The Reaper In White Shirt

Chapter 7

"Che? Why did you come home early? Didn't you say that you'll be in school until five?" Gulat na tanong ni Lachita nang makitang pumasok ang pamangkin sa mismong pintuan ng pub habang siya ay nakaupo sa isang bar stool at kumakain ng chichirya kasama ang ibang waitress.

Walang makikitang customer ng ganitong oras sa pub dahil lahat ay may trabaho at pasok kaya naman ay relax na relax ang lahat ng staff. Magsisimulang dumagsa ang mga tao kapag alas tres ng hapon. Ngayon ay alas dos pa, kaya naman nagtataka si Lachita ng makita ang pamangkin.

"Something happened. Long story. I don't want to talk about it." Cheuse answered while jumping over the bar counter and getting a bottle of beer from the bridge.

"What the hell, Che? Kinain ba ng aso ang manners mo?" Gulat na sabi ni Lachita nang makita ang ginawa ng pamangkin.

Cheuse opened the bottle cap using her teeth before she poured it into her mouth. She looked at her aunt and shrugged. "Paano ako makakadaan diyan? You're all huddled together."

"Wow! Ate oh, iyong pamangkin mo uma-attitude." Ngisi ng kasamahan nila na si Ulle.

Lachita picked up a chichirya and put it in her mouth. "It looks like you're in a good mood."

Cheuse grinned. "You got it."

"Ganon ba ginagawa ni Cheuse pag good mood siya, ate?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Hasy. Bago lang siyang hired na waitress at hindi pa gaanong pamilyar sa mga pangyayaring paminsan-minsan na nagaganap sa pub.

Lachita smirked. "Yes. Nawawala ang manners pag good mood."

Cheuse looked at them blankly. She decided not to bother with them lest they would ruin her good mood.

"Aunt, where is my younger brother?" Cheuse asked as she noticed that Faust was not in his usual spot.

"He's in your young uncle's teashop next door. Tinawag siya kanina kasi bumisita raw si Thirdy." Sagot ni Lachita.

Cheuse finished the beer with a big gulp. "Kailan lang dumating si Thirdy?"

"One in the afternoon, I think? Better if you go there kasi hinahanap ka rin ni Thirdy kanina. He looked sad when I said that you went to school."

"Okay"

Bago pumunta sa teashop sa kabila, nagbihis muna si Cheuse. She wore a plain white t-shirt paired with baggy pants. She has many of those. Pagkatapos magbihis ay pumunta na siya sa kabila.

Ang teashop ng kanyang uncle na katabi ng pub na pagmamay-ari ng kanyang auntie ay pamana pa sa ina ng kanya uncle na lola naman niya sa mother's side. Iba sa pub ng kanyang auntie na dumadami lang ang customers kapag oras ng pagkain at uwian ng mga estudyante at trabahante. Ang teashop ng kanyang uncle ay laging may nakatambay na customer, especially those old married women na walang ginawa kundi mag-chismis. There are also young women or young married women na bumibisita kapag gusto nila nga get-together.

Pagdating niya roon ay hindi niya nakita ang mga hinahanap niya. The only person she saw was the receptionist in the lobby. Lumapit siya rito at nagtanong.

"Hey. Where are they?"

Hindi na bago ang kanyang mukha at kilalang-kilala na siya ng receptionist na matagal nang nagtatrabaho sa shop ng kanyang uncle.

Ngumiti sa kanya ang receptionist bago siya sinagot. "Hello, Miss Cheuse. Sir Lavigne told me that if ever you're looking for them, I'll tell you that they're in the inner courtyard."

"Thanks" Cheuse then went to the inner courtyard.

The inner courtyard is a private place only accessible to families and friends of the owner. It's forbidden for someone who's not permitted to go there, that's why there are always guards stationed at the entrance.