THE CULPRIT'S VERDICT

2:03 a. m

It had been three hours since drowsiness crept over me, and here I was, wide awake, sitting on the edge of my bed with a heavy head. I rolled over, attempting to get some sleep again, but curtailed when my palm landed on something cold and stiff. Frantic heartbeat and the wild brush of the wind from the curtain of my sliding window intensified the vague feeling that penetrated through my being. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and quickly opened the lampshade on my side. My hands travelled back and gradually removed the blanket that covered the foreign thing on my bed. I jumped out in fear as it revealed the collapsed face of my Baba. Covering my mouth in shock, my body receded backward.

My stomach churned. I leaned my arm on the wall as I restrainted myself from vomiting. Then, a sudden terrifying presence from my back made my skin hair to raise. The phantom smell of burnt flesh lingered through my nostrils, sending chills to my body.

I gathered the courage to look back only to be frightened by the seemingly cauterized face of a woman. Fresh blood was dripping from her head to her cheek. I wanted to scream but my voice whimpered, it wouldn't come out. The rough and cold wall brushed on my palm as I tried to get farther away from the creature who was stretching her hand to my reach. I shook my head, "No!" and busted out of the door. I ran through the narrow hallway but got stunned as the unmistakable face of a familiar woman showed up in front of me. "Mom," I mumbled.

"Mom!" I reached for her hand but she slowly drifted away. My feet struggled to follow her.

"Mom!"

"Help me," she muttered before darkness swallowed her fully.

"Mom!" I gasped as I pulled my body up from my bed. I curled up into a ball and embraced my knee, realizing it was all just a dream. A river of tears ran freely from my eyes and I couldn't stop myself from sobbing when I wanted to stop.

~~~~

Dressed in my usual jeans and checkered top, I went out of my condo and was welcomed by the sweet smile of my friends, Lexter and Juliet.

"Hi, Lovey Dovey, how's your night?" Juliet asked as she kissed my cheek with her cheek.

"It was good," I said with a faint smile.

"Did you cry?" Lexter asked.

I shook my head, "No," but he removed the eyeglass I was wearing, revealing the reddish and swollen eyes I tried to hide.

"Oh my! What happened, Max?" Juliet cupped my face, worried stares darting through my feeble eyes.

"I just had a bad dream."

I told them what it was and nothing else. They, then, assured me that my parents were resting peacefully and the dream I had was just the reciprocal of reality. I appreciated their words and continued to stay positive for my plans are full for the day.

After our small chats, we drove to the city jail. While on the way, they inquired about what I figured out from the safe. I told them it was all letters of regrets and testaments for the transfers of his wealth to my name.

"He surely did anticipate his death, but was that all?" she inquired.

"Y-yeah." I wanted to tell them about Serobia, the cult my parents were involved in but my uncle's voice lingered in my ears, 'Do not disclose any of these yet. Be careful whom you should trust.' Though my best friends were surely trustworthy, I hesitated to inform them about it. Besides, it was better; the less they know, the safer it'll be for them.

The moment we reached the jail, unexpected news startled us.

"He bit his tongue 'til it was cut in two, so we had to rush me to the hospital early this morning."

"Yikes that's disgusting," Juliet commented.

"W-why would he do that?"

"He probably doesn't want to spill some information. One way to do that is cutting his tongue," Lexter concluded from behind.

"We're looking through that angle. For now, we wouldn't be entertaining visitors for our detainee but rest assured that we will continue our investigation on this case."

Left with no choice, we exited from the precinct. Regret swaddled through my head. I should have visited a day earlier, if so, I could have pulled out something from his mouth.

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After a few minutes of driving, Lexter's car parked just opposite the company's main door. Thoughtful and wistful words were thrown as I unbuckled the seatbelt. Juliet reminded me to take care of myself and call her if something bad happens, which I gladly thanked her for.

The clumping sound of running shoes echoed on the ground floor as I rushed to the closing elevator. Still gasping for breath, I clicked floor 24. The lift elevated and a few employees came out until only three of us were left. I didn't bother checking who was behind me as I was occupied by the quite unbelievable movement of time from my silver wristwatch.

A ting indicated someone's entrance or exit and it was the latter.

"I'll go ahead, sir Val. Have a nice day ahead." A lady in a dirty white long sleeve tucked in a black pencil skirt spoke before leaving the elevator.

The elevator door closed and my heart thumped faster realizing that the only person behind me was none other than the CEO.

"G-good morning, sir Val. I didn't notice you, I'm sorry," I said, lowering my head to him.

"Don't bother yourself about that. How are you?"

"I'm fine. T-thank you for helping me get away from those abductors last time. How should I repay you, sir?"

"It's a pleasure, but how will you repay me?" he reflected on the question first before turning his face to answer. "Go out with me on the 15th of December. I'll pick you up at your condo before 6 pm." The door opened, and without waiting for a response, he walked ahead.

I was left with an ajar mouth, not able to comprehend what he just said. Did he mean it? The 15th of Decemeber is at least three weeks afar. What was he planning to do?

Then, my uncle's words echoed once more, "Do not hesitate to approach him. If there's someone you can trust, it is him." I realized in that instant that I had to grab the opportunity, so I could confront him about what he knew.

Hours went by and our team's day became productive. We were able to present the plan for the event and gladly, it was approved by the board of directors. "See you tomorrow."

"See you, guys. Take care, especially you, Namie." Norie pointed her finger at me as she, Gregg and Dubie entered the cab.

"Yeah. Leave her to me," Ezra commented. We bid each other goodbye as the cab started the engine.

"My boyfriend is on his way here. Just come with us and we'll drop you in your house," she offered.

I declined her offer and reasoned that I need to go somewhere. When the truth was, I didn't want them to know where I was staying. No one should know yet.

After a few minutes of waiting, a white convertible car stopped in front of us. The man driving lowered the front-side window of his car and we recognize him as Mr. Ryle. "Hop in, I'll bring you two home." It sounded more like an order than an offer.

Ezra and I exchange glances as we didn't know how to turn his offer down.

"Sir, I'd love to, however my boyfriend is on his way already," she excused herself and faced me. "How about you, Nam?" she asked with two, big, fat, brown eyes, motioning for me to say yes or else something terrible will happen. The sudden click drifted my stare to the car door that opened, he was anticipating my entrance.

Ezra eyed me once more and shoved me inside the car. "See you tomorrow." She winked and waved me goodbye. Left with no choice, I closed the car and thanked my boss for offering a ride.

"Don't mention it. I'm thinking of making it a habit," he said flashing a smirk before pushing the pedal forward.

Not quite sure what he meant, I asked, "Pardon, sir?"

He didn't bother answering back, instead he focused his eyes on the road and drove quickly.

I gave him a different address, just a few blocks from my condo unit, so he would drop me there. My eyes widened when he played deaf. I expected him to turn left, just as I instructed, but he continued to drive straight. "W-where are you taking me?"

To be continued...000