The Monster Café (2021)

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5

"SAAN KAYO GALING? We've been looking everywhere!"

Panenermon ni Mnemosyne ang bumungad kina Soul at Haven pagbalik sa pagawaan ng couple shirt. Zech just sighed in relief when he finally saw his best friend.

Na-guilty naman si Haven dahil alam nito kung gaano siya nag-alala para sa kanya nitong nakaraang mga araw—wala siya sa wisyo at hindi pa niya makausap nang matino. Haven thinks this is why he wanted her to accompany them on their date in the first place. He's concerned for her... but she'll feel bad about telling him that she had a problem with his kind kasi akala niya mga halimaw sila at akala niya kakainin siya. She can't tell him that. He might distance himself or get really sad. She knows how he is.

Meanwhile, Soul's eyes were on Haven. He chuckled inwardly, knowing exactly what she's thinking about as of this moment. Pero bago pa siya mapansin o mapuna ng dalawang kasama nila, he averted his gaze to something else.

Nang malaman ni Haven na Chaser din si Zech, she felt a bit comforted at the fact that what Soul said is true. That they were protecting humans like her from monsters. Wala sa sarili itong napatingin kay Soul na kasalukuyan ay kalmadong sinasagot ang mga tanong ng nanggagalaiting Mnemosyne.

Yeah, he doesn't seem like a person who eats people whenever he wants.

"Haven, nakikinig ka ba?" Napatingin ito kay Mnemosyne na nakapameywang ngayon sa harap niya. One wrong word and Haven knows that she'll scold her until her ears fell off. "Well?"

Ah, patay. Tapos na pala siya sa sermon niya. Haven thinks she's talking about other things now. Pero wala siyang ideya sa pinag-uusapan. Haven was too busy with her thoughts.

Tumingin ito kay Zech for clues. He mouthed, "Just say yes."

Ibinalik nito ang tingin kay Mnemosyne at tumango-tango. "Yeah, sure. Why not? Hehe."

Ngumiti naman ito at pumalakpak. "Then it's settled! All four of us will go to a beach next Saturday!"

Ano?! Nanlalaki sa gulat ang mga mata ng babae na tumingin kay Soul. With him?!

Nagtataka lang namang tumingin ang binata kay Haven. "Is there any problem, Ibarra?"

Soul tilted his head to the side, trying to find out what this girl might be thinking of this time.

"W-wala naman." Iniwas ni Haven ang tingin sa kanya. She just couldn't forget how stupid she acted earlier. Pero nakahinga rin naman siya nang maluwag. He explained things so well. She's not that scared of him anymore. Thank God, he really didn't want to eat her. Sinabi lang pala niya iyon upang matakot siya at mahimatay. He wanted to erase her memory of that day, but for some reason, it didn't work.

"Ah, yeah, well, it's the very first time that it didn't work." Iyon ang sinabi niya. It's weird, but who cares? It happened already.

Nawiwirduhan din ang dalaga sa sarili. She's not afraid of him anymore, but why does it feel like she's still scared of him?

Soul noticed Haven getting caught up with her thoughts. Kinalabit niya ito. "Hey, tara na raw."

Tumango lang ang babae at inunahan siya sa paglalakad. Masaya namang nag-uusap sina Zech at Mnemosyne na nauuna ng ilang hakbang mula sa kanila. Silence reigned over him and Haven.

Haven felt weird with herself. She's mostly not this shy.

For now, Haven has to deal with silently walking with a Chaser like him.

***

"It's Saturday!" Zech stretched his arms out. Hindi yata sang-ayon ang langit sa gustong mangyari ni Haven dahil napakaganda ng panahon ngayon para pumunta sa beach... when what she wanted to happen was the opposite.