MAVIEL

THE NEXT day, Sigmund and I met at Cafe Moriartea around eight in the morning. Pinupunasan ni Landice ang countertop at patuloy si Nikolai sa pagdi-disinfect ng bawat table at chair. Mahirap na, baka may naiwang virus ang mga customer namin kahapon.

Dahil hindi pa kami magdu-duty, hindi muna namin isinuot ang aming maroon vest, white longsleeves at black ribbon. Naka-polo shirt si Sigmund habang ako'y nakasuot ng college shirt. Proud CAS student here! Wala kasi akong masyadong damit sa dorm kaya limited ang choices ko.

"You have the address na?" I asked my mentor.

"Of course! The client sent it this morning," he answered with a nod.

Inilabas ko ang aking phone at t-in-ap ang kulay green na icon. "Magbo-book na ba ako sa ride-sharing app—"

Bigla niyang iniharang ang kanyang kamay sa screen ko. When I looked up to him, his lips curled into a smile. "I've got a better idea." 'Tapos tumingin siya kay Nikolai. "Nik! Pwede ba naming mahiram si Romanov?"

Huminto sa pagpupunas ng mesa ang workmate namin sabay lingon. Nakakunot pa ang noo niya. "Sure ka ba, Sig? Hihiramin mo talaga si Romanov? Kayong dalawa ni Mav?"

"Mas convenient 'yon at mas makatitipid kami kaysa mag-book siya ng ride."

"Sabi mo, eh." Ipinasok ni Nikolai ang kaliwang kamay siya sa kanang bulsa at may kinuha mula roon. Whatever that thing was, he threw it at Sigmund who then quickly caught it with his right hand.

"Thank you!" He dangled the key in front of my face. "Let's go!"

I followed him as he walked out of the cafe. Pumunta siya sa parking space sa tapat ng shop kung saan may isang black sedan na naka-park doon.

"Wow!" Halos malaglag ang panga ko ang pinagmamasdan ang kotse. "Meron palang car si Nikolai? Bakit parang never ko pa siyang nakitang sumakay o bumaba riyan?"

"Because he doesn't," my mentor replied. Nilagpasan namin ang itim na kotse kaya biglang bumalik sa normal ang kurba ng bibig ko. Pumunta kami sa parking slot kung saan may nakaparadang itim na motor. "You haven't formally met Nikolai's Romanov, have you?"

My eyes squinted. "I haven't." Come to think of it, never ko pang nakitang sinakyan ni Nikolai ang gano'ng motor. Lagi kasi akong nauunang umalis kaya hindi ko na siya nakikitang sumakay. "Teka! Marunong kang mag-motor?"

Sigmund nodded. Sinipa niya ang kickstand at iniurong ang motor paharap sa kalsada. "I asked him to teach me how to drive just in case he's incapacitated and I need to chase a suspect using his motorcycle. Nakakakaba no'ng una. Ilang beses din akong sumemplang, pero nasanay rin ako."

Binuksan niya ang top-box sa likod ng motor at inilabas ang dalawang helmet. Inalok niya ang isa sa 'kin. He quickly strapped on his helmet. I also did the same.

"Sure ka bang hindi tayo sesemplang niyan?" tanong ko pagkaayos ng aking helmet. Aaminin ko, nakaramdam ako ng kaunting kaba—teka, hindi yata kaunti 'to.

"There's always a chance that Romanov might trip on the road." That was very reassuring. "Let's just pray that he doesn't."

He hopped on it, inserted the key in the engine, and twisted the throttle. Bumuga ng usok ang pipe nito sa ilalim. He glanced at me over his shoulder. "Shall we go?"

Napalunok muna ako ng laway bago sumakay sa likod ng motor. Hindi ako madalas na nakasasakay nito kaya hindi ako gano'ng ka-familiar at ka-comfortable.

"Hold on tight. Feel free to wrap your arms around my waist," Sigmund instructed. "Basta huwag mo akong kikilitiin, ha? Talagang sesemplang tayo."

Niyakap ko ang baywang niya mula sa likuran. Medyo awkward pala ang ganitong posisyon.

"Let's go, Romanov!" He turned the throttle and off we went to our destination.

To be fair kay Sigmund, hindi siya gano'n kabilis magpatakbo ng motor. Halos malaglag nga lang ang puso ko kapag bigla siyang sumisingit sa gilid ng mga kotse. They could have sideswiped us! Kahit gaano pa kami kaingat sa kalsada, kung walang disiplina ang ibang drivers, hindi malayong maaksidente kami.

"Kumapit ka nang mahigpit!" sabi niya.

"Ha? Bakit? Ano'ng balak mo—Kyah!"

But thankfully, we arrived at our destination safely after ten minutes. Pagkababang-pagkababa ko sa monitor, ibinuga ko ang hangin na naipon ko sa kakapigil-hininga. Daig ko pa ang sumakay sa isang nakalalaglag-pusong ride sa theme park.

"Now tell me that isn't best motorcycle ride you've ever had in your life!" Sigmund removed his helmet and stuffed it in the top-box.

"How do you remove this—"

Tinulungan na niya akong tanggalin ang strap sa ilalim ng chin ko. Siya na ang nagpasok n'on sa top-box.

"So what shall we do?" he asked. "You're the lead. You're the one in charge now."

"Let's start the investigation," I told him before walking toward the nineteen-story building.

"Lead the way!"

Charlize Hizon's condominium was definitely one of the most luxurious condos in the city. Walang duda, sa sobrang dami ng pera niya, afford na niyang bumili ng unit dito. Balita ko, meron din siyang condo unit sa Quezon City, malapit kung saan siya nagwo-work bilang artista.

The door to the condo slid open as Sigmund and I walked in. Binati kami ng security guard. Deretso ang tingin ko sa concierge para hindi masyadong obvious na first time ko rito. Sigmund did the same.

"Excuse me?" I said to get the concierge's attention. Nilawakan ko ang aking ngiti para maging mas warm at welcoming sa kausap ko. Tiningnan ko ang nameplate niya. Sana'y hindi niya ako sungitan o tarayan. "We're here to check Charlize Hizon's unit. Mrs. Hizon has instructed us to get the key from you."

"Oh, kayo po pala ang hinabilinan ni Ma'am Odessa?" May kinuha ang concierge sa ilalim ng desk niya. Isang card key ang iniabot niya sa 'kin. "Ma'am Charlize's room is at the corner of the right hallway, Room 1921. If you have any concerns o requests, just use the service phone in the room."

"Thank you!" sabi ko sabay kuha ng key. Kumanan ako kung nasaan ang elevator lobby. The lift was currently at the tenth floor, going down.

"Pop quiz!" Sigmund exclaimed, making my shoulders jerk. Sana'y hindi siya basta-basta nambibigla. Baka atakihin ako sa puso. "What's the name of the concierge?"

"Luna," I answered with a smirk before turning to him. "Did you think na hindi ako nagpe-pay attention sa mga tao at sa paligid ko?"

"Looks like you've already adapted my teachings. Well done, my student."

Salamat sa training ko sa pagiging part-time detective, mas na-heighten ang awareness ko sa kapaligiran. Dati, pinalalampas ko ang maliliit na detalye, gaya ng pangalan sa nameplates ng mga cashier o guard. There was one time na pumunta kami sa isang convenience store. Matapos naming bilhin ang favorite niyang milk tea—na allegedly nakakapag-boost sa kanyang deduction skills—tinanong niya ako kung ano ang name ng cashier. Sadly, I was unable to answer. Doon na nag-umpisa ang mga pop quiz niya.

Since then, lagi ko nang binibigyan ng atensyon ang mga gano'ng bagay. The exercise was relatively unnecessary and rarely useful to me. Those details seemed insignificant after all. But probably in a few instances, pwede siyang makatulong.

Nag-ding ang elevator bago lumabas ang apat na sakay nito. Nang nabakante na ang loob, pumasok na kami ni Sigmund. I pressed the button to the nineteenth floor. Wala nang humabol kaya agad ding sumara ang sliding door nito.

"Doesn't this remind you of your first official case as a Cafe Moriartea detective?" he asked. Magkapantay ang tayo namin kaya pansin sa aming reflection sa pinto kung sino ang mas matangkad. I stood at five-feet-seven—five-feet-eight kung naka-heels ako—while he stood at around six-feet or six-feet-one.

Tumango ako habang nakatingin sa reflection niya. Nakatingin din siya sa 'kin. "Ang dami ngang similarities ng case na 'to. This time, ang nangho-hostage ay walang iba kundi ang parent ng biktima."

"Nakaka-relate ka ba?"

"Kay Charlize?" Tumingin ako nang patagilid sa kanya. "Hindi naman ako artista—"

"Not that part," he cut my words short. "About having a control freak parent and running away."

Kung hindi ko kilala si Sigmund o kung wala akong idea kung ano siya, malamang nagtaka na ako kung paano niya nasabi. He must have seen it yesterday through the way my eyebrows knitted, my lips curled into a frown or my fists clenched about how I was about to connect with the runaway princess.

"I didn't runaway exactly," matipid kong sagot.

"You don't want to talk about it? I get it." Sigmund crossed his arms. "If you do, you would have already elaborated your answer and told me your sob story."

"Let's just leave it at that."

Muling nag-ding ang elevator. Nag-slide ang pinto nito pagtuntong namin sa nineteeth floor. Naunang lumabas si Sigmund at nagmuwestra sa kanan. Habang nilalakad namin ang hallway, iginala ko ang aking tingin. The corridor was empty. Every room that we walked by was quiet. The upholstered seats at the corner were vacant. Parang ang lungkot tumira dito.

Buzz. I heard a whirring sound as I tapped the card key on the sensor. Bumukas ang pinto at tumuloy kami ni Sigmund.

Mas malaki pa pala sa in-imagine ko ang kuwarto ni Charlize. May malawak na kitchen sa kaliwa habang may pinto na papasok sa bathroom sa kanan. Paglagpas sa mataas na bar at pabilog na dining table ay ang living room na may mahabang sectional couch at glass center table. May television set doon. Bahagyang bukas ang mga pinto patungo sa dalawang bedroom sa kaliwa't kanan. Sa pinakalikod naman ay ang balcony. Kasya na ang isang malaking pamilya rito.

"This must have cost Charlize a fortune," Sigmund commented as he walked around the living room.

"Sana, ganito rin kalawak ang unit ko," bulong ko habang nakatitig sa furniture. Then I shook my head to snap myself out of it. "Hindi pala tayo naparito para mag-ocular. Kailangan nating maghanap ng clues kung saan posibleng nagtago si Charlize!"

"Relax ka muna! Masyado ka namang excited na mag-start." Pumunta si Sigmund sa balcony kaya sinundan ko siya roon. Bumungad sa amin ang malakas na bugso. Hindi alintana ng mentor ko kung sumayaw ang buhok niya sa bawat pagkumpas ng hangin. "Let's appreciate this view for a moment."

"It's really quite something, isn't it?" I had to comb my hair with my fingers para hindi humarang sa magandang view ng cityscape. "Hindi lahat ay nagkakaroon ng pagkakataon para ma-enjoy ang ganitong tanawin. Charlize is surely lucky."

Teka, parang mali yata 'yon. Hindi siya basta-basta sinuwerte dahil nakamit niya kung anuman ang meron siya ngayon gamit ang kanyang talento. Luck opened the door to popularity and prosperity, but talent made her stay. I wondered if Charlize felt like a goddess staring down on mere mortals whenever she stood here. Parang langgam na ang mga tao sa sobrang liit nila.

"You think she's really lucky? That she's really happy to have this sort of view everyday?" Sigmund looked down as well. Napansin ko ang dumaan na kalungkutan sa mga mata niya. "She must have felt lonely being at the top. Literally."

Muli kong iginala ang aking tingin sa loob. This fully furnished place, no matter how big, looked so sad and forsaken. Ewan kung may kasama si Charlize dito, pero kung siya lamang mag-isa ang nag-i-stay rito, ang lungkot siguro pag-uwi niya.

"This is one of her cages." Sigmund walked past me. "She can see as far as her eyes will allow her, but she will never be able to go anywhere she wants. Kapag pumunta siya sa isang lugar, siguradong pagkakaguluhan siya ng fans. At kahit na may mahanap siyang lugar kung saan hindi siya basta-basta makikilala, hindi naman siya papayagan ng mama niya."

"What a sad way to live."

"I also think that she can't just invite someone over to her unit and have fun with them." He stood at the center of the living room. "Baka kailangan pa ng permission mula sa mama niya kung pwede siyang magkaroon ng bisita. Kung hindi naman niya ipagpapaalam, malalaman din ng mama niya at tiyak na pagagalitan siya. Did you notice the surveillance cameras in every corner? If her mom has access to this unit, she must have access to the feed too."

I was so mesmerized by this awesome place that I failed to notice! Grabe! Monitored talaga ang bawat galaw, at ang bawat pagpasok at paglabas ni Charlize. The level of surveillance was turning this place into a prison.

"That's bad news for us," Sigmund chuckled. "We can't steal some of these expensive stuff. Malalaman agad ng mama niya. Malamang naka-monitor siya ngayon sa atin." Humarap siya at kumaway sa isang camera. "Hi there!"

Napasalpak ang palad ko sa aking noo. Parang bata siya na first time makakita ng gano'n.

"So what's our first move?" He placed his hands on his waist. "Hahalughugin ba natin ang buong unit?"

"Let's start with her room." I turned to the half-opened door. "I-trace natin ang digital footprints niya. Baka may naiwan siyang hint sa kanyang device kung saan siya pwedeng pumunta. You have her log-in credentials?"

He nodded. "Her mom gave me the password to the laptop."

Pati ba naman ang personal na gamit ng anak niya, meron din siyang access? Wala na ngang privacy si Charlize in public, tinanggalan pa siya ng privacy ng mismong mama niya? This was getting weird.

Pumasok na kami sa kuwarto ni Charlize. Wala namang pinagkaiba sa mga usual bedroom—may kama, bedside table, work desk, cabinet—pero mas malaki ang space nito. Gaya ng inaasahan, meron ding surveillance camera sa kisame. I understood the need for added security, lalo na't celebrity ang nakatira dito. But this was too much! Baka maging sa bathroom, meron ding camera? That would be totally nuts.

"Take a seat." Sigmund pulled the swivel chair and let me settle down there. Nanatili siyang nakatayo habang ako'y nakaupo. "If you need anything, just let me know."

Binuksan ko ang laptop ni Charlize at in-input ang password sa welcome screen nito. Medyo hindi ako comfortable na pakialaman ang personal property ng iba. Pero may valid reason kung bakit ako nagki-click dito at may permission ng mama niya kaya may enough justification. Iiwasan ko na lamang i-access ang mga folder na walang kinalaman sa imbestigasyon namin.

Click. Click.

Una kong ch-in-eck ang browser history. It might tell us about what Charlize was thinking in the lead up to her disappearing stunt. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang nakita ang search results niya isa at dalawang araw bago siya nawala.

best place to retire in the philippines

how much is the living cost in baguio

apartment for rent in dumaguete

where to move in davao

bus ticket to baguio

clark to davao flight

clark to dumaguete flight

Na-tempt tuloy akong i-access ang email niya. Baka nandoon ang travel plans niya. To my surprise, unang bumungad sa 'kin ang confirmation email ng kanyang flight papuntang Dumaguete. At hindi lamang isa! Meron pang confirmation email ng kanyang flight papuntang Davao! They were scheduled to depart a day after she escaped from the mall tour.

So she booked two tickets for herself? Was she undecided where to go?

"Does she have social media accounts?" I muttered under my breath as I kept on scrolling in her email. Puro work-related na ang nababasa ko.

"Personal? None. Professional? Yes, but managed by her agency." Sigmund leaned closer to the laptop before turning his face to me. "What do you expect to see there?"

Sumandal ako sa swivel chair para malayo ang mukha ko sa kanya. Nailang ako sa sobrang lapit niya. "Gusto ko sanang ma-confirm kung meron ba siyang sinabihan sa plano niya o kung meron siyang kasabwat."

"What made you think that she had an accomplice?"

"There's no way na makatatakas siya sa mall nang walang nakapapansin sa kanya. Posibleng may friend siyang nag-provide ng damit na pinampalit niya sa kanyang suot para hindi siya agad ma-recognize paglabas niya ng washroom. That's probably how she gave her escort the slip."

Sigmund gave me a slow nod. "We're thinking exactly the same. She must have had help from someone or some people. She doesn't have any social media account so that means . . ."

"She communicated with her accomplice through text!" I finished. "'Yon lamang ang tanging channel na hindi closely monitored ng mama niya! The only way na malalaman ni Mrs. Hizon kung sino'ng ka-text ng anak niya o kung ano'ng pinag-uusapan sa convo threads ay kung mahahawakan niya 'yon."

"It's the blind spot that Charlize took advantage of."

"'Di ba tinapon ni Charlize sa basurahan ang phone niya? Baka pwede nating i-check ang message history n'on? We can also check the footage in the mall to see who could have helped her escape."

"That sounds like a good plan!" Sigmund agreed. "Are we done here? Or do you want to stay for a while?"

Napatingala ako sa surveillance camera na nasa kuwarto at tumitig doon. "I don't think na maa-appreciate ni Mrs. Hizon kung magtatagal tayo rito. Baka kung ano pa'ng isipan niyang ginagawa natin dito."

Sigmund and I immediately left Charlize's unit and went back to the cafe through riding Romanov again. Little did I know that someone was waiting for me there.

— M —

If you've enjoyed this update, let me know your thoughts or theories by using the hashtag #MoriarteaWP!

Credit goes to Raze Dali/Min-Min for the chapter title artwork!