To say that she's anxious is an understatement.

"Where the hell is that airheaded emo?"

Ilang beses nang pabalik-balik ang kanyang tingin sa screen ng kanyang cellphone. Although she doubt she's doing this consciously, the slight ache in her neck was enough indication that she's been doing this for far too many times now.

Pero ala-sais pasado na at hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring paramdam si Nico.

Nang ilang beses nang hindi gumana ang mga tawag niya sa mobile number nito, she decided to call their agency. Ayon sa kanyang nakausap, hindi pa raw bumabalik doon si Nico mula pa kaninang umaga.

"Damn it, Yukishito! At iniwan mo talaga ako sa kasong 'to?"

But no matter how much denial she infuses her words, hindi niya maipagkakailang habang tumatagal, lalong nababahala si Nova. In fact, she even went as bold as going to the container port where Mr. Ye Hua's wine should be. Pero maliban sa daan-daang shipping containers, wala na siyang ibang napansin doon.

And now here she is, parked outside the building of his empty apartment.

Huminga siya nang malalim at sinubukang pakalmahin ang kanyang sarili. Maybe she's just overthinking?

Baka nga nagliwaliw muna si Nico o nag-iimbestiga pa rin hanggang ngayon. If he's in trouble, he'll at least call her, right?

She was his partner.

Matapos ang dalawang kasong pinagsamahan nila, Nova admits that they formed a special bond---although neither of them acknowledges it.

"Calm down, Brian," she told herself and picked up her phone.

For the last time, she sent him a message.

To: Yukishito

Hey, just text or call me when u find something useful tnx.

'O baka naman may social life pala talaga ang loko at nakikipag-date ngayon?' Nova pushed that idea aside and quickly checked her social media. Pagkabukas niya pa lang ng Facebook, agad na tumambad sa kanyang newsfeed ang live news report na kuha sa mall.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng dalaga nang makitang nagkukumpulan ang mga tao. The police were attempting to clear the area while several men in biohazard suits passed by the camera.

"...pinaghihinalaang Marburg virus ang sakit ng namatay na mag-ama. Hindi pa tiyak kung---"

"Not again!"

Nova didn't need to hear more. Mabilis niyang binuhay ang makina ng sasakyan at pinaharurot ito papunta sa panibagong crime scene. Thankfully, it was along the highway. She can get there in under ten minutes, assuming that the traffic isn't gonna be a problem.

'Baka nandoon na rin si Nico. Hindi na ako magtataka kung naunahan niya ako.'

Pero habang nagmamaneho si Detective Briannova Carlos, bigla siyang binagabag ng isang reyalisasyon...

Bakit parang magkakalapit ang crime scenes?

*

At the mall, people started backing away when Nova rushed in. Sa pagkakataong ito, sinigurado niyang nakasuot siya ng face mask, face shield, at gloves. Although the transmission of Marburg isn't "airborne", unlike Coronavirus, mabuti na rin ang nag-iingat. Baka aksidente pa siyang ma-expose sa virus.

'It can be transmitted through direct contact or body fluid.'

Nang makilala siya ng mga officer, agad rin siyang pinadaan. Sinisimulan na nilang ilabas ang bangkay ng mag-amang nakahandusay kanina sa sahig. Nova's heart ached upon seeing the medicine they bought scattered on the floor.

Too late.

Hindi nila alam na ibang sakit pala ang tumama sa kanila.

'We failed to save them too,' she bitterly thought and tried to compose herself. Mukhang wala pa roon si Inspector Ortega. Nonetheless, she scanned the place in hopes of catching a glimpse of her partner.

Lalo siyang nagtaka nang mapansing wala roon, ni anino ni Nico.

This time, her instincts were hard to ignore.

Maya-maya pa, nakumpirma na rin ito ni Nova nang makitang tumakbo papalapit sa kanya ang isang matanda. Of course she knows who this old forensic scientist was. Hindi na rin ito nag-abala pang mangamusta. Hinihingal pa si Scorpio nang tanungin siya nito, "Have you seen Nicodemus? Hindi ko siya matawagan at hindi pa rin siya pumupunta sa laboratoryo... This isn't like him."

"No, this isn't like him, at all," Nova agreed as the horrifying truth weighed down in her chest. "I think Nico is missing."

---