The Broken Scalpel [Ace Lucifer's Series Two]

[9] Ninth Scalpel

JAXON 9

Sorry I'm late!

JAXON

Relyenong Bangus and Chicken Curry.

Jaxon's stomach grumbled as he opened the lunch box and for him to see Relyenong bangus and Chicken Curry with rice. Kaya pala malaki ang baunan dahil dalawang ulam ang laman 'non. Medyo mainit pa ang kanin ng mahawakan niya ang baunan. Seems like it was just freshly cooked a while ago. Kahit ang ulam ay mainit init padin.

Napailing nalang siya nang maisip kung kanino galing ang pagkain nasa harap siya. Surely that it was Macey.

That woman! He's a hundred percent sure that Macey wasn't living in a condo unit. May bahay ito. Ang bahay na kung saan siya nagising noong naglasing siya. But now, Macey is his neighbor like it was a coincidence. Akala nga niya ay ang nakatira sa katapat na condo unit ay taga ibang bansa na minsan lang umuwi. He barely sees his neighbor that's why he didn't give a damn about it. Basta ang alam nalang niya ay mayroon, pero hindi niya lang inexpect na si Macey iyon.

He brought his condo when he was just studying in med school. Matagal na siyang nakatira sa condo na 'to. If Macey bought this condo with a coincidence, then it's good.

But looking at the food in front of him, it was his favorite dish of all, and she knows it. She cooked it for him at this early morning. And remembering his interaction with Macey and her confessions...her deep meaningful words, he knew it. He's not an idiot to know that everything is not just a coincidence. There's a hidden scheme that makes him wonder; does she like him that she would go this far?

It's too much knowing that he has Maxine all along.

Napabuntong hininga nalang siya at kumuha ng kutsara at tinidor sa kusina. Kaagad din siyang bumalik sa lamesa. He means by looking at the food in front of him... it's his favorite. He can't resist. This is a real food, and this is his weakness. For a person who often eats processed foods, this is heaven. He may seem a tough person and no weakness, because he lost Maxine, it's a very wrong thought. Very. Foods like this is his favorite. Food is his only weakness. At it will stay that way.

A way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Wala sa sariling napatango si Jaxon. That's right. But not every time.

Minsan, pagkain lang ang habol ng isang lalaki sa babae kaya ito sumusunod o sumasama sa kaniya.

Either Figurative manner or whimsical. He shrugged. Eating has a lot of meanings.

But come hell, or high water, he won't do either of it. Never.

Inalis nalang niya sa isip ang mga walang kwentang bagay. He took a spoonful bite, and he was about to take it in his mouth when the doorbell rang. The spoon in front of him stopped in the mid-air. Unti-unti nanaman siyang nairita, at hahayaan na sana ang kung sino man ang nasa labas ng condo niya nang tumunog nanaman ito.

Inis niyang binitawan ang dapat na isusubo at tumayo at tinungo ang pinto. Nang buksan niya ang pinto ay bumungad sa paningin niya ang ngi-ngisi-ngising si Bryson. Kinunutan niya lang ng noo ang kaibigang halatang may pangangailangang mapagsamantala.

"The fuck are you doing here?" He asked.

"Pakain!" Bryson invited himself inside his condo unit. Ito na din ang nagsara ng pintuan na para bang pamamahay niya ito.

They walked towards the living room, and Bryson sit down and rested his back with his eyes closed on the couch. Itinaas pa nito ang paa sa center table. Para itong pagod na pagod. "There's a fucking meeting, you idiot. Bakit ka nandito?"