MAVIEL

SINO BANG nasa matinong pag-iisip ang basta-basta pipindutin ang doorbell at tatanungin ang mga residente ng isang unit kung may hawak silang hostage?

Wala.

Ngunit may isang lalaking hindi nagdalawang-isip na gawin 'yon. Walang iba kundi si Sigmund. All this time, I thought: he's with me, what else could go wrong?

Thanks to his "everything-is-prepared" attitude, nakagapos na ang mga kamay namin at nadagdagan pa ang hawak na hostage ng mag-asawa. We were supposed to rescue Marianne, but we ended up being in the same danger as her.

Sinubukan kong alisin ang pagkakatali ng tape sa aking pulso. Ngunit sa sobrang higpit nito, balewala ang effort ko. Siniguro talaga ng dalawang matanda na hindi kami basta-basta makatatakas.

"Just relax," bulong ni Sigmund na nakasandal sa likuran ko. Magkatalikod kaming iginapos. "Everything is going to be fine.

"Paano ako magre-relax e hostage nila tayong dalawa?" I hissed at him. If I only knew that this would happen, sana pala'y hindi na ako sumama sa kanya rito at nag-stay ako sa cafe para mag-serve ng tea. E 'di sana wala ako sa panganib ngayon!

"They cannot kill us," he whispered. "And I will never allow them to kill either of us."

"Do you have a plan?"

"I sure do."

"What is it?" I asked desperately. "Para makatakas na tayo rito at makabalik na tayo sa cafe!"

"Kalma lang," he answered as if we weren't in danger of being killed or harmed. "Let's enjoy this moment together and wait for a miracle to happen."

Was this guy serious? After he put me through this trouble? Ayaw ko pang mamatay! May tatapusin pa akong assignment sa World Literature subject namin!

"Don't worry, we are not going to die, sweetie." There was not a single trace of fear on Sigmund's face and voice. He was acting as if nothing serious might happen to us. I wonder how he managed to keep his cool in these circumstances. "I am the chief strategist of Moriartea Cafe. Everything that happened and about to happen have been accounted for."

No matter what angle I looked at in this situation, only one plausible conclusion could happen: we would be dead in a few.

"Why are you so negative?" Sigmund asked nonchalantly. "Just relax and wait for the events to unfold. Executing a plan is like preparing your favorite tea. You need to wait for the water to boil before pouring it in a teacup."

This wasn't the time for an analogy between making plans and making tea! "Hindi mo ba naiintindihan? Alam na natin ang mga mukha nila! Pati ang intensyon nila, aware na tayo. Sa tingin mo ba basta-basta nila tayong papalayain nang buhay?"

"Focus on the now, Mav. Huwag mo munang i-second-guess ang kapalaran. Who knows, it might surprise you in the end."

"Hoy, hoy, anong pinagbubulungan n'yo diyan?"

Lagot!

Lumapit si manong sa amin, hawak-hawak pa rin ang kanyang baril. I was wondering how he managed to smuggle that gun inside the hotel despite the security. Merong metal detector na naka-set-up sa mismong entrance kaya kung dumaan siya roon, maaalerto ang guard.

"We were discussing about Sun Tzu's The Art of War," Sigmund answered casually. Ano na namang random palusot ang naisip niya?

"Sun Tzu? K-Pop artist ba siya? Art of War? Bagong K-drama ba 'yan?" tanong ng ginang na lumabas mula sa kwarto. Kinaladkad niya ang isang babae patungo sa living room. There was no doubt that she's the female student seen on the security footages. Her mouth was sealed with tape and her hands were bound by rope.

"All warfare is based on deception, sabi ng idol kong strategist," Sigmund closed his eyes as if he was reciting a particular passage from a book. He raised his head slightly as he went on blurting out the following statements. "Kung malapit ka, magmukha kang malayo. Kung malayo ka, magmukha kang malapit. Kung mahina ka, magpanggap kang malakas at kung malakas ka, magpanggap kang mahina."

Saying random stuff wouldn't make our situation any better! I would appreciate it more if he focused his energy and wit on figuring out how we could escape from here. Why was he treating danger like an old friend?

"Magkakilala ba kayong tatlo?" nakapamewang na tanong ng ginang matapos niyang paupuan sa couch ang babaeng kinaladlad niya.

Umiling ang kanilang babaeng hostage. Maging kami ni Sigmund, umiling din. She was not looking so well. Were they mistreating her while under their custody?

"Ang akala ko pa naman, classmate niya kayo." Umupo si manong sa harapan ni Sigmund at pinaglaruan sa kanyang kamay ang hawak na baril. Napapapigil ako ng hininga tuwing tumatapat sa amin ang barrel nito. Anytime kasi, pwede niyang pindutin ang gatilyo at... Bang!

"Paano n'yo nalaman na hindi kami ang magulang ng babaeng 'to?"

Sigmund kept a smiling face as his eyes watched on the gun closely. Danger was just a few inches away from him. Either he was ready to die or he was confident that the man wouldn't shoot him. "Just a no-brainer observation. You introduced yourselves as her parents, but she does not resemble either of you. I can't see any dominant feature of hers that she inherited from her so-called parents."

"Na-observe mo lang 'yon?" the man chuckled.

"You will be surprised by what a mere observation can reveal about people." Hindi pa rin kumakalas ang tingin ni Sigmund sa baril. Was he worried na baka biglang iputok 'yon sa amin? "You smoke, don't you? Tobacco cigarette?"

Here goes my companion's deduction show. The armed man knitted his brows. "Paano mo nalaman?"

Ngumuso si Sigmund sa glass table malapit sa kung saan pinaupo ang babaeng hostage. "The fresh cigarette ash on the ashtray. There's also a faint smell of smoke on you. Judging by your yellowish teeth and stinking breath, mukhang ikaw ang may bisyo."

Napasinghot ako upang i-confirm ang sinabi niya. Totoo nga, amoy sigarilyo ang hininga ng lalaki. Hindi lang pala matalas ang mga mata ni Sigmund. Maging ang pang-amoy niya, malakas din.

The man smiled sheepishly as he rose to his feet. "Mukhang matalino ka nga, boy. Sayang nga lang dahil inilagay ka nito sa peligro. Ang mga katulad n'yong bata, hindi dapat nakikialam sa business ng matatanda."

"A good Samaritan cannot resist the urge to help people in distress." Sigmund did not take his eyes off the gun. Naghihintay ba siya ng tamang timing para hablutin ang baril. But he couldn't. Nakatali pa rin ang mga kamay namin.

Tinawag ng ginang ang kanyang partner sa sulok at nagsimulang magbulungan tungkol sa isang "transaction." Palingon-lingon si manong sa amin, nakabantay pa rin kung magtatangka kaming tumakas. Habang busy ang dalawa sa pag-uusap, pasimple akong bumulong sa kasama ko.

"Baka pwede mong gamitin ang deduction skills mo para makatakas na tayo rito, hindi 'yong nagpapa-impress ka sa hostage-taker."

"You may think that I had a nonsense chit-chat with that man, but little did you know that I have already confirmed a theory of mine," he replied confidently.

Eh? "Ano naman 'yon?"

"Kakasabi ko lang kanina, 'di ba? Kung mahina ka, magpanggap kang malakas at kung malakas ka, magpanggap kang mahina upang malinlang mo ang kalaban. It is all about appearances."

His words weren't too deep but I understood none of them. Was he referring to himself? Or to these two partners-in-crime? Aling panig ang nagpapanggap o dapat magpanggap?

"Kailangan nating hintayin ang isa pang character na pumasok sa eksena," Sigmund whispered, glancing at the locked door. "And he's coming in three, two... one!"

Silence.

"Uhm... Three, two, one!"

Silence again. I would be surprised kung pagbilang niya ng one, himala kaming makakatakas dito. That would extremely amaze me.

"Three, two—"

Ding! Dong!

Almost everyone in the room got surprised by the unexpected doorbell. Sigmund turned his face to his right, trying to hide his smirk. This must be the plan he was talking about. Tingnan natin kung uubra.

Sumenyas si manong sa kanyang kasabwat na bantayan kami habang siya nama'y sumilip sa peephole para tingnan kung sino ang nasa labas.

"Delivery from Moriartea Cafe!" sigaw ng lalaking nasa kabilang panig.

That voice was familiar. Ni-Nikolai?! Teka, anong ginagawa niya rito?

"Delivery?" Itinuck-in muna ni manong ang baril sa kanyang baywang bago binuksan ang pinto. "Nagkamali ka yata ng pinuntahan, boy. Hindi kami um-order ng kahit ano sa inyong cafe."

"Eh? Pero may nag-order sa amin through text message at sinabing i-deliver dito. Bayad na ho kasi ito."

"Bayad na? O sige, kukunin na namin. Baka 'yong anak ko ang umorder."

"Sige ho, ipapasok ko na sa loob. Limang order kasi 'to baka mahirapan kayong magbuhat."

"Ka-Kahit ako na! Kaya kong dalhin ang mga 'yan."

Nagpumilit na pumasok si Nikolai sa loob, bitbit ang dalawang plastic na naglalaman ng tig-dalawa o tatlong milk tea container. If I were him and I knew that my workmates were in danger, I would have called the security personnel below. Bakit ba ang hilig mag-risk ng mga katrabaho ko?

"Ako na ho, sir!"

"Ang kulit, ah! Sinabi nang—"

SPLASH!

"Aaargh!" Napahiyaw yata dahil sa sakit si manong kaya kaagad siyang pinuntahan ng kanyang partner. Ipinikit ko na lamang ang aking mga mata at nanalangin na sana'y matapos na ang sitwasyong 'to.

"Anong ginawa mo asawa ko—"

PSSHT!

We heard a loud thud on the floor as the woman's voice trailed off. Did he take down the two hostage-takers?

"Pasensya na ho. Ayaw ko kayong saktan kaso kailangan." Inayos ni Nikolai ang pagkakahiga ng ginang sa malamig na sahig bago niya nagtungo sa amin.

"The water has boiled. Time to prepare the tea!" Sigmund sang in glee, winking at me. He must be rejoicing that his plan worked out. "I told you, everything has been accounted for."

Inuna munang tanggalin ni Nikolai ang pagkakatali sa kamay ng babaeng hostage pati ang takip sa bibig nito. Sunod niya kaming pinuntahan upang alisin ang mahigit na pagkaka-tape sa aming mga kamay. Napa-aray kaming dalawa ni Sigmund dahil parang sumasama ang balat namin sa pagtanggal ng tape.

"You are one minute late!" Sigmund glanced at the clock display on his phone. "I told you to come exactly ten minutes after you received my text message."

Instead of complaining, dapat magpasalamat pa nga siya dahil nailigtas na kami mula sa panganib. "Thank you" was a more appropriate response than pointing out that our savior arrived one minute late.

"Ikaw kaya ang mag-serve sa maraming customers sa cafe?" may bahagyang pagkairitang sagot ni Nikolai habang ginagawang bola ang tape na tinanggal niya. "Naiinis nga si Landice dahil bigla-bigla n'yo na lang kaming iniwan kung kailan peak hours na."

So that guy could also get annoyed? I thought he had absolutely no care about the world.

Nag-unat-unat ng braso si Sigmund matapos matanggal ang kanyang gapos. "It's all for a case. Landice will understand."

"Teka, ano bang ginawa mo kay manong? At doon sa partner niya?" tanong ko sabay silip sa may pintuan kung saan nakahandusay ang ale.

"Ibinuhos ko roon sa lalaki ang mainit na tea na dala-dala ko. Sa babae naman, ini-spray-an ko ng knockout gas para hindi ko na siya kailangang batukan o saktan pa," Nikolai showed a small cannister to us before turning to the female hostage. "I don't hurt women."

Inalalayan niyang tumayo ang babaeng ngayo'y malaya na. Napayakap ito sa aming kasama at biglang napahagulgol. Our companion patted her back and whispered some soothing words, trying to calm her down.

"By the way, nakuha mo ba ang baril ni manong?" Sigmund asked.

"Baril?" Lumingon sa amin si Nikolai habang pinapatahan ang babae. "Anong baril?"

"Ang akala n'yo ba, makatatakas na kayo rito?!"

Muling pumasok sa eksena ang matandang lalaki, hawak-hawak ang kanyang baril at halinhinang itinutok sa amin. Namumula ang mukha niya at basa ang kanyang buhok at damit dahil sa ibinuhos sa kanya kanina.

Automatic na napataas ang mga kamay namin ni Sigmund habang nakayakap pa rin si Nikolai sa hostage. I thought our problems were already over!

"Sayang, dapat pala ini-spray-an ko na rin siya ng pampatulog," Nikolai muttered.

"Muntik n'yo na akong mautakan, ha?" Desperation was etched on the armed man's features. "Pinag-disguise n'yo pa talaga bilang delivery boy ang kasama n'yo."

"For the record, he's really working in a tea—" Sigmund tried to butt in, but the man silenced him by pointing the gun.

"TAHIMIK! Kapag may gumawa pa ng kalokohan sa inyo, papaputukin ko 'yang mga ulo n'yo!"

"Go ahead, shoot!" Sigmund took a step forward and spread his arms wide. "You can do better than threaten us with that little toy of yours."

"Sigmund!" I called him. Did he have a death wish? Why was he taunting that man? 'Di bale sana kung tanging siya ang pwedeng gawing target, but there were four of us here who could be shot anytime the shooter wanted!

"Baka hanggang pagbabanta lang ang kaya mong gawin gamit ang baril na 'yan?" Ibinaba niya ang parehong kamay at humakbang palapit kay manong. He jerked his right thumb at the man as he turned to us. "We have nothing to fear. This guy is harmless. He's only trying to make it appear that he can hurt us by holding that fake gun. Remember what I said earlier? It's all about appearances. Deception."

Fa-Fake? Was that what he confirmed when he was talking to that man?

"I told you that I'm a good observant," Sigmund said, putting his hands inside his pockets. "When you and I had a brief chat earlier, I observed the gun's texture and its weight based on how you hold it. Imposibleng maipuslit mo ang isang totoong baril sa hotel na may metal detector sa entrance. Your gun is probably made of plastic but it looks like the real thing."

"That's Sigmund for you!" namanghang komento ni Nikolai sabay baba ng kanyang mga kamay. I also did the same as the threat instantly vanished.

"Tsk!" Inihagis ni manong ang laruan niya sa amin at saka nagmadaling tumakbo sa pintuan. Bago pa siya tuluyang makalabas, kinuha ni Sigmund ang ashtray sa mesa at inihagis ito sa direksyon ng tumatakas na salarin.

THUD!

Narinig na lang namin ang tunog na tila may bumagsak na mabigat na bagay sa sahig.

"Bullseye!" Sigmund exclaimed when we confirmed that the ashtray hit the man and knocked him cold. "Honestly, hindi ko in-expect na tatama talaga sa kanya 'to."

We immediately called the security personnel below who in turn called the police. They arrested the two hostage-takers and escorted them out of the hotel. We watched them as they were ushered inside the police car.

Wala namang tigil ang pasasalamat sa amin ng babaeng hinostage. Kulang na lang ay paghahalikan niya kami. She was reunited with her real parents as soon as she called them to tell that she's already safe. They also expressed their gratitude to us for saving her from trouble.

I can't help but feel proud on what we did.

Nagpasalamat din ang hotel staff sa amin dahil na-solve ang misteryong una'y inakala nilang tungkol sa sinasanibang babae. Before we left their establishment, Sigmund gave them the account number where they could deposit the payment for our services. At the end of the day, it's all about the money.

Pasado alas-siyete na nang makabalik kami sa Moriartea Cafe. Landice was seated on his usual spot at the corner of the counter. He gave us a quick, sharp gaze before his eyes returned to the book he was reading. Wala man lang good evening o kahit anong greeting. Maybe he was pissed that we left him here alone.

"Case closed, Landice! Thanks for holding the fort!" Bumalik na sa tapat ng cash register si Sigmund habang ako nama'y tumambay sa gilid ng counter.

"Good job, guys! Huwag n'yong kalimutan ang share ko, ah?" Nikolai waved his right hand as he went straight to the staff room. Nasabi nga pala ni Sigmund na mabibiyayaan ang mga involved sa pag-solve ng kaso.

And that ended my first case. Back to normal na naman ang lahat.

"How can Landice manage the cafe all by himself?" pabulong kong tanong para hindi ako marinig ng taong tinutukoy ko. "He isn't the talkative type. Paano niya kinukuha ang order at isine-serve ang drinks sa mga customer?"

"Hindi naman siya pipi kaya nakakapag-interact pa rin siya sa mga customer," sagot ni Sigmund, giving our workmate a sideward glance. "Nagiging self-service ang tea shop kapag siya lang ang naka-duty. He is used to working alone kaya walang problema sa kanya."

Ayaw kong maging judgmental, but Landice did not seem to have the charisma that Sigmund and Nikolai have. I can't imagine him smiling at the customers and wishing them to enjoy their tea.

"Anyway, how did you find your first case?" Sigmund asked, resting his elbows on the countertop. "Enjoyable? Boring?"

"Ang akala ko matutuluyan na talaga tayo." Everything that happened earlier flashed quickly in my mind. Ayaw ko nang malagay ulit sa panganib. "Nakaramdam ako ng sense of fulfillment dahil may natulungan tayo. If we didn't take the case, that student might still be in danger."

"Gusto kong ipakita sa 'yo kanina kung gaano kadelikado ang ibang trabaho namin," sagot ni Sigmund habang pinapanood ang mga customer sa isang table. "Alam kong hindi mo pinangarap na maging katulad namin, but look at where fate brought you. Now that you are under my tutelage, I need to equip you with the proper knowledge. I'd like to call it the grand experiment."

So I'm the guinea pig while Sigmund is the scientist? Parang gano'n ang dating sa 'kin. There's always a test subject in an experiment, right?

"When you are ready, you will take a case on your own and solve it," he added, looking at me directly in the eye. "But for now, watch and observe how the pros do it, okay?"

"Yes, sir."

"And one more thing, Maviel."

"Hmm?"

"Trust me," he said.

"I will," I replied, my lips forming a curve. I doubted his methods earlier and thought I was a fool for trusting him. It turned out that I was wrong.

Kasabay ng pagbukas ng pinto ng cafe ay ang pagpasok ng isang couple... o mag-bestfriend. I could tell as much based on how close they were to each other. Naa-absorb ko na yata ang methods ni Sigmund. Naalala ko ang sinabi niya tungkol sa distansya sa pagitan ng dalawang tao.

Smiling, I greeted them. "Welcome to Moriartea Cafe! May we take your order, ma'am and sir?"

[Artwork by CryAllen]

~M~

A/N: Yow, Author-kun is on a roll! That concludes Mav's first official case! Did you decode the elevator button message? Did you establish connection between the code and the student's course? If you did, congratulations!

Author-kun will take a one or two-day break so there will be no update tomorrow. Pagbigyan n'yo na ako, sunod-sunod naman ang UD for five straight days. Hehe~

See you in the second case! We're just getting started!