I
Earlier...
May ilang minuto nang nakasandal si Kay sa pinto, iniisip kung ano ang gagawin niya. Matutulog o magtatrabaho?
Whatever he chooses, he knows he'll be having a hard time. Perhaps he'll drink a glass or two so he could fall asleep.
May bigla siyang naalala nang namulsa siya. Iyong susi na kinuha niya sa library. Kinuha niya ang kanyang cell phone at nagpadala ng SMS kay Morris:
I have something to ask you. It's urgent. Let's have a conference via Zoom.
Naupo siya sa harap ng kanyang work desk at binuksan niya ang laptop. He hosted a meeting and gave Morris the meeting ID. Wala siyang natatanggap na response pero naghintay siya.
Humigit-kumulang dalawampung minuto ang lumipas at wala pa ring reply. Kay cancelled his Zoom. He could press the matter later if Morris is too busy.
He went to his kitchenette and was beside his ref when the buzzer rang. Sinasabi na nga ba at uuwi rin ang topaking bata. Dali-dali siyang tumungo sa pinto at binuksan iyon kaagad.
"Eight, you—" For a second, Kay got confused. It's not Leighton standing on his doorstep but Morris. "Ano'ng—ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?"
"Nasa kabilang building compound lang ako nang matanggap ko ang message mo. You said it's urgent."
"Pero ang sabi ko—nevermind." Niluwagan ni Kay ang bukas ng pinto. Wala na rin siyang magagawa kung nandito na ring lang ang boss niya. "Come inside."
Nagtuloy-tuloy si Morris sa loob at naupo sa sofa.
"Refreshments? Coffee? Whisky?" Kay offered his unexpected visitor.
"Coffee to sober up. I already had few shots with my client," Morris answered.
"I only have instant coffee."
Morris smirked. "Ano'ng tingin mo sa akin, maselan?"
"Kind of."
"Back when I was in college, I'm using my teabags longer than I should to the point that I am drinking plain hot water."
"Ganoon siguro, ma-pride tayo masyado noong mas bata tayo," komento ni Kay habang kinukuha sa isang cupboard ang canister ng instant coffee.
"Your interior is great. You could be a successful interior designer," pagbabago ni Morris sa usapan.
"I thought my tastes are horrible."
"Most designers I knew have the same motto."
Nang inilapag ni Kay ang mug ng kape sa center table, isinabay niya na rin ang susi na may tag. He sat on a couch opposite the sofa where Morris is sitting. "I found that key on a book in Acosta residence's library. Galing ba sa iyo iyan?"
Morris sipped from the mug before the picked up the key. "Ako ang naglagay nito sa The Little Prince's book... pero hindi ito galing sa akin kaya hindi ko alam kung para saan ito. It's from our Dad. Maybe Leighton will recognize once he saw it."
"It seemed he never found this."
Umiling si Morris. "Baka hindi lang siya interesado kaya kinalimutan na niya. I told him about it... not specifically though. I just said it's a surprise. It was one of the rewards he got after I ask him to spit on our Dad's grave."
Kay casted Morris with a look of disbelief. "How could you?"