Cross Paths

Lara cautiously approached the elderly man who was collecting the posters, but before she could get close, she saw him suddenly break into tears.

She stood frozen as she watched him, his sorrow evident in the way his shoulders shook. He then lit a match, setting fire to the pile of posters bearing Jun Cupad's face.

"Patricia… Patricia, my child… I won't let this wicked man win. I promise, I'll find you," the old man sobbed, his voice filled with both anguish and determination.

Moments later, a group of Jun Cupad's supporters arrived. They immediately doused the flames and began yelling at the elderly man. One of them even shoved him roughly, causing him to stumble. Lara, unable to stand by any longer, ran to help him up, but her intervention only drew the ire of the supporters.

"You're with him, aren't you?" one of them accused, glaring at Lara.

The group began to surround her and the old man, their anger escalating. Lara started to panic, unsure of how to defuse the situation as the supporters yelled at her.

Then, out of nowhere, a familiar voice cut through the chaos.

"Enough!" It was Mark, Lara's coworker, who had somehow appeared just in time. He stepped between Lara and the angry supporters, raising his hands to calm them down. "We're just trying to help the old man," he explained firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The supporters hesitated but eventually backed off, though not without delivering a threat. "If we catch you burning our candidate's posters again, we'll have you both arrested!" one of them snarled before they left, grumbling.

Lara let out a shaky breath, her heart still pounding from the encounter. She glanced at Mark, grateful for his timely arrival, and then turned to the elderly man, who was still trembling but clinging to the remnants of his dignity. She knew there was more to his story, and now, more than ever, she wanted to know what had driven him to this point.

It turned out that Mark knew the elderly man. His name was Niel, and Mark explained to Lara the old man's deep-seated anger toward Jun Cupad. Niel's story added weight to what Lara had already heard, solidifying her suspicions about the candidate.

Lara, still processing everything, asked Mark why he was in that area. Mark revealed that he lived there, which surprised her. He mentioned that he had actually seen Lara on the bus earlier but didn't approach her because she seemed lost in thought. He was even more surprised when they ended up getting off at the same stop.

Curious, Mark asked Lara why she was in the area. Caught off guard, Lara scrambled for an explanation and quickly said that she was visiting a relative who lived nearby. Mark raised an eyebrow, sensing something odd, but chose not to press further.

Instead, he offered to take care of Niel. "Don't worry, I'll stay with him. You should head home, Lara. It's getting late, and it's not safe to be out around here at night," Mark said, his concern evident.

Lara hesitated for a moment, looking at Niel, who still seemed shaken. But she eventually nodded. "Thank you, Mark. Please make sure he's okay," she said softly, grateful for his presence and support. With that, she reluctantly started to leave, knowing she had to continue her plans cautiously while keeping her real motives hidden.

------after a few more hours------

It was already late into the night when Lara found herself still wandering the streets, asking around about the pastor running for mayor. She even managed to find out the location of the church where he used to preach. Caught up in her determination, she barely noticed the hours slipping by.

At exactly 10:15 PM, Lara instinctively checked her phone, only to realize how much she had accomplished—and how late it had gotten. Though she wanted to visit the church and ask more questions, the emptiness of the streets and the eerie stillness of the night made her uneasy. Fear and caution crept in as she noticed the once-busy streets now nearly deserted.

Deciding it was time to call it a day, Lara silently prayed that tonight wouldn't be the moment The Fool made their move on the controversial pastor. She thought of Niel, the old man who shared the same grievances against the pastor, and hoped nothing would happen tonight.

As she walked, her thoughts were interrupted when, in the distance, she spotted a figure that looked strangely familiar. Squinting, she whispered to herself, "Daniel?" The man she saw resembled her coworker, Daniel. But he was walking briskly, accompanied by a woman. The sight immediately piqued Lara's curiosity.

Without hesitation, Lara quickened her pace, intending to follow them. She glanced at her phone, remembering that she had Daniel's number saved. Hoping to confirm if it was really him, she decided to call.

Her heart raced as she dialed the number, her footsteps echoing lightly on the empty streets. She prayed he would answer, or at the very least, give her some clue as to why he was there—and who the woman with him was.

That night, Lara experienced something she never could have anticipated. Just as she was about to redial Daniel's number after he failed to answer, a group of large men suddenly appeared, blocking her path.

These men exuded an intimidating presence that sent shivers down her spine. One of them stepped forward and asked, "Are you the woman who kept asking about the house of Mayor Jun?"

The question left Lara stunned. She couldn't respond properly as fear gripped her, her body trembling uncontrollably. Struggling to keep her composure, she stammered an answer, claiming she was only planning to attend a service at Pastor Jun's church. Why are they already calling him 'Mayor Jun' when the elections haven't even happened yet? she thought, her mind racing.

One of the men exchanged glances with another, giving a subtle signal. Another man began scanning their surroundings, as if ensuring no one else was nearby. Lara's unease grew as the realization hit her—they intended to do something to her.

Before she could react, one of the men grabbed her arms tightly. She tried to scream for help, but another man swiftly clamped a cloth over her mouth, silencing her. The cloth had a strange smell—Lara instantly felt lightheaded, her strength fading as a wave of drowsiness washed over her.

She fought to stay awake, but it was futile. Her vision blurred, her body became limp, and everything went dark. The last thing she remembered was being lifted and carried toward a vehicle.