Erudition of Doyle: Volume One

CHAPTER 4: CASE II - THE SECRET OF ARTISAN EATS

Case 2: The Secret of Artisan
Eats (The Journalist's Work
Chapter, Part One)

ROSALINDA

"Why did you leave the Kendo Club?" I asked, as I handed him a cold water bottle. Tinanggap niya naman iyon, saka ako'y tumabi sa kaniya.

"I don't want to stay in that club anymore; they're just pissing me off. Gusto nila, lagi silang tama at walang balak makinig sa'kin kahit sandali lang." Nangangalit niyang sabi habang binubuksan ang takip. "Anong tingin nila sa'kin? Walang ka-alam-alam sa kendo? I've been doing kendo since I was seven. They shouldn't question my skills and experience." Nilagok niya ang lahat ng iyon ng isang inuman. His eyebrows told me how pissed he was, with his frustrated eyes.

I don't know how we became close. But after that murder case, we opened up to each other and started acting like we'd known each other for years. Naging malapit kami sa isa't isa at palagi kaming magkasama. He's comfortable with me, and I am too.

"Like, what exactly?" I asked.

"They refuse to join the competition in August. Their goal is to keep me from shining in front of others; they crave all the attention for themselves. Tch!" Napailing siya.

"Aren't they skilled?" I asked.

"They are, but they can't beat me," he said confidently, though bluntly. "Numerous Kendo mentors want me at their seminars and workshops - they even brag about me to other mentors in Kendo. That's why these fools hate me even more."

"Gusto mo ba 'yung attention?" I asked.

"Why would I? They're so annoying."

"Noon pa sila ganyan?"

"Oo, noong junior high pa. Gusto ko ngang umalis rito para walang gulo, pero ayaw ng tatay ko." Inis niyang sabi.

No wonder he's always so furious with them. Tinapon niya ang water bottle sa malapit na basurahan at muling bumalik sa tabi ko. But this time, there was no space between us, kaya automatic akong lumayo nang konti sa kaniya. Baka may makakita sa amin at magkamali ng interpretasyon sa relasyon namin, or they might start a rumor. Ayaw kong mapag-usapan.

"Of all clubs, why did you choose the Journalism Club?"

"Noon pa lang talaga, interesado na ako sa profession ng journalist."

"Why?"

"Because of my mother." He looked at me and continued. "She influenced me and inspired me. Seeing her on the news and her own platform really gives me light and makes me more eager to understand the Philosophy of Justice." He said it calmly, but the expression on his face said otherwise. He looked so angry, for literally no reason.

"I see. But what about the reason why you called me here?"

"Right, I just want you to do me a favor." A favor, huh? "I'm not actually an official member of the Journalism Club yet. They told me there's something I need to do as part of the application. All students who apply to the club have to submit at least a writing report or a blog. It depends on us what kind of topic we choose. If they like our work, we'll officially become members of the club. If they don't, then unfortunately, students have to find another club to join. We can submit any content, as long as it's not harmful, mentally or physically." Mahaba-haba niyang salaysay.

"So?"

"They told us they'd appreciate it more if it's a video blog rather than a purely text-based article, dahil marami nang mga members ang nagsusulat kaysa nagbi-video. That's why they encouraged us to do it instead. If I follow what they want, I'll definitely become an official club member, right?"