Unedited

ENJOY!

🗝️

*****

.

"Baby!" I exclaimed as my daughter raced up to me and hugged me.

"I got off early from work so we can watch movies!" I said, making her squeal. I laughed at her charm and sent her to her room to decide which movies she wanted to watch.

"Ma'am may nagdeliver po ulit ng parehong halaman. Mga lima pong paso, at may chokolate din pong kasama. Itinabi ko po muna sa kusina yung mga chokolate" ani ni manang.

Napakunot ang noo ko. Naglakad ako papuntang kusina para tignan ang chocolate na tinutukoy ni manang. Mayroon ngang isang box sa kusina. Pamilyar na klase ng chocolate. Chocolate na binibili ko noon. I always loved chocolates in boxes

I opened it and confirmed it's one of the chocolates I always bought before. I searched around the box, but as expected, I saw no card or any note.

I couldn't stop myself and picked one up biting in the small chocolate.

"Mommy! You have chocowate?!" I was startled at my little mini me who dashed in the counter trying to get some of the sweets. I chuckled at her, she inherited my sweet tooth.

"Dun ka muna sa dining table okay? I'll bring the box there if you behave" ani ko at turo sa mesa. Agad naman itong umayos ng tayo at naglakad papunta sa upuan at mesa.

.

The whole day at the office was just plain tiring. So many paper works and a new case I'll need to deal with.

"Ali any updates about Darna Corp?" Tanong ko ng hindi tumitingin dito.

"Hindi pa ba tumatawag sayo si Brian?" Tanong nito pabalik.

I shook my head. "Not yet. Pero actually, I should give him a call. It's been two days and yet hindi man lang siya tumawag to give any updates"

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at pinindot and numero nito. Ilang rings and dumaan bago nito ito sagutin.

Is he busy?

"Hello, Detective Brian?" Bati ko sakanya.

"Oh, Miss Regina napatawag ka" he responded.

"Uh yes. I want to know kung ano ng updates about Darna Corp. Have you discovered anything noteworthy about them? Or, better yet, have you identified who their senior is?"

There was a few seconds of silence.

I tapped on the desk, getting impatient.

"It's a simple yes or no detective," I snapped. "You know my time is too precious to waste." Though my voice was calm, my words says otherwise.

"Wala pang update Regina. I'll call you a soon as I get any info about them. Masyado silang maingat kaya medyo nahihirapan akong makakuha ng impormasyon" sagot nito.

I released a sigh. "Okay, thank you," I said as I hung up the phone and massaged my temple.

"Alam mo Regina, wag mo naman masyadong sungitan si Detective. Magaling siya, siguradong makakahanap din siya ng impormasyon sa Darna corp-" naputol ang pag sasalita ni Ali ng biglang bumukas ang pinto ng office ko.

Varie had a toothy grin on her face and her hands behind her back.

My left brow furrowed. Knowing her look, she's up to something.

"I had no idea you were dating someone, Reg," she stated.

"Pero still, how could you!" Her expressions immediately changed in a snap.

"Huh?" Naguguluhan kong ani dito.

"Who is it?! How could you not tell me?!" She huffed giving me a light slap on the arm.

"Ha? Ano bang sinasabi mo jan Varie? Who's dating who?" I asked still confused.

"You! Look oh. Here's a plant. Not just an ordinary plant tho, it's a freaking Jade Vine. Kala ko ba onte lang may alam na yan ang favorite flower mo?" She rambled before putting the plant on my table.

"Again?" I whispered shaking my head.

I guess it wasn't much of a whisper since Varie heard it loud and clear. "Again? You mean this isn't the first time? How long??!"

"Shut up, I'm not dating no one. As if I could hide anything like that from you" Napailing ako dito ng nakangiti.

Yes, she knows everything about me and what I do. When it comes to me, she's like a detective herself. She's a protective friend and it's cute.

"Soo, kanino galing yang bukaklak?" Tanong niya habang inaayos ito sa mesa.

"Detective much?"

"Sagutin mo nalang Reg baka kung sino na yan ha. Kilala mo ba? Bat alam niya favorite flower mo?"

"Yeah, same thoughts" I said and shrugged.

Tumayo ako at kinuha ang maliit na paso ng Jade Vine. Hindi pa ito kalakihan, di gaya ng mga naunang idineliver sa bahay. I grabbed it and placed it on the other desk behind para masinagan ito ng araw mula sa bintana.

"You don't know who it's from? How long has this been going on? Should I hire an investigator? Call the NBI? Ca-" she kept rambling till I cut her off.

"Geez, tigil mo yan, lumalala na naman ka oa han mo" natatawang sabi ko rito. "Seriously, no need to worry tho, wala namang ginagawang masama yung tao, and I like the flowers so no need to do that" ngiti ko rito.

"Sige fine, pero I'll visit tomorrow. I miss my inaanak na, and I need to keep an eye on you and whoever that anonymous creep is"

.

"Varie? Bat ka andito ang aga pa. At bat mo kinalahati yang chocolate?! Bahala ka magpaliwanag sa inaanak mo"

"Yunmhnsamnhmeemtingmmayisahmpangfhirmagnggustonghmsuhmahmbay" sabi nito ng puno ang bunganga ng chocolate.

Napabuntonghininga na lamang ako at napailing sa kaibigan. "Kunwari naiintindihan kita Varie" I sarcastically said grabbing the box of chocolate before she eat it all out.

"Baby! tita Varie is here wanna say hi?" Malakas kong sabi para marinig ako nito mula sa kuwarto nito.

"I said yung sa meeting in a few days may another firm ang gustong sumabay"

"Are you serious?"

"Duh"

Ilang segundo lang ang lumipas at may naririnig ng pagtakbo pababa. "Tita ninang!" Sigaw nito at niyakap ang tita ninang niya.

"I brought a gift" masayang ani ni Varie at naglakad ang dalawa papuntang living room.

.

"She's doing well?" I asked looking at the pictures of Regina and her daughter.

"Oo, pero desidido ito sa pagkalap ng impormasyon tungkol sa Darna Corp" ani ng aking kausap.

I sighed. "Let her be. Just make sure na she's safe" pagbaba ko ng telepono.

Tinignan ko uli ang litrato ng mag-ina. Halos magkamukha ang dalawa. Siguradong maganda ang pangalan ng bata, kasing ganda ng ina nito.

However, I wonder who the father is.

Napahinga na lamang ako ng malalim bago iwakli ito ng sandali sa aking isip. I better prepare for the upcoming meeting in three days.

*****

Thoughts?

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