"Kung wala ka rito, malamang kanina pa tapos ang kaso." 

"Kung wala ako rito, malamang wala rin kayo dito," Caelum retorted impatiently. Hindi siya mahilig makipagdebate, pero sa sandaling ito, unti-unti na rin siyang nauubusan ng pasensya sa pambu-bully ni Damien. "If I didn't suggest going to the library, baka wala pa rin tayong lead sa identity ng white lady natin."

"Tsk! Si Silverio lang naman ang pumilit sa'tin."

"Di mo na lang aminin na mas madalas na tama si Nemesis."

Damien was about to argue when someone cleared her throat behind them. Nanigas sa kanilang kinauupuan ang dalawang lalaki, knowing the topic of their conversation heard everything.

"Nag-aaway pa rin ba kayo?"

"Hindi---"

"Oo---"

"ARAY!" Caelum and Damien chorused when she literally pulled at their ears.

Mahinang napamura ang bilyunaryo at tumalim ang tingin sa dalagang pumagitna sa kanila. 'She has some fucking nerve to do that!'

For as far as their ancestry goes, people practically worshipped the Alcott bloodline. Ang pamilya nila ang isa sa pinakaunang pamilyang nanirahan dito sa Eastwood at ang may pinakamaraming investments sa iba't ibang industriya. Power. Money. Influence. So when he inherited the fortune at a young age, Damien became untouchable.

Until now.

"Alcott, pwede bang isantabi mo na muna ang galit mo kay Caelum and work like a decent human being?" Nemesis turned to him, clearly tired of his spiteful attitude. "You're the one who created our club, anyway. So stop acting like a jerk."

Napasimangot si Damien.

"Just to clear things, hindi ako galit sa kanya. Though I have to admit, I dislike the idea of having a thread linking me to his spineless cousin."

"Ano bang personal na galit mo kay Magno?" Nemesis asked, not surprisingly. Inaasahan na niyang magiging matanong ito, lalo't mukhang hindi rin naman siya nadadala sa nakaraan nilang mga kaso. Sa kabilang gilid ni Nemesis, he spotted Caelum silently awaiting his response. Nakatingin ito sa screen ng library computer, pero alam niyang nakikinig ito sa kanila.

Now, the question remains...

Should he let them know?

Huminga siya nang malalim. May mga parte ng kanyang buhay na hanggang ngayon, pinagsisisihan pa rin niya. Ayaw na sana niyang balikan ang nakaraan, but it seems like the past is his most consistent ghost.

To hell with it.

"I'm an ex-member of the Eastwood Paranormal Experts Society."

---