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A tropical storm has brought heavy rains to Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon. Quezon City is a commuter's nightmare, with floods hitting waist-high levels in certain areas, and creeks have overflowed all over the city. Many streets are impassable, and traffic is snarled nearly everywhere. The road outside

the university is packed with vehicles.

Saenz and Jerome have decided to wait at the laboratory for the traffic to ease before heading off on personal errands. Saenz is scribbling notes on his examination of the salvage victim's remains. Jerome is curled up on the lab's hideous but comfortable brown velour couch, reading for Monday's

classes. They go about their respective tasks in companionable silence.

The peace is disturbed by a knock on the door. They exchange glances, and then Jerome unfolds himself and rises from the couch. He walks to the door, opens it a crack at first and then wider, framing a damp and disheveled Ben Arcinas in the