Wild Flower

IV: The Language of Flowers

WOLFSBANE

Before we opened our café, we decided to stay at the living room upstairs after we changed to our work clothes.

I turned on the TV and set it on the news channel.

Isang dalagang babae at ang kanyang kapatid at ama, patay sa kanyang sariling debut.

Wow, nasa headline na agad ang ginawa namin!

"Ayon sa autopsy report, isang uri ng lason na kung tawagin ay 'aconite' ang naging dahilan ng pagkamatay ng magkapatid. Ang kanilang ama naman ay duguan nang may balang tumagos sa kanyang ulo. Ayon sa mga pulis, hindi nila na-trace ang uri ng baril na ginamit dahil walang natagpuang basyo ng bala o kahit ano mang bala sa crime scene. Nang reviewhin nila ang CCTV footage, wala namang natagpuang kahina-hinalang tao sa party kaya palaisipan parin sa mga pulis ang motibo at kung sino ang mga gumawa ng krimen na ito."

Hindi naman nila maiisip na i-check ang invitations dahil walang pangalan ang mga invited. They were delivered to the guests by letter. What's more? We wore gloves. Definitely the best way to conceal our fingerprints aside from the masks we wore. Bakit naman hangal ang nagpadala ng letter as to not list our names? It's a criminal debut, hello? Dapat walang names na nakalagay. How we got the invitations? As I have said, Sir Landro gave them to us. Probably an invitaion meant to him and some of his friends or colleagues.

And the million peso question: How did the aconite get into their system? Two words.

Sinister Beauty.

"Mukhang nagsimula nanaman ang kinatatakutan ng mga tao sa bawat sulok ng Laguna. Ang tinatayang vigilante group ng mga pulis: Ang Spectre."

"PSHHHHHHH!"

My irritated response attracted their attention. They shot icy daggers at me.

"Bakit? The alias they gave us is unbearably lame! Ang pangit! Walang kwenta! Pambata!"

Tuloy-tuloy kong insulto sa ibinigay nilang pangalan sa amin. Malayo ang method ng pagpatay namin sa multo! Ano yun? Tinakot namin sila hanggang sa mamatay sila? Pathetic ignorant fools!

Sa inis ko, nauna na akong bumaba sa first floor at binuksan ang Café. Marami na din kasing nakapila sa tapat dahil malapit nang mag-7:30 AM. Our opening time.

As customers started to flood in, I immediately put on my killer smile. It's also for the business. Para parati silang bumalik dito. Convenient.

"Good morning, ma'am! May I take your order?"

Nakita kong nag-blush ang babaeng nasa harapan ko and she flashed a shy smile. I noticed that she took a look at my nameplate.

"Wolfsbane, huh? A nice name."

She told me while she twirled her hair.

I looked at the shades on her head, her maong jacket, ang mamahalin niyang bag and her high heels. I deduce that she is from a wealthy family. Or at least may kaya, if not wealthy.

"Thank you." I bowed my head a little. "Now your order, ma'am?"

"Ah, yes."

She placed her left index finger on her chin as she looked up at our menu. Her eyes narrowed a bit and her eyebrows went closer to each other.

"A first timer, huh? Ma'am?"

She looked quite surprised.

"You took a while before making a choice. A regular would have made an order before I could even take two breaths."

She seemed impressed by my observation. Since she raised her left brow.

"Ok, since the other customers are still making their choice in their seats and no one's behind me..."