SAME TREE, DIFFERENT BRANCHES.
Life goes on in the annex branch of Café Moriartea. Maviel resumes her apprenticeship under Sigmund. Landice is still reading books at the barista's corner. Nikolai is still making sure that the shop is squeaky clean...
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MAVIEL
"SO WHAT'S our case?"
By nine o'clock, Nikolai flipped the "Come in, we're open" sign into "Sorry, we're closed." Hindi gaya ng ibang coffee shops na umaabot hanggang late evening o midnight, mas maaga kaming nagsasara. After all, being a cafe was just a front. Being a detective agency was our real business.
We dragged some barstools and gathered round the counter. Pinainit ni Sigmund ang apat na pack ng pesto pasta sa microwave. Akala ko'y inilibre niya kami ng dinner. 'Yon pala, mae-expire na kinabukasan kaya naisip niyang ipa-consume na sa amin.
"You better pay for those," Landice reminded him. Sa aming apat, siya lamang ang nalalayo ng upo. Magkatabi kami ni Nikolai habang nasa harapan namin si Sigmund. Our silent workmate had not moved an inch from his position at the corner of the barista's station.
"Come on, Landice!" Sigmund groaned as he grabbed some fork. "Hindi na natin mabebenta ang mga 'to bukas. Gusto mo bang itapon ang mga pesto pasta sa basurahan? And you will also get one for free! Alam mo ba kung gaano karaming tao sa mundo ang naghihirap at halos walang makain araw-araw? 'Tapos okay lang sa 'yo na magsayang ng pagkain?"
Parang narinig ko na ang gano'ng linyahan, ah. Ganyan ang sinasabi ng mga classmate ko noon kapag hindi ko naubos ang lunch ko.
"Will those poor and hungry people be fed if we consume those food?" Landice asked in a matter-of-fact tone. "No."
"You must be fun at parties." Sigmund returned to his barstool and opened his heated pack of pesto pasta. "Sure akong papayagan naman tayo ni Manager na kainin ang mga mae-expire nang food dito sa cafe. Knowing him, he's not wasteful. Kaya kung ako sa 'yo, kakainin ko na 'yan."
"Have you asked for the manager's permission? You know that we have to do an inventory of the items here, right?"
"Ako nang bahala ro'n! Don't sweat the small stuff. Kapag pinabayad niya sa 'kin, e 'di ipapa-salary deduction ko. Okay, ganito! Think of these yummy pesto pasta as my treat. Will that make you feel better?"
"Kahit malapit nang ma-expire, masarap pa rin!" Nauna nang kumain si Nikolai sa amin. There's something in the way he twisted his fork and chewed on the food that made the pasta more appetizing. Pwede na siyang maging commercial model ng isang fast food chain. "Hindi natin kailangang mag-alala sa food poisoning kasi paniguradong napatay na ng microwave heat ang mga bacteria."
"Is that what you're worried about, Landice?" Sigmund pointed his fork at our reluctant workmate who sat like a statue. "You're worried about food poisoning?"
"As long as you heat the pasta at around 75 degrees Celsius, the food will be safe to eat," Landice answered. "Did you?"
"I did!"
Sa wakas, hindi na nagmatigas pa ang walking fridge na 'to at bumigay na rin. In-unseal na niya ang pasta at kumuha ng tinidor mula sa dispenser.
Kamakailan lamang kami nagsimulang kumain nang sabay rito sa cafe. Pagkatapos kasi ng duty ko, lagi akong nauunang umaalis para makauwi na sa dorm. Bumibili ako ng dinner sa mga carinderia na nadaraanan ko pauwi. This time, I decided to stay for a little while and enjoyed this pasta with them. At least, hindi na ako mag-iisip kung ano ang kakainin ko at hindi na ako mapapagastos pa.
