Bente-Quatro 2 - Star Witness (Completed)

16 - 0800H

This is deja vu.

How come she's not able finish a decent meal when Richard is around?

Always.

With her McDo breakfast untouched, Maine signalled her colleague to take over the people remaining in her list. She got up and after a hasty goodbye to the barangay official in-charge, she sprinted to the nearest exit of the hall.

The digital clock on the wall displays 8:05 AM.

The undercover 'goons' were caught offguard when Maine half-walks, half-runs with the phone still attached to her ear.

"Calm down, Ano bang nangyari, Ate Reg?"

"Panyera, kilala mo 'ko. Hindi ako madaling magpanic. But with my hearing in two hours, pa'no ko iiwan to? Saang lupalop ng lupa ko hahanapin 'yon? My God! IOOMFM to the nth level!!!"

"IOOMFM? Wait .... wait...translation please."

"I'm out of my freaking mind! Ayan, mild na yan for your virgin ears. Kasi naman, unang beses lang ako pagkatiwalaan ng Deputy Public Attorney, tapos ganito mangyayari? Bakit ba kasi hindi mga abogado ng pesteng NBI ang humawak nito? Ano ba, pati career ko is being put on the line! Hindi ako makakapayag! Kailangan nating makita si Nanang Eugenia, Jackilyn Jose or whoever she is! Hindi kaya may magic yung ever present scarf niya? Yung tipong nag-didisappear siya pag binalot sa ulo niya?"

"Hold your horses Ate Reg! Baka makarating na tayo ng Supreme Court n'yan. Can you repeat what exactly happened? How did you discover she was missing?"

She listened as Atty Reg narrated what occured in the past hour. "Fine, Ate Reg. Ganito na lang. Why don't you go to your hearing, and I'll take over to help look for her? How's that?"

Atty. Reg's tone immediately softened. "Aaaw, you'd do that for me sweetie? My ego and I both thank you. Pero teka, parang ang bilis yata ng offer mo.  Wait, may naaamoy akong kapalit na pabor 'to. C'mon, Atty. Capili, spill it! I'm all ears."

True enough, Maine told Ate Reg the favor she's asking while walking to the next block, oblivous to her surroundings.

She bid her goodbye a few minutes later so she can book a Grab ride or hail a passing taxi, whichever comes first.

She was busy waiting for the app to find her a driver when out of nowhere, a motorbike stopped in front of her.

"Sakay na! BILIS!" A helmet came into her peripheral vision.

Maine would recognize that voice even without the rider pulling up the visor of the helmet. It's Richard still wearing the McDo uniform and jacket.

"Who...What are you doing here? Akala ko umalis ka na?"

"Wala nang maraming tanong, Atty, unless you want the two guys following you to catch up. Don't look, at your 9 o'clock."

She can't say she's trusts him if she starts questioning his intentions now.

So without further ado, she got on the motorbike, sat astride while fixing the neon green helmet on her head, her bag and laptop case on her lap. Where he got the helmet, she doesn't want to find out.

"KAPIT KA!" Richard pulled down the visor of his black helmet, then revved up the engine, making a u-turn to join the traffic in the opposite direction.

The two guys seeing what just occurred in front of their eyes, immediately boarded a dark sedan (as always), which pulled in front of them, breaks screeching. They gave instructions to the driver to go after the speeding motorbike.

Good thing Maine decided to wear a pair of slacks today or she can't imagine how she'll sit astride the back seat with the usual pencil skirt that she wears at the office.