I woke up, panting. My hands are sweaty and my body is trembling. I looked at the clock near my bed and it was already three am.

I touched my forehead and it was also sweaty. My head was aching and my chest is still pounding fast.

What was that?

I stood up and proceeded to drink some water in the kitchen. I held my chest.

"Naparami ata ako ng kape." bulong ko sa hangin. "Pero hindi naman ako na-inform na babangungutin ka rin kapag masyado kang maraming kapeng nainom."

Bumalik ako sa k'warto at nahiga upang sumubok na matulog ulit ngunit ayaw ng mata at diwa ko. Bumangon ako at bumalik sa kusina upag ipagtimpla ang sarili ko ng gatas.

Oo, gatas. Baka bangungutin ulit ako sa kape.

I went to the living room and sat facing my laptop to read cases since I can't put myself back to sleep.

Then the dream pops up again. Bakit kaya gano'n? It felt like I was the one being tortured.

I found myself searching for psychological based studies about what I felt. It looks like I had typed an essay on the google search bar.

I scrolled through the results given but nothing satisfied me. Almost everything were about videos showing hypothesizm and other than that, there were articles that does not make any sense to me.

I was about to close the tab when I remembered a certain site that appeared in my nightmare.

"Gagi, bakit wala?" I murmured when I search for More Street but it only showed pictures of streets, literal ones.

"May mali ba akong nai-type?" I frowned, and glared at my laptop screen.

"Iss, punyeta!" padabog kong pinalo ang kamay sa may keyboard that I instantly regretted and said sorry to the laptop after.

Nang tinignan ko ang oras ay alas-kwatro na. Dahil madilim pa lang naman siguro, inalis ko na ang tab at bumalik sa pag-aaral ng mga case.

I woke up with a bang in the head and a loud ring on my phone. I picked it up sleepy and answered with a grumpy voice.

"Sino ba 'to?! Ang aga-aga!"

"Good morning to you, too, Ms. Morson." I froze upon hearing the voice coming from the other line.

I cleared my throat, "Good morning, Detective Cruz. What is the emergency to call this early?"

"It is already quarter to nine in my clock. How about yours?" he asked instead of answering.

With eyes half closed, I check the time on my phone screen and it was nine forty-five.

"Same." I responded and yawned until I realized something.

I took another peek of the time and this time, with eyes wide awake.

Putangina, alas-nuebe na pala!

"Gago, sandali, maliligo lang ako." saad ko at mabilis na pinatay ang tawag bago nagmamadaling pumunta sa banyo.

I'm two hours late! I need to rush to the firm, ngayon meeting ko with our clients kasama si Detective Cruz!

Natigil ako. Isang ngiti ang sumilay sa aking labi dahil sa aking naisip.

"You're three hours, forty-two minutes and thirty-two seconds late, Ms. Morson." Detective Cruz greeted.

"I'm sorry, okay." I smiled at him, "Napuyat kasi ako kagabi. I forgot about our meeting--"

"Unprofessional." he uttered coldly. "Cussing and staying up late to be late in a meeting saying the excuse, "you forgot?" How unprofessional."

"I can't understand why Sir John chose you to be my partner. Masyado kang tanga." he smirked.

I didn't know but I felt myself fighting the urge to tear up.

Ilang beses na ako nakaramdam at nakarinig ng ganito pero ngayon lang ako ulit nasaktan dahil lang sa salita.

I may be tough when it comes to threats but do not hurt me with words coming from your mouths.

It feels like you're being stabbed in the chest.

Even so, I managed to smile at him, "This is just the first time, Detective. And if you are so professional yourself, hindi na siguro ako kakailanganin para sa kasong ito. Tutal, professional ka naman." I sarcastically said emphasizing the words.

I looked at the client.

When Sir John told me we were working on a project, I already know it's a case. I have worked with different detectives before, too.

"Sorry for being late, Ma'am, Sir. I really had a heavy night last night. I hope you could forgive me for the inconvenience." I bowed and smiled at the couple.

"Not a problem at all, it's fine. We all make mistakes sometimes." the girl smiled at me. I returned my gaze towards Detective Cruz.

"And I apologise for being sarcastic and unprofessional, Detective. You'll get used to it."

We tackled about the case and evidences. It was a murder case. The couple's  second child was found dead inside the car on the side of the streets.

"Then, what happened?" I asked as I was twirling my pen in between my fingers.

"P-Police suspected that it was suicide and drunk driving, but we don't believe it." I saw the man squeezing her wife's hand tighter to calm her.

"O-our daughter, I know s-she would never do such a thing. S-she's strong...tough." the woman started crying.

"Did you have any argument before this scene happened? Did she spoke to you about anything?" Detective Cruz' turn to ask.

"W-wala. We were good." she sniffed, "N-nagpaalam pa siyang aalis siya kasama ang mga kaibigan niya nang alas-dose ng gabi.."

"And you allowed her?" his brows furrowed with his jaw clenching.

"O-of course--"

"Why? You knew she was a girl! And what was she wearing?"

I butted in before even the wife could answer, "She was wearing a black short and a white tank top topped with a black blazer."

"See?! Bakit niyo pinapayagang lumabas nang gano'n ang suot?"

"There is nothing wrong with her outfit, Detective. And mind you, this is a murder, not rape. Walang kinalaman ang damit niya sa pagkamatay niya." I coldly said to him making him silent.

"Were there any finger prints found? May kahina-hinala ba?" tanong ko sa kanila.

"Wala." sagot ng lalaki habang ang asawa ay umiiyak pa rin.

"Based on your profile, Sir. You're a police officer, tama ba ako? Were you there when they inspected the place?" I asked.

"Yes. I was one with the officers who were called after crime happened." he responded.

"Nauna ka po?" when he nodded, I take note of that. Detective Cruz remained silent but I know he was listening intently.

"How did you get in the location first?" I hid a smirk when finally,  Detective Cruz spoke.

"No'ng nalaman kong sasakyan ng anak ko 'yong nabangga, nagmadali kaagad akong umalis." he told.

When he moved, one of his sleeves went up, making me frown when I saw his tatoo. It was similar. Familiar, I should say.

Parang nakita ko na ito somewhere. Or I must have been mistaken.

I focused on the discussion. After it, a call disturbed us making us end. Sinabi namin na by nextweek siguro ay may resulta na kami at nakipag-kamay kami sa mag-asawa.

I breathe when they left. Detective Cruz loomed at me like he was wanting to say something.

"Go."

"Are you the lawyer who is still working on Meisha Morson's case?" he arched a brow.

I tried my best not to frown. Shocked, I still answered his question. "Yes, she's  my sister." 

"I see. I can help you with it, though."

"How much?"

He smirked. "Free."

"Yeah," I clicked my tounge, "Not a good deal, Detective. I can handle the case myself." I smiled.

He handed me a card.

"In any change of mind, you can call me."