Black Clover

Chapter I

With the sun dripping nothing less than a temperature of twenty-three, people are either wearing their hand-knitted sweaters or brown leather coats. Some may include mufflers and varsity-themed jackets with knee-length leg warmers and close shoes. The cold weather makes people's breath vapors and the streets are never a good friend in this time. Kaya nga sa mga panahon na kung saan tila tinabunan ng ulap ang mainit na araw, at halos aakalain mong uulan ng nyebe sa Pilipinas, mga tindahan na nagbebenta ng mainit na sabaw ang pinagkakaguluhan. And coffee shops always welcome everyone.

The small bell at the doorstep vibrated a pleasant klang, welcoming the guests with a westernernized furnishing house and the scent of different coffees being brewed by the baristas. Despite the influence of the west architecture, the shop is commonly made up of original Filipino works. From the chairs with low seats and high backs made up of rattan painted in mahogany barnish, to the tables made up from disked-tree trunks with unmodified year-rings, to the compartments of the shop's skeleton with spherical golden lanterns. May mga halamang pananim rin sa loob na matatagpuan sa pinakagitna ng shop na may tubig na malayang umaagos.

The shop's logo is a four-leaf clover in black in a middle of a muddled mud-colored circle. Below the logo is the infamous name "Black Clover" that everyone remembers. Sino ba ang hindi makakaalala sa isa sa magagaling na kapehan sa buong bansa na nagdadala sa mga tao ng kakaibang mga lasa ng kape? From the simple brewed coffee up to some latté, the baristas can do it in a flick. Of course, because all of the staffs have to undergo a half to one year training to attain the finest taste from the beans. It brings people closer to their homes, plus, their cakes and confectionaries are also a must-to-taste.

Julius started his day with nothing unusual. Arriving at the shop earlier than six, he took the time to prepare his self a cup of flat white coffee - his favorite. Carefully brewing the beans making it in two shots and topping it with a textured milk, pouring it from the bottom of a ceramic cup, giving a sight of flatness. He smiled, fuming the scent and drank it slowly. White foam remained on his upper lip that he later wiped off with a clover-logoed tissue.

It was already six when his fellow baristas started coming. Kadalasan, bukas na ang shop ng alas-kwatro ng umaga. Pero dahil nga sa hindi pang-umagang tao ang nagmamay-ari nito ay bumababa ito sa alas-sais. At minsan ay dumarating pa ng alas-otso. However, despite the unknown opening hours, the people kept on coming in. They know how the coffe magic works in this place and just a mere hindrance of time is just a speck. Gusto nila ang masarap nilang kape kaya anong paki-alam nila kung kailan ito magbubukas sa umaga?

Nagsimula nang magsidatingan ang mga kilalang regular na sa kapehan. Joseph greeted them a smile while he's busy wiping the wine glasses clean. Another thing, the Black Cover is actually a coffe shop during the morning and a bar at night. Kaya hindi na nakapagtataka na kahit gabi na ay bukas pa rin sila. Though, nobody would ever thought that the shop can adaptly convert from coffee to alcoholic drinks. That's the reason why there is a two-shift process between the staff.

He placed the wine glasses up to the display counter together with the other glasses with different sizes and uses. Pagkatapos, ang kulay kayumangging mahabang counter naman ang pinunasan niya ng tuyong trapo. While doing it, some few regulars entered the place claiming the round chairs to the bar counter. Everyone chirruped while ordering different serves in the same time.

"Isa-isa lang please," sabi ni Julius na natawa sa kanila. "Hindi ko kayang gawin ng sabay sabay ang mga in-order niyo."

"Said by a cool barista," reklamo ng isa na naka-upo sa pinakadulo. Inihiga nito ang ulo sa lamesa na hinihimas-himas ng palad niya. She's wearing a grey-stripped muffler in her neck.

"I'll get the usual order," sabi ng katabing lalaki nito na mas maayos at desenteng tignan. He's wearing a usual black turtle neck and some black pants. He's carrying a small laptop bag and some papers at hand. Inilagay niya ang lahat sa lamesa.