The Killers of Ruth Bago

Chapter 6: Mika's Request

Yohan

"My reason for killing her was because of her death threats to me and my sister. I heard that b***h say mean things to her. She tried to poison me while drinking my coffee! She even put chili on my face while sipping her p***y. .

"I ain't making these shits, you know that. I was enjoying her company but she did those terrible actions. She was about to stab me!" .

****

Evan Tan was awakened by the sound of his phone ringing. When he stood up, he realized he fell asleep on his couch while the recorder was on his tummy. He must've slept more than 8 hours since it's his day-off. It's already 11 in the morning. He dozed off after listening to Johanne's recording again. .

When he reached for his phone, he quickly answered it and held it close to his ear. "Yep?" .

"I've been calling you 30 times now. Where are you?" It was Mika's voice, sounding frustrated and a bit relieved now that he answered the call. .

He pressed shut both of his eyelids and hit his head using his free hand. He made her call him 30 times! What a boner you've become, Evan! .

Evan felt terrible. He thought Mika must've been so upset with him. He stood her up again. He was not this lazy before. It must be because of the beer he drank last night while listening to the recording. Johanne's words were still lingering on his mind, even in his dreams. He wanted to hit his head really hard for his negligence. .

After the call, he immediately did his chores and got ready to drive to Mika's location. .

****

Evan got out of his car and approached Mika who's looking at the view on the bridge. Mika called him earlier and asked for a lunch meeting. .

The bridge was a 20-minute ride from his flat. It was the connecting bridge from the city's heart to the rural places nearby. The place was open for people and cars as it is the widest bridge in the region. He can see the mountainous rock formation from afar where the sea kissed its reflection with the city lights governing the tides at sea. .

Since it was his day-off, he gave in to her offer as though Mika was his last option for this day or he had no other choice at all. He was bored at home listening to Johanne's distorted alibis while looking at the gathered evidence. .

He was working 24/7 since the first hearing and it killed his quality time for himself like he used to do. He used to drive around the city non-stop and then just go back to his flat as he pleases. Sometimes, he captures the scenery view from the cloudy skies or the mountainous view surrounding the island. He loves to do things on his own terms, a kind of pleasure on his part that no one could ever understand. .

He's an introverted person, that's why he couldn't bring himself to change the way Mika wanted him to be before. He was all alone right before he met her. And he lived that life for a very long time.

Mika turned around and smiled as she looked at Evan in surprise. She waved at him happily. "You're here..."

He walked a little closer to her and smiled sheepishly. "Yeah. What's your usual to-do list?" He asked her. He was dying to know what are the things Mika used to do after their break-up. Such a gap between them had been thick and he wanted to finally break it. At least, for now, he wanted to stop thinking solely about himself and let his mind care about his ex-girlfriend.

He always wanted to contact her but he was losing it before he could decide to. He hadn't got the courage to ask her out again. He thought she was dating rich guys and famous celebrities since she's more attached to them in the law firm world. He lost his will to date her again. He took that chance to think that it was for the best. To him, it's okay to think about himself for a while.

Mika nudged. "Well... not much in mind. Just walk around and eat, that's all. Maybe shop and buy groceries or go to a parlor or have some Thai massage. I just don't wanna stay at home for 10 more minutes." She looked away, frowning. "I don't know. Maybe I just want to forget something..." She suddenly smiled as she turned to him while lifting her heel. "So, how about you?"

"Well... I just drive around the whole day non-stop and take photos randomly. Just a hobby on days-off. Not much. I just wanna do them some time alone," he answered. It was too late to take back his last sentence. He silently bit his lip and refrain himself from talking nonsense. You again with your damn mouth!

She grimaced. "Oh, sorry. I shouldn't have called you."

"No, it's okay! I also wanna do the things you do. I mean... I just told you what I usually do when I'm alone. It's not as if I wanted to be alone today. Just trying to be sporty sometimes," he said in an awkward smile.

"You sure about this?"

He nodded. "Why would I be here in the first place?" He gestured his hand and waved inwards as a sign of invitation. "Come on. Hop in," he invited her for a ride.

While in the car, Evan occasionally stared at Mika while focusing on the road. Sometimes, when she was looking in his direction, he would look away as if nothing happened. He would hear her laugh or smile in silence.

"You know you can stare at me all day if you want. No need to look away when I caught you," she uttered while looking outside the window.

Evan blushed in shame. "W-what?"

Mika looked at him intently and smiled. "You know you can stare at me as you please, Evan..."

Evan started to palpitate while driving. He couldn't concentrate now that Mika was next to him alone in his car. What should he reply?

Damn it, Evan! You're not talking to her again. Stop putting her in shame.

"Uh... I uh... I was just checking on you, that's all." You bastard! That's not right!

He mentally cursed himself for ruining such a day with Mika. He should make it all up to her because of what happened to Robert. He should be listening to her and just comfort her for her loss.

Evan saw that Mika grimaced. "Yeah, or so I thought..." She looked away again and never uttered anything until they reached a restaurant downtown.

After they got out of the car, they ordered some seafood and ate silently. Evan was the first one to break the silence.

"So, how's everything?" He meant to ask about Ruth Bago's bereft family but he refrained from talking about work. He knew Mika wouldn't like to answer him.

"Fine. Still hating my unit for two years." She laughed at her own reply.

Evan just stared at her seriously, lips pursed. They stared at each other's eyes before he finally spoke. "I'm sorry for not being there when you needed me."

Mika put down her spoon and smiled. "I know... things have changed now."

"Yeah..." he agreed.

"You wanna hang out in my unit or something?" Mika suddenly asked that left Evan surprised.

****

Evan's car stopped in front of a building where Mika's unit is located.

He saw Mika's smile while unbuckling the seat belt. "You still know how to get here, huh?"

"I have a sharp memory." He smirked while pointing at his temple.

While laughing, Mika and Evan finally got out of the car after they've parked inside the basement parking lot.

The security lock system on Mika's door sounded as it accepted Mika's fingerprint. The door opened and they were invited by the cold ambiance of the room.

"Just put your coat on the couch. I'll make some dinner," she informed him as she was walking past the living room. She turned on the radio near the flat-screen television and faced Evan again. "Want tea?"

"Chamomile, please. Do you have one?" he requested.

"Yeah. Just sit right there. You can turn on the TV if you're bored. Be right back!" she said out loud while disappearing into his eyes.

Evan just smiled and looked around the place. It was about two years since the last time he walked into her place. He used to look up to Mika at night after work. At that time, Mika was diagnosed with depression and he was instructed by her doctor to look over her at night.

Many frightful nights came to her witnessing. He couldn't stop her from crying most of the time, so he just let her know that he's there to watch her sleep. At some point, he was relieved that Mika trusted her for that, but the very situation made him very upset and frustrated. He was not born to fix a girl's problems. He's just so good at his job that he couldn't apply a single term in his life, fixing and resolving things. Not with his relationship with her.

It frustrated him to see her break down every night and it consumed him too much to just let her get away with it.

There are days that she lashed out violent words to him just because he lacked sensitivity or care. He was hurt in the process and ended up not doing anything at all. He was afraid of doing the wrong things so he let her scold or protest about his actions so he could correct them, but when he's ready to fix things she gave up everything.

The reason for her depression was still unclear to him despite the doctor's clear assessment. It was due to the continuous stalking of a stranger back in her College days. But he didn't get close to her feelings and point of view.

To him, depression is not a disease. It's the way a person views himself for lacking something. That was his turning point and it sickens him to remember how he sucked at love. He was dense and insensitive. The remaining months and years seemed to give him reflections after that.

Mika is important for him. He still cares for her. But he doesn't know if he's still needed in her life.

He doesn't want her to get hurt anymore because of him.

Evan's thoughts suddenly halted when he heard Mika shouted. His chest raised as he rapidly approached her in the kitchen.

He saw her covering her mouth using her hand, shock was evident in her eyes as her vision was glued to something on the floor.

Evan saw blood scattered on that spot where they saw a dead cat. The fur was colored ash gray soaked in its own blood. The smell of its rotten meat was stinking on their noses. Mika puked.

He immediately attended to her and checked on her hands and open skin. "Were you hurt? What happened?"

"He's doing this. He's doing this again!" She exclaimed in fear.

Evan narrowed his eyes. "Who?"

"My stalker..."

****

A police officer approached Evan on the sofa as he patted Mika's back. The team of policemen gathered inside the unit to gather the evidence. Flashes of light flickered in the whole room as the team was busy talking about the blood and the unusual things in the kitchen.

Evan didn't bother to ask them or see the evidence himself. He was just too focused on Mika. She was still crying and trembling.

Evan stood up and looked at the officer as he heard him talk.

"We'll go and check the CCTV cameras outside and see what we'll find. For now, it's best if Atty. Solon stays safe somewhere out. We'll make sure to give her security personnel as well."

"That would be very helpful, officer. Please let me know the updates. I wanna know if this has something to do with the former athlete who stalked her five years ago."

When the officer nodded and dismissed him, he returned to Mika and cupped her chin. "You still don't wanna go out?"

"I'm fine now. I-I just don't know where to go," she said.

"Come with me. I'll be fine sharing my place with you. It's just not safe to sleep in this unit anymore, you understand?"

"But, Evan..."

"We'll be fine. I promise," he said and embraced her.

****

After the incident, Evan drove Mika to his flat and made dinner for her. They've talked about different things just to forget the terrible things that happened in her unit.

After that, Mika laid on his bed while he stared at her from his chair.

"How are you feeling?"

"Relaxed, I guess. I can't thank you enough, Evan."

He smiled and brushed off little strands of hair on Mika's face. "I don't wanna make the same mistakes again, Mika." He breathed deeply. "When I saw you in that state for the second time earlier, I thought I was gonna lose you. I mean, I was afraid I'd end up not doing anything at all.

"I didn't want another episode of your traumas to come again, but I couldn't do anything." He laughed. "I'm a bastard. I suck at fixing things in my personal life."

Mika laughed, too. "Yeah. You're terrible at fixing things."

They laughed for a moment before Evan changed his expression into a serious one. "I wanna be honest with you, Mika..."

"Hmmm?"

"I still wanna wrap things up with you..."

Mika smiled at him and caressed his face. "It's okay. I forgive you..."

-to-be-continued-