38 - Hungry

She was obviously sheltered in his presence so before she could be completely disturbed, he nodded and followed the girl even though he really wanted to rest. All he has to do is get along and first of all, he is just a guest in this house.

He observed the woman was still barefoot and hadn't changed her clothes. He shook his head and looked down at his new slippers, which were too small for his feet. Mang Bartolome give it to him and explained that he might not be used to the cold cement floor.

In the kitchen, the old man's cheerful face appeared on him. He notices a wooden table that can only seat four people and a bamboo chair.

A chair with no backrest. He just sat calmly and glanced at the plate and spoon in front of him for a time.

"My nieces is an excellent cook!"

"Father!"

He just nodded his head. He was taken aback when the girl prayed before they began eating. As it closed its eyes and freely thanked the food, he glanced at her. Not too shabby. The woman has a lovely figure that does not appear provincial.

"Amen."

When the woman opened her eyes, he immediately averted his gaze. She's finished praying. He observed that a native chicken soup was ready in front of them when the girl removed the lid of the dish. When he smelled the delightful aroma of her cooking, he became hungry.

"Let's eat," Mang Bartolome suggested.

He simply tasted the prepared dish quietly. He shuts his eyes and enjoys the flavor. When he looked at the girl, her face flushed as he noticed her staring at him.

"Delicious," he exclaimed.

"Exactly! She cooks great food," Mang Bartolome replied, "And Frahisto enjoys your tinola, Odessa."

"Father!"

"Kuu, my niece is quite shy. You know, Frahisto, Odessa is a very kind woman. She is my brother's daughter, who lives in Luzon, but she wanted to reside here temporarily so that I may have someone with me. My children abandoned me, and it is just Odessa who is like a child to me here at home. ”

"Let's eat, Father." Odessa interrupted while her face flushed before him.

Farhistt secretly laughed as Odessa flushed greatly while preparing the old man's supper. She almost turned bright crimson.

Odessa... what a lovely name..





FARHISTT awoken to the sound of a chicken crowing outside. He did a push up first, then did sit-ups before finally standing. He also put the bed away and sorted the mat filing to one side.

He first met the woman named Odessa in the kitchen, where she was cooking breakfast when he arrived. When the girl saw him, she became awkward and was not immediately comfortable with what he was doing, so he decided to go outside and hang out in the yard. He'll just breathe the provincial air. Only later will he begin his assignment, and no one will suspect his movements and actions as a newcomer in this area.

"M-might you want some coffee?"

He turned to face the woman, who was carrying a cup of black coffee and shyly handed it to him. He accepted and tasted it without a smile.

"Thanks." The coffee was delicious, and it was pure coffee.

As he drank the coffee slowly, the girl went back inside. If he is the one to make the decision, it is nice to live in the province. But the job he has now... it's hazy.

He had also served in the army for three years and was not known for his bravery on the battlefield. He and Cuhen were once sent to Marawi. Several times, Satan came close to taking their lives, but it was afraid to take off their lives.

He took a look at the high-tech watch he was wearing. He returned to his upstairs room to speak with his agents. He flipped open his hologram watch. When the contacts of Dark X members became public, he called Maccabi first.

"Yx!" On the other end of the phone, he said. It obviously hasn't slept in a long time.

"What happened to you?"

On the other end of the line, Maccabi simply laughed and scratched his head. "That spoiled brat ran away from me again last night," he said, bored. "You should not have given me this dreadful assignment, Yx. It's not fair to me!"

He simply raised the corner of his lip and shook his head, "Find this man," and sent Don Hernandez's background file to Maccabi. This was all he could rely on, except that the task he was given to him was not dangerous.

"My new assignment?" His blood began to revive and eventually awoke.

He nodded and turn off the call. He will begin today. He was too preoccupied at the time to do nothing. He went to the kitchen and bring back the coffee cup. He noticed that the woman was not there, but that she had prepared rice and had a pot on the wood stove. He decided to leave the house when he noticed Odessa chopping wood with an ax outside.

He stopped and looked at the girl, who appeared to be used to men's work. He made the decision to help her.

"Let me do that..."

His presence surprised her, and the redness quickly spread to her smooth cheek. It became awkward, and she couldn't bear looking into his eyes.

"I c-can do it…"

"No, you do not. I will finish it as soon as possible." Farhistt was no longer waiting for Odessa to respond. He moved closer to the girl and removed his shirt without saying anything.

She was caught off guard by what he did and immediately lowered her gaze to his six pack abs. Odessa bit its lip and close her eyes. He was simply taken aback by the woman's innocence.

Without hesitation, he began to chopped down all of the shrubs and trees. It's a good feeling. Farhistt's muscles stretched, and the fresh air that morning gave him a strange vigor. After chopping all of the wood, he assisted the girl in arranging the wet wood to dry in the sun, and he carried the dry ones to the kitchen.

"Where is the stream here?" he asked seriously, despite knowing the direction. Before he could leave town to gather information, he needed to take a bath.

"A few hundred meters ahead. When you see a large tall tree, turn around." Odessa was still unable to look at him. Perhaps because he wasn't wearing a shirt.

Mang Bartolome suggested from the living room that Odessa accompany him later to the stream, and that he might disappear. He wants to laugh because, at least this time, he isn't getting lost. He has many options if he so desires, but because he is a regular citizen of this barrio, he must live as one of the locals, who will not notice what kind of person he is.

"What are you doing in here?"

He didn't respond to Odessa's question. He expected it to ask why he was stuck here, which was normal.

"How old are you?"

This resulted in silence on his question, she hesitated, and he knew, even though he didn't say it, that the woman's cheek was red again.

"You can refer to me as big brother—"

"I'm 24 years old!"

He gave a nod. It's not obvious at her age because she appears to be only twenty years old. She looks fragile, easily broken objects. She was very innocent and modest. Quite unlike the women he sees and meets on a daily basis in Manila.

A beautiful stream opened up to them, which was very clean. There are many trees in the area where they are standing, making it difficult for sunlight to enter. He began to remove his top, leaving only his boxer shorts. The girl quickly averted her gaze from him and moved to the front.

"Be careful; the rocks here are a little slick."

He did not respond. In the cold, he began to wade into the water and closed his eyes. Ideally, he can think while immersing himself for a brief moment in the deep part. He could no longer hear the girl's voice, so he closed his eyes and leaned back against the large rock, which was surrounded by water.

"Ayy!"

He dashed to Odessa's spot at four o'clock. "Are you okay?" he was taken aback. Her entire body was wet, and she slipped and fell into the water.

“Y-yes! I'm… I'm fine."

He nodded and never asked again if she needed assistance because she appeared to be fine. He decided to keep soaking so that he could go to town right away. The sooner he start, the better.



FARHISTT was forced to bring Odessa to town. Mang Bartolome insisted him to let Odessa tag along. He was dressed in a faded t-shirt and jeans so that no one would suspect him. He also wore a faded hat and slippers, as if he were a regular citizen. He wished he could go alone so he wouldn't get into trouble, but he didn't have a choice.

"F-frahisto," Odessa said quietly to him.

They are now riding a motorcycle to town and sitting next to each other. Odessa felt awkward next to him, but he ignored it, thinking that maybe she wasn't used to his presence.

"Yes?"

"Bisaya is what the people here speak—"

"It's all right; I understand that language."

She nodded and didn't say anything else until they arrived in town. Many people turned to look at them, as he had predicted. Some of the women were staring at him. He quickly looked around, secretly observing everyone's movements. He was perfectly normal.

They were the first to arrive at the wet market. Everyone knows Odessa, so he can say she's friendly. Someone inquired about his relationship with the girl, and Odessa blushed every time someone spoke to them. Farhistt was shaken in secret by the thought, not the one like Odessa his type in terms of women. He hasn't been interested in anything since losing his family. His focus is more on the things that give him a distinct vitality.

"Kagwapo ba nimo dong, oi. Gikilig ko kayo nimu jud guwang naku." Your charming son. Even I'm an adult, I'm attracted to you!

He secretly laughed at what the elderly vendor of vegetables and rice said. It even provided them with free vegetables. Odessa gladly accepted it as he continued to look around.

"Frahisto?" He turned to face Odessa. "Don't you have anything to buy?" she asked, blushing.

If he says no, she may be left wondering. He went grocery shopping for his two-week stay. The girl was astonished by the amount he spent, especially when he purchased a small TV for Mang Bartolome to keep him entertained at home.

"You purchase a lot of items."

When they got off the motorcycle on their way home, he just smiled and didn't say anything. He effortlessly carried a sack of rice and a carton of groceries in one hand and the small TV in the other. Odessa offered to help him, but he did not let her. Mang Bartolome was even surprised when it saw how much they had purchased.