𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝟎𝟏: 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐭 (𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐃)

𝟏𝟎: 𝐀 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞

      "Breakfast!" Mathara sounded so proud after she presented a new dish. Ronin just woke up at magulo pa ang buhok nito.

     The dish looked familiar. Natigilan si Ronin. Bumalik ang mga mata niya sa babaeng kasama. She's sweating a lot because of the heat. Dahil na din siguro sa makapal at mahaba nitong buhok na kahit anong tali ay nagugulo parin ang ibang strands.

     "Alam mo paano lutuin ang adobo?" tanong niya sa dalaga.

     "No?" 

     "Edi lalasunin mo ako. Baka anong nilagay mo diyan!" Ronin accused her. Pinanliitan siya ng mata ni Mathara.

     "Do I look like a murderer?" tanong niya sa lalaking walang bilib sa kanya. Tinuro pa 'yong mukha niya.

     "Malay ko. Baka ikaw ang sumunod kay Death Devil. Poison 'yong tactics mo." Napa-irap nalang si Mathara sa narinig. 

     Ronin had no idea he is indeed talking to the Death Devil.

     "Ito 'yong sinunod ko," sabi ni Mathara sabay bigay sa kanya nung recipe book. It was handwritten and it looks old. It was his mom's recipes.

     Napatitig si Ronin sa notebook na yun at natahimik. He missed his mom's adobo. Kumalma na ito at kumuha ng plato at kutsara. It's not his typical breakfast but he needed to try it. Maayos na siyang umupo kaharap nung maliit nilang dining table.

     It tasted exactly like his mother's adobo. 

     "Kung mag-aasawa man ako, gusto ko kasing galing magluto mo mom. 'Yong marunong magluto ng adobo. Exactly like yours!" sabi ni Ronin sa mom niya. Magkasabay silang naghahapunan buong pamilya. He's still wearing his school uniform. Masyado siyang excited kumain. It's their favorite. Natawa lang ang mom at dad niya sa sinabi. 

     "Panu kung wala kuya? Edi tatanda kang mag-isa," sabat ni Aya. 

     "Wag kang mag-alala, Aya. Tuturuan ni mommy ang magiging love2 ng kuya," sabi ng mom nila. Nagtawanan sila ulit.

     Hindi na namalayan ni Ronin tumulo na ang luha sa isa sa mga mata niya. Mathara freaked out and tasted her cooking again. Okay lang naman.

     "Pangit ba para sayo 'yong lasa?" tanong niya dito. 

     Umiling si Ronin sabay acting na napuwing.

     "Nilinis mo ba tung bahay ha? Ang dami atang alikabok! Napuwing ako!" palusot nito.

     Napatitig si Ronin kay Mathara. He felt nothing for her but the cooking made him appreciate this woman. She suddenly looked beautiful in his eyes. Lagi nalang kasi siyang naiinis dito kaya parang demonyo tingin niya. But now, it changed--a bit.

     "Not bad, Luci," bulong niya sa sarili.

     After that heavy breakfast, Ronin decided to take Mathara out. He's outside the house, sa harap ng pinto. He wanted to do something for her too. An effort for an effort.

     "Luci!" tawag niya dito. Mathara is just there reading the other recipes sa may dining area. Tumingin lang ito sa kanya sabay taas ng dalawang kilay. 

     "Gusto mo lumabas? Uhh, do you like to have a haircut? Orr--"

     "Can I drive?" Sumigla ang mukha nito. Ronin was hesitant, he still can't trust her with that thing. How is it that she can't clean and cook but she can drive? 

     Napapaisip tuloy siya anong klaseng buhay ang meron si Mathara.

     "Tomboy ka ba? Baka tomboy ka talaga bago ka nagka-amnesia. Panu mo naman alam magdrive?" Kunot noong tanong ni Ronin dito. 

     "I don't know. I just want to?"

     "Magbihis ka na nga!"

     "Dapat magbihis pag lumalabas?" Mathara asked innocently. It's when Ronin realized, this woman has nothing to wear. Boxers nga lang niyang mga luma ang ginagamit nito bilang undies. 

     Tinulungan na niya itong maghanap ng masusuot. He found a plain white shirt and a smaller jeans. Mga old clothes niya yun na hindi na magkasya. For her shoes, he just gave her that pair that's no longer his size too. Mathara wore it like it's not even for men. TThe jeans gave off a Y2K baggy pants vibe on her, paired with a tucked white shirt and a matching black belt.

     She's just wearing a sando so her nips won't pop. Medyo malaki nga lang 'yong shoes. Anyways, the pants will just hide it. Just as he was about to sit on the motorcycle, Mathara reached for the handle grip first, stopping him from doing so.

     "Let me drive," Mathara insisted, triggering Ronin's hot temper. Avoiding another fight with her, he reluctantly gave in.

     "Pag nasira yang motor ko---" 

     Ronin's jaw dropped seeing how Mathara was able to drive as if she's a racer. She even turned back for him. "Jump in!" Mathara exuded a smug aura, wearing a proud expression on her face.

     That ride was the best he ever had in years. He never knew his motorcycle is capable. 

     "Wohhh!" he screamed in excitement and pure enjoyment, his arms wide open.

     The first thing they did was visit a salon. Ronin had a proper haircut, while Mathara opted for a short bob cut. Her head felt lighter now. The next stop was the fast-food restaurant where Ronin worked.

     "I work here," sambit ng binata, a bit embarrassed. Mathara only gave him an amazed and genuinely curious look. 

     "I can't afford an expensi--" Hindi tinapos ni Ronin ang sasabihin nang makitang ini-enjoy ng kasama ang fried chicken na kinakain nito.

     "Ang sarap!" 

     "Shh!" sita niya dito. Natawa nalang siya kay Mathara. She looked like a kid experiencing a fast-food restaurant for the first time. 

    In reality, yes, it was her first time. Having lived in luxury, she had never tasted anything from a fast-food restaurant. It was like her first experience to the outside world as a normal human being and not a serial killer.

     Habang naaaliw pa si Ronin kay Mathara, biglang nadulas ang isa sa mga crew ng fast-food. Tumilabon ang mga burger ng tray nito. Mathara's reflexes is still a sharp as it was, hindi na niya namalayang nasalo niya lahat ng limang burgers pabalik sa tray.

     Both of them are surprised, napahanga pa 'yong mga tao sa paligid.

     Bago umuwi ay dinaan na muna ni Ronin sa isang thrift store si Mathara para bilhan ito ng mga masusuot.Clothes that were more feminine and comfortable, allowing her to move freely around the house.

     They raced on the empty roads again, Mathara still driving. Hindi nila alam nadaanan nila si Jaxon na isa isang kumakatok sa mga bahay ng Santa Elizabeth. Nagtatanong, nagmamasid at alertong nakabantay sa paligid.

     "Ay hijo, marami kang makukuhang impormasyon sa hospital. Baka andun ang kapamilyang hinahanap mo,"  sambit ng ginang na may-ari ng bahay na yun.

TakahashiKazumi2024