47 - Cook

It stopped for a brief moment before continuing to walk away. She freely followed him with her attention and decided to go flower picking in order to come back to church as soon as possible.





WHEN Zerus arrived at old Manong Ben's hut, he let out a heavy sigh. He is the one who avoids the situation in which he is currently struggling. He will not quit as long as his heart continues to feel strange.

"Hijo!"

He look at Manong Ben. It was carrying tilapia and catfish that were still alive and dangling from the abaca fiber

"I brought our food! What exactly do you want it cooked? Sister Blessy and Mother Jean will be relieved. They enjoy ginataan catfish with a lot of chile."

The old man suddenly drew his attention. He took a look at the fish he was hauling, and they were quite big. He grinned, "I'll cook that." And walked over to the kitchen.

"Wait a minute, are you sure? Your wounds haven't healed yet."

"Manong, the wound is not in my hands. Okay, I'll cook, and then you can relax."

"If you insist, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop you. Wait a minute, I'll just put these I got in the sink."

He simply nodded and grinned quietly. If this is the case, he should be the one to make the meal and let Blessy taste how excellent he cooks.

Zerus wounds in his thigh and abdomen did not stop him from preparing the necessary seasoning. He began by pulling out the coconut milk and washing the fish.

He let Manong Ben sleep and rest outside on a rattan hammock. He will prepare ginataan catfish for the woman. He knew he had mistreated her, but he couldn't blame himself. For two years, he determined to forget the woman who belonged to some God, but here he is now, close to realizing that not only his life is in jeopardy... His heart, too.

She'll forget she's a nun thanks to the delicacy of my cooking.

He burst out laughing at his own joke. He has no intention of seducing the woman. When he leaves this area, the madness he is feeling will disappear. Everything is only fleeting.

"I didn't expect you to be a good cook, Son."

He did not respond. He first tried his food on the old guy, who had awoken with a delicious smell. Manong Ben's excitement was shown on his covered face as he sat on the wooden chair. He's finished cooking the rice and special ginataan catfish.

"It'll be a hit with Sister Blessy!"

He stopped when he returned inside the home to retrieve an old pitcher and glass. "Really?"

It smiled broadly and continued to eat. He decided to keep going inside the hut to retrieve the pitcher and glass.

"It's you, Sister Pearl."

Later, Zerus heard the old guy say that term. He peered through the bamboo wall's gap. He noticed a female nun carrying flowers. He was uninterested. He kept scooping water into the old jar.

"Was Sister Blessy here, Mr. Ben?"

“No. Why did you inquire, Sister?"

He was surprised for a time before peering inside the hole once more. He was waiting for the woman to speak out.

"She should have returned to church earlier. She hasn't arrived yet, and I can't find her. That's all fine, Manong. I'm going to leave. Father Alex, by the way, is looking for you. I believe he will assign you a task."

"Okay, Sister, I'll follow after I eat."

The nun simply nodded and walked away. As Zerus had pondered. He dashed back to Manong Ben with the pitcher and glass in his hand.

"Could you please bring the catfish I cooked to church and give it to the nun? All I'm going to do is go to the waterfall."

Even though he was treading cautiously, he hastened to the waterfall. There was no difficulty because his thigh wound was far distant and his bone had not been damaged. The only thing close to the gunshot wound was his side abdomen, which nearly killed him.

He has strong feelings that something bad is going to happen to Blessy, and he never fails when it comes to his intuition. He taught himself to flee the world once he was enslaved as a result of his inclination.

"What the hell! Where has she gone?"

He didn't have the wound. He wanted to make sure the nun was all right and that nothing awful had happened to her. His attention was drawn to every tree and tall plant that passed by.

"Blessy!" he dared to say, but no one responded. He couldn't even say the woman's name correctly. It bothers him that they are at odds with the rest of the world. And liking it is a great craze for the lone Fender Hearst disguised as Zerus Craige.

When something caught his eye, he stopped. Some flower petals were scattered on the ground. He dashed over there and grabbed it. He sniffed the flower and stared at the flower he was holding for a few seconds.

"But where the fuck is she?" He snatched the sad flower and tossed it aside.

He is a calm individual. But this time, he doesn't give a damn! His heart was beating as he searched for the woman. He could kill a man if something awful had happened here!

"Blessy!"

He waited a few minutes for her to answer, but she never did. He, too, has come a long way. He was already at the waterfall's right end, where there was a lot of grass and a ravine next to it. Those who are unfamiliar with the area may be frightened.

“Blessy! Where have you gone?"

Fuck! This is not good. This is terribly bad! He was frustrated when the rain began to drop. If he wants to murder it now, Heaven is still upset!

Bullshit! Where exactly are you? Have you encountered a shattering event? I should not have left you like that before and merely let you roam so I could keep an eye on you. Oh, damn!

He was already bathing in the pouring rain, but Zerus did not stop looking. He is unbothered by the rain. All he wanted to do was see the woman. When he called her name, he was met with ear splitting lightening and thunder. Heaven was furious with him, and he could sense it.

Blessy, where are you? Oh, crap!

When the heavens roared again and drew lengthy lightning, he darkened. He was simply disturbed and proceeded until he stopped abruptly, shocked.

“Bullshit! Blessy!" He was faster than the clock as he stepped the steep cliff. He was unconcerned about the possibility of falling due to the force of the storm and the slick rocks. He even forgets that he is still injured.

He instantly hugged the unconscious woman while the flowers she had pick were near her.

"Blessy? Hey, Blessy!" He tapped the woman's pale cheek, but she didn't respond.

Blessy slipped and plunged off the cliff. That's what Zerus was aware of. When he felt her wrist's feeble pulse, he instantly caressed it and calmed down for a while.

He is quietly displeased with himself. He'd been to the waterfall earlier, but he preferred to leave the woman alone and let her wander on her own. He should have adjusted his feelings and just pushed them aside; otherwise, they would not be in this situation right now.

When he carried her, she was light as a feather. It seemed like though he was carrying a child in his arms. But, due to his condition, which included a just healed wound and torrential rain with no intention of stopping, he was forced to stop at some point in front of the cave. They could rest here for a bit till the rain stopped.

When it thundered again, he yelled angrily, "The heck with this!" The stone he was stepping on turned slippery, but he continued to walk despite the pain from his wound.

When he reached the cave's extension, he sighed. He put the woman beside the rock with caution.

“Blessy? Wake up, Blessy." He tapped the woman's pale cheek once more.

They are quite soaked, which can make them sick. It slipped around 30 minutes ago, according to Zerus. It clutched for a while but eventually let go, allowing it to fall fully. He would not have realized that Blessy's life was on the verge of death if Sister Pearl hadn't communicated them sooner.

Zerus was well aware that there was no plan to stop the rain. He sat down gently close to the woman. He created some distance between them while maintaining his regard for her. He had been obliged to touch and carry her earlier, but if she was fully conscious, he would not have done so. As much as he can, he refuses to attach to the woman. He is put off by something about her.

"Hey!" When he noticed Blessy's hand twitch, he jumped out of his seat. He approached the woman fast and waited for her to say something.

"Mmmm…"

He kept his distance from the two of them once more. She might be afraid of his presence. "Are you all right? Are you hurt? Tell me..."

She shook her head, but she was swiftly overcome. "M-my head. It's hurt…" She snatched her head.

"Where?" he asked, approaching her and feeling the back of her head. "It's here, huh?"

She gave a short nod and diverted her attention from his. She also backed away from him, and he picked up on what she was implying. He drew his hand back and resumed his seat. The only thing that could be heard between them was the torrential downpour and the rustling of the sky.

"T-thank you so..."

"For?" He got sight of her.

She took a big breath and hugged herself briefly. "When you help me, Mr. Hearst."

He did not respond. He didn't need her to express her gratitude. He is upset, but he attempts to keep it under control on his own. He noticed the woman trembling, and there was nothing he could do to stop her. She was jolted when the weather got more erratic and a cold breeze blew.

He didn't say anything. He looked up and groaned somewhere else. When will the rain cease and they will be able to leave?

"Mr. Hearst."

"Yeah?"

"Please don't be offended if I ask you a personal question."

"What is it then?" he asked, his face expressionless.

"Why is someone looking for you? Have you ever done something wrong to them?"

As lightning blasted the sky again, he locked his gaze on her. "Why?" he inquired once more.

The surroundings began to darken as a result of the rain, which had no intention of stopping, but he continued to stare at the woman.

"I'm confident you're not a horrible person."

He bitterly laughed at what she stated. "Don't be fooled, Blessy. Before he became Satan, Lucifer was an angel. You have no idea what you're talking about."

“Why? Tell me then."

His lip rose and he shook his head slightly. He has no intention of expressing his entire being here. Satan is the only one who knows how dark his soul is.

"What is it that you wish to know? Does praying to your gods absolves me of all guilt? Make me pure as you?"

"Mr. Hearst."