LOHIKA [COMPLETED]

Chapter XLVIII

​Amboy Nening, composed himself. Habang habol ang sariling hininga, nilapitan niya ang kaibigan na si Machete Gamboa. With his tired but strong eyes, tiningnan niya ito ng mataman. "Sigurado ka bang pulis 'yun?"

​Rambo Gutierez also glared at Machete. Hindi rin kasi siya naniniwala ng lubos sa sinabi ng kaibigan. If he found out na hindi naman pala ito sigurado, he was planning to punch him hard right on his weak stomach.

​Aware na nasa kanya ang lahat ng mga mata ng mga kaibigan niya, tinibayan niya ang dibdib at buong komp'yansang hinarap ang katanungan nila. "Oo, sigurado ako. Natitigan kong maigi ang mukha ng pulis na 'yon! Sinaluduhan pa nga siya ng mga pulis na naka-uniporme pagkarating niya! Mataas 'ata ang ranggo nu'n."

​They all hissed, believing what their friend said.

​"Eh 'yung babaeng kasama niya?" Amboy's question sounded a bit different. Mababakas doon ang interest at curiosity.

​Sandaling napaisip ang mga kabigan niya.

​The first one who was able to recognize and remember kung sino ang babaeng itinatanong ni Amboy was Atoy Medida. "Parang... kilala ko 'yung babae." Mabilis niyang kinuha ang cellphone sa bulsa ng kakeng pantalon at pinuntahan ang social media page ng babaeng iniisip niya. When he confirmed that he was right, agad niyang ipinakita kay Amboy ang larawan. "Siya ang tinatawag na school beauty ng SDHS. Jiwon Natividad."

​Amboy grabbed the phone and stared with perversion on Jiwon's photo. There was a hidden smile on his lips habang pinagmamasdan maigi ang larawan ng magandang dalaga.

***

​ It was an awkward drive for Jiwon. She wanted to say her apology, but she couldn't find the right timing since hindi nagbabago ang serious facial expression ng binata mula nang sumakay sila sa kotse. Hindi niya rin magawang makapagconcentrate sa backseat, dahil sa paghilab ng sikmura niya. She didn't have the chance to eat something noong lunch break. Blaming her will and strong determination to get a single lead was pointless. Thinking na may importanteng kapalit naman ang gutom niya, pilit niyang ipinagsasawalang-bahala ang nararamdaman. She also thought that she wouldn't be able to say her sorry sa batang lieutenant, until she noticed na inihinto ng binata ang sinasakyan nilang kotse sa harapan ng isang fancy restaurant. Clueless kung anong ginagawa nila doon, she still followed him without asking a question. Maybe then, she can finally say what she really wanted to say to him.

​Sa loob ng mamahaling restaurant, ramdam na ramdam ang sophisticated ambience mula sa ornamentations hanggang sa bawat kilos ng mga skilled attendants na nag-aasikaso sa mga high-class guests.

​Inihatid sila ng isang attendant sa bakanteng table na nasa harapan ng white grand piano.

​Jiwon hesitantly sat on the fancy vintage-looking chair. Hindi niya alam kung bakit sila naroon. The appetizing smell of the restaurant made her stomach growl more. She wanted to eat. Hindi niya lamang masabi iyon ng deretso sa binatang naka-upo sa harapan niya.

​Nang ibinigay ng waiter ang menu, Lieutenant Lim secretly watched the young lady's action. Lihim rin siyang napangiti nang makita niya kung gaano ito kaexcited habang namimili ng dish sa menu. He thought na tama lamang pala na dinala niya muna sa restaurant ang dalaga. He remembered how Jiwon was acting strange sa backseat ng kotse a while ago. And being a detective, alam niya kung bakit ganoon ang ikinikilos nito. He knew that Jiwon was hungry.