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Enola's POV

1 week earlier...

What a boring day.

What the heck am I doing in this desk? Drinking coffee and reading news paper, seriously?

"If I stay like this, I might die because of being unproductive" bulong ko habang pinapaikot-ikot ang aking upuan kasabay ng lumang electric fan na nakasabit sa kisame.

"You're just sitting there for like 3 minutes, Enola, those men?" She pointed at our co-workers who is just sitting and talking all day. "They are sitting there for like forever but never called themselves unproductive. Are you a Psycho or you're just hard working?" she asked while circling her pen in front of my face.

I give my officemate a confused look.

"Oh its just 3 minutes? You sure?" I scratched my chin as I start recalling how long I've been in this seat. "I feel like I sit here for like a day. Don't we have any case to solve, Ysa?" I asked. 

"You have solve 5 big crimes last week and 7 small cases. This week you also solve a lot of crimes either it is small or not and yet you're still asking me if we don't have any case to solve? Magkaroon ba naman kami ng katrabahong hayok na hayok sa pagso-solve ng crimes mukha bang matatambakan pa tayo ng case and besides this agency is like an outdated clothes that is why we can't get many cases." 

What a hot-headed girl she is?

"Hah! If I know natutuwa ka din naman na natatapos ko ng maaga at maayos yung mga kaso kasi maaga mo din natatapos yung trabaho mo," I teased as I make a funny face.

"Stop that face hah, you..."

And she burst out laughing, again.

Mababaw kasi talaga ang kaligayahan ni Ysa, magpatawa ka lang ng konti kahit nga sobrang corny tatawanan pa din niya. I remember this is one of the reason kung bakit sa pagco-compile siya ng report naka-assign at hindi sa field. 

Isipin mo kasi, halimbawa, kinailangan niyang mag-undercover agent pagkatapos habang nagpapaliwanag yung leader ng mga kriminal biglang may maling word na nasabi or di kaya pumiyok lang ng konti tapos matatawa na siya. I'm telling you mamamatay 'to ng maaga kung sakali na nalagay siya sa field.

A man wearing black shirt and loose pants harshly walk inside the office with a stern face. I slowly attempted to hide between the books aligned in the right part of my table but was caught with his burning eye before I could.

"Enola Warne!" 

"Yes?" I awkwardly smile as I stand up from my chair. A chubby guy who is 4' in height approached me, Kiko.

"Bakit mo pinakailaman ang case ko tungkol doon sa lalaking pumatay sa asawa niya for her money without my consent?" He shouted as his face turn red. You can sense the annoyance as he stomped his feet harder in the floor its as if he has a big foot.

Pft.

Ysa and I immediately turn our back to Kiko to stop ourselves from laughing. Kiko looks like a tomato, pula't bilugan. I almost got suffocated from holding myself not to laugh at him.

I took a deep breath and pinch myself before I look at him again.

"Erm! Oh that case? Well I solve it because it gain nothing but dust in your desk, it was given to you a long time ago, I just do you a favor since you look so busy eating and roaming around the city."

I actually solve it because I was bored last time. Just like Ysa said, this agency doesn't get many cases that is why after solving cases assigned to me I oftenly do other cases assigned to my co-workers and besides he look confuse with that case based on what I saw on his deductions. I swear its horrible.

"Enola!"

What did I do this time?

"You interfere with my cases. AGAIN. Not once but twice this week."

"Enola!"

"Yes! What is your problem? I interfere with your case too?" I screamed at top of my lungs. My name was mentioned a lot this day, my God! What is their problem? 

"I interefere with your cases to finish it earlier because this agency needs more clients but you people are so lazy and unfocus that is why we can't achieve anything, people think we work very slow," I complained.      

"We know that but next time tell us properly if you will get it or not. Ano nalang sasabihin ni Mr. Del Rosario kapag nalaman niya na hindi kami ang tumapos ng kasong yon? Will you take responsibility if he fired us?"

I knew it, they are just furious now because of what Mr. Del Rosario would say about them. 

"Don't worry you can take all the credits for that. I just really want to solve that cases and besides it is unfair on our client who PAID just for that and then what? It will take too long for it to be accomplished? So don't be mad because I do that not for myself but for this agency and those people who still believe in us. I hope you clearly get my point" I said fiercely as I emphasized the fee. 

As a detective I believe that we should dedicate our lives in this field, we shouldn't neglect or act less with our responsibilities. But these people, I don't know, I think they are just here for money and because they don't have any other option. They do not have the heart for their duties, I pity them, luckily not all my co-workers are like this. There is Caloy who work as hard as me. There is also Maya who never say no to any cases even if it requires her to work 'til midnight. Then, there's also Nova who is excellent with data gathering.

 I deeply sighed. I hope some junior detectives know what they are doing here. I hope they will become a detective who finish their job using their 100%.

"Enola."

"What?" I yelled.

Oh.

"Sorry uncle Ruben, I thought you are some ahm..." I awkwardly smile at him while rubbing the back of my head.

"That's fine come to the cafe outside this building, we have something to talk about." He commanded. 

I immediately fixed my things in my desk and followed him.

I stared at my co-workers and some junior detectives before I finally walk out the office.

"What's the matter, tito?" I asked as I sat down on the chair right beside him while we're looking outside the transparent window in front of us.

"You are a big asset to that agency for how many years, right? I feel like you didn't get what you deserve. You're smarter than anyone else there, Enola, you are more skillful and courageous, don't you want to move to a bigger agency and start a new career, iha?"

Why is he asking me this right now? Is he going to convince me about working at his agency again? Or what?

"Is this about my issues for interfering with my co-worker's cases? Or will you convince me again to work for you?" I asked.

You see, that agency is enough for me, yes, it is not as big as other detective agencies but my loyalty is here even from the very beginning. I started admiring this place when I was a child and I remember how determined I am that time just to be here. My salary is enough because I have my own house and can buy my own needs besides I don't like luxury stuffs and places so I don't have any problem with money. Why would I leave this place right? I love to be here and I'm waiting for someone. I will not leave this place until I personally meet him.

"No, its not about that, its not about you creating a mess in your agency because I don't care about that, its just that you are so special and yet you didn't receive the salary and popularity as a detective which you obviously deserve. To be honest, yes, I was planning to convince you for the nth time around to work for D. Detective Agency which I owned. Your agency will do you no good so just obey me and work for me." 

D. Detective Agency, the place for the most popular detective from different places. They are known for a bunch of crimes they have solve before which made them the rank 1 in detective agency in the whole country in the present. Some detectives there are actually good but most of them, I feel like they do not deserve to be a detective at all and I don't want to be their workmate and to be honest I also don't want to be with Uncle Ruben.

"Why would I?" I immediately ask.

"Why not?" Here we go again.

"Because I don't like that place at all," I answered.

"The salary there is high and the facility and service to the employees are incomparable."

"I don't need a high paying job and luxury place to be able to work."

"You do need money to survive, and a lot of money will help you explore more about different stuffs that will enhance your deductions in crime solving, don't you want that? I thought you love crime solving?"

"I can improve myself and skills on my own way, tito, and money doesn't belong to my strategy."

"You can meet famous detectives there and we no longer need to work on separate company if you work there. I can always guide you te become better in this field if you say yes." 

Oh here he is again. Just like before, he does not want to lose in this but sorry because I won't leave that agency.

"I don't need their autograph nor to always stick by your side, tito. You know that I'm thankful for everything you have done for me but I don't need you to accompany me all the time, and you don't need me neither. Remember I am an independent woman ever since, I don't like people to always stick like a glue to me, its annoying."

I can see his face changed expression as he avoided my eyes. 

Hah! I win! Again.

"Fine. You can stay there, whatever... but don't beg me later if you regret your decision lady." He said with disappointment "that place is like a sinking boat," he added as he shake his head.

"Oh you know that I won't do that, just enjoy your company, tito and i'll continue working in that place 'til it rank number 1 again," I said confidently.

"You're imagination is wider than I have imagined, you know the legend of that agency disappear a long time ago kasabay ng pagbagsak ng tunay na may-ari no'n. I don't think makakabawi pa sila. Di ko nga ba malaman sayo kung bakit ayaw mong umalis dyan, hindi yan ang tamang lugar para sayo."

"I don't believe that, you see this agency is still kicking and my workmates might be a money lover but i'm confident that if we will just fix our intentions and strategy, the company can regain its pride. Afterall, kung wala na talagang pag-asa ang agency namin, why do you look so nervous by its presence?" 

Hindi ko alam bakit ko iyon naitanong sa kaniya. Ang alam ko lang for some reason, hindi siya masaya na buhay pa din ang The Home of Holmes Detective Agency.

"Alright, let's see then."

I really hate that word. 

Tsk, if it wasn't for the debt of gratitude I might have punch him. I can still remember the old days where I was just a simple poor high school girl who works at night and study in the morning. My life was hard back then especially whenever Rica is around...

                            * * * * *

"Oh look at this trash. You always arrived at school as early as our guard huh? Feeling ko tuloy dito ka na natutulog sa school natin. Required ba na kapag walang magulang wala ding bahay?" Rica teased me while she was shaking the tumbler of water by her left hand. A member of dance crew in our school, one of the most famous girl student and one of campus crushes, unfortunately ganda lang ang meron, hay.

"Required din ba na kapag may parent dapat lumaking kasing daldal mo?" I mocked her as I continue turning the page of my logic book.

"What did you just say? Do you want me to remove that sharp tongue of yours?" She talks a lot as if she can touch me. I just stared sharply at her and raised my right eyebrow.

"Yeah." I closed my book and stared at her eyes directly. "You can try but i'm sure your arms will break first before you can touch me, wanna try me pretty face?" Take that, do they really think they can still bully me? These bunch of spoiled brat annoys me every single day of my life argh! I want a break.

"You are just arrogant because you know martial arts well" one of Rica's minions said. 

Do these two really think that people see them prettier just because they hang out with Rica? Don't they realize that Rica picked an average beauty as her friend just to make herself look more prettier? I pity them tsk.

"Atleast I have something to be boastful of, balik nalang kayo sa 'kin kapag meron na din kayo." I answered attempting to continue reading but as I opened the title page Rica immediately close it and glare at me with her sharp eyes.

"Is this some kind of staring contest?" I teased. I'm happy to see her face turned red.

"Listen to me, you smelly rotten trash, nagpipigil lang ako ng galit. If ever you've forgotten, I also know taekwondo. I'm just being nice with you so don't test my patience." Taekwondo hah? If I know she just join the team para magmukhang mas cool sa paningin ng iba but she don't take the training seriously which actually the reason why they don't let her join the competition.

"Taekwondo." I nodded as I stand up from my seat.

"Have you forgotten too that I was chosen to be the captain of the team before but I said no to lessen our interaction. I turned down their offer just for you to be more comfortable. Listen to me spoiled brat, between the two of us, it is me who's being patient here so you and your dogs must stop annoying me. We're not in the kindergarten anymore, Rica, I won't sit still if you bother me. Do you understand?" I  answered with a smirk on my face that gives them a goosebumps. Well I think they can still remember what I did to them before.

They used to bully me when we are a kindergarten. They pushed me to the ground, torn my notebooks, pull my hair even pinch me in every part of my body. These evil kids never change.

When we reach 6th grade that was the time I became an orphan and they bully me harder but i'm no longer a child that time so I fought back.

Everyone got scared because I made their nose bleed and leave a big bruised on their boyfriend's face.

I lost my scholarship because of them and have to work on a canteen in such a young age but I don't have any regrets because someone have to teach them a lesson. Now that we are in 2nd year of secondary education they still bully me.

I work as a part time service crew at fast food chain and a part time tutor while finishing my study. I don't get it why Rica is so mad at me but I can't remember that I have done anything bad to her.

She suddenly attempted to splash water to my face that I avoided effortlessly by pushing it towards her direction and the water erased their make ups. 

"Oops, my hand slipped." I said as I bite my lower lip and chuckles as they run to the bathroom for sure to fix their ruined make ups.

"Hay, finally I can read peacefully again."