Time After Time

Untitled Part 90

NAKATUNGHAY si Olivia sa computer monitor. Nasa loob siya ng security office, pinapanood niya ag kuha ng CCTV kanina lang.

A man in red shirt and black skinny shorts--underwear--was walking on the hallway. Hindi masyadong kita ang mukha dahil pababa ang kuha. She coud see the top of his head and then his back. Wala itong sapin sa paa kaya puwede ngang sabihin na somnambulist--sleep walker. Kaso lang, may purpose ang mga hakbang. Parang siguradong-sigurado sa pupuntahan.

Huminto ang lalaki sa harap ng isang pinto.

Pinalipat si Olivia ng security personel doon sa ibang monitor para sa kuha ng CCTV na mas malapit sa unit niya.

Side view ng lalaki ang kuha.

Matangos ang ilong, defined ang panga. The man was well-built. Ano ang laban ni Nicky sa kagaya nito? Five feet lang yata ang babae at slim. Nicky looked so fragile, there was a nervous energy about her. Tipikal sa mga babaing nakakaranas ng pisikal na pang-aabuso.

Nang maipasok niya sa kanyang unit si Nicky, doon lang niya nakita na halos buong braso pala nito, may mga pasa.

Nakatigil lang sa labas ng unit niya ang lalaki. She couldn't see if his eyes were closed or not, his hair was thick and wavy, obviously needing a haircult unless nagpapahaba ito ng buhok which was trendy these days.

Mayamaya ay humahangos na si Nicky. Tinapik-tapik nito ang pisngi ng lalaki. He seemed to have come to...but then, he lunged for the door. Nicky tried to stop him. Walang sound ang video kaya hindi alam ni Olivia ang sinasabi ni Nicky.

The man then glared at Nicky then ran back to where he came from. Sa katabing monitor, makikitang pumasok na ito sa unit ni Nicky.

"Sabi ni Nicky, pangalawang beses na 'yan nangyari." Sabi niya sa security personel. "Hindi n'yo ba nakita 'yung first time?"

"Pwede naman po nating hanapin, baka po hindi pa nabubura ang tape--pinapatungan po kasi namin."

Meaning, they didn't see it. No one was looking at the monitors and no one bothered to review the tapes. Pero kung sabagay, kulang ang personel at kung wala namang complaints....may dumating.

Olivia turned and gasped...

At the man from the videos. She had seen him before. Was it just one of her déjà vu moments? Hindi siya sigurado. Ang alam lang niya, kilala niya ang lalaki.

"Attorney, si Mr. Tuazon po." Sabi ng escort na guard.

Napa-OH ang lalaking naka red T-shirt, "Ikaw si Attorney Teves." Sabi sa kanya, titig na titig, humakbang pa palapit, "I know you." Sabi nito. Manghang-mangha pero mukhang siguradong-sigurado rin.

Itinago ni Olivia ang pagkagulat, "I don't think we've met, Mister--"

"Tuazon. Miguel Tuazon." The man held out his hand. "Call me Micky..cos I'm so fine."

Olivia heard another voice. It was far yet...so near.

My name's Micky and I'm so fine, I'll blow your mind.

Parang may sariling isip ang kamay ni Olivia. She reached out for the man's chest. She could swear, she could hear his heart beating. The moment her fingertips touched his shirt, she got dizzy, felt herself falling.

"Ma'am? Attorney?"

She gasped. Nasagip siya ng security guard.

"Y-Yes, I'm fine, thanks." Umayos siya ng tindig. Wala siyang idea kung ano ang nangyari...bakit ganoon ang reaction niya sa lalaki? Pero hindi iyon ang importante. She squared her shoulders and faced him, "Mr. Tuazon, I have reason to believe that you are abusing your girlfriend---"

"Abuse? What? Wait...wait..wait.." He suddenly looked confused, "I really know you." Mataman na naman nitong tinitigan si Olivia, halos idikit na ang mukha sa kanya, "I've been....waiting...no, I wasn't...sorry....shit, i think you're the one...but shit! You're old." Then he pulled back, "No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean...I didn't know what came over me.." Ugh. He rubbed his face with his palms. "This is crazy."

"Nakainom ka ba, Mr. Tuazon?" Tanong ng security guard.

"No..yeah, a couple of beers...wait let me focus..." Naghagilap ito ng upuan, naupo doon at tumunganga na naman kay Olivia. Panay ang iling, "This can't be happening." Then he seemed to have snapped out of it, "Nicky...I wasn't abusing her. She's abusing herself. She's doing drugs..i saw it in the other room. She's also a nazi. And a witch. She worships the devil--"

Nagkatinginan ang mga guards.

"Maniwala kayo. It's all there!" Giit ni Mr. Tuazon. "Nakalimutan siguro n'yang i-lock 'yung pinto and I entered..i didn't know why..i was probably still dreaming..i saw it, it's all there."

"She has bruises all over." Sabi ni Olivia.

"Sabi n'ya meron s'ya kaya s'ya maraming pasa. But she's doing drugs, I saw the needles...lots if it." Parang nangilabot ito.

"One way to find out." Sabi ni Olivia at hinarap ang mga guards, "I think you should check it out. I think this situation counts as urgent. I'm going with you."

"Me too!" Sabay tindig si Micky Tuazon. "I don't want you out of my sight." Sabi nito kay Olivia.

She glared at him.

"Uh, I didn't say that. It wasn't me. It's my...heart."

"Ikaw yata ang adik, Ser." Sabi dito ng isang guard.

"You don't understand. My heart and my mind, they don't agree." Sabi ng lalaki.

"Is that so?" Sagot ni Olivia. Nanguna na siyang lumabas ng opisina.