THE DETECTIVE'S TALE

DAVIEN'S POINT OF VIEW

"You're not going home yet, detective?"

I look at Elena and shake my head. "I'm not yet done reading some cases."

She puts a coffee on my table. I beamed  and mouthed a silent 'thank you.' She sits in the swivel chair in front of me.

"Let me guess, you're still appraising the Ridley University students' death."

I nod my head.

"But base from what we have observed, the killings stop already, so why bother?"

I look at her for a moment and sighed. "And that's what I'm worrying about. Why did the killers disappear out of the sudden? There's something wrong with what's happening, Elena, I can feel it. My guts never fail me. And for as long as the culprits are not jailed yet, I can't afford to just dismiss the case. Those students deserve justice," I said with conviction.

She seemed to understands my point and did not argue with me anymore.

"I really admire your hard work, but are you not tired with your life? Please don't get me wrong, detective. I'm just concern to you. I noticed that I never see you having a pause from all these tiring paper works even for once. It's not that bad to idle and unwind for a while, you know."

I stop my perusal. Elena's right. If she didn't mention it, I would not realized that I'm spending all my time with works alone. My body seems to forgot the feeling of luxuriating. My life seriously revolves around my office and home.

I drop the file I'm reading and look at her. "Is it bad?" I asked her the obvious.

She laughs at my question. "Like I said, your assiduity and commitment to work is really meritorious and exceptional. However, you should really consider slowing down. The world will not crumble down if you take a rest even for a short period of time."

I recline on my chair and ponder with my thoughts.

"Anyway, everyone in our department is really curious about this."

I arched a brow.

"Do you have a girlfriend, detective? I mean, considering your popularity among girls and your looks, it's a mystery to us that we haven't seen you with a woman."

There's a playful grin between her lips.

"You're a woman, and I'm always with you, Elena," I said with a dead-pan look.

She rolled her eyes. "Don't be stupid. I know you know what I mean."

I averted my gaze. "I'm not dating anyone."

Because up until now, my heart still belongs to her.

•••••

"Fuck, it feels surreal. Damn it, tell me that I'm not dreaming."

I'm staring at the paper posted in the bulletin board with tears brimming my eyes. Someone hold my hand.

"You're not dreaming, Sandro. You're one step closer to your dreams now. Congrats, my future detective."

Slowly, I intertwined our fingers. Her soft skin brushing against mine is enough to make my heart beats in a crazy way.

"And I wouldn't made it here if it's not because of you," I whispered while staring at her.

She pinches my arms. "It's all because of your hard work and not because of me, dumbass. There is time for your romantic antics."

I pouted like a child and look at her indignantly. "You're seriously ruining the moment. Why don't you just say I love you instead?"

She stifled a laughter and planted a kiss on my cheeks. "I'm proud of you, Detective Davien."

My lips curved into as sweet smile. But it was immediately replaced with irritation when someone speaks behind us.

"A lot of people are waiting behind you, just so you know, love sick fools."

I scoffed and glared at that person, Knox Ignacio. He's my friend but I won't forgive him for ruining this perfect moment, not unless if he'll treat my lunch. Kidding.

"Stop venting out your bitterness to us, Knox," I told him with a grin in which he just retaliated with a middle finger.

"Stop it, you two," said the woman beside me.

Once again, I look at the bulletin board.

Alessandro Rhett Davien. I'm one of the people who passed the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) exam.

I smiled before grabbing her arms to escape that commotion.

"You look so happy."

I look at the person who sat beside me and smiled me.

"I am. I still couldn't believe it."

She just chuckled and rest her head on my shoulder. We just watch the children playing in silence. The smiles on their faces while enjoying the park are like rays of sun that brightens up our moods.

"Do you want to go home now?" I asked Daphne, my girlfriend, while caressing her soft hair.

She shakes her head. "I want spend the rest of the day with you."

I smirk. "In my condo?"

She narrowed her eyes and glared at me. "Sure, then I will murder you there, you fucking pervert."

I laugh and kiss her forehead. "Why are you so mad? It's not like I'm planning to do something. Not unless, you're the one thinking of doing IT."

Her nose flared up. She punches my arms hardly that causes me to winces a bit. She was about to punch me again but her fist was left in mid-air. I look at her with a creased forehead when I noticed that she's closing her eyes.

I began to sweat when she gritted her teeth furiously and pulled her hair.

"Argh! It hurts!"

"B-Babe? Shit, w-what the hell is happening to you?"

She looks at me with tears brimming her eyes. The pained expression in her face breaks me.

"M-My head, it hurts."

I embrace her body. "C-Come on, I-I'll bring you to the hospital," I said, stammering.

The tears I'm suppressing earlier finally dripped down when she completely fainted. Damn it.

I carried her body in a bridal-style and called a taxi. Fortunately, the hospital is just near us.

I close my eyes as I wait outside the hospital room. I would be lying if I say that I'm fine. Hell, I can't be at ease knowing that my girlfriend is not in a good condition.

The door suddenly opens. I stand up from my seat.

"D-Doc, how's my girlfriend? S-she's fine, right?"

My lips are literally trembling while asking. I was more nervous when the doctor heave out a sigh.

"She's safe-" I breathed a sigh of relief. "for now."

I wrinkled my forehead. "W-What are you saying?"

"Your girlfriend is diagnosed with Glioblastoma, the deadliest type of brain cancer, and it's malignant."

My knees weakened. The doctor was no longer in front of me, but my feet seems to be rooted on that same spot, unable to absorb what he just said.

I slump on the wall behind me, and let my tears soaked my cheeks. This day should be happy, I and Daphne was supposed to celebrate my victory. After all those sleepless nights and suffering, my hard work finally paid off. But the words from that doctor ruined everything.

I feel numb all of the sudden. I feel helpless. Right now, I couldn't do anything but bawl my eyes out. I feel weak.

From that day forward, drastic changes start to occur on Daphne. She always experiences headache, loss of appetite and nausea. Her parents have no choice but to admit her in the hospital.

"Bro, are you coming with us? We'll drink a bit in the newly opened bar nearby."

I shook my head. "I'll pass for now, Riego. I need to visit my girlfriend."

He just nods his head, understanding my situation. I sighed heavily and look at myself in the mirror. My lips eventually curled into a smile. I'm officially a police officer, the profession that I always dream ever since I was a child. I finally become the person I want to be. After several years of service as a police officer, I'm planning to apply for a promotion exam to earn my desired rank as a detective.

After gathering my things, I immediately went to the hospital.

I saw my woman reading a book.

"Good evening, babe," I said and put my things on the couch.

I walk towards her and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. She smiled at me, and all the weariness in my body vanished.

I look at her for a moment, seeing her in this state is enough to pound my heart. Her hair diminishes, and she became thin. Her illness is slowly destroying her body. I averted my gaze because of the tears welling up in my eyes. I don't want her to see me cry or get discouraged. I'm one of her source of strength, I should be strong.

"How's your day?" she asked.

"It went well. We just had a minor operation earlier."

Silence enveloped us, but it's fine, this is the kind of silence that I love to feel, it's tranquilizing.

"Sandro."

"Hmmm?"

"I want to go to the rooftop."

I frowned. "It's already cold outside, you know that it's not good for you."

"Eh? Just this once, babe," she insisted while pouting. She even showed me her infamous charming eyes.

I hissed and pinch her cheeks. "You really know how to use your assets to bribe me."

She chuckled and hugs me tightly.

"Just wear a jacket, and I'm going to carry you till we reach the rooftop, alright?" I said before grabbing her waist.

The sky was pitch-black on its hue, strewn with shining little orbs along with the pristine moon illuminating the darkness.

"Sandro, you know how much I love you right?"

I turned to Daphne. Her hair is dancing in perfect harmony along with the wind. She looks ethereal.

"I do, and I hope you know as well how much I love every inch of you too."

She smiled before clinging on my arms.

I enclose her in my warm embrace as I kiss her forehead.

We were in that position when a light passed quickly through the sky. She fend off my arms and yelled jovially like a child.

"There it is, a wishing star! Come on, let's make a wish! Close your eyes!"

I look at her in disbelief, shook my head, and just ride with her capers.

Silence.

"What did you wish?" she asked me.

"It's a secret, of course," I answered playfully. "How about you?"

"I wished for your happiness even when I'm gone."

I clenched my jaw as I felt fear engulfing my system. "W-What are you saying? I will never be happy again if you're not the reason. Remember? We still have a lot of things to do." I then pick a paper in my jacket. "We haven't travel the entire world yet, eat tem bowls of ramen, do a mountain trekking. Come on, you will get through this," I said while caressing her hair.

She sighed heavily. "But you know that it's impossible."

Tears brimmed my eyes. "D-Daph," I called her name underneath my breath.

"You know how much I wanted to fulfill our dreams- buy our own house, have our own happy family, you know how much I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"Y-yes, and we're going to fulfill that dream."

She smiled bitterly. "I want to believe you, but you know it's  impossible."

"Daph, please don't talk to me as if you're bidding goodbye. We're going to face all of these together- we're on this together."

She smiled at me, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Babe, but I'm tired already."

She averted her gaze and looks above. "I want to fight my illness, but my entire body is giving up on me already. I'm tired seeing the fear in your eyes every time this stupid sickness of mine  attacks. I'm tired ... so fucking tired."

My chest clenched with every word she uttered. Those words- I've never been this scared all throughout my life. I look at her in disbelief.

"Daph, if you're tired to fight, I'm not. And please don't mind us, mind yourself, focus on your recovery. Please fight for us, babe," I almost plead to her.

"Let's say that I would survive this day. But how about the following weeks? Months? You're very much aware of my situation, Sandro. You know very well that no matter what we do, I will not last long. No matter how many treatments I'll do, that would never cure my illness."

I bow my head. "But I can't live without you."

She looked at me and cup my chin. "N-No. I know you can. Maybe for quite few months of my fleeing, you'll fall, but I know that you could stand up. You're one of the toughest man I ever met."

I momentarily close my eyes as I felt the cold breeze brush upon my skin. I didn't bother to wipe away my tears.

I couldn't stop my tears from falling anymore. Despite my crying eyes, I look at her. "D-Do you want to rest already?" I asked weakly, fear is evident on my voice.

She nodded. I heave a deep sigh. I cup her cheeks and stare at her face, memorizing every features in it. Those lips that always take my breath away, those eyes that make me insane, I want to remember all of it.

Silence enveloped the place, sound of crickets and our fast heartbeats serves as the music of the night. But this music will never be pleasant to my ears. Her words are enough to pierce my already shattered heart.

"T-then rest now, babe." I pulled her closer to me. And under the heavenly bodies watching us, we kissed. We let our souls speak, to tell how much we love each other. We let our lips sealed the love the we cherish.

"Thank you- thank you for everything. Forgive me if I need to leave you so early. It's unfair, isn'r it? Why do people who both want to stay together are always bound to leave each other?"

I tightened my hug on her and didn't bother to reply.

"Our story might end now, but your journey will not stop here. Someday, you need to forget me, you need to move on and continue without me. Can you promise me one thing? Please, before I leave, I want to ask you somthing."

"W-What is it?"

"Promise me that you will not close your heart for a new beginning, don't be afraid to love again, cause this time, I know it's gonna be worth it. Can you promise me that?"

I pursed my lips for a moment. "I-I don't know."

"Please, Sandro?"

I breathed deep. "P-Promise."

She smiled sweetly and averted her gaze.

"Good. Now, I can now finally rest in peace. Please don't forget that once in your life, an Allyson Guevarra  exist, a girl who truely loves you. Trev, I love you and I always will. Even in afterlife, I will choose to give my heart to you, Trev, you own every part of me."

She finally said before silence once again envelop us. I look above the dark sky, another shooting star pass by. I tightly close my eyes before whispering underneath my breath.

We pulled away, and stare at each other's eyes.

"Continue living your life, my detective. Achieve your dreams, even without me."

"But you are my dreams."

She smiles and hug me tight. "I love you."

I kiss her head and inhaled her sweet scent. "I love you too, mi amore."

Those words are the last thing I heard from her before her grip on me slackened.

As her embrace loosened, I knew that my life would never be like that again. She gave me all the reasons to continue fighting, and she bring all those reasons  together with her when she left. She took away a piece of me when she left.

"May our hearts can find their way back home, on each other arms- even in afterlife."

•••••

"Hey! Davien? Hey!"

I flinched when someone flicks a finger right in front of my face.

I cleared my throat. "Y-Yeah, what is it?'

Elena's forehead creased. "You're spacing out. I'm asking you if you're going home already."

I nod my head. "Y-Yeah, sorry, I just remember something. Let's go."

"Alright, I'll wait for you downstairs."

I fix the folders and papers on my table before rolling up my sleeves.

My phone rings, an unknown number messaged me. I frowned.

"Bloodshed is the only choice left for me now. Bad news for you."

My gaze narrowed. I stared at the darkness, and I felt every hair in my body standing on its end.

They knew it, they knew that we're watching over them.