"Aren't you lacking, right? You look like hell." Triptivo laughed out loud.
What's so funny? I didn't mind him.
"Why won't you go home and sleep?" Yino asked.
I looked at him, he's been asking me that for a couple of times. "I can manage."
"Are you su--?" before Yino finished his question, a loud sound of cleared throat enveloped us.
"I already finished listing down the evidences that can be presented at the court to prove my innocence. You can check, study and review it." Triptivo said while looking at the piles of related cases'papers.
I simply nodded at continued what I was doing.
He clicked his tongue. "Aren't you gonna say something?"
I looked at him with confusion. I saw Yino looked at him too.
Triptivo sighed and rolled his eyes. "Nevermind."
What's with him? Since we came here, he's been acting weird. He teased me then asked me if I have to say something. I wanted to tell him how much I was annoyed by his leverages but I don't have much energy. I shook my head and continued what I was doing. I felt the listlessness on me, physically and emotionally.
A couple of minutes when I felt my eyes were about to close in no time, right now. Argh! Why now?
I was about to close my eyes when I heard a loud noise. After that, I felt my body on the cold floor.
"Cyn!" I heard Yino called me.
My teeth gritted. I held my temple when I felt it hurts a bit.
I stood up and looked at Triptivo, who kick my chair causing me to stumble.
I sighed, containing the madness in me. "Can you at least be professional? Just tell me if you don't want me to defend you and I'll quit. You don't need to annoy me everytime we are here to 'solve' your case. Don't make it look like I am chasing you again, when in fact, I am not. And, if you are just fond of annoying me, could you please stop? Because it ain't funny and you're getting on my nerves seriously. Or maybe could you just please annoy me in time when my mood can ease your childishness? F*ck up yourself man. Damn!"
"Watch your words, Cyn." Yino warned me. "Go home. Take a rest and go to them."
I immediately got my bag and stormed out of the interrogation room.
Psh. How many times do I have to walk out?
I went to my unit and take a rest. Last night was really hell and now Triptivo annoyed me to hell.
What was he's up to?
After a few minutes of thinking, I felt that I was visited by sleepiness. My eyes were slowly closing.
I felt my stomach was mad. Hopefully, this building do have restaurant so the foods was one call away. Through intercom of course.
Minutes had pass and my awaited food came. Gosh! Wait there, my dear stomach you'll be fulled in no time right now.
A bellboy entered pushing the cart with my food. I can't wait to eat them!
After exchanging pleasance with the bellboy, I rubbed my palms, opened the cover on my food and--
KYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH...
THERE'S A DEAD RAT! BLOOD WAS POURED OVER IT!
I felt like I was about to vomit but, I didn't stopped shouting.
I could ease contemplating a crime scene than to saw like this. I feared this. Flashes of memories passed by me.
I was in the closed and dark cabin, crying. Until, I heard a squeak. A big black rat emerged. It got nearer on me and then I saw how many rats came to me. I was scared of rats.
KYAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH....
I woke up to bed, bathing with so many beads of sweat.
I knew it, this will haunt me. I was so listless because of what happened yesterday. Yino found out that the bellboy was being bribed to deliver me that. Good thing that Yino held me amidst of losing my consciousness.
I sighed. What I feared the most was remembering the memories I had been long keeping.
Since then, my feared with rats never fade. I think it will never be.
My phone rang. I answered when I saw Wiseia was the caller.
"Mom! Dada told us you will come! Where are you now?"
A smiled crept in my face. I so much missed the twins. They were one of the people who washed away the worries in me.
"I will. I'm just preparing. Gonna hang-up. I love you and Wiseio."
"We love you too, Mom." then she ended the call.
I thank God for having them. The twins kept my sanity after what happened in the past. They're my forever strength. They're my life.
On my way to the mall to buy foods and gifts for the twins.
Ever since we came here at the Philippines, I barely had a time for them. I felt bad for it. Fortunately, the twins understood me and I was glad that they chose to keep their queries on their mind. But I know, they wanted so bad to ask.
I was busy humming with the song on the radio when I caught a black car with a plate number of UVX123. That was the car I saw earlier in the city. Was it too much coincidence? This way was far from the city.
My brows furrowed. I need to ensure if this car was following me.
I sent a voice message to the twins. "Kiddos, Mom might be late. I'm sorry. I love you!"
I turned my car left with the same speed earlier. Minutes passed and I saw the car on behind.
I smirked. 'Wait a little there.'
I turned four rights and voila! They were still few meters behind my car. I took a U-turn and sped up until I passed by the black car.
Good thing, I knew this place. Or else, I'm dead.
Based on my plan for this day, I went to a mall far away from the city and buy things. I will do what I was supposed to do as long as they won't harm me.
I went first at the kids' section. They didn't follow me inside.
Why was I being followed? What were their or his possible motive?
A realization dawned in me. Maybe they were following not here to harm me. On the way here, you will passed by quiet passage way. If they were here to harm me, then they should have done it when I was on that passageway.
But, that was only a theory. I must not let my guard down.
I went out of the store, carrying three paper bags. I need to take a move so I could know how many person who might following me.
I mixed with the people and went to the escalator. While the escalator was going up, I look at the two men finding someone. Gotcha! Caught in the act! It's obvious that it was 'someone' not 'something' since they look at the faces of the people.
On my peripheral view, I saw a familiar man smirking at me.
I shook my head. I came near him.
"Long time no see," he greeted.
I sat down beside. "I thought my life was on line."
He rolled his eyes. "Be followed, Cyn Wisteria Torres. They instructed me."
"Name the 'they', will you?"
"Lazaro, Lopez and Montecarlos. As usual."
I chuckled when he stated 'as usual'. Way back in the past, he always followed me when he was tasked by the three.
When I asked him why was he following them, he said that the three did have something that could held him in the neck.
"Speaking of Lark Lazaro, how is he?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Still a cunning stupid."
I nodded then stood up, "You don't need to follow me so stop."
He shrugged. "If that's want you want. Since you caught my rookies, I will give you this time."
"Tell the three, I'm okay. I don't need chaperon." I sweetly smiled.
He looked at me with wide eyes and his chest. "A chaperon? Do I look like a matron? I am an agent from a security service agency, for your information," then he scowled.
I laughed at his reaction. He did never changed.
"You knew, didn't you?"
I nodded at his question. "I need to be aware of my surroundings," especially that I was on my way to my secret that needed to be folded this time.
"As expected. Waldo Thelonious really trained you well," he laughed.
I shrugged. "For safety precautionary measures," I imitated the way Thelo stated those words.
He laughed then followed a sighed. "I underestimated you. The newbies were still a real babies in the agency."
I chuckled, "They just need to be trained." I looked at my wrist watch, "I need to go. Nice meeting you again after a long time, Mr. Frank Stein."
"Same here, Ms. Cynwise Torres."
Then I left.
*****