MORIARTEA

[03] Terms and Conditions

"Congratulations!" He extended his right hand to me and beamed with a triumphant smile. Parang nanalo ako sa lotto kahit hindi ako tumataya. "Welcome to Moriartea Cafe!"

Walang gana akong nakipagkamay sa kanya. Sunod-sunod na pag-click sa shutter button ang isinalubong sa akin ni Nikolai. Napilitan tuloy akong ngumiti sa harap ng camera.

I hope I wouldn't regret my decision later on.

"Welcome to the family," sunod na inalok ni Nikolai ang kanyang kamay sa akin. He looked like a good guy and he was friendly too. Mukhang magkakasundo kaming dalawa.

Lumingon ako sa barista's corner kung saan nakaistasyon ang lalaking tila walang pakialam sa mundo. Nang magsalubong ang mga mata namin (kahit na hindi ko makita dahil sa bangs niya), I expected him to greet me gaya ng ginawa ng mga katrabaho niya. Instead he only looked away and continued what he was doing. What a weird guy.

"Now that you are officially one of us, let me introduce you to our workmates!" masiglang saad ni Sigmund sabay turo kay Nikolai. "If you are observant enough, you probably know his name by now."

Paanong hindi ko malalaman e naka-engrave sa nameplate na naka-pin sa uniform ang mga pangalan nila?

"He's the waiter who serves the drinks and cleans the whole cafe." Sigmund's eyes were fixated on Nikolai who resumed mopping the floor after taking photos of the contract signing. "Wala kang makikitang kahit katiting na alikabok dito, thanks to him."

Mukhang masipag at malinis sa katawan ang kasama niya. Pulido ang pagkakaplantsa ng kanyang vest at walang gusot ang suot na puting longsleeves.

"He's also a Criminology student," Sigmund added, returning his gaze to me. "His classes are in the late afternoon and evening kaya minsan, ako ang sumasalo sa duties niya sa pagse-serve ng drinks. Thanks to his looks, dumarami ang mga customer naming babae. Just hire a pretty boy as a waiter and girls will flock to your shop."

In fairness, may looks naman si Nikolai. Indeed it would be strategically advantageous kung siya nga mismo ang tagahatid ng drinks. Good thinking.

"Next we have Landice, our tea barista." Sigmund motioned his right hand to the counter. Alam ko na ngayon kung anong pangalan ng snobbish na staff nila. "He doesn't talk too much. Well, he rarely talks. He values his personal space. Mukha siyang snob pero may busilak na puso ang lalaking 'yan."

Base sa mga nauna niyang interaction sa akin, Landice was probably anti-social. Ironically he was working in a cafe that deals with a lot of people every day.

"Siya ang personal na gumagawa ng signature blends namin," Sigmund continued. "Without him, magiging katulad lang ang Moriartea Cafe ng ibang tea shop diyan sa tabi-tabi."

So the snobbish guy was valuable here, huh? "Anong course niya?"

"He dropped out of college."

Naningkit ang mga mata ko kay Sigmund. I did not have to say a word for him to elaborate. He could read based on my facial expression kung ano ang iniisip ko.

"Wala ako sa posisyon para ikuwento sa 'yo ang background niya." Bahagyang humina ang boses ng kausap ko, iniiwasan niyang marinig kami ng taong pinag-uusapan namin. "But something happened in the university so he decided to stop going to school. Siya lang ang full-time employee rito."

That's sad. Baka lagi siyang binu-bully noong nag-aaral pa siya? Malamang naka-contribute 'yon sa pagiging snobbish niya sa mga tao.

"And of course, yours truly." The curly haired staff placed his right hand on his chest and bowed. "Sigmund, at your service! You have probably deduced from my uniform when we first met in front of OSAFA kung ano ang course ko."

Of course, I did. Hindi na kailangang gamitan ng deduction para malaman kung ano ang kinukuha niyang kurso. As long as one knows kung ano ang prescribed uniform sa isang course, it would be as easy as slicing a cake.

He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table and putting his fingertips together. "Now let me tell you about this cafe's not-so-secret secret."

Kahapon pa ako curious sa sinasabi niyang sikreto. He said he could not tell me until I accepted their offer. Ngayong isa na ako sa kanila, wala nang dahilan para ilihim niya sa akin.

"Go ahead, I'm listening."

"Hindi lang kami basta-basta nagse-serve ng tea at cake," he glanced at the counter where the pastries were displayed. "We also accept cases here."

Halos magsalubong ang magkabilang kilay ko. "Cases? What do you mean?"

"Moriartea Cafe is obviously a tea shop and — not so obviously — a detective agency."

Kumurap ang mga mata ko at natahimik ako ng ilang segundo. Seryoso ba siya? O nagdyo-joke time na naman siya? How could a business establishment meant for serving tea be a detective agency at the same time?

"No, I'm not joking!" He reclined on the couch. "We are a legit detective agency accepting a wide range of cases. You can say that this is an agency disguised as a cafe. The business is serving as a front."

"Kaya ba nakalagay sa kontrata na kailangan kong sumailalim sa detective training?"

"Bullseye! Getting sharper everyday, eh? What an improvement." He slowly clapped as if I did something spectacular. Ewan kung maiinsulto ako o magiging proud sa compliment niya sa akin. "The manager only hires employees who have potential to be detectives."

But I did not have the potential nor the dream to be one. Kaya bakit ako nasali rito? Ang gusto ko lang nama'y magkaroon ng part-time job.

"You are an exception." Sigmund pointed his forefinger at me. "So far, you have proven yourself to be a promising student of the science of deduction."

Salamat sa pagse-second-guess ni Sigmund sa mga iniisip ko, nakakapag-save ako ng laway at effort sa pagsasalita.

"Last night, nabanggit ko sa 'yo na may extra ka pang kikitain dito," he continued. "That money will come from our clients. The fee is split among the cafe and those who participated in solving the case."

"At bakit pupunta rito ang mga may problema sa buhay?" pagtataka ko. I had no intention of offending them, but if I were a troubled man, I would go to veteran investigators instead. "Why would they trust a bunch of college detectives para lutasin ang mga misteryo sa buhay nila?"

"Because our clearance rate is ninety-three percent!" he boasted. "Ayaw kong magbuhat ng sariling bangko but we rarely fail."

Wow, ah! Parang dinaig pa nila ang mga professional private investigator. Baka paghahanap ng nawawalang aso ang nire-refer na kaso sa kanila? I found it hard to believe that these boys are into that sort of business.

"For your first assignment, you have to read the Sherlock Holmes stories, the gospel of all detectives!" Sigmund stood, putting his hands inside his pockets. "'Yan ang magiging module natin throughout the training. Magkakaroon tayo ng quiz within this week. May copies pa yata ng libro sa unviersity library."

"Te-Teka! Bakit parang nag-enroll ako sa isang unfamiliar subject?"

He smirked. "Now that you've signed the papers, there's no turning back. Unless you wanna terminate our agreement?"

I heaved a sigh of surrender as I bowed my head. Dahil parte 'yon ng kontrata, wala akong magagawa kundi sumunod sa gusto niya. No why's, no but's, no unless.

"Mamayang hapon ka na magre-report for duty," he said, walking toward the cash register. "Pwede mo nang puntahan ang library para makapanghiram ka ng libro. In the meantime, I will have your uniform prepared for you."

So I would also wear their crimson vest and white longsleeves? I hope their uniform would look good on me.

~M~

Next update? Maviel's first case!