CHAPTER THREE:
Arrival of the Misfits
FRIDAY POV
ABALA ako sa pagkekwenta ng total sales sa cafe na pinagtatrabahuan ko.
Nagtatrabaho parin naman ako as a part time worker at may consent naman ng parents ko. Although napagdesisyonan naman ni mommy at daddy na paghatian ang tuition ko, still, I insisted na magtrabaho to add an experience.
Though nag-iba ako ng cafe dahil pinaalis ako ng dating cafe owner sa dating cafe na pinagtatrabahuan ko since hindi na ako pumapasok. Dahil kasi iyon sa issue patungkol sa 'beast'. Pero ngayon, I promised myself to focuse on my work and in my studies.
"Friday!" Tawag ng manager.
Tumingin ako sa kaniya. "Ano po?"
"Magkano ang total sales natin sa araw na ito?" Tanong nito.
I smiled cheerfully. "Thirty thousand po."
The manager nodded. "Good. Sumama ka sa akin at ipapakilala kita sa bago nating katrabaho."
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Po? Akala ko ba di po kayo tumatanggap ng aplikante?"
Ngumiwi ito. "Nagresign na si Maia at mabuti nalang ay may nagapply agad." Anito. Si Maia ang dating waitress sa cafe na ito.
Pinunasan ko ang kamay ko sa pantalon na suot at sumunod sa manager. Pumasok kami sa manager's office and to my surprise, naroon si Chaos. He was casually sitting while spinning a ballpen using his hands.
"Chaos?!" Gulat kong tanong.
Nagulat naman siya at napatayo. "Friday.."
"Mabuti naman at magkakilala pala kayo," humarap sa akin ang manager, "ito si Chaos, siya ang bago nating waiter. O siya, maiwan ko muna kayo. May aasikasuhin muna ako." Anito at lumabas ng manager's office.
Sumandal ako sa upuan na kinauupuan ko. I crossed my arms. "Bakit ka andito?" Tanong ko.
Chaos gave me a 'duh' look. "To work?"
"I mean, ang daming cafe sa paligid bakit dito pa?" Mataray kong tanong.
"What's wrong with me, working here? Mas maganda nga na parehas tayo ng workplace. In that way, I can protect you."
I snorted. "Why would I need your protection?"
Chaos shrugged. "Because you're too valuable?"
I sighed. "Hay nako, ewan ko sayo. Basta, ayusin mo ang trabaho mo." Chaos nodded.
Nakampante naman ako. Well, knowing Chaos, he will exert effort in this job. Ganun naman talaga siya. Give him some work and he will work on it woth his full power.
But the next day didn't reach my expectation.
"Excuse me, this is not my order." Anang costumer kay Chaos na mukhang namali ng lagay ng takeout order.
Chaos winced. "Sorry." Anito at pinalitan ang order nito. He was having a hard time balancing two trays in his hand.
Kaya naman hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at lumapit sa kaniya. "Neil, pakifill in naman ang cashier." Sabi ko sa co-worker ko.
Lumapit ako kay Chaos at tinulungan siyang bitbitin ang isang tray. He looked at me and looked away after. "T-Thanks." He said with a furrowed eyebrows.
I chuckled. "What's with the frown?" I asked.
He shrugged. "I don't like being helped."
I rolled my eyes. "Hayaan mo na. Minsan lang naman ito at kung mahulog mo ang mga orders, mawawalan ka kaagad ng trabaho sa first day mo." Pananakot ko.
Chaos sighed. "Okay. Thanks for helping, I guess?"
I smiled and gave the orders to its right table. Nang matapos, bumalik ako sa cashier. Sakto namang dumating si Effie at Matix.
"Friday!" Effie gleefully said.
Ngumiti ako. "Anong ginagawa niyo dito?"
Matix pointed Chaos who is busy serving. "To annoy the hell out of him. I heard he's working so I planned to visit him."
I chuckled. "Huwag niyo na siyang asarin. He's already annoyed as it is. Kanina pa siya nagkakamali sa orders." I grinned.
Tumawa lang ang dalawa at kapagkuwan ay nag order na. They sat to a table for two while Matix keeps on calling Chaos to annoy him.
"Waiter." Tawag ni Matix kay Chaos habang nakataas ang kamay.
Chaos rolled his eyes and went near Matix. "Yes, sir?" Chaos obediently asked.
"Nothing. I forgot. Sorry." Matix grinned.
Si Effie naman ay tumatawa lang habang hinahantay ang order nila.
And when Chaos served their order, Matix being Matix, called Chaos again. "Excuse me, Waiter!" Anito.
Matix was grinning from ear to ear while casually sitting on the chair. "Yes, Sir?" Chaos asked.
"You got my order wrong. Nasaan ang manager niyo?" Masungit nitong tanong.
"I'm sure I got it right." Sabi nito at may binulong. Di ko alam kung ano ang binulang nito pero mukhang natakot si Matix at umayos ng upo. Habang si Effie ay malakas na tumatawa.
"Hoy, Matix, under ka pala kay Chaos ah!" Panunudyo ni Effie.
Matix was drinking his iced coffee during that time kaya nasamid siya nang asarin siya ni Effie. "Damn it, Effie! Don't joke like that ever again. Kinikilabutan ako." Matix shivered.
I smiled. Ang saya lang nilang pagmasdan. I really feel thr happiest when I'm with my friends.
Biglang may pumasok na customers kaya tinuon ko na ang atensyon ko sa trabaho ko.
"I told you, we should get iced americano for her!" Sigaw ng isang lalakeng red ang buhok.
The other man with black hair grimaced. "No! She's too young. Dessert Vanilla Strawberry Ice cream will do."
The other man with top knot style hair interfered. "Chill, guys. Our dear sister clearly stated to bring her a bottle of vodka—"
"No!"
Sabay na sigaw ng dalawang lalake.
"She's too young for vodka! Kaya nga napagkasunduan natin na ice cream ang bilhin sa kaniya." Anang lalakeng black ang buhok.
"Damn it. Girls on their periods are too fxcking complicated." Inis na sambit ng lalakeng naka red na buhok.
I cleared my throat to interfere. Nakakaabala sila sa pila eh. "Um, excuse me, oorder na po ba kayo?" I asked.
The man with red hair looked at me angrily. "Maghintay ka and don't interfere! We are dealing with some very important matter." Giit nito.
Tumawa ang lalakeng naka top knot style. "It is indeed a very important and serious matter. We shouldn't anger our dear little sister or else hell will break loose."
The man with black hair nodded earnestly. "This is why we should decide carefully. Should we buy ice cream for her, an iced americano or a bottle of vodka?"
The other two winced. "Definitely not the last one. She's not allowed to drink."
Again, I interfered. "How about ordering both an ice cream and an iced americano?" I smiled politely.
The three looked at me in awe. "That's right! Why didn't we think of that?" Tanong ng lalakeng nakablack at humarap sa akin. "We'll order one vanila strawberry ice cream in cup and an iced americano. Small only."
I punched their orders in the cashier register and took their payment. "Please sit at the moment as you wait for your order." Sabi ko. They found a seat for three near Matix's table as they wait for their order.
Ang lalaking nakared na buhok naman ay sinagot ang tawag sa phone nito. Kapagkuwan ay sumigaw. "Oh, shit! She's calling! She's calling!"
The other two panicked. "Oh, fuck! We're dead! Don't answer it—no, answer it, she'll kill us if we decline the call!" Anang lalakeng nakatop knot style.
The red haired guy answered the call. "Hey, little sis. How are you doing?" He let out a shaky laugh. "We are currently buying drinks for you, baby girl—" he frowned, "—no, we are definitely not buying you a vodka—" tumigil ito sa pagsasalita at tumingin sa screen na phone.
Hindi makapaniwalang tumingin ito sa mga kasama. "She just hanged up on me." Hindi makapaniwalang sambit nito.
The two weirdos looked shock as well. "This means war, brothers." Anang nakablack hair at nagmamadaling tumayo at naglakad.
Akmang lalabas na ito nang biglang may isang customer na humandusay na sahig at bumula ang bibig. Nagulat ang ilan at ang iba ang dali-daling umalis dahil siguro sa takot.
Three weirdos stopped on their tracks and went near the scene. "Friday." Tawag ng manager.
Napatingin ako. "Pakitignan nga kung anong nangyari. Tatawag lang ako ng tulong."
Napatingin ako kay Chaos. We both nodded. Lumipat naman ang tingin ko kina Matix at Effie na ngayon ay nakatayo. Hinihintay lang ang signal ni Chaos.
Lumapit kami sa customer na ngayon ay wala nang malay. "Please give space, people." Utos ni Matix.
Makalipas ang isang minuto, dumating ang ambulansiya at kinuha ang katawan.
Tumingin ako sa customers. "To out customers, please take you leave as of the moment. The incident has to be investigated." Ani ko. The customers obliged and left. Maliban sa tatlong weirdos na matamang iniinspeksyunan ang mga bagay-bagay.
Nilapitan ko sila. "Please leave."
The man with black hair shook his head. "Nope. We need to investigate this."
"We can handle this—"
"Friday." Tawag ni Chaos.
"Leave." Sabi ko sa tatlo bago bumaling kay Chaos.
"Ano yun?" Tanong ko.
Tinuro nito ang dalawang baso na magkatapat. "Two glasses of iced tea. It means, may kasama ang babae kanina."
"So, obviously, this is a poison and the person we are suspecting is the person she's with." Ani Effie.
Tumango si Chaos at akmang magsasalita nang pumagitna ang tatlong lalaki. "Hold up, let us handle this case—"
"No." Diing sagot ni Chaos.
The red haired guy looked at Chaos. "Why not? We can solve this one faster than a bullet piercing your heart." Dinuro-duro nito ang dibdib ni Chaos.
Chaos crossed his arms. "Yeah, you can solve this faster than a bullet but sorry to ruin your dreams, that bullet missed its target. Meaning, you can solve faster but not accurate enough to give a solidified answer." Chaos said.
"Anong sabi mo?" The red haired guy asked arrogantly.
Pinigilan siya ng dalawang kasama. Chaos tuned them out and faced Matix. "Do your thing. Hack some cctv footages."
Matix opened his arms. "I don't have my laptop with me." He winced.
"Why would you need a laptop?" Tanong ng lalaking nakablack hair.
Naiiritang tumugon sa kanila si Effie. "Teka, sino ba kayo? Bakit nandito pa kayo?"
The three stilled. "Di niyo pa kami kilala?"
Umiling si Effie. "Hindi pa kayo nagpapakilala. Kung makabida naman kayo parang magkakilala na tayo."
"Oh. My name is Midnight Dizon." The man with black hair introduced.
The red haired guy raised his hand. "Rebel Sanchez here."
And the guy with the top knot style smiled while waving his hand. "Slate Romero here. Nice to meet y'all."
Napakunot ang noo ko. I remembered, they all have the same sister but they have different surnames. Bakit kaya?
"Anyways, back to the incident, what's your deduction again?" Tanong ni Midnight.
"We believe the person with the victim is the suspect." Deretsahang sagot ko.
"You're wrong." Ani Rebel.
"How?" Effie asked.
Slate pointed the two glasses of iced tea. "Both have ice melted down. Both the ice contains poison." Simpleng sagot nito.
"For your information, we already know that." Biglang sabi ni Chaos.
"Really?" Di makapaniwalang tanong ni Midnight.
Chaos nodded earnestly. "Two glasses both have poison. The poison is in the ice but the ice of the victim's melted before she drank it. While the other one, she drank it even before it melted."
Rebel laughed sarcastically. "You're wrong again this time around."anito kay Chaos.
"The other glass's ice melted first than the victim's. As you can see, mayroon pang bahid ng yelo pero sa kabila, wala na. If both contains poison, then the other one should've died first before the victim." Ani Slate.
Again, Chaos smiled inwardly. "I know about that too."
I frowned and faced Chaos. "Nagpapalusot ka lang ba para hindi ka mapahiya?" Giit ko.
The three guys laughed so is Effie and Matix. Si Chaos naman ay bumulong. "Huwag mo akong ilaglag, Friday. I'm trying to act cool even after my wrong deductions." Anito.
I chuckled and let him talk.
Chaos cleared his throat. "Anyways, about your deduction of the other glass's ice melted first, it was correct. But the question is, where is the other body?" Chaos asked. He then continued, "it is none other than, " tinuro nito ang bathroom, "in the girls restroom."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. The girls restroom was slightly opened. Nakalabas ang paa nito habang ang itaas na parte ng katawan ay nasa loob ng restroom. Agad na tumawag ng tulong ang manager na nakikinig sa amin.
"What, how did you—"
Chaos cut Rebel off, "I was observing earlier. If there were two glasses of iced tea in this table, where did the other went? I realized, if the woman's companion is a fellow woman, then there's a high possibility that it went to the girls restroom. I tried to check but the body is already there."
"So the two of them are victims?" I asked.
Umiling si Chaos. "No." Naglakad ito palapit sa katawan ng babae at may kinuha sa bulsa nito. "I found this earlier while I inspected the body." Tinaas nito ang isang plastic na may brown powder.
"That's the poison used.." Midnight uttered.
Chaos nodded. "It means, the other girl tried to kill herself but ended up killer her friend as well or maybe, she wanted to kill her friend but with too much conscience, she tried to kill her too."
In the midst of silence, the manager interfered. "Parating na ang police at ambulansiya para kunin ang bangkay at imbestigahan ang nangyari." Our manager smiled, "but it looks like you guys already solved it."
I smiled. Yup, Chaos did solved it.
Matalim ang tingin ni Rebel kay Chaos. "When we meet again on another case, I will make sure I solve that one." Anito kasabay ng pagtunog ng phone nito.
Agad nitong sinagot ang tawag. "Oh, hey little sis—"
"Oh, your drinks are already here—no, I told you, you are not allowed to drink vodka! But we bought you an ice cream." Masayang sambit nito.
She can bear muffled voices in Rebel's phone dahil sa sigaw ng kausap nito. "Hey! Don't you dare shout at your own brother."
Nang matapos ang tawag, umiiling-iling si Rebel at bumaling sa mga kapatid. "Hey, nagwawala ang animal nating kapatid. Let's go home." Sambit nito at naglakad paalis bitbit ang inoder nitong drinks.
Akala ko ay hindi ko na sila makikita pa pero makalipas ang tatlong araw, nagulat nalang ako nang...
"Class, may bago tayong transferees." Anang professor namin.
The transferees entered and to my surprise, ang tatlong weirdo ang nakita ko. Looks like I'll be seeing them more often now.