites us in.

  There was a man inside. Wearing a white uniform for medicine students. He's tall and masculine. Has broad shoulder. Wearing an expensive Rolex wristwatch. Hair's cleanly cut. Has growing stubbles in his perfectly shaped jaw. In his awra and looks I could tell that he is from a wealthy family.

  He quickly moved aside. Giving us enough space to settle in. One of the two young lady with me do the work by pressing the Ground floor where we are heading to. As the lift moving down I couldn't take my eyes off at the man's reflection at the shiny stainless wall in front of us. His breathing was heavy. His eyes locked on the floor with his jaw clenching. Fist tightening like he was from a fight. My brows furrowed by the time my eyes landed at the scratch on his neck. I moved my eyes down to his hands that was baldly closed. There was a long scratch at the back of his left hand too. My heart quickened its beat.

  His school ID lace swinging in his every small move. Where did he got those scratches? Something about this man was off and I couldn't wrapped the toughts in my fingers.

  Pagdating namin sa entrance ng hospital ay nag aabang na ang mga medical staffs. They approached us immediately as they check the lady's vitals. The two young ladies beside me are crying nonstop. They kept praying asking for their friend's survival.

  "Hanggang dito nalang po kayo ma'am. Ang mga medical team nalang po ang maaaring pumasok sa loob but we're assuring you we will do our best to save the lady" the nurse blocked my way and close the door without even waiting for my response.

  The tension in my chest is rising every seconds. The disappointment for myself is growing high and I couldn't help my mind cursing myself as for this event slipped under my watch. I felt useless for the first time in my life as for the guilt wrapping my whole being.

  The two young lady was now calm. They were seating at the bench. Eyes swollen and both hands still trembling. I stared at them. They are whispering prayers. My chest tightened at the sight. They must be scared of losing their friend. I smiled bitterly as the image of Asher suddenly appeared in my head. My phone rang loudly inside my pants pocket. Pulling back my senses.

  My heart skip a beat as the caller's name appears my sight. I heaved a sigh. My jaw clenched.

  "Uno" His name slipped my tongue. My gripped tighened at my phone. Heart beats quickening. He must be disappointed of me. I am losing my focused since he handed me the work for his daughter which led me to see Asher again. Now I started asking myself if seeing her again after 7 years since I chose this path worth it. I bit my lower lip.

  "What happened Pink? Care to explain what is happening to you? How come this culprit killed freely again under your care?Have you been losing your focus? Your job isn't only capturing that piece of shit but also to make sure the safety of everyone of that school. I thought you are aware of that?" He was angry. I can feel how disappointed Uno is right now. My face heated as for my emotions taking over me. Even I, myself is very much disappointed. I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat.

  "I will catch him Uno. Expect the result in two days" I said with finality. Now that my mind is clouding with rage I will make sure that this piece of shit will gonna pay and would rot in jail for every life he/she took with his/her hands.

  I could hear the heavy breathing of Uno. Even his cussing from the line caught my ear.

  "Don't just say words Pink. I need action and result. I am disappointed in you. I was expecting so much from you" he said and ended the call. I wasn't expecting those harsh words though I knew I indeed disappointed him but hearing him now saying it out loud left pain with in me.

  Nanginig ang labi ko. Nagbadya ang luha sa mga mata ko but I luckily manages to stop it from rolling down my eyes. I bald my fist even tighter. Like I am putting all my emotions on it.

  Wala pa man oras ang lumipas ay bumukas na ang kwarto kung saan dinala ang dalaga. I got nervous when I saw their faces like they lost millions in just one bet. And when the old man which I bet was the doctor shook his head as approaching me I already got the answer.

  "I am sorry. Ginawa namin ang lahat but her vagus nerve was totally cut which led her to death. We will transfer her body to the morgue in 10 minutes. Once again I am sorry and please do inform her family. Excuse me" he informed clearly like the water in the drinking bottle. The two young ladies once again cried in unison as they ran towards the room. And I couldn't react nor move that even my breathing pace seems to stop so sudden. This is not happening right? No one died under my care. This must be just a dream. Is it? Fuck.

  I left the hospital without even checking the body and the ladies. I drove the car tita Shanaia's lent me. I left Ash at the university's parking lot. Hindi ko alam kung saan pupunta. My disappointment, my anger is eating every shits of me. And just then I found myself sitting at the bar counter with my sight getting blury due to overdrinking. Great. Just great Adrienne. You have reached your limit again. Damn it.

  "Adrianne? Oh my god it is really you. I have never seen you in person but I am damn sure it is really you. And.....you look wasted" I couldn't see her face clearly enough but her voice was freaking familiar. That voice. Voice that I envy so much. The voice of the woman I wished never crossed Ashers life. The voice of the woman Asher loves most.

  I grinned bitterly as the pain from that voice brought to my heart lingering deeply through my deepest soul. Kung pwede lang siguro ipalit ang sarili ko sa kanya ay matagal ko nang ginawa. But Asher loves this woman so much and I hate the fact that I can't do anything to change that.

  "Come on let me take you home" she reached for my hand and guided me out of the bar. I shook my head to protest but she didn't listen. Pinatong niya ang kanang braso ko sa balikat niya habang ang isang braso niya ay pumulupot sa beywang ko. Putting all my weight over her care. I wanted to stop her from touching me but I couldn't. I am indeed so drunk that even my strength to pull my body away from her helping hands left me totally. She brought me to her car and settled me next to hers. With my seatbelts fastened.

"Great. The Amber Lee found me wasted" I mumbled. My head is spinning like I am riding a rollercoaster. I heared her sigh. I can feel her eyes on me. Staring at me curiously. She entered her car key and started the engine.

  "What happened? How come you let yourself so drunk like this? You look like a mess" Amber worriedly said. I closed my eyes tightly. I hate the fact that she saw me in this state. I felt like I had just proven to her how unworthy I am for Asher. Like it was damn right that Asher isn't with me. And she is right. I am a mess. I am unworthy of the woman I have loved for decades already.

I sighed and didn't bother to open my eyes.

"No reason for you to meddle with my business so stay out of it and don't ask" I said coldly. Amber is my boss's daughter and I should respect her but my feelings, my jealousy is eating me alive.

I know my words are a little bit cold and out of line but my mind was out of control too. She didn't say anything then for a couple of seconds and just our breathing that could be hear inside her car.

"Ofcourse I have the right to meddle because you are my girlfriends bestfriend. And she cares about you so much. If she sees you like this she might panic and I don't want her to worry much" she said softly that my heart ached as the "girlfriend" word came out from her mouth.

Tears suddenly fell down my cheek. Luckily my face was facing the window beside me and I am pretty much sure she didn't see that tears streaming down my face. This painful fact is killing me over and over again. I wiped my tears slowly. Not letting her notice my silent battle.

"Please don't let her see me. I am not yet ready to face her specially now that I am not in a good shape" I asked and I feel her nodding as response to my plea. And then no one dared to speak. Silence was screaming inside her car. The road were clear enough for us have a smooth drive. I don't know where is she taking me to but one thing is for sure she won't take me to Asher. She's not talking anymore and the atmosphere between us is overwhelming. Suffocating. I never dare throw even a single glance at her. I couldn't.

  "Don't ever hurt her or even make her cry coz if you do I swear to god I will hunt you down you fucking beautiful bitch" I said before alcohol shuts me down.