CHAPTER 3: FLOWER

SORCHA'S POV

Pabagsak na ibinaba ko ang mga dala ko sa lamesa. Napapitlag na nag-angat ang lalaki na kanina ay abala sa phone niya. A smile automatically spreads on his lips, as if he's happy to see me.

I don't know if it's his inborn talent or if it's something that he's trained for because of his line of work, but whenever he sees me, he always has a smile ready for me. Meron din siyang nakahandang bagay na ikapapang-init ng ulo ko. Unang-una na roon ang nickname na ibinigay niya sa akin dahil lang magkatunog ang pangalan ko at ang pagkain na "Torta".

I'm tempted to use the other variations of the pronunciation of my name because of it. Hindi naman kasi sinunod ng mga magulang ko ang mas mga common na pronunciation ng pangalan ko katulad ng ser-ka, sor-ka, ser-eh-ka. There's even a softer version, which is sor-sha.

Itinuro ko ang mga nasa lamesa. "Standard operating procedure module, ethical and professional conduct guidelines, safety and emergency protocol manual, and forensic department's handbook. Review all of that."

He glanced at the pile. "Won't it be easier to learn if I just follow you around?"

This is one of the things I don't like about him. Mas gusto niya iyong mabilis kesa kung ano ang tama. "You can't just follow me around. The forensic department is not a playground. You can't just come and go as you please without knowing anything. There's danger in ignorance."

Umangat ang sulok ng mga labi niya. "Concern ka sa akin?"

"I'm protecting our samples and cases. That's my only concern." In the forensic department, there are, of course, potential hazards. But it's not a one-way thing. Forensic scientists need to protect themselves, but samples should also be protected from them.

Huminga ako ng malalim. Kailangan mong magpakabait ng konti, Sorcha. Remember? This is your interpersonal skills training. "We need to collect samples from you." Binuksan ko ang isa sa mga binaba ko at kinuha ko roon ang inipit ko na papel. "This is a consent form."

Namilog ang mga mata niya. "Why?"

I was wondering why he needed to prepare to this extent for the role he's going to play. Ngayon naiintindihan ko na. Kahit ata ang pinaka-basic ay hindi niya alam. "To prevent cross-contamination. Biological samples can be easily contaminated. If we have your sample, we can eliminate your DNA if it ever appears in one of the profiles."

"Wow."

I tried not to roll my eyes when he even clapped. Be good, Sorcha. Think of him as a clueless puppy that sometimes goes rabid. No one wants to shoot a puppy, okay?

"Come with me." Nang kukunin niya sana ang mga inilagay ko sa lamesa ay nagsalita ako ulit, "Leave those there."

Parang maamong tupa, o mas matamang sabihin na maamong tuta, na sumunod siya sa akin. We went inside the smallest room in the forensic department that we usually use for the elimination process.

"Stay here. I'll get the collection kit." Aalis na sana ako pero huminto ako at nilingon ko siya. "Don't touch anything."

Pinigilan kong magpakita ng kahit na anong reaksyon nang nakangiting sumaludo siya sa akin.

Everything he does irks me. Sinubukan ko naman dati na patawarin na siya sa sumalangit ko na halaman. But every encounter we had after that just added to the reason why I don't like him. Idagdag pa na kada nakikita ko ang Green Pulp Farm na nag-po-post tungkol sa mga halaman nila ay naaalala ko kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin akong Monstera.

Dumiretso ako sa storage room ng laboratory at kumuha ako roon ng mga kit. At the last minute, may kinuha ako na isa pa. Pabalik na sana ako sa collection room nang mapansin kong nakamata sa akin ang mga kasamahan ko. Sabay-sabay na kumaway sila sa direksyon ko na ikinailing ko lang. Parang alam ko na kung ano ang laman ng tsismis mamaya.

"Para kay Daze lahat 'yan?" tanong ni Khione na nakatingin sa mga hawak ko.

Imbis na sumagot ay ngumiti lang ako. Iyong klase ng ngiti na ikinangiwi nila dahil alam na nila ang ibig sabihin niyon.

I went back to the collection room, where I found Daze clasping his hands together as if he'd been praying hard. Sigurado akong matinding pagpipigil ang ginagawa niya para hindi kalikutin ang mga gamit na nasa loob ng kuwarto. He seems to be a highly curious person. Or he's just plain nosey.

"I'm collecting three types of samples from you. Buccal, blood, and hair strand."

"B-Blood?"

"Yes."

"Hindi ba pwedeng next week na lang 'yon?"

"Pwede naman. Pero hindi ka makakasama sa akin sa loob ng laboratory ng ganoong katagal din. Hanggang opisina ka lang." Which is an advantage for me. Hindi ako ang masisisi kung bakit hindi siya makakasunod sa akin.

Napakamot siya sa ulo niya. "Okay. I'll do it."

I try not to show my disappointment. Kumuha ako ng gloves at isinuot ko iyon bago ko inabot ang kit para sa buccal swab. "Open your mouth."

He grinned and did as I asked. I swabbed the inside of his cheek harder than necessary, but he didn't complain. He just continued staring at me with his bright, happy eyes, that I imagined poking more times than I could admit.

When I was done, I put the swabs into the tubes, and then I secured them inside an envelope. I could feel Daze's eyes on me, but I just ignored him, focusing on labeling the sample.

"I'll do the hair strand next," I informed him.

"Okay, Doc."

I opened the next kit. "I'm not a doctor."

"Pero bagay sa'yo." Kinindatan niya ako. "If you're going to be my doctor, I'll invest in a health card. Kasi siguradong lagi akong nasa ospital."

I pressed my lips together, but I didn't say anything. I love this job, I love this job, I love this job.

"Bakit nga ba hindi ka nag-doktor? You're smart, and you have steady hands. You can be a surgeon."

"I don't like dealing with people. Masakit sa ulo ang mga pasyente. They whine too much." Which is understandable considering that they're in pain. But it's not for me. Wala akong mahabang pasensya kaya alam kong hindi ko kakayanin ang trabaho na iyon.

"Marami ka rin naman na kasamang tao dito ah?" Ekseharadong suminghap siya. "Bakit ayaw mo sa tao? Tao ka rin naman. Unless you're not— ouch!"

I didn't give him a warning, so he wasn't expecting it when I suddenly pulled a strand of his hair.

"Those are my co-workers. Patients are different." Inangat niya ang kamay niya para marahil kamutin ang ulo niya sa parte na kinuhanan ko pero pinalo ko iyon. "I need a few more."

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips for a reason unknown to me. Kung aalamin ko ang dahilan ng mga ngiti niya ay baka hindi na ako matapos. If I'm a walking dark cloud, he's a walking bright sun.

"You don't talk to your clients here?"

Not if I can help it. Dapat nga hindi na talaga. If I hadn't talked to that client, I wouldn't be here with this person.

"Isn't that a bit sad," he commented.

"It's not. It's a matter of preference. Doctors talk to their patients, and I prefer not to talk to the people I examine. Mainly because most of those that I examined are dead, and it's awkward to have conversations with them when I'm performing autopsies on them."

He emitted a whistle. "That's dark."

His "ouch" filled the air again when I plucked eighteen more of his hair from different spots. Ten would have been enough, but I decided on twenty.

"We'll do the last test," I told him when I'm done labeling the second envelope.

Napalunok siya. He looks nervous, but he still has color on his face. Mukha namang wala siyang phobia roon. I'm familiar with the symptoms since I've been around Axel Dawson. There's a difference between being nervous around needles and being afraid of them.

I decided to make sure, though. Hindi naman ako gano'ng kalupit. "Are you sure you can do this?" When his forehead knotted, I elaborated, "I need honesty, Henderson. I can't have you collapsing on me. Hindi kita kayang saluhin."

"I'm not going to collapse. I just don't like being poked at." Nginisihan niya ako kasabay ng pagkislap ng mga mata niya. "I prefer to do the poking."

I stared at him blankly. My conscience looked at him, sighed, and decided to pack her back and go on a long vacation.

Inabot ko ang kamay niya at ipinatong ko iyon sa lamesa. Kumuha ako ng bulak na may alcohol at ipinunas ko iyon sa likod ng siko niya kung saan ako kukuha ng dugo.

I could feel his heavy stare, but I ignored it. "I'm taking the blood sample now."

I have a knack when it comes to finding a vein, so I didn't need to prick him a couple of times just to find the right one. Even though I'm tempted to do exactly that.

I was done in no time, with enough blood that could be used to perform a CBC and a few more tests. Pinigilan kong mapangiti habang nilalagyan ko ng label ang sample. A drop of blood would have been enough for the elimination process. Just a prick on the finger would do.

But he doesn't know that. That's for calling me a troll before!

HINUBAD KO ang suot ko na gloves at itinapon ko iyon sa biohazard waste bin bago ako lumabas ng laboratory. Tahimik na ang opisina dahil siguradong nasa cafeteria na ang mga kasamahan ko pagkapatak pa lang ng oras ng break.

Excited kasi ang mga iyon sa bagong cafeteria. Dati kasi ay sa mga luto lang ni Lia Dawson kami umaasa. May pantry din sa itaas kaya pwede kaming kumuha roon kung gusto namin o maglagay ng pagkain na binili namin sa labas. Meron ding kitchen doon pero bihira naman na may magluto. Busy kasi talaga kami sa mga trabaho namin.

Meron ding kusina sa second floor at pantry pero wala ring gumagamit. Even the pantry is unused since we prefer the one upstairs. Since the Dawson wives always bring food for everyone.

Kapag nasa second floor kami ay pahinga lang talaga ang ginagawa namin tutal ay nandoon ang lodgings para sa mga empleyado. Sometimes, when I'm too tired to go home, that's where I stay as well.

Dagger decided to just add more rooms and renovated everything so there's more rooms, and they added what we call the "fun room" which is an entertainment room for the employees where they can just hang out whenever they want to.

"You're done?" I flinched in surprise, and when I turned in the direction of the voice, I saw Daze sitting on my office chair. Nakapalumbaba na kumaway siya gamit ng kabilang kamay niya. "Kanina pa kita hinihintay."

Hindi kasi siya pwedeng sumunod sa akin sa laboratory. It takes a day here at Dagger before he can be cleared from elimination. Blood test can take two weeks, and hair strand sample takes about two to four weeks, but I'm not going to tell him that. The buccal swab is enough to clear him anyway. Kaya nga nagulat si Khione na ang dami kong test kit na inilabas mula sa storage. Wala lang. Gusto ko lang gumanti kahit paano dahil alam kong ma-i-i-stress ako sa loob ng tatlong buwan.

I had no choice but to go to him since he's on my desk. Kinuha ko sa lamesa ang wallet ko at kunot ang noo na tinignan ko siya. "Bakit mo ako hinihintay?"

"For lunch."

Lalong lumalim ang gatla sa noo ko. "Hindi nila itinuro sa'yo kung paanong pumunta ng cafeteria? I told Khione to take you there."

"She asked me to come with her, but I told her that I'd wait for you."

"Uhh... why?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "I'm supposed to shadow you."

"Hanggang CR ba sasamahan mo rin ako?"

"Pwede ba?" My lips formed a tight line, and he chuckled, "I'm kidding."

He stood up, and I involuntarily took a step back. He's a giant compared to my height. Mas bagay pa nga siyang troll kesa sa akin. Katulad no'ng nasa Harry Potter tutal higante rin siya.

"So... are we going to eat? I'm a bit hungry. Last na kain ko dinner pa."

Imbis na sagutin siya ay tumalikod ako at naglakad na palabas ng opisina. As expected, he followed me out. Fortunately, the elevator's lift was already idling at the floor we were on, so we managed to get inside quickly.

"You shouldn't skip breakfast," I told him when we were inside. "It's the most important meal of the day."

"I know."

"Eh bakit hindi ka kumain?"

"I was too excited that I couldn't eat."

Nilingon ko siya. "Excited for what?"

He flashed me a smile. "What else? To see you, of course."

The revulsion I must have felt was evident on my face because he burst out laughing. Wala talagang makakatibag sa self-confidence ng isang 'to.

"Did you read the materials I gave you?" I asked, changing the subjects.

"I did. Hindi pa nga lang ako tapos."

I narrowed my eyes on him. "Did you really read them?"

Nagtaas siya ng kamay na parang nanampalataya. "I really did. I don't want to cause trouble for you in case I did something stupid while inside the laboratory."

"Your concern shouldn't be about me. It should be about the cases and the people behind them."

"That too."

He doesn't understand yet, but he will soon. The forensic department is not as simple as they show in movies. It's not just about analyzing data. It's about discovering the truth and seeing a story that is not easy to understand.

A small sample could tell so much. One small sample could carry so much heartbreak and suffering.

We exited the elevator when it reached the second floor. Sinundan ako ni Daze nang tinungo ko ang daan papunta sa bridge na nakakonekta sa kanang bahagi ng Dagger kung saan nandoon ang dalawang palapag na cafeteria.

"Wow!" I heard Daze exclaim behind me.

The cafeteria might not be as huge as the main building, but it's bigger than most cafeterias. The space is open and inviting. There's a lot of wooden tables and chairs, ranging from individual tables, group areas, and lounge-style seats, so people don't need to struggle looking for a place to eat.

Adding to that, the interior was also created modernly and conveniently. Maraming charging stations, private rooms are also available for those who want to have a lunch meeting, and there's proper waste disposal.

But most of all, the cafeteria offers a huge selection of different foods. There's a lot of food choices, so vegan or not, everyone has something to eat. Karamihan din sa mga recipe ay galing sa mga asawa ng mga Dawson kaya hindi na kami nag-aagawan katulad ng nangyayari kapag bumibisita sila na may dalang pagkain.

"Oh look! A flower."

My head snapped toward Daze at the same time that he pulled the purple flower, cutting the stem in half in the process.

The cafeteria originally had just plants. Pero patagong naglagay ako ng mga namumulaklak na mga halaman doon. Of course, it didn't last long as a secret when they started blooming, and I've been caught watering them a couple of times.

I've been waiting for the flower Daze is currently holding to bloom for a long time, since it's one of the last to open.

Nakangiting inabot niya sa akin iyon. "For you."

"You... you murderer!"

I would have lunged at him if I hadn't felt someone pull on the collar of my blouse. Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay nakita ko si Pike. Daze looks exactly like his nickname, since he has a mixture of confusion and surprise on his face. Nasa tabi niya ang kapatid ko na inakbayan siya at inilayo sa akin.

"Don't kill me," Pike said. "We're helping you, I promise. Our bosses are here."

Sinundan ko ang direksyon ng mga mata niya at nakita ko ang magkakapatid na Dawson na nakatingin sa amin. Lucienne Dawson was also with them, who beamed at me when she saw me looking and waved her hands enthusiastically.

Damn it!

__________________________________End of Chapter 3.