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

CAPITULUM 22

DEATH headquarters
Eastwood
7:33 a.m.

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Paper and frustration.

That's exactly what Detective Nico Yukishito smelled in the air as he entered the lobby of the prestige detective agency. Walang-ganang inilibot ng binata ang kanyang mga mata sa opisina ng iba pang mga empleyado. Natatanaw niya ang tumpok ng mga papeles sa bawat cubicle habang ang ilan naman ay halos madapa na sa pagmamadaling makapunta sa kung saan.

'Unfortunately, it looks like my crazy uncle is establishing an inferno of paperwork in here. Poor souls.'

Napabuntong-hininga si Nico. If he hated anything more than stupidity, that would be a monstrous pile of paperwork. At alam na alam ito ng kanyang Uncle X (a.k.a. CEO Xavier Alcantara). Kaya nga noong ipinagkatiwala sa kanya ang kompanya at tinambakan siya ng papeles ng kanyang magaling na tiyuhin, Nico begrudgingly survived by making paper origamis out of half of them. Of course, that earned him a mouthful from Uncle X, pero ano pa bang aasahan niya sa kanya?

Nico was born for detective work: mysteries, murder, and the thrill of catching a pyschopathic serial killer---not for mundane things that require him to glue his ass on an swivel chair and have a staring contest with processed tree pulp!

'I won't even survive a day.'

"Arf! Arf!"

Nico smirked and stared down at his pet. "Yes, I'm going to grab a cup of Americano. Thanks for the reminder, Gold."

"Arf! Arf!"

The golden retriever's tail wagged excitedly. Hindi na naman ito mapakali at mukhang gusto na ring umalis sa amoy ng papel at pagkataranta ng empleyadong ginagawang alipin ng diktator niyang tiyuhin.

'Nakakamanghang isipin na madalas, kung sino pang hindi tao, sila pa ang nakakaunawa sa'tin.'

Humikab si Nico at lumiko sa kabilang hallway para magtungo sa pantry. He could use a good cup of coffee. Pero hindi pa man siya nakakalayo, bigla siyang sinalubong ng isang lalaking may dala-dalang paper cup.

Black-rimmed glasses and that goofy smile.

"Good morning, Yuki!"

Nico cringe at the nickname. 'Sherlock, save me.' Hindi na nag-abala pang ngumiti ni Detective Nico at tumango na lang bilang tugon. Isa ring detective si Dan, but unlike him, he takes low profile cases. Baguhan lang rin ito sa kompanya nila, pero kaibigan na niya ang lahat ng empleyado. He's a friendly guy who's a bit too talkative in Nico's opinion.

Kung bibilangin siguro kung ilang beses nang nairita si Nico sa kadaldalan ni Dan, baka kulangin pa ang bilang ng mga araw sa isang taon.

"Coffee? Kinuhanan na kita kasi alam ko namang malamang busy ka na sa bago niyong kaso. The admins are all excited about it! Damn, how I wish I'd be able to take more interesting cases!"

'Talkative, indeed.'

Hindi na tumanggi si Nico nang iabot sa kanya ni Dan ang isang papercup na naglalaman ng mainit na kape. Who on this planet could resist a free cup of coffee on a Wednesday morning?

"Thanks." He murmured and took a sip.

Pero muntikan nang nasamid si Nico nang bigla siyang inakbayan ni Dan. "Hey! Cheer up, Yuki! Hindi naman makakaapekto ang scandal ni Detective Brian sa reputasyon mo! I mean, yeah. She was a bit harsh with that firefighter, but she's still hot and---"

Nico coughed.

"Anong scandal?"

Dan tilted his head to the side and adjusted his eyeglasses. "Hindi mo ba nakita sa social media? Medyo trending na nga eh. Sinigawan niya yung bumbero dahil daw babagal-bagal sila sa trabaho nila. Netizens are bashing her because they think she's being a bitch to the poor dude!"

'Well, she is a bit unprofessional.' Pero hindi na lang umimik si Nico at uminom ulit ng kape. Detective Nico Yukishito would bet his collection of Detective Conan mangas that the CEO of SHADOW will do something about this. Marami nang naririnig si Nico tungkol sa CEO ng rival agency nila, at sabihin na lang nating may pagka-"disciplinarian" si Mister Y.

"Arf! Arf!"

Bumaling ang atensyon ni Dan sa asong kasama ni Nico. His smile widened upon seeing the dog. "Hey, there! Anong pangalan mo?"

Nico hesitated, "Her name's Goldilocks."

"Hm.. Goldilocks? What a great name! Teka, Yuki! Hindi mo ba alam na ayaw ni Mr. Alcantara sa mga hayop? Bawal tayong magpasok ng kahit anong alaga dito sa DEATH!"

Nico shrugged. "Does it look like I give a damn about my uncle?"

Tumawa nang malakas si Dan. "HAHAHA! Sabagay. Uy, anong oras na ba? May kailangan pa pala akong puntahan."

Nico glanced at his Elmo-themed wrist watch. Bakit na nagtatanong pa sa kanya si Dan?

"It's 7:40 a.m."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Dan na para bang may naaalala. "Shit! Gotta go. See 'yah around, Yuki!"

"Arf! Arf!"

"You too, Goldi!"

At tumakbo na papalayo si Dan. Napabuntong-hininga ulit si Detective Nico. 'Goldi? What in the name of Sherlock?' Kahit kailan talaga, sakit sa ulo ang isang 'yon.

"Yuki, huh? Nice nickname, Detective Yukishito. Bagay sa'yo."

'Mukhang hindi pa ako mauubusan ng sakit ng ulo ngayong araw.' Walang emosyong hinagis ni Nico ang paper cup sa kalapit na basurahan at lumingon sa babaeng nagsalita. Sharp blue eyes greeted him.

"What brings you here, Officer Mariano?"

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