Chapter 32: Feverish

Matthos was right. By six am, he had a raging fever of 39 degrees Celsius. He decided to stay in his bed, but not before grabbing notes and begging Barney to make him Longganisa lugaw. Lumi wanted to dunk Matthos in the tub filled with ice to cool him down. He was horrified.

"You'll feel better after," she encouraged him. Barney was laughing as she defended her idea.

"No, I hate cold water," Matthos begged. "Lumi, please, don't make me take an ice bath. A simple Kool-Fever will do."

"Fine, but if it doesn't work, I will make you do an ice bath."

Barney wanted to laugh as the height difference alone will make it a battle between David and Goliath. "Lumi, just let Matthos sleep. He hasn't slept well for days. He'd feel better with a few hours of rest," he suggested.

Lumi gave up on her idea and tried to leave, but Matthos held her hand, "No, please stay. I think I'm going to be really sick."

"I will," Lumi felt sorry as she took a wet towel and started to wipe Matthos's arms. He was in horrible shape with his pale skin. She wasn't used to seeing him without his glasses, but he looked softer and almost pitiful as it looks like he couldn't see that much.

She was right. Matthos had bad vision.

"I'll leave the two of you to make longganisa lugaw."

***

Barney went downstairs and started boiling water. Then, he started to shred the leftover rice. After that, he sliced up some longganisa, or Filipino sausages, and fried it a wok of hot oil. This variety of longganisa is called Vigan, which is known for its sour and garlicky flavor. He knew that Matthos would look for a strong scent and sour taste. Like sick people, he needed clean flavor, so Barney decided to make the longganisa a topping instead of mixing it with the rice.

Speaking of the rice, once the water started to boil, he added the rice and started mixing it.

Once the longganisa was cooked into a crisp, he put it in a strainer to drain and made chili oil with the hot oil he had.

With the combined fat rendered from the longganisa, he added a tablespoon of chopped chili and garlic. Like his Lola Inay would do, he cooked the garlic into a crisp and added some star anise before putting it in a jar.

After thirty minutes, the lugaw was ready.

In three bowls, he put equal serving and let it cool.

***

Upstairs, Lumi finally understood what Barney meant when he said Matthos is adorable when he's sleeping.

He talks in his sleep, and she just had to restrain herself from pinching his cheeks with just how cute he sounds. Granted, he had a manly voice, but there's something about his gentle way of speaking that gives him a magnetic aura.

"No, I don't want an ice bath," he pouted.

"He's so adorable," she whispered, squealing as she watched him turn his back on her. "No, give me back my yellow umbrella, you mean tree. That's mine."

"Enjoying the view?"

Lumi almost jumped out of her chair. She was about to glare at Barney but smelled the aroma of the food he carried. That made her forget her irritation.

"Don't wake him up yet," he said, "Here's your bowl and here's mine."

Barney put the bowl on the bedside table and taught Lumi how to eat it. He put a few tablespoons of crunchy bits, which he called Vigan longganisa, and mixed it with the

"We call it lugaw."

"Wow, this smells fantastic," Lumi cautiously fed herself and found how complex the taste was and the pleasant effect it had on her. There was a strong sour and salty combination, as well as garlic and a hint of pepper. Every time she chewed, the crispy bits became softer, and the taste became milder.

They continued eating when Matthos started to talk in his sleep.

"No, that's not it," he said, turning to their direction, "that's not how it works. Nuh uh, you're wrong," he defended.

"Wow, he's saying things he couldn't say to Ramos on the phone," Barney remarked.

"No, that's not it. You need to stop looking for the source for now. The connection, look at the golems," he stirred in his sleep, "find a way to destroy it," he groaned.

"Wait, he's onto something," Lumi set the bowl on the table and went closer. Barney followed her, and they stood beside Matthos.

"No, the golems. You don't understand—the golems."

Suddenly Matthos's eyes opened, and you can only see the white of it. The two stepped back in alarm.

"He's convulsing!" she tried to come close, but he grabbed her back.

"No, Lumi. It's not a convulsion. He's delivering a warning."

Then, in a voice that isn't his, Matthos said "Audio Video Disco Inferno"