Clifford Trent

"Good shot!", my friend, July, grinned at me when I scored a three pointer from my spot. I agreed to play with him in an attempt to divert my attention from the recent events that happened around me lately.

I panted as I signaled for a Time Out and went to sit on the bricked stairs at the sides of the basketball court. I immediately opened the bottle of mineral water we had bought earlier and drank from it. Exhausted, I wiped out the beads of sweat that have escaped from my forehead and on the sides of my face.

"Wala ka pa ring kupas, tol!" July commented as he shook his head and sat beside me. "Tapos yan pa ang sasabihin mong kinakalawang ka na? Saan banda?"

I chuckled and heaved a deep breath, "namahinga kasi ako ng ilang buwan bago nakapaglaro ulit ng ganito. Kamusta na kayo ni Jen?" I asked him, changing the topic to his longtime girlfriend of six years.

He frowned and played with the towel on his hand to fan himself. 
"May S na naman. Hay naku, iritable na naman siya sa akin. Konting kilos ko puro mali."

"Intindihin mo na lang. Baka naman may mali kang nagawa sa kanya." I pointed out while finishing the last of the mineral water. 

"Palagi namang naka-singhal yun. Hindi ko na nga alam kung ano gagawin." He complained like a kid and I could only laugh at him.

"Baka naman buntis? You know, mood swings and all? Tapos ikaw ang napaglilihian?" I said and his eyes widened with a weird reaction.

"Napaka-swerte naman ng anak ko at ako ang magiging kamukha! Naku, tol! Magdilang-anghel ka sana! Gagawin kitang ninong kapag nagkatotoo yan!" July grinned excitedly.

"Hey! Don't get your hopes up! Give her time baka she wanted to surprise you. Let her speak up and don't bombard her with questions." I said and tried to wipe the smile off his face but it's too late. He has his dreamy-eyed look on his face. "Jules? Huy! Wala na, natulala na." I sighed and shook my head.

I just wish my hunch was right.

It took us thirty minutes tops before he has come to his senses before we agreed to eat at a burger joint and we both went back to our humble abode. As soon as I got home, I showered to freshen up and afterwards, grabbed the pillow to doze myself off to Neverland. 

I woke up to the stillness of the night and to my stomach churning like it was craving for something sweet and spicy. I went to the fridge and frowned realizing I forgot to do my grocery earlier. 

I changed quickly into my comfortable cargo shorts and slipped in the key of the unit and my wallet to my pockets before I made my way to the supermarket not far away from the condo where I am in.  I pulled out an empty cart and started shopping for some foods. A couple of canned goods, cup noodles, chips, soda, a gallon of Coffee Crumble and other stuff. 

I also searched for some meat and chicken and boneless milkfish for something healthy on my fridge before I headed into the cashier to pay for everything. Once done, I placed them back to the cart and went back home.

Luckily, the guard knows me and they allow me to have the cart brought up to the door of my condo unit. I just gave both the guards a generous tip for their generosity and in assisting me in carrying my things to my unit itself.

I unloaded everything into the fridge before settling myself on my favorite cup noodles and chips on the side. 

Being a detective for more than five years, I have accustomed myself to easy access foods and only cook food for myself on weekends. And since I am on the case of finding her, here I am again on slacking my health and being on my workaholic mode which she hates.

Don't worry, L. I will find you.

I promise you that.