Look at Me

"Good morning," Anya greets cheerfully as she picked up her phone.

"I thought something bad happened to you," Cale says anxiously. His tone clearly shows he's worried about something.

"Why?," Anya asks clutching her phone tightly with her left hand. She was in the middle of fumbling through her bag seeing to it that she has everything she needs inside it before going to work when her phone suddenly rang.

"Get out quickly," was Cale's only response.

Confident that everything is in place, Anya quickly puts on her blazer, picks up her bag and walks outside the door. Closing and locking the door behind her, she was instantly greeted by Cale who was frantically pacing back and forth. A sense of relief washed over his face as soon as he saw her. Anya on the other hand, merely raised her eyebrow silently asking what's up with him.

Cale doesn't speak but rather pointed at the corner on the other side of the street. He seems to be pointing at the house of the newlywed couple she met a few weeks ago.

Her neighborhood usually is a quiet place to begin with, but that is not the case this time. She noticed a small group of people standing outside whom she recognized as her neighbors. Eyes slowly focusing on the scene, she saw that there are also two police cars parked outside and a few police officers tying a yellow tape at the gate.

"Let's go over there," says Anya who was still looking at the scene from afar.

Cale merely frowned and didn't say a word.

Without looking back, Anya started walking across the street. Hushed whispers echoed through among her neighbors. She can barely pick up the words they were saying. Peering through the crowd she sees a tall, young man with tanned skin. He was wearing a police uniform and talking to someone on the phone. Ending the call, he turned around. Anya recognized him immediately.

"Adrian!" she called.

The police officer quickly looked around to see who called his name. His eyes widened as he saw Anya. Anya immediately jogged toward him.

"I knew it was you, Addy" Anya says with a smiling face.

"Hello Anya," Adrian replies. "Don't call me that," he added with an annoyed tone. He clearly isn't fond of the shortened form of his name that Anya unceremoniously bestowed upon him ever since their first meeting. Either that or he doesn't like her at all, Anya contemplated for a moment.

Snapping back into reality, Anya's smile widens. She likes teasing people after all. She was about to make a small retort when Cale suddenly interrupted saying, "Anya let's go. We're gonna be late".

Damn, she thought. It feels like the world has become a frozen wasteland. Anya felt the uneasiness of the situation. Cale stepped in looking her in the eyes silently pleading for her to just leave with him immediately. Meanwhile, Adrian is playing it cool. She would have been fooled by him if she hadn't noticed the way he's trying to avoid looking at Cale. She looked back and forth between them. They were both clearly avoiding each others eyes. As much as she wants to help these two resolve whatever it is that's caused this rift between them, her curiousity regarding the police's presence overshadowed it all.

"Just a moment," Anya finally spoke. Facing Adrian she continued, "What's going on?"

"Someone was murdered last night," came the reply.

The one who answered though wasn't Adrian. Two middle-aged ladies stepped in. Anya knew them as her neighbors Manang Marie and Aling Tessa. Manang Marie lives next door to hers. She is a short plump woman who likes to wear long dresses with floral designs. True to her nature she is what they call a certified "plantita" with all the kinds of plants that can be seen outside her house. Aling Tessa was an inch taller than Manang Marie. She lives three houses away from hers. She wears round glasses and is a cat person.

"Good morning," they both said in unison.

"Good morning as well Manang Marie and Aling Tessa," Anya replied. Both Adrian and Cale gave the two ladies a polite nod and smile.

"Who was killed?" Anya asked.

"It was the wife. If I remember correctly, I think her name was Elise. Poor girl, so young and yet her life was suddenly taken away," Aling Tessa gave a sad reply.

"What happened to her was awful. The body was already taken away earlier but I heard the husband telling the cops that there was blood everywhere and that her body was covered in cuts and bruises when he found her," Manang Marie added.

Aling Tessa gasps, "Really!? I remember chatting with his wife a few days ago. She mentioned that her husband was on a three-day seminar in Manila. I guess he just arrived earlier and found his wife murdered. To think it's gonna be new year tomorrow, it sounds even more tragic. I wonder who did it."

"Who knows? It could have been anyone. Maybe it was the husband," Manang Marie replied.

"That's a bit presumptuous. Why would he kill his own wife? They seemed like a very loving couple," Aling Tessa gave a slightly quizzical look.

They then turned their eyes toward Adrian. "What do you think, officer?"

Anya couldn't help but wonder whether she should be annoyed or be proud of her nosy or rather investigative neighbors. It must be their talent. She couldn't help rolling her eyes.

Suddenly, a man wearing a blue cap came over. He stared at Anya. Noticing his gaze, Anya smiled. Startled by Anya's action, he quickly turned toward Adrian and whispered something in his ear. Adrian coughed, "I'm sorry Ma'am but we are still investigating. This is classified as well. Please excuse me if I have to take my leave." He was clearly irritated by the two ladies' speculations but he was still giving them a courteous smile. Not only that, but she could also see some sort of relief in his eyes. Perhaps it could be the relief of not staying here for too long in front of his ex, Anya wonders.

Giving a nod to both Anya and Cale, Adrian quickly took off. Anya tried to follow him but Cale grabbed her arm.

"He's working Anya. Let's leave now."

Realizing that his friend was right and that they would only be a hindrance to Adrian's work, Anya finally relented.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was during lunch that Anya and Cale found time to talk with each other. They were both busy with work in their respective sections that it felt like a miracle that they could take a break and have lunch.

They were both eating silently when Cale suddenly started the conversation.

"I still can't believe how you didn't notice the police's presence a few houses from yours."

"I don't wake up that early Cale. Besides, when I do I usually do all my business and don't give a care with what's happening outside," Anya replies.

"I don't think it is safe for you to continue living there," Cale continues as he stabs the meat with his fork.

"Don't be silly Cale. I'll be fine," Anya shrugs him off.

Dropping his fork Cale argued, "Fine you say? Someone got killed in your neighborhood Anya. That could have been you."

"You worry too much. Why would anyone wanna murder me?" Anya asks while sipping from a can of pineapple juice.

"I don't know. Maybe they kill without reason."

There was silence between the two for a moment until Cale went back into eating his lunch. He then suggested, "How about you live with me for the time being until you can find another place to stay?"

Seeing the genuine worry on her friends eyes she puts down her drink and gave him a reassuring smile. "I appreciate your concern Cale but I don't think that's necessary."

"You're too stubborn Anya," Cale frowned.

"Thank you for the compliment," Anya smirked. Cale feeling defeated just sighed.

"By the way, what happened between you and Adrian? And don't you dare lie to me or make up some shit. I gave you space yesterday but seeing your interaction with him earlier, as if you can even call that an interaction at all, was just plain painful to see," Anya continued.

"Anya, I really don't wanna talk about it."

"And here I thought we were friends. I guess I was wrong," Anya says with a disappointed look.

"Stop guilt-tripping me." Cale replied with a resolute face clearly showing he is serious in keeping his mouth shut. Anya then gave him somewhat akin to those sad puppy dog eyes you see in anime. Cale sighed, "To tell you the truth I broke up with him. I just don't feel the same way I did before."

"Since when have you learned how to lie to me Cale?" Anya says with a disbelieving tone.

"I'm not lying."

Anya continues giving him the 'you can't fool me' look. They both stare at each other for a long time, neither one backing down. That's when the bell rang signalling that lunch is over and it's time to go back to work. Looking back at Cale, Anya says, "Literally saved by the bell, eh". Cale did not say a word but offered her a dry smile.