✔ 02 | Flames Of Madness [Soon To Be Published Under PSICOM]

CAPITULUM 01

T U E S D A Y

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May 07, 2019
Eastwood Heights
6:30 a.m.

"The greatest detective of Eastwood should be solving murder cases, not saving a stupid cat from being stuck in a stupid a mango tree!"

Detective Nico Yukishito frowned and complained for the thirteenth time this morning--oo, binilang niya. Huminga siya nang malalim at sinilip ang pusang nakalingkis sa sanga ng puno.

It was a Siamese cat with clear blue eyes. Mukhang malaki ang ibinayad sa kanila ng may-ari nito para sa kaligtasan ng kanyang pinakamamahal na alaga. 'Either DEATH is in desprate need of money to accept such pathetic cases, or my delusional uncle wants to annoy me again.'

As if on cue, mula sa kabilang dulo ng linya, narinig niya ang mahinang pagtawa ng CEO ng kanilang detective agency.

["Well, if that case is as easy as you claim it to be, then I'm sure 'saving a stupid cat' won't be a problem for our #1 detective."]

Naririnig ni Nico ang pang-aasar sa boses ng kanyang tiyuhin. Mukhang wiling-wili talaga itong sirain ang kanyang pinakaiingatang reputasyon!

"Damn, Sherlock! Eh 'di bakit hindi na lang ibinigay sa mga bumbero ang trabahong ito? I'm pretty sure those lazy firefighters are more qualified for this job!"

["Kung magrereklamo ka pa, baka bawiin pa ni Ms. Pontenilla ang pera niya. Kapag nangyari 'yon, I won't hesitate to deduce it from your salary."]

Hindi na nakaimik ang binata. Inside his head, he was already plotting ways to get back to his Uncle X.

["Good luck, Detective Yukishito!"]

Mahinang napamura si Nico. Pinatay na niya ang tawag at inis na inihagis ang kanyang telepono. Mula sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata, he can see the old woman who hired them.

He forced a smile just for show.

'Pababa na talaga ng pababa ang kalidad ng mga kaso dito sa Eastwood!'

Huminga nang malalim ang detective at hinubad ang kanyang kulay brown na leather jacket. Inilihis ni Nico ang manggas ng kanyang puting long-sleeved shirt at sinimulan nang akyatin ang puno ng mangga. Some college girls passed by and giggled when they saw him.

'Oh, the embarrassment!'

He effortlessly climbed the tree and jumped onto the branch where the poor Siamese cat was stuck.

Nico smirked and tried to approach the feline. Nakatitig lang sa kanya ang pusa na para bang isang magnanakaw na nahuli sa akto.

"Sasha, the Siamese cat. You are under arrested for being stupid enough to climb up this tree without any idea of how to climb down. You have the right to remain silent. Any 'meow' you say might be used against you, kaya't mabuti nang sumama ka na lang sa'kin nang tahimik!"

Great. Just great.

Now DEATH's #1 detective is talking to a cat. Napabuntong-hininga si Nico dala ng kahihiyan at akmang bubuhatin na ang pusa nang bigla ito---

"MEOW!"

"DAMN SHERLOCK! GET OFF ME, YOU DEVIL CAT!"

Katulad ng mga suspect sa mga pipitsuging pelikula, nanlaban pa ang pusa! Pinagkakakalmot pa siya nito habang nakakapit sa kanyang mukha. Detective Nico Yukishito cursed under his breath and tried to pry the cat off him, pero lalo lang itong naging agresibo.

"MEOW!"

Unti-unti, nawalan ng balanse ang binatang detective at nahulog mula sa puno.

BLAG!

"Ouch! Shit.. bad cat!"

Napadaing sa sakit si Nico nang lumapat ang kanyang likod sa damuhan. The Siamese cat purred and elegantly walked away. Hinakbangan pa siya nito sa mukha!

"Meow!"

"SASHA!" Masaya namang sinalubong ni Ms. Pontenilla ang alaga at niyakap ito.

'I hate cats,' inis na isip ni Nico. Hanggang ngayon ay nararamdaman pa rin niya ang hapdi ng kanyang mukha sanhi ng pagkalmot nito sa kanya.

The greatest detective in Eastwood laid on the grassy ground for a few minutes. Kung lumipat na kaya siya ng ibang bansa? Nauubusan na ng mga interesanteng kaso ang Eastwood at pakiramdam ni Nico ay tuluyan na siyang masisiraan ng bait kung palagi siyang magliligtas ng mga pusa.

Just then, a shadow casted over him.

"The greatest detective in Eastwood, defeated by a cute Siamese cat.. I'm sure those magazine editors will be thrilled to hear about this!"

Nico blinked away the sunlight and adjusted his vision. Soon, he noticed the strands of pink hair cascading in front of him. Nakabaliktad sa kanya ang dalaga, but he could recognize this girl anywhere.

'Ah, yes. This brings back so many memories of that Heartless Killer case last February.'

"Stop staring at me, Yukishito!" She frowned, with a hint of a blush on her cheeks. Nakahalukipkip ito at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

Detective Nicodemus Yukishito bravely stared at her sharp eyes and smirked boyishly, enough to show his dimples.

"We meet again, Nova."

---

FOM will be updated again after I finish Queen of Sins this week.

---Kuya Nox